Improvements in or relating to Binocular Glasses.
Year: 1898

page_text: I, JAMES AITCHISON, of 47, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Optician, do hereby
declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:
―
The object of my invention is to construct binocular glasses in an improved
manner whereby they are rendered capable of adjustment to suit the position and
distance apart of the eyes of the users.
According to my invention I fit the eye and object glasses respectively, in each
barrel, in positions eccentric to the barrels, and in the case of prismatic glasses at
opposite angles or sides.
The barrels are so fitted to the frame as to be capable of being rotated therein
upon their own centres. The rotation of the two barrels is rendered simultaneous
by means of segmental toothed racks attached to the barrels, geared together, and
suitably enclosed.
Focussing appliances may be fitted to the eye pieces or object pieces, the
focussing screw and rod being capable of oscillating one way, and the end carrying
a slotted plate or equivalent device to connect the focussing screw with the pieces
and to allow of their expanding or contracting movements.
1000
GEORGE DOWNING & SONS,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agents.
Improvements in or relating to Binocular Glasses.
I, JAMES AITCHISON, of 47, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Optician, do hereby
declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The object of my invention is to provide means whereby the eye pieces may be
readily adjusted to suit the various distances between the eyes of the users.
According to my invention I fit the eye and object glasses in their tubes in
positions eccentric to the barrels, and in the case of prismatic binoculars at
opposite sides. The barrels are so fitted to the frame as to be capable of being
rotated in such frame upon their own centres, the rotation of both barrels being
made simultaneous by means of segmental toothed racks attached to the barrels
and gearing together.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and ascer-

page_text: letters of reference indicato corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is an elevation ;
Fig. 2 is a plan;
Fig. 3 is a part section on the line A-A of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a section on the line B-B of Fig. 1.
The drawings illustrate the mode of applying my invention to a prismatic
binocular, from which its application to other binocular glasses will be readily
understood.
a are the eye pieces and b are the object pieces all of which are mounted
eccentrically in the barrels cc, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. The barrels care
fitted in sockets & integral with the frame d¹ in which they are free to rotate and
in which they are secured by dished caps e and screws or other well known
means.
The object pieces 6 pass through the said caps e as shown in Fig. 3, the
latter serving to support the instrument and to protect the object pieces. The two
barrels c c are geared together by segmental toothed racks f, shown by dotted
lines in Fig. 4, said racks being attached to the flanges c¹ of the barrels or formed
integral therewith; or they or equivalent devices may be fitted in any other
convenient position so long as they ensure a simultaneous rotation of the
barrels.
Preferably the toothed segments are enclosed in a plate or cover g attached to
the frame, the flanges of the cover serving to limit the amount of rotation.
In order to allow of focussing appliances being fitted I provide shorter
barrels h, h which are securely attached to the covers i in which the tubes k
carrying the eye pieces a are also fixed. The covers are mounted to rotate in
the top frame connected with the focussing screw arrangement m. The tubes k
fit telescopically in tubes n fixed in the barrels c so as to rotate therewith, in
such a manner that the tubes k may be partly inserted in or withdrawn from the
fixed tubes n by the focussing appliance and also to simultaneously revolve the
eye pieces and covers i with the barrels c.
The other parts of the prismatic binocular glass shown are well known and need
no particular description,-o being the prisms. The dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2
indicate respectively, a position obtained after manipulating the focussing
appliance m and the approximate range of motion of the eye piece a whereby the
distance between them is capable of being adjusted to the user.
In applying my invention to ordinary binocular glasses the optical tubes are
mounted eccentrically to the barrels c, but axially with each other, so that the eye
piece is immediately above the object piece, each pair of optical tubes being
telescopic.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In a binocular glass, the means for adjusting the distance between the eye
pieces consisting of mounting the optical tubes eccentrically in barrels, the said
barrels being capable of partial rotation in the frame, substantially as set forth.
2. In a binocular glass, the combination with a pair of optical tubes, mounted
in a pair of barrels; of a pair of eye and object pieces fitted to or in said optical
tubes, and a pair of sockets formed integral with the main frame in which
said barrels may revolve, substantially as set forth.
3. In a binocular glass, the combination with a pair of optical tubes mounted
eccentrically in a pair of barrels, of a pair of eye and object pieces fitted to or in
said optical tubes, a pair of sockets formed integral with the main frame, and
means for ensuring simultaneous and opposite rotation of said barrels in said
sockets, substantially as set forth.
4. In a binocular glass, the combination with a pair of main barrels working

page_text: in sockets on the main frame and geared together, of a pair of
optical tubes carrying the object pieces and fixed eccentrically in said
main barrels, a pair of shorter barrels telescoping in said main barrels, a
pair of caps or discs integral with said shorter barrels, a pair of optical tubes
carrying the eye pieces fixed eccentrically in said caps or discs, and telescoping in
the optical tubes of the object pieces, a focussing frame provided with a pair of
sockets in which the shorter barrels may revolve, and means for extending such
shorter barrels or "focussing" substantially as set forth.
5. In a prismatic binocular glass, the combination of a pair of barrels (carrying
the eccentrically and oppositely arranged prisms, optical tubes, and eye and object
pieces) capable of partial rotation, and a main frame formed with sockets in which
said barrels may revolve, substantially as set forth.
6. In a prismatic binocular glass, the combination of a pair of barrels (carrying
the eccentrically and oppositely arranged prisms, optical tubes, and eye and
object pieces,) capable of partial rotation, a main frame formed with sockets in
which said barrels may revolve, and means for ensuring simultaneous and opposite
rotation of said barrels, substantially as set forth.
7. In a prismatic binocular glass, the combination with a pair of barrels
carrying the eccentrically and oppositely arranged prisms, optical tubes, and object
pieces and capable of a partial rotation in sockets integral with the main frame, of
a pair of capped shorter barrels carrying the eye pieces, a pair of optical tubes
fixed eccentrically on said shorter barrels and telescoping into their respective
tubes in the main barrels, a focussing frame formed with sockets in which the
shorter barrels may revolve, and means for extending such shorter barrels or
'focussing," substantially as set forth.
66
Dated 17th August 1899.
JAMES AITCHISON.
By George Downing & Sons,
Chartered Patent Agents, 8, Quality Court, London, W.C.