Improvements in or relating to Opera Glasses, and Holders therefor.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 7th May, 1895-Accepted, 17th Aug., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Opera Glasses, and Holders therefor.
We, JEREMIAH MURPHY, of 98 Franklin Street, Merchant, OSCAR FREDERICK
ENGWALL, of 936 Walnut Street, Mechanician, and CHARLES ABRAHAM TIDEN,
of 6312 Champlain Avenue, Mechanician, all of Chicago, in the County of Cook
and State of Illinois, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention aud in what manner the saino is to be performed to be particularly
descubed and ascertained in and by the following statement.-
The invention relates to opera glasses having holders attached thereto, either
adjustably or removably, by means of which the glasses can be held for use, and
focussed by the hand grasping the handle of the holder.
And the object of the invention is to obtain an opera glass of more sightly
appearance than has been heretoforo made; and of lighter construction.
To obtain an opera glass having a holder of the kind described, the holder
whereof can be easily detached from the glass by the person using the same, for
placing such glass and holder in the respective cases therefor
To obtam au opera glass having a bolder of the kind named, the holder whoreof,
when attached, can be folded and thereby reduced in length, before being placed
in the case therofor.
A further, and comparatively important part of the several objects sought in this
invention is. the obtaining of a holder of the kind named which can be attached to
opera glasses not originally designed to have a holder attached thereto, in such a
manner that the appearance of the glass and holder shall be that of a new article,
aud uot that of an article repaired or added to.
And it is still further the object of the invention to obtain an opera glass and
holder of the kind named wherein the movable parts or gearing shall be inclosed
in such manner as to be protected from injury, as well as concealed from obse-
vatiou, leaving only the thumb wheel by which the glass is focussed open to view
and touch
In the carrying out of our invention we have found it necessary to devise aud
construct mechanisms which are, by us, substituted for the mechanisms heretofore
placed between the barrels of the opera glass for focussing the same, to devise and
construct mechanisms for attaching the holder to the opera glass so that such
holder can be detached from the glass by the person using the same; to devise
folding mechanisms which can be used as substitutes for such detachable
mechanisms, when preferred, and at the same time to construct such holder and
opera glass so that the gearing contained therein, respectively, shall intermesh or
engage, and that without requiring special care or effort on the part of such person;
and to devise and construct mechanisms whereby the holder can be shortened, that
16, reduced in length.
By making the holder detachable from the open glass or arranged to fold
against the barrels thereof, and so constructing such holder that it can be shortened,
such opera glass and holder can be readily placed in the case provided therefor and
such case is not required to be noticeably larger than would be a case adapted to
hold the opera glass without such holder.
In the drawings referred to,
Fig. is a front or end elevation of an opera glass and holder embodying the
invention

page_text: Fig. 2 a section through the center of the holder with such holder removed from
the opera glass and folded in readiness to be placed in its case,
Fig. 3 a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, viewed in the direction indicated
by the arrows, with the barrels of the opern glass, (which barrels are in no way
directly affected by the inventions), removed;
Fig 4 a sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 8, viewed in the direction indicated
by the arrows;
Fig. 5 a bottom plan view to a smaller scale of the parts illustrated in section in
Fig 3,
Fig. 6 a section on line 6-6 of Fig. 1, viewed in the direction indicated by the
arrows,
Fig 7 a top plan view of the upper end of the holder, showing the part thereof
fitting on to the parts illustrated in Fig. 5,
Fig. 8 is a front or end elevation of a modified construction of an opera glass and
holder en bodying the inventions,
Fig 9 a sectional view of the holder illustrated in Fig. 8, auch holder being
removed from the opera glass and folded for packing in the case designed therefor,
Fig. 10 a sectional view on line 10-10 of Fig. 8, viewed in the direction mdicated
by the arrows,
Fig 11 a bottom plan view of the central part or portion illustrated in Fig. 10;
Fig 12 a top plan view of the upper end of the holder, at the point thereof hitting
into the parts illustrated in Fig. 11.
Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view of a detachable thumb wheel which can be
substituted for the holder, when desired.
Fig 14 is a side elevation of one of the bariels of an opera glass, with the bars
connecting the barrels shown in cross section, and such opoia glass having a thiee
part holder embodying a modification of this invention attached thereto, and in
position for use, one of the parts being rigidly secured to the frame of the opera
glass and the remaning parts removably attached to the first named part;
Fig 15 a vertical cross-sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 14, viewed in the
duection indicated by the arrows
Fig 16 and 17, respectively, are perspective views of mechanisins mounted in
the middle part of the holder and forming an extensiblo rotatable spindlo
Fig 18 is a perspective view of the handle part of the holder illustrated in
Figs 14 and 15
Fig 19 a perspective view of a spring contained in the part of this modified
constructions which is rigidly secured to the fiame of tho opeia glass,
Fig. 20 a perspective view of that end of the middle part of the holder which
abuts against the sping illustrated in Fig. 19, when the holder is in position
for 11:8:
Fig. 21 an elevation of such modification of oue of the details of the three pait
construction,
Fig 22 an elevation of such modification in position to be placed, with the opera
glass, in the case thereof,
Fig. 23 a central longitudinal section of an opera glass and a part of the three
part holder embodying this invention, with the part of such holder adjacent and
gidly secured to the fame of the opera glass connected to the middle part by
different means from which the same are connected in such Fig. 15; and also
showing the frame extending between the bars connecting the bai rels of the opera
glass constructed of a tube, with a tubular bar having a geared rack therem
extending into, (and longitudinally movable 10), such tubular frame;
Fig 24 an end view of the construction illustrated in Fig 23, on line 24-24 of
Fig. 23, and
Fig. 25 a houzontal cross-sectional view of the tubular frame illustrated in
Fig. 23 and a bottom plan view, (looking up), of the tubular bai and geared rack
extending into such tubular frame, as indicated by line 25-25 of Fig. 23 and the
arrow crossing such line.

page_text: A reference letter employed to indicate a given part is used to designate such
part in all the views thereof wherever the saine appears, throughout the several
figures of the drawings.
A is an opera glass, a, a, being the respective barrels thereof and a', a' the bais
forming part of the frame-work of the opera glass and connecting such barrels
together. A, (Figs. 23, 24, 25), is a tubular frame secured to bars a', a', and A
18 a tubular bar longitudinally movable in frame A. In the constructions
illustrated in Figs 1 to 13 both inclusive, B is the handle of the holder and D is
a yoke connecting handle B with tube E Yuko D consists of the part d designed
to be igidly attached to handle B, the body parts d', d, pivotally attached
together at one end thereof and adapted to be opened and closcl ou the connecting
pivot, and when closed forming a yoke, and the part igidly secured to the
tube E; and catch d¹.
What we deem the preferable construction of catch is
illustrated in Figs 12 and 6 In this construction is an abutment on put d' of
yoke D, and is a groove in abutment . is a stop on the side of abutment d³.
,d, are abutments on part d², between which abutment d³ extends when the
holder is in operative adjustment. is a thumb wheel rotatably mounted on
part of the yoke, and do is the cncular base of rotatable thumb wheel P.
is a notch in base of thumb wheel, such notch corresponding with
abutment, so that when the notch is over the opening or space between
abutments do, do, such abutment cau be extended through the notch, with groove &
above the part daud in place so that rotation of the thumb wheel will cause
flange or base to extend into the groove and so hold parts d', d' firmly together,
thereby obtaming yoke D. F is a sleeve igidly secured to the upper end of
tube E. nie beveled flanges on sleeve F, and, are notches in such
flanges These flanges, t, extend further, radially, on one side of notches, f
than on the other side thereof. F' is a frame secured to bars a', a'. ', ' are
abutments, having flaring heads, secured to frame F. To attach the holder to the
opera glass, in this construction, the notches, f¹ are placed over the abut-
ments, and the holder turned so that the flanges, are brought firmly
against the flaring heads of such abutments, on the under side thereof
F is a passage way in frame F. F' 13 a bar secured at one end to bar C and
extending into passage way F, in which passage way such bar is longitudinally
movable F* 18 a sping abutting against traine F, and bai F³, in passage way F.
3 is a geared pimon intermeshing with geared teeth fon bar F. and is a
square hole or recess in such pinion. G, G', are washers secured on bais a', a',
respectively. H is a rotatable spindle, having squared and fitting into hole or
recess f
Where the ordinary focussing apparatus 19 taken out of an opera glass and this
construction substituted therefor the space around the trame in bars a', «² 15
covered by the washers G, G, and a sightly appearance secured.
Rotation of spindle II rotates pinion 3, this moving bat longitudinally and
focussing the glass Spindle II extends through the tube E and has thumb
wheel theicon by which, when the holder is in position for use, such spindle is
tuined
In the modified construction illustrated in Figs 8 to 12, both inclusive, a
different form of catch for holding the parts of the yoke D in a closed position, a
frame work designed to be attached to the ordinary opera-glass without taking
therefrom the adjusting devices forming part of the ordinary focussing appuatus
of an opera glass, and a different construction for securing the holder to the
frame of an opera glass, are shown. In this construction beveled gears are secured
on the sleeve or tube of the ordinary focussing mechanism of an opera glass, with
Intermeshing beveled gears rotatably mounted in a frame, such last named gears
heng actuated by the thumb wheel in the handle of the holder or adjacent thereto.
Jis the frame work, consisting of parts, ', secured together by sciews or
pins Frame work is thus made adjustable f different sizes of opera
glasses 13 a slot in part of fiame J through which screws on pins extend_

page_text: is a
In certain cases we have foreseen that it may be advisable to make a holder
adapted to be held in the right hand or the left hand, as preferred, and we
accomplish this as follows. Parts j, j of frame J have upturned ends
hole upturned end of part 1, such hole fitting over the end of the focussing
tube of the glass, and is a hole in the upturned end of part with screw
extending therethrough. Screw fits into the end of the focussing tube of the
glass.
The catch used in this construction for holding the parts d', d, of yoke D,
together, consists simply of the spring lever K pivoted in abutment a so as to
extend between abutments, d, and engage at the hooked end thereof with
projection connecting euch abutments. K' is a sping yieldingly holding sping
level K in engagement with projection 21.
The construction by which the holder is attached to the opera glass frame
in Fig. 8 to 12, both inclusive consists of the 1otatable and longitudinally movable
sleeve on tube E, having internal screw threads 7, engaging with screw threads (1
on projection L' of frame J. is a flange on tube E preventing sleeve L from
being removed or coming off of the tube E Such sleeve 18 brought into close
contact with the flunge by the engagement of screw threads 1, 1. M is a projection
on projection L' of fiane 3, aranged to hit into a corresponding hole m in the end
of tube E and prevent rotation of the holder when spindle H thereof is turned to
focus the opera glass. More than one hole m may be placed in tube E, or in
the terrule thereon, to enable a quick attachment to be made of the holder to the
opera glass
is the squared end, (or rectangular), of spindle H, and is a corresponding
hole or recess in hub p of the rotatably mounted beveled gear P.
The construction illustrated in Fig. 13 consists of the non-1otatable sleeve or
tube N attached to the frame extending between bats a', a', of the opera glass, and
the rotatable spindle O, having thumb wheel O' thereon, at one end thereof, nud
rectangular end 03 at the other end, fitting into rectangular hole f, of rotatable
pinion.
The fastening illustrated and herein before described consisting of the beveled
flange having openings f, and abutments f", f, may be substituted for the
sleeve N having hole m therein, (shown in Fig 13), if preferred
In the construction illustrated in Figs. 14 to 25, both inclusive, there is shown a
three part bolder, one of such parts igidly attached to the frame connecting the
cross bars a', a', between the barrels of the opera glass; one removably or adjustably,
(as preferred), secuned to the first named patt; and one, the handle of the holder,
adjustably secured to the second named, and middle part of the holder The
thumb wheel is secured to a spindle rotatably mounted in the handle of the
N° 198
bolder.
In Figs 14 to 22, both inclusive, tube N¹is igidly secured to frame F
common bent or coiled spring, having one or more turns, in tube N'. N°. N³ are
slots in Lube N', having peripherally extending portions, n, and entrances n³, n².
E is a tube forming the middle part of the holder. Tube E¹ fits into tube N.
,, are pins or stops on tube E', fitting into slots N³, N³ Bis the handle of the
holder, and B is a huge secuing it to tube E. is a catch on tube E', engaging
with abutment in handle B'. B is a recess on handle B', into which pin or stopel
extends when the handle is folded over on tube E' for packing. is the thumb
wheel and 12 the shalt thereof. g', y' are grooves across the end of shaft or
sprudle 1. II, 11 are the paits forming a rotatable shaft in tube E
convenience of reference we shall term parts H, L³, shafts. Shaft II' has spindle /³
forming oue end thereof, with hole or recess and slots *, therein. * is an
annular groove nt the other end of shaft II, and 7 is the squared end thereof.
I preferably consists of a spindle having annulai groove and end with
abutments 10, 0, thereon. ", is a spring on spindle 4, one end of the spring
abutting against the shoulder formed by spindle 4 being of less diameter than the
remaining part of the shaft, and the other end of such sping abutting against the
For

page_text: end of shaft II' Sping thus tends to force shafts II, IT longitudinally away
from each other and to yieldingly hold them in an extended position in tube E.
Pins or abutments 10, 10, engage with slot h, h, so that rotation of shaft H', (by
thumb wheol I'), rotates shaft II. His a pin or stop in tube E', (Fig. 15,),
extending into groove 8, permitting limited longitudinal movement of shaft Hin
such tube. 1, are giooves across the end of shaft 11, intai mesing with the
corresponding ribs, (formed by grooves g', g',), across the end of shaft I' when
handle B and tube El are in axial line.
In the construction illustrated in Figs. 21, 22, tube E 18 hinged on the rigidly
secured tube N', stem II' and shaft II' having corresponding grooves and ribs
at A, which intermesh. And in this construction J is a sleeve on tube D',
longitudinally movable so as to be slid when desired, over tube N', forming a look.
to the hinge connecting the parts and holding the tube E and tube Nin axial
line, or to be slid off from ovei auch hinge, permitting such tubes to be folded for
packing
In Figs. 23, 24 and 25, a construction is shown wheroin a tubular frame is
secured to bars a', a', by being extended through holes in such bars and having
washers over the ends thereof secured to the bars, and an apparatus embodying our
invention connected thereto. A 18 such tubular frame. G. G' are the washers ;
II the geared pinion, and A' the geared inck inter meshing therewith. a is a bar
extending between and socured to open rings A, A'. a' is also a bar extending
between open rings A, A. Bar a' and open rings A, A7, have preferably,
fictional contact with the inner surface of tube A'.
To substitute this construction of the apparatus embodying the invention for tho
ordinary focussing apparatus of an opera glass it is necessary, first, to remove the
tube, thumb wheel and connecting parts, and replace such parts with the tube A',
and the contained and connecting paits described, and theu secure the washois G³, G'
on bais a', a', over the ends of tube A to hold such tube in place.
To use this construction handle B1 and tube E' are brought into axial line and
the catch connecting such handle and tube engaged to maintain them in position,
au tube E joined to tube N' in like position. The turning of thumb wheel I'
will then turn pinion II engaging with geared rack A' and focus and glass
(Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. In an opera glass holder consisting of a cylindrical body part and a handle, a
yoke joining the handle and body part such yoke consisting of bais connected
together at one end by a pivot and at the other end by a catch, whereby the yoke
can be separated and the handle and body part folded; a spindle rotatably mounted
in the cylindrical body part of the handle, a connection between the spindle and
the locussing mechanism of the opera glass, and a thumb wheel on the spindle at
the end thereof extending into the yoke; substantially as described.
2 In an opera glass, a bai extending between the bais connecting the battels of
the opera glass, washers fitting over the ends of the bar and fitted to the connecting
bars, a passage way in the first named bai, a bar fitting movably in the passage
way, a geared rack on the last named ba a rotatably mounted geared pinion
mounted in the first named bar engaging with the geared hack, and a holder
removably attached to the first named bar, such holder consisting of a body part
and a handle joined together by a separable yoke, a rotatable spindle in the body
part engaging with the rotatable pinion when the holder and opera glass ar joined
together, and a thumb wheel on the spindle within the yoke; substantially as
described
3 In an opera glass, a bar extending between the bars connecting the barrels of
the opera glass, a passage way in the first named bai, a bar fitting movably in tho
passage way, a geared rack on the last named bai, a rotatably mounted pinion
engaging with the geared rack mounted on the last named bai, a sping in the

page_text: passage way abutting against the bais, a cyhndrical sleove, a spindle rotatably
mounted on the sleeve, a thumb wheel on the spindle and an engagement between
the spindle and rotatable pinion, and means for removably attaching the sleeve to
the first named bar, substantially as described
4 In an opera glass, a frame extending between the bars connecting the bariels
of the opera glass and attachable to such bars, a geared pimon forming a driving
gea rotatably mounted on the frame, a connection between such genred pinion and
the extensible tubes of the opera glass, and a holder temorably attached to such
frame, such holder having a rotatable spindle therein engaging with the rotatable
pon when the holder and frame are joined together, a thumb wheel on the
spindle and a yoke composed of separable bars extending around the thumb wheel
and connecting the handle and the body part of the holder together, substantially
as described.
5 In an opera glass holder a handle and a cylindrical body part, a separable yoke
connecting such handle and body part together, a rotatable spindle mounted in the
holder, a thumb wheel on the spindle and within the yoke, and means for attaching
the holder to the frame of an opera glass, with a connection between the ends of such
intatable spindle and the focussing mechanism of the opera glass; substantially as
descubed
6 In an opera glass holder, a rotatable spindle, a cylindrical body part in which
the spindle is mounted, a handle, a yoke between the handle aud a body part, a
thumb wheel on the spindle within such yoke, a beveled flange on the end of the
Lody part, such flange having portions thereof cut away, and abutments on the bar
of an opera glass between the barrels thereof, such abutment extensible through the
openings formed therefor by the cutting away of the portions of the beveled flange
and Gtting against the beveled flange when the body part of the holder is turned
into position; substantially as described
7 In an opera glass holder, a rotatable spindle, a cylindrical boily part within
which the spindle is mounted, a handle, a yoke between the handle and the body
pait, such yoke consisting of bars connected together by a pivot at one end thereof
and by a catch at the other end, a thumb wheel on the spindle and within such
yoke, and means for attaching the holder to the frame extending between the bars
connecting the barrels of the opera glass, squared end on the spindle engaging
with the rotatable pinion in the frame, and a connection between the rotatable
pinion and the focussing mechanism of the opera glass, substantially as descubed.
8 In an opera glass, a fiame extending between the bars connecting the barrels
of the glass, such frame having a passage way thetelu, a bar connected at one end
thereof to the bar connecting the tubes of the opera glass and longitudmally
movable in the passage way, a geared rack on such longitudinally movable bar, a
geared rotatable pinion mounted in the st named frame to engage with the
geared inck, and a holder attachable to such fame, such holder having a rotatable
spindle therein engaging with the rotatable pinion when the holder and opera glass
are joined together, and a thumb wheel thereon midway of the holder, whereby it
can be rotated by the thumb and forefinger of the hand grasping the handle ;
substantially as described.
9 Lu an opera glass, a fiame extending between the bars connecting the barrels
of the glass, such frame having a passage way therein, a bar connected at one end
thereof to the bai connecting the tubes of the opera glass and longitudinally
movable in the passage way, a geared rack on such longitudinally movable bar, a
geared rotatable pinion mounted in the first named frame to engage with the geared
inch, a spring abutting against the fist named frame and against the bar longitudinally
movable therein, a boller and mechanism in the holder for tuning the pinion,
the diving wheel of such mechanism being midway of the two ends of the holder;
substantially as described.
10 The combination of a three part holder, one of such parts rigidly secured
to an opera glass frame, one of the parts removably or adjustably secuted to the
fist named pait, and the remaining pait, forming the haudle, adjustably secured

page_text: to the second named part, with mechanisin rotatably mounted in the several parts
whereby the opera glass can be focussed by the thumb and forefinger of the hand
grasping the handle part of the holder substantially as described.
11 The combination of a three part holder, one of such parts rigully secured to
the opera glass, a second part removably or adjustably seemed to the first named
part, and a third part forming a handle to the holder adjustably seemed to the
second named part, with a spindle rotatably mounted in the first namel
part, a pinion ou the spindle engaging with a corresponding lack of the
focussing mechanism of the opera glass, a spindle rotatably mounted in th
second named part, the ends of such spindle being, respectively, yieldingly held 11
an extended position, and a thumb wheel in the handle part of the holder, the
intermediate spindle being arranged to engage with the spindle of the thumb wheel
and the spindle of the pinion, substantially as descubed.
.
12 The combination with an opera glass of a three part holder, one of such parts
secured to the opera glass, the adjacent part adjustably secured to the first named
part, and the remaining part adjustably secured to the second named part, with
mechanism totatably mounted in the several parts whereby the opera glass can be
focussed by turning a thumb wheel in the last named part and adjacent to the
second named part by the thumb and forefinger of the hand grasping the thund
uamed part; substantially as described
13. The combination with an opera glass of a holder consisting of a tube secured
to the fiaine of the opera glass, a spindle rotatably mounted therein, a pinion on
the spindle cugaging with a rack, a rack secured to the cross bat connecting the
draw tubes of the opera glass, a tube connecting with the first named tube, spindles
rotatably mounted in the second named tube, such spindles engaging rotatably with
each other and being independently longitudinally movable in the tube, means for
ieldingly holding the spindles in an extended position relative to the tube, and
handle connecting with the second named tube, with a spindle having a thumb
wheel thereon mounted in such handle, all of such spindles being 1otatably connected
when the several parts of the holder are in an operative position, substantially as
descubed.
14 In a three part opera glass holder, the combination of a thumb wheel
rotatably mounted in the handle part of the holder, a spindle rotatably mounted i
the part of the holder adjacent to the bandle part, such spindle consisting of two
shafts connected together so as to rotate in unison and to move longitudinally
ndependently of each other, a spring yieldingly holding both of such shafts in an
extended position, and a spindle mounted in the remaining part of the holder, and
all of such spindles coming in contact at the ends thereof adjacent to each other
when the holder is in position for use and engaging so as to rotate in unison;
substantially as described.
Dated this 7ib dov of May 1905
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
18 Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C, Agents for the Applicants.