Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 21st May, 1886.
Complete Left, 21st Feb., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 22nd Mar., 1887.
The Reverend JOSEPH BULL FERRY Vicar of Martin, near Lincoln do hereby
declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows :-
The object of this invention is to manufacture an improved apparatus for the
purpose of assisting in viewing pictures and other objects by excluding all extraneous
matter from the sight, and thereby confining the observation to the picture or other
object to be viewed, and guarding each eye from seeing more or less than the other.
The invention consists of a box or case preferably formed, externally, in a similar
manner to the stereoscope, having apertures for the eyes of the observer, but having
no lenses or other glasses. Internally, the invention differs from the Stereoscope, in
being provided with doors or shutters, mounted on pivots or swing hinges, and made
capable of being adjusted at suitable angles.
One pair of doors are fitted horizontally the inner edges, nearest the observer's eyes,
being mounted on pivots or hinges, and the outer edges being free to take the desired
inclination; these horizontal doors are used to reduce or enlarge the extent of vision
in a vertical direction.
Between these doors and the sight aperture and near the sides of the case, a pair
of vertical doors are mounted, in a similar manner, at right angles to the first
mentioned doors, and capable of regulation, so as to reduce or enlarge the extent of
vision in a horizontal direction.
A third pair of doors are fitted on vertical pivots between the eye sockets or
sight apertures which limit or adjust and regulate the inner lines of sight, and govern
the meeting points of such lines with the outer lines of sight, making such meeting
points near or distant, as desired.
This third pair of doors afford means of adjusting the inner line of sight of the right
eye to the outer of the left, and the inner of the left to the outer of the right.
The movements of each pair of doors is so effected that their outer edges
simultaneously approach towards or recede from each other so that their angles
with the central axis are at all times equal and opposite. This result is obtained
by means of suitable studs, levers, slotted guides, connecting links and equivalent
devices, whereby their approach to or departure from, and angle of inclination
with, the axial line, is at all times under perfect control.
My invention is capable of much modification, in arrangement, materials and
other details.
GEO. DOWNING,
Agent for Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Viewing Pictures or other Objects.
I, The Reverend Joseph BULL FERRY, Vicar of Martin, near Lincoln, do hereby
declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to he
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement
The object of this invention is to manufacture an improved apparatus for the
purpose of assisting in viewing pictures and other objects, by excluding all extraneous
matter from the sight, and thereby confining the observation to the picture or other
object to be viewed, and guarding each eye from seeing more or less than the other.
The invention consists of a box or case, preferably formed, externally, in a similar
manner to the stereoscope; having apertures for the eyes of the observer, but having
no lenses or other glasses. Internally, the invention differs from the stereoscope, in
being provided with doors or shutters, mounted on pivots or swing hinges, and made
capable of being adjusted at suitable angles.
One pair of doors are fitted horizontally, the inner edges nearest to the observer's
eyes, being mounted on pivots or hinges, and the outer edges being free to take the
desired inclination, these horizontal doors are used to reduce or enlarge the extent of
vision in a vertical direction.
Between these doors and the sight apertures, and near the sides of the case, a pair
of vertical doors are mounted, in a similar manner, at right angles to the first
mentioned doors, and capable of regulation, so as to reduce or enlarge the extent
of vision in a horizontal direction.
A third pair of doors are fitted on vertical pivots or hinges, between the eye
sockets or sight apertures, which limit or adjust and regulate the inner or cross
lines of sight, and govern the meeting points of such lines, with the outer lines
of sight, as regulated by the secondly mentioned pair of doors, making such meeting
points near or distant, as desired.
Thus the right eye is prevented from seeing further to the left than the limit
of vision of the left eye, in that direction; and the left eye is, in like manner,
prevented from seeing further to the right than the limit of vision of the right eye, in
that direction.
The movements of each pair of doors is so effected that their outer edges
simultaneously approach towards or recede from each other, so that their angles with
the central axis are at all times equal and opposite. This result is obtained by means
of suitable screws, studs, levers, connecting links, cords and equivalent devices,

page_text: whereby their approach to or departure from, and angle of inclination with the axial
line, is at all times under perfect control.
My invention is capable of much modification, in arrangement, materials, and
other details.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and ascertained,
reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters and
figures of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is a horizontal section, Fig. 2 a front view, and Fig. 3 a longitudinal vertical
section, and Figs. 4 and 5 are further views of my invention. Fig. 4 being a view of
the underside of the top of the case with its fittings, and Fig. 5 an elevation of the
two sliding plates with circular openings.
a is the outer case, bb are the sight holes, ce are the front vertical shutters, d d are
the back vertical shutters, and e e are a pair of horizontal shutters.
The shutters c and d are omitted in Fig. 3 for greater clearness. The front edges
of all the shutters are hinged to the case, as shewn in the drawings.
One method of operating each pair of shutters, simultaneously, is shewn in the
drawings is a milled head attached to a spindle which carries the grooved wheel
J.
This wheel is fitted with cords 1, 1, 2, 2, which govern the positions of the
shutters d d. is a milled head attached to a spindle which carries the grooved wheel i.
This wheel is fitted with a cord which actuates the bar 3. This bar has two small
connecting rods 4, 4, which govern the positions of the shutters c c. k is a
milled head attached to a spindle which carries the grooved wheel m. This wheel is
fitted with a cord which actuates the bar 5. This bar governs the positions of
the shutters e e, first by means of the connecting rod 6, and secondly by means of the
cords 7, 7, which ensure corresponding movements. n is a milled head attached to the
spindle o, which carries two grooved wheels p p. These wheels are fitted with
cords 8, 8, which pass round the tension wheels 7. The cords 8, 8 are attached to
the travelling bar r. ss are two plates fitted with staples 9, 9, which slide upon the
bar "", when moved thereby. The plates ss also carry staples 10, 10, which slide upon
guide wires 11, 11. The plates ss carry the vertical plates in which circular
sight holes are formed.
By turning the milled head n, as required, the vertical plates s¹s can be drawn
close up to the sight holes bb, where their effect is entirely neutralised, or can
be placed at various distances therefrom, whereby they effect the limitation of
the vision accordingly.
I also sometimes fit a vertical movable handle, to the underside of the case a, and
attach long spindles passing through the same, for convenience in operating
the same the milled heads in that case being placed below the lower end of
the handle.
By the above described, or any other suitable means, the shutters can be opened or
closed as desired, and the range and direction of vision adjusted.
Although I have shewn convenient methods of operating the shutters, I wish it to
be understood, that I do not confine myself to those methods and means, as any other
suitable means may be used for effecting the same object; nor do I confine myself to
the exact form of apparatus shewn in the drawings, as the construction may be
very much varied.
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. The manufacture and use of the apparatus for the purpose aforesaid, provided
with shutters cc, the angles of which are capable of being adjusted, substantially
as herein before described and shewn on the drawings.
2. The manufacture and use of apparatus as aforesaid, provided with shutters d d,

page_text: the angles of which are capable of being adjusted, substantially as herein before
described and shewn on the drawings.
the
3. The manufacture and use of apparatus as aforesaid, provided with shutters e e,
angles of which are capable of being adjusted, substantially as herein before described
and shewn on the drawings.
4. The manufacture and use of apparatus as aforesaid, provided with movable
circular sight plates the positions of which are capable of being adjusted,
substantially as herein before described and shewn on the drawings.
5. The general construction, combination, and arrangement of the several and
respective parts, together forming my improvements in apparatus for viewing
pictures and other objects, substantially as herein before described and shewn
on the drawings.