FOLDING OPTICAL DEVICE SUCH AS BINOCULARS

摘要

An optical device, most preferably in the form of a pair of folding binoculars (10) includes a front support (12) with a first optical means in the form of a pair of front lenses (25). A second optical means in the form of a pair of rear lenses (27) are supported by a rear support (14). Both the front support (12) and the rear support (14) are pivotably mounted to a spacing means (16) extending between the front support (12) and the rear support (14). The supports (12, 14) are pivotably mounted to the spacing means (16) about respective mounting edges (17, 18). Further, the supports (12, 14) each have a free edge (20, 22) located opposite to the respective mounting edges (17, 18), enabling the supports (12, 14) to be folded from an operative configuration to a storage configuration. The optical device (10) may also include a releasable holding means (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 39a, 39b) to hold the front support and the rear support in the operative configuration. The binoculars (10) may be constructed by integrally moulding the first pair of lenses (25) into the front support (12) and likewise, integrally moulding the second pair of lenses (27) into the rear support (14).