A CLASP-STEREOVIEWER

STEREOSCOPE-AGRAFE

English Abstract

The CLASP-STEREOVIEWER is designed for integral attachment
to books having major illustrations consisting of three-dimensional
stereoprints. Through a series of planes with six
crease-hinges, it can be repeatedly set up in a standard position
over a series of stereoprint illustrations, can be swung clear
to turn pages, and can be collapsed to store as a CLASP in a
NICHE in the front cover of the book.
Combined with calculated geometry of stereophotography on
site, and with calculated enlargement and dimensioning of the
stereoprints, this standard position of viewing can reproduce
visual reality - human visual perceptions in the three dimensions
of actual space - with unmatched accuracy.

Claims

Page 7
CLAIMS:
1. I claim the invention of a CLASP-STEREOVIEWER permanently
attached to books having major stereoprint illustrations of
a standard width and position at the bottoms of righthand pages
of two-page-spreads of text and illustration. The parts of this
invention include:
(a). The stereoviewer - cut and creased and folded from a
single strong, flexible sheet of plastic, or of composite
and plastic, of approx. 0.030" thickness - which is made rigid
by the folding, doubling, and adhesion of its major planes
D and E, and by the gripping, in the slot of lens-plane E,
of the two planes F and G of the support perpendicular to
D and E. The viewer is made collapsible to a single plane
by freeing planes F and G from the slot and folding them
under plane D while simultaneously unfolding lens-plane E
in extension of plane D. These separate planes, folds, and
crease-hinges are identified on Plate 1.
(b). The permanent connection of the stereoviewer to the book
- by continatiom of the same sheet of material, detailed
on Plate 1, through three crease-hinges and two doubled, rigid
planes B and C to single plane A, adhering on both sides to
the structural planes of the rear cover of the book. These
crease-hinges and planes are identified on Plate 1, and are
shown in various positions of use on Plates 2, 3, 4, & 5.
(c). The construction of a protective NICHE in the front cover
of the book to receive the collapsed stereoviewer as a clasp
holding the book closed. Plate 4 shows the NICHE open;
Plate 5 shows the CLASP-STEREOVIEWER housed in it. Plate 2
shows one method of creating the NICHE, cut through three
layers of material sandwiched within another continuous sheet

Page 8.
of the same material as that of the CLASP-STEREOVIEWER, 0,030"
in thickness. This forms both the inner and the outer surfaces
of the rear cover of the book, wrapping around and gripping
plane A, then continues across the spine, and forms the outer
surface and the inner surface of the front cover. An outline
cut through the outer surface of the front cover combines
with outlines in the three inner layers to create the NICHE.
2. I further claim an adaptation of this CLASP-STEREOVIEWER
to viewing stereoprint illustrations transmitted on computer
and television screens, provided that location on the screen,
width, separation, and pixels at 250 or more per lineal inch
match standards required for book publication of stereoprints.
This adaptation is shown in Plate 6. The book in which the
CLASP-STEREOVIEWER is housed is turned face-down on the top
surface enclosing the computer or television screen. There it
serves as a counterweight to the stereoviewer projecting from
the rear cover. Planes B and C and the three crease-hinges serve
to span the frame surrounding the screen to bring the stereoviewer
base in contact with it. The lens-plane of the viewer
is then parallel to the vertical or near-vertical screen; and
the position of the human observer shields the screen from
extraneous reflections. For permanent adaptation to such screens,
the nose hole is moved to the opposite edges of planes E,F,&.G.
3. I further claim that - sacrificing the function of serving
as a book-clasp - the stereoviewer can be efficiently and safely
stored, when not in use, in a NICHE in the rear cover of the
book. This NICHE will be of the same dimensions as before,
except for now lengthening it to also accommodate plane B; and
the stereoviewer will function as before, except that - with
the book lying closed on desk or shelf - the stereoviewer is
no longer exposed to view.

Page 9.
4. I further claim that - cutting the stereoviewer from its
permanent connection with the book along crease-hinge III -
it becomes an efficient form of pocket stereoscope for study
of individual stereopair transparencies or prints, and is neither
as heavy and bulky as the U.S.Army pocket stereoscopes or those
derived from them, nor as inclined to deform, as plastic
stereoviewers of single thickness and unsymmetrical construction
will do. This can then be housed in a paper sleeve within the
cover of a paperback book, or within the pocket of a coat jacket.
ABSTRACT:
The CLASP-STEREOVIEWER is designed for integral attachment
to books having major illustrations consisting of three-dimensional
stereoprints. Through a series of planes with six
crease-hinges, it can be repeatedly set up in a standard position
over a series of stereoprint illustrations, can be swung clear
to turn pages, and can be collapsed to store as a CLASP in a
NICHE in the front cover of the book.
Combined with calculated geometry of stereophotography on
site, and with calculated enlargement and dimensioning of the
stereoprints, this standard position of viewing can reproduce
visual reality - human visual perceptions in the three dimensions
of actual space - with unmatched accuracy.
NOTE:
In January 1997, I made a search at the Boston Public Library
Patent and Trademark Depository Library and found no references
related to this CLASP-STEREOVIEWER in classification 359/466.

Description

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A CLASP-STEREOVIEWER Page 1. of 9.
Inventor: Perry E. Borchers
360 South Essex Lane, Tucson, Arizona, USA 85711
Reference: U.S. Patent Application 08/812,965, March 5, 1997
by Perry E. Borchers.
SUMMARY:
The CLASP-STEREOVIEWER is permanently attached to its book;
it unfolds to take standard position over stereoprints which
have standard position on right-hand pages of the book; and
it folds as a clasp into a NICHE in the front cover of the book
for ordinary handling and storage on bookshelves. Front and
rear covers, spine, NICHE, and CLASP-STEREOVIEWER are connected
and function as one complete unit.
BACKGROUND:
The stereoscopes and stereoviewers used since World War II
in the field and in the laboratories of photointerpretation
and photogrammetry for remote sensing have been instruments
typically set up independently for three-dimensional viewing
and study of similarly independent photographic stereopairs
or stereo-drawings. The result is unequalled clarity in the
recognition of qualities and the measurement of dimensions in
the 'optical model' that is formed in the eyes and the brain.
The same laboratory quality of viewing and understanding visual
subject matter is highly desirable in book publication, where,
however, it is considered a distinct drawback for book and
stereoviewer to be two separate units, with one or the other
- particularly the stereoviewer - subject to inadvertent
misplacement or casual theft.

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This CLASP-STEREOVIEWER is therefore an answer to a major
impediment preventing the publication of books containing
stereoprint illustration of truly three-dimensional subjects.
DRAWINGS:
Plate 1. shows how the CLASP-STEREOVIEWER can be punch-cut
and creased from a single 14" wide strip of 30 mil thickness
of a material such as composite polyethylene and carbon.
Plate 2. shows how the inner and outer surfaces of the BOOK
COVERS and SPINE can be punch-cut and creased from a similar
single 14" wide strip of similar thickness and material, with
minor infill to complete the rear cover and to form the NICHE
in the front cover. The CLASP-STEREOVIEWER is shown in retracted
position as for turning of pages.
Plate 3, shows the CLASP-STEREOVIEWER in viewing position
over a stereoprint at about midpoint in the book.
Plate 4. shows the CLASP-STEREOVIEWER in idling position over
the NICHE in the front cover of the book.
Plate 5. shows the CLASP-STEREOVIEWER in clasp position within
the NICHE in the front cover for shelving the book.
Plate 6. shows the book in face-down position with the CLASP-
STEREOVIEWER extended as for viewing a stereoprint projection
of proper location, area, and pixel size, on a nearly vertical
computer or television screen.
MANUFACTURE:
The system of manufacture, as illustrated in Plates 1. & 2.,

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is a build-up of forms through adhesion of multiple layers of
plastic sheets of a common thickness; but this is not intended
to exclude from this SPECIFICATION the use of other molding
processes by which the same general forms and uses of the
CLASP-STEREOVIEWER and NICHE can be achieved.
In Plate 1. note:
Active hinges I - VI, of which hinges I, II, & IV are creased
from below and fold down, and hinges III, V, & VI are creased
from above and fold up. Hinges V & VI are opposed to each
other, and can either be folded completely under for housing
the CLASP-STEREOVIEWER in its NICHE, or can be half-opened
so planes F & G are extended in parallel to be grasped by
the slot in lens-plane E to give sturdy support during all
movement of the stereoviewer.
Visible planes B - G of hinges and stereoviewer, reinforced
by permanent folds 1' - 7', and adhering under them the
concealed planes b',b", c', c", d', d',& e. These concealed
planes are trimmed so they create additional width of
flexure for hinges I, II, III, & IV.
Plane A extends full length into the rear cover of the book,
and adheres on both faces to the structure of the rear cover.
Planes b' - e, on the sides folded inwards, will also be
be coated with commercially available adhesive, of acrylic
or rubber. Cutting through the doubled planes are two lens
holes, one slot, and one nose hole.
Dimensions in the drawings are based on the use of plexiglas
lenses, commercially molded, of approximately 5" focal
length and 2x magnification.

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DESIGN REQUIREMENTS FOR INTENDED USE:
(1). The CLASP-STEREOVIEWER must be strongly and permanently
attached to its book. In this design, the bottom end of the
the apparatus is gripped between the structural layers of the
rear cover; and it is hinged from the bottom edge of that cover.
This can be seen in Plate 2.
(2). When unfolded and set up, the stereoviewer must maintain
a standard position over stereoprints which themselves occupy
a standard position near the bottom of the righthand page at
the end of each two-page-spread of text and illustrations.
In this design, it is positioned by its parallel crease-hinges
and is stabilized by the double support which is first unfolded
perpendicular to the hinges and is then gripped by the slot
in the lens-plane. This support, resting on the narrow separation
between the two images of a stereoprint, also limits each eye
to a single image and results in a clear, stereoscopic 'optical
model' without ghost images at the sides.
The position of the CLASP-STEREOVIEWER in active stereoviewing
is seen in Plate 3, which shows a typical way of joining the
end sheet and front cover and a typical way of holding the book.
The left thumb flattens the page and and the hinge of the
stereoviewer, while the left hand - after the first half of
the book - tilts that first half so that successive pages and
stereoprints remain centered under the stereoviewer.
(3). When pages need to be turned, the stereoviewer must be
swung out of the way and then be swung back to standard position
without loss of form or position. In this design, that is done
with the hinge at the bottom of the rear cover. See Plate 2.
(4). There is an idling position of the CLASP-STEREOVIEWER,

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which can be seen in Plate 4. This particular position on desk
or counter, in library or bookstore, can advertise the combined
uniqueness of the three-dimensionally illustrated book and the
stereoviewer in the most provocative way. An effective sales
display could exhibit one book open, with the stereoviewer
centered over a stereoprint ready for stereoscopic viewing,
and one book closed, with the stereoviewer folded into the
NICHE in the front cover.
(5). When the book is to be shelved, the stereoviewer must
be housed in the NICHE in the front cover of the book, everywhere
at least 30 mils deeper than the depth of the stereoviewer folded
and inserted in it, with no projections to damage the stereo-
viewer or to mar other books during ordinary storage or
withdrawal of the book from between others on shelves in
libraries or bookstores.
In the design, this is accomplished by disengaging the two
planes of the perpendicular support from the slot in the
lens-plane, by folding these under, closing the book, inserting
the outer edge of the lens-plane into the slot at the top of
the NICHE in the front cover, and - with pressure on hinge II
at the bottom edge of the front cover - causing the folded
stereoviewer to override the shoulderlike projections in the
NICHE and then relax back into their grip. This clasp position
of book and stereoviewer is shown in Plate 5.
To again use the book, the stereoviewer is withdrawn from
the NICHE by compressing hinge II. at the bottom of the front
cover while using the nose-hole to lift the lens-plane free
of the shoulders of the NICHE. The folded stereoviewer is then
withdrawn, the perpendicular supports are unfolded, the hinge
of the lens-plane is compressed so the slot in the lens-plane
overrides the lugs at the top of the perpendicular supports;,

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and hinge IV. is then relaxed so the slot grips and holds these
lugs, and the stereoviewer is swung into viewing position.
FUNDAMENTALS OF DESIGN AND OPERATION:
The operations described above are more self-evident than
this detailed description suggests. The form of the CLASP-
STEREOVIEWER results from the combination of two greatly
different functions in this instrument and from recognizing
two very different characteristics in the material used.
The thin plastic sheets are strong and extremely resistant
to tearing. They are flexible and recover shape after bending.
To hold form during use, the material is stiffened by folding
it along its edges, by adhesion of two layers of material, and
by symmetry in this reinforcement. This is what characterizes
the construction of the stereoviewer - and the planes between
the crease-hinges - which allows the stereoviewer to return
again and again to proper alignment and orientation over the
successive stereoprints
In a single thickness, the material tends to bend rather than
to fold sharply; and the minor arcs at the crease-hinges between
the stiffened planes gives one the play necessary to override
the shoulders of the NICHE, when inserting or removing the folded
stereoviewer, and to override the lugs of the perpendicular
supports, when catching or releasing them from the slot in the
lens-plane.
Plate 4. shows how the major hinges tend to straighten when
left untended in idling position - or when one hands both book
and stereoviewer to another person to look at a particular
stereoprint.

Representative Drawing