GB2062892A

GB2062892A - Aid for the partially sighted

Info

Publication number: GB2062892A
Application number: GB8034480A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Dawson P J
Current assignee: Dawson P J
Priority date: 1979-11-07
Filing date: 1980-10-27
Publication date: 1981-05-28
Also published as: GB2062892B

Abstract

An aid for the partially sighted the aid consisting of a projector device having a light source (12), a lens (24) and a reflector (28) housed within an apertured box (10) so that an image can be projected upon a screen. So that the aid can be used by a partially sighted person for reading the lines of a page of a book or the like, the box (10) is supported on an apertured bridging member (32) so that a book or the like can be adjustably positioned beneath it. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Aid for the partially sighted The invention relates to an aid for the partially sighted and has for its object to provide an improvement therein.

The invention resides in the provision of a projector device for projecting an image upon a screen, for example the image of the page of a book which a person might wish to read.

It has only recently been found that some partially sighted people who are quite unable to read in any other way can read, although perhaps only slowly and with some difficulty, if the words are projected upon a screen.

Projectors have of course been known for many years but have not been suitable as aids for the partially sighted, mainly because they have normally been arranged to illuminate the whole of a page and because they have thus required the use of a 1000-2000 watt lamp.

According to the invention, there is provided an aid for the partially sighted, the aid consisting of a projector device having a light source of not more than 250 watts located adjustably within a box so that it can be moved towards or away from an aperture in the base of the box through which it can illuminate the page of a book or the like, and a lens and a reflector located within the box, the lens being adjustable towards or away from the aperture in the base of the box, the box being supported on an apertured bridging member so that a book or the like can be adjustably positioned beneath it for selected parts of a page to be illuminated and projected upon a screen.The aid may also include a movable support for a book or the like positioned beneath the projector, the support being provided with wheels which facilitate adjustment of the support in one direction so that a person using the aid can easily scan a line of the page which he is reading. The lens will preferably be carried by a carrier plate member slidable in guides on a vertical front wall of the box, an elongate lever operated cam-like member being eccentrically pivoted beneath said carrier plate member and arranged to slidably engage the surface of a book or the like, the arrangement being such that the projected image is automatically kept in focus without the need for constant readjustment when the thickness of the book varies, for example as a line being scanned moves towards or away from the binding of a thick book.

In order that the invention may be fully understood and readily carried into effect, the same will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a semi-diagrammatic view of a reading aid embodying the invention, Figure 2 is a perspective view of the aid in use by a partially sighted person, and Figure 3 is a view which will be referred to when describing a possible modification.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the projector device there illustrated includes a box 10 within which is located a lamp 1 2 disposed so that its light shines downwards at about 45 through a transparent heat shield 14 and through an opening 1 6 in the underside of the box. As indicated by the chain-dotted lines, the lamp is capable of being adjusted in position towards or away from the heat shield. A space behind the lamp within the box accommodates a transformer 1 8 from which the 1 2 volt 200 watt lamp can be powered by mains electricity.

A vertical wall 20 in front of the lamp 1 2 acts as a light shield and, being spaced from a vertical front wall 22 of the box, creates an enclosed space within which is located a lens 24, an apertured plate 26 and a mirror 28 set at an angle of 45N The mirror 28 is located behind an aperture 20 in the front face of the box. The lens has a focal length of 2".

As shown in Fig. 1, the box 10 is located on a bridging member, that is to say, in the illustrated embodiment, a length of stout plywood 32 supported at its opposite ends on wooden blocks 34. The arrangement is such that 7 book or any other printed page which a partially sighted person wishes to read can be slid beneath the bridging member where it can be illL ninated by the lamp so that an image of a small part of it can be reflected by the mirror upon a suitable screen (and it will of course be understood that the device will be used in a darkened room or at the very least in subdued lighting).

The range of magnification possible depends upon the lens and the distance of the projector from the screen. The positioning of the lamp within the box determines the size of the illuminated area of the book placed beneath the apparatus. A partially sighted person using the projector will adjust it to suit his own particular requirements and will then move the book appropriately at the rate at which he is able to read.

The aid also includes a support 36 for a book or the like which a partially sighted person wishes to read. The support is provided with wheels 38 which facilitate the adjustment of the support in one direction so that a person using the aid can easily scan a line of the page which he is reading. The support is of relatively shallow depth so that it can be moved freely to and fro beneath the bridging member on which the projector is mounted (but of course it will be understood that if the book or the like which the user wishes to read is relatively thick, the bridging member can be appropriately raised up at its opposite ends, for example on an appropriate thickness of books or magazines).

The aid described above has been found to be of very great benefit to a partially sighted person. However, various modifications may be made. For example, in Fig. 3 there is illustrated an arrangement whereby the lens 24 and apertured plate 26 are slidably mounted so that they can move up and down.

The lens and the apertured plate are carried by a carrier plate member 40 which is slidable in guides 42 on the vertical front wall 22 of the box. An elongate lever operated cam-like member 44 is eccentrically pivoted beneath the carrier plate member and is arranged to slidably engage the surface of a book or the like which is being moved beneath the device.

The arrangement is such that the projected image is automatically kept in focus without the need for constant re-adjustment when the thickness of the book varies, that is to say for example as the line being scanned moves towards or away from the binding of a thick book.

Claims

1. An aid for the partially sighted, the aid consisting of a projector device having a light source of not more than 250 watts located adjustably within a box so that it can be moved towards or away from an aperture in the base of the box through which it can illuminate the page of a book or the like, and a lens and a reflector located within the box, the lens being adjustable towards or away from the aperture in the base of the box, the box being supported on an apertured bridging member so that a book or the like can be adjustably positioned beneath it for selected parts of a page to be illuminated and projected upon a screen.

2. An aid according to claim 1, including a movable support for a book or the like positioned beneath the projector, the support being provided with wheels which facilitate adjustment of the support in one direction so that a person using the aid can easily scan a line of the page which he is reading.

3. An aid according to either one of the preceding claims, in which the lens is carried by a carrier plate member slidable in guides on a vertical front wall of the box, an elongate lever operated cam-like member being eccentrically pivoted beneath said carrier plate member and arranged to slidably engage the surface of a book or the like, the arrangement being such that the projected image is automatically kept in focus without the need for constant re-adjustment when the thickness of the book varies, for example as a line being scanned moves towards or away from the binding of a thick book.

4. An aid for the partially sighted, the aid being constructed, arranged and adapted to be used substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.