Magnifier Device With Adjustable Camera

A video magnification device (20) comprising:

• a housing (22) having a top edge (24), a bottom edge (26), and an interior (28), a recess (32) formed within the top edge (24), a hinge (34) positioned along the bottom edge (26), the housing (22) having a front face (36) and a back face (38), a video screen (42) positioned within the back face (38);
• a base (44) with two spaced apart feet (46), the base (44) pivotally connected to the bottom edge (26) of the housing (22) by way of the hinge (34), the device (20) having first and second orientations, the housing (22) and base (44) being at an angle with respect to one another in the first orientation, and the housing (22) and base (44) being in contact with one another in the second orientation;
• a camera barrel (48) with opposing axles (52) for pivotally mounting the barrel (48) within the recess (32) of the housing (22), a catch (54) positioned about one of the opposing axles (52), a video camera (56) housed within the barrel (48), the barrel (48) having a document viewing orientation, a near object viewing orientation, a distant object viewing orientation and a self-view orientation, the barrel (48) having a different angular orientation relative to the housing (22) in each of the different orientations, a torsion spring (58) associated with one of the opposing axles (52) and functioning to rotate the barrel (48) into a forward most position;
• a brake (62) for counterbalancing the force of the torsion spring (58), the brake (62) positioned within the interior (28) of the housing (22) and including a band (64) with a first end (66) and a second end (68), the first end (66) of the band (64) fitted about one of the opposing axles (52) of the barrel (48), a coil spring (72) connected between the interior (28) of the housing (22) and the second end (68) of the band (64), the brake (62) having an engaged position where the force of the coil spring (72) is permitted to counterbalance the force of the torsion spring (58) to thereby allow the angular orientation of the barrel (48) to be adjusted by hand, the brake (62) also having a disengaged position where the torsion spring (58) is permitted to rotate the barrel (48) into the forward most position;
• a brake release mechanism (72) for temporarily releasing the brake (62), the brake release mechanism (72) positioned within the interior (28) of the housing (22) and including a detent (76) within the hinge (34) and a two bar linkage (78) interconnecting the detent (76) and the band (64), whereby when the device (20) is moved into either the first or second orientations the detent (76) causes the band (64) to cycle up and down, whereby the brake (62) is moved between the disengaged and engaged positions and the torsion spring (580 is permitted to rotate the barrel (48) to the forward most position;
• a stop mechanism (82) for limiting the forward most position of the barrel (48), the stop mechanism (82) positioned within the interior (28) of the housing (22) and including a link (84) with a first end (86) and a second end (88), a lever (92) for moving the link (84) upwardly and downwardly within the interior (28) of housing (22), the lever (92) extending through the front face (36) of the housing (22) and interconnected to the first end (86) of the link (84), the second end (88) of the link (84) contacting the catch (54) on the barrel (48), whereby when the device (20) is in the second orientation the base (44) contacts the lever (92) to shift the link (84) upwardly such that the forward most position of the barrel (48) is limited to the distant object viewing orientation, and whereby when the device (20) is in the first orientation the link (84) shifts downwardly such that the forward most position of the barrel (48) is limited to the document viewing orientation;
• a rotatory damper (94) associated with the brake release mechanism (74), the rotatory damper (94) slowing the temporary release of the brake (74) such that the barrel (48) has sufficient time to achieve the forward most position.