Binocular/tripod adapter system

A mounting system for mounting binoculars to a tripod, the binoculars having a lens barrel, an opposing lens barrel, and a central axis disposed generally equidistant between and parallel to the respective optical axes of the lens barrel and the opposing lens barrel, said mounting system comprising:

• a first clamping member configured to engage a first portion of an outer wall of the lens barrel;
• a second clamping member configured to engage a second portion of the outer wall;
• a hinge rotationally coupling said first clamping member and said second clamping member about a first axis of rotation, said hinge configured to enable articulation of said first clamping member and said second clamping member between an open configuration and a barrel-clamping configuration, said first clamping member and said second clamping member engaged with the outer wall in said barrel-clamping configuration and said first clamping member and said second clamping member spaced away from the outer wall in such open configuration;
• a releasable retainer configured to releasably retain said first clamping member and said second clamping member in said barrel-clamping configuration;
• joined with said first clamping member, a mount configured to removably mount said first clamping member on the tripod, the position of said mount biased toward the central axis of the binocular, relative to the lens barrel of the binocular, when said barrel engagement assembly is engaged with such lens barrel;
• wherein when said first clamping member and said second clamping member are arranged in said open configuration, said mounting system is moveable from a detached position to said barrel-clamping configuration by movements limited to those perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens barrel;
• wherein,
• said mount comprises a threaded socket configured to removably receive a mounting screw of the tripod;
• said mount is integrally formed with said first clamping member;
• said first clamping member comprises a hinged end and a retained end;
• said second clamping member comprises a hinged end and a retainable end;
• said hinged end of said second clamping member comprises a first aperture arranged coaxially with said first axis of rotation;
• said hinge comprises a first cylindrical pin arranged coaxially with said first axis of rotation, said first cylindrical pin engaged with said hinged end of said first clamping member and rotationally journaled within said first aperture of said second clamping member;
• said first axis of rotation is oriented generally parallel to the optical axis of the lens barrel when said barrel engagement assembly is engaged with the lens barrel;
• said releasable retainer comprises a hinged thumb-bolt assembly;
• said retained end of said first clamping member comprises a second cylindrical pin having a second axis of rotation oriented substantially parallel with said first axis of rotation, said second cylindrical pin engaged with said retained end of said first clamping member;
• said hinged thumb-bolt assembly comprises
• a bar segment comprising a proximal end and a distal end,
• a second aperture extending through said proximal end and disposed coaxially on said second cylindrical pin,
• a threaded bore extending within said proximal end and comprising a bore axis oriented substantially perpendicular to said second axis of rotation, and
• a thumb-bolt threadably engaged within said threaded bore;
• said retainable end of said second clamping member comprises a flange having a u-shaped slot configured to receive said thumb-bolt;
• said hinged thumb-bolt assembly is moveable about said second axis of rotation between a slot-engaged position and a slot-disengaged position, said thumb-bolt threadedly adjustable to engage said flange when said hinged thumb-bolt assembly is arrange in said slot-engaged position;
• a separation distance between said first clamping member and said second clamping member is modifiable by threadedly adjusting said thumb-bolt when engaged with said flange;
• said first clamping member comprises a first engagement surface configured to generally match the shape of the first portion of the outer wall;
• said second clamping member comprises a second engagement surface configured to generally match the shape of the second portion of the outer wall;
• said first clamping member and said second clamping member each comprise arcuate-shaped arms configured to substantially encircle the lens barrel when arranged in said barrel-clamping configuration;
• said threaded socket conforms to at least one tripod connection format as defined in section 1222 of the International Organization for Standardization;
• said first clamping member and said second clamping member are comprised of a rigid material;
• and
• said first clamping member and said second clamping member are comprised of metal, wherein the metal is aluminum.

A method of producing mounting system for mounting binoculars to a tripod, the binoculars having a lens barrel, an opposing lens barrel, and a central axis disposed generally equidistant between and parallel to the respective optical axes of the lens barrel and the opposing lens barrel, the method comprising the steps of:

• identifying a commercially-available binoculars to be mounted to the tripod;
• determining an outer wall configuration of a lens barrel of the binocular;
• providing a first clamping member configured to engage a first portion of the outer wall of the lens barrel;
• providing a second clamping member configured to engage a second portion of the outer wall;
• providing a hinge rotationally coupling said first clamping member and said second clamping member about a first axis of rotation, said hinge configured to enable articulation of said first clamping member and said second clamping member between an open configuration and a barrel-clamping configuration, said first clamping member and said second clamping member engaged with the outer wall in said barrel-clamping configuration and said first clamping member and said second clamping member spaced away from the outer wall in such open configuration a releasable retainer configured to releasably retain said first clamping member and said second clamping member in said barrel-clamping configuration;
• and
• providing a mount configured to removably mount said first clamping member on the tripod, such mount, said mount is integrally formed with said first clamping member;
• and biasing the position of said mount toward the central axis of the binocular, relative to the lens barrel of the binocular, when said barrel engagement assembly is engaged with such lens barrel.