Abstract: A periscope has a pair of solid plastic, transparent prismatic-shaped blocks of optical material which are mounted within a protective housing which extends through an opening in an armored vehicle for safely viewing an exterior field of view from within the protected vehicle. Each of the blocks has a reflective surface and a viewing surface and are separated from each other by a void. A hollow transparent cell is mounted within and fills the void between the spaced blocks and is bonded to the blocks by a clear optical adhesive. The cell provides a shock isolation effect between the periscope block which is exposed to impact from enemy gunfire, etc., and the other periscope block located within the vehicle without affecting the physical and optical properties of the periscope. The cell reduces transmission of the shock waves between the solid blocks and prevents foreign objects from entering the void and distorting the optical viewing system.

Abstract: A blackout blind is movably mounted within a periscope of an armor vehicle for covering the eyepiece viewing opening when not in use to prevent interior light from being emitted through the periscope and revealing the location of the vehicle. A transparent block of optical plastic material is mounted within a protective housing which extends through an opening in the vehicle armor. A viewing opening is formed in the housing portion located within the vehicle for observing an exterior field of view. A chamber and guide channels are formed within the housing by a space provided between the plastic block and housing walls and by a frame which extends along certain edges of the viewing opening. A blackout blind is slidably mounted and retained within this chamber and guide channels and is movable across the viewing opening between open and closed positions.

Abstract: A periscope has a pair of transparent, generally prismatic-shaped blocks which are mounted vertically with respect to each other within a protective housing that extends through an opening in an armored vehicle for safely viewing an exterior field of view from within the vehicle. The top block has an uppermost exterior field of view viewing surface and an adjacent reflector surface, with the bottom block having a bottommost interior observer viewing surface and an adjacent reflector surface, with the viewing surfaces being on diagonally opposite ends of the periscope. A beam splitter is mounted between the pair of blocks adjacent a second observer viewing surface which is formed on the bottom portion of the top block, located either exteriorly or interiorly of the armored vehicle. Exterior light beams entering through the exterior viewing surface are reflected downwardly through the block by the top reflector surface.

Abstract: A pair of transparent prismatic-shaped blocks are mounted within a protective housing which extends through an opening in an armored vehicle for safely viewing an exterior field of view from within the protected vehicle. Each of the blocks has a reflective surface and a viewing surface and are separated from each other by a void. The void is filled with an optical adhesive which remains soft and pliable and which bonds the pair of blocks together in this spaced relationship. The adhesive provides a shock isolation effect between the transparent block which is exposed to shock from enemy gunfire, etc., and the other block located within the vehicle. The cushioned adhesive-filled void reduces transmission of the shock waves between the blocks and prevents foreign objects from entering the void and distorting the optical viewing system.

Abstract: A blackout blind is movably mounted within a periscope of an armor vehicle for covering the eyepiece viewing opening when not in use to prevent interior light from being emitted through the periscope and revealing the location of the vehicle. A transparent block of plastic is mounted within a protective housing which extends through an opening in the vehicle armor. A viewing opening is formed in the housing portion located within the vehicle for observing an exterior field of view. A sheet metal guide is mounted within the housing between the plastic block and housing walls and is formed with a pair of channels which extend along the edges of the viewing opening. A blackout blind is slidably mounted and retained within the channels and between the block and housing walls, and is movable across the viewing opening of the housing between open and closed positions.