1991-03-19
1993-06-29
Gellner, Michael L.
G03B 1100
Patent
active
052238806
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention concerns an accessory device for cameras, in particular for professional photo cameras, film cameras or video cameras.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Professional cameras, such as for example photo cameras, film cameras or video cameras, are employed out in the open under the most varied of weather conditions. Resulting here is the problem that raindrops, snow, dust particles, etc., precipitate on the outer lens of the objective. Arising from this are lack of definition and distortions when taking pictures, the quality of the photo, as a whole, being impaired and the user is continually busy keeping the precipitates from the lens and/or cleaning the lens.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the object of the invention is to provide an accessory device for cameras, which assures that the outer surface of the lens systems or of a transparent accessory element remains clean and drop-free.
This object is satisfied in accordance with the invention, in the case of an accessory device of the initially-mentioned type, by a housing, a cylindrical housing-opening whose diameter corresponds at least to the diameter of the objective, a rotatably journaled, transparent protective element closing off the housing opening, a drive for driving the protective element in a rotary movement, and an attaching element for attaching the device to the camera in a position in which the housing opening aligns with the objective.
The advantages of the invention in particular lie in the fact that the transparent protective element, which is situated in front of the lens system of the objective, is rotatably journaled and can be displaced in a rapid rotary movement by means of a drive, which flings away toward the outside liquid or solid precipitates on the protective element, because of the acting centrifugal forces. In this way, the surface of the protective element is continually free of drops, streaks or snow, and/or dirt particles. Since, besides this, the housing with a cylindrical wall reaches as far as the objective of the camera, the lens system is protected against moisture and dirt by this housing wall. When using the accessory device in accordance with the invention, it is therefore possible, even in the case of strong precipitation or driven snow, etc., to make sharp pictures.
Advantageously, the protective element is held in the inner ring of a ball race by means of a casing. The outer ring of the ball race is preferably attached in the cylindrical wall surrounding the housing opening. On the camera side, the cylindrical wall of the housing aligns with the casing of the objective, with a ring preferably made of elastic material producing the connection between housing and objective, and overlapping and/or underlapping the outer rim of the objective in non-contacting fashion. The non-contacting attachment of the accessory device to the objective has the particular advantage that shocks and vibrations are not transferred to the objective. Conversely, the objective can, be automatically turned by hand, and this rotary movement can -- unhindered by the accessory device -- be carried out without restrictions. Instead of the non-contacting transition from the objective to the housing of the accessory device, it is also alternatively possible to use a ring made of elastic material between housing and objective that is releasably attachable to the objective and journaled in rotatable and axially-displaceable fashion on the housing, in order to enable the turning movements when making adjustments to the objective. With this form of embodiment of the invention, preferably provided in the elastic ring and/or in the housing section adjoining thereto is a number of ventilating openings, in order to enable an exchange of air with changes in outside temperature.
In another form of embodiment of the invention, the ring adjoining the housing on the camera side is releasably attached to the objective and projects, in a contacting and/or non-contacting fashion over a prescribed length, over and/or un
Blankenship Howard B.
Gellner Michael L.
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