Photography – Folding or collapsible camera – Having axially moving lens
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-19
2001-11-06
Gray, David M. (Department: 2851)
Photography
Folding or collapsible camera
Having axially moving lens
C396S448000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06312168
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a camera having a lens barrel in which a lens cover is automatically opened and closed in accordance with extension and collapse of the lens barrel.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Hitherto, there is known a camera in which an electric motor is driven so that when the camera is not used, an image taking lens is accommodated in a main frame of the camera, and when the camera is used, the image taking lens is extended from the main frame of the camera. Of such a type of camera, there is widely known a camera in which a lens cover is disposed in front of an image taking lens, and the lens cover is automatically opened and closed in accordance with a switching between accommodation and extension of the image taking lens. An example of such a camera is proposed in Japanese Patent Laid Open Gazette Hei. 7-49515.
According to a camera proposed in Japanese Patent Laid Open Gazette Hei. 7-49515, a lens cover is enabled by a spring force to be opened, and when an image taking lens is accommodated in the main frame of the camera, the lens cover is forcibly closed against the spring force. Generally, as compared with a term during which a camera is used, a term during which the camera is not used is overpoweringly longer. Consequently, in the camera proposed in Japanese Patent Laid Open Gazette Hei. 7-49515,a term during which the lens cover is closed against the spring is very long. For this reason, a load is applied for a long time to the spring enabling the lens cover. This raises sometimes a problem as to durability.
Further, according to a camera proposed in Japanese Patent Laid Open Gazette Hei. 7-49515, since a lens cover is enabled by a spring force to be opened, also in the event that an image taking lens is accommodated in the main frame of the camera and the lens cover is closed, a force to always open the lens cover is applied to the lens cover. Accordingly, for example, in an arrangement wherein a lens cover is divided into two pieces, in the event that components constituting a switching mechanism for the lens cover are wrong in production precision even a little bit, this causes a gap between joint surfaces of two pieces of the lens cover. Thus, there is such a defect that the gap may give the impression that it is uncomfortable in appearance. On the other hand, in order to avoid such a defect, it is considered that the production precision of components is improved, or alternatively the switching mechanism for the lens cover is provided with a mechanism for preventing an occurrence of the gap between two pieces of the lens cover. However, this involves a problem that the cost is increased.
It often happens that when the lens cover is closed, a user intends to forcibly open two pieces of the lens cover out of mere curiosity. As mentioned above, since the lens cover is enabled by a spring force to be opened, at the time when the lens cover is closed, a force against the enabling force of the spring is effected on the lens cover. Consequently, in the event that a user intends to forcibly open two pieces of the lens cover, there is the fear that the lens cover is destroyed. In order to avoid such a fear, there is a need to prepare additional components for buffering an external force applied to the lens cover. Also, this involves a problem that the cost is increased.
The camera proposed in Japanese Patent Laid Open Gazette Hei. 7-49515 incorporates thereinto a zoom lens having a two-stage lens barrel collapse structure. According to such a camera, in a lens barrel, there are provided a lens cover enabled by a spring force to be opened and a lens cover switching member for performing open and close of the lens cover. Further, according to such a camera, in a main frame of the camera, there is provided a lens cover switching affecting member which affects the lens cover switching member in such a manner that when the lens barrel is extended, the lens cover is opened, and when the lens barrel is collapsed, the lens cover is closed. In the state that the lens barrel is collapsed to be accommodated, the lens cover switching member and the lens cover switching affecting member are engaged with one another, so that the lens cover is closed against the spring. On the other hand, when the lens barrel is extended, an engagement of the lens cover switching member with the lens cover switching affecting member is removed, so that a force against the spring is released and the lens cover is opened.
Generally, a two-stage collapsible mount type of lens barrel is of a cylindrical structure in view of maintaining a precision and a high density structure. And on the other hand, a picture is of a rectangular configuration. If the camera proposed in Japanese Patent Laid Open Gazette Hei. 7-49515 is constructed under the conditions as mentioned above, there will occur restrictions in an arrangement position of the lens cover switching affecting member in the lens barrel, and in an arrangement position of the lens cover switching member. This brings about a problem that a camera is restricted in degree of freedom of design.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a camera capable of contributing to an enhancement of durability of a spring enabling a lens cover, and in addition contributing to reduction of the cost.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a camera which is wide in degree of freedom of design.
To achieve the above-mentioned objects, the present invention provides a first camera comprising:
a moving barrel incorporating therein an image taking lens, said moving barrel offering a predetermined extension state and a predetermined collapse state in accordance with movements forward and backward with respect to a direction of an optical axis, respectively;
at least one lens cover disposed in front of the image taking lens in said moving barrel, said lens cover covering a front of the image taking lens on an openable basis; and
a lens cover switching mechanism having a spring enabling the lens cover in a direction to be closed and an effecting member working in such a manner that when said moving barrel is in the collapse state, an affect is released so that said lens cover covers a front of the image taking lens in accordance with an enabling force of the spring, and as said moving barrel is translated into the extension state, the lens cover is withdrawn from the front of the image taking lens against the enabling force of the spring.
The lens cover switching mechanism has a spring enabling the lens cover in a direction to be closed. The effecting member of the lens cover switching mechanism works in such a manner that when the moving barrel is in the state of the collapse, the enabling effect is released so that the lens cover covers the front of the image taking lens in accordance with an enabling force of the spring, and as the moving barrel is translated into the state of the extension, the lens cover is withdrawn from the front of the image taking lens against the enabling force of the spring. That is, according to the first camera of the present invention, contrary to the conventional camera, when the camera is used, the lens cover is opened against the enabling force of the spring, and when the camera is not used, the lens cover is closed in accordance with the enabling force of the spring. As mentioned above, generally, as compared with a term during which a camera is used, a term during which the camera is not used is overpoweringly longer. According to the camera of the present invention, during a term in which the camera is not used, the lens cover is closed in accordance with the enabling force of the spring. Thus, it is prevented that a load is applied to a spring for a long time. And it is possible to improve a durability of a spring.
Further, as mentioned above, according to the first camera of the present invention, the lens cover covers the front of the image taking lens in accordance with the enabling fo
Izaki Toshihiko
Nakamori Masao
Naruse Mutsumi
Ozawa Yuuichi
Takeuchi Hotaka
Fuji Photo Film Co. , Ltd.
Gray David M.
Young & Thompson
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