Photography – Folding or collapsible camera – Having axially moving lens
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-15
2001-10-16
Gray, David M. (Department: 2851)
Photography
Folding or collapsible camera
Having axially moving lens
C396S448000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302598
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a camera having a position holding mechanism for holding the opening-closing position of a barrier.
The conventional position holding mechanism uses a click. For example, Japanese Patent Disclosure (Kokai) No. 6-102570 proposes a click mechanism comprising a ball and a spring. It is proposed that the ball and the spring are used in combination for stopping the barrier of a camera at a predetermined position.
Japanese Patent Application No. 8-307765 discloses a click mechanism using a wire spring. The click mechanism includes a metal wire having a circular cross section, which is used as a cantilever beam perpendicular to the opening-closing direction of the barrier. The wire is, for example, a linear member of a predetermined length and having a circular cross section, which does not require a bending treatment. One end portion of the wire is pressed into the structure and a support is formed midway along of the wire.
In the conventional click mechanism disclosed in, for example, JP No. 6-102570 noted above, it is certainly possible to make the camera compact by using the combination of the barrier for a collapsible mount type camera and the switch interlocked with the barrier. However, it is difficult to assemble the combination of a plurality of click balls and the click spring proposed in this prior art. Also, the degree of compactness achieved is limited because a space larger than the diameter of the click balls used is required.
In the click mechanism proposed in JP No. 8-307765 noted above, moreover the wire spring used comprises a linear rod-like member and, thus, the processing labor can be diminished. However, it is necessary and difficult to ensure a space of the click portion for receiving the wire spring. In addition, there is an inconvenience that the click portion for the barrier is positioned in the space for moving other members.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a holding mechanism of a barrier position which requires little space in for a small camera.
According to the present invention, which is intended to achieve the above-noted object, there is provided a camera provided with a barrier movable between a closing position at which a photographing lens is covered with the barrier and an opening position retreated from the photographing lens, comprising an elastic member mounted to a back surface of the barrier and having a U-shaped engaged portion urged toward a camera body, and a concave engaging portion mounted on the side of the camera body for engagement with the engaged portion of the elastic member when the barrier is moved to the closing position or the opening position.
The elastic member is bent at predetermined portions other than the U-shaped engaged portion. Also, the elastic member is bent at predetermined positions such that a plane including the U-shaped engaged portion is parallel with the optical axis of the photographing lens.
In the present invention, a click spring is mounted on the side of the barrier. The click spring is formed of a wire material having a circular cross section and a thickness not larger than half the thickness of the conventional click spring and is bent in a U-shape. The click spring is fixed to a back surface of the barrier, and a claw at the tip of the click spring is inserted into a side wall of a rail groove (or slide groove) formed in the front cover facing the back surface of the barrier, thereby holding the barrier at a desired position.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3685414 (1972-08-01), Good
patent: 5895136 (1999-04-01), Grant et al.
patent: 6086266 (2000-07-01), Fujisaki
patent: 6-102570 (1994-04-01), None
patent: 10-148870 (1998-06-01), None
Katagiri Moriya
Shiono Junji
Frishauf, Holtz Goodman, Langer & Chick, P.C.
Gray David M.
Olympus Optical Co,. Ltd.
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