Camera housing with window insert conforming to housing shape

Details Camera housing with window insert conforming to housing shape Camera housing with window insert conforming to housing shape

2000-03-09

2001-02-20

Gray, David M. (Department: 2851)

Photography

Disposable or recyclable camera

C396S373000, C396S382000, C396S535000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06192194

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to the field of photography, and in particular to cameras. More specifically, the invention relates to an insert in a camera housing that conforms to the housing shape and includes a viewfinder window.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The visual appearance and the compactness of a camera housing are each a critical factor in a camera's design. It is generally known to curve the longitudinal edges of the camera housing widthwise to create a pleasing soft appearance. The problem is created, however, that front and rear viewfinder windows in the camera housing usually are flat and, therefore, cannot be at one of the curved longitudinal edges. This takes away from the compactness of the camera housing. If the viewfinder window was curved in conformity with the curved longitudinal edge to provide compactness, one would see image distortion when looking through the viewfinder window in the vicinity of the curved longitudinal edge.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, a camera housing comprises:
an exterior longitudinal edge that is curved widthwise;
a single opening through the exterior longitudinal edge that interrupts the exterior longitudinal edge; and
a viewfinder window tapered within the opening, and including an exterior flat face that is inclined inwardly of the exterior longitudinal edge to prevent the occurrence of image distortion when looking through the viewfinder window in the vicinity of the exterior longitudinal edge.
More particularly, the camera housing comprises:
an exterior longitudinal edge that is curved widthwise;
a single opening through the exterior longitudinal edge that interrupts the exterior longitudinal edge to create a gap in the exterior longitudinal edge; and
an insert having a longitudinal edge that is curved widthwise the same as the exterior longitudinal edge and configured to fit in the opening to align the longitudinal edge of the insert with the exterior longitudinal edge in order that the longitudinal edge of the insert is positioned within the gap to appear to be a continuation of the exterior longitudinal edge, and including a viewfinder window with an exterior flat face that is inclined into the longitudinal edge of the insert to at least partially interrupt the longitudinal edge of the insert in order to prevent the occurrence of image distortion when looking though the viewfinder window in the vicinity of the longitudinal edge of the insert.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2505140 (1950-04-01), Peltz et al.
patent: 4812866 (1989-03-01), Ushiro et al.
patent: 4882600 (1989-11-01), VanDeMoere
patent: 5285228 (1994-02-01), VanDeMoere
patent: 5600391 (1997-02-01), VanDeMoere
patent: 5721963 (1998-02-01), Iwagaki et al.
patent: 6112026 (2000-08-01), Rydelek et al.

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