Lens barrel assembly

Details Lens barrel assembly Lens barrel assembly

1999-11-16

2001-06-05

Perkey, W. B. (Department: 2851)

Photography

Camera detail

Hood

C359S611000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06243540

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates a lens barrel assembly having a lens hood for blocking unwanted light, detachably mounted to a camera body or an imaging lens frame.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are available several types of structures for lens barrels with lens hoods, each detachably mounted to a camera body or an imaging lens frame.
A lens barrel assembly having a first conventional lens hood, as shown in an exploded perspective view in FIG.
7
and in sectional view in
FIG. 8
, includes a lens barrel
11
and an elastically deformable rubber lens hood
13
. The lens barrel
11
, with an imaging lens
12
received therein, includes a threaded portion
11
a
to be threadingly engaged with a camera body, a first outer circumference portion
11
b
having a flange
11
d
, and a second outer circumference portion
11
c
. The lens hood
13
includes an inner circumference portion
13
a
in sliding engagement with the second outer circumference
11
c
, and a ring portion
13
b.
To attach the lens hood
13
to the lens barrel
11
, the lens hood
13
is received around the lens barrel
11
and slid over the threaded portion
11
a
and the flange lid. Referring to
FIG. 8
, when the lens hood is not used, i.e., in a refracted state, the lens hood
13
recedes to a retracted position, as represented in dashed lines, abutting the flange lid. When the lens hood
13
is in use, i.e., in a photographing state, the lens hood
13
is extended to an operative position where the ring portion
13
b
abuts the end face of the second outer circumference
11
c.
When the lens barrel
11
is attached to or detached from the camera, in the lens barrel haying the above first conventional lens hood, the threaded portion
11
a
needs to be turned. If the lens barrel
11
is turned with the lens hood
13
held in a hand, the lens hood
13
may inconveniently slip.
A lens barrel assembly having a second conventional lens hood, as shown in an exploded perspective view in FIG.
9
and in a partial sectional view in
FIG. 10
, taken along line X-X in
FIG. 9
, includes a lens barrel
15
and an elastically deformable synthetic resin lens hood
17
. The lens barrel
15
, with an imaging lens
16
received therein, includes a threaded portion
15
a
to be threadingly engaged with a camera body, a stopper portion
15
c
and a notch
15
b
. A lens hood
17
includes a latch
17
a
to be engaged with the notch portion
15
b.
When the lens hood
17
is attached to the lens barrel
15
, the lens hood
17
is received around the lens barrel
15
from the side of the imaging lens
16
, and turned so that the latch
17
a
is engaged with the notch
15
b
, the elevated peripheral edge
15
d
defining the notch
15
b
. To place the lens hood
17
in an inoperative state, the latch
17
a
is disengaged from the notch
15
b
, and the lens hood
17
is dismounted.
To place the lens hood
17
in the inoperative state in the lens barrel having the second conventional lens hood, the lens hood
17
needs to be completely dismounted by disengaging the latch from the lens barrel
15
. The lens hood
17
has to be kept separately, possibly inconveniencing the user.
A lens barrel assembly having a third conventional lens hood, shown in an exploded perspective view in
FIG. 11
, includes a lens barrel assembly
21
that is integral with a camera body, and a lens hood
23
. An imaging lens
22
is received in the lens barrel
21
. The lens hood
23
includes a threaded portion
23
a
which is threadingly engaged with a filter mounting thread
21
a
on the front portion of the lens barrel
21
.
To place the lens hood
23
into an inoperative state in the lens barrel with the third conventional lens hood, the threaded portion
23
a
needs to be fully threadingly disengaged from the lens barrel
21
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a lens barrel having a lens hood, easily detached from and attached to a camera frame or a camera, in which the lens hood is easily moved between a photographing position and a retracted position.
In accordance with the present invention, a lens barrel assembly is rotated to be detachably mounted to one of a camera body and an imaging lens frame for use in combination with the one of the camera body and the imaging lens frame, and includes a lens barrel and a lens hood. The lens barrel is mounted on the lens barrel in a manner such that the lens barrel is movable in a direction corresponding to the optical axis between a photographing position, where the lens hood blocks light rays other than effective light rays during photographing, and a retracted position, where the lens hood is in a retracted, non-photographing state.
In accordance with the present invention, another lens barrel assembly is rotated to be detachably mounted to one of a camera body and an imaging lens frame for use in combination with the one of the camera body and the imaging lens frame, and includes a lens barrel and a lens hood. The lens barrel is mounted on the lens barrel in a manner such that the lens barrel is movable in a direction corresponding to the optical axis. The lens hood is guided by a guide which moves the lens hood only in the direction corresponding to the optical axis between a photographing position, where the lens hood blocks light rays other then effective light rays during photographing, and a retracted position, where the lens hood is in a retracted, non-photographing state.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of its preferred embodiments.


REFERENCES:
patent: 1848879 (1932-03-01), Halbasch
patent: 2845835 (1958-08-01), Weiss
patent: 5294954 (1994-03-01), Nomura et al.

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