Photography – Camera detail – Lens cover
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-05
2001-11-27
Mahoney, Christopher E. (Department: 2851)
Photography
Camera detail
Lens cover
C396S538000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06322259
ABSTRACT:
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
The disclosures of the following priority applications are herein incorporated by reference:
Japanese Patent Application No. 10-222926 filed Aug. 6, 1998
Japanese Patent Application No. 10-309024 filed Oct. 29, 1998
Japanese Patent Application No. 10-309025 filed Oct. 29, 1998
Japanese Patent Application No. 10-309026 filed Oct. 29, 1998
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a camera provided with a slide cover.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are cameras having a sheath-type (capsule-type) slide cover provided to protect the taking lens and the like in the prior art (disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. H10-104711 and Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. H10-104712, for instance). In these cameras, the access lid of the film cartridge chamber in which a film cartridge is loaded is covered by a slide cover when the slide cover is closed.
Thus, when loading or replacing a film cartridge while the camera is not in an operating state (while the slide cover is closed), the slide cover must be slid until the access lid of the film cartridge chamber becomes exposed to the outside of the slide cover or the slide cover must be completely disengaged from the camera main body. This poses a problem in that loading or replacing the film cartridge becomes a time-consuming, inconvenient procedure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a camera in which a film cartridge can be loaded or removed without having to move or disengage the slide cover when the camera is not in an operating state.
In order to achieve the object described above, a camera according to the present invention, comprises: a camera main body; a slide cover that makes a sliding movement between a camera non-operating position, at which, at least, a viewfinder objective lens window, a viewfinder eyepiece window, a function selection unit operated to select camera functions at the camera main body are covered, and a camera operating position at which the viewfinder objective lens window, the viewfinder eyepiece window and the function selection unit are exposed; and a loading unit that allows loading and removal of an image recording medium, regardless of whether the slide cover is at the operating position or the non-operating position.
Another camera comprises: a camera main body; a sheath shaped slide cover that makes a sliding movement between a camera non-operating position at which, at least a lens barrel, a viewfinder objective lens window, a viewfinder eyepiece window and a battery chamber lid that opens and closes a battery chamber at the camera main body are covered and a camera operating position at which the lens barrel, the viewfinder objective lens window, the viewfinder eyepiece window and the battery chamber lid are exposed, the camera main body being sheathed into the sheath shaped slide cover at the camera non-operating position; and a cartridge chamber lid that opens and closes a film cartridge chamber where a film cartridge is loaded and is provided in an area of the camera main body that is exposed at all times regardless of the position of the slide cover.
In this camera, preferably, the battery chamber lid and the cartridge chamber lid are provided on a single surface of the camera main body.
Also, preferably, a tripod mount that secures the camera to a tripod and is provided at the cartridge chamber lid.
Also, preferably, the camera further comprises a flash light-emitting unit, and the flash light-emitting unit is provided at a predetermined position on the slide cover so that the flash light-emitting unit is positioned further away from the lens barrel when the slide cover is at the camera operating position compared to when the slide cover is at the camera non-operating position.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3938170 (1976-02-01), Winkler et al.
patent: 4219265 (1980-08-01), Waaske
patent: 4240735 (1980-12-01), Maitani et al.
patent: 4601562 (1986-07-01), Yone yama et al.
patent: 5604557 (1997-02-01), Kobayashi et al.
patent: 6086266 (2000-07-01), Fujisaki
patent: A-10-104711 (1998-04-01), None
patent: A-10-104712 (1998-04-01), None
Miyamoto Hidenori
Nishimura Tomoki
Mahoney Christopher E.
Nikon Corporation
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
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