JP2002502991A - Camera improvements - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] A strobe circuit including a strobe, a shutter mechanism, an actuating mechanism 18 including a finger portion on which a user's finger can be put to actuate, and an accidental actuation of the shutter mechanism. A camera having a shield movable between a first fixed position and a second release position.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present invention relates to pending U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 808040.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to cameras, and more particularly, to improvements in cameras and camera shutter and strobe mechanisms.

The prior art is also disclosed in US Pat. No. 381 to Tanaka, in which the movable lens cover also acts to energize the strobe circuit and actuate the shutter release mechanism.
It includes various cameras with dual function members, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Another example is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,168,891 to Hirota, which discloses a means for cocking and energizing a flash circuit as well as shuttering. Yet another example is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,135,797 to Ohmura, which discloses a camera having interrelated shutter lock and strobe circuits.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In summary, the present invention includes a camera controller having a first position for inhibiting actuation of a shutter actuator and a second position for releasing a shutter actuator and simultaneously activating a strobe. . In one illustrated embodiment, a camera is provided having a finger button that is spring-biased toward one position and moved with a user's finger toward an opposite position to activate a shutter mechanism. . A control member is provided as a shield to prevent accidental activation of the shutter actuator. The shield is preferably spaced from the actuator and in a first position overlying the actuator to prevent a finger or other member from engaging the actuator, the finger being engageable to actuate a shutter for photographing. Between the first position and the second position. The shield is operatively connected to a strobe or flash circuit so that when moved away from the shutter actuator, the strobe circuit is energized to prepare the camera for photography.

In another illustrated embodiment of the present invention, a first position capable of engaging and locking the actuator so that it is not actuated, and a second position releasing the actuator to actuate the shutter. The control device is constituted by a control member that can move between them. The control member has a portion that engages the switch to bias the strobe whenever the control member moves to the second position.

[0006] The camera of the present invention also includes an improved transition comprising a hammer mounted for linear and pivotal movement between an actuator such as a finger button and a shutter blade, wherein the actuator is actuated. Then, after the hammer moves toward and below the shutter blade, it strikes the shutter blade upward to activate it, and then returns to the starting position by releasing the finger button.

One object of the present invention is to provide a novel control for locking the shutter actuator in one position and disabling the shutter actuator in another position while simultaneously activating the strobe circuit. It is to provide a camera having the device. The present specification includes a control device that is located adjacent to a shutter actuator that can include a finger button.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cover or shutter actuator for a shutter actuator, typically a button, which is also effective to provide an activation of a strobe or flash circuit when exposed to actuation. It is to provide a new and improved camera with a shield.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a camera comprising a new and improved mechanism for actuating a shutter. This document includes such a mechanism for increasing shutter speed.

[0010] Yet another object of the present invention is to allow the aforementioned improvements to be incorporated into a relatively small or miniature body suitable for economical manufacture while at the same time not causing accidental actuation of the shutter. It is to provide a camera that can be easily operated and easily handled.

[0011] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings in detail, there is shown a camera 10 for illustrative purposes only, which camera constitutes one preferred embodiment of the present invention, and includes a housing 1.
2, the housing is generally in the form of a parallelepiped and includes an objective lens 12, which generally opens into an elongated front wall. A finder 16 is also provided, which opens into the front wall 11 at an upper right position relative to the lens 12 when viewed in FIG. The top surface of the camera includes a generally rectangular top 15 and a generally rectangular top 17 recessed downward from that portion 15, as shown in FIG. A suitable strobe indicator light 16 is provided on top 15 to indicate when a strobe circuit (not shown) is activated. Camera 10 is similar to the camera described in pending US patent application Ser. No. 08 / 808,040.

The recessed top wall 17 includes an upwardly projecting shutter actuator, shown as a button 18, which is depressed with a finger to activate the shutter. When released, the button is pressed into its extended or extended position by a spring mechanism (not shown) of any conventional mechanism.

In order to prevent accidental or inadvertent operation of the shutter mechanism from occurring when button 18 is depressed, a shield, generally designated 20, is provided which overlaps the button. When in the first position, the shield covers button 18 to prevent approximate depression of engagement with the button. In a preferred embodiment, the shield is made of any suitable plastic transparent material, and the shield is in the first position described above such that it overlies the button 18;
It is mounted so that it can be slid between a second position that is pulled back towards the rear wall of the camera to actuate the button 18 and exposes the button. Further, in this particular embodiment, the shield 20 is generally received in a raised or arcuate central portion and no slots 22 shown to extend laterally of the camera housing 10 on opposite sides of the shield. Hanging objective (not shown)
And flanges at opposite ends. Although one particular shield structure and mounting is shown and described, those skilled in the art will recognize that other shield structures and shapes can be used as well. The shield can be made of a transparent plastic material.

According to the present invention, the shield 20 is operatively connected to a switch (not shown) of the strobe circuit, such that when the shield 20 moves to the shield position covering the shutter button 18, the strobe circuit is de-energized. It is made to be indicated by reference numeral 16. When the shield 20 is slid along the slot 22 away from the button 18 to expose the button, the strobe circuit is energized in preparation for photography. Any suitable strobe circuit and switch operated by shield 20 may be used.

Referring to FIGS. 2-4, another preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown.
Here, the control device is a rotating member, preferably a sleeve, generally indicated at 30, mounted for rotation about an actuating button 32. In this preferred embodiment, the button 32 is a plunger that is vertically slidable, and when the sleeve 30 is in an angular position, as shown in FIG.
The plunger has a locking projection or pin 40 that engages a locking surface 42 formed at zero. As the sleeve 30 is rotated about the plunger 32 toward the second position, the locking pin 40 moves away from the locking surface 42 and into a longitudinal passage 43 formed in the wall of the sleeve 30. Then, the button plunger 32 is pressed so that the shutter can be operated. In a preferred embodiment, the sleeve 30 includes slots that extend longitudinally and circumferentially to form a locking surface 42 and a passage 43 as shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 3, the control sleeve 30 has a tab 34 protruding in the radial direction, and the switch actuator 3 is inserted into a slot formed through the tab 34.
6 is accepted. When the sleeve 30 is rotated from the locked position to the released position, one edge 37 of the tab slot engages and moves the switch actuator 36 to bias the strobe circuit 38. As the sleeve 30 is rotated back to the locked position, the opposite edge 39 of the tab slot engages the switch 36 and deactivates the strobe circuit 38.

Referring to FIG. 2, the button plunger 32 is pressed by a spring (not shown) to a raised position, that is, a normal position, and in this state, the shutter 60 blocks the lens optical path of the camera. It is in the closed position. When the button plunger is released from the locked state by the control sleeve 30 as described above, the strobe circuit 38 is energized by the switch 36 moved by the tab 34. Thereafter, the button plunger 32 can be depressed to activate the shutter 60 to take a picture.

The operation of the shutter 60 is accomplished via a hammer, generally designated 50, mounted for pivoting about a pivot 51 mounted for reciprocating movement toward and away from a shutter blade 62. Done. Reciprocating movement is
It is provided by a passage 63 formed in the camera frame as best shown in FIG. 2 or otherwise provided. In the particular embodiment shown, the pivot 51 is mounted on a carrier, the carrier having a slide piece 64 and a hub piece 65, the hub piece being circular in the embodiment shown and formed on the slide piece 64. Is accepted in the slot that is As shown in FIG. 6, the slide piece 64 can have other shapes. FIG. 2 shows the hub piece 65 in the position when the hammer 50 is extended and the position when the hammer 50 is retracted. When the button plunger 32 is depressed by the action of the cam and follower, the slide piece 64 is moved to the right as viewed in FIG. The pin 67 of the plunger 32 acts as a cam and in this particular embodiment engages a ramp 68 formed by a slot in the slide piece 64, which ramp is driven by the cam pin 67. Acts as a cam follower. Further, the hub piece 65 also moves to the right, causing the hammer 50 to move to the right toward the shutter blade 62.

While moving to the right as described above, the hammer 50 is pivoted downward by a cam 70 slidably mounted on the camera frame. The cam 70 has an inclined cam surface 71, and when the button shutter 32 is pressed down, the hammer 50 is pressed.
Is pivoted down by the carriers 64, 65 when the inclined cam surface
It engages a follower pin 80 mounted on the cam surface 71 and causes the pin to follow the cam surface 71 and pivot downward with the hammer 50. When the hammer 50 is pivoted downward, the tension spring 90 is pulled and will be extended until the driven pin 80 separates from the lower end of the cam surface 71. By moving away from this lower end, the spring 90 is retracted and the follower pin 80 rises in the slot 72 along its cam surface, causing the hammer 50 to pivot upward about the pivot 51. This causes the nose portion 53 of the hammer end to engage the nose portion 69 of the shaft ter blade 62, causing the shutter to open. When the control button 32 is released, the spring bias returns the control button to the raised position and the cam slot 73 for receiving the driven pin 80.
When the hammer 50 pivots down and moves to the trigger under the control of, the carriers 64, 65 return to the leftmost position as viewed in FIG. FIG. 2 shows the lower limit position and the upper limit position of the hammer 50. One end of the tension spring has a hammer 5 at a position 91.
The other end is connected to a pin 92 and is anchored to a pin 92 attached to the camera frame.

As seen in FIG. 2, any suitable viewfinder 94 is included in the camera, and a film loading door 95 is provided on the bottom wall of the camera. The door 95 has a reference numeral 96.
The end piece 97 closes the opposite side of the camera and fixes the door 95 in the closed position.

While some preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and particularly described, other embodiments of the invention, not disclosed, are within the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. It will be readily recognized by those skilled in the art.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a camera embodying the present invention in one preferred form.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of another camera, with some camera parts removed, forming another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a plan view of a fragmentary portion of the camera of FIG. 2 showing another mechanism for controlling the operation of the shutter and the activation of the strobe circuit.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of a shutter activation button including an associated locking mechanism included in the camera of FIG. 2;

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Claims (23)

[Claims] 1. A strobe circuit including a strobe, a shutter mechanism, and an actuating means for actuating the shutter mechanism, the actuating means including a finger portion on which a user's finger hangs to operate the actuating means. And a first position for shielding the finger portion so that a finger does not catch to prevent accidental operation of the shutter mechanism, and a second position for exposing the finger portion so that the finger catches to operate the shutter mechanism. A camera having a shield movable between
An improvement including means for operatively interconnecting the shield and strobe circuit to energize the strobe circuit when the shield is in the second position. 2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein said first and second cameras are arranged in a camera.
A camera comprising means for mounting said shield so as to be able to slide between positions. 3. The camera according to claim 2, wherein the means for slidably mounting the shield are disposed on opposite sides of the finger portion to receive opposite ends of the shield, respectively. A camera containing a pair of slots. 4. The camera according to claim 2, wherein the shield includes a raised portion that overlaps the finger portion when the shield is in the first position. 5. The camera of claim 3, wherein the shield is in the first position, the central raised portion overlapping the finger portion, and the slot is received in and along the slot. A camera wherein the shield comprises opposite ends of the shield slidable between the first and second positions. 6. The camera according to claim 1, wherein said shield is made of a transparent plastic material. 7. The camera of claim 1, wherein the finger portion includes a button protruding from a surface of the camera. 8. A method for energizing a strobe circuit in a camera having a strobe circuit including a strobe, a shutter mechanism, and an actuating member capable of engaging (engaging) a finger to operate the shutter mechanism. Connecting the strobe circuit to the member such that the strobe circuit is energized when the member is actuated in one direction, and a first step of overlapping the actuating member to prevent actuation thereof. Preventing actuation of the member by providing a shield movable between a position and a second position moved away from the member to permit engagement with and actuation of the member. Including method. 9. A camera having a strobe circuit including a strobe, a shutter mechanism, and an actuator of the shutter mechanism, wherein the camera is disposed adjacent to the shutter actuator so as not to move the actuator to prevent operation of the shutter mechanism. A control device movable between a first position to lock and a second position to release the shutter actuator to activate the shutter mechanism to energize the strobe circuit, the control device comprising a rotating member surrounding the shutter actuator; Improvements including: 10. The camera according to claim 9, wherein the rotating member includes a portion engageable with the actuator to lock the actuator so as not to move in one direction. 11. The camera according to claim 9, wherein the control device includes a portion engageable with a switch for energizing a strobe circuit. 12. The camera according to claim 11, wherein said rotating member is engageable with a switch for energizing a strobe circuit. 13. The camera according to claim 11, wherein the rotating member includes a sleeve having a longitudinal slot alignable with a portion of the actuator, the actuator being pushed into the sleeve. The camera that enables it. 14. The camera according to claim 13, wherein the sleeve has a portion engageable with the actuator to lock the actuator against movement. 15. The camera according to claim 9, further comprising a transition between the actuator and the shutter, the transition including a hammer, wherein the hammer moves linearly and pivotally in a direction away from and closer to the shutter mechanism. The improvement further comprises the camera mounted to perform and configured to engage and activate the shutter mechanism upon upward movement. 16. A camera having a shutter movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the camera is mounted to perform a linear and pivotal movement in a direction away from and to the shutter, the pivotal movement of the shutter being directed upward. Means for activating the shutter toward the open position, comprising a hammer configured to engage and activate it. 17. The camera according to claim 16, wherein said means includes cam means for pivoting said hammer. 18. The camera according to claim 17, wherein said means includes a carrier for holding said hammer and a manual actuator engageable with said carrier for operating said carrier. . 19. The camera according to claim 18, wherein said means includes spring means for pressing said hammer toward an upper position. 20. The camera according to claim 19, wherein said means includes spring means for urging said carrier and manual actuator into a normal position wherein said hammer is separated from a shutter. 21. The camera according to claim 16, wherein a cam follower on the hammer and a cam engageable with the cam follower for pivoting the hammer by linear motion. A camera included in the actuation means. 22. The camera according to claim 21, further comprising a cam follower on the hammer and a cam engageable with the cam follower for pivoting the hammer by linear motion. A camera included in the actuation means. 23. The camera according to claim 22, wherein said means includes a cam follower engageable with said manual actuator to move a carrier and a hammer toward said shutter.