JP2003084332A - Lens cap and camera apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lens cap constituted to be used even for an optical member such as an ND filter and an adapter ring whose diameter is larger. SOLUTION: This lens cap constituted to cope with both of the 1st optical member 21 having a 1st diameter and the 2nd optical member 41 having a 2nd diameter larger than the 1st diameter has 1st and 2nd pawl parts 51a, 51b and 52a, 52b corresponding to the 1st and the 2nd diameters respectively, knob parts 54a and 54b moving the 1st and the 2nd pawl parts 51a, 51b and 52a, 52b, and a disk part 55 having a diameter larger than the 1st diameter and smaller than the 2nd diameter. When the lens cap is attached to the member 21, the member 21 abuts on the end face 55a of the disk part 55, and when it is attached to the member 41, the disk part 55 gets into the inside of the member 41.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lens cap and a camera device suitable for application to, for example, a camera device to which an adapter ring can be attached.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a camera device such as a digital still camera or a video camera is provided with a lens cap that matches a lens portion of the camera device.

Referring to FIGS. 10 to 12, a conventional digital still camera and a lens cap will be described. This digital still camera has a camera body 10 and a front side of the camera body 10 as shown in FIG. The lens unit 20 is provided.

The camera body 10 is provided with a housing 11, and the housing 11 is provided with a shutter 12, a finder 13, a flash 14, and the like.

The lens section 20 is provided with a cylindrical lens housing section 21 for housing the zoom lens unit 22, and the zoom lens unit 22 is provided coaxially with the lens housing section 21. The zoom lens unit 22 is of a retractable type so that the front end side thereof is completely hidden by the lens housing portion 21 when housed. A screw portion 21a for connecting a filter, an adapter ring, and the like is provided at the tip of the lens housing portion 21.

In FIG. 10, reference numeral 30 denotes the zoom lens unit 2 when the digital still camera is not used.
The lens cap 30 is attached as shown in FIG.
1 is attached to the camera body 11.

This lens cap 30 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 12, two claw parts 32, 32 corresponding to the inner diameter of the lens housing part 21 of the lens part 20 and provided to face each other, and two claw parts 32, 32 are A spiral spring 33 provided so that the two claw portions 32 and 32 are biased outward, and a knob portion 34 that moves the two claw portions 32 and 32 inward against the elastic force of the spiral spring 33. 34 and a disk portion 35 having a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the lens housing portion 21 and having the spiral spring 33 provided therein. When the lens cap 30 is mounted on the lens housing portion 21, As shown in FIG. 12, the claw portions 32 of the lens cap 30 are engaged with the screw portion 21 a of the lens housing portion 21 and the lens housing portion 21.
The front surface of the lens cap 30 is in contact with the end surface of the disk portion 35 of the lens cap 30.

[0008]

By the way, generally, for the lens shade for blocking unnecessary external light and for protecting the zoom lens unit 22, there are male and female screw portions at one end and the other end of the cylinder, respectively. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, the adapter ring 40 is attached to the screw portion 21 of the lens housing portion 21.
It is designed to be screwed and fixed to a.

When the adapter ring 40 is attached for shooting outdoors in strong sunlight such as the sea or mountains, especially snowy mountains, as shown in FIG. 13, it is ND (neutral Density) filter 41 is required and is attached to the tip of this adapter ring 40.

When the ND filter 41 is attached to the tip of the adapter ring 40 and the zoom lens unit 22 is widened, the vignetting on the ND filter 41 (the frame of the ND filter 41, etc. is displayed on the screen. In order to avoid (entering), the inner diameter of the ND filter 41 is made slightly larger.

When the inner diameter of the ND filter 41 is made slightly larger, the inner diameter of the digital still camera becomes larger than the inner diameter of the lens housing portion 21 of the lens portion 20, so the diameters of the claw portions 32, 32 of the lens cap 30. However, the lens cap 30 cannot be used and the ND filter and the like cannot be protected.

Further, the video camera as shown in FIG. 14 has the same inconvenience. In FIG. 14, 15 is a video camera body, 16 is a viewfinder, and 17 is L.
A monitor composed of a CD, and 42 is a step-up ring. The parts corresponding to those in FIG. 13 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to propose a lens cap which can be used for an optical member such as an ND filter or an adapter ring having a slightly larger diameter.

[0014]

The lens cap of the present invention is compatible with both a first optical member having a first diameter and a second optical member having a second diameter larger than the first diameter. A lens cap that is configured to be possible, that is, first and second claw portions that respectively correspond to the first and second diameters, and a knob portion that moves the first and second claw portions. A disk portion having a diameter larger than the first diameter and smaller than the second diameter, and when mounted on the first optical member, the first
The optical member comes into contact with the end surface of the disk portion, and when the optical member is mounted on the second optical member, the disk portion is inserted inside the second optical member.

According to the present invention, the first and second claw portions corresponding to the first and second diameters, respectively, and the disc having a diameter larger than the first diameter and smaller than the second diameter. Part and
When mounted on the first optical member, the first optical member comes into contact with the end surface of the disc portion, and when mounted on the second optical member, the disc portion enters the inside of the second optical member. Therefore, for example, the lens cap of the camera device can be used as an optical member such as an ND filter having a different diameter or an adapter ring.

Further, the lens cap of the present invention is constructed so as to be compatible with both the first optical member having the first diameter and the second optical member having the second diameter larger than the first diameter. And a first and second claw portions respectively corresponding to the first and second diameters, a knob portion for moving the first and second claw portions, and the first diameter. Greater,
A first disc portion having a diameter smaller than the second diameter and the second disc portion
And a second disc portion having a diameter larger than the diameter of the second disc portion, the first optical member is brought into contact with the end face of the first disc portion when mounted on the first optical member, and When mounted on the optical member, the second optical member is brought into contact with the end face of the second disk portion.

According to the present invention, the first and second claw portions respectively corresponding to the first and second diameters and the first and second claw portions having a diameter larger than the first diameter and smaller than the second diameter are provided. 1 disk part,
A second disk portion having a diameter larger than the second diameter, and when the first optical member is mounted on the first optical member, the first optical member contacts the end face of the first disk member, When the second optical member is attached to the second optical member,
Since it comes into contact with the end surface of the disk portion of, the lens cap of the camera device, for example, an ND filter with a different diameter,
It can also be used for optical members such as adapter rings.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a lens cap and a camera device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 show an example in which the lens cap and camera device of the present invention are applied to a digital still camera. In FIGS. 1 to 4, parts corresponding to those in FIGS. Show.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, reference numeral 10 denotes a camera body of a digital still camera, and a lens portion 20 is provided on the front side of the camera body 10.

The camera body 10 is provided with a housing 11, and the housing 11 is provided with a shutter, a finder 13, a flash and the like.

The lens section 20 is provided with a cylindrical lens housing section 21 for housing the zoom lens unit 22, and the zoom lens unit 22 is provided coaxially with the lens housing section 21. The zoom lens unit 22 is of a retractable type so that the front end side thereof is completely hidden by the lens housing portion 21 when housed. A screw portion 21a for connecting a filter, an adapter ring, and the like is provided at the tip of the lens housing portion 21.

Further, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, one end and the other end of a cylinder of a predetermined length are provided for the lens shade for blocking unnecessary external light and for the protection of the zoom lens unit 22, respectively. The adapter ring 40 having male and female screw portions can be screwed and fixed to the screw portion 21a of the lens housing 21.

When this adapter ring 40 is attached for shooting outdoors in strong sunlight such as the sea or mountains, especially snowy mountains, as shown in FIG. 4, an ND filter 41 is provided to adjust the light quantity for shooting strong light. It will be necessary, and it will be attached by screwing and fixing it to the tip of the adapter ring 40.

In this case, when the ND filter 41 is attached to the tip of the adapter ring 40 and the zoom lens unit 22 is widened (wide angle), the ND filter 41 is used.
In order to avoid vignetting (because the frame body such as the ND filter 41 enters the screen), this ND filter 41
The inner diameter of is formed to be slightly larger. In FIG.
Reference numeral 41a is a thread portion of a female screw provided at the tip of the frame body of the ND filter 41.

In this example, the lens cap 50 connected to the camera body 10 of the digital still camera with a string (coupling member) is constructed as shown in FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 1, the lens cap 50 of this embodiment corresponds to the inner diameter of the lens housing portion 21 of the lens portion 20,
The first one and the other claw portions 51a and 51b are provided so as to face each other in the diametrical direction of the inner diameter, and correspond to the inner diameter of the ND filter 41. One and the other claw portions 52a and 52b are provided, and the first and second one claw portions 51a and 52a are provided.
A helical spring 53 is provided between the first and second other claw portions 51b and 52b so as to be biased outwardly from each other.
Further, one and the other knob portion 54 capable of moving the first claw portions 51a, 51b and the second claw portions 52a, 52b inward against the elastic force of the spiral spring 53.
a and 54b are provided.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 2, one first claw portion 51a, one second claw portion 52a, one knob portion 54a, a spiral spring engaging portion 53a, and a stopper portion 56.
And the guide portion 57 are integrally molded with a synthetic resin so as to form one integrally molded product, and the other first claw portion 51b, the other second claw portion 52b, and the other knob portion 54b having the same shape as this are formed. The spiral spring engaging portion, the stopper portion and the guide portion are integrally molded of synthetic resin to form the other integrally molded product.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the lens cap 50 of this embodiment has a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the lens housing portion 21 and smaller than the inner diameter of the ND filter 41, and one and the other are integrally molded inside. When the disk portion 53 made of synthetic resin is provided by assembling the spiral spring 53 and the like on the product, and the lens cap 50 is attached to the lens housing portion 21 of the lens portion 20 of the camera device by operating the knob portions 54a and 54b. As shown in FIG. 3, the first one and the other claw portions 51a and 51b of the lens cap 50 are engaged with the screw portions 21a of the lens housing portion 21, respectively, and the front end of the lens housing portion 21 is The end surface 55a of the disk portion 55 of the lens cap 50 is brought into contact with the end surface 55a.

Further, in this embodiment, the lens cap 50 is operated by the knob portions 54a and 54b, as shown in FIG.
When it is attached to the ND filter 41 screwed and fixed to the ND filter 41 via the adapter ring 40, the second one and the other claw portions 52a and 52b of the lens cap 50 are respectively attached to the screw portion 41a of the ND filter 41 as shown in FIG. And the disk surface 55 of the lens cap 50 is inserted into the screw portion 41a inside the ND filter 41. Others are configured similarly to the conventional one.

In this example, as described above, the lens cap 50 has the first claw portions 51a and 51b corresponding to the inner diameter of the lens housing portion 21 of the lens portion 20 of the camera device and the second claw portion corresponding to the inner diameter of the ND filter 41. It has claws 52a and 52b and a disc portion 55 having a diameter larger than the inner diameter of the lens housing portion 21 and smaller than the inner diameter of the ND filter 41, and when mounted in the lens housing portion 21 of the camera device, the lens housing portion The tip end of 21 comes into contact with the end surface 55a of the disc portion 55, and when the disc portion 55 is mounted on the ND filter 41, the disc portion 55 is allowed to enter the inside of the ND filter 41.
The ND filter 4 has a diameter different from that of the lens housing portion 21 of the lens portion 20 of this camera device (one size larger).
It can be used for both the first and the second and can be protected.

5 to 9 show another example of the embodiment of the present invention. 5 to 9 will be described.
9, parts corresponding to those in FIGS. 1 to 4 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 9, the lens cap 60 of the examples of FIGS. 5 to 9 corresponds to the inner diameter of the lens housing portion 21 of the lens portion 20 of the camera device, and opposes each other in the diameter direction of this inner diameter. The first one and the other claw portions 61a and 6
1b and the second one and the other claw portions 62a and 62b corresponding to the inner diameter of the ND filter 41 and facing each other in the diametrical direction of the inner diameter are provided. A helical spring 63 is provided between the portions 61a and 62a and the first and second other claw portions 61b and 62b so as to be biased outward from each other, and the helical spring 63 resists the elastic force of the helical spring 63. There are provided one and the other knob portions 64a and 64b capable of moving the lever first pawl portions 61a and 61b and the second pawl portions 62a and 62b inward.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, the one first claw portion 61a, the one second claw portion 62a, the one knob portion 64a, the spiral spring engaging portion 63a and the like are integrally molded of synthetic resin. Then, the other first claw portion 61b, the other second claw portion 62b, the other knob portion 64b, the spiral spring engaging portion 63b, and the other, which are formed as one integrally molded product and have the same shape The knob portion 64b, the spiral spring engaging portion 63a, and the like are integrally molded of synthetic resin to form the other integrally molded product.

Further, the lens cap 60 of this example is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, a first disc portion 65 having a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the lens housing portion 21 and smaller than the inner diameter of the ND filter 41, and a second disc portion having a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the ND filter 41. As shown in FIG. 5, the portions 66 and 65 are integrally molded with a synthetic resin so that the centers thereof coincide with each other and are overlapped with each other. The spiral spring 63 and the like are assembled and provided.

In this case, the lens cap 60 is operated by operating the knob portions 64a and 64b, and the lens portion 2 of the camera device is
When it is mounted in the lens housing portion 21 of No. 0, as shown in FIG. 8, the first one and the other claw portions 61a and 61b of the lens cap 60 are respectively attached to the screw portion 21 of the lens housing portion 21.
The front end of the lens accommodating portion 21 is brought into contact with the end face 65a of the first disc portion 65 of the lens cap 60 while engaging with a.

In this case, the lens cap 60
By operating the knob portions 64a and 64b, as shown in FIG. 9, the lens housing portion 21 of the lens portion 20 of this camera device
When the ND filter 41 is screwed and fixed to the ND filter 41 via the adapter ring 40, the second one and the other claw portions 62a and 62b of the lens cap 60 are respectively attached to the screw portion 41a of the ND filter 41 as shown in FIG. The front end of the ND filter 41 is engaged with the end face 66a of the second disc portion 66 of the lens cap 60.
So that it touches. Others are configured similarly to the conventional one.

In this example, as described above, the lens cap 60
Is the first claw portions 61a and 61b corresponding to the inner diameter of the lens housing portion 21 of the lens unit 20 of the camera device and the second claw portions 62a and 62b corresponding to the inner diameter of the ND filter 41.
And larger than the inner diameter of the lens storage portion 21,
The first disc portion 65 having a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the filter 41.
And a second diameter larger than the outer diameter of the ND filter 41.
When the lens unit 21 of the camera device is mounted, the front end of the lens unit 21 comes into contact with the end face 65a of the first disc unit 65, and the ND filter 41 Since the front end of the ND filter 41 is brought into contact with the end face 66a of the second disc portion 66 when the lens cap 60 of the camera device is mounted on the lens unit 20 of the camera device 20, N with a different diameter from the part 21 (one size larger)
It can be used as both the D filter 41 and can be protected.

In the above example, the present invention is applied to a digital still camera, but it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to other camera devices such as a video camera.

In the above example, an example in which the present invention is applied to the ND filter 41 has been described.
Needless to say, it can be applied to other optical members such as an adapter ring and other filters instead of 1.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned examples, and it goes without saying that various other configurations can be adopted without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0041]

According to the present invention, the lens cap used for the lens portion of the camera device can be used as a cap for an optical member such as an ND filter or an adapter ring having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the lens portion of the camera device. , Etc. can be protected.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an example of an embodiment of a lens cap of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a main part of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts showing an example of a mounted state of the example lens cap of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts showing another example of the mounted state of the example lens cap shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing another example of the embodiment of the lens cap of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of another example of the embodiment of the lens cap of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another example of the embodiment of the lens cap of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts showing an example of a mounted state of the example lens caps of FIGS. 5 to 7;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts showing another example of a mounted state of the example lens caps of FIGS. 5 to 7;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional digital still camera.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional lens cap.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of an essential part showing an example of a mounted state of a conventional lens cap.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing another example of a conventional digital video camera.

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of an example of a conventional video camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: camera body, 20: lens part, 21: lens housing part, 21a: screw part, 22: zoom lens unit, 40: adapter ring, 41: ND filter, 41a: screw part, 42 ... Step-up ring, 50, 60 ... Lens cap, 51a, 51
b, 61a, 61b ... First claw portions, 52a, 52b,
62a, 62b ... second claw portion, 53, 63 ... spiral spring, 54a, 54b, 64a, 64b ... knob portion, 55, 65, 66 ... disk portion

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Naoki Kamaya             6-735 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Soni             -Inside the corporation F-term (reference) 2H044 AE09 AE10                 2H083 BB01 BB08 BB14 BB17 BB20                       BB22                 5C022 AA13 AC54 AC61

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A lens cap configured so as to be compatible with both a first optical member having a first diameter and a second optical member having a second diameter larger than the first diameter. A first and second claw portions corresponding to the first and second diameters respectively, a knob portion that moves the first and second claw portions, and a second diameter larger than the first diameter. A disc portion having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the disc portion, and when the disc is mounted on the first optical member, the first optical member abuts an end surface of the disc portion, and when mounted on the second optical member. The lens cap is characterized in that the disk portion is inserted inside the second optical member. 2. A lens cap configured so as to be compatible with both a first optical member having a first diameter and a second optical member having a second diameter larger than the first diameter. A first and a second claw portion respectively corresponding to the first and second diameters, a knob portion for moving the first and second claw portions, and a diameter larger than the first diameter A first disc part having a diameter smaller than 2 and a second disc part having a diameter larger than the second diameter, and when mounted on the first optical member, the first optical member Is in contact with the end surface of the first disk portion, and the second optical member is in contact with the end surface of the second disk portion when mounted on the second optical member. cap. 3. The lens cap according to claim 1, wherein the first optical member is a camera device, and the second optical member is an adapter ring attached to the camera device. And lens cap. 4. A camera device comprising the lens cap according to claim 1 or 2.