JP2003152351A - Storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a storage device which has a satisfactory water-proof function, does not require large holding power to a protective lid in its closed state and can be opened readily. SOLUTION: A card storage device of a camera 1 has a card lid 5 and a memory card insertion port 3b. An annular packing 17 is set in the card lid 5, a rear cover 3 side is provided with a tilting circumferential wall surface 3c to enclose the insertion opening 3b and a lock click 14 is disposed in the outside of the circumferential wall surface 3c. When the card lid is closed, the packing 17 is in close contact with the circumferential wall surface 3c and is in a water-tight state. The card lid 5 is locked to a closing position by the lock click 14, and a packing extension part 17a is held by an outer wall part 3d. When the lock click 14 is made to move back, the locking of the card lid 5 is released and the card lid 5 rotates to a position which allows the card lid 5 to be opened with fingertips by the biasing force of the extension part 17a.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure of an accessory storage device for storing accessories provided in equipment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various structures have been proposed for a memory card provided in an electronic device such as a camera and a storage device for storing a battery. The one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-88818 relates to a memory card storage portion, and has a memory card lid (storage compartment protection lid) provided in the grip portion and having a waterproof function for opening and closing a card insertion opening. Further, the switch for detecting the lid opening / closing can be waterproofed without hindering the miniaturization. In addition,
In the above card lid, the waterproof packing has a structure in which the waterproof packing comes into contact with and closely contacts the wall of the storage chamber in the same direction as the moving direction of the card lid.

Further, the one disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-109044 relates to a memory card and a battery accommodating portion for facilitating the taking out of the memory card, and is rotatable for opening and closing the memory card and the battery accommodating chamber. It is equipped with a bottom cover (cover for protecting the storage room). The bottom lid is equipped with waterproof packing that fits over the entire circumference of the bottom lid,
The waterproof packing is press-fitted in close contact with the wall surface of the storage chamber with the bottom lid closed.

[0004]

However, in the card lid disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-88818, the waterproof packing is crushed in the moving direction of the card lid and elastically deformed so that there is no gap. Waterproof is achieved by holding the. In the configuration in which the waterproof packing is deformed in the same direction as the lid moving direction as described above, the reaction force due to the deformation acts in the opening direction, so that it is necessary to hold down the card lid with a large holding force at the closed position. Therefore, the card lid itself and the lock portion that locks the lid in the closed position require strength enough to endure the large holding force, and the lid structure becomes large.

Further, in the memory card and the battery storage portion disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-109044, the bottom cover is in a closed state, and the waterproof packing is in contact with the wall surface of the storage chamber over the entire circumference side surface. Held in.
Therefore, although the holding force when the bottom lid is closed is reduced, the force for opening the bottom lid is increased, and
It was difficult to open the bottom lid because it was necessary to apply a large opening force when opening the bottom lid.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, has a sufficient waterproof function, does not require a large holding force for the protective lid of the storage chamber in the closed state, and An object of the present invention is to provide a storage device capable of easily opening and closing the protective lid.

[0007]

A storage device according to claim 1 of the present invention protects a storage chamber for accommodating accessories in an openable and closable manner, and the storage chamber is watertight to the outside. In a storage device provided with a protective lid for holding in a state, the protective lid is rotatably pivoted to a closed position for closing the storage chamber and an open position for opening the storage chamber with respect to the storage chamber, It has a waterproof member attached to the inner peripheral surface portion of the protective lid, the waterproof member is a surface substantially parallel to the rotational movement direction of the protective lid when the protective lid is in the closed position. An annular elastically deformable member that comes into close contact with the peripheral wall surface of the opening of the storage chamber, and the waterproof member is a portion that is integrally formed and extends to the outside of the annular portion, and the protection is provided. When the lid is in the closed position, the protective lid and the storage The protective cover is provided with an extending portion for applying a biasing force toward the open position, and when the protective cover is closed, the waterproof member is in close contact with the storage chamber and is watertight. Then, the extending portion is sandwiched between the storage chambers, and the protective lid is urged in the opening direction.

A storage device according to a second aspect of the present invention is the storage device according to the first aspect, further comprising locking means for holding the protective lid in a closed position in the vicinity of a position where the extending portion is sandwiched. And the protective lid is held in the closed position by the locking means.

A storage device according to a third aspect of the present invention is the storage device according to the second aspect, wherein the storage device is a storage device for storing a recording medium.

A storage device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the storage device according to the third aspect, which is incorporated in a digital camera, and the lock means is provided on a bottom surface of the digital camera.

A storage device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the storage device according to the third or fourth aspect, in which a detection means for detecting opening / closing of the protective lid is arranged within a range waterproofed by the waterproof member. To do.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage medium which is provided with a protective lid which protects the storage chamber for the recording medium so as to be openable and closable and prevents water from entering the storage chamber from the outside. In the storage room for use, the protective lid has a waterproof member that surrounds the recording medium slot provided in the storage chamber in the closed position, and within a range surrounded by the waterproof member in the storage chamber. Detecting means for detecting the opening and closing of the protective lid is disposed in the protective cover, and when the protective lid is in a closed state, the recording medium slot is surrounded by the waterproof member to be in a watertight state, and at the same time, the detecting means is provided by the waterproof member. Also keep it waterproof.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a camera 1 having a storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the back side, in a card cover open state. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the periphery of the card cover of the camera 1 when the card cover is open. FIG. 3 is an XZ plane cross-sectional view around the locking portion in the closed state of the card lid in the camera 1. FIG. 4 is an XZ plane cross-sectional view of the camera 1 in the card storage chamber with the card lid closed. FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state in which the waterproof packing is in close contact with the card cover in the card storage chamber of the camera 1 in the closed state. FIG. 6 is a view A of FIG. 3 showing a card lid closed state of the card storage chamber in the camera 1.
FIG. In the camera 1 of FIG. 1, the front / back direction of the camera is the Z direction, and the up / down direction of the camera is the Y direction.
Direction, and the left-right direction of the camera is the X direction.

The camera 1 has a memory card 32 which is a recording medium (accessory) for recording image data of a subject.
A digital camera that can record to. In the present camera 1, as shown in the perspective view of FIG. 1, a viewfinder eyepiece window 6 is provided on the outer surface of the rear cover 3 which is a camera exterior body.
A liquid crystal monitor unit 7, a memory card 32 into which a memory card 32 can be mounted inside the right side on the back side, and a card storage device as a storage device having a card lid 5, a zoom operation button 8 for a zoom switch, and four Cross key operation button 9, two various mode setting operation buttons 10, and a card lid opening knob 1 on the bottom surface
3 etc. are arranged.

Further, a release operation button (not shown) for a release switch is provided on the upper portion of the front cover 2 of the camera exterior body.
A photographic lens and a finder window (not shown) on the front surface, a battery storage chamber 2d on the right side of the bottom surface in which the battery 31 can be loaded inside the opening 2a, and the battery is rotated in the D1 direction. A battery lid 4 that can open and close the storage chamber 2d and a tripod screw 2b and the like are provided at the center of the bottom surface portion. The battery cover 4 has a waterproof structure.

2 to 4, the card storage device has a card connector (recording medium slot) as a card storage chamber arranged inside the card insertion opening 3b on the opening 3a of the card storage chamber of the rear cover 3. As shown in FIGS. 21 and card insertion slot 3
b and the inclined peripheral wall surface 3c surrounding the switch opening 3e, the card lid detection switch 15 arranged inside the switch opening 3e, and the lid locking claw 14 of the card lid locking means.
And a card lid 5 as a protective lid rotatably supported by opening and closing the opening 3a of the card storage chamber. The area surrounded by the inclined peripheral wall surface 3c becomes a waterproof area when the card lid 5 is closed.

A memory card 32 can be inserted into and removed from the card connector 21, and the card cover detection switch 15 is
This is a switch for detecting the closing position rotation of the card lid 5.
Then, the card connector 21 and the card cover detection switch 1
5 is mounted on a main control circuit board (hereinafter referred to as a main board) 22 housed in the rear cover 3.

The lid lock claw 14 is arranged on the bottom surface of the rear cover 3 and outside the inclined peripheral surface 3c. It is supported so as to be retractable in the X direction, is biased in the projecting direction by a biasing spring (not shown), and is normally in the projecting position. Also, the lid lock claw 14 is a card lid opening knob 1.
3, the lid lock claw 14 is retracted from the protruding position when the knob 13 is slid in the lock releasing direction.

When the card lid 5 is in the closed position, the lid locking claw 14 is in the projecting position and engages with a later-described locked recess 5a of the card lid 5 to lock the card lid 5 in the closed position. To do. When the card lid opening knob 13 is operated to retract the lid lock claw 14 from the projecting position, the card lid 5
Can be opened.

The card cover 5 is supported by the strap shaft 16 so as to be rotatable in the D2 direction through the elongated hole 5c.
The card lid 5 has an annular projection 5d forming a circumferential surface on the inner surface thereof, a switch pressing projection 5b inside the annular projection 5d, and an outside of the annular projection 5d which is engaged with the bottom surface of the rear cover. A stop recess 5a is provided.

A waterproof packing 17 as a waterproof member made of an annular rubber material which is elastically deformable in a state of covering the projection 5d is fitted into the annular projection 5d.

The waterproof packing 17 has a protruding portion (extending portion) 17 which is integral with the packing 17 and extends outward from the bottom surface.
a is provided.

When the card lid 5 is rotated to the closed position shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 and the locked recess 5a is locked by the lid lock claw 14, the outer peripheral portion 17b of the waterproof packing 17 is elastically deformed. Is pressed against and closely adheres to the inclined peripheral wall surface 3c.
Becomes watertight. At the same time, in the closed state, the protruding portion 17a of the waterproof packing 17 comes into contact with the outer wall surface 3d of the rear cover 3 provided in the vicinity of the lid lock claw 14, and is sandwiched by the card lid 5 and compressed (FIG. 6). ). This protrusion 17
The repulsive force due to the compression of a acts as a rotational force in the opening direction when the card lid 5 is opened.

The inclined peripheral wall surface 3c on the rear cover 3 side is
The peripheral surface is substantially parallel to the rotational direction D2 which is the moving direction of the card lid 5, but has a slight inclination angle θ1 so that the closing direction side becomes narrow in the entire peripheral surface direction. Inclination angle θ1
By having the, the waterproof packing 17 can smoothly enter. Of course, they may be parallel.

Therefore, as the card lid 5 moves in the closing direction, the adhesion of the waterproof packing 17 becomes stronger, and a reliable watertight state can be obtained. That is, as shown in the enlarged sectional view of FIG. 5, the waterproof packing 17 is deformed by the pressing force F0 that rotates the card lid 5 in the closing direction, and the card lid 5 is
It receives a reaction force F1 orthogonal to the inclined peripheral wall surface 3c. And
The component force F2 in the rotational direction with respect to the reaction force F1 is different only in the acting direction, the force in the opening direction is small, and the card lid 5 is easily pressed. At the same time, since the repulsive force in the opening direction is small, the card lid closing portion around the lid lock claw 14 can be made small.

Further, when the card cover 5 is rotated to the closed position, the switch pressing protrusion 5b is inserted into the switch opening 3e.
And presses the actuator portion 15a of the card cover detection switch 15. The switch causes the switch 1
From 5, the card lid closing detection signal is output.

Next, the insertion / removal of the memory card 32 and the opening / closing operation of the card lid 5 in the camera 1 of the present embodiment having the above-mentioned configuration will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, when the card cover 5 is open, the memory card 32 is inserted from the card insertion slot 3b in the X direction and attached to the card connector 21.

After the memory card 32 is inserted, when the card lid 5 is rotated in the closing direction D2 as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the lid lock claw 14 is once retracted and then projected to project the card lid 5. The closed state of the card lid 5 is maintained by engaging with the locked recessed portion 5a. In this closed state, the waterproof packing 17
The outer peripheral portion 17b is in close contact with the inclined peripheral wall surface 3c and is in a watertight state. The protruding portion 17 a of the waterproof packing 17 has an outer wall portion 3
It is clamped by d and is in a compressed state. Further, an ON signal is output from the card cover detection switch 15, and the closing of the card cover 5 is detected by a control unit (not shown) on the main board 22.

Next, when the memory card 32 is taken out, the card lid opening knob 13 is operated to operate the lid lock claw 14.
Retreat. From the lid lock claw 14 to the engaged recess 5a
Waterproof packing 1 that is clamped and compressed when the
Due to the compression repulsive force of the projecting portion 17a of the card 7, the card lid 5 is driven so as to be initially opened so that the card lid 5 can be opened with a finger. In this state, the opening operation of the card lid 5 shown in FIG. 1 to the completely open position can be performed.

According to the camera 1 of this embodiment described above, when the card lid 5 is closed, the outer peripheral portion 17b of the waterproof packing 17 has a slight inclination (inclination angle θ1) of the opening of the card storage chamber. A complete watertight state can be obtained by abutting and closely contacting the wall surface 3c. Also, the inclined peripheral wall surface 3
Since c is a slight inclined surface as described above, the operation force for pressing the card lid 5 to the closed position is small, and the card lid 5 is
Easy to close. Further, since the holding force for holding the card lid 5 by the lid lock claw 14 may be small,
It is not necessary to increase the strength of the lid lock claw 14 or the locked recess 5a of the card lid 5, and the card storage device can be compactly assembled.

Further, since the switch opening 3e for operating the card cover detection switch 15 with the card cover 5 is arranged in the portion surrounded by the inclined peripheral wall surface 3c surrounding the card insertion slot 3b, the switch opening 3e is The waterproof packing 17 is waterproof at the same time as the card insertion slot 3b, which simplifies the waterproof structure.

When the card lid 5 is opened, when the card lid opening knob 13 is slid to release the locked state of the card lid 5, the protrusion 17a provided on the waterproof packing 17 compresses and repels the card lid 5. Is driven in the opening direction by an amount required for the opening operation. Therefore, a separate member for driving the card lid 5 for initial opening is not required, and the number of components is reduced.

The structure of the card storage device to which the card lid 5 described above is applied can also be applied to a battery storage device or an IO card (communication card) storage device which adopts a waterproof structure.

[0034]

As described above, according to the storage device of the first aspect of the present invention, since the waterproof member is brought into close contact with the substantially parallel surface, that is, the slightly inclined surface, the waterproof member acts in the opening direction by deformation. The repulsive force is extremely small. Therefore,
The holding force for holding the protective lid is small, and the protective lid is easily held. Further, since the biasing force in the opening direction is generated by a part of the waterproof member, the protective lid can be easily opened even if the repulsive force is small.

According to the storage device of the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, since the locking means is arranged in the vicinity of the position where the extension part is sandwiched, the extension part is provided. There is no problem such as tilting of the protective lid due to the biasing force of.

According to the storage device of the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the second aspect, it is possible to further store the recording medium in the storage device.

According to the storage device of the fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the third aspect, the storage device can be applied to a digital camera, and the card lid lock means is disposed on the bottom surface of the digital camera. As a result, the operability is good and the camera can be made compact.

According to the storage device of the fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the third or fourth aspect, a detection switch operating portion for detecting opening / closing of the protective lid is further provided within the waterproof area of the waterproof member. Since it is arranged at the above position, a dedicated waterproof structure for the detection switch becomes unnecessary, and the device or the camera can be made compact.

According to the storage device of the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the detection switch operating portion for detecting the opening / closing of the protective lid is arranged in the waterproof area of the waterproof member, the exclusive waterproof for the detection switch is provided. The structure becomes unnecessary, and the device can be made compact and the cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a camera having a storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention when viewed from the back side in a card lid open state.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged perspective view around the card lid in the card lid opened state in the camera of FIG.

3 is an XZ plane cross-sectional view around a card lid lock portion when the card lid is closed in the camera of FIG. 1;

4 is an XZ plane cross-sectional view around the card storage chamber in the card cover closed state in the camera of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the waterproof packing closely attached to the camera of FIG. 1 when the card lid is closed.

6 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 3 showing a card lid closed state in the camera of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ...... Camera (digital camera) 5 ...... Card lid (protective lid) 14 ...... Lid locking claw (locking means) 15 ...... Card lid detection switch (detecting means) 17 ...... Waterproof packing (waterproof member) 17a ...... Projection part (extension part) 21 ... Card connector (storage room, recording medium slot) 32 ... Memory card (accessory, recording medium)

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H05K 5/02 H05K 5/02 L 5/06 5/06 DF term (reference) 2H100 AA41 AA61 DD04 2H101 CC51 CC52 CC53 CC54 CC55 CC59 3E084 AA05 AA14 AB10 BA02 CA03 DA03 DB14 FA06 GA06 GB06 GB17 GB23 HA03 HB03 HC03 HD04 4E360 AB12 AB33 AB42 BA04 BA08 BB02 BC02 BC03 EA18 ED03 ED13 ED17 ED27 FA08 GA02 GA29 AC65 AC77A13 AC22 GA46 A01A13 5

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A storage device comprising a protective cover for opening and closing a storage chamber for accommodating accessories in a replaceable manner and for keeping the storage chamber watertight with respect to the outside. Has a waterproof member pivotally supported in a closed position for closing the storage chamber and an open position for opening the storage chamber with respect to the storage chamber and mounted on an inner peripheral surface of the protective lid. The waterproof member has an annular elastic deformation that adheres to the peripheral wall surface of the opening of the storage chamber, which is a surface substantially parallel to the rotational movement direction of the protective lid when the protective lid is in the closed position. Further, the waterproof member is a part that is integrally formed and extends to the outside of the annular portion, and when the protective lid is in the closed position, the protective lid and the storage chamber are Sandwiched in the direction of the open position on the protective lid. Storage apparatus characterized by comprising an extension portion for applying a biasing force. 2. The storage device according to claim 1, further comprising lock means for holding the protective lid in a closed position in the vicinity of a position where the extending portion is sandwiched. 3. The storage device according to claim 2, wherein the storage device is a storage device for storing a recording medium. 4. The storage device according to claim 3, wherein the storage device is incorporated in a digital camera, and the locking means is provided on a bottom surface of the digital camera. 5. The storage device according to claim 3, wherein a detecting means for detecting opening / closing of the protective lid is arranged within a range waterproofed by the waterproof member. 6. A storage compartment for a recording medium, which is provided with a protective lid that protects the storage compartment for the recording medium so as to be openable and closable and prevents water from entering the storage compartment from the outside. A detection member that has a waterproof member surrounding the recording medium slot provided in the storage chamber at the closed position, and detects opening / closing of the protective lid within a range surrounded by the waterproof member in the storage chamber. A storage device characterized by arranging means.