JP2005274838A - Waterproof structure of optical apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical apparatus in which simple and effective drip-proofing is applied to a bonding part of multiple covers provided on surfaces of a plurality of cases, respectively. <P>SOLUTION: There are provided a first case 21; a second case 31 bonded to the first case 21, grooves 23, 33 provided on an outer surface side of a bonding part of the first case 21 and the second case 31; an elastic member 40 of which at least a part is housed along the grooves 23, 33 and a part is exposed on the outer surface side when bonding the first case 21 and the second case 31; a first cover 22 covering an outer surface of the first case 21; and a second cover which is bonded to the first cover 22 and covers an outer surface of the second case 31. The bonding part of the first cover 22 and the second cover 32 is disposed along the elastic member 40 housed in the grooves 23, 33, and the elastic member 40 is in contact with the bonding part by pressure. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical apparatus, and more particularly to its waterproof structure.

For example, an optical device such as a digital still camera is subjected to a waterproofing process (also referred to as a drip-proof process) that prevents intrusion of water or the like from the outside as necessary. Moreover, a dustproof effect can also be acquired by performing such a waterproof process.
For example, Patent Document 1 describes that a rubber packing is inserted into a joint between a waterproof camera housing and a back cover.
Patent Document 2 discloses that a thin rubber packing is disposed at a joint portion between an opening of a camera body and a back cover that closes the opening, and a protrusion is formed on the periphery of the opening. Describes that the packing is pressed.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-5552 JP 9-325396 A

  Considering the application of the conventional waterproof (drip-proof) structure to exterior parts (cases) of optical equipment, the case of optical equipment is improved in appearance and texture to give a high-class feel. For example, a resin mold A cover made of, for example, metal may be provided on the surface side of a housing such as a molded product. In this case, even if a packing such as an O-ring is inserted between the casings formed by joining a plurality of parts, water enters from the joint between the covers, and the gap between the inner surface of the cover and the outer surface of the casing I get into it. Further, since the cover is usually formed thin with respect to the housing, it is difficult to provide a packing at the joint between the covers.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an optical device that easily and effectively waterproofs a joint portion when a cover configured by joining a plurality of components is provided on a surface of a casing configured by joining the plurality of components. Is to provide.

  The present invention solves the above problems by the following means. In addition, in order to make an understanding easy, although the code | symbol corresponding to the Example of this invention is attached | subjected and demonstrated, it is not limited to this.

  The invention of claim 1 includes a first casing (21), a second casing (31) joined to the first casing (21), the first casing (21), and the first casing (21). The groove (23, 33) provided on the outer surface side of the joint portion of the second casing (31), and at least a part of the groove (23, 33) are accommodated along the groove (23, 33). An elastic member (40) partially exposed to the outer surface side when the casing (21) and the second casing (31) are joined, and an outer surface of the first casing (21). A first cover (22) for covering, and a second cover (32) for bonding to the first cover (22) and covering the outer surface of the second casing (31), The elastic member (40) in which the joint of the first cover (22) and the second cover (32) is accommodated in the groove (23, 33). Together arranged along a waterproof structure of an optical instrument, wherein the elastic member (40) and pressed against the joint portions.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the groove (23, 33) has an inclined bottom surface (23b, 33b, 25a), and the first casing (21) and the second casing (31) are coupled to each other. By doing so, the said elastic member (40) is pushed out to the said outer surface side by the said slope (23b, 33b, 25a), The waterproof structure of the optical apparatus of Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the slope (25a) is provided in the first casing (21) and protrudes so as to be able to enter the groove (33) of the second casing (31). The waterproof structure for an optical device according to claim 2.

  According to the present invention, the elastic member is pressed into contact with the joint portion of the first cover and the second cover by joining the first housing and the second housing. It is possible to easily and effectively prevent the joint portions of the plurality of covers provided on the surface.

  The present invention provides a first housing, a second housing that is joined to the first housing, and a groove provided on the outer surface side of the joining portion of the first housing and the second housing. And an O-ring that is partly accommodated along the groove and partly exposed to the outer surface side when the first housing and the second housing are joined together, and the outer surface of the first housing. A first metal cover that covers the first metal cover; and a second metal cover that is bonded to the first metal cover and covers an outer surface of the second housing. The joint portion of the metal cover 2 is arranged along the O-ring accommodated in the groove portion, and the above-mentioned problem is solved by the waterproof structure of the optical device in which the O-ring is pressed against the joint portion.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings and the like.
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a case of a first embodiment of a camera to which the present invention is applied.
A case 10 that accommodates an internal device (not shown) is configured by joining a case member 20 divided into two and a case member 30, and an O-ring 40 (not shown in FIG. 1) is connected to these joint portions. FIG. 2) is provided.
The case member 20 and the case member 30 are each formed in a substantially rectangular container shape that is open on one side, and these end surfaces of the opening edges are abutted and joined.

  FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a joint portion between the case member 20 and the case member 30 in the case of FIG. 2A shows a state before the case 10 is assembled, and FIG. 2B shows a state after the assembly. In the drawing, the upper side indicates the inner side of the camera, and the lower side indicates the outer side of the camera.

The case member 20 includes a housing 21 that is a resin molded product and a metal cover 22 that covers the outer surface thereof. Similarly, the case member 30 includes a housing 31 that is a resin molded product, and a metal cover 32 formed along the outer surface thereof.
The casings 21 and 31 are formed thicker than the metal covers 22 and 32, respectively. For example, a resin material is injected into the inner surfaces of the metal covers 22 and 32 prepared in advance and cured. Has been.
The metal covers 22 and 32 are formed, for example, by pressing a metal plate such as a magnesium alloy or an aluminum alloy.

The positions of the end surfaces 21a and 31a at the edges of the casings 21 and 31 are the positions of the end surfaces 22a and 32a at the edges of the corresponding metal covers 22 and 32, respectively, and the coupling direction of the casings 20 and 30 (see FIG. In the horizontal direction).
The end surfaces 21 a and 31 a of the casings 21 and 31 are formed by recessing the outer surface sides of the casings 21 and 31, respectively, and groove portions 23 and 33 for accommodating the O-ring 40 are formed.

  The cross-sectional shapes of the groove portions 23 and 33 are trapezoidal shapes having groove bottom surfaces 23a and 33a and side wall surfaces 23b and 33b, respectively, and the inner surfaces 22b and 32b of the metal covers 22 and 32 are open. .

  The side wall surfaces 23b and 33b of the groove portions 23 and 33 facing the inner surfaces 22b and 32b of the metal covers 22 and 32 are formed obliquely with respect to the inner surfaces 22b and 32b, respectively. Specifically, the side wall surfaces 23b and 33b are formed so as to be inclined by, for example, about 45 degrees in the direction of the opposite case members 30 and 20 with reference to a state parallel to the inner surfaces 22b and 32b, respectively. .

  The sum of the depths from the end faces 21a and 31a of the groove portions 23 and 33 is set smaller than the diameter when the external force of the O-ring 40 is not applied. Further, the groove bottom surfaces 23 a and 33 a are set such that the length from the inner surfaces 22 b and 32 b of the metal covers 22 and 32 is smaller than the diameter when the external force of the O-ring 40 is not applied.

  When the O-ring 40 is inserted into the groove portion 23 on the case member 20 side (see FIG. 2A) and the case member 20 and the case member 30 are joined, the O-ring 40 becomes the groove bottom surface of the groove portions 23 and 33. 23a and 33a are pressed and sandwiched between the side walls 23b and 33b disposed obliquely, and are pressed against the inner surfaces 22b and 32b of the metal covers 22 and 32 to be elastically deformed (FIG. 2 ( see b)).

  Due to this elastic deformation, the O-ring 40 is brought into pressure contact with the casings 21 and 31 and the metal covers 22 and 32, respectively, and the joint portion is drip-proof by these pressure contact locations. In particular, since the pressure contact portion of the O-ring 40 with respect to the metal covers 22 and 32 is provided along the connecting portion of the metal covers 22 and 32, water intrusion from the outside to the inside of the metal covers 22 and 32 is prevented. The Specifically, in Example 1, a drip-proof effect corresponding to the JIS C 0920 standard 4th class can be obtained.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, it is possible to easily waterproof between the casings 21 and 31 and between the metal covers 22 and 32 by one O-ring 40.

Next, a second embodiment of the camera to which the present invention is applied will be described. In addition, about the location similar to Example 1 mentioned above, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a joint portion between the case member 20 and the case member 30 in the camera case of the second embodiment.
In the second embodiment, the groove 33 on the case member 30 side has a rectangular cross section, and the slope 25a is formed only on the protrusion 25 on the case member 20 side. The protrusion 25 is formed to protrude from the end surface 21 a of the housing 21 toward the case member 30, and in a state where the case member 20 and the case member 30 are joined, the protrusion 25 is in the groove 33 on the housing 31 side. Inserted into.

When the O-ring 40 is inserted into the groove portion 33 of the case member 30 (see FIG. 3A) and the case member 20 and the case member 30 are coupled, the O-ring 40 is separated from the groove bottom surface 33a by the inclined surface 25a. When pressed against the inner surfaces 22b and 32b of the metal covers 22 and 32, respectively, the casings 21 and 31 and the inner surfaces 22b and 32b are pressed against each other (see FIG. 3B), and these press-contact locations The joint is drip-proofed.
Further, similarly to the first embodiment, the O-ring 40 is provided with the press-contact portions to the inner surfaces 22b and 32b of the metal covers 22 and 32 along the connecting portions of the metal covers 22 and 32. Inundation into the metal cover from the outside is prevented.

As described above, also in the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the single O-ring 40 can easily prevent the drip between the housings 21 and 31 and the metal covers 22 and 32. be able to.
Furthermore, in the second embodiment, the protrusion 25 having the slope 25a is formed only on one case member 20, and a part of the projection 25 enters the groove 33 on the other case member 30 side. Since the height difference can be increased, the O-ring 40 can be deformed more than in the first embodiment, the pressure contact force can be improved, and the drip-proof effect can be improved.

(Modification)
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and changes can be made, and these are also within the equivalent scope of the present invention.
(1) The present invention can be applied to a digital still camera and other optical devices. For example, the present invention can also be applied to film still cameras, movie cameras, interchangeable lenses for interchangeable lens cameras, flash light emitting devices (speedlights), binoculars, telescopes, and the like.
(2) In each embodiment, the case 10 is divided into two parts, but the case may be composed of three or more case members.
(3) Although each embodiment uses an O-ring having a circular cross section as an elastic seal member, the present invention is not limited to this, and an elastic seal member having an irregular cross section other than a circular shape may be used. For example, the elastic seal member may have an H-shaped cross section.

It is an external appearance perspective view of the case of Example 1 of the camera to which the present invention is applied. It is an expanded sectional view of the junction part of the case member of the case of FIG. It is an expanded sectional view of the junction part of the case member in the case of Example 2 of the camera to which the present invention is applied.

Explanation of symbols

10 Case 20, 30 Case member 21, 31 Housing 21a, 31a Housing end surface 22, 32 Metal cover 22a, 32a Cover end surface 22b, 32b Cover inner surface 23, 33 Groove 23a, 33a Groove bottom 23b, 33b Side wall surface 25 Projection 25c Slope 40 O-ring

Claims (3)

A first housing;
A second housing joined to the first housing;
Groove portions respectively provided on the outer surface side of the joint portion of the first housing and the second housing;
An elastic member that is at least partially accommodated along the groove and is partially exposed to the outer surface when the first casing and the second casing are joined;
A first cover covering an outer surface of the first housing;
A second cover that joins to the first cover and covers an outer surface of the second housing;
The joint of the first cover and the second cover is disposed along the elastic member housed in the groove, and the waterproof of the optical apparatus is characterized in that the elastic member is pressed against the joint. Construction. The groove has a slope at the bottom,
The waterproof structure for an optical device according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member is pushed out to the outer surface side by the inclined surface by joining the first housing and the second housing. The waterproof structure for an optical apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the inclined surface is provided in the first housing and protrudes so as to be able to enter the groove portion of the second housing.

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