JP2006171451A - Underwater camera case - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an underwater camera case capable of reducing the cost of components by using two components in common with each other, that is, a snap ring and a resin contact member, and also, capable of reducing the manufacturing cost by improving assemblage workability. <P>SOLUTION: Regarding the underwater camera case 2 from which an optical apparatus 1 can be removed, a pressure means 6 includes; a through-hole part 7 which is punched in the case or a cover; a shaft body 10 which is pivotally supported so as to move backward and forward between a standby position and a pressure position for pressing, and also, fixing a press button 8 positioned outside at one end of the shaft body and fixing a contact member 16 positioned inside for pressing at the other end, and also, with an annular groove part 9 formed near the other end; a sealing member 11; a biasing member 12 for biasing to shift to the standby position; and a snap ring which is fitted to held the shaft body in the standby position against the biasing force of the biasing member, wherein by using a shape member 13 where the contact member 16 and a fitting pawls 14 elastically deformable so as to fit with the annular groove part are integrally formed, the snap ring is omitted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an underwater camera case used when a normal optical device is used for underwater photography, for example.

  Underwater photography cameras dedicated to underwater photography have been put into practical use as optical devices. Because such underwater cameras are expensive, underwater camera cases specially designed so that ordinary compact cameras, digital cameras, or digital video cameras can also be used for underwater photography are put into practical use for each model. Has been.

According to these underwater camera cases, when the lens portion of the specified optical device is loaded in a use position where the lens portion is exposed to the outside through the flat glass surface, the positioning state of the optical device is ensured and the operation portion is set to the underwater camera. A pressing means for performing a pressing operation from the outside of the case is provided. (Patent Document 1)
The pressing means provided in this way has various configurations. As an example, a cross-sectional view of the main part of the pressing means 106 before pressing in FIG. 6A and the main part of the pressing means 106 after pressing in FIG. A brief description will be given with reference to cross-sectional views. When the digital camera 1 that is an optical device is loaded in an underwater camera case configured by a case body (not shown) and a lid body 4, the operation unit 5 faces a pressing means 106 that is pressed from the outside. become. The pressing means 6 passes through a through-hole portion formed in the lid as shown in the figure, and is between a standby position shown in (a) and a pressing position for performing the pressing shown in (b). The shaft body 110 is provided so as to be reciprocally movable. A press button 8 located outside is fixed to the upper end of the shaft body 110, and a resin contact member 108 for pressing the operation unit 5 by being located inside is fixed to the lower end. Yes.

Further, an annular groove is formed near the lower end of the shaft body 110 by lathe processing or the like, and a retaining ring 109 is fitted into the annular groove so that the inner peripheral surface 4a of the through hole portion of the lid 4 is obtained. The retaining ring 109 is configured to abut on.
JP2003-15207A.

  However, for example, according to the above-described configuration, two parts of the retaining ring and the resin contact member are used. In particular, a special tool is required to insert the retaining ring 109 into the annular groove and make it fit, and skill is required to use this special tool. For this reason, there is a problem that the component cost and the manufacturing cost for assembling them become high. In particular, when the retaining ring 109 is fitted to a narrow part of the case body, the C ring is fitted instead of the E ring. It was desired.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and by sharing two parts of the retaining ring and the resin contact member, the parts cost is reduced and the assembling workability is improved. An object of the present invention is to provide an underwater camera case that can reduce manufacturing costs.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, according to the present invention, a case body (3) and a lid body (4) for detachably mounting the optical device (1) in an internal use position, An underwater camera case (2) provided with a pressing means (6) for pressing the operation unit (5) of the loaded optical device from the outside of the case body or the lid body and having waterproofness necessary for underwater photography. The pressing means (6) is reciprocally moved between a through-hole portion (7) drilled in the case body or the lid body, and a standby position and a pressing position for performing the pressing. The push button (8) positioned outside is fixed to one end of the through hole, and the abutting member (16) performing the pressing is fixed to the other end. And a shaft body (10) formed with an annular groove (9) near the other end. A sealing member (11) embedded in the through-hole portion for waterproofing the shaft body, a biasing member (12) for biasing the shaft body to move to the standby position, and the biasing member A retaining ring abutting against the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole portion after being fitted into the annular groove portion to hold the shaft body at the standby position against the urging force. The retaining ring can be omitted by the shape member (13) integrally formed with the contact member (16) and the fitting claws (14, 14) that are elastically deformed so as to be fitted into the annular groove. It is said.

  The shape member is formed at a symmetrical position in a cylindrical body having an inner diameter portion through which the shaft body is inserted and a bottomed portion serving as the contact member, and an outer peripheral wall portion of the cylindrical body. A pair of openings having end edges formed in a plane direction perpendicular to the central axis of the first and second fitting claws formed obliquely from the vicinity of the end edges toward the inner diameter part. It is characterized by injection resin molding using a predetermined resin material.

  The pressing button is insert-molded with respect to the shaft made of a predetermined metal and is made of a resin having a flange portion that forms a pressing surface, and the sealing member is disposed outside the through-hole portion. After being embedded in the seating surface to be formed, the lid is covered with a predetermined metal washer, the biasing member is a predetermined metal compression coil spring, and the compression coil spring is connected to the washer and the flange portion of the push button. And an extended portion (28) for surrounding the compression coil spring is formed outside the case body or the lid body.

  Further, the case body or the lid body is made of a transparent or light-transmitting polycarbonate resin, the predetermined metal is a stainless steel metal material having excellent corrosion resistance, and the seal member has wear resistance and repellent properties. It is characterized by being made of silicone rubber with excellent aqueous properties.

  According to the underwater camera case of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the component cost and the manufacturing cost by sharing the two components of the retaining ring and the resin contact member.

  A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  Here, in the following embodiments, a small flat box type provided with a camera front surface having a photographing lens portion provided with a fixed focus lens as an optical device, a camera rear surface on which a liquid crystal display portion is disposed, and a camera upper surface on which a shutter is disposed. This section mainly describes underwater camera cases designed exclusively for digital cameras. However, the present invention is not limited to the digital camera configured as described above, but is a type in which the photographing lens unit is retracted and the photographing lens has an optical zoom system of 3 times or more, a silver salt film camera, and further a digital video. Needless to say, it is also applicable to cameras.

  FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of a main part after a small and thin digital camera 1 which is a detachable optical device is loaded in a use position inside an underwater camera case 2, and FIG. The principal part sectional view after loading in the use position inside the underwater camera case 2, (c) is a principal part sectional view after loading the large size digital camera 1 in the use position inside the underwater camera case 2. .

  First, in FIG. 1A, a small and thin digital camera 1 is housed in a transparent resin case body 3 and then loaded into a use position by an internal member (not shown). The photographic lens faces the surface 3a. Thereafter, the lid body 4 pivotally supported by the pivot shaft support portion 31 near the lateral opening of the case body 3 is covered as shown in the figure, and the flange of the case body 3 is operated by the operation of the lock lever 32. The continuous seal member 30 embedded in the part is lightly compressed, so that the inside can be maintained in a completely liquid-tight state, and is configured to have waterproofness necessary for shooting in bad weather and underwater shooting.

  After being loaded in this way, the operation unit 5 which is the shutter and various operation button keys of the digital camera 1 and which is usually directly operated by a fingertip is opposed to the pressing means 6 pressed from the outside of the case body 3. It becomes a state to do. Thereby, the operation from the outside becomes possible. Further, the liquid crystal display unit (not shown) can be seen from the outside since the case body 3 is made of a transparent polycarbonate resin.

  Subsequently, in FIG. 1 (b), the same reference numerals are given to the components already described in FIG. 1 (a), and the description thereof is omitted. The normal size digital camera 1 has a transparent resin case body. After being housed in 3, it is loaded at a use position by a member (not shown) inside so that the photographing lens faces the glass surface 3 a of the case body 3. Thereafter, the lid body 4 pivotally supported by the pivot shaft support portion 31 on the right side surface of the opening of the case body 3 is covered as shown in the figure, and the operation of the lock lever 32 causes the flange portion of the case body 3 to be covered. The interior is maintained in a completely liquid-tight state by lightly compressing the embedded continuous seal member 30.

  As described above, the lid 4 is disposed to face the liquid crystal display unit of the digital camera 1, and as a result, a part of each of the operation units 5 faces the pressing means 6 pressed from the outside of the lid 4. Become. Thereby, the operation from the outside becomes possible.

  In FIG. 1C, the lid body 4 is configured to be completely removable from the case body 3, and the left and right lock levers 32, 32 are engaged with the hook portions 3k, 3k. Thus, the liquid-tight state can be maintained.

  The underwater camera case 2 generally has the above-described configuration, but it goes without saying that the underwater camera case 2 is designed at any time according to the shape of the optical device.

  Next, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. As shown in the figure, the digital camera 1 is provided with a fixed focus photographing lens unit 1a on the front side of the camera as shown. A large liquid crystal display unit 1b and a lower operation unit 5 are provided on the rear surface, and an operation unit 5 serving as a shutter is provided on the upper surface of the camera. In addition, a finder window and strobe are arranged on the left side of the photographing lens unit 1a. When photographing on the seabed or the like, if the amount of light is insufficient, an underexposure is displayed in the finder and is synchronized with the shutter pressing operation. The flash is automatically fired to illuminate the subject. When the flash does not need to emit light, it also has a function to cancel the light emission.

  The case body 3 and the lid body 4 of the underwater camera case 2 that accommodates the digital camera 1 configured as described above are injection-molded or molded using a transparent resin material such as polycarbonate or acrylic resin, so that the inside state is obtained. Are visible from the outside. In the loaded state shown in the figure, all or a minimum necessary operation for photographing can be operated by pressing the pressing means 6 and 6 from the outside. According to the underwater camera case 2 configured as described above, underwater photography of about 30 m to 15 m at the maximum depth becomes possible. Furthermore, a strap attachment portion (not shown) is integrally formed at the corner portion of the case body 3, and by attaching various types of straps so that the strap can be fixed, it can be hung from the hand or carried around the neck when carrying it. Thus, portability can be improved.

  Next, FIG. 3 (a) is a cross-sectional view taken along line YY in FIG. 2, and is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the pressing means 6 before the pressing operation, and FIG. 3 (b) is the pressing after the pressing operation. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of means 6. FIG.

  In this figure, when the digital camera 1 which is an optical device is loaded in the underwater camera case 2 as described above, each operation unit 5 is opposed to the pressing means 6 for pressing the operation unit 5 from the outside. become. Since the position of the operation unit 5 varies depending on the optical model, the underwater camera case 2 is designed exclusively. For this reason, in the case body 4, the through-hole part 7 is formed so that it may become a position facing the operation part 5. FIG.

  The through-hole 7 has a stainless steel shaft 10 so that it can reciprocate between a standby position shown in FIG. 3 (a) and a pressing position shown in FIG. 3 (b). Is provided. In addition, a press button 8 located outside is fixed to the upper end of the shaft body 10 by insert molding, while the lower end is moderately elastically deformed so as to lightly press the operation portion 5 by being located inside. A resin-made shape member 13 is fixed. As will be described later, the shape member 13 also has the function of the above-described conventional retaining ring, and is configured so that the shaft body 10 can be prevented from being detached in the illustrated state.

  Further, an annular groove 9 is formed near the lower end of the shaft body 10 by lathe processing or the like, and the fitting claws 14 and 14 of the shape member 13 are fitted to the annular groove 9 from the left and right, thereby penetrating. It is comprised so that it can contact | abut to the internal peripheral surface 4a of the case body 4 of the hole 7 as shown in the figure.

  The press button 8 is made of a resin in which a flange portion 25 that forms the press surface 8a is formed. The O-ring 11 as a seal member is embedded in a seating surface 16 formed outside the through-hole portion 7 and then set in an immobile state by being covered with a stainless steel washer 27. A stainless steel compression coil spring 12 as a biasing member is provided between the washer 27 and the flange portion 25 of the pressing button 8 so that the pressing button 8 is always in the standby position shown in FIG. Has been. Further, an extending portion 28 for surrounding the compression coil spring 12 is integrally molded as shown in the figure from the outside of the case body 4 so as to improve protection and appearance.

  As described above, the case body or the lid body is made of a transparent or light-transmitting polycarbonate resin, and the shaft body 10 and the compression coil spring 12 are made of a stainless steel metal material having excellent corrosion resistance, and an O-ring 11 that is a seal member. Since it is made of silicon rubber with excellent wear resistance and water repellency, consideration is given to ensuring liquid-tightness without deterioration even after long-term use in the sea. Of course, these materials are not limited to those described above, and can be set as appropriate according to the specifications. For example, the shaft body 10 and the press button 8 are integrally molded or molded to form a seal surface that slides with the O-ring 11. Metal sputtering may be performed.

  4A and 4B illustrate the shape member 13 according to an embodiment. FIG. 4A is a plan view of the shape member 13, FIG. 4B is a front view of the shape component 13, and FIG. 4C is a right side view of the shape component 13. (D) is a bottom view of the shaped part 13, and (e) is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX of (d) illustrated together with a part of the shaft body 10.

  In FIG. 4, the shape member 13 is prepared by injection molding from a so-called engineering plastic containing polyacetal resin using an injection resin molding die.

  This shaped part 13 is moved as shown in FIG. 3 by moving in the direction of the arrow with respect to the shaft body 10 formed by turning the chamfered portion 9c and the annular groove portion 9 as shown in FIG. 4 (e). Completed.

  Therefore, in order to insert the shaft body 10 into the shaped part 13, an inner diameter portion 15 having an inner diameter dimension larger than the clearance of the shaft body 10 and a bottomed portion 16 serving as a contact member is a cap-shaped cylindrical body 17. Are integrally formed. Specifically, a pair of openings 19 and 20 are formed at the left and right symmetrical positions on the outer peripheral wall 18 of the cylindrical body 17. These opening portions 19 and 20 are formed with edge portions 21 and 22 in a plane direction orthogonal to the central axis of the shaft body, and are inclined obliquely from the inner diameter portion 15 below these edge portions 21 and 22. A surface 23 is formed to form a pair of left and right fitting claws 14, 14. Further, the bottomed portion 16 is formed with a contact surface 24 that contacts the operation portion 5 so as to connect the end portion of the cylindrical body 17.

  When the shaped part 13 configured as described above is inserted into the shaft body 10 as shown in FIG. 4E, the inclined surface 23 of the engaging claw 14 rides on the chamfered portion 9c first, and thus a pair of left and right The engaging claws 14, 14 are elastically deformed so as to spread in the direction of the double arrow D1. Subsequently, when the shape part 13 is further pushed into the shaft body 10, the pair of left and right engaging claws 14, 14 fall into the annular groove portion 9, and the end edge portions 21, 22 are connected to the annular groove portion 9. Each is in contact with the inner wall 9a. Thus, the shape part 13 is fixed to the shaft body 10, and can be completed as shown in FIG.

  Therefore, a dedicated tool for inserting and fitting the retaining ring into the annular groove portion as described above becomes unnecessary, and furthermore, it can be easily fitted even in a narrow part of the case body.

  FIG. 5 is a plan view of another embodiment of the shaped part 13. In this figure, the components already described are given the same reference numerals and the description is omitted, and the engaging claw 14 is 120 degrees. Three portions are formed at intervals. By forming in this way, it becomes possible to fix the shaft body more stably.

  Note that the case body 3 and the lid body 4 are made of a light-transmitting resin material such as ABS resin or a predetermined resin material colored with a desired pigment, instead of the transparent resin material typified by the acrylic resin or polycarbonate resin. Thus, resin injection molding can be performed integrally. Furthermore, as another application, digital cameras can be protected from dust and moisture, and can also be used for the purpose of protecting from unexpected external forces when carried.

(a) is a cross-sectional view of a main part after a small and thin digital camera 1 which is a detachable optical device is loaded in a use position inside the underwater camera case 2, and (b) is a normal size digital camera 1 underwater camera. FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view of the main part after being loaded into the use position inside the case 2, and FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional view of the main part after the large-sized digital camera 1 is loaded into the use position inside the underwater camera case 2. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view taken along line YY in FIG. 2, and is a cross-sectional view of main parts of the pressing means 6 before the pressing operation, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of main parts of the pressing means 6 after the pressing operation. It is. FIG. 1 illustrates the shape member 13 according to an embodiment, in which (a) is a plan view of the shape member 13, (b) is a front view of the shape component 13, (c) is a right side view of the shape component 13, and (d) ) Is a bottom view of the shaped part 13, and FIG. 9E is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. FIG. 6 is a plan view of another embodiment of a shaped part 13.

Explanation of symbols

1 Digital camera (optical device)
2 Underwater camera case 3 Case body 4 Lid 5 Operation part 6 Press means 7 Through-hole part 8 Press button 9 Annular groove part 10 Shaft body 11 O-ring (seal member)
12 Compression coil spring (biasing member)
13 shape member 14 fitting claw 15 inner diameter part 16 bottomed part 17 cylindrical body 18 outer peripheral wall parts 19 and 20 opening parts 21 and 22 edge part 23 inclined surface 24 pressing surface 25 flange part 26 seating surface 27 washer 28 extending part 108 Contact member 109 E-ring (retaining ring)

Claims (4)

A case body and a lid body for detachably mounting the optical device in an internal use position; and
An underwater camera case provided with pressing means for pressing the loaded operation unit of the optical device from the outside of the case body or the lid body, and having waterproofness necessary for underwater photography,
The pressing means is
A through hole formed in the case body or the lid body;
A pivot button is pivotally supported in the through-hole portion so as to be reciprocally movable between a standby position and a pressing position for performing the pressing, and a pressing button positioned outside is fixed to one end and is positioned inside the other end. A shaft body that fixes the abutting member that performs the pressing and that forms an annular groove near the other end;
A seal member embedded in the through-hole portion to waterproof the shaft body;
An urging member that urges the shaft body to move to the standby position;
A retaining ring that is engaged with the inner peripheral surface of the through hole portion after being fitted into the annular groove portion in order to hold the shaft body at the standby position against the urging force of the urging member. Prepared,
An underwater camera case characterized in that the retaining ring can be omitted by a shape member in which the contact member and a fitting claw that is elastically deformed so as to be fitted into the annular groove are integrally formed. The shape member is
A cylindrical body having an inner diameter portion through which the shaft body is inserted and a bottomed portion serving as the contact member;
A pair of openings having end edges formed in a plane direction orthogonal to the central axis of the shaft body, and formed at symmetrical positions in the outer peripheral wall of the cylindrical body;
The fitting claws formed obliquely from the vicinity of the edge part toward the inner diameter part,
The underwater camera case according to claim 1, wherein the resin is molded by injection resin using a predetermined resin material. The press button is insert-molded with respect to the shaft made of a predetermined metal, and is made of a resin having a flange portion that forms a press surface,
After the seal member is embedded in a seating surface formed outside the through-hole portion, it is covered with a predetermined metal washer,
The biasing member is a predetermined metal compression coil spring, and the compression coil spring is provided between the washer and the flange portion of the pressing button,
The underwater camera case according to claim 1, further comprising an extended portion for enclosing the compression coil spring outside the case body or the lid body.   The case body or the lid body is made of a transparent or light-transmitting polycarbonate resin, the predetermined metal is a stainless steel metal material having excellent corrosion resistance, and the seal member has wear resistance and water repellency. The underwater camera case according to claim 3, which is made of excellent silicon rubber.

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