JP2006242996A - Waterproof case - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inexpensive waterproof case that can use an optical apparatus, including a general digital camera, under relatively shallow water, in rain, or in a foul weather. <P>SOLUTION: The waterproof case (2) includes a case body (3) and a lid body (4). The case body (3) detachably accommodates an optical apparatus (1) including the digital camera in which a photographic lens is disposed on its front (1c), a first operation part (5) including a shutter is disposed on its top face (1a), and a second operation part (6) for various settings for photographing is disposed on its back face (1b) together with a liquid crystal display part (7). The lid body (4) is provided with a sealing member (9). In the waterproof case (2), a flexible, transparent or light transmissive sheet material (10) having an area covering the first and second operation parts is liquid-tightly fixed to the case body or lid body so as to face the first and second operation parts. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a waterproof 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 shooting cameras are expensive, a waterproof case designed specifically for underwater shooting that can be used with ordinary compact cameras, digital cameras, or digital video cameras has been put into practical use by model. Yes.

According to these waterproof cases, the lens unit of the specified optical device is stored in the case body at a use position where the lens unit is exposed to the outside through the flat glass surface, and the lid is set, so that the optical device can be positioned. In addition, a pressing means for pressing the operation unit of the optical device from the outside of the waterproof case is provided. (Patent Document 1)
In addition, an optical device equipped with a touch panel type LCD monitor is installed inside the waterproof case, and the input panel with the pressing force transmission part is attached to the waterproof case so that the touch panel can be pressed from the outside of the waterproof case. It is also proposed to provide it. (Patent Document 2)
JP2003-15207A. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-287851.

  However, for example, according to the former configuration described above, the pressing means can be used at a depth of 20 m, for example, so that the accuracy of each component and the degree of sealing for liquid-tightness can be sufficiently secured, and for a long time. It is necessary to ensure durability over a wide range.

  Specifically, a pressing part provided on the waterproof case or the lid, a retaining ring, a resin contact member, an O-ring and many other parts are used. For this reason, the parts cost and the manufacturing cost for assembling them become high, and the waterproof case as the final product has to be expensive.

  On the other hand, according to the latter proposal, for example, at a depth of 1 m or more, the input panel is crushed by water pressure and cannot be used. However, since the number of parts can be greatly reduced, it is advantageous for cost reduction. Become. However, since the liquid crystal monitor is a touch panel type as described above, it is not suitable for general digital cameras or optical devices. In addition, there is a problem that the shutter operation usually provided on the upper surface cannot be performed.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and can be used in a relatively shallow depth of water, in the rain or in bad weather, and the cost can be reduced by greatly reducing the number of parts. Another object of the present invention is to provide a waterproof case that can be used and can be used as an optical device including a general digital camera for underwater photography.

  In addition to this object, another object of the present invention is to provide a waterproof case that can ensure impact resistance when dropped.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, according to the present invention, the photographing lens is disposed on the front surface (1c), the first operation unit (5) including a shutter is disposed on the upper surface (1a), and various types of photographing. A case body (3) and a seal member for detachably loading an optical device (1) including a digital camera in which a second operation section (6) for setting is disposed on the back surface (1b) together with a liquid crystal display section (7) A waterproof case (2) provided with a lid (4) provided with (9), which is flexible, transparent or light transmissive having an area covering the first operation part and the second operation part A sheet material (10) is fixed in a liquid-tight state to the case body or the lid body so as to face the first operation section and the second operation section, and the first operation section and the second operation section The operation is performed via the sheet material from the outside of the case body or the lid body. It is set to.

  Further, the case body and / or the lid body are formed by injection resin molding using a predetermined resin material.

  In addition, the photographing lens is on the front surface (1c), the first operation unit (5) including the shutter is on the upper surface (1a), and the second operation unit (6) for performing various photographing settings is provided along with the liquid crystal display unit (7). A waterproof case (2) including a case body (3) for detachably loading an optical device including a digital camera disposed on the back surface (1b) and a lid body (4) provided with a seal member (9). A flexible transparent or light-transmissive sheet material (10) having an area for covering the first operation unit and the second operation unit is applied to the first operation unit and the second operation unit. The outer peripheral edge of the sheet material is fixed to the case body in a liquid-tight state, and a frame member (11) that covers the outer peripheral edge of the sheet material is provided, and the first operation unit and the The operation of the second operation unit is performed from the outside of the case body surrounded by the frame member. It is characterized by performing via the serial sheet material.

  Further, the case body or the lid body or both are formed by injection resin molding using a first predetermined resin material, and the frame member includes a frame portion (11c) for covering the outer peripheral edge portion, The extending portion (11a) extending to a part of the front surface of the case body is integrally injected with the second predetermined resin material having a higher elastic force different from the first predetermined resin material. It is characterized by being molded.

  The frame member is formed to have a sufficient thickness from an elastic material including silicon, an elastomer material, a rubber material, and a urethane foam material.

  According to the waterproof case of the present invention, an optical device including a general digital camera can be used in a relatively shallow depth of water, in the rain, or in bad weather, and an inexpensive waterproof case is provided.

  In addition, for example, it is possible to ensure impact resistance when it is accidentally dropped.

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

  Here, in the following embodiments, an optical device is a type in which a photographing lens unit is retracted, and the photographing lens includes a photographing lens unit having an optical zoom system with a magnification of 3 times or more, and a liquid crystal display unit is disposed. The waterproof case designed exclusively for the small flat box type digital camera with the rear surface of the camera and the upper surface of the camera with shutters will be described.

  However, the present invention is not limited to the digital camera configured as described above, and may be a fixed-focus digital camera, or can be applied to a silver salt film camera or a digital video camera.

  First, FIG. 1A is an external perspective view of a small and thin digital camera 1 which is a detachable optical device, as viewed from the front side (photographing surface) after being loaded in a use position inside a waterproof case 2. FIG. b) is an external perspective view of the digital camera 1 as viewed from the back side (operation surface) after the digital camera 1 is loaded in the use position inside the waterproof case 2.

  FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the waterproof case 2 and the digital camera 1 before the loaded state shown in FIG.

  First, in FIG. 1A, a small and thin digital camera 1 is housed in a resin case body 3 constituting a waterproof case 2, and then a side cover body 4 is set so that the inside of the digital camera 1 is inside. The eight corners of the digital camera are supported by a member (not shown) and are loaded so as to be stationary. At this time, the photographing lens faces the glass surface of the case body 3 or the transparent resin lens surface 3a. The case body 3 is also provided with a transparent resin lens window as shown in the figure through which the strobe automatically emits light in synchronization with the pressing operation of the shutter 5 and the illumination light passes when the subject is illuminated. .

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1B, a shutter 5 as a first operation unit and a cross key 6 as a second operation unit for performing various shooting settings, together with the liquid crystal display unit 7, the digital camera 1. An operation unit disposed on the back surface is configured to be operated from the outside via a flexible transparent or light transmissive sheet material 10.

  Here, a hook portion 3 d for fixing the portable strap 50 is integrally molded with the corner portion of the upper surface of the case body 3. Further, the lid 4 is integrally formed with front and rear flanges 4k and 4k. When the lid 4 is attached / detached, these hooks are gripped to be attachable / detachable.

  Next, in the external perspective view of the waterproof case 2 and the digital camera 1 before being loaded in FIG. 1 in FIG. 2, the same reference numerals are given to the components or parts already described, and the description is omitted. The camera 1 has a photographing lens on the front surface, a shutter 5 on the top surface 1a, and a cross key 6 as a second operation unit for performing various photographing settings on the back surface 1b together with the liquid crystal display unit 7.

  Further, the lid 4 is integrally formed with a flange portion that is fixed to the outer peripheral surface with a seal member 9 made of endless silicon rubber or the like, and the seal member 9 is fitted to the inner peripheral surface 3b of the case body 3. By being fixed so that it can be made, it is configured to obtain waterproofness necessary for underwater photography.

  According to the above configuration, it is necessary for an operation for moving the shutter 5 and the cross key 6 of the digital camera 1 in a predetermined direction to perform various settings, an operation for pressing a push button (not shown), and a shooting for checking the liquid crystal screen. All operations can be performed from the outside via the sheet material 10.

  Further, with this configuration, the number of parts can be greatly reduced, so that it can be provided at low cost.

  In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the transparent or light-transmissive sheet material 10 is a polyurethane sheet material having a thickness dimension in the range of 0.2 to 0.5 mm, or a thickness dimension of 2 mm or less. In this way, it can be appropriately deformed when an external operation is performed. Further, a frame member 11 having a shape covering the four outer peripheral edge portions of the sheet material 10 is further provided as a separate member. The frame member 11 provides an accent on the design and, for example, an unsightly appearance after the outer peripheral edge of the sheet material 10 is fixed to the case body 3 in a liquid-tight state by double-sided adhesive tape, adhesive, ultrasonic welding, or the like. Provided to conceal the state. The sheet material may be any material as long as it is transparent or light transmissive and also has flexibility.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1A, a part of the frame member 11 extends to the upper and lower portions of the case body 3 so that the shape thereof can be maintained. For this reason, the frame member 11 is made of a resin material excellent in the degree of elastic deformation and the shape maintaining force, such as polyacetal (trade name) which is an engineering plastic. Incidentally, the case body 3 and the lid body 4 are injection-molded from transparent or opaque ABS resin, acrylic, polycarbonate resin, or the like.

  3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX of FIG.

  In this figure, the same reference numerals are given to the components or parts already described, and the description is omitted. First, the digital camera 1 is a type in which the photographing lens 1k is sunk, and in the state shown in the figure, it protrudes to the maximum position. You can shoot from this state. The four corners of the digital camera 1 are held by holding members 3 h formed on the inner wall surface of the case body 3. Further, the sheet material 10 is normally at a position indicated by a solid line, and is deformed to a position indicated by a broken line when operated by a fingertip.

  This sheet material 10 is cut into a substantially square shape, and as shown in the figure, a case body is provided via a double-sided adhesive tape or an adhesive sheet 21 that is pre-pressed into a shape along the outer peripheral edge portion 10f. 3 is fixed. Thereafter, another adhesive sheet 20 is further prepared, and the frame member 11 is fixed from above. In the case where the frame member 11 is prepared from a resin material having a good shape maintaining property, the outer peripheral edge portion of the sheet material 10 can be lightly held, so that this separate adhesive sheet 20 is not necessary. Further, when the user replaces the used sheet material 10, the frame member 11 can be easily removed.

  The frame member 11 integrally injects a frame portion 11 c for covering the outer peripheral edge of the sheet material 10, an extended portion 11 a extending to a part of the top and bottom of the front surface of the case body 3, and a bottom surface 11 b. Resin molded. The frame member 11 is prepared so as to have a sufficient thickness from an elastic material including silicon, an elastomer material, a rubber material, and a foamed urethane material. It may be configured to absorb the impact by hitting it to ensure impact resistance.

  After being loaded as described above, the shutter or various operation button keys of the digital camera 1 that are normally operated directly by the fingertips are pressed from the outside of the case body 3 via the sheet material 10 or You can move and see the LCD screen. Thereby, the operation from the outside becomes possible.

  Finally, FIG. 4A is an external perspective view of the waterproof case 2 of another embodiment as seen from the back side (operation surface), and FIG. 4B is a back side of the waterproof case 2 of another embodiment ( It is the external appearance perspective view seen from the operation surface.

  In the figure, the same reference numerals are given to the components or parts already described, and the description is omitted.

  First, in FIG. 4A, the case body 3 is formed with an inner wall surface 3b for forming a large opening as shown. The case body 3 is formed so that the side surfaces on both sides are narrowed upward and widened downward as shown in the figure, and the shutter is configured to come out of the case body 3 when a digital camera is set.

  Further, a lid body 4 provided with a seal member 9 fitted to the inner wall surface 3b is provided, and side surfaces on both sides of the lid body 4 are formed so as to widen upward and narrow downward. The shutter of the camera can be operated through a sheet material 10 whose outer peripheral edge is covered with a frame member 11.

  In FIG. 4B, the lid 4 is pivotally supported by a pivot shaft support portion 31 shown by a broken line on the right side surface of the opening of the case body 3. The lid body 4 is provided with a lock lever 32. By fitting the lock lever 32 to a protrusion 3k formed on the flange portion 3f of the case body 3, a seal member (not shown) is provided. It is configured to be lightly compressed and to maintain the interior of the case body 3 in a completely liquid-tight state.

  The interior of the case 3 and the lid 4 of the waterproof 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. All may be visible from the outside. According to the waterproof case 2 configured as described above, underwater photography of about 1 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. Portability can be improved. 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 an external perspective view of the small and thin digital camera 1 that is a detachable optical device, as viewed from the front side (photographing surface) after being loaded into the use position inside the waterproof case 2, and (b) is also a digital view. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the camera 1 as viewed from the back side (operation surface) after the camera 1 is loaded in the use position inside the waterproof case 2. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of a waterproof case 2 and a digital camera 1 before being loaded in FIG. 1. It is XX arrow directional cross-sectional view of Fig.1 (a). (a) is the external appearance perspective view which looked at the waterproof case 2 of another embodiment from the back side (operation surface), (b) is the external view which looked at the waterproof case 2 of another embodiment from the back side (operation surface). It is a perspective view.

Explanation of symbols

1 Digital camera (optical device)
2 Waterproof case 3 Case body 4 Lid 5 Shutter (first operation part)
6 Four-way controller (second operation unit)
7 Liquid crystal display part 10 Sheet material 11 Frame member

Claims (5)

The photographing lens is on the front surface (1c), the first operation unit (5) including the shutter is on the top surface (1a), and the second operation unit (6) for performing various photographing settings is displayed on the back surface (7) together with the liquid crystal display unit (7). A waterproof case (2) including a case body (3) for detachably loading an optical device (1) including a digital camera disposed in 1b) and a lid body (4) provided with a seal member (9). Because
A flexible transparent or light-transmissive sheet material (10) having an area covering the first operation portion and the second operation portion is opposed to the first operation portion and the second operation portion, and the case Fixed in a liquid-tight state on the body or the lid,
The waterproof case, wherein the operation of the first operation unit and the second operation unit is performed via the sheet material from the outside of the case body or the lid body.   The waterproof case according to claim 1, wherein the case body and / or the lid body are formed by injection resin molding using a predetermined resin material. The photographing lens is on the front surface (1c), the first operation unit (5) including the shutter is on the top surface (1a), and the second operation unit (6) for performing various photographing settings is displayed on the back surface (7) together with the liquid crystal display unit (7). A waterproof case (2) comprising a case body (3) for detachably loading an optical device including a digital camera disposed in 1b) and a lid body (4) provided with a seal member (9). ,
A flexible transparent or light transmissive sheet material (10) having an area for covering the first operation unit and the second operation unit is opposed to the first operation unit and the second operation unit. Fixing the outer peripheral edge of the sheet material to the case body in a liquid-tight state, and further providing a frame member (11) covering the outer peripheral edge of the sheet material;
The waterproof case, wherein the operation of the first operation unit and the second operation unit is performed from the outside of the case body surrounded by the frame member via the sheet material. The case body or the lid body or both are injection resin molded using a first predetermined resin material,
The frame member includes a frame portion (11c) for covering the outer peripheral edge portion and an extending portion (11a) extending to a part of the front surface of the case body. The waterproof case according to claim 3, wherein the resin case is integrally molded by injection resin using a second predetermined resin material having a higher elasticity than the material.   The waterproof case according to claim 3, wherein the frame member is formed to have a sufficient thickness from an elastic material including silicon, an elastomer material, a rubber material, and a urethane foam material.

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