JP2007249008A - Clip mechanism and imaging apparatus with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a clip mechanism with a small fixture that can be operated with one hand, that prevents the direction of the front surface of the small fixture from shifting when clipping, and to provide an imaging apparatus equipped with the clip mechanism. <P>SOLUTION: The clip mechanism comprises: a clip board 43 provided under the front surface side of the main body 31 that holds a web camera 20; two clamp arms 51L and 51R having root parts 52L and 52R that are rotatably attached to the rotating support part 33B, and having clampers 53L and 53R at the leading ends thereof; and springs for energizing so as to rotate the two clamp arms 51L and 51R around the rotating supporting part 33B in a separating direction and so as to narrow a distance between the clip board 43 and each of the two clampers 53L and 53R. Two torsion springs 61L and 61R wound around a holder 33U in a coil state are used as the springs, one end of the torsion spring is caught by the locking part 39 of the main body 31, and the other end is caught by the corresponding clamp arm 51L or 51R. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a clip mechanism for clipping and fixing a small instrument to a clipped member, and more specifically, the clip mechanism can be clipped by operating the clip mechanism with one hand, and the orientation of the front surface of the small instrument can be changed. The present invention relates to a clip mechanism capable of clipping in an intended direction without being changed, and an imaging apparatus provided with such a clip mechanism.

  Conventionally, when a small peripheral device such as a web camera, a microphone, or a small electric fan, an auxiliary light, etc. is required, a clip mechanism directly to the main device as a clipped member or to a fixing member at a remote position It is done to clip and fix by.

  For example, FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a state in which the small electronic camera 110 is attached to the display panel 123 of a notebook personal computer (hereinafter abbreviated as a notebook PC) 111, and FIG. 14 is a partially broken perspective view of the small electronic camera 110. FIG. The small electronic camera 110 includes a camera unit 112 having a lens and a main body unit 113, and is connected to a personal computer 111 by a cable 115. A cylindrical support member 120 having a slit 121 is provided in the main body portion 113, and the coil portion 114 c of the spring 114 is accommodated in the support member 120. In FIG. 14, the lower end 114d of the coil portion 114c is positioned through the slit 121 and the other end on the upper side is pulled out to the outside of the main body 113, and the shaft portion 114b having a predetermined length is drawn. And a locking portion 114a bent at a right angle following the shaft portion 114b. The spring 114 is urged so that the locking portion 114a is always in contact with the side surface of the main body portion 113. In this state, the body portion 119b of the fixing member 119 is fitted into the support member 120 from above. As a result, the spring 114 is fixed to the main body 113.

  To attach such a small electronic camera 110 to the personal computer 111 as shown in FIG. 13, the locking portion 114a is separated from the main body portion 113 together with the shaft portion 114b, and the space between the main body portion 113 and the locking portion 114a. The display panel 123 is sandwiched between and clipped (see Patent Document 1).

JP-A-9-289604

  In addition, the web camera 130 shown in FIG. 15 which is an example of a commercially available product has a clip mechanism 131 including a stationary side holding body 132 and a movable side clip body 133 as shown in FIG. The rods 134 coming out from both ends of the body 133 extend upward and bend horizontally, and are inserted into the holes 132h on the front surface of the sandwiching body 132. Although not shown, the rod 134 is connected to the tension spring in the holding body 132, and the clip body 133 is biased so as to press the front surface of the holding body 132. 15B shows a state in which the web camera 130 is clipped to the display panel 123 of the notebook PC, and the display panel 123 is placed between the sandwiching body 132 and the clip body 133 pulled out from the sandwiching body 132. Clipped by pinching.

  When the small electronic camera 110 shown in FIG. 14 is attached to the display panel 123 of the personal computer 111 as shown in FIG. 13, the main body portion 113 is held with one hand, and the locking portion 114a is held with the other hand. Since it is necessary to separate the locking portion 114a from the main body portion 113, both hands are used. Until the attachment is completed, it is difficult to read the display 126 of the personal computer 111 and the operation of the keyboard 124 and the track pad 125 is performed. Is completely interrupted. In addition, since the main body 113 is clipped with the display panel 123 of the notebook PC 111 sandwiched by the locking portion 114a on the other end side of the long shaft portion 114b, the attached small electronic camera 110 tends to be inclined and inclined. In some cases, there is a problem that the adjustment takes time.

  In addition, when the web camera 130 shown in FIG. 15A is clipped to the display panel 123 as shown in FIG. 15B, the holding part 132 is held with one hand, and the clip body 133 is held with the other hand. Then, the clip body 133 is pulled away from the sandwiching body 132 together with the rod 134, the interval between the clip body 133 and the sandwiching body 132 is widened, and the display panel 123 is sandwiched therebetween. The same applies to the removal, and also the web camera 130 requires an operation with both hands.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and a clip mechanism that can be clipped to a clipped member (for example, a display panel of a notebook PC) by operating a clip mechanism that holds a small instrument (for example, an imaging device) with one hand, When clipping a small instrument by operating the clip mechanism with one hand, the direction of the front of the small instrument tends to fluctuate due to the force applied to the clip mechanism, but the clip does not change the direction of the front of the small instrument when clipping It is an object to provide a mechanism and an imaging apparatus including such a clip mechanism.

  The above problem can be solved by the structure of claims 1, 2, or 8, 9. The means for solving the problem will be described as follows.

The clip mechanism according to claim 1 is a clip mechanism for clamping a member to be clipped between a clamping surface which is a stationary part and two clampers which are movable parts, and the two clamps each having the clamper at each tip part. A first direction in which the arm and the two clampers are spaced apart from each other, each approaching the clamping surface, and a second direction in which the two clampers are in proximity to each other and are spaced apart from the clamping surface A rotation support portion that supports the base portions of the two clamp arms so that the two clamp arms can rotate, a spring that biases the two clampers to rotate in the first direction, and at least the A holding surface and a main body for holding the rotation support portion,
The springs are two torsion springs wound in a coil shape along a peripheral surface of a spring holder provided immediately above the rotation support part, and each of the torsion springs has one end of the spring This is a clip mechanism that is locked to a common spring locking portion provided in the vicinity of the holder and whose other end is locked to one of the two clamp arms.

  Such a clip mechanism can widen the gap between the clamping surface and each of the two clampers by holding the two clampers with one hand and bringing the two clampers close to each other against urging. In addition, the clip mechanism holding the small instrument can be clipped to the clipped member by clamping the clipped member between the clamping surface and the two clampers having a wide interval. And, using two torsion springs wound in a coil shape, the two clamp arms are urged independently of each other, so the two clampers are gripped with one hand to resist the urging. When the two clampers are rotated in the second direction close to each other, the force against the bias applied to one clamper does not become larger than the force against the bias applied to the other clamper.

The clip mechanism according to claim 2 is a clip mechanism that clamps a clipped member between a clamping surface that is a stationary part and two clampers that are movable parts, and the two clamps each having the clamper at each tip part. A first direction in which the arm and the two clampers are spaced apart from each other, each approaching the clamping surface, and a second direction in which the two clampers are in proximity to each other and are spaced apart from the clamping surface A rotation support portion that supports the base portions of the two clamp arms so that the two clamp arms can rotate, a spring that biases the two clampers to rotate in the first direction, and at least the A holding surface and a main body for holding the rotation support portion,
The spring is a torsion spring wound in a coil shape along a peripheral surface of a spring holder provided immediately above the rotation support portion, and the torsion spring has an intermediate portion in length. It is a clip mechanism that is locked by a spring locking portion provided in the vicinity of the spring holder and whose both ends are locked by the two clamp arms.

  Such a clip mechanism can widen the gap between the clamping surface and each of the two clampers by holding the two clampers with one hand and bringing the two clampers close to each other against the bias. The clip mechanism holding the small instrument can be clipped to the clipped member by sandwiching the clipped member between the clamping surface with the increased interval and the two clampers. Then, the two clamp arms are urged by both ends of one torsion spring wound in a coil shape and locked at the middle part of the length. Since one and the other expands and contracts independently, it works in the same way as when two torsion springs are used, grips the two clampers with one hand, and moves the two clampers close to each other against bias When rotating in the second direction, the force against the bias applied to one clamper does not become greater than the force against the bias applied to the other clamper.

  The clip mechanism according to a third aspect is a clip mechanism in which the spring locking portion is a small-diameter columnar body standing in parallel with the spring holder.

  Such a clip mechanism, when using two torsion springs, can be easily locked by processing each end into a linear shape aligned with the outer periphery of a spring locking portion made of a small-diameter columnar body. it can. Further, in the case of using one torsion spring, it can be easily locked by forming a loop that can be fitted to the outer periphery of the spring locking portion at an intermediate portion of the length of the torsion spring.

  The clip mechanism according to claim 4 is configured such that a virtual plane that is parallel to the clamping surface and passes through the axis of the rotation support portion, and a center line in the length direction of each of the two urged clamp arms, The clip mechanism is provided with a stopper for restricting the rotation angle by the urging of the two clamp arms so as to form a predetermined angle on the side opposite to the clamping surface.

  In such a clip mechanism, when the predetermined angle is θ, the angle formed by the two clamp arms at the biased position is (180−2θ) degrees, and is provided at the tip of each clamp arm. The left and right clampers can be easily grasped with one hand, and it is easy to apply a force against the bias.

  The clip mechanism according to claim 5 is provided with a linear protrusion on the outer peripheral surface of each of the two clampers as a finger-hanging portion that passes in a vertical direction through a portion where the center line of the clamp arm intersects the outer peripheral surface. Clip mechanism.

  Such a clip mechanism suppresses finger slipping and resists urging when the left and right clampers are held with one hand and the two clamp arms are rotated in the first direction close to each other. Make it easier to apply.

  A clip mechanism according to a sixth aspect is a clip mechanism in which a small instrument is rotatably held on an upper portion of the main body via a rotation shaft parallel to the holding surface and in a horizontal direction.

  Such a clip mechanism can rotate the front surface of the small appliance up and down after the small device is clipped to the clipped member. Together with the two clamp arms in the biased state, the two left and right clampers can be rotated forward to a substantially horizontal position, and the two clampers can be used as a base for a small instrument.

  The clip mechanism according to claim 7, wherein the main body includes an upper portion that holds the small instrument, and a lower portion that holds the rotation support portion, the spring holder, and the clamping surface, and the upper portion is the The clip mechanism is configured to be rotatable in a horizontal plane perpendicular to the spring holder via friction rubber at an upper end portion of the spring holder.

  Such a clipping mechanism can rotate the orientation of the front surface of the small instrument in a horizontal plane with an appropriate frictional resistance in a state in which the small instrument is clipped to the clipped member, and can be rotated arbitrarily. At the angular position, it is fixed by the restoring force of the friction rubber and does not move with a slight force.

An image pickup apparatus having a clip mechanism according to claim 8 is a web camera having a clip mechanism for holding a clipped member between a holding surface which is a stationary part and two clampers which are movable parts. The two clamp arms at the respective tips and the two clampers are spaced apart from each other, each in a first direction approaching the clamping surface, and the two clampers are close to each other, Rotating support portions that support the base portions of the two clamp arms so as to be rotatable in a second direction that is separated from the clamping surface, and the two clampers are rotated in the first direction. And a main body for holding at least the clamping surface and the rotation support portion,
The springs are two torsion springs wound in a coil shape along a peripheral surface of a spring holder provided immediately above the rotation support part, and one end of each of the torsion springs is the spring. An imaging apparatus having a clip mechanism that is locked to a common spring locking portion provided in the vicinity of the holder and whose other end is locked to one of the two clamp arms. .

  The image pickup apparatus having such a clip mechanism is provided with two clampers of the clip mechanism for a display panel integrated with a notebook PC that is a clipped member or a thin display panel of a desktop PC. Hold it with one hand and rotate the two clampers against the bias in the second direction close to each other to widen the gap between the clamping surface of the clip mechanism and each of the two clampers. The web camera can be easily clipped by holding the display panel. In addition, since the two clampers are independently biased by using two torsion springs wound in a coil shape, the front of the imaging apparatus is intended by operating the two clampers with one hand. Clip in the direction.

An image pickup apparatus having a clip mechanism according to claim 9 is a web camera having a clip mechanism for holding a clipped member between a holding surface which is a stationary part and two clampers which are movable parts. The two clamp arms at the respective tips and the two clampers are spaced apart from each other, each in a first direction approaching the clamping surface, and the two clampers are close to each other, Rotating support portions that support the base portions of the two clamp arms so as to be rotatable in a second direction that is separated from the clamping surface, and the two clampers are rotated in the first direction. And a main body for holding at least the clamping surface and the rotation support portion,
The spring is a torsion spring wound in a coil shape along a peripheral surface of a spring holder provided immediately above the rotation support portion, and the torsion spring has an intermediate portion in length. This is an imaging device that has a clip mechanism that is locked by a spring locking portion provided in the vicinity of the spring holder, and that has both ends locked by the two clamp arms.

  The image pickup apparatus having such a clip mechanism is provided with two clampers of the clip mechanism for a display panel integrated with a notebook PC that is a clipped member or a thin display panel of a desktop PC. Hold it with one hand and rotate the two clampers against the bias in the second direction close to each other to widen the gap between the clamping surface of the clip mechanism and each of the two clampers. The web camera can be easily clipped by holding the display panel. In addition, one torsion spring wound in a coil shape is locked at the middle part of the length, one end is locked to one clamp arm, and the other end is locked to the other clamp arm. Two clampers can be operated with one hand to clip the front of the imaging device in the intended orientation.

  According to the clip mechanism of the first aspect, the root portion is rotated in the first direction in which the clampers at the distal ends of the two clamp arms supported so as to be rotatable around the rotation support portion are separated from each other. As a spring to be biased, it is wound in a coil shape along the peripheral surface of the spring holder, and both ends are locked to a common spring locking portion and the other end is one of two clamp arms. Since two torsion springs locked to each other are used, the two clampers at the tip of each of the two clamp arms are gripped with one hand, and the two clampers are brought close to each other against urging. When rotating in the second direction, the force against the bias applied to one clamper (the force to extend one torsion spring biasing the corresponding one clamp arm) is applied to the other clamper. Power against the energizing force ( It is difficult to apply a force that is larger than the force that stretches the other torsion spring that urges the other clamp arm that responds to the two clampers. The torsion spring of this type extends to the same extent, the holding surface does not change its direction, and the small instrument held on the main body is not clipped out of the intended direction.

  According to the clip mechanism of the second aspect, the base portion is rotated in the direction of separating the clampers at the tip portions of the two clamp arms supported rotatably around the rotation support portion. As a spring to be urged, one torsion spring wound in a coil shape along the peripheral surface of the spring holder is used, and the middle part of the length of the torsion spring is locked to the spring locking part, Since one end is locked to one clamp arm and the other end is locked to the other clamp arm, the left and right clampers at the tip of each of the two clamp arms are gripped with one hand and biased When the two clampers are turned against each other in the second direction, the force that resists the bias applied to one clamper (from the spring locking portion that biases one clamp arm to the other clamp Extend the part up to the arm The force to be applied) is greater than the force that resists the bias applied to the other clamper (the force that extends the portion from the spring locking portion that biases the other clamp arm to the other clamp arm). How to apply force is unlikely to occur, so the same level of force is applied to the two clampers, so the part from the middle part to both ends of one torsion spring stretches to the same extent, and the rotation support part and clamping surface The holding body does not change orientation, and the small instrument held on the body is not clipped differently than intended.

  According to the clip mechanism of the third aspect, since the spring locking portion is a small-diameter columnar body standing upright in parallel with the spring holder, it is wound in a coil shape along the peripheral surface of the spring holder. One end of each of the two torsion springs can be easily locked, and even when one torsion spring is used, it is easily locked by forming a loop in the middle part of its length, and the locking work is performed. Make it easier.

  According to the clip mechanism of claim 4, since the angle formed by the two clamp arms in the biased state is (180-2θ) degrees, the two clampers at the tip of each clamp arm are It is possible to facilitate gripping with one hand and to easily apply a force against urging, and it is possible to easily clip a small instrument to a clipped member without paying attention to the gripped portion.

  According to the clip mechanism of the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the finger clamp portions are provided on the outer peripheral surfaces of the two clampers, the two clampers are held with one hand on both the left and right sides, and the two clampers are mutually connected against the bias In addition to restraining finger slipping and making it easier to apply a force against biasing when rotating in the adjacent second direction, it is clamped together with the fact that a relatively long clamp arm is used The space between the surface and each of the two clampers is easily widened, and the operation of clipping the small instrument to the clipped member is facilitated.

  According to the clip mechanism of the sixth aspect, since the small instrument is held by the main body via the horizontal rotation shaft parallel to the holding surface, the front surface of the small instrument is clipped to the clipped member. The two clampers and the main body, together with the two clamp arms and the main body, are rotated forward to a position that is substantially horizontal, with the front of the small instrument oriented horizontally. Since the pedestal can be moved, the small instrument can be placed on a plane other than clipping the small instrument to the clipped member, and the application range is expanded.

  According to the clip mechanism of the seventh aspect, the main body of the clip mechanism is composed of an upper part holding the small instrument, a rotation support part, and a lower part holding the clamping surface, and the upper part of the rotation support part. Since the upper end can be rotated in a horizontal plane perpendicular to the rotation support portion via friction rubber, the orientation of the front surface of the small instrument is in the horizontal plane in a state where the small instrument is clipped to the clipped member. It can be rotated in a horizontal plane with moderate frictional resistance, and it is fixed without moving with a slight force by the restoring force of friction rubber at the rotated intended angular position. Give a feeling.

  According to the imaging apparatus having the clip mechanism of the eighth aspect, the two clamp arms supported so that the root portion is rotatable around the rotation support portion are rotated in the first direction to be separated from each other. Two torsion springs wound in a coil shape along the peripheral surface of the rotation support part are used as the springs that are equally biased, and one end of each torsion spring is a main body in the vicinity of the rotation support part. Since the other end is locked to one of the clamp arms, the two clampers at the tip of each of the two clamp arms can be held with one hand. When gripping and rotating the two clampers in the second direction close to each other against the bias, the force against the bias applied to one of the clampers (the force that extends one torsion spring) , The force against the bias applied to the other clamper (the other The force applied to the main body including the clamping surface is not changed, and the image pickup device held by the main body is clipped in the intended direction. Can do.

  According to the imaging device having the clip mechanism of the ninth aspect, the two clamp arms having the root portion rotatably attached around the rotation support portion are rotated in the first direction to be separated from each other. A single torsion spring wound in the shape of a coil along the peripheral surface of the rotation support portion is used as a spring that biases evenly in the same manner, and the torsion spring has an intermediate portion in the length. Is locked to a spring locking portion provided in the main body portion near the two ends, and both ends are locked to two clamp arms, so two clampers at the tip of each of the two clamp arms are held in one hand. When the two clampers are rotated in the second direction adjacent to each other against the urging force, the force against the urging force applied to one of the clampers (from the spring locking portion to the one clamping arm) Until the other clan It is unlikely to be larger than the force that resists the bias applied to the arm (the force that stretches the portion from the spring locking part to the other clamp arm), so the orientation of the main body and the clamping surface does not fluctuate. The held imaging device can be clipped in the intended direction.

  The clip mechanism of the present invention is capable of rotating around a clamping surface existing below the front side of the main body holding a small instrument, and a vertical cylindrical rotation support portion provided in the main body at the base portion. Two clamp arms that are supported and attached to each tip end with a bar clamper in the vertical direction parallel to the clamping surface, and the first clamp arm that separates the two clamp arms from each other around the rotation support portion A clip mechanism comprising two springs that are rotated in the direction to rotate the two clampers toward the clamping surface, and are equally biased so as to narrow the gap between the clamping surface and each of the two clampers, The torsion springs are wound in a coil shape so that the spring follows the peripheral surface of the spring holder, and each of the torsion springs has a common end erected on the main body portion in the vicinity of the spring holder. Locked to the spring lock And it is one in which the other end is anchored to one of the two clamp arms. Therefore, holding the two clampers with one hand and rotating the two clamp arms in the second direction close to each other against the bias, the two clampers are brought close to each other and the clamping surface and the two The small instrument can be easily clipped to the clipped member by widening the gap between each clamper and sandwiching the clipped member between the clamping surface and the two clampers. It can be in the intended orientation.

  In the clip mechanism as described above, when holding the two clampers on the left and right with one hand and rotating the two clampers in the second direction close to each other against the bias, the two clamp arms Are biased equally by each torsion spring, so that the force against the bias applied to one clamper (the force required to extend one torsion spring) resists the bias applied to the other clamper. (The force required to extend the other torsion spring) There is no way to apply a force that is greater than that, and even if you are not conscious, apply a force that equalizes the force against the bias applied to both clampers. Therefore, the direction of the clamping surface does not change, and therefore, the clip can be clipped to the clipped member without changing the direction of the front surface of the small instrument held by the main body integral with the clamping surface.

  On the other hand, when a clip mechanism that locks both ends of one torsion spring wound in a coil shape along the peripheral surface of the rotation support portion to the two clamp arms, the two left and right with one hand are provided. When gripping the clamper and rotating the two clamp arms in the second direction around the rotation support portion against the bias, it is easy to cause a case where one clamper is applied with a larger force than the other clamper. . In that case, the urging torsion spring is pulled from one end side, and the entire torsion spring is uniformly extended. Even so, it is possible to increase the distance between the clamping surface and each of the two clampers by bringing the two clampers close to each other. The orientation of the front surface of the small appliance that has been changed fluctuates so that the intended orientation of the small appliance requires conscious adjustment during or after the clip operation.

  However, even in the case of a clip mechanism with one torsion spring loosely wound in a coil shape along the peripheral surface of the rotation support part, the torsion spring is locked at the middle part of the length, If the torsion spring is such that the middle part does not move even when pulled from the side, even if tension is applied from one end of the torsion spring, the part from one end of the torsion spring to the locking part will expand. Since the portion from the stop portion to the other end does not extend, the clip mechanism using such a torsion spring acts as in the case where the two torsion springs are used. That is, when holding the two left and right clampers with one hand and rotating them in the second direction in which the two clampers are brought close to each other against an urging force, a force that resists the urging applied to one clamper (torsion spring) The force required to extend the part from one end of the spring to the locking part) is greater than the force (force required to extend the part from the other end of the torsion spring to the locking part) applied to the other clamper Never become. Therefore, the orientation of the clamping surface does not change, and the orientation of the front surface of the small appliance held by the main body integral with the clamping surface does not change.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view from an oblique front side showing a state in which a web camera 20 including a photographing lens 21 is clipped to the upper peripheral edge 11u of the display panel 11 of the notebook PC 10 by the clip mechanism 30. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the clipped web camera 20 from an oblique back side. As shown in FIG. 2, the web camera 20 is held by a camera holding portion 32 of a later-described pan / tilt table 38 that can rotate a main body 31 of a clip mechanism 30 via a tilt rotation shaft 24. Yes. 1, the clip mechanism 30 is a hanging portion from the front side of the main body 31, and includes a sandwiching plate 43 that contacts the front side of the display panel 11, and the rear surface of the display panel 11 with reference to FIG. 2. The display panel 11 is sandwiched and clipped between the left and right rod-shaped clampers 53L and 53R that are in contact with the side. The clamper 53L is attached to a distal end portion of a clamp arm 51L in which a ring-shaped root portion 52L is rotatably supported by a cylindrical rotation support portion 33B in a main body 31 shown in FIG. 7 described later. Similarly, the clamper 53R is attached to a tip end portion of a clamp arm 51L in which a ring-shaped root portion 52R is rotatably supported by the rotation support portion 33B. The left and right referred to above are the left and right when the web camera 20 is viewed from the front side.

  As will be described later, the clamp arm 51L and the clamp arm 51R are attached by a torsion spring wound in a coil shape on a cylindrical spring holder 33U connected in the main body 31 directly above the rotation support portion 33B. The clampers 53 </ b> L and 53 </ b> R at the respective leading ends press the back surface of the display panel 11 by the biasing. When the web camera 20 is detached from the display panel 11 together with the clip mechanism 30, the left and right clampers 53L and 53R are simultaneously held by the thumb and index finger of one hand, and resist the bias as shown in FIG. Then, the left and right clampers 53L and 53R are brought close to each other, and the distance between the clamping plate 43 and the two clampers 53L and 53R is widened. A pad 43 </ b> P is provided on the back side of the sandwiching plate 43 that contacts the display panel 11. A connection cable 22 having a USB terminal for connecting the web camera 20 to the notebook PC 10 is provided on the back side of the web camera 20.

  FIG. 4 is a plan view showing only the web camera 20 and the clip mechanism 30, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the inside of the main body 31 of the clip mechanism 30 together with the sandwiching plate 43. Referring to FIG. 5, in the main body 31 of the clip mechanism, as described above, the clamp arm 51R is rotatably supported by the rotation support portion 33B via the ring-shaped root portion 52R, as shown in FIG. Thus, the clamper 53R is attached to the tip of the clamp arm 51R. The same applies to the other clamp arm 51L, but in FIG. 5, the ring-shaped root portion 52L of the clamp arm 51L is directly below the ring-shaped root portion 52R of the clamp arm 51R and is not shown. The minimum distance between the clamping plate 43 and each of the clamper 53L and the clamper 53R is 2.5 mm, but the positions of the clamp arm 51L and the clamper 53L and the clamp arm 51R and the clamper 53R indicated by solid lines in FIG. The minimum thickness of the display panel 11 of the notebook PC 10 that can be sandwiched between the plate 43 and the clamper 53L and the clamper 53R is shown.

  That is, an angle θ formed by a virtual plane f indicated by a one-dot chain line parallel to the surface of the sandwiching plate 43 and passing through the axis O of the rotation support portion 33B and a center line of the clamp arm 51R indicated by a solid line is the thumb of one hand. The left and right clampers 53R and 53L are gripped by the index finger and the like, and the clampers 53R and 53L are easily moved close to each other by rotating the clampers 53R and 53L against the bias in the second direction. As shown in FIG. 5, this angle θ is defined by a rotation stopper 37R and a stopper 37L provided on the main body 31, as shown in FIG. When the clamp arm 51R is closer to the clamping plate 43 than the angle θ, and the clamp arm 51L is also in the symmetrical position, for example, when the clamp arm 51L and the clamp arm 51R are on the same straight line. This is because the clamper 53L and the clamper 53R cannot be easily brought close to each other by gripping them with one hand.

  The positions of the clamp arm 51R, the clamper 53R, the clamp arm 51L, and the clamper 52L indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 4 can be held between the clamp plate 43 by the clamper 53R and the clamper 53L. The maximum thickness of is shown. The angle between the clamp arm 51R and the clamp arm 51L at this time is defined by the stopper 36 shown in FIG. Of course, in order to further increase the thickness of the display panel 11 that can be sandwiched, the angle at which the clamp arms 51L and 51R can rotate in the directions close to each other is further increased, or the clamp arm 51R and the clamp arm This is possible by further increasing the length of 51L. The stoppers 36, 37L and 37R are also shown in FIG.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, the clamper 53R is provided with a finger hook portion 54R at a portion where the center line of the clamp arm 51R intersects the outer periphery of the clamper 53R. It has become. The same applies to the clamper 52L. And, when the clamp arm 51R and the clamp arm 51L are at the position of the angle θ described above, when the clamp arm 51R and the clamp arm 51L are gripping the clamper 52R and the clamper 52L with one hand, the fingers are not slippery and effective. This is a position where force can be applied, and facilitates the operation of bringing the clamper 52R and the clamper 52L close to each other.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view substantially corresponding to FIG. That is, FIG. 5 shows the rotation support portion 33B, but FIG. 6 shows the spring holder 33U. In FIG. 6, both the torsion spring 61R and the torsion spring 61L have their upper ends 62L and 62R locked to the spring locking portion 39, while the lower ends 63R and 63L are clamp arms 51L and clamps. It is shown in a free state where it is not locked to the arm 51R. For example, in order to lock the other end 63L of the torsion spring 61L to the corresponding clamp arm 51L, in FIG. 6, the other end 63L is pulled in the direction indicated by the thick arrow, and the torsion spring 61L is extended while the clamp arm is being extended. It climbs over 51L and is hooked and locked to a portion on the opposite side of the clamping plate 43 in the vicinity of the ring-shaped root portion 52L (not shown). Accordingly, the clamp arm 51L is biased so as to rotate toward the clamping plate 43. The positional relationship of the locking of the torsion spring 61L is shown in FIGS. The same applies to the case where the other end 63R of the torsion spring 61R is locked to the clamp arm 51R.

  FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line [7]-[7] in FIG. 4, and is a cross-sectional view in which the main body 31 of the clip mechanism is partially broken. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line [8]-[8] in FIG. 4. FIG. 8A is a sectional view in which the main body 31 is partially broken, and FIG. 33B is a sectional view in which the torsion spring 61L and the torsion spring 61R are also broken. As shown in FIG. 8B, the cylindrical rotation support portion 33B provided in the main body 31 is formed integrally with the bottom portion of the main body 31, and as described above, the root of the clamp arm 51L. The portion 52L and the root portion 52R of the clamp arm 51R are rotatably supported. A cylindrical spring holder 33U is connected by a connecting screw 35 directly above the rotation support portion 33B, and a central axis is formed by the rotation support portion 33B and the spring holder 33U. The spring holder 33U is provided with an upper flange 33fa and a lower flange 33fb, and a torsion spring 61R and a torsion spring 61L are vertically positioned between them and wound in a coil shape. In FIGS. 7 and 8 and FIG. 5 described above, the torsion spring 61R is shown with a mesh so that the torsion spring 61R and the torsion spring 61L can be distinguished and easily seen. Similarly, the clamp arm 51R is shown with mesh.

  As shown in FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B, and also referring to FIG. 5, a small cylindrical spring parallel to the spring holder 33U is provided on the front side of the upper surface of the lower flange 33fb of the spring holder 33U. A locking portion 39 is erected, and one end 62R of the torsion spring 61R and one end 62L of the torsion spring 61L are locked. Then, after the torsion spring 61R is wound up from the spring locking portion 39, as shown in FIG. 8A and FIG. 7, the torsion spring 61R is pulled down, and the other end 63R is moved to a higher portion on the root side of the clamp arm 51R. It is hooked and locked. On the other hand, the torsion spring 61L is wound down from the spring locking portion 39, and is locked by hooking the other end 63L to the root side of the clamp arm 51L as shown in FIG. 8B and FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the difference between the heights of the locking portions of the clamp arm 51R and the clamp arm 51L is that the clamp arm 51R and the clamp arm 51L at the same height level are attached to the same rotation support portion 33B. This is because the height positions of the respective base portions 52L and 52R are shifted up and down.

  FIG. 9 is a view showing the two torsion springs 61L and 61R shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 in a free state. 9A is a plan view (upper side) and a side view (lower side) of the left torsion spring 61L. The upper end 62L of the left torsion spring 61L is locked by the common spring locking portion 39, and the lower end 63L is Locked to the clamp arm 51L. On the other hand, B in FIG. 9 is a plan view (upper side) and a side view (lower side) of the right torsion spring 61R. Similarly, the upper end 62R of the right torsion spring 61R is locked to a common spring locking part 39, The lower end 63R is locked to the clamp arm 51R.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, the clamp arm 51L is biased by the torsion spring 61L, and the clamp arm 51R is biased by the torsion spring 61R. By doing so, the clamper 53L and the clamper 53R are moved. When gripping with one hand and rotating the clamp arm 51L and the clamp arm 51R in the second direction close to each other against the bias, a force against the bias applied to one clamper 53L, that is, a torsion spring The force required to extend 61L and rotate the clamp arm 51L toward the clamp arm 51R increases in proportion to the magnitude of the rotation angle. The same applies to the case where a force against the bias is applied to the clamper 53R. Therefore, it is possible to balance the force applied to the clamper 53L and the force applied to the clamper 53R without being conscious of it, applying force to one clamper 52L but not applying force to the other clamper 52R. It becomes difficult to occur.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a cup-shaped pan / tilt table 38 that is turned upside down is rotatable on the upper surface of the spring holder 33U via a ring-shaped friction rubber 40. Is attached. That is, a slight gap G is provided between the lower end of the pan / tilt table 38 and the main body 31, and the collar 41 for suppressing the flange 38 f provided on the lower surface side of the ceiling portion of the pan / tilt table 38. Is screwed to the spring holder 33U by a mounting screw 42. Due to the presence of the friction rubber 40, the pan / tilt table 38 is manually rotated around the spring holder 33U as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B with an appropriate frictional resistance. The web camera 20 can be panned. The web camera 20 is fixed by a restoring force based on the elasticity of the friction rubber 40 at a position having an arbitrary pan angle, and is held at the angular position without moving with a slight force. Further, as described above, the web camera 20 can be tilted in the vertical direction by the tilt rotation shaft 24 as shown in FIG.

  In addition, the web camera 20 is not clipped and installed on the display panel 11 of the notebook PC 10 as shown in FIG. 1, but a clamper as shown in the side view of FIG. 53L and clamper 53R can be used as pedestals. In FIG. 11, when the web camera 20 is in the position indicated by the two-dot chain line, the state in which the display panel 11 sandwiched between the sandwiching plate 43, the clamper 53L, and the clamper 53R in FIG. This corresponds to a state in which the clamp arm 51R and the clamp arm 51L biased in FIG. 5 are in contact with the stoppers 37L and 37R, but the web camera 20 shown by a solid line in FIG. In this state, the moving shaft 24 is rotated 90 degrees forward at an angle. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a state where the clamper 53L and the clamper 53R are used as pedestals and the web camera 20 is used as a stationary type.

  Even if the one torsion spring 65 shown in FIG. 10 is used instead of the two torsion springs 61L and 61R shown in FIGS. A clip mechanism can be created that works similarly. FIG. 10 is a plan view (upper side) and a side view (lower side) of the torsion spring 65. Similar to the two torsion springs 61L and 61R used in the first embodiment, the torsion spring 65 is wound along the peripheral surface of the spring holder 33U shown in FIGS. A loop 66 is provided at an intermediate portion of the length of the torsion spring 65. The loop 66 is locked to the spring locking portion 39 described in the first embodiment, and the lower end 67L is connected to the clamp arm 51L. The other end 67R is used while being locked to the clamp arm 51R.

  With respect to the clamp mechanism that biases the clamp arm 51L and the clamp arm 51R by the single torsion spring 65, the clamper 53L and the clamper 53R are gripped with one hand by using FIG. When the clamper 53R is rotated in the second direction close to each other and brought into proximity, even if a force is applied to one clamper, for example, the clamper 53L, the portion from one end 67L of the torsion spring 65 to the loop 66 extends. The portion from the loop 66 to the other end 67R does not expand. The force against the urging applied to the clamper 53L (the force required to extend the portion from the one end 67L of the torsion spring 65 to the loop 66) is proportional to the rotation angle of the clamper 53L. Accordingly, the force against the bias applied to the clamper 53L and the force against the bias applied to the clamper 53R (the force required to extend the portion from the other end 67R of the torsion spring 65 to the loop 66) are not conscious. It is unlikely that a balance is achieved and the force applied to one is greater than the force applied to the other. Therefore, as in the case of the first embodiment, the orientation of the main body 31 including the holding plate 43 does not change, and the front of the web camera 20 held by the main body 31 can be clipped in the intended orientation.

  The clip mechanism and the image pickup apparatus including the clip mechanism of the present invention have been described above by way of example. Of course, the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made based on the technical idea of the present invention. It is.

  For example, in the first embodiment, the clamp arms 51L and 51R are linear. However, the clamp arms 51L and 51R may be clamped in the vicinity of the clampers 53L and 53R. It is good also as the shape bent convexly to the board 43 side.

  In the present embodiment, the clip mechanism 30 provided with the web camera 20 is illustrated. However, the clip mechanism 30 is not limited to the web camera, and a microphone, a small speaker, a fan, an auxiliary light, a strobe, or the like is used as a clipped member. It can be applied as a clip mechanism that can be easily attached to and detached from the fixing device with one hand.

It is the perspective view from the diagonal front side which shows the state which attached the web camera provided with the clip mechanism of Example 1 to the display panel of notebook type PC. It is the perspective view which looked at the same web camera from the slanting back side. It is a perspective view which shows the state which tries to clip the web camera of FIG. 2 with a clip mechanism. It is a top view of a web camera and a clip mechanism. It is a top view which removes the pan / tilt table in the clip mechanism and shows the inside of the main body of the clip mechanism. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the clip mechanism with the pan / tilt table removed. It is sectional drawing of the [7]-[7] line direction in FIG. FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view taken along line [8]-[8] in FIG. 4. FIG. 8A is a partially broken cross-sectional view of the torsion spring and the spring holder, and FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view of the torsion spring and the spring holder. is there. FIG. 9A is a plan view and a side view showing a set of two torsion springs used in Example 1, FIG. 9A is a left torsion spring, and FIG. 9B is a right torsion spring. It is the top view and side view which show one torsion spring used in Example 2. FIG. It is a side view which shows that the clamper on either side can be used as a base with the rotation axis for tilting of a web camera. It is a perspective view at the time of making a web camera stationary with the left and right clampers as pedestals. It is a perspective view which shows the state in which the web camera provided with the clip mechanism of the prior art example is clipped by notebook type PC. It is a partially broken perspective view which shows the clip mechanism of the camera. It is a perspective view which shows the web camera provided with the clip mechanism of another prior art example, FIG. 15A shows the state before a clip, and FIG. 15B shows the clipped state.

Explanation of symbols

10 ... notebook PC, 11 ... display panel, 20 ... web camera,
24... Tilt rotation shaft 30. Clip mechanism
31 ... Main body of clip mechanism, 33B ... Rotation support part,
33U: Spring holder, 35 ... Connection screw,
38 ... Pan / tilt table 39 ... Spring locking part,
40 ... friction rubber, 42 ... collar, 43 ... clamping plate,
51L ... Left clamp arm, 51R ... Right clamp arm,
52L: left ring-shaped root portion, 52R: right ring-shaped root portion,
53L ... Left clamper, 53R ... Right clamper,
61L: Left torsion spring, 61R: Right torsion spring,
62L: one end of the left torsion spring, 62R: one end of the right torsion spring,
63L: the other end of the left torsion spring, 63R: the other end of the right torsion spring,
65: Other torsion spring, 66: Loop for locking the spring.

Claims (9)

A clip mechanism for clamping a clipped member between a clamping surface that is a stationary part and two clampers that are movable parts,
The two clamp arms having the clampers at their respective tip portions and the two clampers are spaced apart from each other in a first direction in which each approaches the clamping surface, and the two clampers are close to each other. , A rotation support portion for supporting the base portions of the two clamp arms so that each of the two clamp arms can rotate in a second direction separated from the clamping surface, and the two clampers in the first direction. A spring for urging it to rotate, and a main body for holding at least the clamping surface and the rotation support part,
The springs are two torsion springs wound in a coil shape along a peripheral surface of a spring holder provided immediately above the rotation support part, and each of the torsion springs has one end of the spring A clip mechanism, wherein the clip mechanism is locked to a common spring locking portion provided in the vicinity of the holder, and the other end is locked to one of the two clamp arms. A clip mechanism for clamping a clipped member between a clamping surface that is a stationary part and two clampers that are movable parts,
The two clamp arms having the clampers at their respective distal ends and the two clampers are spaced apart from each other in a first direction in which each approaches the clamping surface, and the two clampers are close to each other. , A rotation support portion for supporting the root portions of the two clamp arms so that each of them can be rotated in a second direction separated from the clamping surface, and the two clampers in the first direction. A spring for urging it to rotate, and a main body for holding at least the clamping surface and the rotation support part,
The spring is a torsion spring wound in a coil shape along a peripheral surface of a spring holder provided immediately above the rotation support portion, and the torsion spring has an intermediate portion in length. A clip mechanism which is locked by a spring locking portion provided in the vicinity of a spring holder, and whose both ends are locked by the two clamp arms.   The clip mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the spring locking portion is a small-diameter columnar body standing in parallel with the spring holder.   An imaginary plane that is parallel to the clamping surface and passes through the center of the rotation support part, and a center line in the length direction of each of the biased clamp arms are at a predetermined angle on the opposite side of the clamping surface The clip mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a stopper for limiting a rotation angle by urging of the two clamp arms is provided so as to form the following.   The linear protrusion which passes along the part where the said centerline of the said clamp arm cross | intersects the said outer peripheral surface is provided in the outer peripheral surface of each of the said 2 clampers as a finger hook part. The clip mechanism according to claim 1 or claim 2.   The clip according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a small instrument is rotatably held on an upper portion of the main body via a rotation shaft in a horizontal direction parallel to the clamping surface. mechanism.   The main body includes an upper portion for holding the small instrument, and a lower portion including the rotation support portion and the clamping surface, and the upper portion is interposed at the upper end portion of the rotation support portion via friction rubber. The clip mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the clip mechanism is rotatable in a horizontal plane perpendicular to the rotation support portion. An imaging device including a clip mechanism for clamping a clipped member between a clamping surface that is a stationary part and two clampers that are movable parts,
The two clamp arms having the clampers at their respective distal ends and the two clampers are spaced apart from each other in a first direction in which each approaches the clamping surface, and the two clampers are close to each other. , A rotation support portion for supporting the root portions of the two clamp arms so that each of them can be rotated in a second direction separated from the clamping surface, and the two clampers in the first direction. A spring for urging it to rotate, and a main body for holding at least the clamping surface and the rotation support part,
The springs are two torsion springs wound in a coil shape along a peripheral surface of a spring holder provided immediately above the rotation support part, and each of the torsion springs has one end of the spring A clip that has a clip mechanism that is locked to a common spring locking portion provided in the vicinity of the holder, and that has the other end locked to one of the two clamp arms. An imaging apparatus provided with a mechanism. An imaging device including a clip mechanism for clamping a clipped member between a clamping surface that is a stationary part and two clampers that are movable parts,
The two clamp arms having the clampers at their respective distal ends and the two clampers are spaced apart from each other in a first direction in which each approaches the clamping surface, and the two clampers are close to each other. , A rotation support portion for supporting the root portions of the two clamp arms so that each of them can be rotated in a second direction separated from the clamping surface, and the two clampers in the first direction. A spring for urging it to rotate, and a main body for holding at least the clamping surface and the rotation support part,
The spring is a torsion spring wound in a coil shape along a peripheral surface of a spring holder provided immediately above the rotation support portion, and the torsion spring has an intermediate portion in length. A clip mechanism is provided which is locked to a spring locking portion provided in the vicinity of the spring holder and has clip mechanisms whose both ends are locked to the two clamp arms. Imaging device.

Images