JP3138592B2 - Drip-proof camera - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a drip-proof zoom camera, and more particularly to an internal pressure adjusting mechanism of the camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a camera having a lens barrel that moves forward and backward in the optical axis direction is made drip-proof due to zooming or focusing, the internal pressure is changed. Therefore, the entire camera is completely drip-proof by packing or the like. In addition to the above structure, a breathing hole for communicating the inside and outside of the camera is provided, and a ventilation / impermeable filter is provided in the breathing hole, and the filter is covered with a cover having ventilation means.
No. 535.

[0003]

However, the air-impermeable filter in the above-mentioned conventional example does not allow water to pass through, but does not allow air to pass therethrough. Therefore, a relatively large area is required and adhesion is difficult. Therefore, the number of parts is increased and the cost is increased.
Further, since the air-permeable and water-impermeable filter itself is very expensive, the cost is further increased, and the attractiveness of a compact camera characterized by its small size, light weight and low cost is impaired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a drip-proof camera capable of adjusting the internal pressure without using an expensive filter.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a drip-proof camera according to the present invention is provided with a communication hole communicating between the inside and outside of the main body at an end surface of a tripod mounting hole, and in the vicinity of a female screw for a tripod or at a thread portion. A groove having a shape different from that of the male screw fitted with the female screw is provided. It is preferable that at least one groove extends from the outer periphery of the tripod mounting hole to the side surface of the main body cover.

[0006]

In the drip-proof camera having the above structure, even if the camera is in the normal position and in the vertical position at an angle of 90 ° around the optical axis, the tripod on the camera bottom which is relatively hard to splash water. Since the internal pressure is adjusted by providing a communication hole between the main body and the outside in the mounting hole, an expensive filter is not required. But,
When a tripod is used, the communication capacity of the air is reduced by the communication hole.However, even when the camera is attached to the tripod by the ventilation groove provided near the internal thread of the tripod mounting hole or on the thread, and the groove extending to the side of the body cover. The air circulation capacity does not decrease.

[0007]

1 to 4 show a first embodiment of the present invention.
It will be described based on. 1 is a perspective view of the drip-proof camera of the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the camera in a storage state (horizontal state), FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a main part thereof, and FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a camera body cover, on which a lens barrel 2, a Fresnel lens for a flash device 3, an AF window 4, and a finder window 5 are respectively incorporated on the front surface, and the inside and outside of the camera are kept watertight. Reference numeral 6 denotes a tripod mounting hole provided at the bottom of the camera body cover 1 and is integrally formed with the camera body cover 1 together with an exhaust groove 7 formed continuously with the bottom surface. The exhaust groove 7 is formed to extend to both front and rear side surfaces of the camera body cover 1.

The tripod mounting hole 6 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. A communication hole 6a is provided in the inner end face of the tripod mounting hole 6.
Is open to communicate the air inside and outside the camera to keep the internal pressure constant. Then, when the tripod screw 10 is screwed in the direction A and fixed to the camera, the tripod mounting hole is provided to prevent the female screw 6b on the camera body cover 1 from being screwed to reduce the air flow capacity. 6 is provided with a pair of ventilation grooves 8 connected to the exhaust grooves 7 in the hole direction.

In the present embodiment having the above-described structure, even when a tripod having a tripod screw 10 screwed to the camera is used, the air passing through the ventilation hole 6a can be circulated through the ventilation groove 8 and the exhaust groove 7, and the zooming operation can be performed. Internal pressure can be kept constant.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. For the sake of simplicity, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and only different points will be described. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a principal part of a tripod mounting hole of the drip-proof camera. In this embodiment, a ventilation groove 8a having a semicircular cross section is formed along the entire circumference of one side surface of the ridge of the female screw 6b of the tripod mounting hole 6 so as to communicate with the ventilation hole 6a. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

In this embodiment having the above structure, an air circulation route is secured along the ridge of the female screw 6b, and only one molding die is required for the tripod mounting hole 6.

FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a main part of a tripod mounting hole of the drip-proof camera. In this embodiment, a slit-shaped ventilation groove 8b is formed along the entire circumference of the top surface of the crest of the female screw 6b of the tripod mounting hole 6 through the ventilation hole 6a.
It is formed in communication with. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. In this embodiment having the above-described configuration, an air circulation route is secured along the crest of the female screw 6b, and only one molding die is required for the tripod mounting hole 6, as in the second embodiment.

The number of ventilation grooves 8a and 8b in the second and third embodiments may be plural, and plural grooves having different shapes may be provided.

[0014]

As described above, according to the present invention, a communication hole for communicating between the inside and the outside of the main body is provided in the tripod mounting hole which is relatively hard to receive water, and the female screw is fitted near the female screw for the tripod or in the thread portion. By providing a groove with a shape different from the external thread, the internal pressure of the drip-proof camera can be adjusted without using an expensive filter and taking up extra space, and a small and lightweight camera is provided at low cost it can. Further, by extending at least one groove from the outer periphery of the tripod mounting hole to the side surface of the body cover, an air circulation route can be secured even when the tripod is used, and smooth zooming can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a drip-proof camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the drip-proof camera in a storage state.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of the tripod mounting hole.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the same.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of a tripod mounting hole of a drip-proof camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of a tripod mounting hole of a drip-proof camera according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1. Camera body cover, 2. Lens barrel, 5. Viewfinder window, 6. Tripod mounting hole, 6a Communication hole, 6b
・ Female screw, 7 ・ ・ Exhaust groove, 8, 8a, 8b ・ ・ Ventilation groove,
10. Tripod screw.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03B 17/08 G03B 17/02

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] A communication hole for communicating the inside and outside of the main body is provided at an end surface of a tripod mounting hole, and a groove having a shape different from that of a male screw fitted with the female screw is provided near a female screw for a tripod or at a thread portion. And drip-proof camera. 2. The drip-proof camera according to claim 1, wherein at least one groove extends from an outer periphery of the tripod mounting hole to a side surface of the body cover.