JP3462693B2 - Connection structure between optical equipment and mount - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connecting structure for an optical device and a mount such as a tripod.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Optical devices such as cameras, large-sized binoculars, telescopes, sights, etc. are often used by being mounted on a mount such as a tripod. For this reason, many of these optical devices have a female part for mounting a tripod (also called a “tripod screw hole”, which is a DIN standard 1
/ 4 inch internal thread, or 3/8 inch internal thread is used in large equipment). The tripod platform is equipped with an external thread for mounting optical equipment (also called "camera mounting thread", which uses DIN standard 1/4 inch male thread or large equipment 3/8 inch male thread). The male screw portion is screwed onto the female screw portion of the optical device and tightened to fix the optical device to the platform.

[0003]

However, when the optical device is attached to the tripod in a dark place, for example, when the camera is attached to the tripod outdoors without illumination at night, the tripod screw hole of the optical device is used. Since the camera mounting screws of a tripod and a tripod cannot be visually recognized, the screw holes had to be aligned with the tips of the screws by hand, and the mounting work was often slow. If two people are going to mount the tripod, one person may illuminate the tripod screw hole and the camera mounting screw with a flashlight to assist the work, but if working alone, an optical device attached to one hand I have to hold the camera and operate the camera mounting screw with my other hand, and I can't use a flashlight for lighting because my hands are blocked. Also, during the tripod mounting work, the tripod screw hole and the camera mounting screw that are sandwiched between the optical equipment to be mounted and the tripod platform must be illuminated, for example, a lamp mounted on the worker's forehead. Can't illuminate well. The present invention has been devised to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to facilitate the work of attaching an optical device to a mount such as a tripod in a dark place environment.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an optical device by combining an optical device side connecting portion provided in an optical device and a pedestal side connecting portion provided on a pedestal such as a tripod. In a coupling structure of an optical device and a mount, which is detachably attached to a mount, a light-emitting body is provided in at least one of the optical device-side coupling part and the mount-side coupling part, or in the vicinity of at least one of the coupling parts . , The light emitter is the optical device
It is characterized in that it is formed as a mark having a shape indicating the orientation of the container . The present invention also provides an optical device provided in an optical device.
Connect the device side connection part and the mount side connection part provided on the mount such as a tripod.
Attach the optical device to the pedestal so that it can be detachably attached.
In the coupling structure between the optical device and the mount,
At least one of the optical device side coupling part and the gantry side coupling part
, Or at least one of them is provided with a luminous body,
The reference of the installation direction of the optical device is shown on the surface of the luminous body.
The index is provided. Further, the invention is characterized in that the light emitting body is formed of a material containing a light storing substance. Further, according to the present invention, the light emitting body is formed of a material containing a substance that emits fluorescence when energized, and the light emitting body is provided at or near the optical device side coupling portion of the optical device, and the optical device has a built-in power source. It is characterized in that the light-emitting body is caused to emit light by the power source.

Further, the present invention is a tripod in which the mount is provided with a platform, the platform has an optical equipment mounting surface provided with the platform-side coupling portion, and the light emitter is on the platform side. It is characterized in that it is provided in the coupling portion. Further, the present invention is
The mount is a tripod provided with a platform, the platform has an optical device mounting surface provided with the mount-side coupling portion, and the light emitter is provided on the optical device mounting surface. Is characterized by. Further, the present invention is characterized in that the optical device-side coupling portion is a female screw portion and the gantry-side coupling portion is a male screw portion.

Further, the present invention provides a camera provided with a tripod screw hole, wherein the camera is provided with a phosphorescent substance or a substance which emits fluorescent light when energized so that the tripod screw hole can be visually recognized in a dark environment. A light emitting body formed of a material containing the light emitting body is provided , and the light emitting body has a shape indicating the direction of the camera.
It is characterized in that it is formed as a mark . Further, the present invention provides a tripod including a tripod head having a camera mounting screw, wherein the tripod head is formed of a material containing a phosphorescent substance so that the camera mounting screw can be visually recognized in a dark environment. And a surface of the luminous body
Shows the standard for the installation direction of the optical device to be attached to the tripod.
The index is provided .

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, a first embodiment in which a light emitting body is provided in a camera will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the camera, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part of the camera bottom. The camera 10 has a back cover 12 that opens and closes when the film is taken in and out, and a battery cover 14 that closes the battery chamber at one end of the bottom of the camera 10. The camera 10 further has a tripod screw hole 16 (corresponding to the optical device side coupling portion in the claims) which is a tripod mounting female screw portion at approximately the center of the bottom portion thereof.

As shown in FIG. 2, the camera 10 has a chassis 18 made of iron, and a bottom decoration plate 20 made of fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) and a tripod screw hole forming body 22 made of aluminum die cast are provided on the chassis 18. Each is fixed with a fixing screw. The tripod screw hole 16 formed in the tripod screw hole forming member 22 is a DIN standard 1/4 inch female screw. As shown in FIG. 1, the tripod screw hole 16 of the bottom decorative plate 20
Around the circumference of three triangular luminous bodies 24a, 24b, 2
4c are provided, and these light emitters are attached in three correspondingly shaped recesses formed in the bottom decorative plate 20, and two of these recesses 26 in FIG.
a and 26c are shown. Three light emitters 24a, 24b, 2
4c is manufactured by cutting a phosphorescent sheet formed by forming a material containing a phosphorescent substance into a sheet into triangles. The depth of the recesses 26a and 26c for accommodating them is defined as the thickness of the phosphorescent sheet. Therefore, after the light emitters are attached in the corresponding recesses, the surfaces of the light emitters are substantially flush with the surface of the bottom of the surrounding camera 10. The triangular shape of the three light emitters 24a, 24b, 24c is such that the bases of the three light emitters 24a, 24b, 24c face the tripod screw holes 16 and the respective apex angles are directed to the left, front, and right of the camera 10, and therefore The two light emitters are also formed as marks having a shape indicating the direction of the camera 10.

The luminous sheet used for the luminous bodies 24a, 24b and 24c may be a sheet obtained by kneading the luminous substance with a plastic material, or may be a powder on a carrier sheet made of a plastic material. It may be manufactured by coating a phosphorescent substance. In addition, the light emitters 24a, 24
b, 24c may be formed as a component manufactured by injection molding of a plastic material in which a phosphorescent substance is kneaded, in addition to being formed by a phosphorescent sheet. Furthermore, a paint containing a phosphorescent substance is desired. It is also possible to form these luminescent materials by applying in the shape of. Specific examples of suitable currently available phosphorescent substances are, for example, "Chemtech Picarico CP-05 (trade name)" manufactured by Nemoto Kagaku.
And "Luminova (brand name)".

Therefore, according to this embodiment, when the camera 10 is mounted on a tripod in a dark place, light is emitted from a flashlight or the like on the light emitting bodies 24a, 24b, 24c prior to the mounting work. Just do it. Once the light is stored, the luminous bodies 24a, 24b, 24c continue to emit light with sufficient brightness for a sufficient time thereafter.
The light can guide the camera mounting screw of the tripod to the tripod screw hole 16 of the camera 10, and it is not necessary to hold and illuminate a flashlight or the like during the mounting work, and the mounting work can be performed quickly and easily. Benefits are obtained. Further, the shape of the light emitters 24a, 24b, 24c causes the camera 1
The fact that the direction of 0 is shown also helps the mounting work in a dark environment.

In the above structure, the light emitting members 24a, 24a
b and 24c are electroluminescence elements (EL elements), that is, substances that can emit fluorescent light when energized (for example, “Lumibright (trade name)”).
Etc.) may be used. A second embodiment in which the light emitter is made of such a material will be described with reference to the block diagram of the control system of the camera shown in FIG. The camera control system has a CPU 100.
Is supplied with power from a main power supply 102 including a battery mounted on the camera. The CPU 100 includes a main switch 104, a release switch 106, a photometric switch 10
8, shutter dial 110, and aperture dial 112
And the input from the photometric light receiving element (SPD) 114 and the film sensitivity reading means 150, and the aperture mechanism 116 of the photographing lens, the shutter mechanism 118, the film winding motor (MFWD) 120, the film rewinding motor ( MREW) 122, an information display section 124 outside the camera,
And EL element 126 for information display section, finder display section 1
52 is controlled. The above components are generally equipped in many cameras. In the embodiment described here, in addition to them, the tripod screw hole 1
The light emitting bodies 24a, 24b, 24c around 6 are formed by EL elements (shown by one block 128 in FIG. 3), and the camera is equipped with an EL lighting switch 130. If the CPU 100 detects the depression, the CPU 100, which detects the depression, elapses from the main power supply 102 until the predetermined time (for example, 15 seconds) elapses.
Power is supplied to the L element 128. The EL lighting switch 130 is used for the information display unit (LCD) EL element 1.
26 also operates in the same manner.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, when the camera 10 is mounted on the tripod platform in a dark place, the EL lighting switch 130 is pushed down before the mounting work so that the light emitting bodies 24a, 24b, 24c. The light emission may be started. Once they have started to emit light, those light emitters 24
Since a, 24b, and 24c continue to emit light with sufficient brightness for a sufficient time after that, the camera mounting screw of the tripod can be guided to the tripod screw hole 16 of the camera 10 by the light, and the mounting work can be performed. There is no need to hold a flashlight or the like inside to illuminate it, and there is an advantage that installation work can be easily performed. In addition, according to this embodiment, there is an advantage that it is not necessary to carry a light accumulating illuminator such as a flashlight.

Next, a third embodiment in which a light emitter is provided on a tripod platform will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an essential part of a tripod platform, FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an essential part of the tripod platform, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing how to attach the camera to the tripod platform. The tripod platform 40 has a camera base 42, and an upper surface of the camera base 42 is an optical device mounting surface 44, and a long hole 46 is formed in the optical device mounting surface 44. As shown in the sectional view of FIG. 5, a screw member (hereinafter referred to as “camera mounting screw”) 48 for mounting an optical device is attached to the long hole 46 so as to be slidable in the longitudinal direction of the long hole 46. Has been done. The camera mounting screw 48 has a DIN
An optical device mounting male screw portion 50 (corresponding to the mount side coupling portion in the claims) formed of a standard 1/4 inch male screw is formed, and the camera mounting screw 4 is formed at the lower end thereof.
Camera mounting knob 5 which is a knob for tightening 8
2 is fixed. When attaching the camera 10 'to the platform 40, as shown in FIG. 6, after aligning the tripod screw hole 16 of the camera 10' with the male screw portion 50 of the camera mounting screw 48, screw them together. The camera mounting knob 52 may be operated and tightened.

The camera mounting screw 48 has a male screw portion 5
A light emitter 52 is provided at the tip of 0. This luminous body 52
Is formed by applying a phosphorescent paint containing a phosphorescent substance, and the phosphorescent substance is the one exemplified above with respect to the light emitters 24a, 24b, 24c of the camera 10 of the first embodiment. The same can be used. Furthermore,
On the optical device mounting surface 44 of the camera base 42, a luminous sheet 54, which is a light emitting body, is adhered over substantially the entire surface thereof. Three index lines 56 are made of black paint on the luminous sheet 54.
a, 56b, 56c (corresponding to the index in the claims) are drawn, and the index lines are aligned with the movable axis of the platform 40, and are attached when an optical device such as a camera is attached to the camera platform 42. This is for indicating the reference of the installation direction of the optical device. The luminous sheet 54 includes the luminous body 24a,
A luminous sheet made of the same material as 24b and 24c may be used. Further, instead of the luminous sheet 54, a plate-shaped member formed by injection molding a plastic material in which a luminous substance is kneaded may be used. The index lines 56a, 5
6b, 56c, that is, the shape of the index may be an arrow as shown in FIG. 1, the direction of the index may be changed, and the shape is not limited to that shown in FIG.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, when an optical device such as a camera is attached to the tripod platform 40 in a dark environment, the light emitters 52 and 5 are attached prior to the attaching work.
Light from a flashlight or the like may be applied to 4 to store light. Once the light is stored, the light emitters continue to emit light with sufficient brightness for a sufficient time after that, so there is no need to continue illuminating with a flashlight during the installation work, and the installation work is easy. The advantage is that it can be done. Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the orientation of the camera 10 ′ can be set on the camera base 42 by the index lines 56 a, 56 b, 56 c drawn on the luminous sheet 54 which is a light emitting body. There is also an advantage that it is possible to easily judge whether it is good or not.

If the luminous sheet 54 that emits light with high brightness is used, the position of the male screw portion 50 of the camera mounting screw 48 can be visually recognized only by the light of the luminous sheet, and therefore the light emission at the tip of the male screw portion 50. The body 52 can be omitted. Further, if the luminous sheet 54 emits light with high brightness, the position of the tripod screw hole of the optical device can be visually recognized only by the light, and therefore, even if the optical device does not have a light emitter indicating the position of the tripod screw hole. Can be easily attached to a tripod in the dark environment. The light emitter 2 of the camera 10 described above
The same applies to 4a, 24b, and 24c, that is, if the brightness of these light emitters is sufficiently high, the position of the tip of the camera mounting screw of the tripod can be visually recognized by the light, and thus a normal tripod without a light emitter is used. Even when attached to
The mounting work of the camera in a dark environment can be easily performed. On the other hand, when the camera side is provided with a light emitter indicating the position of the tripod screw hole, and the tripod platform is provided with a light emitter indicating the position of the camera mounting screw, the brightness of these light emitters Even if the height is low, there is an advantage that the mounting work can be easily performed. Therefore, the present invention provides a coupling structure between an optical device and a mount, wherein the optical device is attached to the mount by screwing the female screw part provided on the optical device and the male screw part provided on the mount such as a tripod. Of course, when a light-emitting body is provided both on the male part and the male threaded part or in the vicinity of both, a coupling mechanism in which the luminous body is provided on at least one of the female threaded part and the male threaded part or in the vicinity of at least one of them. Is included. Further, in the embodiments, a camera is illustrated as the optical device and a tripod is illustrated as the mount, but the scope of application of the present invention is not limited to them, and for example, binoculars, spotting scopes, telescopes (including a lens barrel band for mounting). ), Riflescopes, surveying instruments, etc. and their mounts. Further, in the embodiment, the case where the optical device side coupling portion is the female screw portion and the gantry side coupling portion is the male screw portion has been described, but the configuration of the optical device side coupling portion and the cradle side coupling portion is limited to the screw structure. However, various other coupling structures can be applied.

[0017]

According to apparent the present invention in the above description, when mounting the optical device to the frame of the tripod in the dark environment, there is no need to work while illuminated with flashlight, originating The light of the optical body can be used to align the optical device side coupling section and the gantry side coupling section and visually check the coupling state, so that the mounting operation can be performed quickly and easily by one person.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a camera.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a camera bottom part.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control system of the camera.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a main part of a tripod platform.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an essential part of a tripod platform.

FIG. 6 is a view showing how to attach a camera to a tripod platform.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 10 'camera 16 Tripod screw hole 24a, 24b, 24c luminous body 40 pan head 44 Optical device mounting surface 48 camera mounting screw 50 Male thread for mounting optical equipment 52 luminous body 54 luminous body 56a, 56b, 56c Index line

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── --- Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-2-179211 (JP, A) JP-A-54-142595 (JP, A) Actually open 4-8197 (JP, U) Actual-open Sho-59- 138179 (JP, U) Actually open 62-202789 (JP, U) Actually open 62-59410 (JP, U) Actually open 62-52656 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03B 17/56

Claims (9)

(57) [Claims] 1. An optical device and a mount which are detachably attached to the mount by connecting the mount on the mount of the optical device to the mount on the mount of a tripod or the like. in the coupling structure of the said at least one of the optics side coupling part and the gantry-side coupling part, or tare provided a light emitter to at least one neighborhood of
The light-emitting body has a shape mark indicating the direction of the optical device.
Coupling structure of the optical device and mount according to claim being formed, it was. 2. An optical device-side coupling portion provided in an optical device and
By connecting with the gantry side connecting part provided on the gantry such as legs
An optical machine that can be attached to and detached from a pedestal
At least one of the optical device-side coupling portion and the cradle-side coupling portion in the coupling structure between the container and the cradle.
On one side or at least in the vicinity of one side.
Ri, shows the installation direction of the reference of the optical device to the surface of the light emitter
A combined structure of an optical device and a gantry , which is provided with an index . Wherein the light emitter coupling structure of the optical device and the frame of claim 1, wherein are formed of a material containing a phosphorescent substance. 4. The light-emitting body is formed of a material containing a substance that emits fluorescent light when energized, and is provided at or near the optical-device-side coupling portion of the optical device, and the optical device has a built-in power supply. The combined structure of the optical device and the mount according to claim 1, wherein the light source emits light from the light source. 5. The mount is a tripod provided with a platform, the platform has an optical device mounting surface on which the mount-side coupling part is provided, and the light emitter is provided on the mount-side coupling part. The combined structure of the optical device and the mount according to claim 2 . 6. The mount is a tripod provided with a platform, the platform has an optical device mounting surface provided with the mount-side coupling portion, and the light emitter is mounted on the optical device mounting surface. The structure for connecting the optical device according to claim 2 and the gantry, which is provided. Wherein said optical device side coupling portion is internally threaded portion, the gantry-side coupling portion to claim 1, which is a male threaded portion 6
A combined structure of the optical device according to any one of 1 to 4 and a pedestal. 8. A camera having a tripod screw hole, wherein the camera is made of a material containing a phosphorescent substance or a substance that emits fluorescence when energized so that the tripod screw hole can be visually recognized in a dark place. The formed luminous body is provided , and the luminous body is a mark having a shape indicating the direction of the camera.
The camera is characterized by being formed by . 9. A tripod provided with a platform having a camera mounting screw, wherein the platform is made of a material containing a phosphorescent substance so that the camera mounting screw can be visually recognized in a dark environment. A light-emitting body is provided , and an optical device to be attached to the tripod is installed on the surface of the light-emitting body.
A tripod characterized by being provided with an index indicating a reference of an orientation direction .