JPH03231236A - Dripproof and waterproof camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely hold watertightness between an aperture and a photographing lens barrel, to reduce the sliding resistance at the time of moving the photographing lens barrel forward and backward and to make the action thereof smooth by softly, water-tightly and elastically bringing the lip part of a ring-like waterproof member, which is water-tightly fitted to the aperture, into contact with the outside circumferential surface of the photographing lens barrel. CONSTITUTION:The aperture 40a is formed at the center of the tip part of a lens barrel supporting part 40 and the waterproof member 41 is water-tightly fitted in a space enclosed by the back surface 47a of a bent surface 47 bent toward the inside circumference and the inside circumference waterproof surface 40b of the supporting part 40. A contact outside circumferential surface 51, which can be water-tightly and closely brought into contact with the surface 40b, is formed to the outside circumference of the member 41. Besides, the lip part 52 which is closely brought into contact with the front of the member 41 in an elastically deformed state is provided to the member 41. Then, the tip part 52 is formed so that it thinly projects forward. Thus, the gap between the photographing lens barrel 14 and the aperture 40 is surely made water-tight and the lens barrel 14 is smoothly moved forward and backward.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a drip-proof and waterproof camera, and more particularly to a drip-proof and waterproof camera having a photographing lens barrel that can move forward and backward in the optical axis direction.

"Prior art and its problems" In recent years, there have been developed products that do not allow water droplets to enter the interior even if they get wet with rain, sea spray, or stream water, and drip-proof waterproof devices that can be operated in shallow water such as the sea or pool. Cameras are commercially available.

When this drip-proof and waterproof camera is to be used as a zoom camera, for example, the photographing lens barrel is slidably supported in an opening formed in the front wall of the camera body, and there is an air gap between the photographing lens barrel and the opening. It is conceivable to interpose a ring to make it watertight.

However, with this structure, since the photographic lens barrel moves forward and backward while being pressed against the O-ring, sliding resistance increases, and in severe cases, there is a risk that the photographic lens barrel may not operate smoothly. be. Also, in order to solve this problem,
If the ring is made looser, the sliding resistance when the photographic lens barrel is moved back and forth is reduced, but the watertight performance between the photographic lens barrel and the aperture is impaired.

``Object of the Invention'' The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to reliably make the space between the photographing lens barrel and the aperture watertight, and to make the forward and backward movement of the photographic lens barrel smooth. The aim is to obtain a drip-proof and waterproof camera.

"Summary of the Invention" The present invention provides an opening in the front wall of a camera body configured in a watertight manner, supports a photographing lens barrel in the opening so as to be movable in the optical axis direction, and connects the photographing lens barrel with the opening. A drip-proof waterproof camera having an annular waterproof member interposed therebetween, wherein an inner circumferential waterproof surface is formed around the inner periphery of the opening so that the annular waterproof member can come into close contact with the annular waterproof member in a watertight manner, and the annular waterproof member has the above-mentioned It is characterized by providing a close-contact outer circumferential surface that can be in close contact with the inner circumferential waterproof surface in a watertight manner, and a lip portion that is elastically deformed and in close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the photographing lens barrel.

Further, it is preferable that the lip portion of the annular waterproof member is configured to protrude forward in the optical axis direction, and the tip portion thereof expands radially outward when the lip portion is fitted into the photographing lens barrel.

“Embodiments of the invention” The invention will now be described with reference to the illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a drip-proof and waterproof camera 10 to which the present invention is applied.

A camera body 12 of the drip-proof and waterproof camera 10 is configured to be watertight, and its photographing lens barrel 14 is provided in a watertight manner. This operation lens-barrel 14 is connected to a pair of zoom switches 3 installed on the top surface of the camera body 12.
0.32, zooming is performed by moving forward and backward in the optical axis direction. A protective glass 15 for protecting the lens is fitted into the front end of the photographing lens barrel 14 in a watertight manner.

The camera body 12 has a release button 28 on its top surface.
A rear cover 34 is installed on the rear surface so as to be openable and closable. On the wall surface 12a in front of the camera body 12, there are a light projection window 20 that emits infrared light for distance measurement, a light receiving window 22 that receives infrared light reflected by the subject, an objective window 24 of the finder, and a strobe light. A light emitting window 26 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 1, a fixed ring 42 fixed to the camera body 12 is disposed inside the lens barrel support 40. As shown in FIG. This fixed ring 42 has a cam groove 43 formed along the optical axis direction on its side surface. A cam ring 44 is rotatably fitted into the fixed ring 42 . A cam groove 45 that intersects with the cam groove 43 is formed on the side surface of the cam ring 44 .

The photographic lens barrel 14 is slidably fitted into a fixed ring 42, and a roller 46 provided on the side surface of the lens barrel 14 is inserted into a cam groove 43.
, 45.

Therefore, when the cam ring 44 is rotated by the drive of a zoom motor (not shown), the roller 46 moves along the cam grooves 45 and 43, so that the photographic lens barrel 14 is moved forward and backward in the optical axis direction.

The tip of the lens barrel support 40 is bent toward the inner periphery, and the opening 40a is formed in the center thereof. The waterproof member 41 is fitted in a space surrounded by the back surface 47a of the bent surface 47 and the inner peripheral waterproof surface 40b of the lens barrel support section 40 in a watertight manner.

A sectional view of this waterproof member 41 is shown in FIG. 2, and a front view is shown in FIG. It is configured in a ring shape.

If the left and right sides in FIG. 2 are the front and rear directions when attached to the lens barrel support 40, the waterproof member 41 has a fitting inner circumferential surface 48 at the rear thereof which is fitted into the fixed ring 42. . Further, the waterproof member 41 has a lip portion 52 at the front, and a step portion 49 is formed between the fitting inner circumferential surface 48 and the lip portion 52. This stepped portion 49 comes into contact with the front end of the fixed ring 42 when the waterproof member 41 is fitted into the fixed ring 42, and restricts the backward movement of the waterproof member 41. In addition, the stepped portion 49
A communicating inner circumferential surface 50 is formed between the lip portion 52 and the lip portion 52 .

A close contact outer peripheral surface 51 is formed on the outer periphery of the waterproof member 41 and can be brought into close contact with the inner waterproof surface 40b in a watertight manner. The outer diameter of this tight outer circumferential surface 51 is set to be slightly larger than the inner diameter of the inner circumferential waterproof surface 40b when the waterproof member 41 is in a free state (for example, if the inner diameter of the inner circumferential waterproof surface 40b is φ46
When the diameter is around n, the diameter is about 1m+m larger). Therefore, the waterproof member 41 is attached to the inner circumferential waterproof surface 40b in the state shown in FIG.
are brought into close contact with each other in a watertight manner due to the deformation force of the waterproof member 41. The installation shown in FIG. 1 is in the state shown in FIG.
It is formed to have substantially the same outer diameter as the fixed ring 42, and the inner circumferential surface of the communicating inner circumferential surface 50 is formed larger than the outer diameter of the photographic lens barrel 14.

A front abutting wall 53 is formed between the close outer circumferential surface 51 and the lip portion 52, and is capable of abutting against the back surface 47a, thereby restricting forward movement of the waterproof member 41.

The lip portion 52 is formed in a thin shape and protrudes forward, and when it is attached to the lens barrel support portion 40 and not fitted into the photographing lens barrel 14, its inner diameter is the same as that of the photographing lens barrel 14. It is formed to be slightly smaller than the outer diameter (for example, when the outer diameter of the photographic lens barrel 14 is around 40 mm, it is about φ1 mm smaller). Therefore, when the waterproof member 41 is attached to a predetermined position, Close outer peripheral surface 51
is brought into close contact with the inner surface 40b in a watertight manner, and furthermore, the obtuse contact portion 52a of the knob portion 52 is brought into close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the photographing lens barrel in a watertight manner, thereby achieving watertightness between the photographing lens barrel 14 and the opening 40a. hold.

Furthermore, when the waterproof member 41 is fitted to the photographic lens barrel 14, the lip portion 52 expands outward as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIGS. Although it is brought into close contact with the outer peripheral surface, the tightening force and watertightness of the lens barrel 14 can be freely set depending on the rubber strength of the material, the thickness of the lip, and the size of the interference. The sliding resistance during sliding of the tiI shadow lens barrel 14 is determined by the tightening force of the lip portion 52 and the coefficient of friction between the lip portion 52 and the surface of the photographing lens barrel. The length of the lip portion 52 does not affect the tightening force, but if it is made longer, chatter that occurs during sliding can be reduced.

According to the drip-proof and waterproof camera 10 having the above structure, the cam ring 44 is rotated by the drive of the zoom motor, and the photographic lens barrel 14 moves forward and backward in the optical axis direction.

At this time, the waterproof member 41 pushes the abutting front wall 53 onto the back surface 47a.
The contact outer circumferential surface 51 is in close contact with the inner circumferential waterproof surface 40b in a watertight manner, and the lip portion 52 is in close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the photographic lens barrel 14 in a watertight manner. Therefore, watertightness between the photographic lens barrel 14 and the opening 40a is reliably maintained.

The lip portion 52 has an obtuse-angled contact portion 52a formed in an obtuse-angled shape in order to contact the outer circumferential surface of the photographing lens barrel 14.
The watertightness between the lens barrel 14 and the photographic lens barrel 14 is improved.
For example, when frost forms on the photographic lens barrel 14 due to cold weather, this frost can be effectively removed. Furthermore, since the lip portion 52 is lip-shaped, the force required to deform it is relatively weak, and it can be easily fitted into the photographic lens barrel 14 in some cases, and when the photographic lens barrel 14 is operated, Smooth operation can be provided by reducing the sliding resistance. Furthermore, since the lip portion 52 is formed to protrude forward in the optical axis direction, when water pressure is applied, the obtuse contact portion 52a is strongly (pressed) against the side surface of the photographing lens barrel 14, further improving watertightness. Ru.

Another embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

The bent surface 47 of the lens barrel support portion 40 has an extending fitting portion 47b extending rearward from the opening 40a.
A waterproof member 55 is fitted between the inner peripheral waterproof surface 40b and the photographic lens barrel 14. The waterproof member 55 has a lip portion 56 similar to the waterproof member 41 at its front end, and the inner diameter of the lip portion 56 is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the photographic lens barrel 14. A fitting recess 5 is provided on the outer periphery of the lip portion 56 for fitting with the extending fitting portion 47b.
7 is formed -6 Furthermore, the outer periphery of the large diameter portion 58 is
A close-contact outer circumferential surface 59 is formed in close contact with the inner circumferential waterproof surface 40b in a watertight manner.

Therefore, when the fitting recess 57 is fitted into the extending fitting part 47b and the waterproof member 55 is fitted into the lens barrel support part 40, the inner circumferential waterproof surface 40b and the close outer circumferential surface 59 are brought into close contact with each other in a watertight manner. Further, the close contact surface 57a and the close contact surface 57b of the fitting recess 57 are brought into close contact with the close contact surface 47c and the close contact surface 47d of the extending fitting portion 47b, respectively, in a watertight manner. Then, the photographic lens barrel 14 is fitted into the waterproof member 55, and the waterproof member 55 is pressed from behind by the fixed ring 42, so that the lip portion 56 is brought into close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the photographic lens barrel.

As a result, the waterproof member 55 is in close contact with the inner circumferential waterproof surface 40b and the close contact outer circumferential surface 59, the close contact surface 57a and the close contact surface 47C1, and the close contact surface 57b and the close contact surface 47d.
Watertightness between the lens barrel support portion 40 and the lens barrel support portion 40 is reliably maintained. At the same time, since the lip portion 56 and the outer circumferential surface of the photographic lens barrel come into close contact with each other in a watertight manner, the watertightness between the waterproof member 55 and the photographic lens barrel 14 is also reliably maintained.

"Effects of the Invention" As described above, according to the drip-proof and waterproof camera of the present invention, the lip portion of the annular waterproof member that is fitted in the opening in a watertight manner can be attached to the outer peripheral surface of the photographic lens barrel in a flexible and watertight manner. Can be made into elastic contact. This makes it possible to reliably maintain watertightness between the aperture and the photographing lens barrel, reducing the sliding resistance when moving the photographing lens barrel forward and backward, and making its operation smoother. .

Further, according to the second aspect of the invention, the lip portion can be brought into close contact with the photographing lens barrel more flexibly. Since the lip protrudes forward in the optical axis direction and comes into close contact with the photographic lens barrel at an angle, it effectively removes water droplets and frost that adhere to the outer peripheral surface of the photographic lens barrel when leaving work. be able to.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing the main parts of a drip-proof waterproof camera according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing the structure of the waterproof member in detail, FIG. 3 is a front view of FIG. 2, and FIG. The figure is a side sectional view showing the main parts of another embodiment, FIG. 5 is a side sectional view showing the structure of the waterproof member in FIG. 4 in detail, and FIG. 6 is an external appearance of a drip-proof waterproof camera to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 10...Splash-proof and waterproof camera, 12...Camera body,
12a...Front wall, 14...Photographing lens barrel, 40.
...Lens barrel support part, 40a...Aperture, 41...
Waterproof member (annular waterproof member), 40b...inner peripheral waterproof surface,
51.59... Close outer peripheral surface, 52° 56... Lip part.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) An opening is provided in the front wall of a watertight camera body, a photographic lens barrel is supported in this opening so as to be movable in the optical axis direction, and an annular waterproof member is placed between this opening and the photographic lens barrel. The interposed drip-proof and waterproof camera includes an inner circumferential waterproof surface that can be in close contact with the annular waterproof member in a watertight manner around the inner periphery of the opening, and an inner circumferential waterproof surface that is in close contact with the annular waterproof member in a watertight manner. 1. A drip-proof and waterproof camera, comprising: a close-contact outer circumferential surface that can be brought into close contact with the camera; and a lip portion that is elastically deformed and comes into close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the photographic lens barrel. (2) In claim 1, the lip portion of the annular waterproof member is
A drip-proof and waterproof camera that protrudes forward in the optical axis direction and is configured so that its tip part expands radially outward when it is fitted into a photographic lens barrel.