JPH09211538A - Barrier device for camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a barrier device which can be applied to a compact camera. SOLUTION: This device is provided with a barrier member 26 having a deformation part 32 constituted so that it can be deformed, a guide groove 36 constituted so as to deform the barrier member 26 along the shape of the camera in accordance with the movement of the barrier member 26 and a guide pawl 38. When the barrier member 26 is opened and it arrives at the corner part 13 of a camera body 12, the deformation part 32 thereof is deformed inside along the shape of the side surface of the camera and turned in the side surface of the camera.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera barrier device for protecting a photographing lens of a photographing device such as a camera, an electronic camera or a movie.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Most of cameras released in recent years are equipped with a lens cover (hereinafter referred to as a barrier) for protecting a taking lens when it is carried. As a barrier method, an inner barrier type that hides only the taking lens inside the lens barrel, an outer barrier type that covers the lens barrel part in some cases by sliding or rotating in front of the camera, and in some cases, the finder part and AF part (Patent Fair 7- No. 101271) is known, but each of them is composed of a plate-shaped component that does not deform in a normal state.

[0003]

However, since the inner barrier type has a barrier inside the lens barrel, it is impossible to protect the finder portion and it is not possible to achieve complete caselessness. Also in the outer barrier system, it has been difficult to provide a space where the slide barrier can be completely retracted at the time of shooting while completely covering the finder and the AF unit when carrying because the camera has been downsized in recent years. Since the member protrudes from the camera, it is a factor that hinders the miniaturization of the camera.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a barrier device for a camera in which the barrier member does not extend outside the camera and the size of the barrier member is increased to achieve caselessness. With the goal.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a barrier device capable of covering or exposing at least a part of a camera, wherein the barrier member of the barrier device is It is characterized in that it is deformable and deforms and moves along the shape of the camera when the barrier member is opened and closed.

According to the present invention, when the camera is carried, that is, when the barrier member is applied to the taking lens, the barrier member is located in front of the taking lens and covers the taking lens in the closed state. When the barrier member is slid in the opening direction to open the barrier member, the barrier member is deformed along the shape of the camera. Then, when the barrier member is completely opened, a part or all of the barrier member is located at a position around the side surface of the camera, for example. Therefore, in the barrier device for a camera of the present invention, the amount of movement of the barrier member can be increased without the barrier member protruding to the outside of the camera, so that the barrier member can be made larger, thereby achieving caseless. be able to.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of a camera barrier device according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a camera 10 to which a barrier device for a camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view in which the barrier member is opened. C) is a top view of the camera 10 when the barrier member is opened.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the camera body 12
A taking lens (which may be a zoom lens) 14 is housed in a lens barrel 16 and arranged in the center of the front surface of the.
The lens barrel 16 is retracted into the camera body 12 until a main switch (not shown) of the camera is turned on. When the main switch is turned on, the lens barrel 16 is extended forward from the camera body 12 by a predetermined amount. It is located at the initial position shown in 1. Further, an AF light projecting lens 18, a finder section 20, and an AF light receiving lens 22 are arranged above the lens barrel 16 in order from the left in the drawing. The lens barrel 16, the AF light projecting lens 18, the finder section 20, and the AF light receiving lens 22 are provided in the camera body 12.
When the barrier member 26 of the barrier device, which will be described later, is placed in the recess 24 formed in the front surface of the image pickup lens, the taking lens is retracted and covered by the barrier member 26 (FIG. 1).
(B)). Reference numeral 27 is a stroboscopic light emitting unit, and reference numeral 28 is a shutter release button.

FIG. 2 shows a barrier member of the camera according to this embodiment. FIG. 2A is a front view of the barrier member 26,
2B is a top view of the barrier member 26, and FIG. 2C is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the engagement state between the barrier member 26 and the camera body 12. As shown in FIG. 2A, the barrier member 26
Is formed into a rectangular plate shape by connecting the plate portion 30 covering the taking lens 14 and the deformation portion 32. When the barrier member 26 is opened, the plate portion 30 is located on the left side of the taking lens 14 (see FIG. 1A). When the barrier member 26 is closed, the plate portion 30 is positioned so as to cover the taking lens 14, the AF light projecting lens 18, the finder portion 20, and the AF light receiving lens 22 (FIG. 1).
(B)). The barrier member 26 is preferably made by plastic molding, but a material such as polypropylene is used to provide flexibility.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the deformable portion 32 has a plurality of grooves 34, 34 ... Formed in the vertical direction on the surface of the camera body 12 which is not in contact with the front surface. The deformable portion 32 has flexibility in the moving direction of the barrier member 26 due to the grooves 34, 34 ... In addition, the deformation section 32 is
The flexibility in the moving direction is higher than that in the direction orthogonal to the moving direction, and the guide grooves 36, 36 formed on the camera 10 side are formed.
Although it is deformed along (see FIG. 2C), it is difficult to bend in the direction orthogonal to the moving direction. Deformation part 32
A plurality of guide claws 38, 38 ... Are formed at the upper edge and the lower edge. The guide claws 38, 38 ...
6, 6 and 36 are slidably engaged. At the corners of the camera, if the curved portion has a relatively large curvature, the barrier member 26 easily moves. Further, guide claws 38, 38 are also formed on the tip end portion of the plate 30 side.

As shown in FIG. 3, the guide grooves 36, 36 are formed along the upper edge and the lower edge of the concave portion 24 formed from the front surface of the camera body 12 to the left side in the figure. Therefore, when the barrier member 26 is opened, the deformable portion 32 of the barrier member 26 becomes the corner portion 1 of the camera body 12.
It deforms inward along 3 and wraps around the side surface of the camera 10. Further, as shown in FIG. 2C, the guide claw 38 is bent outward on the back surface side of the barrier member 26 and engaged with the guide groove 36. As a result, the barrier member 26 is restricted by the guide groove 36 in the direction orthogonal to the movement, but does not fall off the camera body 12.

The operation of the barrier device of the first embodiment constructed as described above will be described. When the camera 10 is carried, that is, the barrier member 26 is closed (see FIG. 1).
(See (B)), the barrier member 26 includes the taking lens 14,
Finder section 20 and AF projecting / receiving lenses 18, 22
And is in a substantially flat state along the front surface of the camera body 10. In order to bring this into a photographing state, the barrier member 26 is slid to the left when viewed from the front of the camera (see FIG. 1A), and the guide claw 38 of the barrier member 26 is moved.
When the barrier member 26 hits the corner 13 of the camera body 12, the deforming portion 32 of the barrier member 26 is deformed inward along the side surface shape of the camera 10, so that the side surface of the camera is exposed. Go around. At this time, the deformable portion 32 is in a substantially flat state along the side surface of the camera body 12. Further, since the guide claws 38, 38 ... Are provided only in the thick portion of the deformable portion 32, the deformation is not hindered.

As described above, according to the barrier device of the camera, even if the barrier member 26 is opened, the barrier member 26 does not protrude to the outside of the camera 10 and the amount of movement of the barrier member 26 can be increased. Therefore, the barrier member 26
It does not matter if you increase the value, and you can achieve an unprecedented caseless camera. Although the groove 34 has been described as being provided only on the front side of the camera, it may be formed on both the front and back sides of the plate 30 or only on the back side.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the barrier member 26A according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The basic structure is the same as that of the barrier member 26 of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, but the shape of the guide claw 38A is different. In this embodiment, as shown in the drawing, the guide claws 38A, 38A are bent inward. That is, the guide claw 3
8A and 38A engage with guide grooves 36A and 36A formed on the upper surface and the lower surface of the camera body 12A, whereby the barrier member 26A slides over the entire front surface of the camera body.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the barrier member 26B according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the upper guide claw 38 of the barrier member 26B is engaged with the guide groove 36B of the camera body 12B as in the first embodiment.
The lower guide claw 38B is not bent and only protrudes downward and is engaged with the guide groove 36B. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a barrier member 26C according to the fourth embodiment.
6A is a plan view of an essential part, FIG. 6B is a view of the barrier member 26C shown in FIG. 6A taken along line AA, and FIG. 6C is an assembled perspective view of a part of the barrier member 26C. It is a figure.

In this embodiment, the barrier member 26C is made of a watch band member. This barrier member 26
C is composed of three types of parts as shown in FIG. The component 40 is a main component of the barrier member 26C. The component 42 is a pin fixed to the component 40. The component 44 is a member used to connect the two components 40, 40 together, and surrounds the component 42. In this case, three types of components 40 that form the barrier member 26C
Although each of ~ 44 is not made of a flexible material, it can be freely bent in the assembled state to some extent, and therefore, as in the case of being applied to the first to third examples. It can be deformed according to the shape of the camera. In this embodiment, the pin of the component 42 is projected from the end of the component 40 by a predetermined length, and the projecting end portions 42A, 42A ... Are engaged with a guide groove (not shown) on the camera side. Further, a protrusion may be provided at the end of the component 40 to engage with the guide groove.

FIG. 7 shows a barrier member 2 according to the fifth embodiment.
6D is a diagram showing 6D, FIG.
FIG. 7B shows the barrier member 26D shown in FIG.
The view seen from the line, FIG. 7C is an assembled perspective view of a part of the barrier member 26D. This embodiment is a modification of the barrier member 26C shown in FIG. 6, and in this embodiment as well, the barrier member 26D is formed of a watch band-shaped member. The barrier member 26D is composed of three types of parts as shown in FIG. The component 46 is a main component of the barrier member 26D. The component 48 is a pin that rotatably supports the component 46 and connects the components 46, 46 ... Alternately. The component (pin) 48 is loosely fitted to the component 46 and has a slight play with the component 46. Since these parts 46 and 48 can be bent to some extent in the assembled state, they can be deformed along the shape of the camera as in the case of being applied to the first to third embodiments. Also in this embodiment, the component 48
Is made to project from the end of the component 46, and the projecting end portions 48A, 48A ... Are engaged with the guide groove on the camera side in the previous embodiment. Further, a protrusion may be provided at the end of the component 46 to engage with the guide groove.

In these embodiments, it suffices that the barrier member is flexible only in the deformed portion that wraps around the side surface of the camera body, but the entire surface of the barrier member may be deformable. Although the configuration has been described above in which the barrier member is in the shooting state when sliding to the left when viewed from the front of the camera, it may be configured to be in the shooting state when sliding to the right. It is also possible that the barrier member slides in the vertical direction instead of the horizontal direction. In the fifth embodiment, the component 46
There is a possibility that dust may enter because there is a gap between the component and the component 46, but if a flexible sheet is placed on the back surface, dust can be prevented from entering.

Similar to a photographic camera, even when applied to a distance measuring optical system, an electronic camera requiring a finder system, a movie, etc., the restrictions on the size of the camera are relaxed, so that the degree of freedom in arrangement and design is increased. It is more effective. Also,
This barrier member does not necessarily need to cover the finder, the AF lens, and the like. Further, needless to say, not only optical parts but also operation buttons on the back of the camera, a barrier member such as a display panel may be used. In addition, in the case of a camera that does not have a strobe in the center part, it was not possible to cover the strobe part when carrying it conventionally, but it is possible to cover the strobe by enlarging the barrier member to the back of the camera body. It will be possible.

In the above-described embodiment, the guide grooves 36, 36 formed on the camera side are formed from the front surface to the side surface of the camera body 12, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be formed from the front surface to the back surface or from the front surface to the bottom surface. . . FIG.
The guide grooves 36, 36 are formed only on the front surface of the camera body 12, and the barrier members 26E of the sixth embodiment are slidably engaged with the guide grooves 36, 36. The deformed portion 32E of the barrier member 26E is designed so that when the barrier member 26E is opened as shown in the figure, the camera body 12 is deformed.
The front side of the camera body 12 is folded into a bellows on the left side without wrapping around to the side surface of the camera body 12. At this folded position, the left end is temporarily lightly locked by a click or the like not shown. In the present embodiment, the deformed portion 32E (bulging portion) folded and accumulated on the bellows can be used as a grip of the camera.

[0021]

As described above, according to the barrier device for a camera of the present invention, since the barrier member can be moved a large amount without protruding to the outside of the camera, the barrier member can be forced. There is no need to design it small, and there is more freedom in designing the barrier. This makes it possible to achieve a caseless camera. Further, even in a small camera having a relatively small width, not only the taking lens but also the viewfinder and the AF lens can be covered.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a camera to which a barrier device for a camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a barrier device of the camera according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main part of the camera body when the barrier device is removed.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a barrier device of a camera according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a barrier device of a camera according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a barrier device of a camera according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a barrier device of a camera according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a camera to which a camera barrier device according to a sixth embodiment is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

14 ... Photographing lens 18 ... AF light projecting lens 20 ... Viewfinder section 22 ... AF light receiving lens 26, 26A, 26B, 26C, 26D, 26E ... Barrier member 27 ... Strobe light emitting section 34 ... To enhance horizontal flexibility Groove 36 ... Guide groove 38 ... Guide claw engaged with the guide groove 40 ... Component that forms the main body of the barrier member 42 ... Pin 46 ... Component that forms the main body of the barrier member 48 ... Pin

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Minoru Nagao, 3-1146, Izumi, Asaka-shi, Saitama Prefecture Fuji Shashin Film Co., Ltd.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A barrier device capable of covering or exposing at least a part of a camera, wherein the barrier member of the barrier device is configured to be deformable, and the barrier member of the camera is opened and closed. A barrier device for a camera, which is capable of deforming and moving along a shape. 2. The barrier device for a camera according to claim 1, wherein the barrier member is formed of a flexible material, and a part of the camera covered by the barrier member is a taking lens. 3. The barrier device for a camera according to claim 1, wherein the barrier member is configured to be deformable by alternately providing portions having different thicknesses. 4. The barrier device for a camera according to claim 1, wherein the barrier member is configured by forming a plurality of bendable joint portions. 5. A barrier device capable of covering or exposing at least a part of a camera, wherein the barrier member of the barrier device moves into a pair of upper and lower barrier guide grooves provided on the front surface of the camera. It is configured so that it can be extended and contracted so that the barrier member is extended, and the photographing lens of the camera is exposed in a first position, and the photographing lens is retracted from the front of the photographing lens to the side of the camera. A barrier device for a camera, wherein the barrier device is displaced so as to take a second position.