Camera

• US 20020015593A1
• Filed: 07/25/2001
• Published: 02/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Inventors: Habe, Masaru, Kai, Tadao, Nishizawa, Akio
• Granted Patent: US 6,567,618 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/419
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/02 Bodies

Abstract

A camera body has grip portions for right-handed users and the left-handed users provided respectively on the right and left sides thereof. A release button to be operated by the right hand is mounted on the side of the grip portion for right-handed users, and a release button to be operated by the left hand is mounted on the side of the grip portion for left-handed users. A ring member is rotatably mounted about a lens-barrel. When the ring member is rotated toward the release button for right-handed users, the release button for right-handed users is enabled, and when it is rotated toward the release button for left-handed users, the release button for left-handed users is enabled.

Claims

1. A camera comprising:

grip portions for right-handed users and for left-handed users provided respectively on the right and left sides of a camera body;

an operating member for right-handed users to be operated while gripping the grip portion for right-handed users;

an operating member for left-handed users to be operated while gripping the grip portion for left-handed users;

a switching mechanism for selectively enables either one of said operating member for right-handed users and said operating member for left-handed users.

2. A camera as set forth in claim 1, wherein said switching mechanism includes a switching operation member to be operated in the opposing first and second directions, and said operating member for right-handed users is enabled when said switch operating member is operated in the first direction, whereas said operating member for left-handed users is enabled when said switching operation member is operated in said second direction.

3. A camera as set forth in claim 2, wherein said first direction is an operating direction toward said operating member for right-handed users and said second direction is an operating direction toward said operating member for left-handed users.

4. A camera as set forth in claim 3, wherein said switching mechanism further comprises a blocking member for disabling said operating member for left-handed users when said switching operation member is operated in the first direction and for disabling said operating member for right-handed users when said switching operation member is operated in the second direction.

5. A camera as set forth in claim 2, wherein said switching mechanism further comprises a power switch interlocked with said switching operation member, and said power switch takes the first state to output the electrical signals corresponding to the operation of said operating member for right-handed users and to prohibit the output of any electrical signal corresponding to the operation of the operating member for left-handed users when said operating member for right-handed users is operated under the situation where the switching operation member has been operated in the first direction, whereas the power switch takes the second state to output the electrical signals corresponding to the operation of said operating member for left-handed users and to prohibit the output of any electrical signal corresponding to the operation of said operating member for right-handed users when said operating member for left-handed users is operated under the situation where said switching operation member has been operated in the second direction.

6. A camera as set forth in claim 5, wherein said first direction is an operating direction toward said operating member for right-handed users and said second direction is an operating direction toward said operating member for left-handed users.

7. A camera as set forth in claim 2, wherein said switching operation member is fixed with a flash unit so that it moves toward said operating member for left-handed users when said switching operation member is operated in the first direction and moves toward said operating member for right-handed users when said switching operation member is operated in the second direction.

8. A camera as set forth in claim 1, wherein said camera further comprises a view finder provided between said operating member for right-handed users and the operating member for left-handed users.

9. A camera as set forth in claim 1, wherein each heavy part such as a battery, a capacitor and/or a motor is disposed at the center in the camera body.

10. A camera as set forth in claim 2, wherein said switching operation member is a ring member rotatably mounted about a lens-barrel.

11. A camera as set forth in claim 4, wherein said switching operation member is a ring member rotatably mounted about a lens-barrel and includes said blocking member integrally formed therewith.

12. A camera as set forth in claim 4, wherein said blocking member covers said operating member for left-handed users when said switching operation member is operated in said first direction, and covers said operating member for right-handed users when said switching operation member is operated in said second direction.

14. A camera as set forth in claim 13, wherein said prohibiting means includes a blocking means for disabling said operating member for left-handed users when said switching operation member is operated in the first direction, and disabling said operating member for right-handed users when said switching operation member is operated in said second direction.

15. A camera as set forth in claim 14, wherein said first direction is an operating direction toward said operating member for right-handed users and said second direction is an operating direction toward said operating member for left-handed users.

16. A camera as set forth in claim 13, wherein said prohibiting means includes a power switch interlocked with said switching operation member, and said power switch takes the first state to output the electrical signals corresponding to the operation of said operating member for right-handed users when said operating member for right-handed users is operated under the situation where the switching operation member has been operated in the first direction, whereas the power switch takes the second state to output the electrical signals corresponding to the operation of said operating member for left-handed users when said operating member for left-handed users is operated under the situation where said switching operation member has been operated in the second direction.

17. A camera as set forth in claim 16, wherein said first direction is an operating direction toward said operating member for right-handed users and said second direction is an operating direction toward said operating member for left-handed users.

18. A camera as set forth in claim 13, wherein said switching operation member is fixed with a flash unit so that it moves toward said operating member for right-handed users when said switching operation member is operated in the first direction and moves toward said operating member for left-handed users when said switching operation member is operated in the second direction.

19. A camera as set forth in claim 13, wherein said camera further comprises a view finder disposed between said operating member for right-handed users and said operating member for left-handed users.

20. A camera as set forth in claim 13, wherein each heavy part such as a battery, a capacitor, and/or a motor is disposed at the center in the camera body.

21. A camera as set forth in claim 13, wherein said switching operation member is a ring member rotatably mounted about a lens-barrel.

22. A camera as set forth in claim 14, wherein said switching operation member is a ring member rotatably mounted about a lens-barrel and includes said blocking member integrally formed therewith.

23. A camera as set forth in claim 14, wherein said blocking member covers said operating member for left-handed users when said switching operation member is operated in said first direction, and covers said operating member for right-handed users when said switching operation member is operated in said second direction.

13. A camera comprising:

a grip portions for right-handed users and for left-handed users provided respectively on the right and left sides of a camera body;

an operating member for right-handed users to be operated while gripping said grip portion for right-handed users;

an operating member for left-handed users to be operated while gripping said grip portion for left-handed users;

a switching operation member to be operated in the first and second directions for selectively enabling either one of said operating member for right-handed users and said operating member for left-handed users; and

prohibiting means interlocked with the switching operation of said switching operation member for prohibiting the operation of either one of the operating member for right-handed users and the operating member for left-handed users that is not selected.