Waterproof case for camera

• US 20020090212A1
• Filed: 01/10/2002
• Published: 07/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Enomoto, Keiji, Shimamura, Takashi
• Granted Patent: US 6,571,056 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/27
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/08 Waterproof bodies or housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings

Abstract

A waterproof case for containing a camera includes a case body configured such that the camera is freely inserted therein and removed therefrom, and an optical system arranged at a part of the case body where a photographic lens of the camera faces. The optical system serves as a conversion lens for the photographic lens.

Claims

1. A waterproof case system for containing a camera, comprising:

a case body configured such that the camera is freely inserted therein and removed therefrom; and

a first optical system arranged at a first part of the case body where a photographic lens of the camera faces, said first optical system including a conversion lens configured to cooperate with the photographic lens.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the optical system is detachably attached to the case body.

3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a second optical system arranged at a second part of the case body where a viewfinder objective lens of the camera faces, said second optical system including a conversion lens configured to cooperate with the viewfinder objective lens.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the first optical system configured to cooperate with the photographic lens and the second optical system configured to cooperate with the viewfinder objective lens are integrally constructed and detachably attached to the case body.

5. The system according to claim 3, further comprising a Fresnel lens having a light distribution property adjusted to a photographing range formed by the first optical system configured to cooperate with the photographic lens and the second optical system configured to cooperate with the viewfinder objective lens, wherein the Fresnel lens is arranged at a third part of the case body corresponding to a flash light emission window of the camera contained in the case body.

6. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a Fresnel lens having a light distribution property adjusted to a photographing range formed by the first optical system configured to cooperate with the photographic lens, wherein the Fresnel lens is arranged at a third part of the case body corresponding to a flash light emission window of the camera contained in the case body.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the first optical system configured to cooperate with the photographic lens and the Fresnel lens are integrally constructed and detachably attached to the case body.

8. The system according to claim 5, wherein the first optical system configured to cooperate with the photographic lens, the second optical system configured to cooperate with the viewfinder objective lens, and the Fresnel lens are integrally constructed and detachably attached to the case body.

9. A waterproof case device for containing a flat binocular type camera, comprising:

a case body configured such that the camera is freely inserted therein and removed therefrom, the case body having a rear opening at a rear part of the case body configured to insert the camera into the case body;

a rear cover configured to be pivotally supported by a first shaft so as to open and close the rear opening of the case body; and

a lock mechanism configured to lock the closed rear cover so that the waterproof case is watertight.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the case body further comprises a side opening at a side part of the case body, wherein

the waterproof case further comprises a side cover configured to be pivotally supported by a second shaft so as to open and close the side opening of the case body, and wherein the first shaft and the second shaft are unitarily formed.

11. A waterproof case device for containing a camera having a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel serving as an operation unit for inputting operational conditions of the camera, the waterproof case comprising:

a case body configured such that the camera is freely inserted therein and removed therefrom; and

a sheet-like transparent member arranged at a part of the case body corresponding to the LCD panel of the camera contained in the case body such that inputting operational conditions of the camera to the LCD panel is performable from outside of the case body through the sheet-like transparent member.

12. The waterproof case device according to claim 11, further comprising a rotatable upper cover configured to cover and uncover the sheet-like transparent member.

13. The waterproof case device according to claim 12, wherein the upper cover includes an optical system configured to magnify display of the LCD panel.

14. The waterproof case device according to claim 11, wherein the sheet-like transparent member includes an optical system configured to magnify a display of the LCD panel.

15. The waterproof case device according to claim 11, wherein the case body includes a holding portion that holds a pen configured to input operational conditions of the camera to the LCD panel.

17. The waterproof case device according to claim 16, wherein the upper cover is detachable from the case body.

18. The waterproof case device according to claim 16, wherein the upper cover is made of a transparent material such that inputting operational conditions of the camera to the LCD panel is performable from outside of the waterproof case through the upper cover.

19. The waterproof case device according to claim 16, wherein the upper cover includes an optical system configured to magnify a display of the LCD panel.

20. The waterproof case device according to claim 16, wherein the upper cover is rotatable to a position where the upper cover does not interfere with a rotation orbit of the LCD panel of the camera contained in the case body.

21. The waterproof case device according to claim 16, wherein the upper cover is rotatable to a position at an approximately 210-degree angle relative to a surface of the part having the opening.

22. The waterproof case device according to claim 16, wherein the case body includes a holding portion that holds a pen configured to input operational conditions of the camera to the LCD panel.

26. The waterproof case device according to claim 25, further comprising means for covering and uncovering the sheet-like transparent member.

27. The waterproof case device according to claim 25, wherein the means for containing includes means for holding a pen configured to input operational conditions of the camera to the LCD panel.

28. The waterproof case device according to claim 26, wherein the means for covering and uncovering includes means for magnifying a display of the LCD panel.

29. The waterproof case device according to claim 25, wherein the sheet-like transparent member includes means for magnifying a display of the LCD panel.

16. A waterproof case for containing a camera having a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel serving as an operation unit for inputting operational conditions of the camera, the waterproof case, comprising:

a case body configured such that the camera is freely inserted therein and removed therefrom, the case body forming an opening at a part corresponding to the LCD panel of the camera contained in the case body; and

a rotatable upper cover configured to open and close the opening of the case body.

23. A waterproof case device for containing a camera, comprising:

means for containing the camera being configured such that the camera is freely inserted therein and removed therefrom; and

means for optical conversion arranged at a part of the means for containing where a photographic lens of the camera faces, said means for optical conversion is configured to cooperate with the photographic lens.

24. A waterproof case device for containing a flat binocular type camera, comprising:

means for containing the camera, the means for containing being configured such that the camera is freely inserted therein and removed therefrom, and having means for inserting the camera into the means for containing, said means for inserting formed at a rear part of the means for containing;

means for opening and closing the means for inserting of the means for containing, the means for opening and closing configured to be pivotally supported by a shaft; and

means for locking the means for opening and closing in a closed position so that the waterproof case is watertight.

25. A waterproof case device for containing a camera having a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel serving as an operation unit for inputting operational conditions of the camera, the waterproof case device comprising:

means for containing the camera, the means for containing being configured such that the camera is freely inserted therein and removed therefrom; and

a sheet-like transparent member arranged at a part of the means for containing corresponding to the LCD panel of the camera contained in the means for containing such that inputting operational conditions of the camera to the LCD panel is performable outside of the means for containing through the sheet-like transparent member.

30. A waterproof case device for containing a camera having a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel serving as an operation unit for inputting operational conditions of the camera, the waterproof case, comprising:

means for containing the camera being configured such that the camera is freely inserted therein and removed therefrom, a part of the means for containing forming an opening formed within a part of the means for containing corresponding to the LCD panel of the camera contained in the means for containing; and

means for opening and closing the opening of the means for containing.

31. The waterproof case device according to claim 30, wherein the means for opening and closing includes means for magnifying a display of the LCD panel.

32. The waterproof case device according to claim 30, wherein the means for containing includes means for holding a pen configured to input operational conditions of the camera to the LCD panel.