Waterproof protector device and waterproof protector system using the same

• US 20050115852A1
• Filed: 11/19/2004
• Published: 06/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Funahashi, Koji, Ohira, Seiichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,194,202 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/316.200
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/08 Waterproof bodies or housings

Abstract

A waterproof protector system comprises a body protector which stores a camera body, a first port member to be attached to the body protector, and a second port member to be attached to the first port member. The body protector is formed having a first opening portion. The first port member has a second opening portion to be fitted in the first opening portion, a third opening portion larger in diameter than the second opening portion, and a conical barrel portion formed between the second opening portion and the third opening portion. The first port member houses an accessory member, such as a wide-conversion lens. The second port member has a fourth opening portion, fittable in the third opening portion, and a light transmitting portion.

Claims

1. A waterproof protector system for a camera, comprising:

a body protector which has an opening opposed to a front face of a camera lens of a camera body and a first opening portion provided around the opening and can store the camera body in a waterproof manner;

a first port member which has a second opening portion connectable to the first opening portion, a third opening portion located nearer to a subject than the second opening portion and larger than the second opening portion, and a conical barrel portion connecting the second opening portion and the third opening portion, can store an accessory member attachable to the camera body or the camera lens, and allows the accessory member to be attached to and detached from the camera body from outside the body protector with the first port member connected to the body protector; and

a second port member which has a fourth opening portion connectable to the third opening portion, a light transmitting portion provided on the side of the subject opposite the fourth opening portion with respect to the optical axis direction, and a barrel portion connecting the fourth opening portion and the light transmitting portion, and covers the third opening portion with the fourth opening portion connected to the third opening portion, thereby waterproofing respective inside spaces of the body protector and the first port member.

2. A waterproof protector system for a camera according to claim 1, wherein waterproof seal members are arranged between the first opening portion and the second opening portion and between the third opening portion and the fourth opening portion, individually.

3. A waterproof protector system for a camera according to claim 1, wherein the accessory member can be attached to and detached from the camera body with the first port member attached to the body protector and with the second port member not attached to the first port member.

4. A waterproof protector system for a camera according to claim 1, wherein the accessory member can be attached to and detached from the camera lens with the first port member attached to the body protector and with the second port member not attached to the first port member.

5. A waterproof protector system for a camera according to claim 3, wherein the accessory member is a wide-conversion lens.

6. A waterproof protector system for a camera according to claim 4, wherein the accessory member is a wide-conversion lens.

7. A waterproof protector system for a camera according to claim 6, wherein the outside diameter of a rear end portion of the wide-conversion lens with respect to the optical axis direction is smaller than the diameter of the first opening portion, and the outside diameter of a front end portion of the lens with respect to the optical axis direction is larger than the diameter of the first opening portion.

8. A waterproof protector system for a camera according to claim 1, wherein a standard port can be attached to the first opening portion of the body protector when the first port member is removed from the first opening portion.

9. A waterproof protector system for a camera according to claim 1, further comprising a third port member which is replaceable with the first port member to be attached to the body protector, has a fifth opening portion connectable to the first opening portion, a light transmitting portion provided on the side of the subject opposite the fifth opening portion with respect to the optical axis direction, and a barrel portion connecting the fifth opening portion and the light transmitting portion, the camera lens being movable in the barrel portion, and covers the first opening portion with the fifth opening portion connected to the first opening portion, thereby waterproofing respective inside spaces of the body protector and the third port member.

10. A waterproof protector system for a camera according to claim 1, further comprising a camera housed in the body protector.

11. A waterproof protector system for a camera according to claim 1, further comprising an accessory member attachable to the front face of the camera lens.

12. A waterproof protector system for a camera, comprising:

a body protector which has an opening opposed to a front face of a camera lens of a camera body and a first opening portion provided around the opening and can store the camera body in a waterproof manner; and

a standard port which has an opening portion connectable to the first opening portion, a light transmitting portion provided on the side of a subject opposite the opening portion with respect to the optical axis direction, and a barrel portion connecting the opening portion and the light transmitting portion, the camera lens being movable in the barrel portion, and covers the first opening portion with the opening portion connected to the first opening portion, thereby waterproofing respective inside spaces of the body protector and the standard port.

13. A waterproof protector system for a camera, comprising:

a body protector which has an opening opposed to a front face of a camera lens of a camera body and a first opening portion provided around the opening and can store the camera body in a waterproof manner;

a first port which has an opening portion connectable to the first opening portion, a light transmitting portion provided on the side of a subject opposite the opening portion with respect to the optical axis direction, and a barrel portion connecting the opening portion and the light transmitting portion, the camera lens being movable in the barrel portion, and covers the first opening portion with the opening portion connected to the first opening portion, thereby waterproofing respective inside spaces of the body protector and the port; and

a second port which is different from the first port, is replaceable with the first port to be attached to the body protector, and has an opening connectable to the first opening portion and a barrel portion extending from the opening portion toward the subject in the optical axis direction and having an open front end, the open front end allowing an accessory member to be attached to and detached from a distal end of the camera lens.

14. A waterproof protector device for a camera, comprising:

a body protector which has an opening opposed to a front face of a camera lens of a camera body and a first opening portion provided around the opening and can store the camera body in a waterproof manner;

a first port member which has a second opening portion connectable to the first opening portion, a third opening portion located nearer to a subject than the second opening portion and larger than the second opening portion, and a conical barrel portion connecting the second opening portion and the third opening portion, and can store an accessory member attachable to the camera body or the camera lens; and

a second port member which has a fourth opening portion connectable to the third opening portion, a light transmitting portion provided on the side of the subject opposite the fourth opening portion with respect to the optical axis direction, and a barrel portion connecting the fourth opening portion and the light transmitting portion, and covers the third opening portion with the fourth opening portion connected to the third opening portion, thereby waterproofing respective inside spaces of the body protector and the first port member.

15. A waterproof protector device for a camera according to claim 14, wherein waterproof seal members are arranged between the first opening portion and the second opening portion and between the third opening portion and the fourth opening portion, individually.

16. A waterproof protector device for a camera according to claim 14, wherein the accessory member can be attached to and detached from the camera body with the first port member attached to the body protector and with the second port member not attached to the first port member.

17. A waterproof protector device for a camera according to claim 14, wherein the accessory member can be attached to and detached from the camera lens with the first port member attached to the body protector and with the second port member not attached to the first port member.

18. A waterproof protector device for a camera according to claim 16, wherein the accessory member is a wide-conversion lens.

19. A waterproof protector device for a camera according to claim 17, wherein the accessory member is a wide-conversion lens.

20. A waterproof protector device for a camera according to claim 19, wherein the outside diameter of a rear end portion of the wide-conversion lens with respect to the optical axis direction is smaller than the diameter of the first opening portion, and the outside diameter of a front end portion of the lens with respect to the optical axis direction is larger than the diameter of the first opening portion.

21. A waterproof protector device for a camera according to claim 14, further comprising a third port member which is replaceable with the first port member to be attached to the body protector, has a fifth opening portion connectable to the first opening portion, a light transmitting portion provided on the side of the subject opposite the fifth opening portion with respect to the optical axis direction, and a barrel portion connecting the fifth opening portion and the light transmitting portion, the camera lens being movable in the barrel portion, and covers the first opening portion with the fifth opening portion connected to the first opening portion, thereby waterproofing respective inside spaces of the body protector and the third port member.

22. A waterproof protector device for a camera, comprising:

a body protector which has an opening opposed to a front face of a camera lens of a camera body and a first opening portion provided around the opening and can store the camera body in a waterproof manner; and

a standard port which has an opening portion connectable to the first opening portion, a light transmitting portion provided on the side of a subject opposite the opening portion with respect to the optical axis direction, and a barrel portion connecting the opening portion and the light transmitting portion, the camera lens being movable in the barrel portion, and covers the first opening portion with the opening portion connected to the first opening portion, thereby waterproofing respective inside spaces of the body protector and the standard port.