Underwater camera combination

• US 20070115387A1
• Filed: 11/21/2005
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kenneth Ho
• Original Assignee: Kenneth Ho
• Inventors: Ho, Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US11/282,767
• Publication Number:
  US 20070115387A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/375
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/38 Camera cases, e.g. of ever-ready type
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/008 for making water- or air-tight
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/08 Waterproof bodies or housings

Abstract

There is disclosed a snug, form fitting skin for a camera to protect against trauma like dust, dirt, scratches and water. There is additionally disclosed a rigid housing for such skin-encased camera.

Claims

1. A waterproof digital camera combination, comprising:

(a) a digital camera with a plurality of function members, a viewing screen and a front lens;

(b) a synthetic skin that encases said camera by snugly fitting around said camera to provide a water-tight enclosure thereof and is of a thickness and elasticity to allow said functions buttons to be operated by a user pressing the corresponding portion of said skin.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said skin has a lens port to accommodate said camera front lens.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein said skin has a transparent portion corresponding to said viewing screen.

4. The combination of claim 3, wherein said skin transparent portion is a transparent plate that is removably inserted within said skin in a water-tight relationship therewith.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein said skin transparent portion has a hole with a grooved perimeter for releasably accepting said transparent plate.

6. The combination of claim 5, wherein said skin transparent portion is dimensioned so that when said plate is removed, the camera can be inserted therethrough and removed therethrough.

7. The combination of claim 6, wherein one of said camera function members is a button operated by horizontal movement, and said skin has a member that is manipulable by the user for translating that manipulation, by a friction-fit, to said camera function button.

8. The combination of claim 7, wherein said camera function member is a rotatable dial.

9. The combination of claim 8, wherein said camera function member is a slide button.

10. The combination of claim 1, wherein said skin is colored.

11. The combination of claims 1, wherein said skin is darkly colored around said lens port (to reduce reflection from flash).

12. The combination of claim 11, further comprising a rigid, waterproof housing that accepts said digital camera encased by said skin.

13. The combination of claim 12, wherein said housing has means for actuating one of said camera function members.

14. The combination of claim 13, wherein said actuating means is a spring-loaded for depressing said one camera function member through said skin.

15. The combination of claim 14, wherein said housing comprises a front half portion and a back half portion that are hinged at one side and are releasably fastenable at the other side to create a water-tight seal.

16. The combination of claim 15, wherein said housing back half portion has a plastic ring that presses on said skin plate when said front and back half portions are fastened together, to ensure a water-tight fit.

17. The combination of claim 15, wherein said housing front half portion has a soft semi-rigid hood that accepts said camera lens port in a water-tight relationship.

18. The combination of claim 17, wherein said hood is dark.

19. The method of protecting a digital camera with a back viewing window, comprising the step of:

(a) encasing the camera with a snug, form-fitting silicon skin.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the further step of:

(b) providing said skin with a hole through which the camera can be inserted and later removed, and with a transparent plate to fill said hole in a water-tight relationship that aligns with said window back viewing window.