Lens barrel structure for waterproof camera

• US 5,056,903 A
• Filed: 03/29/1989
• Issued: 10/15/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Nagata, Shigeru, Nakamura, Ikushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Arnold, Bruce Y.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, THONG Q
• Application Number:
  US07/330,134
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• Field of Search: 350/577-589, 350/245-257, 350/429, 354/64, 354/83, 354/158, 354/187, 354/193-194
• US Class Current: 359/513
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/021 for more than one lens
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/08 Waterproof bodies or housings
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2217/265 Details of light-proofing

Abstract

A lens barrel for a waterproof or dustproof camera which can assure maintenance of a reliable liquid-tight or airtight condition between a movable lens barrel member and a fixed lens barrel member with a structure of a comparatively small size. The lens barrel comprises a fixed lens barrel member provided on a camera body, a movable lens barrel member mounted for movement on the fixed member between a position advanced outwardly from the camera body and another position retracted in the camera body, and a bellows member secured at an end thereof to an inner periphery of a rear portion of the movable member and at the other thereof to an inner periphery of a rear portion of the fixed member. The bellows member is folded back at an intermediate portion thereof between the movable member and the fixed member in such a manner as to surround a rear end of the movable member, and the folded back portion moves as the movable member is moved between the retracted position and the advanced position.

Claims

1. A lens barrel for a camera, comprising:

a fixed barrel provided on a body of said camera;

a movable barrel having at least a part of an optical system of said camera carried thereon and fitted for movement inside said fixed barrel between a first position advanced outwardly from said camera body and a second position retracted into said camera body; and

a bellows member of a tube shape secured at a whole end thereof to a periphery of a rear portion of said movable barrel so as to extend rearwardly therefrom and at the other whole end thereof to an inner periphery of a rear portion of said fixed barrel so as to extend rearwardly thereform, said bellows member being folded back at an intermediate portion thereof in such a manner that said bellows member surrounds a rear end of said movable barrel when said movable barrel is in said second position.

2. A lens barrel for a camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein said camera is a waterproof camera and said bellows member comprises a waterproof bellows member, and wherein said ends of said waterproof bellows member are secured to said movable and fixed barrels in a watertight manner.

3. A lens barrel for a camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein said camera is a dustproof camera and said bellows member comprises a dustproof bellows member, and wherein said ends of said dustproof bellows member are secured to said movable and fixed barrels in a dust-tight manner.

4. A lens barrel for a camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bellows member is formed of a light intercepting material for preventing stray light from entering into said camera.

8. A lens barrel for a camera as claimed in claim 4 wherein said bellows member is formed of a light intercepting material for preventing stray light from entering into said camera.

5. A lens barrel for a camera, comprising;

a fixed barrel provided on a body of said camera;

a movable barrel having at least a part of an optical system of said camera carried thereon and fitted for movement on and with respect to said fixed barrel between a first position advanced outwardly from said camera body and a second position retracted into said camera body; and

a bellows member of a tube shape secured at a whole end thereof to a periphery of a rear portion of said movable barrel so as to extend rearwardly therefrom and at the other whole end thereof to a periphery of a rear portion of said fixed barrel so as to extend rearwardly therefrom, said bellows member being folded back at an intermediate portion thereof.

6. A lens barrel for a camera as claimed in claim 5 wherein said camera is a waterproof camera and said bellows member comprises a waterproof bellows member, and wherein said ends of said waterproof bellows member are secured to said movable and fixed barrels in a watertight manner.

7. A lens barrel for a camera as claimed in claim 5 wherein said camera is a dustproof camera and said bellows member comprises a dustproof bellows member, and wherein said ends of said dustproof bellows member are secured to said movable and fixed barrels in a dust-tight manner.