Video tape recorder having built-in camera detachable hand grip member

• US 5,157,512 A
• Filed: 08/26/1991
• Issued: 10/20/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ohshima, Eiji, Morikawa, Masayoshi, Inada, Shinsaku, Io, Hideaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Young, Wayne R.
• Application Number:
  US07/751,650
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 358/335, 358/906, 358/909, 360/6, 360/33.1, 369/53, 354/288 A-288 F, 354/288 H, 354/288 M, 354/288 P, 354/288 V
• US Class Current: 386/358
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 31/006 with video camera or receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 358/906 Hand-held camera with recorder in a single unit

Abstract

A combination video tape recorder and camera includes a main body having a video tape recorder and a television camera, and a separable hand grip secureable to a side wall of the main body. The hand grip carries a view finder for the camera and a battery for supplying operational power to the video tape recorder and the television camera.

Claims

1. A video tape recorder having a built-in camera comprising:

a) a main body member containing a video tape recorder and a television camera;

b) a hand grip member;

c) quick disconnect coupling means for detachably mounting said hand grip member to a side wall of said main body member; and

d) means for locking said quick disconnect coupling means, said means for locking being releasble by a lever that is accessible from the exterior of said hand grip member, said hand grip member carrying a view finder and a battery for supplying operational power to said video tape recorder and said television camera;

e) wherein said view finder of said hand grip member is an optical type view finder which incorporates means displaying the operational status of video tape recorder and the television camera in said optical type view finder; and

f) wherein indicators for the operational status are mounted on said main body member, and light guide means are provided whereby light from said indicators are fed to said optical type view finder.

2. A video tape recorder having a built-in camera comprising:

a) a main body member containing a video tape recorder and a television camera;

b) a hand grip member;

c) quick disconnect coupling means for detachably mounting said hand grip member to a side wall of said main body member; and

d) means for locking said quick disconnect coupling means, said means for locking being releasable by a lever that is accessible from the exterior of said grip member, said hand grip member carrying a view finder and a battery for supplying operational power to said video tape recorder and said television camera;

e) wherein contact means is provided on said main body member and said hand grip member for electrically connecting said main body member and hand grip members when said hand grip member is mounted on said side wall of the main body member;

f) wherein indicators for the operational status of the video tape recorder and the televison camera are mounted on said main body member, and wherein light guide means are provided whereby light from said indicators are fed to said view finder.

3. A video recorder having a built-in camera comprising:

a) a main body containing a video tape recorder and a television camera;

b) a hand grip member;

c) quick disconnect coupling means for detachably mounting said hand grip member to a side wall of said main body member; and

d) means for locking said quick disconnect coupling means, said means for locking being releasable by a lever that is accessible from the exterior of said hand grip member, said hand grip member carrying a view finder and a battery for supplying operational power to said video tape recorder and said television camera;

e) said main body member including a slidable lens cover mounted at a front wall thereof, said lens cover being open for camera use;

f) wherein said lens cover is coupled to a switch contact, and wherein the switch contact provides a signal indicating that the lens cover is open.

4. A video tape recorder as recited in claim 3, wherein said view finder of the hand grip member is an optical type view finder.

5. A video tape recorder having a built-in camera comprising:

a) a main body member containing a video tape recorder and a television camera;

b) a hand grip member;

c) quick disconnect coupling means for detachably mounting said hand grip member to a side wall of said main body member; and

d) means for locking said quick disconnect coupling means, said means for locking being releasable by a lever that is accessible from the exterior of said hand grip member, said hand grip member carrying a view finder and a battery for supplying operational power to said video tape recorder and said television camera;

e) said detachable mounting means comprising a plurality of spaced hook elements on one of said members and cooperating recesses on the other of said members, and at least one blocking piece carried by one of said members, said blocking piece being spring biased into engagement with a respective hook element when said hook element is within element cooperating recess to prevent disengagement of all of said hook elements from their respective recesses.

6. A video tape recorder having a built-in camera comprising:

a) a main body member containing a video tape recorder and a television camera;

b) a hand grip member;

c) quick disconnect coupling means for detachably mounting said hand grip member to a side wall of said main body member; and

d) means for locking said quick disconnect coupling means, said means for locking being releasable by a lever that is accessible from the exterior of said hand grip member, said hand grip member carrying a view finder and a battery for supplying operational power to said video tape recorder and said television camera;

e) the lens of said television camera being adjustable and said main body member including a slidable lens cover mounted at a front wall thereof, said lens cover being open for camera use and upon closing returns said lens to a desired position.

7. A video tape recorder having a built-in camera comprising:

a) a main body member having a video tape recorder and a television camera;

b) a hand grip member;

c) means for detachably mounting said hand grip member to a side wall of said main body member, said means for detachably mounting having a plurality of spaced hook elements on one of said members and cooperating recesses on the other of said members, and at least one blocking piece carried by one of said members, said blocking piece being spring biased into engagement with a respective hook element when said hook element is within said cooperating recess to prevent disengagement of all of said hook elements from their respective recesses; and

d) means for locking said means for detachably mounting, said hand grip member carrying a view finder and a battery for supplying operational power to said video tape recorder and said television camera.

8. A video tape recorder having a built-in camera comprising:

a) a main body member having a video tape recorder and a television camera, said television camera having an adjustable lens, and a slideable lens cover mounted at a front wall of said main body member, said lens cover being open for camera use and upon closing returns said lens to a desired position;

b) a hand grip member;

c) means for detachably mounting said hand grip member to a side wall of said main body member; and

d) means for locking said means for detachably mounting, said hand grip member carrying a view finder and a battery for supplying operational power to said video tape recorder and said television camera.

9. A video tape recorder having a built-in camera comprising:

a main body member having a video tape recorder and a television camera;

a hand grip member;

means for detachably mounting said hand grip member to a side wall of said main body, said hand grip member carrying a view finder and a battery for supplying operational power to said video tape recorder and said television camera, said view finder of said hand grip member being an optical type view finder having a means for displaying the operational status of the video tape recorder on the television camera in said optical type view finder and

said means for displaying having indicators for the operational status which are mounted on said main body member and light guide means are provided whereby light from said indicators are fed to said optical type view finder.

10. A video tape recorder having a built-in camera comprising:

a main body member having a video tape recorder and a television camera;

a hand grip member;

means for detachably mounting said hand grip member to a side wall of said main body member, said hand grip member carrying a view finder and a battery for supplying operational power to said video tape recorder and said television camera;

contact means on said main body member and said hand grip member for electrically connecting said main body member and hand grip member when said hand grip member is mounted on said side wall of the main body member; and

indicators for the operational status of the video tape recorder and the television camera, said indicators being mounted on said body member; and

light guide means for guiding light from said indicators to said view finder.

11. A video tape recorder having a built-in camera comprising:

a main body member having a video tape recorder and a television camera;

a hand grip member;

means for detachably mounting said hand grip member to a side wall of said main body member, said hand grip member carrying a view finder and a battery for supplying operational power to said video tape recorder and said television camera;

a slidable lens cover mounted at a front wall of said main body member, said lens cover being open for camera use and being coupled to a switch contact wherein the switch contact provides a signal indicating that the lens cover is open.

12. A video tape recorder as recited in claim 11, wherein said view finder of said hand member is an optical type view finder.