Waterproof camera

• US 5,177,515 A
• Filed: 07/29/1991
• Issued: 01/05/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Inventors: Tsukamoto, Masaaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Gellner, Michael L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gray, David M.
• Application Number:
  US07/737,027
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 354/64
• US Class Current: 396/27
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/08 Waterproof bodies or housings
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/14 interchangeably

Abstract

In a waterproof camera system of the type comprising a waterproof camera comprising a camera mechanism assembly (1) incorporated in a waterproof outer box (4) and a waterproof interchangeable lens (10) comprising an inner cylinder (11) and a waterproof outer cylinder (12) in which is housed said inner cylinder, the outer box is provided with an outer mount (6) and a circular opening (4A) is formed through a wall of said outer mount in coaxial relationship therewith and adjacent thereto. The camera mechanism assembly is provided with an inner mount (5). A first O-ring (15) is fitted over the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder which in turn is connected to the outer mount by means of bayonets. The inner cylinder is connected to the inner mount by means of bayonets. A second O-ring (8) is fitted over the peripheral surface of the inner mount which in turn is press-fitted into the circular opening in such a manner that the outer peripheral surface of the inner mount is made in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the circular opening. Thus, the waterproof camera in accordance with the present invention is characterized in that the waterproof type interchangeable lens and the waterproof camera are sealed from the intrusion of water. In addition, the camera mechanism assembly is positioned by the circular opening.

Claims

1. A waterproof camera of the type comprising a camera mechanism assembly, a waterproof outer box in which is incorporated said camera mechanism assembly and a waterproof type interchangeable lens which is detachably mounted in said outer box, further comprising:

a first space between said outer box and said interchangeable lens when said interchangeable lens is mounted in said outer box;

a first sealing member in the form of a ring fitted into said first space, said first sealing member preventing water exterior of said outer box from intruding into said outer box through said first space;

a second space between said first space and said camera mechanism assembly;

a second sealing member in the form of a ring fitted into said second space, thereby preventing the intrusion into said camera mechanism assembly of water passing through said first sealing member.

2. A waterproof camera of the type comprising a camera mechanism assembly, a waterproof outer box in which is incorporated said camera mechanism assembly and a waterproof type interchangeable lens which is detachably mounted in said outer box, further comprising:

an aperture formed through a wall of said outer box;

a mount securely attached to said camera mechanism assembly, said mount being in the form of a cylinder having a first engagement member at an inner peripheral surface thereof;

a space between an outer peripheral surface of said mount and an inner peripheral surface of said aperture; and

an elastic member fitted into said space and imparting a uniform biasing force to the whole outer periphery of said mount so that the space becomes uniform around the whole outer peripheral surface thereof, thereby determining the position of said mount relative to said outer box;

said interchangeable lens including a cylinder having a lens element fitted therein in contact with an inner peripheral surface thereof and having a second engagement member formed around an outer peripheral surface thereof, said cylinder of said lens being attached to said mount by engagement of said first engagement member with said second engagement member.

3. A waterproof camera system of the type comprising a camera mechanism assembly, a waterproof outer box in which is incorporated said camera mechanism assembly and a waterproof type interchangeable lens which is detachably mounted in said outer box, further comprising:

a first sealing member adapted to be forcedly fitted between said outer box and said interchangeable lens in order to prevent water from intruding into the exterior of said outer box through a space between said outer box and said interchangeable lens, and

a second sealing member adapted to be forcedly fitted between said outer box and said camera mechanism assembly in order to prevent the intrusion into said camera mechanism assembly of water passing through said first sealing member.

4. A waterproof camera system of the type according to claim 3, wherein said interchangeable lens includes an inner cylinder in which a lens element is fitted tightly and a waterproof outer cylinder incorporating therein said inner cylinder, and wherein said first sealing member is forcedly fitted between said outer box and said outer cylinder.

5. A waterproof camera system of the type comprising a camera mechanism assembly, a waterproof outer box in which is incorporated said camera mechanism assembly and a waterproof type interchangeable lens which is detachably mounted in said outer box, further comprising:

an aperture formed through a wall of said outer box;

an outer mount formed on said outer box and positioned near said aperture;

a first elastic member disposed between said outer mount and said interchangeable lens in order to determine the position of said interchangeable lens relative to said outer mount by imparting a uniform biasing force to said outer mount; and

a second elastic member positioned between said aperture and said camera mechanism assembly in order to determine the position of said camera mechanism assembly relative to said aperture by imparting a uniform biasing force to said aperture.

6. A waterproof camera system according to claim 5, wherein said interchangeable lens includes an inner cylinder in which a lens element is fitted tightly and a waterproof outer cylinder incorporating therein said inner cylinder, and wherein said camera mechanism assembly is provided with an inner mount for attaching thereon said inner cylinder, said first elastic member is disposed between said outer mount and said outer cylinder and said second elastic member is positioned between said aperture and said inner mount.

7. A waterproof camera of the type comprising a camera mechanism assembly, a waterproof outer box in which is incorporated said camera mechanism assembly and a waterproof type interchangeable lens which is detachably mounted in said outer box, further comprising:

an aperture formed through a wall of said outer box; and

an elastic member disposed between an inner periphery of said aperture and said camera mechanism assembly and determining the position of said camera mechanism assembly relative to said aperture by imparting a uniform biasing force to said aperture.

8. A waterproof camera according to claim 7, wherein said interchangeable lens includes an inner cylinder in which a lens element is fitted tightly and a waterproof outer cylinder incorporating therein said inner cylinder, and wherein said camera mechanism assembly is provided with a mount for attaching thereon said inner cylinder and said elastic member is disposed between said inner periphery of said aperture and an outer periphery of said mount.