Waterproof camera housing

• US 5,239,323 A
• Filed: 10/25/1991
• Issued: 08/24/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John D. Johnson
• Original Assignee: John D. Johnson
• Inventors: Johnson, John D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gellner, Michael L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLANKENSHIP, HOWARD BENNETT
• Application Number:
  US07/782,494
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 354/64
• US Class Current: 396/27
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/08 Waterproof bodies or housings

Abstract

A waterproof housing in the form of a generally rectangular collapsible bag made from a flexible waterproof material and which is shaped and dimensioned to accommodate a camera. The bag is provided with a pocket having a lens port and shaped to locate the lens port with respect to the camera lens. Another pocket has a viewing port, and is shaped to locate the viewing port with respect to the camera viewfinder. The pockets are provided with respective reinforcements, in the form of annular collars, to locate positively the lens port and viewing port with respect to the camera lens and viewfinder respectively. The pocket having the viewing port may be a gaiter made from a flexible rubber material, which permits viewing substantially through the operative range of the viewfinder in the operative environment of the camera.

Claims

1. A watertight housing for enclosing a camera, said camera having an extended lens assembly and a viewfinder, said extended lens assembly having a first end at which said extended lens assembly is attached to said camera and a second end through which light is gathered, said viewfinder having a viewing end and being movable through an operative range, said housing comprising:

a main body constructed of a flexible, waterproof material having sufficient flexibility to allow said camera to be operated through said material when said camera is enclosed in said housing;

a first portion projecting from said main body constructed of said flexible, waterproof material, conformingly shaped to follow the contour of said extended lens assembly, having a transparent lens port, and having a reinforcement means to locate positively said lens port with respect to said second end of said extended lens assembly;

a second portion projecting from said main body constructed of said flexible, waterproof material, having a viewing port arranged to permit viewing substantially throughout said operative range of said camera viewfinder, and having a reinforcement means to locate positively said viewing port with respect to said viewing end of said camera viewfinder.

2. A housing as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reinforcement means provided in said first projecting portion is an annular reinforcing collar in which said lens port is retained, said annular reinforcing collar extending inwardly into said first projecting portion to fit over said second end of said extended lens assembly.

3. A housing as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second projecting portion is a curved cylindrical pocket conformingly shaped to accommodate said camera viewfinder, said cylindrical pocket having a first end at which said cylindrical pocket is attached to said main body and a second end at which said viewing port is located.

4. A housing as claimed in claim 3 wherein said second projecting portion is flexible to enable said camera viewfinder to be maneuvered in an arcuate manner.

5. A housing as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reinforcement means provided in said second projecting portion is an annular reinforcing collar in which said viewing port is retained, said annular reinforcing collar fitting over said viewing end of said camera viewfinder.

6. A housing as claimed in claim 5 wherein said viewing port is planar.

7. A housing as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing further comprises straps to enable said camera, when accommodated within said housing, to be carried or otherwise supported.

8. A housing as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing further comprises a suspension shackle to enable said camera, when accommodated within said housing, to be carried or otherwise supported.

9. A housing as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing further comprises a waterproof closure in the form of a waterproof zipper.

10. In combination, a housing as claimed in claim 1 and a camera.