Water-proof structure of camera

• US 6,574,434 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2001
• Issued: 06/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Muroi, Takashi, Nakano, Toshifumi, Matsuoto, Hideaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Gray, David M.
• Application Number:
  US10/021,725
• Publication Number:
  US 20020085841A1
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• Field of Search: 396/29, 348/81
• US Class Current: 396/29
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/08 Waterproof bodies or housings

Abstract

In a camera to which the present invention is applied, a camera body having a pop-up ST unit attached thereto is sandwiched between front and back covers. A plugged rubber arranged inside the back cover is pressed by a front cover rib provided on the front cover in the state in which the front and back covers are joined to each other, whereby the front and back covers are kept liquid-tight to each other. Moreover, an ST rubber arranged on the periphery of the ST body is pressed by the front cover rib in the state in which the ST body is sandwiched between the front and back covers, whereby the front cover, the back cover, and the ST body are kept liquid-tight to one another. Simultaneously, the ST rubber is pressed by a cover rib provided on the back cover, whereby the back cover and the ST body are kept liquid-tight to each other. Thus, the water-proofing function can be secured among the three members, that is, the front cover, the back cover, and the ST body.

Claims

1. A water-proof structure comprising:

a front cover adapted to cover a front side of a camera body;

a back cover adapted to cover a back side of the camera body;

a sandwiched member adapted to be sandwiched between the front cover and the back cover;

a first water-proofing member that is;

(i) arranged on the back cover, and (ii) pressed by a first protuberant strip provided on the front cover in a state in which the front cover and the back cover are joined to each other whereby the front cover and the back cover are kept liquid-tight to each other; and

a second water-proofing member that is;

(i) arranged on the sandwiched member, (ii) pressed by the first protuberant strip whereby the front cover and the sandwiched member are kept liquid-tight to each other, and (iii) pressed by a second protuberant strip provided on the back cover whereby the back cover and the sandwiched member are kept liquid-tight to each other, in a state in which the sandwiched member is sandwiched between the front cover and the back cover.

2. A water-proof structure according to claim 1, wherein the second water-proofing member has a larger size than the first water-proofing member in a width direction perpendicular to a direction in which the second water-proofing member is pressed by the first and second protuberant strips.

3. A water-proof structure according to claim 2, wherein the second water-proofing member comprises a bent portion that turns around a periphery of the sandwiched member, a first pressed portion extending from the bent portion in a direction in which the front cover and the back cover are joined to each other, and a second pressed portion extending substantially perpendicularly to the direction of joining, and

wherein the first pressed portion is pressed by the first protuberant strip, and the second pressed portion is pressed by the second protuberant strip.

4. A water-proof structure according to claim 3, wherein the first pressed portion and the second pressed portion are provided at different positions in a width direction of the second water-proofing member.

5. A water-proof structure according to claim 1, wherein the first and second water-proofing members comprise elastic members, respectively, and a rigidity of the second water-proofing member is larger than a rigidity of the first water-proofing member.

6. A water-proof structure according to claim 1, wherein the sandwiched member comprises a strobe unit for illuminating a photographic object.

7. A water-proof structure comprising:

a first case having an open end for joining and a first protuberant strip provided on the open end;

a second case adapted to be joined to the first case;

a sandwiched member adapted to be sandwiched between the first and second cases;

a first water-proofing member arranged on the second case and pressed by the first protuberant strip in a state in which the first and second cases are joined to each other; and

a second water-proofing member arranged on the sandwiched member and pressed by the first protuberant strip and a second protuberant strip provided on the second case in a state in which the sandwiched member is sandwiched between the first and second cases.

8. A water-proof structure according to claim 7, wherein the second water-proofing member has a larger size than the first water-proofing member in a width direction perpendicular to a direction in which the second water-proofing member is pressed by the first and second protuberant strips.

9. A water-proof structure according to claim 8, wherein the second water-proofing member comprises a bent portion that turns around a periphery of the sandwiched member, a first pressed portion extending from the bent portion in a direction in which the first case and the second case are joined to each other, and a second pressed portion extending substantially perpendicularly to the direction of joining, and

wherein the first pressed portion is pressed by the first protuberant strip, and the second pressed portion is pressed by the second protuberant strip.

10. A water-proof structure according to claim 9, wherein the first pressed portion and the second pressed portion are provided at different positions in a width direction of the second water-proofing member.

11. A water-proof structure according to claim 7, wherein the first and second water-proofing members comprise elastic member, respectively, and a rigidity of the second water-proofing member is larger than a rigidity of the first water-proofing member.

12. A water-proof structure according to claim 7, wherein the sandwiched member comprises a strobe unit for illuminating a photographic object.

13. A water-proof structure comprising:

a first case having an open end and a first protuberant strip formed on an entire periphery of the open end;

a second case adapted to be joined to the first case;

a sandwiched member adapted to be sandwiched between the first and second cases;

a groove formed on the second case and positioned so as to avoid overlapping the sandwiched member;

a first water-proofing member having a string-shape for keeping the first case and the second case liquid-tight to each other and arranged in the groove, in a state in which the first and second cases are joined to each other;

a second water-proofing member having a ring-shape, turned around a periphery of the sandwiched member, and pressed from three directions by the first protuberant strip on the periphery of the sandwiched member, in a state in which the sandwiched member is sandwiched between the first and second cases; and

a second protuberant strip provided on the second case and pressing the second water-proofing member in a direction different from the three directions,

wherein a gap between the first and second cases is filled with the first water-proofing member to become water-tight, a gap between the first case and the sandwiched member is filled with the second water-proofing member to become water-tight, and a gap between the second case and the sandwiched member is filled with the second water-proofing member to become water-tight.

14. A water-proof structure according to claim 13, wherein both ends of the first water-proofing member are lapped over the second water-proofing member perpendicularly to a direction in which the first and second cases are joined to each other.

15. A water-proof structure according to claim 13, wherein the sandwiched member has a substantially quadrangular shape having four sides, the first protuberant strip presses three of the four sides of the quadrangular shape, and the second protuberant strip presses the fourth side of the quadrangular shape.

16. A water-proof structure according to claim 15, wherein two sides of the sandwiched member substantially parallel to a direction in which the first and second cases are joined to each other incline in a predetermined amount to the direction of joining.

17. A water-proof structure according to claim 13, wherein the second water-proofing member comprises a bent portion, a first pressed portion extending from the bent portion in a direction in which the first case and the second case are joined to each other, and a second pressed portion extending substantially perpendicularly to the direction of joining, and

wherein the first pressed portion is pressed by the first protuberant strip, and the second pressed portion is pressed by the second protuberant strip.

18. A water-proof structure according to claim 17, wherein the second water-proofing member has a larger size than the first water-proofing member in a width direction perpendicular to a direction in which the second water-proofing member is pressed by the first and second protuberant strips, and the first pressed portion and the second pressed portions are located at different positions in a width direction of the second water-proofing member.

19. A water-proof structure according to claim 13, wherein the second protuberant strip is formed by protruding a wall surface having the groove formed thereon.

20. A water-proof structure according to claim 13, wherein the first water-proofing member and the second water-proofing member are pressed by the first and second protuberant strips, so that both ends of the first water-proofing member come into contact with the second water-proofing member.

21. A water-proof structure according to claim 13, wherein the sandwiched member comprises a strobe unit.

22. A water-proof structure according to claim 21, wherein the strobe unit comprises a base stand and a light-emitting section supported in such a manner that the light-emitting section can be retracted into and can be projected from the base stand, and wherein the second water-proofing member is arranged on the base stand.