Waterproof housing compatible for a plurality of cameras

• US 7,352,961 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2004
• Issued: 04/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Funahashi, Koji, Watanabe, Shinichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Perkey; W. B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SUTHAR, RISHI S
• Application Number:
  US10/887,447
• Publication Number:
  US 20060008262A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,363 Days
• Field of Search: 348/81, 396/25, 396/27, 396/29, 206/316.2
• US Class Current: 396/27
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/08 Waterproof bodies or housings

Abstract

A system includes a plurality of cameras and a waterproof housing. The plurality of cameras include a first camera including a first operating member, a second camera including a second operating member which is superposed to the position of the first operating member in the waterproof housing upon storing the second camera in the waterproof housing. The waterproof housing can store whichever one of the first camera and the second camera. The waterproof housing includes a third operating member and a fourth operating member. The third operating member operates the first operating member upon storing the first camera in the waterproof housing, and the fourth operating member operates the second operating member upon storing the second camera.

Claims

1. A system comprising a plurality of cameras and a waterproof housing, the system comprising:

a first camera comprising a first operating member having a position within the waterproof housing when the first camera is accommodated, in a waterproof manner, in the waterproof housing;

a second camera comprising a second operating member having a position which is superposed to the position of the first operating member in the waterproof housing when the second camera is accommodated, in a waterproof manner, in the waterproof housing,

wherein the first and second operating members have different specifications but perform the same operation; and

the waterproof housing comprising

a third operating member which operates the first operating member when the first camera is accommodated, in a waterproof manner, in the waterproof housing and

a fourth operating member which operates the second operating member when the second camera is accommodated, in a waterproof manner, in the waterproof housing.

2. A system comprising a plurality of cameras and a waterproof housing according to claim 1, further comprising:

locking means which sets the fourth operating member to be inoperable upon operating the third operating member.

3. A system comprising a plurality of cameras and a waterproof housing according to claim 1, wherein when the third operating member is operated, the third operating member is at a locking position for setting the fourth operating member to be inoperable.

4. A system comprising a plurality of cameras and a waterproof housing according to claim 1, wherein the first operating member is a press button and the second operating member is a slide knob.

5. A system comprising a plurality of cameras and a waterproof housing according to claim 2, wherein the first operating member is a press button and the second operating member is a slide knob.

6. A system comprising a plurality of cameras and a waterproof housing according to claim 1, wherein the third operating member is a press member arranged to the waterproof housing, and the fourth operating member is a rotating member which engages a linear movement member which converts the rotation of the rotating member into the linear movement, arranged to the waterproof housing.

7. A system comprising a plurality of cameras and a waterproof housing according to claim 1, further comprising:

non-operation holding means which is arranged to the waterproof housing and sets the third operating member to be inoperable.

8. A system comprising a plurality of cameras and a waterproof housing according to claim 7, wherein the non-operation holding means is a click device.

9. A system comprising a plurality of cameras and a waterproof housing,

the plurality of cameras having varied specifications and different types of power-ON switches, and

the waterproof housing which can arbitrarily accommodate, in a waterproof manner, any one of the plurality of cameras and comprising a single set of mechanical operating members that can operate, mechanically, the different types of power-ON switches of all of the plurality of cameras.

25. The system of claim 9 wherein the different types of power-ON switches include a slide switch and a press switch.

10. A system comprising a plurality of cameras and a waterproof housing,

the plurality of cameras comprising:

a first camera comprising a first operating member having a position within the waterproof housing when the first camera is accommodated, in a waterproof manner, in the waterproof housing;

a second camera comprising a second operating member having a position which is superposed to the position of the first operating member in the waterproof housing when the second camera is accommodated, in a waterproof manner, in the waterproof housing,

wherein the first and second operating members have different specifications but perform the same operation; and

the waterproof housing comprising;

first means which operates the first operating member when the first camera is accommodated, in a waterproof manner, in the waterproof housing; and

second means which operates the second operating member when the second camera is accommodated, in a waterproof manner, in the waterproof housing.

11. A waterproof housing for camera storage, comprising:

a single set of mechanical operating members which can arbitrarily operate, mechanically, different types of power-ON switches of any one of a plurality of cameras,

wherein the waterproof housing can arbitrarily accommodate, in a waterproof manner, any one of the plurality of cameras having different specifications, and different types of power-ON switches.

24. The waterproof housing of claim 11 further comprising a display window portion for allowing a user to view objects to be photographed.

26. The waterproof housing of claim 11 wherein the different types of power-ON switches include a slide switch and a press switch.

12. A waterproof housing for camera storage, wherein,

a first camera comprising a first operating member having a position in the waterproof housing when the first camera is stored, in a waterproof manner, in the waterproof housing and a second camera comprising a second operating member having a position, when the second camera is stored, in a waterproof manner, in the waterproof housing, which is superposed to the position of the first operating member in the waterproof housing, the waterproof housing comprising:

a third operating member which operates the first operating member button when the waterproof housing stores, in a waterproof manner, the first camera; and

a fourth operating member which operates the second operating member when the waterproof housing stores, in a waterproof manner, the second camera,

wherein the first and second operating members have different specifications but perform the same operation.

13. A waterproof housing for camera storage according to claim 12, further comprising:

locking means which enables the third operating member to set the fourth operating member to be inoperable upon operating the third operating member.

14. A waterproof housing for camera storage according to claim 12, wherein the third operating member is at a locking position for setting the fourth operating member to be inoperable upon operating the third operating member.

15. A waterproof housing for camera storage according to claim 12, wherein the third operating member is a press member which presses a press button as the first operating member, and the fourth operating member operates a slide member which moves a slide knob as the second operating member.

16. A waterproof housing for camera storage according to claim 13, wherein the third operating member is a press member which presses a press button as the first operating member, and the fourth operating member operates a slide member which moves a slide knob as the second operating member.

17. A waterproof housing for camera storage according to claim 16, wherein the third operating member is at a locking position for setting the fourth operating member to be inoperable upon operating the third operating member.

18. A waterproof housing for camera storage according to claim 12, wherein the third operating member is a press member, and

the fourth operating member is a rotating member which engages a linear movement member which converts the rotation of the rotating member into the linear movement and which slides the second operating member.

19. A waterproof housing for camera storage according to claim 12, further comprising:

non-operation holding means which sets the third operating member to be inoperable.

20. A waterproof housing for camera storage according to claim 19, wherein the non-operation holding means is a click device.

22. The waterproof housing of claim 12 wherein the waterproof housing has a single configuration in which a user can operate both of the first operating member and the second operating member;

and

the waterproof housing comprising

a third operating member which operates the first operating member upon storing the first camera in the waterproof housing and

a fourth operating member which operates the second operating member upon storing the second camera in the waterproof camera.

23. The waterproof housing of claim 12, wherein the third and fourth operating members are externally located on a back cover of the waterproof housing.

21. A waterproof housing for camera storage, wherein, a first camera comprising a first operating member having a position, when the first camera is stored, in waterproof manner, in the waterproof housing can be stored and a second camera comprising a second operating member having a position, when the second camera is stored, in a waterproof manner, in the waterproof housing, which is superposed to the position of the first operating member in the waterproof housing, the waterproof housing comprising:

first means which operates the first operating button member when the waterproof housing stores the first camera; and

second means which operates the second operating member when the waterproof housing stores the second camera,

wherein the first and second operating members have different specifications but perform the same operation.