Waterproof housing

• US 7,477,839 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2006
• Issued: 01/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Imaging Corporation (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Funahashi, Koji, Watanabe, Shinichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Blackman; Rochelle-Ann J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Strieb; Michael A
• Application Number:
  US11/344,714
• Publication Number:
  US 20060193615A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,077 Days
• Field of Search: 396/27, 396/29, 396/297, 396/299, 396/25
• US Class Current: 396/25
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/08 Waterproof bodies or housings

Abstract

A waterproof housing is provided with an engaging member that can engage with rotary members provided respectively on a plurality of cameras. The rotary members can be rotated from the outside of the waterproof housing. Accordingly, the plurality of cameras can be stored and operated selectively in a single waterproof housing. For example, the engaging member can be configured in such a manner that a plurality of multiple recessed portions are provided concentrically so that each one of the plurality of rotary members can be fitted to any one of the recessed portion out of the multiple recessed portions.

Claims

1. A waterproof housing for a camera comprising:

a housing body that enables a user to store one of a plurality of cameras different from each other exchangeably;

a first engaging member rotatably provided in the housing body and capable of engaging with first rotary members provided on the plurality of cameras respectively, the first engaging member rotating the first rotary member of the camera stored in the housing body; and

a second engaging member rotatably provided in the housing body and capable of engaging with second rotary members provided on the plurality of cameras respectively, the second engaging member rotating the second rotary member of the camera stored in the housing body,

wherein the first engaging member is rotatable by a first shaft member and the second engaging member is rotatable by a second shaft member, and the first shaft member and the second shaft member are rotatable about the identical axis.

2. The waterproof housing for a camera according to claim 1, wherein the first shaft member is arranged within the second shaft member so as to be capable of relative rotation.

3. The waterproof housing for a camera according to claim 1, wherein

the first engaging member engages with first engaging grooves provided on an exposed portion of the first rotary member provided on the camera, and

the second engaging member engages with second engaging grooves provided on an exposed portion of the second rotary member provided on the camera.

4. The waterproof housing for a camera according to claim 1, wherein the first engaging member comprises a plurality of types of projections for engaging with first engaging grooves provided on an exposed portion of the first rotary member, and the second engaging member comprises a plurality of types of projections for engaging with second engaging grooves provided on an exposed portion of the second rotary member.

5. The waterproof housing for a camera according to claim 1, wherein the first engaging member engages with the rotary member so as to cover an exposed portion of the first rotary member.

6. The waterproof housing for a camera according to claim 1, wherein the first rotary member is a mode dial of the camera, and the second rotary member is a power switch of the camera.

7. The waterproof housing for a camera according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first operating member that rotates integrally with the first shaft member so that the first engaging member can be rotated; and

a second operating member that rotates integrally with the second shaft member so that the second engaging member can be rotated.