Waterproof camera case for containing camera equipped with lens barrier

• US 7,502,550 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2005
• Issued: 03/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Ariga, Kazuto
• Primary Examiner(s): Perkey; W. B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schindler; David M.
• Application Number:
  US11/264,639
• Publication Number:
  US 20060110146A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,225 Days
• Field of Search: 396/27, 396/25, 396/29, 396/535, 396/26, 396/28, 396/448, 348/81, 348/89, 348/72, 348373-376
• US Class Current: 396/27
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/02 Bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/08 Waterproof bodies or housings

Abstract

A camera case capable of stopping a movement of the lens barrier provided on a camera if the camera receives an accidental shock. The camera case can contain a camera having an image-taking lens, and a lens barrier movable between a closed position for covering the image-taking lens and an opened position for exposing the image-taking lens. The camera case comprises a case body; and a stopper which stops the movement of the lens barrier of the camera contained in the case body.

Claims

1. A camera case for containing a camera that includes an image-taking lens and a lens barrier movable between a closed position to cover the image-taking lens and an opened position to expose the image-taking lens, the camera case comprising:

a front case including a lens window that faces that image taking lens when the camera is contained in the camera case, the front case being provided with a stopper that contacts the lens barrier; and

a rear case openable and closable with respect to the front case,

wherein the stopper stops a movement of the lens barrier to the opened position when the camera with the lens barrier located at the closed position is contained in the camera case and the rear case is closed with respect to the front case, and the stopper stops a movement of the lens barrier to the closed position when the camera with the lens barrier located at the opened position is contained in the camera case and the rear case is closed with respect to the front case.

2. The camera case according to claim 1, wherein a stopper holding portion is formed integrally with the front case, and the stopper is held by the stopper holding portion.

3. The camera case according to claim 2, wherein the stopper holding portion has a pipe shape, and the stopper is pressed into the stopper holding portion, and wherein the stopper made of an elastic material contacts the lens barrier when the camera is contained in the camera case.

4. The camera case according to claim 2, wherein the stopper holding portion has a pipe shape, and the stopper is inserted into the stopper holding portion with a spring, and wherein the stopper biased by the spring contacts the lens barrier when the camera is contained in the camera case.

5. The camera case according to claim 4, wherein the stopper contacts a side face of the lens barrier when the camera with the lens barrier located at the opened position is contained in the camera case, and the stopper contacts a front face of the lens barrier when the camera with the lens barrier located at the closed position is contained in the camera case.