Coil spring structure of shutter button camera device and button structure of electronic device

• US 7,929,859 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2007
• Issued: 04/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Saiki, Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): Laballe; Clayton E
• Assistant Examiner(s): ADAMS, BRET W
• Application Number:
  US11/952,928
• Publication Number:
  US 20080138061A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,229 Days
• Field of Search: 396/543, 267/166.1, 267/167, 267/170, 267/174
• US Class Current: 396/543
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/00 Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor lens hoods or caps G03B11/04

Abstract

In a camera device 1a with a shutter button 2 for transmitting an externally-applied pressing force to a switch 7, a boss 24 has a first end attached to the shutter button 2, and a second end opposed to the switch 7, a coil spring 6a has a first winding portion 61a and a second winding portion 62a, which are respectively wound into first and second shapes about a common central axis As, the second shape includes the first winding portion 61a, and the second end of the boss 24 is inserted into the first winding portion 61a.

Claims

1. A camera device with a shutter button, the shutter button having an obverse face and a reverse face, for transmitting an externally-applied pressing force to a switch, the device comprising:

a plate-like member including a flat portion disposed opposite to the reverse face of the shutter button,

a coil spring disposed between the shutter button and the plate-like member and having a first winding portion and a second winding portion, the first winding portion being wound into a first shape about a central axis, the second winding portion being wound into a second shape about the central axis so as to include the first winding portion, and

a boss portion provided on the reverse face of the shutter button, opposed to the switch, and inserted into the first winding portion and the second winding portion, wherein;

the flat portion of the plate-like member includes a hole for inserting the boss portion therein,

the boss portion pushes the switch by way of the externally-applied pressing force transmitted through the shutter button in condition of being inserted in the hole of the flat portion,

the first winding portion is provided so as to continue from one end of the second winding portion,

the first winding portion and a winding of the second winding portion that continues therefrom are positioned roughly on a same plane at an end of the coil spring,

ends of the second winding portion are in contact with the shutter button and the flat portion, respectively,

the second winding portion has a larger diameter about the central axis than the first winding portion,

the first winding portion is positioned proximal to the shutter button, and

the second winding portion has substantially the same diameter along its entire length, and its length is substantially equal to that of the coil spring.

2. The camera device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second shapes are circular.

3. The camera device according to claim 1, wherein the first shape is polygonal, and the second shape is circular.

4. The camera device according to claim 1, wherein the coil spring further includes a third winding portion wound into a third shape about the central axis, the third shape being included in the second winding portion.

5. The camera device according to claim 4, wherein the first and third winding portions are provided so as to continue respectively from two ends of the second winding portion.

6. The camera device according to claim 5, wherein the first, second, and third shapes are circular.

7. The camera device according to claim 5, wherein the first and third shapes are polygonal, and the second shape is circular.

8. The camera device according to claim 5, wherein the first shape is polygonal, and the second and third shapes are circular.

9. The camera device of claim 1, wherein the coil spring contacts only one surface of the shutter button.

10. The camera device of claim 1, wherein:

the coil spring has both large and small diameter portions at each end, and

the coil spring contacts only one surface of each of the shutter button and the plate-like member.

11. A switch pressing device for transmitting an externally-applied pressing force to a switch, the device comprising:

a button for receiving external pressure, the button having an obverse face and a reverse face,

a plate-like member including a flat portion disposed opposite to the reverse face of the button,

a coil spring disposed between the button and the plate-like member and including a first winding portion and a second winding portion, the first winding portion being wound into a first shape about a central axis, the second winding portion being wound into a second shape about the central axis so as to include the first winding portion, and

a boss portion provided on the reverse face of the button, opposed to the switch and inserted into the first winding portion and the second winding portion, wherein;

the flat portion of the plate-like member includes a hole for inserting the boss portion therein,

the boss portion pushes the switch by way of the externally-applied pressing force transmitted through the button in condition of being inserted in the hole of the flat portion,

the first winding portion is provided so as to continue from one end of the second winding portion,

the first winding portion and a winding of the second winding portion that continues therefrom are positioned roughly on a same plane at an end of the coil spring,

ends of the second winding portion are in contact with the button and the flat portion, respectively,

the second winding portion has a larger diameter about the central axis than the first winding portion,

the first winding portion is positioned proximal to the button, and

the second winding portion has substantially the same diameter along its entire length, and its length is substantially equal to that of the coil spring.

12. An electronic device comprising a switch pressing device of claim 11.

13. The switch pressing device of claim 11, wherein the coil spring contacts only one surface of the button.

14. The switch pressing device of claim 11, wherein:

the coil spring has both large and small diameter portions at each end, and

the coil spring contacts only one surface of each of the button and the plate-like member.