Water-proof structure of camera

• US 20020085841A1
• Filed: 12/12/2001
• Published: 07/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Matsuoto, Hideaki, Muroi, Takashi, Nakano, Toshifumi
• Granted Patent: US 6,574,434 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/25
• 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 of a camera comprising:

a front cover covering the front side of a camera body;

a back cover covering the back side of the camera body;

a sandwiched member sandwiched between the front cover and the back cover;

a first water-proofing member arranged on the back cover and pressed by a first protuberant strip provided on the front cover in the 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 arranged on the sandwiched member, pressed by the first protuberant strip whereby the front cover and the sandwiched member are kept liquid-tight to each other, and moreover, 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 the state in which the sandwiched member is sandwiched between the front cover and the back cover.

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

3. A water-proof structure of the camera according to claim 2, wherein the second water-proofing member has a bent portion so as to turn around the periphery of the sandwiched member, a first pressed portion extended from the bent portion in the direction in which the front cover and the back cover are joined to each other, and a second pressed portion extended substantially perpendicularly to the direction for the joining,

the first pressed portion being pressed by the first protuberant strip, and the second pressed portion being pressed by the second protuberant strip.

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

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

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

7. A water-proof structure of the camera comprising:

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

a second case joined to the first case;

a sandwiched member 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 the 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 the state in which the sandwiched member is sandwiched between the first and second cases.

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

9. A water-proof structure of the camera according to claim 8, wherein the second water-proofing member has a bent portion so as to turn around the periphery of the sandwiched member, a first pressed portion extended from the bent portion in the direction in which the first case and the second case are joined to each other, and a second pressed portion extended substantially perpendicularly to the direction for the joining, the first pressed portion being pressed by the first protuberant strip, and the second pressed portion being pressed by the second protuberant strip.

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

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

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

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

15. A water-proof structure of the camera according to claim 13, wherein the sandwiched member has a substantially quadrangular shape, the first protuberant strip presses three sides of the quadrangular shape, and the second protuberant strip presses one side different from the three sides thereof.

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

17. A water-proof structure of the camera according to claim 13, wherein the second water-proofing member has a bent portion, a first pressed portion extended from the bent portion in the direction in which the first case and the second case are joined to each other, and a second pressed portion extended substantially perpendicularly to the direction for the joining, the first pressed portion being pressed by the first protuberant strip, and the second pressed portion being pressed by the second protuberant strip.

18. A water-proof structure of the camera according to claim 17, wherein the second water-proofing member has a larger than the first water-proofing member in the width direction perpendicular to the 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 in positions different in the width direction of the second water-proofing member.

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

20. A water-proof structure of the camera 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 the ends of the first water-proofing member comes into contact with the second water-proofing member.

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

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

13. A water-proof structure of a camera comprising:

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

a second case joined to the first case;

a sandwiched member 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;

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

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