CASE FOR ACCOMMODATING CAMERA

Abstract

A case (10) for accommodating a camera (30) has at least an access opening (102) for putting the camera into the case. The case includes an inner layer (12) and an outer layer (11) being connected together. The inner layer of the case defines a room (101) for receiving the camera therein. An air chamber (105) is defined between the inner and outer layers. A valve (20) is formed on the outer layer of the case for communicating the chamber with outside. When the camera is received in the room of the case, the chamber can be filled with air through the valve, and volume of the room can be adjusted to approximately mach the volume of the camera received therein.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to cases for accommodating cameras, and more particularly, to an improved case for accommodating different types of cameras.

2. Description of the Related Art

Cameras become more and more lightweight and compact. For convenience, a case is typically used for accommodating a camera when it is not in use. However, as the case is usually made of leather, the size and the shape of the case are fixed. Thus, a case usually just can accommodate one camera with certain size and shape. Furthermore, the materials used to make a case are usually thin, if a user drops the case with a camera in it, the camera cannot be effectively protected by the case.

Therefore, a case for accommodating a camera to overcome the above-described shortcomings is desired.

SUMMARY

According to an exemplary embodiment, a case for accommodating a camera has at least an opening for receiving the camera. The case includes an inner layer connected to an outer layer. The inner layer of the case defines a room for receiving the camera therein. An air chamber is defined between the inner and outer layers. A valve is formed on the outer layer of the case for the chamber to communicate with outside. When the camera is received in the room of the case, the chamber can be filled with air through the valve. Volume of the room can be adjusted to approximately match a camera or other device received therein by adjusting the amount of air in the chamber.

Other advantages and novel features of the present invention will be drawn from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention with attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a case for accommodating a camera, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the case taken along line II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view showing the case of FIG. 1 in use; and

FIG. 4 shows the case according to an alternative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, a case 10 for accommodating a camera 30 according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. The case 10 defines two access openings 102 at opposite sides thereof. Alternatively, the case 10 can define just one access opening.

The case 10 includes an outer layer 11 and an inner layer 12. A number of ribs 106 are formed on the inner layer 12 and the outer layer 11 of the case 10. The ribs 106 are approximately evenly arranged along a circumferential direction of the case 10. A receiving room 101 is defined by the inner layer 12 of the case 10 for receiving the camera 30 therein. The inner layer 12 and the outer layer 11 are connected together at the openings 102. An air chamber 105 is defined between the inner layer 12 and the outer layer 11. A valve 20 is formed on the outer layer 11 of the case 10. The valve 20 communicates with the chamber 105 to allow charging the chamber 105 with air from outside of the case 10. The inner layer 12 and the outer layer 11 are made from flexible material impermeable to air selected for charging the chamber 105. Due to the flexible nature of the material used for the case 10, volume of the room 101 is greatest when the chamber 105 is deflated and becomes smaller as the chamber 105 is inflated with air to allow a snug fit when the camera 30 is received therein. The volume of the room 101 is easily adjusted by inflating or deflating the chamber 105.

FIG. 3 shows the case 10 with a camera 30 received therein and a suitable amount of air received in the chamber 105 through the valve 20 to ensure a snug fit of the camera 30 in the case 10. The valve 20 is shut off to seal the chamber 105. The ribs 106 of the inner layer 12 of the case 10 abut against the camera 30. Thus friction between the ribs 106 of the inner layer 12 of the case 10 and the camera 30 prevent the camera 30 from moving out the case 10. The ribs 106 of the outer layer 11 can maintain a uniform shape of the case 10, which is convenient to the user for holding the case 10. With air in the chamber 105, the camera 30 is protected from shock due to being dropped etc. If the camera 30 has a relatively small volume, relatively large amount of air in the chamber 105 is needed to achieve a snug fit of the camera 30 in the room 101 is achieved. Conversely, if the camera 30 has a relatively large volume, relatively small amount of air is needed to achieve a snug fit. Thus the case 10 can accommodate different size cameras therein. Furthermore, when the case 10 is not in use, the air in the chamber 105 can be discharged to reduce the volume of the case 10 for storage.

FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the case 40. The case 40 is approximately in a rectangular sheet shape. Each of two opposite ends of the case 40 forms several adhesive portions 50 thereon. The adhesive portions 50 of the two ends of the case 40 adhere to each other to allow the case 40 to wrap around the camera 30. In other embodiments, the two ends of the case 40 can be connected by other means such as the use of a number of snaps fixed to the two ends of the case or other fasteners. The case 40 has an inner layer 421 and an outer layer 411. A room 401 is defined in the case 40 for receiving the camera 30 after the two ends of the case 40 are connected together. An air chamber (not shown) is defined between the inner layer 421 and the outer layers 411. A valve 20 is formed on the outer layer 411 for inflating or deflating the chamber. A number of ribs 106 are formed on both the inner layer 421 and the outer layers 411.

It is understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit thereof. Thus, the present exemplary embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein.

Claims

1. A case for accommodating a camera, comprising:

an inner layer defining a room for receiving the camera therein;

an outer layer connected to the inner layer;

a chamber being defined between the inner layer and the outer layer; and

a valve being formed on the outer layer for inflating and deflating the chamber.

2. The case of claim 1, wherein a number of ribs are formed on the inner layer, the ribs being configured for abutting the camera when the camera is received in the case, whereby a friction force generated between the ribs of the inner layer and the camera prevents the camera from slipping out of the case.

3. The case of claim 1, wherein a pair of access openings are defined at two opposite sides of the case.

4. The case of claim 1, wherein the case is substantially in a rectangular sheet shape, two opposite ends of the case connected together to form the case.

5. The case of claim 4, wherein each end of the two opposite ends of the case forms a number of adhesive portions thereon, the adhesive portions of the two opposite ends of the case being capable of being adhered to each other to allow the case to be assembled.

6. The case of claim 4, wherein a number of snaps fixed to the two opposite ends of the case are connected with each other to allow the case to be assembled.

7. The case of claim 1, wherein the outer layer of the case forms a number of ribs thereon for a user to hold the case easily.

8. The case of claim 1, wherein the case is made of flexible material impermeable to air, a volume of the room capable of being adjusted according to a volume of the air charged into the chamber.

9. A case for accommodating a camera, comprising:

an inner layer defining a room configured for receiving the camera therein; an outer layer;

an air chamber formed by the inner layer and the outer layer;

a valve formed on the outer layer for communicating the chamber with outside; and

at least one access opening for putting the camera into the case;

wherein when the camera is received in the room of the case, the chamber can be filled of air through the valve, and the volume of the room is able to be adjusted to approximately mach the volume of the camera received therein.

10. The case of claim 9, wherein the inner and outer layer are made of flexible material impermeable to air.

11. The case of claim 9, wherein each layer forms a number of ribs thereon, and the ribs of the inner layer abut against the camera when the camera is received in the case.

12. The case of claim 9, wherein the case is substantially in a rectangular sheet shape, two opposite ends of the case being connected together to form the case.

13. The case of claim 12, wherein the two opposite ends include connecting means to connect the two opposite ends together.