Body Structure Or Housing Patents (Class 396/535)
  • Patent number: 6400901
    Abstract: A shield device includes: a main body having an opening portion; a cylindrical member that is movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the opening portion; and a shield member, an outer edge of which is engaged to an inner edge of the opening portion, and an inner edge of which is fitted upon an outer surface of the cylindrical member so as to be slidable thereon and so as to shield a gap between the main body and the cylindrical member. And the cylindrical member is movable through the opening portion in a direction of a central axis of the cylindrical member; at least a portion of an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical member has a shape different from another portion thereof along the direction of the central axis; and the shield member contacts along the outer circumferential surface having the different shape, as the cylindrical member moves in the direction of the central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Noboru Akami, Yuji Watanabe, Akira Kayatama
  • Patent number: 6394667
    Abstract: Openings 30 are formed in positions that are exposed when the back cover of the camera is opened so that ratchets 14a and 14b of a shutter unit 10 incorporated in a camera body 1 are seen through the openings 30. After external parts such as a cover are attached and the camera is assembled to a substantially finished state, the back cover is opened. Then, inserting a tool through the opening 30, the ratchet 14a or 14b is rotated to perform the final adjustment of the screen speed of the shutter unit 10. After the final adjustment, a perforation detection unit 32 is attached to cover the openings 30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobuharu Murashima
  • Patent number: 6397004
    Abstract: A lens-fitted photo film unit includes an opaque main body pre-loaded with photo film. An opaque rear cover covers a rear of the main body. A front cover covers a front of the main body. A viewfinder eyepiece opening is formed through the rear cover. A viewfinder objective opening is formed in the front cover, combined with the viewfinder eyepiece opening, and adapted to observation of a photographic field. The front cover is produced from transparent material. A field frame member is disposed on an edge of the viewfinder objective opening, visible through the viewfinder eyepiece opening, for indicating a photographable region in the photographic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Kameyama, Osamu Noguchi, Hajime Nihojima
  • Patent number: 6393225
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a camera which gives, to the user, a suggestion of how the camera be hand-gripped readily and properly and can prevent camera shaking beforehand. The camera comprises a picture-taking lens for forming a subject image, a camera body section connected to the picture-taking lens, and an outer covering member covering the picture-taking lens and camera body section, in which, in the outer covering member, the bottom surface of a covered section corresponding to the camera body section and bottom surface of a covered section corresponding to the lower portion of the picture-taking lens are formed of a member of a higher friction coefficient than a remaining surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Yamada
  • Patent number: 6389234
    Abstract: There is described a camera incorporating a focal-plane shutter. The camera includes a lens, an image window having an aperture to bound a light coming through the lens in a plain perpendicular to an optical axis of the lens, a focal-plane shutter and a photometry sensor to receive the light reflected by the focal-plain shutter and detect an amount of the light reflected by the focal-plane shutter after coming through the lens. In the camera, the photometry sensor is located at an outside of the aperture and resides on a plane, which is parallel with the optical axis and includes a line which is parallel to a long-axis of the aperture and passes substantially a center of a short-axis of the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Ikuyama, Taku Wagatsuma
  • Publication number: 20020054761
    Abstract: A camera has a main module and a lens movement control. The lens movement control has opposed front and rear grip surfaces that are disposed adjacent respective front and rear faces of the main module. The grip surfaces are pivotable relative to the main module from a neutral position to opposed first and second pivoted positions. A lens system is joined to the main module. The lens system has a driver and a movable lens element connected to the driver. The driver extends and retracts the movable lens element, relative to the main module, during the pivoting of the lens movement control to the first and second pivoted positions, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Publication date: May 9, 2002
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: David J. Cornell, Dennis R. Zander
  • Publication number: 20020051640
    Abstract: The present invention provides a compact case for a surveillance camera having exterior notches, recesses and/or grooves for accommodating the electronic receptors, connectors, wires and/or cables leading from the back of the camera. The case is designed for use with a specialized mounting system and covers, or to fit inside a secure enclosure having the same overall (and minimal) profile as the camera case itself which eliminate exposure of the electronic components in the notches to the outside. An adjustable protective base is provided in one embodiment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Applicant: Pelco
    Inventors: James F. Arbuckle, William S. Arbuckle, Gregory S. Giroux
  • Patent number: 6374050
    Abstract: In an APS camera, one of a light projecting part and an light receiving part of an autofocus device is arranged above a film cartridge chamber. The one of the light projecting part and the light receiving part has a recession at a bottom of a casing thereof. The camera is provided with a light-shielding door drive mechanism to open and close a light-shielding door of a film cartridge housed in the film cartridge chamber. At least a part of the light-shielding door drive mechanism is arranged between the film cartridge chamber and the recession of the one of the light projecting part and the light receiving part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuo Manabe
  • Publication number: 20020041764
    Abstract: A camera includes a main body. A casing is constituted by a rear cover and a front cover, for containing the main body. The rear and front covers are open in respectively forward and backward directions, and have first and second joining end faces positioned in respectively the forward and backward directions and opposed to one another. An extension portion is formed to project from the first joining end faces, received by an inside of the second joining end faces, for being overlapped on a peripheral wall portion of the front cover. First and second insertion holes are formed in respectively the extension portion and the peripheral wall portion. A connection pin is inserted in the first and second insertion holes, fixedly secured to the second insertion hole, for securing the rear cover to the front cover by retaining the extension portion on the peripheral wall portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Publication date: April 11, 2002
    Applicant: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6366739
    Abstract: An apparatus adapted for use with a solar cell, such as a camera, includes a body and a cover member to which the solar cell is attached, where the cover member is movable between an open position and a closed position with respect to the body of the apparatus. The apparatus further includes an air layer providing member which provides an air layer between the cover member and the body of the apparatus when the cover member is in the closed position, thereby reducing transmittance of heat from the solar cell to the body of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Yoshihara, Takayuki Tsuboi, Kiyokazu Churei
  • Publication number: 20020031355
    Abstract: The camera has an appearance quality highly maintained, by crushing a joining portion of a metal cover. A metal cover is crushed at a joining portion to a grip cover, and the grip cover is joined so as to be superposed on the crushed portion. Thus, exposure of an inner structure from the joining portion between the metal cover and grip cover to degrade an appearance quality can be prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Inventor: Kazuaki Nagata
  • Publication number: 20020031354
    Abstract: The outer covering of the camera can be machined and molded with high dimensional accuracy and has high rigidity by forming reinforcing portions by drawing at the top and bottom of a metal cover which constitutes a curved surface of the outer covering. The reinforcing portions are integrally formed by drawing at the top and bottom of the grip portion of the metal grip cover formed in an arcuate shape. This allows a curved surface portion to be machined and molded with high dimensional accuracy. The machined metal cover can obtain high rigidity by the reinforcing portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Inventor: Kazuaki Nagata
  • Publication number: 20020031347
    Abstract: A camera includes a lens holding member for detachably holding a lens device, an image taking device for taking an image formed by the lens device, a front main body member forming a front portion of the main body of the camera, a rear main body member which forms a rear portion of the main body of the camera and is coupled to the front main body member, and a central main body member on which the lens holding member and the image taking device are mounted and which is coupled to at least one of the front and rear main body members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Fukuda
  • Patent number: 6356711
    Abstract: Photo film has plural perforation sets arranged along one edge thereof in line at a regular pitch. Each of the perforation sets includes first and second perforations, which are arranged closely at a regular distance. A sprocket wheel is rotated by movement of the photo film. The sprocket wheel has a wheel body. Two tooth sets respectively include first and second teeth, are disposed to protrude from a peripheral face of the wheel body, and are respectively meshed with the first and second perforations serially. An arm is disposed on the peripheral face of the wheel body, for frictionally contacting a portion of the photo film between first and second perforation sets, to be rotated by the photo film. The first and second perforation sets are included in the plural perforation sets and adjacent to each other. Each of the tooth sets are meshed with the second perforation set after being disengaged from the first perforation set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Takagi, Hirofumi Katsura
  • Publication number: 20020021905
    Abstract: A system (3, 4) which detects the number of revolutions of the output shaft as associated with the amount of extension of the lens barrel to which has been transmitted the rotating force of a gear in a gear grain are provided in the generally triangular space between cell compartment (91) and film cartridge compartment (92) in camera body (9).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Applicant: ASAHI KOGAKU KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshifumi Fujisaki
  • Patent number: 6349178
    Abstract: A camera comprises a cartridge changer, a spool chamber, and a battery chamber located on the side of at least one of the cartridge chamber and the spool chamber with respect to an optical axis of a photo-taking optical unit disposed between the cartridge chamber and the spool chamber, and at least one of above and below at least one of the cartridge chamber and the spool chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masakazu Taku
  • Patent number: 6349180
    Abstract: A camera includes a flexible shell having at least one opening therein and a rigid camera body inside the shell, the camera body having an imaging opening aligned with the at least one opening in the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: The Tiffen Company LLC
    Inventors: Edward Jabbour, John L. Kempf, Patrick Jankowski
  • Patent number: 6349179
    Abstract: A camera comprises a cartridge chamber, a spool chamber, and a battery chamber located on the side of at least one of the cartridge chamber and the spool chamber with respect to an optical axis of a photo-taking optical unit disposed between the cartridge chamber and the spool chamber, and at least one of above and below at least one of the cartridge chamber and the spool chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masakazu Taku
  • Patent number: 6339447
    Abstract: An image sensing apparatus has an image sensing unit and a display unit. The image sensing unit has an optical system for photographing an object and an image sensing element. The display unit has a liquid crystal display device for performing an image display on the basis of a video output from the image sensing unit. A film fixing unit holds the image sensing unit and the display unit at a predetermined distance and also forms a mounting unit for mounting the object on the display surface of the display unit. A film holder for holding a film as an object is mounted on the mounting unit, and a film photographing operation is performed by the image sensing unit while using the display unit as an illumination device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sunao Kurahashi, Kazuhiko Etoh, Shigeo Ogura, Makoto Sekita, Nobuhiro Takeda, Kenji Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20020001474
    Abstract: A camera including a camera body having a substantially flat shape, a photographing optical system configured to perform a photographing operation and accommodated in the camera body, the photographing optical system having a photographing optical axis in a direction perpendicular to a thickness direction of the camera body and a photographing object side plane, the photographing object side plane facing an object to be photographed when photographing, and a release button configured to activate the photographing operation of the photographing optical system provided on a side surface of the camera body corresponding with the photographing object side plane of the photographing optical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Publication date: January 3, 2002
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeru Horiguchi
  • Publication number: 20010051049
    Abstract: A camera has a camera body formed in a longitudinal rectangular shape, and in the intermediate portion of the camera body, a flexion/transformation mechanism dividing the camera body into an image photographing section including a lens system for capturing an optical image of a subject and a gripping section for a photographer to grip the camera body at the time of photographing is provided. The flexion/transformation mechanism is configured so as to dispose the image photographing section and the gripping section on a same straight line such that the camera body is formed in the longitudinal rectangular shape in a first state, and to dispose the gripping section angled relative to said image photographing section in a second state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2001
    Publication date: December 13, 2001
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Shigeru Horiguchi
  • Patent number: 6330396
    Abstract: A camera has a casing enclosing a film area. The casing has a stray light path into the film area due to a light transmissive region, such as a region of translucent material. The light transmissive region can be bounded by an obstruction to label placement. A label is adhered to the casing. The label has an opaque portion covering the transmissive region. The label can be aligned with an obstruction boundary and spaced from the obstruction boundary by 0.8 mm or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: James D. Boyd, Stephen J. Smith, Michael P. Cramer
  • Patent number: 6325556
    Abstract: A support device of a portable photographing apparatus includes a plurality of support bodies coupled to the photographing apparatus to be capable of protruding and being inserted with respect to a bottom surface of the photographing apparatus, and a plurality of legs hinge-coupled to the support bodies to be capable of moving through cavities in the photographing apparatus enabling the hinge coupling and the plurality of legs to protrude or extend from a bottom surface of the photographic apparatus. The legs and the hinge coupling may also be inserted into these cavities together with the support bodies. During extension, the support bodies can rotate 360 degrees while the hinge coupling can cause the legs to be inclined with respect to the bottom surface of the photographing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hee-Joung Yoon
  • Patent number: 6324348
    Abstract: A camera body constructed in such a manner that a front board unit, a shutter unit, and a main body unit are attached to a body plate unit from a rear face of the body plate unit. The body plate unit is a rigid board in a plane substantially perpendicular to an optical axis of a taking lens unit, which taking lens unit is attached to the body plate unit from a front face of the body plate unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Terada
  • Patent number: 6324349
    Abstract: A camera comprising a camera sheath composed of a front cover unit and a rear cover unit, a camera body supported in the camera sheath, and positioning mechanism for positioning the camera body with respect to the camera sheath without fixing them. The positioning mechanism is composed of a pair of protrusions protruding from the front cover unit and a pair of hole portions formed in a reinforcing plate unit of the camera body and capable of being fitted individually on the protrusions. A gap of about 1 mm or less is formed in the whole area between the camera body and the camera sheath except fitting portions including the positioning mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshifumi Nakano, Shinya Takahashi, Tatsuya Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20010041067
    Abstract: The following components can be fitted alternatively to the front of a photographic functional unit, which is designed for recording photographic images on a photographic film (201) which is disposed therein in a light-tight manner:
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2001
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Inventor: Rolf Schroder
  • Patent number: 6317568
    Abstract: A camera includes a rotatable film winder that coaxially engages a film spool to rotate the film spool in order to wind a filmstrip onto the film spool and that is retractable from the film spool to facilitate film loading into the camera, is characterized in that a flexible cord is connected to the film winder to be pulled to retract the film winder. Preferably, a chamber is provided for the film spool, a film door is closed to cover the chamber and is opened to uncover the chamber, and a latch member is movable into engagement with the film door to secure the film door closed and out of engagement with the film door to permit the film door to be opened and is connected with the flexible cord to pull the flexible cord to retract the film winder when the latch member is moved out of engagement with the film door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Patricia L. Williams, Dennis R. Zander, Timothy J. Fuss
  • Publication number: 20010033749
    Abstract: This camera is a camera having a compartment for loading and storing various members with a predetermined sheet member attached along the inner wall face of the compartment, in which the sheet member is attached at a predetermined position by a very easy and inexpensive means while assuring good operability during the assembly operation and the disassembly operation, comprising a camera main body where an aperture section is formed at a visible position and a sheet member which is attached by elastic deformation without gluing for covering the aperture section, to be attached/removed easily. With such construction, a camera which can contribute to making the manufacturing process efficient and decreasing the manufacturing cost can be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2001
    Publication date: October 25, 2001
    Applicant: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunio Yokoyama, Yuji Kobayashi, Hitoshi Yagi
  • Patent number: 6301437
    Abstract: A lens-fitted photo film unit includes a housing and a wrapping wound about the housing in belt-like fashion. The housing is pre-loaded with unexposed photo film, and incorporates a taking lens and a shutter mechanism. The housing has a rear cover, which has recesses. Outer edges of the recesses are convex. Ridges are formed in the recesses for supporting the wrapping about the housing. Outer edges of the recesses are convex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuichi Ichino, Kazuo Kamata
  • Publication number: 20010026689
    Abstract: A front cover of a camera is constituted of two parts, namely a base member and a cover plate. The base member comprises a frame portion, a grip portion and a support portion. The frame portion is formed so as to surround side faces of a camera body. The support portion supports a part of the inside of the cover plate. A front face of the base member is adapted to be an opening except the grip portion and the support portion. The cover plate is attached to the base member so as to cover the opening. An overlapping portion of the cover plate and the base member is a little so that a thickness of the front cover is prevented from increasing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Applicant: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toru Ito
  • Publication number: 20010021312
    Abstract: Openings 30 are formed in positions that are exposed when the back cover of the camera is opened so that ratchets 14a and 14b of a shutter unit 10 incorporated in a camera body 1 are seen through the openings 30. After external parts such as a cover are attached and the camera is assembled to a substantially finished state, the back cover is opened. Then, inserting a tool through the opening 30, the ratchet 14a or 14b is rotated to perform the final adjustment of the screen speed of the shutter unit 10. After the final adjustment, a perforation detection unit 32 is attached to cover the openings 30.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 1999
    Publication date: September 13, 2001
    Inventor: NOBUHARU MURASHIMA
  • Patent number: 6283645
    Abstract: A camera has a rear backframe (exposure) opening, including a pair of spaced opposite ends across which successive sections of a filmstrip are moved for each section of the filmstrip to be advanced over the backframe opening. A pair of parallel film rails have longitudinal film support surfaces that support each section of the filmstrip over the backframe opening. A pair of parallel film debris catching combs are positioned between the film rails, proximate respective ones of the opposite ends of the backframe opening, and inwardly of the longitudinal film support surfaces to remove any debris from each section of the filmstrip before that section is advanced over the backframe opening. One of the film debris catching combs preferably is positioned inwardly of the film support surfaces farther than the other comb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Michael P. Cramer, James D. Boyd, Stephen J. Smith
  • Publication number: 20010017983
    Abstract: A slide cover is movably attached to a camera body. The slide cover is moved to a photographing position when a picture is taken. At the time of photographing, the slide cover is utilized as a right-hand grip. A rear face of the slide cover is provided with a zoom operating member which is swingable around a horizontal shaft. An upper side of the zoom operating member is a telephoto operating portion, and a lower side thereof is a wide-angle operating portion. The telephoto operating portion and the wide-angle operating potion are vertically arranged so as to be perpendicular to a moving direction of the slide cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Publication date: August 30, 2001
    Applicant: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6282382
    Abstract: In a small camera having multiple functions, a large internal component such as a battery is designed so as to protrude above the top cover flat surface of the camera and the protruding part is covered by an operational cover component such a dial for controlling exposure or other functions of the camera. By having this large internal component located at least partially inside the take-up spool, for example, the height of the camera grip is reduced and the camera as a whole is made smaller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takamasa Sakamoto, Junichi Tanii
  • Publication number: 20010014214
    Abstract: A portable apparatus having setting means for setting mutually contradictory functions, wherein the setting means comprises a pair of operation buttons, and the operation buttons are disposed on opposing surfaces of the body of the portable apparatus, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Publication date: August 16, 2001
    Inventors: Naohiko Hayashi, Yoshiyuki Inoue, Daigo Yoshioka, Shoichi Minato
  • Publication number: 20010012454
    Abstract: A camera includes a cassette holder chamber for receiving insertion of a photo film cassette. A take-up chamber takes up photo film drawn from the photo film cassette. An exposure chamber is disposed between the cassette holder chamber and the take-up chamber, for introducing object light to the photo film to provide an exposure. A part holder chamber is disposed between the cassette holder chamber and the exposure chamber. A main capacitor for flash emission has a tubular shape, and is contained in the part holder chamber. A through opening is formed between the cassette holder chamber and the part holder chamber, for internally connecting the cassette holder chamber and the part holder chamber to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Publication date: August 9, 2001
    Applicant: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Kamoda, Yasuhiko Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6270266
    Abstract: In an optical apparatus having a mount adapted to be rotated to be attached to and detached from a mount of another apparatus, the mount of the optical apparatus is molded by plastic material, and concave and convex portions are provided on an abutment surface of the mount of the optical apparatus to reduce the sliding area, thereby making the scratches caused by the sliding inconspicuous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Fukuda, Tatsuo Konno, Toshio Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20010009611
    Abstract: A shield device includes: a main body having an opening portion; a cylindrical member that is movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the opening portion; and a shield member, an outer edge of which is engaged to an inner edge of the opening portion, and an inner edge of which is fitted upon an outer surface of the cylindrical member so as to be slidable thereon and so as to shield a gap between the main body and the cylindrical member. And the cylindrical member is movable through the opening portion in a direction of a central axis of the cylindrical member; at least a portion of an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical member has a shape different from another portion thereof along the direction of the central axis; and the shield member contacts along the outer circumferential surface having the different shape, as the cylindrical member moves in the direction of the central axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Publication date: July 26, 2001
    Inventors: Noboru Akami, Yuji Watanabe, Akira Katayama
  • Patent number: 6263159
    Abstract: A camera has a casing and a subsystem having a first mechanical element and a second mechanical element. The first mechanical element is movable relative to the casing, between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The mechanical elements are engaged. The subsystem is operative in the engaged position. The subsystem is inoperative in the disengaged position. A label is attached to the casing. The label biases the first mechanical element toward the engaged position. In a method for rendering a one-time use camera operative, a camera frame assembly and a compliant label are aligned. The camera frame assembly has the subsystem having a first and second mechanical elements and an uncovered gap. The first mechanical element is movable relative to the gap, between the engaged and disengaged positions. The mechanical elements are engaged and the subsystem is operative in the engaged position and inoperative in the disengaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: James D. Boyd, Stephen J. Smith, Michael P. Cramer
  • Patent number: 6259861
    Abstract: A camera has a body defining a passage. A label has an attachment portion adhered to the body and an optical component joined to the attachment portion. The optical component is optically aligned with the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: James D. Boyd, Stephen J. Smith, Michael P. Cramer
  • Patent number: 6253034
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a camera that is capable of both feeding a long strip of film that is housed in a cartridge in a wound-up fashion and rewinding said film, wherein a battery is placed above or below the film conveyance path between the cartridge bay and the spool bay such that its axis is essentially parallel to the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Funahashi, Junichi Tanii
  • Patent number: 6249653
    Abstract: Camera body and taking lens unit are constructed such that they may rotate relative to each other, and circuit board of connector to which taking lens unit is mounted and the electrical circuitry inside the camera body are connected by means of flexible circuit board. Further, the grounding line is strengthened by having reinforcing plate that is in electrical contact with detachable circuit board comprise a metal plate and by having metal plate connected with the grounding line of the camera body to move against reinforcing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisanori Itoh, Masatoshi Itoh, Mitsuhiro Sugita
  • Patent number: 6247855
    Abstract: A lens protecting cover-attached camera includes a moving mechanism. Thus, a simple mechanism is used to turn on or off a main power switch and for opening or closing a lens protecting cover responsively to manipulations performed on a single manipulating member. A supporting shaft for supporting the lens protecting cover is placed so as to be parallel to a plane substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of a photographic lens. When the supporting shaft is moved along the optical axis of the photographic lens, the moving mechanism causes the lens protecting cover to rotate around the supporting shaft at the center from a closed position to an open position. At the closed position, the lens protecting cover shields the face of the photographic lens. At the open position, the lens protecting cover exposes the face of the lens. Moreover, the moving mechanism turns on or off the power switch in response to a movement made along the optical axis of the photographic lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsumi Motohashi, Yuji Kobayashi, Naohiro Tsuchida, Takashi Muroi, Yuji Imai, Yasuo Asakura
  • Patent number: 6247854
    Abstract: A camera includes a body member (1) having a first portion (1c), a second portion (1b) and a third portion (1d) which are integrally formed. The first portion is provided for forming at least a part of a cartridge chamber into which a film cartridge is loaded, the second portion is provided for forming at least a part of a spool chamber in which a spool is disposed to wind thereon a film of the film cartridge, the third portion is provided for connection between the first portion and the second portion and is disposed behind the film in a photo-taking optical axis direction to overlap the film in the photo-taking optical axis direction while the film is transported. Accordingly, the third portion, which serves as a connection part, is arranged to have a large width in a direction perpendicular to the direction of film transport and along the surface of the film, so that the strength of the connection part can be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuichi Terada
  • Publication number: 20010001626
    Abstract: A camera comprising a camera sheath composed of a front cover unit and a rear cover unit, a camera body supported in the camera sheath, and positioning mechanism for positioning the camera body with respect to the camera sheath without fixing them. The positioning mechanism is composed of a pair of protrusions protruding from the front cover unit and a pair of hole portions formed in a reinforcing plate unit of the camera body and capable of being fitted individually on the protrusions. A gap of about 1 mm or less is formed in the whole area between the camera body and the camera sheath except fitting portions including the positioning mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 1999
    Publication date: May 24, 2001
    Inventors: TOSHIFUMI NAKANO, SHINYA TAKAHASHI, TATSUYA SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 6229966
    Abstract: In a camera, at least a part of a wall portion of at least one of a film take-up spool chamber and a film-cartridge loading chamber is formed with a shutter mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kanji Tsuji
  • Patent number: 6229965
    Abstract: An apparatus, such as a camera, adapted for a film having a magnetic recording part, includes a magnetic head which at least reads information from the magnetic recording part of the film, a pad which brings the film close to the magnetic head, a pad support part which supports the pad, and a magnetic shield member disposed between the pad and the pad support part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Ito, Takanori Honda
  • Patent number: 6223000
    Abstract: In a camera, a shutter release button is arranged on one surface on the top side of the external housing of the camera and a zoom operating button is arranged on a second surface, which is formed as a step relative to the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Funakoshi, Moriya Katagiri
  • Patent number: 6215964
    Abstract: A photographic camera has a taking lens system supported in a camera body by a lens barrel and a battery chamber which accommodates a battery and is formed adjacent to the lens barrel. At least a part of the wall defining the battery chamber is formed integrally with the lens barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akio Omiya
  • Patent number: D456829
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Inventor: Marc Munroe