Unified compact video camera and VCR

Claim 2

A unified video camera and video cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus, comprising: a hollow body defining an interior space having a longitudinally extending median plane and an opening along the top and a side of said body to one side of said plane; a video camera unit including a camera lens assembly disposed in said interior space and being offset toward the other side of said median plane; a video cassette recording and/or reproducing unit disposed in said interior space and being offset toward said one side of said median plane in longitudinally overlapping relation to said video camera unit, said video cassette recording and/or reproducing unit including a cassette holder compartment movable between a loading position wholly within said body and an eject position in which a video cassette in said holder compartment projects out of said opening; and a grip strap extending along the exterior of said body at said one side and being attached, at its ends, to a lower portion of said body so that an operator's hand can extend upwardly between said strap and said one side of the body for cradling said body in the palm of such hand.

Claim 3

A unified video camera and video cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus as in claim 1; further comprising a lid mounted on said body for movement between a closed position for closing said opening at the top of the body when said cassette holder compartment is in said loading position and an opened position leaving said opening unobstructed for movement of said cassette holder compartment to said eject position.

Claim 4

A unified video camera and video cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus as in claim 2; wherein said camera lens assembly has a power zoom mechanism and zoom control switch means for said power zoom mechanism mounted on said lid so that, in said closed position of the lid, said zoom control switch means are actuable by fingers of the operator's hand cradling said body.

Claim 5

A unified video camera and video cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus as in claim 3; wherein said lid is pivoted on said body for angular displacements between said opened and closed positions about an axis adjacent said median plane, and said lid has an angled edge portion along a side thereof remote from said axis of pivoting and which, in said closed position of the lid, downwardly overlaps an edge portion of said body adjacent said opening for preventing pinching of the operator's fingers between said edge portion of the body and said lid.

Claim 6

A unified video camera and video cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus as in any one of the preceding claims; further comprising a viewfinder disposed at said other side of said median plane above said video camera unit.

Claim 7

A unified video camera and video cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus as in claim 5; wherein said viewfinder is variable in axial length in a telescopic manner between a retracted condition when not in use and an expanded operative condition in which said viewfinder is substantially longer than said body.

Claim 8

A unified video camera and video cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus as in claim 6; wherein said viewfinder includes an axially telescopic housing containing a video image projecting screen, a lens and an eye cap, said lens having a focal length selected to cause focusing of said lens at said screen in said expanded operative condition.

Claim 9

A unified video camera and video cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus as in claim 6 or 7; wherein said body has a recess extending along its upper portion at said other side, and said viewfinder is pivotally mounted on said body for pivoting between a first orientation in which said viewfinder is accommodated substantially in said recess and a second orientation in which said viewfinder extends obliquely upward out of said recess.

Claim 10

A unified video camera and video cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus as in any one of the preceding claims; further comprising a first array of switches for controlling operations of said video camera unit, and a second array of switches for controlling operations of said video cassette recording and/or reproducing unit, said first and second arrays of switches being arranged at the outside of said body at said other side of said median plane.

Claim 11

A unified video camera and video cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus as in claim 9; further comprising a record start and stop switch disposed at the outside of a rear portion of said body at said one side of the median plane so as to be actuable by a thumb of the operator's hand cradling the body.

Claim 12

A unified video camera and video cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims; further comprising a record start and stop switch disposed at the outside of a rear portion of said body at said one side of the median plane so as to be actuable by a thumb of the operator's hand cradling the body.

Claim 13

A unified video camera and video cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus as in claim 11; further comprising lock means associated with said start and stop switch and being movable between a locking position for locking said start and stop switch in a stop condition and a stand-by position in which said start and stop switch is actuable to a record start condition.

Claim 14

A unified video camera and video cassette recording and for reproducing apparatus as in claim 12; wherein said lock means includes a rotary member movable between a first angular position corresponding to said locking position and a second angular position corresponding to said stand-by position.

Claim 15

A unified video camera and video cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus as in claim 13; wherein said rotary member has a radial extension which, in said second angular position, is oriented to provide a rest for the operator's thumb.

Claim 16

A unified video camera and video cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims; wherein said cassette holder compartment has a cover plate moveable therewith and extending over an outer side of said cassette holder compartment so as to form a respective portion of the surface of said one side of the body when said cassette holder compartment is in said loading position thereof; and wherein the or a lid, in said closed position, closes said opening at the top of the body when said cassette holder compartment is in said loading position and, in said opened position, leaves said opening unobstructed for movement of said cassette holder compartment to said eject position, and the or a downwardly angled edge portion of said lid overlaps an upper edge portion of said cover plate when said lid is moved to said closed position with said cassette holder compartment in said loading position.

Claim 17

A unified video camera and video cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims; further comprising eject control means actuable for causing said movement of the cassette holder compartment to said eject position, said eject control means being disposed at the top of said body in a location covered by the or a lid in said closed position of the latter so that access to said eject control means for actuating the latter may be had only when said lid is in said opened position.

Claim 18

A unified video camera and video cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims; wherein said cassette holder compartment includes a cassette holder and a cover plate moveable therewith and extending over an outer side of said cassette holder compartment so as to form a respective portion of the surface of said one side of the body when said cassette holder compartment is in said loading position, and mounting means for said cassette holders displacing the latter laterally upwardly and outwardly, in respect to said body when said cassette holder compartment is moved to said eject position so as to facilitate manual insertion and removal of a cassette in said holder when in said eject position.

Claim 19

A unified video camera and video cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus, comprising: a hollow body defining an interior space having a longitudinally extending median plane and an opening along the top and a side of said body to one side of said plane; a video camera unit including a camera lens assembly disposed in said interior space and being offset toward the other side of said median plane; a video cassette recording and/or reproducing unit disposed in said interior space and being offset toward said one side of said median plane in longitudinally overlapping relation to said video camera unit, said video cassette recording and/or reproducing unit including a cassette holder compartment movable between a loading position wholly within said body and an eject position in which a video cassette in said holder compartment projects out of said opening; and a viewfinder disposed at said other side of said median plane above said video camera unit, said viewfinder being variable in axial length in a telescopic manner between a retracted condition when not in use and an expanded operative condition in which said viewfinder is substantially longer than said body.

Claim 20

A unified video camera and video cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus, comprising: a hollow body defining an interior space having a longitudinally extending median plane and an opening along the top and a side of said body to one side of said plane; a video camera unit including a camera lens assembly disposed in said interior space and being offset toward the other side of said median plane; a video cassette recording and/or reproducing unit disposed in said interior space and being offset toward said one side of said median plane in longitudinally overlapping relation to said video camera unit, said video cassette recording and/or reproducing unit including a cassette holder compartment movable between a loading position wholly within said body and an eject position in which a video cassette in said holder compartment projects out of said opening; and a viewfinder disposed at said other side of said median plane above said video camera unit, said viewfinder being variable in axial length in a telescopic manner between a retracted condition when not in use and an expanded operative condition in which said viewfinder is substantially longer than said body.

Claim 21

A unified video camera and video cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus as in claim 18; wherein said viewfinder includes an axially telescopic housing containing a video image projecting screen, a lens and an eye cap, said lens having a focal length selected to cause focusing of said lens at said screen in said expanded operative condition.

Claim 22

A unified video camera and video cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus as in claim 19; wherein said body has a recess extending along its upper portion at said other side, and said viewfinder is pivotally mounted on said body for pivoting between a first orientation in which said viewfinder, when in said retracted condition is nested substantially in said recess and a second orientation in which said viewfinder extends obliquely upward out of said recess.

Claim 23

A unified video camera and video cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus as in claim 18, 19 or 20; further comprising a lid mounted on said body for movement between a closed position for closing said opening at the top of the body when said cassette holder compartment is in said loading position and an opened position leaving said opening unobstructed for movement of said cassette holder compartment to said eject position.

Claim 24

A unified video camera and video cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus as in claim 21; further comprising a grip strap extending along the exterior of said body at said one side and being attached, at its ends, to a lower portion of said body so that an operator's hand can extend upwardly between said strap and said one side of the body for cradling said body in the palm of such hand.

Claim 25

A unified video camera and video cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus as in claim 22; wherein said camera lens assembly has a power zoom mechanism and zoom control switch means for said power zoom mechanism mounted on said lid so that, in said closed position of the lid, said zoom control switch means are actuable by fingers of the operator's hand cradling said body.

Claim 26

A unified video camera and video cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus as in claim 23; wherein said lid is pivoted on said body for angular displacements between said opened and closed positions about an axis adjacent said median plane, and said lid has an angled edge portion along a side thereof remote from said axis of pivoting and which, in said closed position of the lid, downwardly overlaps an edge portion of said body adjacent said opening for preventing pinching of the operator's fingers between said edge portion of the body and said lid.

Claim 27

A unified video camera and video cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus as in claim 24; further comprising a first array of switches for controlling operations of said video camera unit, and a second array of switches for controlling operations of said video cassette recording and/or reproducing unit, said first and second arrays of switches being arranged at the outside of said body at said other side of said median plane.

Claim 28

A unified video camera and video cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus as in claim 25; further comprising a record start and stop switch disposed at the outside of a rear portion of said body at said one side of the median plane so as to be actuable by a thumb of the operator's hand cradling the body.

Claim 29

A unified video camera and video cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus as in claim 26; further comprising lock means associated with said start and stop switch and being movable between a locking position for locking said start and stop switch in a stop condition and a stand-by position in which said start and stop switch is actuable to a record start condition.

Claim 30

A unified video camera and video cassette recording and for reproducing apparatus as in claim 27; wherein said lock means includes a rotary member movable between a first angular position corresponding to said locking position and a second angular position corresponding to said stand-by position.

Claim 31

A unified video camera and video cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus as in claim 28; wherein said rotary member has a radial extension which, in said second angular position, is oriented to provide a rest for the operator's thumb.

Claim 32

A unified compact video camera and video cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus, comprising: a hollow body defining an interior space having a longitudinally extending median plane and an opening along the top and a side of said body to one side of said plane; a video camera unit including a camera lens assembly disposed in said interior space and being offset toward the other side of said median plane; a video cassette recording and/or reproducing unit disposed in said interior space and being offset toward said one side of said median plane in longitudinally overlapping relation to said video camera unit, said video cassette recording and/or reproducing unit including a cassette holder compartment movable between a loading position wholly within said body and an eject position in which a video cassette in said holder compartment projects out of said opening, said cassette holder compartment having a cassette holder and a cover plate movable therewith and extending over an outer side of said cassette holder compartment so as to form a respective portion of the surface of said one side of the body when said cassette holder compartment is in said loading position thereof; and a flexible grip strap extending along the exterior of said body at the outside of said cover plate and spaced from the latter, and anchor means for the ends of said strap, respectively secured to said body in front, and in back of said cover plate so that an operator's hand can extend upwardly between said strap and said one side of the body for cradling said body in the palm of such hand.

Claim 33

A unified compact video camera and video cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus, comprising: a hollow body defining an interior space having a longitudinally extending median plane and an opening along the top and a side of said body to one side of said plane; a video camera unit including a camera lens assembly disposed in said interior space and being offset toward the other side of said median plane; a video cassette recording and/or reproducing unit disposed in said interior space and being offset toward said one side of said median plane in longitudinally overlapping relation to said video camera unit, said video cassette recording and/or reproducing unit including a cassette holder compartment movable between a loading position wholly within said body and an eject position in which a video cassette in said holder compartment projects out of said opening, said cassette holder compartment having a cassette holder and a cover plate movable therewith and extending over an outer side of said cassette holder compartment so as to form a respective portion of the surface of said one side of the body when said cassette holder compartment is in said loading position thereof; and a flexible grip strap extending along the exterior of said body at the outside of said cover plate and spaced from the latter, and anchor means for the ends of said strap, respectively secured to said body in front, and in back of said cover plate so that an operator's hand can extend upwardly between said strap and said one side of the body for cradling said body in the palm of such hand.

Claim 34

A unified compact video camera and video cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus as in claim 30; further comprising a lid pivoted on said body for angular displacements about an axis adjacent said median plane at the top of said body between a closed position for closing said opening at the top of the body when said cassette holder compartment is in said loading position and an opened position leaving said opening unobstructed for movement of said cassette holder compartment to said eject position, said lid having a downwardly angled edge portion along a side thereof remote from said axis of pivoting and which overlaps an upper edge portion of said cover plate when said lid is moved to said closed position with said cassette holder compartment in said loading position.

Claim 35

A unified compact video camera and video cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus as in claim 31; wherein said camera lens assembly has a power zoom mechanism and zoom control switch means for said power zoom mechanism mounted on said lid so that, in said closed position of the lid, said zoom control switch means are actuable by fingers of the operator's hand cradling said body.

Claim 36

A unified compact video camera and video cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus as in claim 32; further comprising eject control means actuable for causing said movement of the cassette holder compartment to said eject position, said eject control means being disposed at the top of said body in a location covered by said lid in said closed position of the latter so that access to said eject control means for actuating the latter may be had only when said lid is in said opened position.

Claim 37

A unified compact video camera and video cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus as in claim 33; further comprising mounting means for said cassette holder displacing the latter laterally upwardly and outwardly, in respect to said body when said cassette holder compartment is moved to said eject position so as to facilitate manual insertion and removal of a cassette in said holder when in said eject position.

Claim 38

In a handy unified composition of a video camera and a video tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus which is adapted for one hand operation of an operator and has a video camera lens assembly oriented one side and a cassette deck assembly at the other side, a grip assisting structure for assisting the operator in gripping said composition in one hand, comprising a grip member provided for assisting gripping of said composition in operator's hand, said gripping member being oriented in a grip portion extending in said the other side of the composition in overlapping fashion with said cassette deck.

Claim 39

In a handy unified composition of a video camera and a video tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus which is adapted for one hand operation of an operator and has a video camera lens assembly oriented one side and a cassette deck assembly at the other side, a grip assisting structure for assisting the operator in gripping said composition in one hand, comprising a grip member provided for assisting gripping of said composition in operator's hand, said gripping member being oriented in a grip portion extending in said the other side of the composition in overlapping fashion with said cassette deck.