Camera having focus adjustment assembly

Claim 2

A variable-focus camera comprising a case; a lens assembly comprising a lens housing movably attached to said case and a focusing lens having a principal axis and coaxially mounted in said housing, said lens being axially carried along its principal axis between near and distant focusing positions in response to movement of said housing between respective first and second positions; a support carried by said case for attachment thereto of an illumination device; and a focus adjustment assembly responsive to the attachment of said illumination device to physically position said focusing lens in said near focusing position, said adjustment assembly comprising a. a movable member operatively coupled to said support, said member being displaced in response to attachment to said support of an illumination device; and b. motion-transmitting means including a resilient member, said motion-transmitting means coupling said movable member through said resilient member to said housing to physically move said housing into said first position in response to displacement of said movable member by attachment of said illumination device to said support.

Claim 3

The camera of claim 1 wherein said focus adjustment assembly additionally comprises an elastic biasing element positioned within said case to normally elastically restrain said housing in said second position.

Claim 4

The camera of claim 1 wherein said motion-transmitting means is positioned in coacting relationship with said movable member and said lens housing to physically move said housing into said first position in response to operative attachment of said illumination means to said support.

Claim 5

A variable-focus camera comprising a case; a lens assembly comprising a lens housing movably attached to said case and a focusing lens mounted in said housing and having a principal axis, said lens being axially carried along its principal axis between near and distant focusing positions in response to movement of said housing between corresponding first and second positions; a support carried by said case for attachment thereto of an illumination device; and a focus adjustment assembly responsive to the attachment to and the removal from said support of said illumination device to respectively physically position said focusing lens in said near and distant focusing positions, said adjustment assembly comprising a. an elastic biasing element positioned within said case to normally elastically restrain said housing in said second position; b. a movable member operatively coupled to said attachment support and positioned to be displaced by attachment to said support of said illumination device, c. motion-transmitting means including a resilient member, said motion-transmitting means coupling said movable member to said housing through said resilient member to physically move said housing against said elastic restraint into said first position in response to displacement of said movable member by attachment of said illumination device.

Claim 6

A variable-focus camera comprising a case; a lens assembly comprising a lens housing movably attached to said case and a focusing lens mounted in said housing and having a principal axis, said lens being axially carried along its principal axis between near and distant focusing positions in response to movement of said housing between corresponding first and second positions; a support carried by said case for attachment thereto of an illumination device; and a focus adjustment assembly responsive to the attachment to and the removal from said support of said illumination device to respectively physically position said focusing lens in said near and distant focusing positions, said adjustment assembly comprising a. an elastic biasing element positioned within said case to normally elastically restrain said housing in said second position; b. a movable member operatively coupled to said attachment support and positioned to be displaced by attachment to said support of said illumination device, c. motion-transmitting means including a resilient member, said motion-transmitting means coupling said movable member to said housing through said resilient member to physically move said housing against said elastic restraint into said first position in response to displacement of said movable member by attachment of said illumination device.

Claim 7

A variable-focus camera comprising a case; a lens assembly comprising a lens housing rotatably attached to said case and a focusing lens having a principal axis, said focusing lens being mounted in and axially carried by said housing along said principal axis between near and distant focusing positions in response to rotation of said housing about said principal axis between corresponding first and second positions; a support carried by said case for attachment thereto of an illumination device; and a focus adjustment assembly to physically position said focusing lens in said near or distant focusing positions in response to respective attachment or removal of said illumination device, said focus adjustment assembly comprising; a. a movable member operatively coupled to said attachment support and positioned to be displaced in response to attachment of said illumination device; b. an elastic biasing element positioned within said case to normally elastically restrain said housing in said second position; and c. motion-transmitting means including a resilient member, said motion-transmitting means coupling said movable member to said housing through said resilient member to physically move said housing against the restraint of said elastic biasing element into said first position in response to displacement of said movable member by attachment of said illumination device.

Claim 8

A variable-focus camera comprising a case; a lens assembly comprising a lens housing rotatably attached to said case and a focusing lens having a principal axis, said focusing lens being mounted in and axially carried by said housing along said principal axis between near and distant focusing positions in response to rotation of said housing about said principal axis between corresponding first and second positions; a support carried by said case for attachment thereto of an illumination device; and a focus adjustment assembly to physically position said focusing lens in said near or distant focusing positions in response to respective attachment or removal of said illumination device, said focus adjustment assembly comprising; a. a movable member operatively coupled to said attachment support and positioned to be displaced in response to attachment of said illumination device; b. an elastic biasing element positioned within said case to normally elastically restrain said housing in said second position; and c. motion-transmitting means including a resilient member, said motion-transmitting means coupling said movable member to said housing through said resilient member to physically move said housing against the restraint of said elastic biasing element into said first position in response to displacement of said movable member by attachment of said illumination device.

Claim 9

The camera of claim 5 wherein said lens housing has a plurality of projections extending outwardly therefrom, said elastic biasing element being operatively coupled to one of said projections to normally urge rotation of said housing into said second position, and said resilient member of said motion-transmitting means being operatively coupled to another of said projections to afford rotation of said housing into said first position in response to attachment of said illumination device.

Claim 10

A variable-focus camera comprising a case; a lens assembly comprising a lens housing rotatably attached to said case and a focusing lens having a principal axis and coaxially mounted in said housing, said focusing lens being axially carried by said housing along said principal axis between near and distant focusing positions in response to rotation of said housing about said principal axis; a support carried by said case for attachment thereto of an illumination device; and a focus adjustment assembly to physically position said focusing lens in said near or distant focusing position in response respectively to attachment or removal of said illumination device, said focus adjustment assembly comprising a. a pair of spokes attached to said lens housing and extending radially outward therefrom; b. an elastic biasing element operatively attached to one of said spokes and positioned to urge rotation of said housing in a direction to carry said focusing lens into said distant focusing position; and c. motion-transmitting means including a resilient body, said means operatively coupling said movable member of said support through said resilient body to the other of said spokes to physically rotate said housing in a direction to carry said focusing lens into said near focusing position in response to attachment of said illumination device.

Claim 11

A variable-focus camera comprising a case; a lens assembly comprising a lens housing rotatably attached to said case and a focusing lens having a principal axis and coaxially mounted in said housing, said focusing lens being axially carried by said housing along said principal axis between near and distant focusing positions in response to rotation of said housing about said principal axis; a support carried by said case for attachment thereto of an illumination device; and a focus adjustment assembly to physically position said focusing lens in said near or distant focusing position in response respectively to attachment or removal of said illumination device, said focus adjustment assembly comprising a. a pair of spokes attached to said lens housing and extending radially outward therefrom; b. an elastic biasing element operatively attached to one of said spokes and positioned to urge rotation of said housing in a direction to carry said focusing lens into said distant focusing position; and c. motion-transmitting means including a resilient body, said means operatively coupling said movable member of said support through said resilient body to the other of said spokes to physically rotate said housing in a direction to carry said focusing lens into said near focusing position in response to attachment of said illumination device.