Waterproof camera actuating mechanism

Claim 2

In a waterproof camera comprising a housing having an opening therein, and a shutter release member and a shutter cocking and film advancing member located in said housing, the improvement comprising a rotatable and axially movable shaft in watertight engagement with said opening and including an outer section of noncircular transverse cross section, means for actuating said shutter release member in response to the axial movement of said shaft, means for actuating said shutter cocking and film advancing member in response to the rotation of said shaft, a lever located externally of said housing and including a bore mating and slideably engaging said shaft outer section, and means restricting the axial movement of said lever.

Claim 3

The watertight camera of claim 1 wherein said shaft and said housing opening have confronting coaxial cylindrical faces, one of said faces having a peripheral groove formed therein, and an O-ring engaging said groove and bearing on the other of said faces.

Claim 4

The underwater camera of claim 1 including spring means resiliently urging said shaft outwardly.

Claim 5

The waterproof camera of claim 1 wherein said means for actuating said shutter cocking aNd film advancing member includes a lever slideably engaging said non-circular shaft section and being rotatable therewith.

Claim 6

The watertight camera of claim 1 wherein said housing has a cylindrical well formed in its outer face coaxial with and of larger diameter than said opening, said lever having a hub rotatably nesting in said well and having said bore formed therein and a coaxial cylindrical well in the top face thereof, and including a button connected to the upper end of said shaft and slideably engaging said hub well.

Claim 7

The watertight camera of claim 1 wherein said housing opening is defined by a cylindrical bore and said shaft includes an enlarged cylindrical section proximate its outer end slideably and rotatably engaging said bore and having a peripheral groove formed therein, and an O-ring engaging said peripheral groove and effecting a watertight seal between said bore and said cylindrical section.

Claim 8

In a waterproof camera comprising a housing having an opening therein including a cylindrical bore and a shutter release member and a shutter cocking and film advancing member located in said housing, the improvement comprising a rotatable and axially movable shaft in watertight engagement with said opening, means for actuating said shutter release member in response to the axial movement of said shaft, means for actuating said shutter cocking and film advancing member in response to the rotation of said shaft, said shaft including an enlarged cylindrical section rotatably and slideably engaging said bore and having a peripheral groove formed therein, and non-circular upper and lower shaft sections located on opposite sides of said cylindrical section, an O-ring registering with said groove and engaging the face of said bore, a lever disposed externally of said housing and slideably engaging said shaft upper section and being rotatable therewith, said means for actuating said shutter cocking and film advancing member including a lever slideably engaging said shaft lower section and being rotatable therewith, sand spring means resiliently outwardly urging said shaft.

Claim 9

In a waterproof camera comprising a housing having an opening therein including a cylindrical bore and a shutter release member and a shutter cocking and film advancing member located in said housing, the improvement comprising a rotatable and axially movable shaft in watertight engagement with said opening, means for actuating said shutter release member in response to the axial movement of said shaft, means for actuating said shutter cocking and film advancing member in response to the rotation of said shaft, said shaft including an enlarged cylindrical section rotatably and slideably engaging said bore and having a peripheral groove formed therein, and non-circular upper and lower shaft sections located on opposite sides of said cylindrical section, an O-ring registering with said groove and engaging the face of said bore, a lever disposed externally of said housing and slideably engaging said shaft upper section and being rotatable therewith, said means for actuating said shutter cocking and film advancing member including a lever slideably engaging said shaft lower section and being rotatable therewith, sand spring means resiliently outwardly urging said shaft.

Claim 10

The waterproof camera of claim 7, wherein said film shutter release member is vertically movable and said means for actuating said film release member includes a shoulder member mounted on said shaft and vertically movable therewith and engaging said shutter release member.