Photographic camera with interchangeable lenses and bayonet lock

Claim 2

For use in photographic apparatus adapted for receiving an interchangeable lens unit, a mechanism for interconnecting such an interchangeable lens unit with such apparatus, said mechanism comprising: means for locking such an interchangeable lens unit in operational relationship with such apparatus, said locking means including a locking member movable between a locking position and an unlocking position; means movable within a first range for adjusting operation of such apparatus and further movable within a second range for operating said locking means; and means interconnecting said adjusting and operating means and said locking means for moving said locking member to said unlocking position in response to movement of said adjusting and operating means to a predetermined position within said second range.

Claim 3

A mechanism as in claim 1 wherein said locking member is a bayonet ring and said locking means further includes resilient means for biasing said bayonet ring toward said locking position.

Claim 4

A mechanism as in claim 2 wherein said interconnecting means further includes a pin engageable with said bayonet ring to move said bayonet ring to said unlocking position in response to movement of said adjusting and operating means to said predetermined position.

Claim 5

A mechanism as in claim 1 for use with a lens unit of the type which has an adjustable diaphragm associated therewith, wherein said interconnecting means further includes means for coupling said adjusting and operating means of said mechanism with such an adjustable diaphragm associated with a received lens unit to move such an adjustable diaphragm within a predetermined operating range in response to movement of said adjusting and operating means within said first range.

Claim 6

A camera adapted for receiving an interchangeable lens unit, said camera comprising: means for locking such an interchangeable lens unit in a predetermined orientation with respect to said camera, said locking means including a locking member movable between a locking position and an unlocking position; means movable within a first range for adjusting operation of said camera and further movable within a second range for operating said locking means; and means interconnecting said adjusting and operating means and said locking means for moving said locking member to said unlocking position in response to movement of said adjusting and operating means to a predetermined position within said second range.

Claim 7

A camera adapted for receiving an interchangeable lens unit, said camera comprising: means for locking such an interchangeable lens unit in a predetermined orientation with respect to said camera, said locking means including a locking member movable between a locking position and an unlocking position; means movable within a first range for adjusting operation of said camera and further movable within a second range for operating said locking means; and means interconnecting said adjusting and operating means and said locking means for moving said locking member to said unlocking position in response to movement of said adjusting and operating means to a predetermined position within said second range.

Claim 8

A camera as in claim 5 wherein said locking member is a bayonet ring and said interconnecting means further includes resilient means for biasing said bayonet ring toward said locking position.

Claim 9

A camera as in claim 6 wherein said interconnecting means further includes a pin engageable with said bayonet ring to move said bayonet ring to said unlocking position in response to movement of said adjusting and operating means to said predetermined position.

Claim 10

A camera as in claim 5 for use with a lens unit of the type which has an adjustable diaphragm associated therewith, wherein said interconnecting means further includes means for coupling said adjusting and operating means with such an adjustable diaphragm on a received unit to move such an adjustable diaphragm within a predetermined operating range in response to movement of said adjusting and operating mEans within said first range.

Claim 11

In a camera and interchangeable lens unit combination, the camera including an exposure adjusting element movable within a first exposure adjusting range and further movable to a predetermined position within a second range, and the lens unit including means for positioning the lens unit in operational relationship with such a camera, the improvement comprising: means for interconnecting said adjusting element with said positioning means, said interconnecting means being movable to an unlocking position in response to movement of said adjusting element to said predetermined position within said second range, and said interconnecting means being movable to a locking position to lock said lens unit to said camera in response to movement of said adjusting element to within its first exposure adjusting range.

Claim 12

In a camera and interchangeable lens unit combination, the camera including an exposure adjusting element movable within a first exposure adjusting range and further movable to a predetermined position within a second range, and the lens unit including means for positioning the lens unit in operational relationship with such a camera, the improvement comprising: means for interconnecting said adjusting element with said positioning means, said interconnecting means being movable to an unlocking position in response to movement of said adjusting element to said predetermined position within said second range, and said interconnecting means being movable to a locking position to lock said lens unit to said camera in response to movement of said adjusting element to within its first exposure adjusting range.

Claim 13

The improvement according to claim 9 wherein said positioning means defines a locking slot and said interconnecting means includes a bayonet ring positionable within said locking slot when said lens unit is in operable relationship with said camera and said adjusting element is within its first exposure adjusting range.

Claim 14

The improvement according to claim 10 wherein said interconnecting means further includes a pin engageable with said bayonet ring to move said ring to an unlocking position in response to movement of said adjusting element to said predetermined position.

Claim 15

The improvement according to claim 9 wherein said adjusting element is operable to set a diaphragm value and wherein said lens unit includes an adjustable diaphragm, said interconnecting means further including means for coupling movement of said adjusting element within its first exposure adjusting range to said adjustable diaphragm.

Claim 16

A camera adapted for receiving an interchangeable lens unit of the type having an adjustable diaphragm associated therewith, said camera comprising: means for locking such an interchangeable lens unit in a predetermined orientation with respect to said camera, said means including a bayonet ring movable between a locking position and an unlocking position; means movable within a first range for setting a diaphragm value and further being movable within a second range to a predetermined position for operating said locking means; means interconnecting said setting and operating means and said locking means for moving said bayonet ring to said unlocking position in response to movement of said setting and operating means to said predetermined position within said second range; and means coupling said setting and operating means with the adjustable diaphragm of a received unit for adjusting such a diaphragm in response to movement of said setting and operating means within said first range.

Claim 17

A camera adapted for receiving an interchangeable lens unit of the type having an adjustable diaphragm associated therewith, said camera comprising: means for locking such an interchangeable lens unit in a predetermined orientation with respect to said camera, said means including a bayonet ring movable between a locking position and an unlocking position; means movable within a first range for setting a diaphragm value and further being movable within a second range to a predetermined position for operating said locking means; means interconnecting said setting and operating means and said locking means for moving said bayonet ring to said unlocking position in response to movement of said setting and operating means to said predetermined position within said second range; and means coupling said setting and operating means with the adjustable diaphragm of a received unit for adjusting such a diaphragm in response to movement of said setting and operating means within said first range.