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US4681418A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Camera

Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1985-08-13
•
Granted: 1987-07-21
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Expires: 2005-08-13
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Abstract

Abstract A camera is provided with an operation member which is arranged for a lens cover and a filter to turn them in front of the photo-taking lens of the camera and to be shiftable between first, second and third positions thereof. With the operation member set in the first position, the front surface of the photo-taking lens is covered by the lens cover. With the operation member in the second position, the lens cover and the filter are retracted from the front surface of the lens. With the operation member in the third position, the lens is covered with the filter. The camera is provided also with a switch arranged to operate according to the shift of the operation member in such a way as to enable the camera to perform photographing when the member is either in the second or third position.

Inventors

  • 👤 Takanori Kodaira

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 08:57
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B17/00; G03B17/02; G03B17/12; G03B11/00; G03B11/04; G03B11/043

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim 141 words
A camera comprising: (a) a protective cover arranged to open and close a front surface of a photo-taking optical system; (b) an auxiliary optical system arranged to move into and out of a optical path of said photo-taking optical system, said auxiliary optical system being arranged to be operable independently of said protective cover; (c) operation means arranged to be shiftable between first, second and third states thereof; and (d) driving means arranged to drive said protective cover to open and close in response to a shift of said operation means between said first and second states thereof and to insert and extract said auxiliary optical system into and out of said optical path in response to a shift of said operation means between said second and third states while having said protective cover kept at a predetermined open position thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 141 words
A camera comprising: (a) a protective cover arranged to open and close a front surface of a photo-taking optical system; (b) an auxiliary optical system arranged to move into and out of a optical path of said photo-taking optical system, said auxiliary optical system being arranged to be operable independently of said protective cover; (c) operation means arranged to be shiftable between first, second and third states thereof; and (d) driving means arranged to drive said protective cover to open and close in response to a shift of said operation means between said first and second states thereof and to insert and extract said auxiliary optical system into and out of said optical path in response to a shift of said operation means between said second and third states while having said protective cover kept at a predetermined open position thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 14 words
A camera according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary optical system includes a filter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 53 words
A camera according to claim 1, further comprising: inhibiting means for inhibiting a photographing operation while said auxiliary optical system is in the process of coming into or moving out of the optical path of said photo-taking optical system and before completion thereof even when said protective cover is in an open state.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 14 words
A camera ccording to claim 3, wherein said auxiliary optical system includes a filter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 28 words
A camera according to claim 1, further comprising: display means for displaying the state of said auxiliary optical system coming into or moving out of said optical path.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 14 words
A camera according to claim 5, wherein said display means includes lighting up means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 25 words
A camera according to claim 5, wherein said display means includes switch means arranged to operate in response to the operation of said driving means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 24 words
A camera according to claim 1, wherein said protective cover includes a rotating shaft for the opening and closing operations of said lens cover.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 22 words
A camera according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary optical system includes a rotating shaft for the inserting and extracting operations thereon.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 21 words
A camera according to claim 9, wherein said protective cover includes a rotating shaft for the opening and closing operations thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 25 words
A camera according to claim 10, wherein said auxiliary optical system and said protective cover are arranged to turn on one and the same shaft.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 31 words
A camera according to claim 1, wherein said driving means includes a gear part which is arranged to be capable of engaging and disengaging with and from said auxiliary optical system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 23 words
A camera according to claim 1, further comprising: an elastic member interlocking said protective cover and said auxiliary optical system with each other.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 18 words
A camera according to claim 1, further comprising: a toggle spring arranged to urge said auxiliary optical system.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 31 words
A camera according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary optical system includes an interlocking part which is arranged to interlock said auxiliary optical system and said protective cover with each other.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 58 words
A camera according to claim 1, wherein, when said protective cover is in a state of covering the front surface of said photo-taking optical system, said auxiliary optical system is in a state of being interposed in between said protective cover and said photo-taking optical system and is also covering the front surface of said photo-taking optical system.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 143 words
A camera comprising: (a) a protective cover arranged to open and close a front surface of a photo-taking optical system; (b) a filter arranged to move into and out of an optical path of said photo-taking optical system; and (c) inhibiting means for inhibiting a photographing operation while said filter is in the process of coming into or moving out of the optical path of said photo-taking optical system and before completion thereof even when said protective cover is in an open state, wherein said inhibiting means includes a switch of a control circuit arranged to control a photographing operation , said switch being arranged to operate according to the operating position of said filter and to inhibit a photographing operation while said filter is still in the process of moving into or out of the optical path of said photo-taking optical system.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 143 words
A camera comprising: (a) a protective cover arranged to open and close a front surface of a photo-taking optical system; (b) a filter arranged to move into and out of an optical path of said photo-taking optical system; and (c) inhibiting means for inhibiting a photographing operation while said filter is in the process of coming into or moving out of the optical path of said photo-taking optical system and before completion thereof even when said protective cover is in an open state, wherein said inhibiting means includes a switch of a control circuit arranged to control a photographing operation , said switch being arranged to operate according to the operating position of said filter and to inhibit a photographing operation while said filter is still in the process of moving into or out of the optical path of said photo-taking optical system.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 49 words
A camera according to claim 17, wherein said switch is disposed at driving means which is provided for inserting and extracting said filter into and from said optical path; and said driving means includes a gear part which is capable of engaging and disengaging with and from said filter.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 58 words
A camera according to claim 17, wherein, when said protective cover is in a state of covering the front surface of said photo-taking optical system, said auxiliary optical system is in a state of being interposed in between said protective cover and said photo-taking optical system and is also covering the front surface of said photo-taking optical system.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 76 words
A camera comprising: (a) a protective cover arranged to open and close a front surface of a photo-taking optical system; (b) an auxiliary optical system arranged to move into and out of an optical path of said photo-taking optical system; (c) display means for displaying within a view finder a moving condition of said auxiliary optical system; and (d) switching means for rendering said display means inoperative when said protective cover is in a closed state.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 76 words
A camera comprising: (a) a protective cover arranged to open and close a front surface of a photo-taking optical system; (b) an auxiliary optical system arranged to move into and out of an optical path of said photo-taking optical system; (c) display means for displaying within a view finder a moving condition of said auxiliary optical system; and (d) switching means for rendering said display means inoperative when said protective cover is in a closed state.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 14 words
A camera according to claim 20, wherein said auxiliary optical system includes a filter.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 14 words
A camera according to claim 20, wherein said display means includes lighting up means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 58 words
A camera according to claim 20, wherein, when said protective cover is in a state of covering the front surface of said photo-taking optical system, said auxiliary optical system is in a state of being interposed in between said protective cover and said photo-taking optical system and is also covering the front surface of said photo-taking optical system.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 133 words
A camera comprising: (a) a protective cover arranged to open and close a front surface of a photo-taking optical system; (b) an auxiliary optical system arranged to move into and out of an optical path of said photo-taking optical system, said auxiliary optical system being arranged to be operable independently of said protective cover; (c) operation means arranged to be changeable between first, second and third states thereof; and (d) driving means for driving said protective cover to open and close in response to a change of said operation means between said first and second states thereof and to insert said auxiliary optical system into said optical path in response to a change of said operation means to said third state while having said protective cover kept at a predetermined open position thereof.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 133 words
A camera comprising: (a) a protective cover arranged to open and close a front surface of a photo-taking optical system; (b) an auxiliary optical system arranged to move into and out of an optical path of said photo-taking optical system, said auxiliary optical system being arranged to be operable independently of said protective cover; (c) operation means arranged to be changeable between first, second and third states thereof; and (d) driving means for driving said protective cover to open and close in response to a change of said operation means between said first and second states thereof and to insert said auxiliary optical system into said optical path in response to a change of said operation means to said third state while having said protective cover kept at a predetermined open position thereof.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 14 words
A camera according to claim 24, wherein said auxiliary optical system includes a filter.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 53 words
A camera according to claim 24, further comprising: inhibiting means for inhibiting a photographing operation while said auxiliary optical system is in the process of coming into or moving out of the optical path of said photo-taking optical system and before completion thereof even when said protective cover is in an open state.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 14 words
A camera according to claim 26, wherein said auxiliary optical system includes a filter.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 28 words
A camera according to claim 24, further comprising: informing means for informing the state of said auxiliary optical system coming into or moving out of said optical path.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 24 words
A camera according to claim 24, further comprising an elastic member for associating said protective cover and said auxiliary optical system with each other.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 67 words
A camera according to claim 24, wherein said driving means drives said protective cover and said auxiliary optical system integrally in response to said change of said operation means between said first and second state thereof, and drives said auxiliary optical system, independently from said protective cover, while said lens cover is maintained at said predetermined open position in response to said change of said operation means.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 25 words
A camera according to claim 30, further comprising a toggle spring for biasing said protective cover and said auxiliary optical system in the driving direction.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 131 words
A camera comprising: (a) a protective cover arranged to open and close a front surface of a photo-taking optical system; (b) an auxiliary optical system arranged to move into and out of an optical path of said photo-taking optical system, said auxiliary optical system being arranged to be operable independently of said protective cover; (c) operation means sequentially shiftable from first, second and third positions; and (d) drive means for driving said protective cover to open in response to the shift of said operation means from said first position to said second position, and for driving said auxiliary optical system into said optical path while maintaining said protective cover in a predetermined opened position in response to the shift of said operation means from said second position to said third position.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim 131 words
A camera comprising: (a) a protective cover arranged to open and close a front surface of a photo-taking optical system; (b) an auxiliary optical system arranged to move into and out of an optical path of said photo-taking optical system, said auxiliary optical system being arranged to be operable independently of said protective cover; (c) operation means sequentially shiftable from first, second and third positions; and (d) drive means for driving said protective cover to open in response to the shift of said operation means from said first position to said second position, and for driving said auxiliary optical system into said optical path while maintaining said protective cover in a predetermined opened position in response to the shift of said operation means from said second position to said third position.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim 48 words
A camera according to claim 32, wherein said drive means includes inversion means for inverting the driving direction of said auxiliary optical system while it shifts in one direction to drive said auxiliary optical system out of said optical path and again drive it into said optical path.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim 14 words
A camera according to claim 33, wherein said auxiliary optical system includes a filter.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim 76 words
A camera comprising: (a) a protective cover arranged to open and close a front surface of a photo-taking optical system; (b) an auxiliary optical system arranged to move into and out of an optical path of said photo-taking optical system; (c) informing means for informing, within a view finder, a moving condition of said auxiliary optical system; and (d) switching means for rendering said information means inoperative when said protective cover is in a close state.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim 76 words
A camera comprising: (a) a protective cover arranged to open and close a front surface of a photo-taking optical system; (b) an auxiliary optical system arranged to move into and out of an optical path of said photo-taking optical system; (c) informing means for informing, within a view finder, a moving condition of said auxiliary optical system; and (d) switching means for rendering said information means inoperative when said protective cover is in a close state.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim 14 words
A camera according to claim 35, wherein said auxiliary optical system includes a filter.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim 58 words
A camera according to claim 35, wherein, when said protective cover is in a state of covering the front surface of said photo-taking optical system, said auxiliary optical system is in a state of being interposed in between said protective cover and said photo-taking optical system and is also covering the front surface of said photo-taking optical system.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2482571A Cited
US2952195A Cited
US3611896A Cited
US3633475A Cited
JPS58138925A Cited
JPS58157311A Cited
US4597657A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1990-07-20 1991-01-19 1991-07-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1994-07-20 1995-01-19 1995-07-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1998-07-20 1999-01-19 1999-07-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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