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Digital Camera Patent Abstract
A protective device for a digital camera viewfinder of the LCD screen
type includes a generally planar frame adapted to fit around edges
of the viewfinder. The frame includes a connector for connecting
the frame around the viewfinder. A window viewing portion is generally
in the plane of the frame and is surrounded and enclosed by the
frame, providing unobstructed viewing of the LCD screen through
the window viewing portion.
Digital Camera Patent Claims
1. A protective device for a digital camera view finder including
a LCD screen, the device comprising: a window adapted to fit around
edges of the viewfinder; said window including a connector for connecting
said window around the viewfinder; said window providing unobstructed
viewing of said LCD screen therethrough.
2. The protective device of claim 1 wherein said device comprises
plastic material.
3. The protective device of claim 2 wherein said window is scratch
resistant.
4. The protective device of claim 2 wherein said window comprises
a Lexan.RTM. plastic material.
5. A protective device for a digital camera view finder including
a LCD screen, the device comprising: a generally planar frame adapted
to fit around edges of the viewfinder; said frame including a connector
for connecting said frame around the viewfinder; and a window viewing
portion generally in the plane of said frame and surrounded and
enclosed by said frame providing unobstructed viewing of said LCD
screen through said window viewing portion.
6. The protective device of claim 5 wherein said device comprises
plastic material.
7. The protective device of claim 6 wherein said window viewing
portion is scratch resistant.
8. The protective device of claim 6 wherein said window viewing
portion comprises a Lexan.RTM. plastic material.
Digital Camera Patent Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a division of U.S. application Ser.
No. 10/047,963, filed Jan. 15, 2002, which claims the benefit of
U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/274,141, filed Mar. 8, 2001.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This invention relates to protective devices for digital
camera LCD screens and more particularly to a device that allows
viewing of the LCD screen through the device while the device is
protecting the LCD screen. The device also provides a mount for
a glare reduction device allowing the LCD screen to be viewed easily
in outdoor sunlight.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] It is known in the art relating to digital cameras to provide
an opaque cover fittable over a LCD screen to protect the LCD screen
when the camera is not in use. When the camera is being used the
cover must be removed rendering the LCD screen susceptible to damage.
[0004] Often digital cameras are used outside and at sporting events.
Professional photographers may use many cameras in their work. When
covering an event the photographer may have three or more cameras,
each with a different lens, strapped around her neck. Some photographers
leave the protective coverings off their cameras exposing the LCD
screens to damage caused by the camera bodies swinging around and
hitting the LCD screens. Other photographers deal with the task
of taking off and putting on the opaque protective coverings. Often
these protective coverings are lost in the field during camera use.
[0005] Furthermore, when these digital cameras with LCD screens
are used in bright light, the photographer often has to shield the
camera LCD screen so that the screen can be viewed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention provides a protector accessory which
mounts over a LCD screen of a digital camera such as for example
among others the Nikon D1. The protector includes a viewing portion
of an optically clear plastic that allows the LCD screen to be viewed
through the viewing portion. The viewing portion may be scratch
resistant and preferably is clear Lexan.RTM. plastic. The protector
also includes a mounting portion having mounts for mounting the
protector about the LCD screen. The mounting portion surrounds the
viewing portion and preferably the two portions are made as one
plastic injection molded part.
[0007] When mounted about the LCD screen, the protector protects
the LCD screen while allowing simultaneous viewing thereof.
[0008] In one embodiment of the protector, the mounting portion
includes at least one connector for connecting a glare reducing
device to the protector. The connector may be a tab, flange, or
other means for connecting the glare reducing device to the protector.
The glare reducing device includes a cooperating connector. The
glare reducing device is of a tubular shape and eliminates glare
associated with outside viewing of the camera LCD screen. The glare
reducing device may be of flexible or rigid construction and may
have straight walls or be of a collapsible bellows construction.
[0009] These and other features and advantages of the invention
will be more fully understood from the following detailed description
of the invention taken together with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] In the drawings:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a digital camera having
a LCD viewing screen;
[0012] FIGS. 2A-2E are various views of a digital camera LCD screen
protector constructed in accordance with the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the digital camera of FIG.
1 having the LCD screen protector of FIGS. 2A-2E mounted about the
LCD viewing screen;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the digital camera of FIG.
1 having a glare reducing device connected to the LCD screen protector
of FIGS. 2A-2E mounted about the LCD viewing screen;
[0015] FIGS. 5A-5E are various views of a glare reducing device
constructed in accordance with the present invention illustrating
its connection to the LCD screen cap; and
[0016] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the digital camera of FIG.
1 illustrating a glare reduction having rigid walls mounted on the
protector.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] Referring now to the drawings in detail, a protective device
according to the invention is generally indicated by reference numeral
20 and is adapted for use with a digital camera 22 having a LCD
viewfinder 24. As is hereinafter more fully described, the protective
device 20 provides protection to the LCD viewfinder 24 while allowing
the LCD display to be viewed therethrough. Furthermore, the protective
device 20 provides for the mounting of various glare reducing and/or
eliminating devices on the device as is more fully hereinafter described.
[0018] In FIG. 1 there is illustrated a digital camera 22 that
includes a LCD viewfinder 24. A frame 26 of the viewfinder 24 includes
a plurality of attachment features 28. The protective device 20
is attachable to the attachment features 28 to mount the protective
device to the viewfinder 24 as shown in FIG. 4.
[0019] FIGS. 2A through 2E illustrate an embodiment of the protective
device 20. Protective device 20 includes a frame 30 adapted to fit
around the frame 26 of the viewfinder 24. Frame 30 includes connectors
32 for connecting the frame to the viewfinder. Connectors 32 correspond
with attachment features 28 and together the connectors and attachment
features provide a snap-fit attachment that connects the frame 30
to edges of the viewfinder 24.
[0020] Protective device 20 includes a window viewing portion 34
surrounded and supported by frame 30. Window viewing portion 34
is transparent and may be integral with frame 30 or alternatively
set into the frame. Window viewing portion 34 is preferably made
of a scratch resistant plastic and clear Lexan.RTM. plastic has
found wide acceptance and serviceablity as a plastic of choice.
[0021] The protective device 20 also includes mounts 36 disposed
on frame 30 for mounting a glare reduction device on the protective
device and thereby on the camera 22. Mounts 36 are illustrated as
a pair tabs 38 extending outwardly from frame 30 to which a glare
reduction device is adapted to be attached as hereinafter more fully
described.
[0022] Referring to FIGS. 5A through 5E there is shown a glare
reduction device 40 that is adapted to fit onto the protective device
20 via a cooperable connector 42 connecting with tabs 38. Glare
reduction device 40 is a bellows type glare reduction device having
side walls 44 which are expandable to form a tubular shape and collapsible
to flatten against the frame 30. Glare reduction device 40 may be
made of any flexible material and is preferably formed from a rubberized
plastic or fabric material.
[0023] Alternatively a glare reduction device 50 of a rigid construction
having at least three rigid side members 52 may be adapted for use
in combination with the protective device 20 and is shown in FIG.
6.
[0024] Although the invention has been described by reference to
specific embodiments, it should be understood that numerous changes
may be made within the spirit and scope of the inventive concepts
described. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention not be
limited to the described embodiments, but that it have the full
scope defined by the language of the following claims. |