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Digital Camera Patent Abstract
A protective case for a digital camera. The case has a retainer
for holding the camera and a protective sleeve that slips over the
retainer and camera, thereby forming a complete enclosure for the
camera. The sleeve is pivotably attached to the retainer and, due
to an extendable hinge means, is able to pivot 270 degrees about
a pivot point on the retainer. By doing so, a surface of the sleeve
is brought directly beneath the base of the retainer in a manner
that provides support for the retainer. A leg means is also incorporated
into the sleeve. This leg may be pulled away from the sleeve. The
sleeve and leg together, when resting on a flat surface, provide
a support for the retainer and the camera.
Digital Camera Patent Claims
1: A case for a handheld device, said case comprising: a protective
sleeve having a closed sleeve side; a retainer having a retainer
base; and a hinge means; wherein said protective sleeve is pivotably
attached to a pivot point on said hinge means to said retainer,
so as to pivot about said closed sleeve side 270 degrees such that
said closed sleeve side serves as a support surface for said retainer
base.
2: The case of claim 1, wherein said hinge means is an extendable
hinge means for lowering said pivot point away from said retainer.
3: The case of claim 2, wherein said retainer has a side wall with
an open end and a slide channel, and wherein said extendable hinge
means includes a hinge slide with a hinge and hinge pin provided
at a lower end of said hinge slide, and wherein said hinge slide
is slidingly captured in said slide channel such through said open
end such that a distance of said hinge pin to said retainer base
is adjustable.
4: The case of claim 3, wherein said hinge slide has stop guides
and wherein said slide channel has a slide stop such that said stop
guides and said slide stop limit travel of said hinge slide within
said slide channel.
5: The case of claim 1, wherein said protective sleeve has an open
sleeve side and where said protective sleeve is rotatable 270 degrees
about said pivot point, so that said open sleeve side provides a
free-standing support means for supporting said protective sleeve
and said retainer on a surface.
6: The case of claim 5, wherein said protective sleeve has an upper
sleeve face and wherein a leg pivot means is pivotably attached
to said upper sleeve face so as to pivot away from said upper sleeve
face and provide a support leg for supporting said retainer on a
surface.
7: The case of claim 1, wherein said retainer further includes
a rear retainer face, a front retainer face, and two retainer sidewalls
therebetween, wherein said front retainer face is an open face provided
with retaining means to hold a camera, and wherein said camera is
insertable into said retainer from above and operable while held
within said retainer.
8: The case of claim 1, wherein said camera has a control panel
and an LCD viewfinder and said rear retainer face is provided with
a control-panel aperture and an LCD-viewfinder aperture such that
said camera is operatable while said camera is held within said
retainer.
9: The case of claim 8, wherein said LCD viewfinder aperture has
a removable plug such that said removable plug may be placed into
said LCD viewfinder aperture to protect said LCD viewfinder on said
camera.
10: The case of claim 10, wherein said removable plug is transparent
so that said camera is operable without removing said removable
plug.
11: The case of claim 1 further comprising a storage means with
an access slot, wherein said sleeve has a sleeve wall and said storage
means is formed by a recess in said sleeve wall and a frame, and
wherein a storage device is slidably insertable into said storage
means via said access slot.
12: The case of claim 11, wherein said access slot is provided
on an outer face of said sleeve wall.
13: The case of claim 12, wherein said storage means has an extraction
aperture for allowing a user to push said storage device out of
said storage means.
Digital Camera Patent Description
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to the field of cases cases for handheld
devices. More particularly, the invention relates to a protective
case for a digital camera.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Digital cameras are widely used today. As with all electronic
devices, cameras are delicate. For this reason, care must be taken
in their storage and handling and most users carry their camera
in a protective camera case. Typically, the protective case is constructed
of a sturdy, rigid material that securely holds the camera and protects
it from damage. Ideally, the case allows easy access to the camera
that makes it readily available for immediate use. Often, in order
to use the camera, a protective cover of the camera case must be
separated and removed from the case. In some cases, even the camera
must be removed from the case. It is a disadvantage to not be able
to use the camera while it is in the case and it is a further disadvantage
that the user must keep track of the whereabouts of the case, or
at least the case cover.
[0005] Users often have difficulty holding a camera steady enough
to capture a clear image and it is often advantageous to use a sturdy,
stand-alone platform to support the camera. A camera tripod is typically
used for such a purpose. If such a stand is desired, then the user
must provide, carry, assemble, and keep track of the tripod, a separate
device that is often quite large and bulky.
[0006] Data for digital photographs may be conveniently stored
on a digital storage device, also called a picture card. The advantages
of the picture card are that it is readily interchangeable with
other picture cards, and easily inserted into or removed from the
camera. Users often carry spare picture cards so as to have the
extra storage available. As with all electronic storage media, care
must be taken in storing and handling such cards. The conventional
picture card is small and flat, and easily transportable. It is
also easily misplaced or damaged. Protective cases for digital storage
devices, including picture cards, are known, but, being separate
from the camera case, the user may have to search around to locate
the case. This is a disadvantage when the user is in the middle
of taking photographs and would like to exchange the storage device
quickly.
[0007] What is needed, therefore, is a protective case for a camera
that allows the camera to be used while in the case. What is further
needed is such a case in which the lid remains attached to the protective
case and does not encumber use of the camera. What is yet further
needed is such a case that facilitates a steady hold on the camera
and that may also serve as a stand-alone support for the camera.
What is still yet further needed is such a case that provides a
means for handily storing digital storage devices used by the camera.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The above-cited needs are satisfied by a digital camera
case that securely holds and protects a digital camera. The digital
camera case according to the invention comprises a retainer, a protective
sleeve, a hinge means for pivotably connecting the protective sleeve
to the retainer, and an optional support leg or strut. The protective
sleeve pivots away from the retainer, exposing the front face of
the camera, as well as the viewfinder and the control panel on the
rear face of the camera. The sleeve is able to rotate through a
270-degree arc, bringing the sleeve down below the retainer in a
manner that allows the base of the retainer to be supported on the
sleeve. In this orientation, the protective sleeve may serve as
a handle for the user to grasp, or may serve as a stand-alone support
stand for the retainer and camera. The optional strut or support
leg is incorporated into the sleeve and may be pulled out as needed
to provide additional support.
[0009] The retainer has an open front face, providing an unimpeded
field of view for the camera lens. Apertures are provided on a rear
face of the retainer, providing access to the LCD viewfinder and
the control panel or buttons on the rear face of the digital camera.
The apertures may be fitted with easily removable plugs, for added
protection of the camera when it is not in use. For example, a clear
plastic plug may be used to protect the LCD viewfinder.
[0010] In the closed or 0-degree rotation position, the protective
sleeve covers the retainer and, together with the retainer, provides
a secure, completely closed protective case for the camera. The
hinge means for pivotably connecting the protective sleeve with
the retainer is extendable relative to the body of the retainer,
thus allowing the protective sleeve to pivot through an arc of 270
degrees. In the fully open or 270-degree position, the protective
sleeve is directly beneath the base of the retainer and the retainer
rests securely and squarely on top of the protective sleeve. The
protective sleeve, in this orientation, may serve as a handle that
provides a comfortable and secure means for the user to hold the
camera.
[0011] The protective sleeve of the digital camera case may also
serve as a stand-alone support stand, either with or without the
optional leg. The support leg is pivotably attached to the protective
sleeve. When not in use, the leg lies flat in a channel provided
therefore in a surface of the sleeve. When needed to provide additional
support to the sleeve that is now serving as a stand-alone support
stand, the leg is pivoted away from the body of the sleeve. The
leg now, together with the sleeve, forms a triangular support stand,
similar in function to that of the well-known tripod. If the sleeve,
in this 270-degree orientation, is placed upon a flat surface, it
and the leg provide a support stand that holds the retainer with
digital camera in a steady position. A strap loop is attached to
the foot end of the leg and may be used to attach a strap or cord
to the digital camera case.
[0012] A storage means for storing a digital storage device may
also be incorporated into the case as an optional feature. Such
a digital storage device includes conventional digital media or
picture cards. The storage means is formed by a recess and a frame
in a side wall of the protective sleeve. The recess extends outward
from an inner face of the side wall and the frame is mounted over
the recess on the inner face. The frame is open at one edge, allowing
the picture cards to be slidably inserted into or removed from the
storage area. Depending on the type and size of the storage device,
the frame may be subdivided into compartments to accommodate several
storage devices. The frame and the recess may be adapted to store
any size, shape, and number of digital storage devices known to
the art.
[0013] The digital camera case according to the invention is preferably
constructed of a rigid material, such as metal, plastic, or other
form rigid material that provides the necessary rigidity and strength
to protect the camera stored within the case. The inside of the
digital camera case may be lined with a material that supports,
holds in place the device being held by the case, and/or provides
some shock absorption.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The present invention is described with reference to the
accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate
identical or functionally similar elements.
[0015] FIG. 1 is an illustration of the digital camera case according
to the invention, showing the retainer, the protective sleeve, the
extendable hinge means, and the support leg, whereby the protective
sleeve and leg are serving as a stand-alone support.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the front of the closed
digital camera case.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rear of the closed digital
camera case.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a top planar view of the retainer, showing the
slide channel and the open front face.
[0019] FIG. 5A illustrates the hinge means, with the hinge slide
retracted into the retainer.
[0020] FIG. 5B illustrates the hinge means, with the hinge slide
in a fully extended position.
[0021] FIG. 6A is a partial elevational view of the digital camera
case, with the protective sleeve rotated 180 degrees from the closed
position.
[0022] FIG. 6B is a partial elevational view of the digital camera
case with the protective sleeve rotated 180 degrees from the close
position and with the hinge means extended.
[0023] FIG. 7A is a top plane view of the digital camera case of
FIG. 2.
[0024] FIG. 7B is an elevational view of the leg rotated slightly
away from the upper sleeve face.
[0025] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the sleeve, showing the
open side and channel for the leg.
[0026] FIG. 8A is a elevational view of the inner face of the rear
sleeve wall of the protective sleeve, showing the storage means
for storing storage devices.
[0027] FIG. 8B is a top plane partial view of the rear sleeve wall,
showing the storage means with insert slot for storing storage devices.
[0028] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the leg pivot means.
[0029] FIG. 10 illustrates the sleeve serving as a handle for the
human hand to grasp.
[0030] FIG. 11 shows the removable plug for the aperture for the
LCD viewfinder.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0031] FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a digital camera case 100 according
to the invention that is a protective case for a digital camera.
FIG. 1 illustrates a key feature of the invention: the ability of
the protective sleeve 150 to support the retainer and thereby to
serve as a stand-alone support or as a handle. FIGS. 2 and 3 show
perspective views of the front and rear faces of the closed digital
camera case 100, respectively. The digital camera case 100 comprises
a retainer 110, a protective sleeve 150, an extendable hinge means
130, and a leg means 170. The retainer 110 and the protective sleeve
150 are pivotably connected to one another via the hinge means 130.
In the closed position, also referred to as a "0-degree"
position, the protective sleeve 150 covers the retainer 110 and
the camera is completely enclosed within the digital camera case
100, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The protective sleeve 150 has a
front sleeve wall 150A, a rear sleeve wall 150B, a closed sleeve
side 150C, an upper sleeve face 150D, and an open sleeve side 150E.
Closure means 151 are provided on the digital camera case 100 to
releasably secure the sleeve 150 over the retainer 110. In the embodiment
shown, the closure means 151 comprise a conventional closure, such
as a mating button and recess configuration with an interference
fit that serves to hold the protective sleeve 150 over the retainer
110, until intentionally released. It should be understood that
any suitable closure means 151 may be used, such as snap pawls,
snap buttons, latches, straps, etc.
[0032] FIG. 10 is an illustration of the digital camera case 100,
in the orientation shown in FIG. 1, with the leg means 170 folded
up against the protective sleeve 150. The protective sleeve 150
serves as a handle and, as shown, may be grasped by a hand.
[0033] FIG. 4, along with FIG. 1, illustrates the open contour
of the retainer 110. A camera C is drawn in with dashed lines for
illustration purposes. The retainer 110 has a rear retainer face
110B, a front retainer face 110A, two retainer sidewalls 110D, and
a retainer base 110C. The rear retainer face 110B faces the user
when the camera C is being used in a conventional manner. A control
panel aperture 117 and an LCD viewfinder aperture 119 are provided
in the rear retainer face 110B, to enable operation of the camera
C while it is in the retainer 110. The front retainer face 110A
is an open face, with edges that are wide enough to hold the camera
C within the retainer, yet narrow enough to provide an unimpeded
field of view for the camera lens. The camera C is inserted from
above into the retainer 110. Two channel guides 126 form a slide
channel 125 in one of the side walls 110D.
[0034] FIGS. 5A and 5B are cross-sectional views of the sidewall
110D, showing the extendable hinge means 130 assembled in the sidewall
110D. These figures illustrate that the extendable hinge means 130
is extendable relative to the body of the retainer 110. The hinge
means 130 includes a hinge slide 132 captured in the slide channel
125 and a hinge pin 157 in a lower end 133 of the hinge slide 132.
FIG. 5A shows the hinge slide 132 in its retracted position within
the slide channel 125, with just the lower end 133 extending beyond
the side wall 110D. The slide channel 125 is open at the bottom,
allowing the body of the hinge slide 132 to move slidingly through
the opening. The lower end 133 of the hinge slide 132 is dimensioned
such that it cannot move into the slide channel 125. A slide stop
129 is provided in the slide channel 125. Stop guides 139 on the
hinge slide 132 limit the travel of the slide 132 against the slide
stop 129. FIG. 5B shows the same hinge slide 132 in its fully extended
position, with the lower end 133 of the hinge slide 132 moved downward
out of the slide channel 125.
[0035] FIGS. 6A and 6B are partial plane views of the digital camera
case 100, showing the fully retracted and fully extended positions
of the hinge slide 132, respectively. Rotational arrow A1 illustrates
the rotation of the protective sleeve 150 about the hinge pin 157.
When the protective sleeve 150 is in the 0-degree or closed position,
shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the lower end 133 of the hinge slide 132
is flush with the outer contour of the retainer 110. When the protective
sleeve 150 is rotated 180 degrees from the 0-degree position, the
retainer base 110C and the upper sleeve face 150D are aligned along
a parallel plane. When the hinge slide 132 pulled to its fully extended
position, the protective sleeve 150 is rotatable 270 degrees from
the 0-degree position and the upper sleeve face 150D is now beneath
the retainer base 110C and in an orientation to support the retainer
110, as shown in FIG. 1. In other embodiments, the lower end 133
of the hinge slide 132 containing the hinge pin 157 protrudes fixedly
below the retainer base 110C, so as to enable the protective sleeve
150 to swing about the retainer 110 without having the hinge means
having to be extendable. A leg means 170 is shown in FIG. 1, which
may be used optionally to provide additional support to the protective
sleeve 150, when the sleeve is used as a stand-alone support.
[0036] FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate the leg means 170 that is provided
in the upper sleeve face 150D of the protective sleeve 150. In the
embodiment shown, the leg means 170 includes a leg pivot means 172
that is incorporated into the upper sleeve face 150D, a pivot pin
175, and a strut or leg 171 that is coupled to the pivot pin 175.
As shown in FIG. 1, the leg 171, when rotated out away from the
body of the protective sleeve 150, provides a triangular support
leg for reliably supporting the retainer 110 on the protective sleeve
150. A strap loop 178 is provided at a lower end 170B of the leg
171. The user may attach a strap or cord to the strap loop 178,
that may be used to carry the digital camera case 100. A leg latching
means 177 is also provided, for securing the leg 171 against the
upper sleeve face 150D of the protective sleeve 150 when the leg
means 170 is not needed. In the embodiment shown, the leg latching
means 177 is a pawl that catches on a lower edge of the upper sleeve
face 150D of the sleeve 150. FIG. 7C shows an embodiment of the
leg pivot means 172.
[0037] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the sleeve 150, showing
the open side and providing orientation for FIGS. 8A and 8B, that
are plane views illustrating a storage means 180 for storing one
or more storage devices S (shown in dashed lines). The storage means
is a card retainer formed by a frame 182 that is fitted over a recess
153 that is formed in the inner face of the front sleeve wall 150A.
The recess 153 and the frame 182 form an insert slot 155, via which
the storage device S is inserted into or removed from the storage
means 180. The storage means 180 provides a protective enclosure
for storing spare storage devices S. Ideally, the frame 182 lies
within the frame recess 153, which is of sufficient depth so that
the body of the frame 182 is flush with the inside surface of the
protective sleeve 150 and does not protrude into the inner space
formed by the walls of the protective sleeve 150. The frame 182
may be constructed to have multiple compartments 188 so as to accommodate
multiple storage devices S. In the embodiment shown, and for illustration
purposes only, the storage means 180 has two compartments 188, separated
by a divider 186, to store two storage devices S. Although the slot
155 is open on the outside of the sleeve 150A, the storage devices
S are accessible only when the digital camera case 100 is open,
that is, with the protective sleeve 150 rotated away from the body
of the retainer 110. The storage devices S simply slide into the
storage means 180 via the slot 155, but fit snugly enough within
the storage means 180 that force must be exerted on them to move
them out of the storage means. A finger recess 183 provided on the
inner face of the front sleeve wall 150A is provided for this purpose
and allows the user to easily remove the storage device S from the
storage means 180. For convenience, a label aperture 184 is provided
in the frame 182, to enable the user to read the label on the storage
device S. The frame 182 is fixedly attached in the recess 153. In
the embodiment shown, adhesive is used to secure the frame 182 to
the protective sleeve 150, although any suitable means may be used,
such as a snap fit in which the frame 182 snaps into the rear sleeve
wall 150B or an arrangement in which the frame 182 slides into grooves
provided in the sleeve wall, etc. The storage means 180 shown in
FIGS. 8A and 8B is adapted to receive and hold XD picture cards,
although it should be understood that the storage means 180 may
be adapted to any store any size and shape digital storage devices
known to the art.
[0038] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a removable plug 121 that
may be provided to protect the LCD viewfinder on the digital camera
C, when it is not in use. In the embodiment shown, the plug 121
is constructed so as to snap into the LCD aperture 119. Ideally,
the removable plug 121 is transparent so that it is not necessary
to remove it in order to view images in the LCD viewfinder.
[0039] The size and shape of the digital camera case 100 is ideally
constructed to closely correspond to the size and shape of a particular
digital camera C. For illustration purposes, the particular embodiment
of the digital camera case 100 shown herein is a case for a Canon
Powershot SD20 camera. The number, size, shape and position of apertures
and plugs in the retainer 110 are similarly dependent upon the locations
of the operational components of the specific digital camera intended
to be stored within the case. The preferred embodiment of the invention
is for a handheld digital camera. The scope of the invention includes
a case for handheld devices.
[0040] The digital camera case 100 is preferably constructed of
a rigid material, such as metal, plastic, or other form rigid material
that provides the necessary rigidity and strength to protect the
camera stored within the case. The inside of the digital camera
case 100 may be lined with a material that supports and holds in
place the device being held by the case and/or provides some shock
absorption. In the preferred embodiment, the protective sleeve 150
is made of aluminum or magnesium and the retainer made of plastic.
The removable plug 121 is preferably constructed of a clear plastic.
[0041] The embodiments of the invention mentioned herein are merely
illustrative of the present invention. It should be understood that
a person skilled in the art may contemplate many variations in construction
of the present invention in view of the following claims without
straying from the intended scope and field of the invention herein
disclosed. |