JP2005303727A - Cover for electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cover for electronic equipment capable of operating a rotary operation member while the electronic equipment is covered. <P>SOLUTION: With a digital camera 10 housed in a cover body 22, an operation part 30 of a knob 24 is positioned almost coaxial with the center of rotation of an operation member 18, outside the cover body 22. When the operation part 30 is pushed in the operation member 18, the entire knob 24 displaces together with a cover piece 36 toward the operation member 18 side, allowing the outer peripheral part of a curved surface 32A of an engagement part 32 to engage with the outer peripheral part of the operation member 18. When the operation member 30 is rotated under the condition, the operation member 18 integrally rotates with the operation member 30 along with the engagement member 32, switching a photographing mode to a reproduction mode. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device cover which is placed on an electronic device and protects the electronic device from dust or water droplets.

An imaging device such as a digital camera or a video camera is used in a sports field, for example, in an athletic meet, or used in an outdoor soccer field, baseball field, or the like, and is covered with a cover to protect it from dust. Alternatively, it is used on the poolside or on the beach, and a cover is placed to protect it from water droplets.
As this type of cover, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 are known.
JP 2003-51974 A JP-A-9-179185

However, this type of conventional cover has a structure that covers the entire image pickup apparatus, and in order to operate the rotary operation member of the image pickup apparatus, the image pickup apparatus needs to be temporarily removed from the cover, which is inconvenient in terms of usability. Met. For example, when an image pickup apparatus is a digital camera or a video camera, when a captured image is played back on a liquid crystal panel, it is necessary to rotate a rotary operation member to switch from a shooting mode to a playback mode. It was necessary to take out the video camera from the cover each time, which was inconvenient in terms of usability.
The present invention has been devised in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a cover for an electronic device that can operate a rotary operation member in a state where the electronic device is covered. .

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a cover of an electronic apparatus having a casing and a rotary operation member provided on the surface of the casing, the cover main body covering the casing, and the cover main body And a knob rotatably provided at a position of the cover main body corresponding to the operation member in a state where the casing is covered with the knob, and the knob is located outside the cover main body and can be grasped by a finger. And the operation unit connected to the operation unit, facing the operation member inside the cover body, and displacing the operation unit to the operation member side to engage the operation member and rotate the operation unit. It has the engaging part which rotates the said operation member integrally with an operation part, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

According to the present invention, when the operating portion is pushed into the operating member, the engaging portion is engaged with the operating member. When the operation unit is rotated in this state, the operation member rotates together with the operation unit together with the engagement unit, and the rotary operation member is operated in a state where the electronic apparatus is accommodated in the cover.
Therefore, the usability of the cover can be improved, and the practical value and the commercial value as the cover of the electronic device can be significantly increased.

The present invention provides a cover body that covers a housing of an electronic device so as to be rotatable, an operation unit that is located outside the cover body and can be grasped by a finger, and is connected to the operation unit and covers the cover The above object is achieved by comprising an engaging portion that engages with the operation member by facing the operation member inside the main body and displacing the operation portion toward the operation member.
Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the electronic device cover of the present invention is applied to a digital camera which is an electronic device and is an imaging device will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, the outline of the digital camera will be described.
8A is a perspective view of the digital camera viewed from the front, and FIG. 8B is a perspective view of the digital camera viewed from the rear. In the embodiments, left and right refer to the left and right viewed from the rear of the camera.
The digital camera 10 includes a camera body 12 (corresponding to a casing in the claims) and a lens barrel 14. In the upper part of the camera body 12, there are provided recesses 1202 that open to the front, rear, and top and extend to the left and right.
The lens barrel 14 has a length in the left-right direction, and is incorporated in the recess 1202 of the camera body 12 so as to be rotatable about a virtual axis extending in the left-right direction.
The lens barrel 14 incorporates a photographic optical system that guides the subject image, an image sensor that captures the guided subject image, and the like, and a photographic optical system is provided on one side in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the lens barrel 14. A photographic lens 1402 and a strobe device 1404 are provided, and a finder window 1406 is provided on the other side. In FIGS. 8A and 8B, the lens barrel 14 is arranged so that the photographic lens 1402 faces the front. Shows the state of rotating (swinging).

A shutter button 1212 is provided on the upper right side of the camera body 12, a zoom switch 1214 is provided on the rear surface, and a liquid crystal panel 1216 on which images taken by the image sensor, various characters, symbols, and the like are displayed. A cross switch 1218 for displaying a menu on the liquid crystal panel 1216 and selecting an appropriate one of these menus is provided.
An interface connection terminal 1220 for communicating with an external device is provided at the lower part of the left side surface of the camera body 12, and a cover plate 1222 covering the connection terminal 1220 is provided so as to be openable and closable.
A battery housing chamber 1224 and a memory card housing chamber 1226 for recording captured image data are provided at the lower part of the right side surface of the camera body 12, and a cover plate 1228 covering these housing chambers 1224 and 1226 can be opened and closed. Is provided.

An operation member 18 (switching) for switching various modes such as a shooting mode such as manual shooting and auto shooting and a playback mode for displaying an image recorded on a memory card on the liquid crystal panel is provided on the upper right side of the camera body 12. Switch) is provided so as to be rotatable about a virtual axis extending in the left-right direction of the camera body 12.
The operation member 18 has an annular plate shape and is provided so as to protrude from the right side surface of the camera body 12.

Next, a cover that covers the digital camera having the above configuration will be described.
FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a cover in a state in which a digital camera is accommodated, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the cover in a state in which the digital camera is accommodated.
The cover 20 includes a cover main body 22 that covers the camera main body 12, and a knob 24 that is provided on the cover main body 22 and rotates the operation member 18.
The cover body 22 includes a front surface 22A, a rear surface 22B, an upper surface 22C, a lower surface 22D, a left surface 22E, and a right surface 22F that cover the front surface, rear surface, upper surface, lower surface, left side surface, and right side surface of the camera body 12, and is a flat rectangular shape. It is formed in a plate shape.
The cover body 22 is provided with a fastener 24, and the fastener 24 extends from the upper portion of the left side surface 22E to the middle portion in the vertical direction of the lower surface 22D and the right side surface 22F. The opening 24A along the fastener 24 formed by opening the fastener 24 is inserted into and removed from the cover 20 of the digital camera 10. After the digital camera 10 is inserted into the cover 20, the opening 24A is closed by closing the fastener 24. Is closed, and the digital camera 10 is accommodated and covered by the cover 20 to be protected from dust and water droplets.

The lower half portion of the front surface 22A of the cover body 22, the lower surface 22D, the left side surface 22E, and the right side surface 22F are made of a synthetic resin that is opaque, soft, and flexible, and a cushion material is attached to the inside thereof. .
Further, the upper half of the front surface 22A of the cover body 22, the rear surface 22B, and the upper surface 22C are made of a synthetic resin that is transparent, soft, and flexible.
Various materials known in the art can be used as opaque and soft synthetic resins and transparent and soft synthetic resins.
In the present embodiment, the cover 20 can be accommodated in the cover 20 so that the digital camera 10 can be photographed, that is, the lens barrel 14 is rotated (swinged) so that the photographing lens 1402 faces forward. As described above, a window portion 26 is formed so as to protrude from the upper half portion of the front surface 22 </ b> A of the cover main body 22.
The window 26 includes a rectangular frame-shaped frame member 2602 and a transparent plate 2606 provided in the opening 2604 on the front surface of the frame member 2602, and a vertical extension extending vertically in the center of the opening 2604 to reinforce the transparent plate 2606. A member 2608 is provided. The frame member 2602 and the vertical member 2608 are integrally provided, a synthetic resin harder than the cover body 22 is used as the frame member 2602, and a hard synthetic resin is used as the transparent plate 2606.

2 is a cross-sectional view of the knob portion, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of the knob and the operation member.
The knob 24 covers the camera body 12 with the cover 20 and is located at the position of the cover body 22 corresponding to the operation member 18, and therefore at the upper part of the right side surface 22 </ b> F, substantially in the same direction as the rotation center of the operation member 18. It is incorporated so as to be rotatable about a virtual axis extending to the center.
The knob 24 includes an operation unit 30 and an engagement unit 32.
The operation unit 30 is formed outside the cover main body 22 so as to be grasped by a finger. In the present embodiment, the operation unit 30 has a cylindrical shape, and the outer circumferential surface thereof is provided with irregularities so as to be easily grasped. The operation unit 30 is made of a hard synthetic resin so that it can be easily grasped.
The engaging part 32 is connected to the operating part 30 so as to move integrally with the operating part 30. The engaging portion 32 faces the operating member 18 inside the cover body 22 and displaces the operating portion 30 toward the operating member 18 to engage with the operating member 18 and rotate the operating portion 30, thereby rotating the operating portion 30. The operation member 18 is formed to rotate integrally.
In the present embodiment, a shaft portion 34 having a smaller cross section than the operation portion 30 and the engagement portion 32 is located between the operation portion 30 and the engagement portion 32, and the engagement portion 32 and the shaft portion 34 are It is integrally formed.
The tip of the engaging portion 32 is formed in a disc shape, and the portion where the disc-shaped portion is recessed toward the operation portion 30 is formed by a curved surface 30A. The diameter of the curved surface 30A is the diameter of the operation member 18 and the diameter of the operation portion 30. It is formed with a larger dimension.
When the engagement portion 32 is pressed against the operation member 18, the engagement portion 32 engages with the outer peripheral portion of the operation member 18 (friction engagement), and rotates the operation portion 30 so as to be integrated with the operation portion 30. It is comprised so that it can rotate. A material having a high friction coefficient is used as the engaging portion 32, and in this embodiment, a soft and transparent synthetic resin such as polypropylene or vinyl chloride or a soft and transparent rubber is used.

In the present embodiment, a window 2010 having a contour larger than that of the engaging portion 32 is formed on the upper side of the right side surface 22F, and is made of a synthetic resin that is transparent, soft, and flexible so as to cover the periphery of the window 2010. A cover piece 36 is attached to the upper part of the right side surface 22F.
The shaft portion 34 is the shaft of the cover piece 36 in a state where the operation portion 30 is located outside the cover body 22 (cover piece 36) and the engaging portion 32 is located inside the cover body 22 (cover piece 36). The shaft portion 34 and the operating portion 30 are integrally connected after the insertion, and the knob 24 is incorporated in the cover body 22 (cover piece 36).
In the present embodiment, a rubber packing 38 is attached to the outer periphery of the shaft portion 34 inside the cover piece 36 so as to close the gap between the shaft portion 34 and the shaft portion insertion hole 3602.
Further, in this embodiment, the engaging portion 32 is configured to be separated from the operating member 18 in a state where no force in the direction of the operating member 18 is applied to the operating portion 30.

According to the present embodiment, in a state where the digital camera 10 is accommodated in the cover main body 22, the operation portion 30 of the knob 24 is positioned substantially coaxially with the rotation center of the operation member 18 outside the cover main body 22. .
Accordingly, when the captured image is captured by the digital camera 10 in the state of being accommodated in the cover 20, when the captured image is reproduced on the liquid crystal panel, the operation member 18 is rotated by the operation of the operation unit 30, and is in the state of being accommodated in the cover 20. It is possible to switch the digital camera 10 from the shooting mode to the playback mode.
More specifically, when the operation portion 30 is pushed into the operation member 18, the entire knob 24 is displaced integrally with the cover piece 36 toward the operation member 18, and the outer peripheral portion of the curved surface 32 </ b> A of the engagement portion 32 is the outer periphery of the operation member 18. Engage with the part. When the operation unit 30 is rotated in this state, the operation member 18 rotates together with the operation unit 30 together with the engaging unit 32, and the photographing mode is switched to the reproduction mode.
Therefore, the usability of the cover 20 can be improved, and the practical value and the commercial value of the digital camera 10 as the cover 20 can be significantly increased.
Further, in this embodiment, since the location of the cover 20 where the knob 24 is disposed is formed using the transparent cover piece 36, the positional relationship between the operation member 18 and the engaging portion 32 can be easily set from the outside of the cover 20. This is advantageous for improving the operability of the knob 24. In the present embodiment, since the engaging portion 32 is formed using a transparent material, it is even more advantageous in visually recognizing the positional relationship between the working member 18 and the engaging portion 32 from the outside of the cover 20. .
Further, in this embodiment, since the engaging portion 32 is separated from the operation member 18 in a state where no force in the direction of the operation member 18 is applied to the operation portion 30, that is, when the knob 24 is not used, the operation portion 30. Even if the operation member 18 is hit, the operation member 18 is not immediately rotated, which is advantageous in preventing the operation member 18 from being inadvertently rotated.

Next, Example 2 will be described. In the following description of the embodiments, portions and members similar to those in the first embodiment will be described with the same reference numerals.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the knob portion of the second embodiment, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the knob and operation member of the second embodiment.
In the second embodiment, the shape of the end surface 18A of the operation member 18 and the shape of the engaging portion 32 of the knob 24 are different from those of the first embodiment.
In the second embodiment, a plurality of (three) pins 18 </ b> B protrude from the end surface 18 </ b> A of the operation member 18 on a single circumference centered on the rotation center of the operation member 18 at equal intervals. .
Further, the portion of the engaging portion 24 facing the end surface 18A of the operating member 18 is formed by a curved surface 32B that is recessed toward the operating portion 30 side, and the pin 18B is disposed on the curved surface 32B with the rotation center of the knob 24 as the center. A plurality (six) of engagement holes 32C are formed on the circumference having the same dimensions as the circumference at intervals of half the interval.

According to the second embodiment, when the operation unit 30 is pushed into the operation member 18 and the operation unit 30 is rotated, the pin 18B and the engagement hole 32C are engaged, and the operation member 18 and the engagement unit 32 are more reliably connected. It is connected so that it can rotate integrally. When the operation unit 30 is rotated in this state, the operation member 18 is reliably rotated integrally with the operation unit 30 together with the engagement unit 32, and the photographing mode is switched to the reproduction mode.
Accordingly, when the captured image is captured by the digital camera 10 in the state of being accommodated in the cover 20, when the captured image is reproduced on the liquid crystal panel, the operation member 18 is rotated by the operation of the operation unit 30, and is in the state of being accommodated in the cover 20. The digital camera 10 can be switched from the shooting mode to the playback mode, the usability of the cover 20 can be improved, and the practical value and the commercial value of the digital camera 10 as the cover 20 can be significantly increased.
The pin 18B may be provided in the engaging portion 32, and the engaging hole 32C may be provided in the end surface 18A of the operating member 18, and the cylindrical pin 18B or the circular engaging hole 32C is limited as in the embodiment. In short, any configuration may be used as long as the convex portion and the concave portion are engaged and the operation member 18 and the engaging portion 32 are coupled so as to be integrally rotatable.
In the second embodiment, the pin 18B and the engagement hole 32C are engaged, whereby the operation member 18 and the engagement portion 32 are coupled so as to be integrally rotatable, so that the material used is as in the first embodiment. Alternatively, it may be formed of a synthetic resin having a high friction coefficient, or may be formed of a hard synthetic resin having a low friction coefficient.

Next, Example 3 will be described.
6 is a cross-sectional view of the knob portion of the third embodiment, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the knob and the operation member of the third embodiment.
In the third embodiment, the power switch 40 can be pressed at the rotation center of the operation member 18 in a direction orthogonal to the surface on which the operation member 18 rotates, that is, in the left-right direction of the camera body 12 (the pressing type of the claims) Corresponding to this, a pressing pin 50 for pressing the power switch 40 is provided on the knob 24 correspondingly.
More specifically, a hole 52 is provided through the operating portion 30 and the engaging portion 32 through the rotation center of the knob 24, and the pressing pin 50 is disposed in the hole 52. The pressing pin 50 has a distal end portion 5002 that can be engaged with the power switch 40 locked to a stepped portion of the hole 52, and is biased outward by a spring 5006 interposed between the proximal end portion 5004 and the hole 52. Has been.
Then, the engaging portion 32 is separated from the operation member 18 and the pressing pin 50 is separated from the power switch 40 in a state where no force in the direction of the operation member 18 is applied to the operation portion 30, and the operation member 30 is moved to the operation portion 30. When a force in 18 directions is applied and the pressing pin 50 is pressed in a state where the engaging portion 32 is engaged with the operating member 18, the tip end portion 5002 presses the power switch 40, and the power is turned on / off. It is configured as follows.
According to the third embodiment, it is a matter of course that the operation member 18 can be rotated by the knob 24 in the state where the digital camera 10 is accommodated in the cover 20, and further, the pressing pin 50 It is also possible to switch the power switch 40 by operation, so that the usability of the cover 20 can be improved, and the practical value and the commercial value of the digital camera 10 as the cover 20 can be further increased.

  In the first to third embodiments, the case where the electronic device is a digital camera has been described. However, the electronic device to which the present invention is applied is not limited to a digital camera or a video camera. It has a rotary operation member (or switch) provided on the surface, and is widely applied to all electronic devices that are required to be dustproof, dripproofed or waterproofed.

It is explanatory drawing of the cover of the state which accommodated the digital camera. It is sectional drawing of the knob part of a cover. It is explanatory drawing of a knob and an operation member. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a knob portion of a cover according to Embodiment 2. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of a knob and an operation member. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a knob portion of a cover of Example 3. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of a knob and an operation member. It is explanatory drawing of a digital camera.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Digital camera, 12 ... Camera body, 18 ... Operation member, 20 ... Cover, 24 ... Knob, 30 ... Operation part, 32 ... Engagement part.

Claims (12)

A cover of an electronic device having a housing and a rotary operation member provided on the surface of the housing,
A cover body covering the housing;
A knob provided rotatably at a position of the cover main body corresponding to the operation member in a state where the casing is covered by the cover main body,
The knob is located outside the cover body and can be gripped by a finger, and is connected to the operation part and faces the operation member inside the cover body to displace the operation part to the operation member side. And an engaging portion that rotates the operating member integrally with the operating portion by engaging with the operating member and rotating the operating portion.
An electronic device cover characterized by that.   The electronic device cover according to claim 1, wherein the engagement portion is separated from the operation member in a state where no force is applied to the operation portion in the direction of displacement.   The electronic device cover according to claim 1, wherein the portion of the cover body is formed of a flexible material that allows displacement of the knob toward the operation member.   The knob has a shaft portion having a smaller cross section than the operation portion and the engagement portion between the operation portion and the engagement portion, and a shaft portion insertion hole through which the shaft portion is inserted through the cover. The electronic device cover according to claim 1, wherein the shaft portion is inserted into a shaft portion insertion hole, and the knob is disposed at a location of the cover.   The electronic device cover according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the cover on which the knob is disposed is formed of a transparent material.   The operation portion is formed in a columnar shape, and the portion where the engagement portion faces the operation portion is formed in a disk shape that is coaxial with the operation portion and has a diameter larger than that of the operation portion and the operation member. The electronic device cover according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the cover to be provided and the engaging portion are formed of a transparent material.   The electronic device cover according to claim 1, wherein the rotation center of the operation member and the rotation center of the knob are located substantially on the same axis in a state where the casing is covered with the cover body.   The portion of the engaging portion facing the operation member is formed with a curved surface that has a larger inner diameter than the operation member and is recessed toward the operation portion side that can be engaged with the outer peripheral portion of the operation member. The cover for electronic equipment according to claim 1.   A convex portion is provided on one of the operating member and the engaging portion, and a concave portion that engages with the convex portion is provided on the other. When the operating portion is displaced toward the operating member, the convex portion and the The electronic device cover according to claim 1, wherein the operation member and the engaging portion are engaged with each other so as to be integrally rotatable by engaging the concave portion.   A push-type operation member is provided at the rotation center of the operation member so as to be capable of being pressed in a direction orthogonal to the surface on which the operation member rotates, and penetrates the operation portion and the engagement portion at the rotation center of the knob. The electronic device cover according to claim 1, further comprising a pressing pin that is biased toward the operation portion and capable of pressing the pressing operation member.   The electronic device cover according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is an imaging device. The electronic device is an imaging device, and a liquid crystal panel that displays a photographed image is provided on the housing, and the operation member includes a photographing mode for photographing the image and a reproduction mode for reproducing the photographed image on the liquid crystal panel. The electronic device cover according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device cover is a mode changeover switch for switching between and.

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