Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02399306 2002-09-05
TITLE: WEATHER RESISTANT CAMERA COVER
INVENTOR: DANIEL W. A. LITTLE
CA 02399306 2002-09-05
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FIELD 4F THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to camera covers and
more particularly to weather resistant camera covers.
BACKGROUND OF TIDE INVENTION
[0002] It is common to use a camera, both a still picture camera
and a video camera, in indoor and outdoor environments. When used
outdoors, typically, cameras are easy to use. However, there are
at least two main environmental considerations when using a camera
crutdoors .
[0003] One main consideration is that of sunlight, to ensure
that photographs are properly exposed. This consideration is
readily taken care of either automatically or manually through
proper camera exposure settings, and also by taking care that the
direction of view of the camera is acceptable with respect to the
position of intense sources of light, such as the sun.
[0004] The second consideration is that of inclement weather, or
more particularly precipitation, both rain and snow. It is highly
undesirable to use a camera in a situation where it would be
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exposed to rain or snow for a variety of reasons. Cameras are
electronic and/or mechanical devices and should not get wet.
Further, it is undesirable to have moisture on the lens, as this
would show up on any pictures taken.
X0005] Typically, in the rain, it is necessary to take cover
under shelter in order to take pictures. Often, it is not possible
t:o take cover under shelter and accordingly there are many
occasions when it is not possible to take pictures without getting
t:he camera wet, which is unacceptable.
60006] Some cameras have protective type cases that permit use
of the camera while the case is in place on the camera. However,
many protective type camera cases do not permit substantially full
access to the various controls of the camera. Further, such
protective type cases are not available for most cameras.
r4oreover, such protective type cases do not completely cover the
camera while the camera is in use, and accordingly, it is still not
possible to use the camera during rainy or snowy weather conditions
without getting the camera wet, which is unacceptable.
X0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
weather resistant camera cover.
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[0008] It is another object of the present invention to provide
a weather resistant camera cover that permits the use of the camera
while the cover is in place.
[0009] It is yet another object of the present invention to
~>rovide a weather resistant camera cover that permits substantially
full access to the controls of a camera.
[00010] It is a further object of the present invention to
provide a weather resistant camera cover that completely covers a
camera while the camera is in use.
[00011] It is another object of the present invention to provide
a weather resistant camera cover that permits a camera to be used
during inclement weather.
SI;I1~RY OF THE INVENTION
[00012] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention
there is disclosed a novel weather resistant camera cover
comprising a pre-shaped main body shell that is semi-rigid yet
resiliently deformable and that defines a camera receiving-interior
cavity. The main body shell retains in substantially surrounded
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relation a camera disposed in the interior cavity. A camera-
receiving opening is disposed in the main body shell to permit a
camera to egress into an egress from the camera-receiving interior
cavity. The main body shell comprises a thin flexible plastic
material.
000013] In accordance with another aspect of the present
9_nvention there is disclosed a novel weather resistant camera
cover comprises a main body shell having a front portion, a back
portion, a left side portion, a right side portion, a top portion,
and a bottom portion that together define a camera receiving-
interior cavity. The main body shell retains in substantially
>urrounded relation a camera disposed in the interior cavity. A
camera-receiving opening disposed in the main body shell to permit
a camera to egress into an egress from the camera-receiving
~.nterior cavity. The main body shell comprises a thin flexible
plastic material.
X00014] In accordance with another aspect of the present
invention there is disclosed a novel weather resistant camera
cover comprises a pre-shaped main body shell having a camera body
portion and a lens portion together defining a camera-receiving
interior cavity. The main body shell retains in substantially
surrounded relation a camera disposed in the interior cavity. A
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', .
c:amera-receiving opening is disposed in the main body shell to
permit a camera to egress into an egress from the camera-receiving
interior cavity. The main body shell comprises a thin flexible
plastic material.
(00015] Other advantages, features and characteristics of the
present invention, as well as methods of operation and functions of
t:he related elements of the structure, and the combination of parts
and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon
consideration of the following detailed description and the
appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, the
latter of which is briefly described herein below.
HRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[00016 The novel features which are believed to be
characteristic of the weather resistant camera cover according to
t:he present invention, as to its structure, organization, use and
method of operation, together with further objectives and
advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following
drawings in which a presently preferred embodiment of the invention
will now be illustrated by way of example. It is expressly
understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of
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illustration and description only, and are not intended as a
definition of the limits of the invention. In the accompanying
drawings:
[00017] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred
embodiment of the weather resistant camera cover according to the
F~resent invention;
[00018] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the weather
resistant camera cover of Figure 1, with a camera shown in ghost
outline:
[00019] Figure 3 is a top plan view of the weather resistant
camera cover of Figure 1;
[00020] Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the weather
resistant camera cover of Figure 1, with a camera shown in ghost
outline;
[00021] Figure 5 is a side elevational view similar to Figure 4,
but with the back section opened; and,
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(;00022] Figure 6 is a side elevational view similar to Figure 4,
x>ut showing the protective cap of the lens portion in an opened
configuration.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EI4HODIMENT
000023] Reference will now be made to Figures 1 through 6 of the
drawings, which show a preferred embodiment of the weather
resistant camera cover of the present invention, as indicated by
general reference numeral 20. The weather resistant camera cover
20 comprises a pre-shaped main body shell 30 that defines a camera-
receiving interior cavity 32. As illustrated, the pre-shaped main
body shell 30 has a front portion 34, a back portion 36, a left
side portion 38, a right side portion 40, a top portion 42, and a
bottom portion 44 that together define the camera-receiving
interior cavity 32. Other specific shapes are also quite
acceptable.
X00024] As can be best seen in Figures 1, 4, 5 and 6, the main
body shell 30 retains in substantially surrounded relation a camera
22 (shown in ghost outline) disposed in the interior cavity 32. In
this manner, a camera 22 is substantially protected from the
Elements.
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600025] The pre-shaped main body shell 30 is semi-rigid, so as to
generally conform to the shape of a camera 22, yet is resiliently
deformable, so as to allow a user to access the controls of a
camera 22 through the weather resistant camera cover 20.
000026] Preferably, the main body shell 30 comprises a unitary
piece of thin flexible plastic material, and is preferably also a
:jingle layer of thin flexible plastic material that is
substantially transparent.
000027] In the preferred embodiment, as illustrated, the pre-
~>haped main body shell 30 comprises a camera body portion 46 and a
7_ens portion 48 extending outwardly from the camera body portion
46.
X00028] The lens portion 48 comprises a cylindrically shaped
Extension portion 50 extending outwardly from the camera body
portion 46 and an end portion 52 remote from the camera body
portion 46. The end portion 52 of the lens portion 48 has an
aperture 54 therein for taking pictures therethrough. A protective
cap 56 is connected to the lens portion 48 so as to be disposed at
i~he end portion 52 of the lens portion 48. In the preferred
Embodiment, as illustrated, the protective cap 56 is ultrasonically
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welded to the lens portion 48. The protective cap 56 is thereby
c;onnected for movement between an aperture covering position and an
open position, as indicated by double ended arrow "B" in Figure 6.
I:n the aperture covering position, as can be seen in Figures 1
through 5, the protective cap 56 substantially covers the aperture
54. In the open position, as can be seen in Figure 6, the
protective cap 56 is removed from substantially covering the
aperture 54, in order to permit the lens of a camera 22 to have an
unobstructed view of a subject, and accordingly take an
unobstructed picture. If the protective cap 56 is made from a
clear plastic material, such as is shown, pictures can be taken
through the protective cap 56, if desired.
[00029] Alternatively, the protective cap 56 could be connected
t.o the camera body portion 46. Such a connection might be used if
the weather resistant camera cover 20 was dimensioned and otherwise
shaped to fit a small camera having a lens that extended outwardly
only a minimal amount, if at all.
[00030] A camera-receiving opening, indicated by the general
reference numeral 58, is disposed in the main body shell 30 to
permit a camera 22 to ingress into and egress from the camera-
receiving interior cavity 32. The camera-receiving opening 58 is
defined by first and second interconnected portions 60,62
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interconnected together at the top portion 42 of the pre-shaped
main body shell 30, whereat a tab portion 64 that projects
outwardly from the second interconnected portion 62 is
ultrasonically welded to the first interconnected portion 60. The
first interconnected portion 60 comprises a front section 30f of
the main body shell 30 and the second interconnected portion
comprises a back section 30b of the main body shell 30. The first
a.nd second interconnected portions 60,62 are movable one relative
t.o the other, as indicated by double ended arrow "A" in Figure 5,
between an closed in-use configuration and an open camera-passage
configuration.
[00031] In order to make use of the weather resistant camera
cover 20 of the present invention, a camera 22 is inserted into the
camera-receiving interior cavity 32 when the first and second
interconnected portions 60,62 are in their open camera-passage
configuration (see Figure 5). The first and second interconnected
portions 60,62 are then moved to their closed in-use configuration
(see Figures 1 through 4 and 6). In their closed in-use
configuration, the first interconnected portion 60 and the second
interconnected portion 62 partially overlap each other, in order to
help preclude moisture from entering into the camera-receiving
interior cavity 32 of the weather resistant camera cover 20.
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[00032] As can be understood from the above description and from
t:he accompanying drawings, the present invention provides a weather
resistant camera cover that permits the use of the camera while the
c:over is in place, that permits substantially full access to the
controls of a camera, that completely covers a camera while the
camera is in use and that permits a camera to be used during
inclement weather, all of which features are unknown in the prior
a.rt .
[00033] Other variations of the above principles will be apparent
to those who are knowledgeable in the field of the invention, and
such variations are considered to be within the scope of the
present invention. For instance, the first and second
interconnected portions could be interconnected at a different
location, such as at either of their left and right side portions
36, 38, or at their bottom portion 44. Further, other modifications
and alterations may be used in the design and manufacture of the
of the present invention without departing from the spirit and
scope of the accompanying claims.
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