Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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WATERPROOF HOUSING FOR USE
WITH DIGITAL DEVICES AND METHOD
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention pertains to waterproof housings for digital
devices
having video and photograph capturing capabilities, and more particularly to
improvements in such waterproof housings for operating the video and
photograph
capturing capabilities.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Improvements in the video and photograph capturing capabilities of
digital
devices including, for example, smart phones, tablet computers, phablets, and
digital
pocket cameras, have increased steadily with each new generation of such
devices.
Because of such improvements and the ease of use of such devices based on
their
large displays and touch-screens, an increasing number of users primarily rely
on
these devices for their video and photograph capturing needs. However, such
devices
are generally not useable under water or in wet conditions, which typically
would
cause irreparable damage.
[0003] As a result, several manufacturers have developed waterproof housings
including, for example, LIFEPROOF cases available from Treefrog Developments,
Inc. of Fort Collins, CO. However, conventional waterproof housings for such
devices do reasonably well for protecting such devices from water
infiltration, but do
little to take advantage of the advanced video and photograph capturing
capabilities of
such modern digital devices or enable the convenient use of a device's touch-
screen
for use of such advanced capabilities in challenging conditions such as
underwater or
in wet conditions. See, for example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No.
2013/0082963 directed to a waterproof housing for digital devices having basic
push
buttons disposed for contacting specific areas of a devices touch-screen or
overtly
simple and limited swing arm actuators for performing swipe operations on the
touch-
screen. Moreover, this published patent application teaches the use of a
simple fixed
transparent glass lens located on the housing proximate an optical sensor of
the digital
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device, which permits disadvantageous amount of extraneous light to contact
and
adversely affect captured video and photographs as well as disregards the
optical
needs for underwater photograph.
[0004] Likewise, the proposed solution disclosed in U.S. Patent Application
Publication No. 2012/0154569 of a waterproof housing having a control arm
extending therethrough with a rubberized tip to operate the touch-screen would
prove
to be exceedingly difficult to use underwater or provide unstable operation
such as
when canoeing or kayaking.
[0005] Correspondingly, waterproof housings for single-lens reflex ("SLR")
cameras
are known but use camera specific controls that are not typically useable for
controlling touch-screens. See, for example, the multi-directional pad for an
underwater camera housing described in U.S. Patent No. 8,787,745 that utilizes
a
complex level system to achieve control of camera dial pads, which are not
readily
analogous to touch-screen controls.
[0006] Accordingly, known waterproof housings prove to be very limited in
enabling
a user to take advantage of the advanced video and photograph capturing
capabilities
of modern digital devices, particularly with regard providing interchangeable
lens or
light filters required by avid photographers and videographers, or in enabling
convenient use of a device's touch-screen to utilize of such advanced
capabilities
systems in adverse conditions. Moreover, such waterproof housings further fail
to
provide any teachings with regard to advantageous and cost-effect systems for
providing interchangeable lens or light filters required by avid photographers
and
videographers.
SUMMARY
[0007] Briefly, aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a waterproof
housing
for a digital device. The housing incorporates many features, individually or
in
combination, that enable a user to take advantage of the advanced video and
photograph capabilities of such devices, including operating a device's touch-
screen
using an advantageous multi-touch swing arm actuator; low-cost interchangeable
lens
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systems with light blocking masks, systems for switching light filters without
the need
for opening the housing; and an improved latching mechanism for closing and
sealing
the housing.
[0008] In particular, aspects of the present disclosure are directed to the
multi-touch
swing arm actuator of the water proof housing. In an exemplary embodiment of
the
multi-touch swing arm actuator, a shaft of the actuator is disposed within an
aperture
formed within the housing. The housing further includes at least one recess
formed
therein for positioning proximate a touch screen of a digital device when said
digital
device is positioned within the housing. The actuator comprises the shaft, a
control
member connected to an outer end of the shaft, a stop member affixed to one of
the
shaft or the control member for contacting the housing or engaging said
recess, an
extension member connected to an inner end of the shaft, and first and second
probes
affixed directly or proximate to the extension member. The first probe is
positioned
proximate the shaft and the second probe is compressible and located at an off-
center
position relative to a center axis defined by the shaft. Outer surfaces of the
first and
second probes respectively terminate at first and second positions along a
direction of
the center axis of the shaft; with the second position along the center axis
being
distally further from the control member than the first position.
[0009] In operation, the control member is operable to rotate the extension
member
about the center axis of the shaft along an arcuate path defining a first
radial segment
and to urge the second probe to contact the touch screen to carry out a screen
touch or
"touch-swipe" motion across the touch screen. Correspondingly, when the
extension
member is within the first radial segment, the stop member is operable to
engage an
outer surface of the housing and prevent the first probe from contacting the
touch
screen. However, when the extension member is at a predetermined position
outside
of the first radial segment at which the second probe is not positioned over a
portion
of the touch screen, the stop member is operable to engage the recess of the
housing,
thereby permitting the control member to urge the first probe member to
contact the
touch screen. Also, with the second probe not being positioned over a portion
of the
touch screen, the second probe compresses as needed to further enable the
first probe
member to contact the touch screen.
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[00010] A corresponding exemplary method in accordance with this aspect of the
invention comprises (i) positioning a shaft of the actuator to extend through
an
aperture in the housing with the housing having at least one recess formed
therein
proximate a touch screen of the digital device when said digital device is
positioned
within the housing; (ii) configuring the actuator to comprise the shaft; a
control
member connected to an outer end of the shaft, a stop member affixed to one of
the
shaft or the control member for contacting said housing or engaging said
recess, an
extension member connected to an inner end of the shaft, a first probe affixed
to the
extension member proximate said shaft, and a second probe affixed to the
extension
member at an off-center position relative to a center axis defined by the
shaft; (iii)
disposing the first and second probes in the housing such that outer surfaces
of the
first and second probes respectively terminate at first and second positions
along a
direction of the center axis of the shaft; with the second position along the
center axis
being distally further from the control member than the first position; (iv)
forming at
least a portion of the second probe proximate its outer surface with a
compressible
material; (v) configuring the control member to further enable a user to
rotate the
control member to rotate the extension member about the center axis of the
shaft
along a circular path defining a first radial segment and to urge the second
probe to
contact the touch screen for carrying out a screen touch or a "touch-swipe"
motion
across the touch screen, and (vi) configuring the stop member to (a) engage an
outer
surface of the housing and prevent the first probe from contacting the touch
screen
when the extension member is within the first radial segment; and (b) engage
the
recess of the housing when the extension member is at a predetermined position
outside of the first radial segment to thereby permit the control member to
urge the
first probe member to contact the touch screen.
[00011] Other aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a lens mount
system for
the waterproof housing for the digital device. This system includes a threaded
aperture provided on the housing, a lens arrangement including an optical lens
coupled to a threaded collar, and a positioning assembly for fixedly locating
the lens
anangement to the housing at a predetermined rotational engagement position of
the
threaded collar to the threaded aperture. The positioning assembly includes a
surface
having a receiving recess that engages with a biased releasable feature. The
biased
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releasable feature and surface having the receiving recess are each provided
in one of
the waterproof housing or the threaded collar of the lens arrangement. For
example,
when the surface having the receiving recess is a feature of the threaded
collar, the
biased releasable feature is provided to the housing. When the lens
arrangement and
the housing are positioned at the predetermined engagement position, the
biased
releasable feature engages the receiving recess to fix the lens arrangement at
the
predetermined rotational engagement position, such that optical feature of the
lens
arrangement is located at a predetermined desired distance from an optical
plane of a
camera of a digital device positioned within the housing.
[00012] It is particularly noteworthy that this thread-based system in a
preferred
embodiment enables the lens arrangement to be rotationally positioned at the
predetermined engagement position and desired distance from the optical plane
of the
camera by rotating the lens arrangement no more than 180 degrees. This is
facilitated
in the preferred embodiment by providing the threads in the aperture and on
the lens
arrangement as multiple start threads, coupled with the positioning assembly
and
receiving recess that fixedly locate the lens assembly at the predetermined
engagement position.
[00013] This SUMMARY is provided to briefly identify some aspects of the
present
disclosure that are further described below in the DESCRIPTION. This SUMMARY
is not intended to identify key or essential features of the present
disclosure nor is it
intended to limit the scope of any claims.
[00014] The term "aspects" is to be read as "at least one aspect." The aspects
described above and other aspects of the present disclosure described herein
are
illustrated by way of example(s) and not limited in the accompanying drawing.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[00015] A more complete understanding of the present disclosure may be
realized by
reference to the accompanying drawing in which:
[00016] FIGs. 1 and 2 respectively provide front and rear perspective views of
an
exemplary waterproof housing according to aspects of the present disclosure;
[00017] FIGs. 3 - 8 respectively provide front, top, rear, right side, left
side and
bottom views of the waterproof housing of FIGs. 1 and 2;
[00018] FIG. 9 provides an exploded rear perspective view of the waterproof
housing
of FIGs. 1 and 2;
[00019] FIGs. 10 and 11 respectively provide an exploded rear perspective view
and
magnified exploded rear perspective view that illustrates an exemplary swing
arm
actuator assembly according to aspects of the present disclosure;
[00020] FIGs. 12 - 16 each provide paired exploded rear perspective and
magnified
exploded rear perspective views that illustrate an operational sequence for
the swing
arm actuator assembly of FIGs. 10 and 11;
[00021] FIGs. 17 and 18 respectively provide a front view and magnified front
view
of the waterproof housing of FIGs. 1 and 2 that illustrate a lens mount for a
lens
apparatus;
[00022] FIGs. 19 and 20 respectively provide left side and rear views of the
waterproof housing of FIGs. 1 and 2 that illustrates a mount for a lens
apparatus a lens
apparatus mounted on the lens mount of FIGs. 17 and 18;
[00023] FIGs. 21 and 22 respectively provide a top sectional view and a
magnified
top sectional view taken along line AR --AR of FIG. 17;
[00024] FIGs. 23 and 24 provides a perspective views of a lens apparatus
according
to aspects of the present invention;
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[00025] FIGs. 25 - 28 respectively provide top, bottom, front/rear and
left/right side,
views of the lens apparatus of FIGs. 23 and 24;
[00026] FIGs. 29 and 30 respectively provide front and rear views of the
waterproof
housing of FIGs. 1 and 2, illustrating a selectable filter arrangement;
[00027] FIGs. 31 and 32 respectively provide a sectional view and magnified
sectional view taken along line AX--AX of FIG. 29;
[00028] FIG. 33 provides an exploded perspective view of the waterproof
housing of
FIGs. 29 and 30;
[00029] FIG. 34 provides a partial perspective view of the waterproof housing
of
FIGs. 29 and 30 that is cut along the line AX--AX of FIG. 29;
[00030] FIG. 35 provides an open rear view of the waterproof housing of FIGs.
1 and
2 that illustrates retention members used to retain a digital device within
the housing;
[00031] FIG. 36 provides an exploded perspective view of the housing and
retention
members of FIG. 35;
[00032] FIGs. 37 and 38 respectively provide a perspective and magnified
perspective view of the housing and one retention member of FIG. 35;
[00033] FIG. 39 provides a perspective view of a digital device retention
member
according to aspects of the present invention;
[00034] FIGs. 40 - 45 respectively provide top, rear, left side, front, right
side and
bottom views of the digital device retention member of FIG. 39;
[00035] FIG. 46 provides a rear view of the waterproof housing of FIGs. 1 and
2;
[00036] FIGs. 47 and 48 respectively provide a perspective and magnified
perspective view of the housing of FIG. 46 that illustrates a rear camera dome
and
selection button assembly of the housing;
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[00037] FIG. 49 provides a rear perspective view of a waterproof camera
housing
including a light shade component;
[00038] FIG. 50 provides a right side view of the waterproof camera housing of
FIG.
49 with the light shade component shown in a disengaged position;
[00039] FIG. 51 provides a rear perspective view of a waterproof camera
housing of
FIG. 49 including a light shade component and a grip component, where the
light
shade component is shown as a cut-a-way;
[00040] FIG. 52 provides a right side view of the waterproof camera housing of
FIG.
49 with the light shade component shown in an engaged position;
[00041] FIG. 53 provides a rear view of the waterproof camera housing of FIG.
49
with the light shade component shown in a disengaged position;
[00042] FIGs. 54 and 55 respectively provide a right-side sectional view and
magnified right side sectional view of the housing of FIG. 49 that is cut
along the line
BF--BF of FIG. 53, with the light shade component shown in the disengaged
position;
[00043] FIG. 56 provides a rear view of the waterproof camera housing of FIG.
49
with the light shade component shown in an engaged position;
[00044] FIGs. 57 and 58 respectively provide a right-side sectional view and
magnified right side sectional view of the housing of FIG. 49 that is cut
along the line
BH--BH of FIG. 56, with the light shade component shown in the engaged
position;
[00045] FIG. 59 provides a rear perspective view of the waterproof camera
housing
of FIG. 49 with the light shade component shown in the engaged position;
[00046] FIGs. 60 - 65 respectively provide top, front, right side, rear, right
side and
bottom views of the waterproof camera housing of FIG. 49;
[00047] FIG. 66 provides a rear perspective view of the light shade, rear
bulkhead
and light mask components of the waterproof camera housing of FIG. 49;
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[00048] FIGs. 67 - 72 respectively provide top, front, right side, rear, left
side and
bottom views of the components of FIG. 66;
[00049] FIGs. 73 and 74 respectively provide rear and front perspective views
of the
waterproof camera housing of FIG. 49;
[00050] FIGs. 75 and 76 respectively provide a rear perspective view and
magnified
rear perspective view of the waterproof camera housing of FIG. 49, including a
cutaway view of an exemplary latch component of the waterproof camera housing
in
accordance with as aspect of the disclosure, wherein the latch is in an open
position;
[00051] FIGs. 77 and 78 respectively provide a rear perspective view and
magnified
rear perspective view of the waterproof camera housing of FIGs. 75 and 76,
including
a cutaway view of a latch component of the waterproof camera housing in a
closed
position;
[00052] FIGs. 79 and 80 respectively provide rear and left side views of the
waterproof camera housing of FIGs. 75 and 76, with the latch component shown
in
FIGs. 75-78 in cut-a-way along the line BM--BM of FIG. 80;
[00053] FIG. 81 shows a front perspective view of the latch component of FIGs.
75
and 76;
[00054] FIGs. 82 - 87 respectively provide top, front, right side, bottom,
rear and left
side views of the latch component of FIG. 81;
[00055] FIG. 88 provides a front view of an exemplary grip component of the
waterproof camera housing of FIG. 51 in accordance with another aspect of the
disclosure;
[00056] FIGs. 89 and 90 respectively provide a sectional view and magnified
sectional view in cut-a-way along the line AU--AU of FIG. 88;
[00057] FIG. 91 provides an exploded front perspective view of the grip
component
of FIG. 88;
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[00058] FIG. 92 provides a front perspective view of the grip component of
FIG. 88;
[00059] FIGs. 93 - 98 respectively provide top, front, right side, bottom,
rear and left
side views of the grip component of FIG. 92;
[00060] FIGs. 99 and 100 respectively provide a rear and front perspective
views of a
waterproof camera housing according to aspects of the present disclosure; and
[00061] FIGs. 101 - 106 respectively provide top, rear, left side, front, left
side and
bottom views of the housing of FIGs. 99 and 100.
DESCRIPTION
[00062] The following merely illustrates the principles of the disclosure. It
will thus
be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various
arrangements
which, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the
principles of
the disclosure and are included within its spirit and scope.
[00063] Furthermore, all examples and conditional language recited herein are
principally intended expressly to be only for pedagogical purposes to aid the
reader in
understanding the principles of the disclosure and the concepts contributed by
the
inventor(s) to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without
limitation to
such specifically recited examples and conditions.
[00064] Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and
embodiments of the disclosure, as well as specific examples thereof, are
intended to
encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it
is
intended that such equivalents include both cunently known equivalents as well
as
equivalents developed in the future, i.e., any elements later developed that
perform the
same function, regardless of structure.
[00065] Unless otherwise explicitly specified herein, the drawings are not
drawn to
scale.
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[00066] We now provide some non-limiting, illustrative examples that
illustrate
operational and structural aspects of a waterproof housing for a touch-screen
digital
device.
[00067] As used herein, directional terms as may be used such as "horizontal,"
"vertical," "proximal," "distal," "front", "rear", "left," "right," "inner,"
"outer,"
"interior" and "exterior" relate to an orientation of the disclosed mixing
device from
the perspective of a typical user, and do not specify permanent, intrinsic
features or
characteristics of the device.
[00068] In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, FIGs. 1 and 2
respectively provide rear and front perspective views of a waterproof housing
100 for
a touch-screen digital device. As illustrated, the device includes front and
rear
bulkhead members 102, 108 that are respectively coupled by hinge members 104,
110
in combination with a latch 500. The front and rear bulkhead members 102, 108
may
thereby be opened to receive a touch-screen digital device, and then closed in
a secure
manner to enclose the touch-screen digital device in a waterproof environment.
[00069] The housing 100 further includes an actuator assembly 200, which may
be
manipulated by an operator to carry out certain touch screen operations for
operating
camera or video features of the digital device while the digital device is
enclosed
within the front and rear bulkhead members 102, 108. The elements and
operation of
the actuator assembly 200 are described in further detail infra.
[00070] The housing 100 also features an interchangeable lens assembly 300 for
optically communicating with a front-facing camera of the digital device, and
a rear-
facing camera dome 122 for optically communicating with a rear-facing camera
of the
digital device. As shown in FIGs. 1 and 2, these features are respectively
configured
in the housing 100 for the front- facing and rear-facing cameras of a digital
device,
such an 'PHONE 6 smart phone, available from Apple, Inc. of Cupertino, CA. The
operator may select either of the front-facing and rear-facing cameras for use
by
means of a camera selection button assembly 124. An app selection button
assembly
126 may also preferably be provided for selection of an associated smart phone
application (for example, a still camera or video camera application) that is
provided
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at a designated position on the IPHONE 6 screen. The elements and operation of
these features are also described in further detail infra.
[00071] The description herein of the advantageous waterproof housing useable
with
an IPHONE 6 is for illustration purposes only. It should be readily understood
that
aspects of the disclosure may be readily adapted for use with any digital
device
having a camera optical sensor and a touch sensitive screen including, for
example,
other commercially available smart phones, tablet computers, phablets such as
those
manufactured by Motorola, Samsung, LG, HTC, Google, Microsoft Corporation,
Nokia and the like.
[00072] FIGs. 3 - 8 respectively provide front, top, rear, right side, left
side and
bottom views of the waterproof housing 100 illustrated by FIGs. 1 and 2.
[00073] FIG. 9 provides an exploded rear perspective view of the housing 100
of
FIGs. 1 and 2, showing the front bulkhead 102 and rear bulkhead 108 in an open
position. A digital device 800 (for example, an IPHONE 6 smart phone) is
positioned
within an interior cavity of the front bulkhead 102, with the touch screen of
the digital
device 800 facing rearwardly. As depicted in FIG. 9, side pads 134 are
insertable into
holders 135 for providing a cushioned clamping effect to the digital device
800 when
the front bulkhead 102 and rear bulkhead 108 are returned to a closed
position. Side
pads 134 may preferably be formed from an elastomeric material such as natural
rubber or neoprene. The front bulkhead 102 may preferably be formed from a
rugged
plastic material including but not limited to polypropylene, low density
polyethylene
(LDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE) or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene
(ABS).
Most preferably, the front bulkhead 102 is formed from an ABS material. The
rear
bulkhead 108 may be preferably formed from a transparent plastic, for example
including one or more of polycarbonate, polystyrene or another acrylic
plastic. Use of
a clear transparent plastic material, for example, enables the rear bulkhead
(including
the rear-facing camera dome 122 of FIG. 1 to be molded in a single piece. Most
preferably, the rear bulkhead 108 is formed from a XYLEX polycarbonate and
amorphous polyester blended resin, such as is available from SABIC Innovative
Plastics of Pittsfield, Massachusetts.
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[00074] At ends of the front bulkhead 102 and rear bulkhead 108 opposite to
the
hinge members 104, 110, front bulkhead latch seat member 112 and rear bulkhead
latch seat member 106 are provided to support components of the latch 500. For
example, as depicted in FIG. 9, extended latch strike 516 of the latch 500 is
insertable
into the seat member 106 to be retained by several screws. Alternatively, the
extended
latch strike 516, which is preferably formed from a metal such as stainless or
anodized steel, may be attached to the latch seat member 106 by means of metal
or
plastic rivets, adhesives, and/or frictional fit. A latch body 502 of the
latch 500 is
attached to seat member 112 via retainer screw 508, which may be inserted into
a
molded threaded feature of the seat member 112 or a screw insert that is
pressed or
threaded into the seat member 112.
[00075] A top button assembly 114 (preferably including a button member, a
spring
and an 0-ring) is preferably fitted to a top button cylinder 115 for operating
a side
button of the digital device 800 (for example, the on/off button of an 'PHONE
6 smart
phone). As will be further described infra, a tripod/grip mount 116 is
preferably
mounts in proximity to the top button assembly on a top surface of the front
bulkhead
102 for receiving a grip, tripod or other accessory to the housing 100. Also
illustrated
in FIG. 9 is a light mask 650, which is optionally fitted into an interior
cavity of the
rear bulkhead 108. The light mask 650 is preferably formed from an opaque
(black)
plastic, and affixed to the rear bulkhead 108 by screws, plastic or metal
rivets,
adhesives and/or snap-fit features. The light mask 650 is preferably provided
when
one or more of the front bulkhead 102 and rear bulkhead 108 are formed from a
transparent material in order to advantageously shield the touch-screen from
stray
light that may obscure its visibility to the operator.
[00076] FIGs. 10 and 11 respectively provide an exploded rear perspective view
and
magnified exploded rear perspective view that further illustrate the actuator
assembly
200 of FIG. 1, which is used by an operator to operate features of the touch
screen of
digital device 800 that are needed to engage one or more of the cameras of the
digital
device 800. With reference to FIG. 11, actuator assembly 200 is mounted to the
rear
bulkhead 108 of the housing 100 in an actuator assembly cylinder 162. The
assembly
200 includes a shaft 204 and a control member 212 connected to an outer end of
the
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shaft 204. A stop member 214 is affixed to the control member 212 for engaging
an
outer surface of the rear bulkhead 108 in order to limit the downward vertical
position
of the actuator assembly 200 as operated by the operator. One of skill in the
art will
readily recognize that the stop member may alternatively be incorporated in
the
actuator assembly 200 in a number of other ways, for example including by
direct
attachment via a securable collar to the shaft 204.
[00077] As assembled, the control member 212 and stop member 214 are
positioned
externally to the housing, while the shaft 204 extends externally from the
control
member 212 through the cylinder 162 into an interior cavity of the rear
bulkhead 108.
Also fitted in the actuator assembly cylinder 162 and encircling the shaft 204
are a
biasing spring 216, 0-ring 218 and 0-ring retainer washer 202. In response to
a
downwardly-directed operation of the control member 212, the biasing spring
216
provides a restorative force for returning the actuator assembly 200 upwardly
to a rest
position when the control member 212 is released by the operator. The 0-ring
218 is
retained in the cylinder 162 by the 0-ring retainer washer 202, and provides a
waterproof seal between the shaft 204 and the cylinder 162.
[00078] Further included in the actuator assembly 200 and positioned within
the
interior cavity of the rear bulkhead 108 is an extension member 206 connected
to an
inner end of the shaft 204. A first probe 206 is affixed to the extension
member 210
near the inner end of the shaft 204. A second probe 208 is affixed to the
extension
member 210 at an off-center position relative the shaft 204. The first and
second
probes 206, 208 are each preferably formed from a compressible elastomeric
material
(for example, such as natural rubber or neoprene) and covered with a fine
metallic
mesh material, such as is used for example in ARCADIA stylus pens available
from
New Trent Inc. Fremont CA.
[00079] As can be seen for example with reference to FIG. 11. the extension
member
210 is stepped such that the outer surface of second probes 208 terminates at
a lower
vertical position that the outer surface of the first probe 206. In this
configuration,
control member 212 can be simultaneously operated by an operator to rotate the
extension member 206 about the center axis of the shaft 204 along a circular
path
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defining a first radial segment while urging the second probe 208 to contact
the touch
screen 802 of the digital device 800, thereby carrying out a "touch-swipe"
motion
across the touch screen 802. Such a touch swipe may be used, for example, to
select a
camera or video mode for a camera application resident on an IPHONE 6 smart
phone.
[00080] As described supra, the stop member 214 of the actuator assembly 200
is
configured to engage an outer surface of the rear bulkhead 108 in order to
limit the
downward vertical position of the actuator assembly 200. More specifically, in
this
context, the stop member 214 is generally operable when the extension member
210
lies within a first radial segment to engage an outer surface of the rear
bulkhead 108 at
a vertical height of the shaft 204 that allows the second probe 208 to
compressibly
contact the touch screen 802 while preventing contact between the first probe
206 and
the touch screen when the extension member is within the first radial segment
to
engage an outer surface of the housing and prevent the first probe to contact
the touch
screen. As will be further described with reference to FIGs. 15 and 16, when
the
extension member 210 is moved outside the limits of the first radial segment
to a
position where the second probe 210 is either not vertically positioned over a
portion
of the touch screen 802 or alternatively positioned over a portion of the
touch screen
that is not touch activated for purposes of the camera application, the stop
member
214 can be positioned to align with a recess 166 in the outer surface of the
rear
bulkhead 108 that enables the actuator assembly 200 to travel further
downwardly in
the vertical direction. Because the second probe 208 is compressible, an
operator can
operate the control member 212 while the stop member is in the recess position
to
cause the first probe to contact the touch screen 802 (for example, to
activate a shutter
button displayed on the touch screen for a camera application resident on an
'PHONE
6 smart phone).
[00081] FIGs. 12 - 16 each provide paired exploded rear perspective and
magnified
exploded rear perspective partial cut-a-way views that further illustrate the
operation
of the actuator assembly 200 described supra. In FIG. 12, the actuator 200 can
be
seen within the first radial segment at a rest position, in which the shaft
204 is at its
highest vertical extent and the stop member 214 is resting above the outer
surface of
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the rear bulkhead 108. In FIG. 13, the control member 212 has been moved
vertically
downwardly until the second probe 210 has contacted and been compressed by the
touch screen 802 of the digital device 800. IN FIG. 14, the control member 212
and
stop member 214 have been rotated in a counter-clockwise direction about the
shaft
204, thereby generating a touch swiping motion.
[00082] In FIG. 15, the control member 212 and stop member 214 have been
rotated
in a clockwise direction to position the stop member 214 vertically over a
recess 166
in the outer surface of the rear bulkhead 108, such that the first probe 206
is
positioned away from active portions of the touch screen 802. In FIG. 16, the
control
member 212 has been pressed to move the shaft 204 vertically downwardly so
that the
stop member 214 enters the recess 166, thereby enabling the second probe 208
to
contact and be compressed against the touch screen 802.
[00083]. The previously described figures depict one exemplary configuration
of the
actuator 200 in accordance with the invention for illustration purposes only.
However, it should be readily understood that many other configurations are
easily
adapted from this exemplary configuration for an actuator according to the
principles
of the disclosed invention. For example, the control member 212 and/or
extension
member 210 may have different shapes including one or more bends or curves
(for
example, such as an "s"-shape) according to an alternative configuration.
Other
suitable control member configurations useable for the control member 212 may
for
example include external gripping features formed integral with or affixed to
the shaft
including, for example, a knurled region at the outer end of the shaft.
[00084] In addition, the operations of the stop member 14 may be separated
from the
control member 212. In such embodiments, the stop member 214 may alternatively
be disposed on a short extension from or directly attached to the shaft 205 at
a
predetermined distance from the outer surface of the rear bulkhead 108, and
the
control member 212 may be implemented as a disk or other shaped extension or
omitted entirely. Correspondingly, in such an embodiment, a slot or recess
disposed
in the outer surface of the rear bulkhead 108 proximate near the shaft 204 may
replaceably perform the functions of the recess 166.
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[00085] Also, the corresponding operation of the camera or video-capture
application
running on the digital device may dictate an alternate location of the first
and second
probes 206 and 208. Thus, for example, in other alternative embodiments of the
disclosed invention, the first probe 206 may be disposed on the extension
member 210
off-center relative to the shaft 204, or the positions of the first and second
probes 206
and 208 may be switched, wherein the second probe 208 is disposed on the
extension
member 210 closer to the center-axis of the shaft 204.
[00086] Further, the second probe 208 may be operated to activate different
features
by touching the screen discretely to contact particular icons or displayed
buttons in
addition to performing a "touch swipe." Moreover, the extension member 210 may
further include one or more additional probes (not shown) similar to probe 208
for
performing or emulating with the probe 208 a multi-finger "touch swipe"
operation.
Also, consistent with aspects of the present disclosure, the extension member
may
include an adjustment mechanism such as, for example, a slot (not shown) to
enable
re-positioning of either or both of the probes 206 and 208 to accommodate
different
camera and video capture software and applications with different locations
for the
activations of particular features or shutter control.
[00087] FIGs. 17 - 22 illustrate elements of a removable lens apparatus 300
that
forms a component of the housing 100 in accordance with another aspect of the
present disclosure. FIGs. 17, 19 and 20 respectively provide front, left side
and rear
views of the housing 100 with the lens apparatus 300 mounted to the housing.
FIG.
18 presents a magnified view of a portion of the lens apparatus 300
illustrated in FIG.
17. As illustrated in FIGs. 17 and 19, lens apparatus 300 includes a housing
302 for
carrying the dome port lens, which preferably includes a light shade 304 that
provides
glare protection and a surface which the operator can grab to mount or
dismount the
lens apparatus 300.
[00088] As illustrated in FIGs. 19-20, the lens apparatus may be secured
positioned
in an aperture through an outer surface of the front bulkhead 102 (for
example, by
means of mating threads provided on each of the body of the dome port housing
302
and within the aperture through the front bulkhead 102). On an end surface of
the
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lens apparatus, a mask frame 308 is preferably provided to reduce the amount
of light
glare presented through the housing 100 to a corresponding front camera in the
digital
device 800. FIG. 18 illustrates a seat 310 that is provided in a flanged
surface of the
housing 302 that mates with a corresponding surface on the surface of the
front
bulkhead 102 when the lens apparatus 300 is mounted to the housing 100. The
seat
310 is configured to receive the tip of a locking pin 144 provided in the
front
bulkhead 102, which is further described infra.
[00089] FIGs. 21 and 22 respectively provide a top sectional view and a
magnified
top sectional view of the housing 100 lens apparatus 300 of FIG. 17, taken
along line
AR -- AR of FIG. 17. As depicted in FIGs. 21 and 22, an optical dome 312 is
fitted,
secured and sealed to the housing 302 by means of an 0-ring 314. The housing
302,
including the light shade 304 and mask frame 308 are preferably formed from an
opaque plastic for example such as polypropylene. Optical dome 312 is formed
from
a clear, transparent plastic such as polycarbonate. The domed shape of the
optical
dome 312 is advantageously used in underwater environments in combination with
the front camera of the digital device 800 for improved light balance and
proportional
rendering of images.
[00090] The dome port housing 302 may preferably secured and sealed to the
aperture in the surface of the front bulkhead 102 by mating threads on each of
the
housing 302 and along the aperture in the front bulkhead 102. The threads are
most
preferably provided as double entry Acme threads, which enable the housing 302
to
be fitted and sealed to the front bulkhead 102 within a threaded engagement
angle of
between 30 and 180 degrees, and more preferably within a threaded engagement
and
in the range of 90 to 120 degrees. Sealing of the housing 302 to the front
bulkhead
102 is enhanced with the addition of a dome port housing 0-ring 306, which is
sealably fitted between the housing 302 and the aperture in the front bulkhead
102
when the housing 302 is threadably fitted to the aperture in the front
bulkhead 102.
[00091] In addition, the housing 302 is further secured by a locking pin
assembly
142, which includes a locking pin 144 that is fitted to a locking pin recess
146 in the
front bulkhead 102. A biasing spring 148 and retaining washer 150 are fitted
to the
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locking pin 144 in a cavity within the locking pin recess 146 in order to
secure the pin
144 to the recess 146 and exert an outwardly direct force on the pin 144
toward the
flange surface of the housing 302 of the lens assembly 300. When mounting the
lens
assembly 300 to the bulkhead 102, the threaded fitting is advanced until a
retaining
end of the pin 144 is positioned over the pin seat 310 of the lens assembly
300. In this
position, the biasing spring 148 urges the retaining end of the pin 144
forward so that
it enters and is secured by the seat 310.
[00092] In this manner, the rotational position of the lens assembly 300
relative to
aperture in the front bulkhead 102 can be precisely controlled. The pin 144
and
biasing spring 148 are preferably made from a corrosion resistant metal such
as
stainless steel. The pin 144 includes a grippable head at an opposing end to
the
retaining end, which can be manipulated by the operator to release the pin 144
from
the pin seat 310 for removing the lens assembly 300 from the housing 100. One
of
skill in the art will recognize that the locking pin 144 may alternatively be
held within
in a pin seat provided in the lens assembly 300, while the seat is provided in
the front
bulkhead 102. In addition, the pin assembly may be replaced by another
retention
mechanism such as a conventional ball detent mechanism.
[00093] Because the mating threads of the housing 302 and aperture in the
front
bulkhead 102 linearly advance the position of the housing 302 relative to the
bulkhead
102 according to the rotational position, and features of the interior volume
of the
front bulkhead control the linear position of the optical sensor of the front
camera 804
in the digital device relative to the front bulkhead, the linear distance
between the
optical sensor of the front camera 804 and optical dome 312 can be precisely
and
repeatedly controlled when the pin 144 engages the pin seat 310, thereby
providing
improved optical performance over multiple interchangeable uses of the device.
For
further flexibility a filter assembly 400 described further herein infra
provides
additional selective control over the optical characteristics of the housing
100 relative
to the digital device 800.
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[00094] FIGs. 23 and 24 provides a perspective views of lens assembly 300
illustrated by FIGs. 17 - 22. FIGs. 25 - 28 respectively provide top, bottom,
front/rear
and left/right side, views of the lens assembly 300 of FIGs. 17 - 22.
[00095] The previously described FIGs. 17-28 depict one exemplary
configuration of
the lens mount for the lens apparatus 300 for illustration purposes only.
However, it
should be readily understood that many configurations consistent with the
principles
of this disclosure may be adapted from this exemplary configuration. For
example,
the light mask 308 may be eliminated from the lens apparatus 300 and re-
positioned
within the aperture and coupled to the front bulkhead 102 to position it
preferably
closer to the optical sensor of the digital device's front camera 804.
Moreover, in the
described exemplary embodiment, the locking pin 144 is disposed on the front
bulkhead 102 and corresponding pin seat 310 on the dome port housing 302 for
relative ease of use. However, it is alternatively possible in accordance with
this
aspect of the invention to locate the locking pin on the dome port housing 302
for
engagement with a pin seat 310 located on the front bulkhead 102.
[00096] FIGs. 29 and 30 respectively provide front and rear views of the
waterproof
housing 100 of FIGs. 1 and 2, and illustrate a selectable filter assembly 400
that is
preferably provided as a component of the housing 100 in accordance with
another
aspect of the disclosure. FIGs. 31 and 32 respectively provide a sectional
view and
magnified sectional view taken along line AX--AX of FIG. 29. FIG. 33 provides
an
exploded perspective view of the waterproof housing of FIGs. 29 and 30, and
FIG. 34
provides a partial perspective view of the waterproof housing of FIGs. 29 and
30 that
is cut along the line AX--AX of FIG. 29.
[00097] The filter assembly 400 illustrated by FIGs. 29 - 34 includes a lever
402
positioned externally on a front-facing outer surface of the front bulkhead
102, which
can be manipulated to rotate a filter frame 406 that is positioned within the
interior
volume of the front bulkhead 102 to selectively place one of the filters 408a
and 408b
in an optical path between the front-facing camera 804 of the digital device
800 and
the lens assembly 300 mounted in the aperture of the front bulkhead 102.
Alternatively, the lever 402 can be manipulated to rotate each of the filters
408a and
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408b out of the optical path between the front-facing camera 804 of the
digital device
800 and the lens assembly 300. The lever 402 is preferably removably coupled
to the
filter frame 406 by cylindrical portion for receiving a fastener such as a
screw, and the
cylindrical portion is positioned through a seat 140 in the front bulkhead 102
for
coupling to the filter frame 406.
[00098] The cylindrical portion of the lever 402 includes a seat for holding
an 0-ring
404 for sealing the interior components of the filter assembly 400 in a
waterproof
manner. The front bulkhead 102 is further preferably provided with stop
features 138
in order to limit the travel of the lever 402 and thereby prevent over-
rotation of the
filter frame 406. Filters 4081, 408b may include one or more of a variety of
conventional underwater correction filters selected according to the
underwater
application, and/or one or more effects-oriented filters (for example,
diffusion and star
filters).
[00099] FIG. 35 provides an open rear view of the waterproof housing 100 of
FIG. 1
including retention members 136 used to retain the digital device 800 within
the
housing 100. FIG. 36 provides a partially exploded perspective view of the
housing
and retention members 136 of FIG. 35, and FIGs. 37 and 38 respectively provide
a
perspective and magnified perspective view of the housing and one retention
member
of FIG. 35. As depicted for example in FIGs. 36 and 38, the retention members
136
have a wishbone configuration and are positioned within the interior volume of
the
front bulkhead 102 in retention wells 137, where they are preferably retained
by a
screw fastened to the front bulkhead 102.
[000100] A free end of the wishbone terminates in a lever member 136a, which
can
be pushed inwardly by the operator to place the digital device 800 in or
remove the
digital device 800 from the interior volume of the front bulkhead 102. The
free end of
the wishbone also includes a tab 136b, which is configured to extend over a
back-
facing surface extending outwardly from the touch screen 802 that clamps the
digital
device 800 within the interior volume of the front bulkhead 102.
[000101] Additional design features of the retention member 136 are apparent
in
FIG. 39, which provides a perspective view of the retention member 136
illustrated by
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FIGs. 35 - 38. FIGs. 40 - 45 respectively provide top, rear, left side, front,
right side
and bottom views of the retention member depicted by FIG. 39.
[000102] FIG. 46 provides a rear view of the waterproof housing 100 of FIGs. 1
and
2. As depicted in FIG. 46, and in addition to the top button assembly 114 and
top
tripod/grip mount 116 described supra with reference to FIG. 1, the housing
100 may
be provided with a bottom button assembly 118 and bottom tripod/grip mount
116.
The bottom button assembly may be advantageously used, for example, to operate
the
"volume up" button of the IPHONE 6 smart phone, which often activates
respective
operations of cameras and/or video capture applications, such as the camera
shutter-
like operation.
[000103] In conjunction with FIG. 46, FIGs. 47 and 48 respectively provide a
perspective and magnified perspective view of the housing of FIG. 46 that
illustrates a
rear camera dome 122 and camera selection button assembly 124 of the housing
100.
The camera dome is clear and transparent, and preferably integrally molded
together
with the rear bulkhead 108 as a single molding from a material such as
polycarbonate.
The domed shape of the dome 122 is advantageously used in underwater
environments in combination with the rear camera of the digital device 800 for
improved light balance and proportional rendering of images.
[000104] FIGs. 49 and 50 respectively provide rear perspective and right side
views
of the waterproof camera housing 100, including an optional rear-facing light
shade
600 shown in a disengaged position. FIG. 51 provides a rear perspective view
of the
housing 100 and light shade 600, together with an optional grip 700, where the
light
shade 600 is shown in partial cut-a-way and in an engaged position. FIGs. 52
and 53
respectively provide a right side view and a rear view of the housing 100 and
light
shade 650. FIGs. 54 and 55 respectively provide a right-side sectional view
and
magnified right side sectional view of the housing of FIG. 49 that is cut
along the line
BF--BF of FIG. 53. FIG. 56 provides a rear view of housing 100 and engaged
light
shade 600. FIGs. 57 and 58 respectively provide a right-side sectional view
and
magnified right side sectional view along the line BH--BH of FIG. 56.
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[000105] With reference to FIGs. 49 - 58, the rear-facing light shade 600 is
formed as
a hollow, rectangular box-like element 604 with a profile that diminishes in
area from
an open front-facing surface to an open rear-facing surface through which the
operator
is able to view the touch screen 802 of the digital device. The opening at the
front-
facing surface is configured to sealably fit over an exterior surface of the
rear
bulkhead 108 in order to substantially reduce the amount of stray light
reflecting off
the touch screen 802 when viewing the image captured by the light sensor of a
camera
of the digital device. However, in certain light conditions, it may be more
advantageous to disengage and rotate the light shade 600 away from the touch
screen
802 to view the screen without the light shade 600.
[000106] With reference to FIG. 49, the light shade 600 is releasably secured
to the
rear bulkhead 108 by means of hinge members 602a, b which are coupled to hinge
members 172 that are integral with the rear bulkhead 108, and via a latch 606
that
mates with a latch plate 174 that is shown as a molded feature of the rear
bulkhead
108. Alternatively the latch plate 174 could be formed as a separate piece
that is
fastened to the rear bulkhead 108, for example, by means of conventional
fasteners.
This latch and hinge arrangement enables the operator to secure the light
shade 600 in
an engaged position by fastening the latch (for example, as illustrated by
FIGs. 51, 52
and 56 - 57). Upon releasing the latch, the light shade 600 can be rotated
downwardly
to a disengaged position (for example, as illustrated by FIGs. 49, 50 and 53 -
55) to
enable the operator to have unfettered access to control features of the
housing 100
provided in close proximity to the touch screen 802 (for example, including
the
actuator assembly 200. By maintaining the coupling between the hinge members
172
and 602a, b, the light shade 600 is easily restored to the engaged position by
rotating
the shade body 604 upwardly and re-fastening the latch 606 to the latch plate
174.
[000107] As shown in FIG. 49, hinge member 602b is provided on a portion of
the
hinge body 604 and includes slits 602c positioned on opposing sides and
perpendicular to a hinge axis of the hinge member 602b. A third side of the
hinge
member 602b that is parallel to the hinge axis terminates at the front edge of
the shade
body 604. In this configuration, the hinge member 602b can be readily moved by
the
operator in a direction to disengage the hinge member 602b from its
corresponding
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hinge member 172 that is integral with the rear bulkhead 108. In this manner,
the
light shade 600 can be completely decoupled from and re-coupled to the housing
100.
[000108] FIG. 59 provides a rear perspective view of the housing 100 provided
with
an optional light shade element 600 as illustrated by FIGS. 49 - 58, with the
light
shade component 600 shown in an engaged position relative to the housing 100.
FIGs. 60 - 65 respectively provide top, front, right side, rear, right side
and bottom
views of the housing 100 of FIGs. 49 - 58. FIGs. 73 and 74 provide additional
perspective views of the housing 100 and light shade 600.
[000109] FIG. 66 provides a rear perspective view of the light shade element
600,
rear bulkhead 108 and light mask 650 of the housing 100 of FIGs. 49 - 58.
FIGs. 67 -
72 respectively provide top, front, right side, rear, left side and bottom
views of the
light shade element 600, rear bulkhead 108 and light mask 650 of the housing
100 of
FIGs. 49 - 58.
[000110] The exemplary configuration of the disengageable light shade 600 in
FIGs.
49 to 74 is for illustration purpose only. It should be readily understood
that
alternative light shade configurations are useable in accordance with the
invention
including for example, a light shade having compressible accordion-style
arrangement. Also, although the light shade is depicted comprising four sides,
it is
possible to implement a light shade having a smaller number of sides (for
example,
omitting one of bottom side, and/or the left or right sides, for improved
access to
controls provided on a back surface of the rear bulkhead 108.
[000111] FIGs. 75 and 77 each provide a rear perspective view of the housing
100,
including partial cut-a-way views of the latch 500 respectively in open and
closed
positions. FIGs. 76 and 78 respectively provide magnified rear perspective
view
illustrating elements of the latch 500. FIGs. 79 and 80 respectively provide
rear and
left side views of the housing 100, with the latch 500 shown in FIG. 81 in a
cut-a-way
view along the line BM--BM of FIG. 80.
[000112] With particular reference to FIG. 78, it can be seen that the latch
500
includes a latch body 502 which may be manipulate by the operator to open and
close
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the latch 500. The latch body 502 is secured to the front bulkhead 102 by
means of a
retainer screw 508 and washers 510, 512 and 514, which enable the latch body
502 to
be rotatable about an axis defined by the screw 508 after the screw 508 has
been
securely fastened to the front bulkhead 102. A corresponding latch strike 516
is
secured to the rear bulkhead 108, for example, by means of conventional screw
fasteners. As illustrated for example by FIGs. 78 and 89, the latch strike 516
includes
a latch strike pin 516a which mates with a cam slot 502a of the latch body
502.
[000113] As the latch body 502 is rotated by the operator to close the latch
500, an
outer wall 502b of the cam slot 502a makes contact with an outer surface of
the latch
strike pin 516a to draw the pin 516a inwardly towards the axis defined by the
retainer
screw 508 as a clockwise rotation of the latch body 502 is executed by the
operator.
Similarly, upon the operator rotating the latch body 502 in a counter-
clockwise
direction to open the latch 500, an inner wall 502c of the cam slot 502a
contacts an
inner surface of the latch strike pin 516a to push the pin 516a outwardly from
the axis
defined by the retainer screw 508. Significantly, the slot 502a and strike pin
516a are
dimensioned so that the strike pin 516a avoids simultaneous contact the outer
wall
502b and the inner wall 502c of the cam slot 502a. This substantially reduces
associated frictional forces and difficulty of operation relative to prior art
designs.
[000114] Returning to FIG. 78, the latch 500 includes a guide pin 518
substantially
vertically fixed within the latch body 502 at a position distally from the
retainer screw
508. A spring 520 is fitted over the guide pin 518, and an upper surface of
the spring
520 makes compressive contact with an interior spring seat of a latch cover
retainer
504, which is preferably snap fitted within an interior cavity of the latch
body 502. A
locking pin 506 is fixed to the latch cover retainer 504, and substantially
vertically
within the latch body 502 at a position proximal to the retainer screw 508
when the
latch cover retainer 504 is fitted to the latch body 502. In a closed position
of the
latch 500, the spring 520 exerts an upwardly-directed force on the latch cover
retainer
that causes it to toggle and apply a downwardly-directed force on the locking
pin 506
that is sufficient for causing a locking end of the locking pin 506 to enter a
recess in a
surface of the front bulkhead 102 extending below the latch 500. In this
manner, the
latch is locked in the closed position so that, for example, the housing may
not be
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accidentally opened when in use underwater to expose the smart phone 800 to
possible water damage. In order to open the latch 500 once it has been placed
in the
closed, locked position, the operator may press downwardly on the latch cover
retainer 504 in the area of the guide pin 518 to compress the spring 520 and
raise the
locking pin 506 so that the locking pin 506 may be withdrawn from the recess
in the
surface of the front bulkhead 102.
[000115] FIG. 81 shows a front perspective view of the latch component of
FIGs. 75
and 76; FIGs. 82 - 87 respectively provide top, front, right side, bottom,
rear and left
side views of the latch component of FIG. 81
[000116] FIG. 88 provides a front view of an optional grip 700 for attachment
to the
waterproof housing 100. FIGs. 89 and 90 respectively provide a sectional view
and
magnified sectional view in cut-a-way along the line AU--AU of FIG. 88. FIG.
91
provides an exploded front perspective view of the grip component of FIG. 88.
As
illustrated for example by FIGs. 90 and 91, the grip 700 as depicted includes
a grip
body 702 that is fastened to a support plate 712 by means of a locking screw
716.
The support plate may then be attached to the housing 100 (for example, at the
tripod/grip mount 116 illustrated by FIG, 9) by means of a one or more locking
screws 714.
[000117] The grip body 702 as illustrated by FIGs. 90 and 91 is designed to be
gripped by the operator, and has a trigger assembly that includes a trigger
718 and
associated spring 724 that are held within an orifice of the grip body 702 by
means of
a retainer washer 720 and sealed within the orifice by means of an 0-ring 722.
Depending upon the operator's preference, the grip 700 may include an
extension 710
that is fastened to the grip body 702 (for example, by a conventional bolt
fastener) and
extends downwardly from a bottom surface of the grip body 702 to extend the
surface
area of the grip body 702 that may be gripped by the operator.
[000118] The trigger 718 is positioned to operate an electrical switch
provided on a
wireless signal transmission circuit board 704. Suitable circuit boards may
include,
for example, those containing or configured to receive Bluetooth wireless
transmission integrated circuit devices, such as conventional circuit boards
used in
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smart phone monopod sticks produced by iStablizer of Kamas, Utah. In addition
to
the switch, the board 704 preferably includes an electrical storage device
(capacitor or
battery), a display, and a BLUETOOTH transmitter capable, for example, of
transmitting the BLUETOOTH signal interpreted by the IPHONE 6 smart phone as
comprising a "volume up" command, which is interpreted as a shutter click
command
by many smart phone camera applications. Although BLUETOOTH signals
transmitted under water or in wet conditions are highly attenuated due to the
water,
Applicants discovered that a typical BLUETOOTH output signal can be
transmitted
underwater at distances of 6 inches or less, which is sufficient for use in
the intended
grip 700.
[000119] Employing a BLUETOOTH transmitter for transmitting signals is
particularly advantageous for conventional digital devices because a large
number of
digital devices employ BLUETOOTH receivers. Nevertheless, any other wireless
transmitter that can be received by a digital device located within a few
inches of such
transmitter when under water is useable in accordance with the present
invention,
including, for example, ZIGBEE transmitters.
[000120] Returning to FIGs. 90 and 91, the grip 700 is also provided with a
display
window 728 that is sealed within the a cover piece 706 by means of an 0-ring
729.
The display window 728 provides visual access to the display on the board 704,
which may for example preferably include one or more single or multi-color LED
devices for signaling and state of electrical capacity, charging status and/or
digital
device 800 readiness to receive a shutter click via the trigger 718 or to
report the
execution of a shutter click by the digital device 800. The cover piece 732 is
sealed
within the body 702 by means of an 0-ring 732, and is removable from the body
702
in order to gain access to the board 704.
[000121] In order to re-charge the electrical storage device provided on the
board
704, the grip 700 is also preferably provided with a cap 708 that is sealed to
the body
702 by means of an 0-ring 726. Cap 708 may be removed from the body 702 to
provide access to a charging receptacle (for example, including a micro-USB
connector) for re-charging the electrical storage device.
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[000122] FIG. 92 provides a front perspective view of the grip 700 of FIGs. 88
- 91.
FIGs. 93 - 98 respectively provide top, front, right side, bottom, rear and
left side
views of the grip 700 of FIGs. 88 - 91.
[000123] FIGs. 99 and 100 respectively provide a rear and front perspective
views of
the housing 100 and optional grip 700 of FIGs. 79 and 80. FIGs. 101. - 106
respectively provide top, rear, left side, front, left side and bottom views
of the
housing 100 and optional grip 700 of FIGs. 79 and 80.
[000124] The invention is further described by the following paragraphs
numbered
1 - 62:
1. A housing for holding a digital device having a touch screen, the housing
comprising:
a housing element having an aperture and at least one recess formed therein
for
positioning proximate a touch screen of a digital device when said digital
device is positioned
within the housing; and
an actuator, the actuator comprising:
a shaft extending through the aperture of the housing,
a control member connected to an outer end of the shaft,
a stop member affixed to one of the shaft or the control member for contacting
said housing element or engaging said recess,
an extension member connected to an inner end of the shaft, and
a first probe affixed to the extension member proximate said shaft, and a
second probe affixed to the extension member at an off-center position
relative to a
center axis defined by the shaft, wherein the second probe is compressible and
outer
surfaces of the first and second probes respectively terminate at first and
second
positions in a direction of the center axis of the shaft; with the second
position along
the center axis being distally further from the control member than the first
position;
wherein the control member is simultaneously operable to rotate the extension
member about the center axis of the shaft along a circular path defining a
first radial segment
and to urge the second probe to contact the touch screen for caffying out a
screen touch or
"touch-swipe" motion across the touch screen,
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wherein the stop member is operable when the extension member is within the
first
radial segment to engage an outer surface of the housing element and prevent
the first probe
to contact the touch screen, and
wherein the stop member is operable when the extension member is at a
predetermined position outside of the first radial segment to engage the
recess of the housing
element, thereby permitting the control member to urge the first probe member
to contact the
touch screen.
2. The housing of paragraph 1, wherein the first and second probes comprise at
least
one conductive material having a predetermined electrical capacitance
characteristic.
3. The housing of paragraph 1, further comprising a biasing member adapted to
urge
the shaft in a direction away from the touch screen when the digital device is
located within
the housing.
4. The housing of paragraph 3, wherein said biasing member is a spring.
5. The housing of paragraph 1, wherein the recess is located such that when
said stop
member engages the recess the second probe does not contact a touch sensitive
portion of the
digital device.
6. The housing of paragraph 5, further comprising interfering features
disposed on
said housing element for contacting the extension member and alerting a user
that the stop
member is aligned with the recess.
7. The housing of paragraph 1, further comprising a gasket on the actuator
shaft
proximate the housing aperture for creating a substantially watertight seal.
8. The housing of paragraph 1, wherein the recess is a slot proximate the
shaft.
9. The housing of paragraph 1, wherein the control member is a gripping
feature on
the outer end of the shaft.
10. The housing of paragraph 1, further comprising at least one retention
member for
securing the digital device within an interior volume of the housing, said at
least one retention
member being positioned and secured within the interior volume of the housing
and having a
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compressible wishbone structure, at least a portion of the compressible
wishbone structure
being compressible within the interior volume in a dis-engaged position for
releasing the
digital device from the interior volume.
11. The housing of paragraph 10, wherein the at least one retention member
comprises a retention feature configured to extend outwardly over an edge of
the touch screen
of the digital device when the at least one retention member is in an engaged
position for
engaging the digital device.
12. The housing of paragraph 11, wherein the retention feature include a
beveled
surface that is configured to contact the edge of the touch screen of the
digital device in the
engaged position.
13. The housing of paragraph 1, further comprising a light shade hingedly
connected
to the housing, said light shade having first and second openings and
configured to be
selectively rotated to an engaged position at which the first opening in the
light shade
sealably engages with the housing element in proximity with the touchscreen
while the
second opening in the light shield is distally positioned from the housing
element for viewing
the touchscreen, wherein said light shade is configured in the engaged
position to reduce the
amount of stray light reflecting from the touchscreen.
14. The housing of paragraph 13, further comprising a latch that is releasably
fastenable to a latch plate of the housing when the light shade is in the
engaged position.
15. The housing of paragraph 1, wherein said housing further comprises a light
mask
affixed to housing at a position proximate to a perimeter of the housing, said
light mask
positioned to shield a portion of the housing positioned to be in proximity
with the
touchscreen to reduce the amount of stray light reflecting from the
touchscreen.
16. A method for providing an actuator in a housing for holding a digital
device
having a touch screen; said method comprising the steps of:
positioning a shaft of the actuator to extend through an aperture in the
housing,
said housing having at least one recess formed therein for positioning
proximate the
touch screen of the digital device when said digital device is positioned
within the
housing,
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configuring the actuator to comprise the shaft; a control member connected to
an outer end of the shaft, a stop member affixed to one of the shaft or the
control
member for contacting said housing or engaging said recess, an extension
member
connected to an inner end of the shaft, a first probe affixed to the extension
member
proximate said shaft, and a second probe affixed to the extension member at an
off-
center position relative to a center axis defined by the shaft,
disposing the first and second probes in said housing such that outer surfaces
of the first and second probes respectively terminate at first and second
positions
along a direction of the center axis of the shaft; with the second position
along the
center axis being distally further from the control member than the first
position;
forming at least a portion of the second probe proximate its outer surface
with
a compressible material;
configuring the control member to further enable a user to rotate the control
member
to simultaneously rotate the extension member about the center axis of the
shaft along a
circular path defining a first radial segment and to urge the second probe to
contact the touch
screen for carrying out a screen touch or a "touch-swipe" motion across the
touch screen, and
configuring the stop member to (a) engage an outer surface of the housing and
prevent
the first probe to contact the touch screen when the extension member is
within the first radial
segment; and (b) engage the recess of the housing when the extension member is
at a
predetermined position outside of the first radial segment to thereby permit
the control
member to urge the first probe member to contact the touch screen.
17. The method of paragraph 16 further comprising the step of forming the
first and
second probes with at least one conductive material having a predetermined
electrical
capacitance characteristic.
18. The method of paragraph 16 further comprising the step of disposing a
biasing
member proximate the shaft to urge the shaft in a direction away from the
touch screen when
the digital device is located within the housing.
19. The method of paragraph 16 further comprising the step of positioning the
recess
such that when said stop member engages the recess the second probe does not
contact a
touch sensitive portion of the digital device.
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20. The method of paragraph 19 further comprising the step of disposing
interfering
features on said housing for contacting the extension member and alerting a
user that the stop
member is aligned with the recess.
21. The method of paragraph 16 further comprising the step of creating a
substantially
watertight seal by disposing a gasket on the actuator shaft proximate the
housing aperture.
22. The method of paragraph 16 further comprising the step of forming the
control
member as a gripping feature on the outer end of the shaft.
23. A lens mount system for a housing for a camera device, the system
comprising:
a threaded aperture provided on the housing;
a lens arrangement comprising an optical lens coupled to a threaded collar,
said
threaded collar for rotationally engaging the threaded aperture to couple the
lens arrangement
to the housing; and
a positioning assembly for fixedly locating the lens arrangement to the
housing at a
predetermined rotational engagement position of the threaded collar to the
threaded aperture,
the assembly comprising a surface having a receiving recess formed therein and
a biased
releasable feature for engagement with the recess, wherein said surface having
the recess is
located on one of the housing and lens arrangement and the biased feature is
provided in the
other one of the housing and lens arrangement, such that when the lens
arrangement and the
housing are fixedly located at the predetermined engagement position, an
optical feature of
the lens arrangement is located at a predetermined desired distance from an
optical plane of
the housing.
24. The lens mount system of paragraph 23, wherein when the lens arrangement
and
the housing are located at the predetermined engagement position, the coupling
of the lens
arrangement to the housing forms a substantially watertight seal.
25. The lens mount system of paragraph 24, further comprising at least one
gasket for
engaging surfaces of the housing and the lens arrangement to form the
substantially
watertight seal when the lens arrangement receiving recess.
26. The lens mount system of paragraph 24, wherein the least one gasket
comprises at
least one 0-ring.
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27. The lens mount system of paragraph 24, wherein the biased releasable
feature of
the positioning assembly comprises a locking pin.
28. The lens mount system of paragraph 27, wherein the surface having the
recess of
the positioning assembly is formed as a surface of the lens arrangement facing
toward the
biased releasable locking pin and away from said optical lens, and the biased
releasable
locking pin is located on a corresponding surface of the housing proximate the
threaded
aperture.
29. The lens mount system of paragraph 27, wherein the positioning assembly
further
includes a release mechanism coupled to the biased releasable locking pin, the
release
mechanism engageable by a user to withdraw the locking pin from said recess to
enable the
lens arrangement to be threadably dis-engaged from the housing.
30. The lens mount system of paragraph 24, wherein the positioning assembly
further
comprises a spring for the biasing of the biased releasable locking pin toward
the recess.
31. The lens mount system of paragraph 23, wherein the biased releasable
feature of
the positioning assembly comprises biased ball and the recess comprises a ball
detent.
32. The lens mount system of paragraph 23, wherein the biased releasable
feature of
the positioning assembly comprises a latch.
33. The lens mount system of paragraph 23, wherein the threaded collar and
threaded
aperture comprise corresponding multiple start threads.
34. The lens mount system of paragraph 33, wherein the positioning assembly
comprises a stop feature integral with at least one of the sets of multiple
start threads.
35. The lens mount system of paragraph 33, wherein the multiple start threads
are
double start threads.
36. The lens mount system of paragraph 35, wherein the surface having the
recess
have two recesses disposed 180 degrees apart relative to one another.
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37. The lens mount system of paragraph 23, wherein the threads of the threaded
collar
and threaded aperture are formed to enable the housing to be fixedly located
at a position
within a threaded engagement angle in the range of 30 to 180 degrees.
38. The lens mount system of paragraph 23, wherein the threads of the threaded
collar
and threaded aperture are formed to enable the housing to be fixedly located
at a position
within a threaded engagement angle in the range of 90 to 120 degrees.
39. The lens mount system of paragraph 35, wherein starting segments of the
double
start threads of the threaded collar and threaded aperture are positioned at
180 degrees
relative to one another.
40. The lens mount system of paragraph 35, wherein the double start threads of
the
threaded collar and threaded aperture are formed as acme threads.
41. The lens mount system of paragraph 23, wherein the optical lens of the
lens
arrangement is a substantially domed lens.
42. The lens mount system of paragraph 23, wherein the optical lens of the
lens
arrangement comprises a coating.
43. The lens mount system of paragraph 42, wherein the coating comprises an
anti-
reflective coating.
44. The lens mount system of paragraph 23, wherein the housing is further
configured
so that the optical plane of the housing is coincident with an image plane of
the camera
device when the camera device is positioned within the housing.
45. The lens mount system of paragraph 23 further comprising a light blocking
mask
having an opening formed therein, said mask positioned within the threaded
aperture
proximate the image plane of the camera device when the camera device is
positioned within
the housing.
46. The lens mount system of paragraph 45, wherein the light blocking mask is
positioned on the lens arrangement.
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47. The lens mount system of paragraph 45, wherein the light blocking mask is
positioned within the housing.
48. The lens mount system of paragraph 23, wherein the lens arrangement
further
comprises a light shade surrounding a periphery of the optical lens.
49. The lens mount system of paragraph 23, further comprising a filter
assembly
including:
a filter frame positioned within the housing, said filter frame comprising at
least one
filter; and
a lever coupled to said frame and disposed externally to said housing;
wherein the lever is operable to selectively place said at least one filter in
an optical
path of the lens arrangement.
50. A lens arrangement for a housing for a camera device, the system
comprising:
an optical lens coupled to a threaded collar, said threaded collar for
rotationally
engaging and coupling the lens arrangement to a corresponding threaded
aperture in the
housing; and
a positioning assembly for fixedly locating the lens arrangement in the
housing at a
predetermined rotational engagement position of the lens arrangement relative
to the housing,
the assembly comprising a surface having a receiving recess formed therein for
engaging
with a biased releasable feature of the housing, wherein the threaded collar
is configured to
enable the lens arrangement to be rotatably mounted and reach the
predetermined
engagement position within a rotational angle in the range of 30 to 180
degrees.
51. The lens arrangement of paragraph 50, wherein the threaded collar and
threaded
aperture comprise corresponding multiple start threads.
52. The lens arrangement of paragraph 50, further comprising a light blocking
mask
positioned rearwardly of the optical lens and integrally with the threaded
collar.
53. A lens arrangement for a housing for a camera device, the system
comprising:
an optical lens coupled to a threaded collar, said threaded collar for
rotationally
engaging and coupling the lens arrangement to a corresponding threaded
aperture in the
housing; and
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a positioning assembly for fixedly locating the lens arrangement in the
housing at a
predetermined rotational engagement position of the lens arrangement relative
to the housing,
the assembly comprising a biased releasable feature for releasably engaging a
receiving
recess formed in a surface of the housing, wherein the threaded collar is
configured to enable
the lens arrangement to be rotatably mounted and reach the predetermined
engagement
position within a rotational angle in the range of 30 to 180 degrees.
54. The lens arrangement of paragraph 53, wherein the threaded collar and
threaded
aperture comprise corresponding multiple start threads.
55. The lens arrangement of paragraph 53, further comprising a light blocking
mask
positioned rearwardly of the optical lens and integrally with the threaded
collar.
56. A housing comprising:
first and second elements hingedly joined at distal ends, the first and second
elements
movable to a mated configuration that forms a sealed inner volume; and
a latch configured to secure the first and second elements in the mated
configuration,
the latch comprising:
a latch body secured to the first element and including an inwardly-facing
arcuate cam slot, said cam slot being formed by inner and outer walls; and
a latch strike secured to the second slot and including an outwardly-facing
strike pin,
wherein, when said first and second elements are in the mated configuration,
said latch body being rotatable to engage the strike pin within the cam slot,
said cam
slot configured such that, upon rotating the latch body in a first direction,
the cam slot
outer wall contacts an outer surface of the strike pin to draw the first and
second
elements together in a sealed position in the mated configuration,
wherein said cam slot is further configured such that such that, upon rotating
the latch body in a second direction, the cam slot inner wall contacts an
inner surface
of the strike pin to push the first and second elements apart from in a sealed
position
in the mated configuration, and
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wherein the cam slot and strike pin are further configured so that the strike
pin
avoids simultaneous contact with each of the cam slot inner wall and outer
wall while
the latch body is rotated in either of the first or second directions.
57. The housing of paragraph 56, wherein the latch body further comprises:
a locking pin configured to engage a recess in the second element to maintain
the first
and second elements in the sealed position in the mated configuration.
58. The housing of paragraph 57, wherein the locking pin is affixed to a latch
cover
of the latch body, the latch cover biased to provide a downwardly-directed
force for the
locking pin to engage the recess and operable to provide an upwardly-directed
force for
releasing the locking pin from the recess.
59. A housing for holding a digital device having a touch screen, the housing
comprising:
a housing element having an aperture and at least one recess formed therein
for
positioning proximate a touch screen of a digital device when said digital
device is positioned
within the housing; and
an actuator, the actuator comprising:
a shaft extending through the aperture of the housing element,
a control member connected to an outer end of the shaft,
a stop member affixed to one of the shaft or the control member for contacting
said
housing element or engaging said recess,
an extension member connected to an inner end of the shaft,
a first probe affixed to the extension member proximate said shaft, and a
second probe
affixed to the extension member at an off-center position relative to a center
axis defined by
the shaft, wherein the second probe is compressible and outer surfaces of the
first and second
probes respectively terminate at first and second positions in a direction of
the center axis of
the shaft; with the second position along the center axis being distally
further from the control
member than the first position; and
a trigger assembly comprising
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a grip body including an external trigger for actuating an electrical switch
component of a wireless signal transmission circuit board sealably provided
within an
interior compartment of the grip body; and
a support plate for fixedly attaching the grip body to the housing.
60. The housing of paragraph 59, wherein the wireless signal transmission
circuit
board comprises a transmitter for transmitting a wireless signal representing
a shutter click
command of the digital device.
61. A housing for holding a digital device having a touch screen, the housing
comprising:
a housing element having an aperture and at least one recess formed therein
for
positioning proximate a touch screen of a digital device when said digital
device is positioned
within the housing; and
an actuator, the actuator comprising:
a shaft extending through the aperture of the housing element,
a control member connected to an outer end of the shaft,
a stop member affixed to one of the shaft or the control member for contacting
said
housing element or engaging said recess,
an extension member connected to an inner end of the shaft,
a first probe affixed to the extension member proximate said shaft, and a
second probe
affixed to the extension member at an off-center position relative to a center
axis defined by
the shaft, wherein the second probe is compressible and outer surfaces of the
first and second
probes respectively terminate at first and second positions in a direction of
the center axis of
the shaft; with the second position along the center axis being distally
further from the control
member than the first position; and
a rear-facing camera dome assembly provided in the housing element proximate
to the
touch screen, the rear-facing camera dome assembly including a rear-facing
lens arrangement
and camera button assembly for activating a rear-facing camera of the digital
device.
62. The housing of paragraph 61, wherein the rear-facing lens anangement
comprises
a camera dome integrally formed within the housing element.
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REFERENCE CHARACTER TABLE
[000125] The following table lists the reference characters and names of
features and
elements used herein:
Feature or element
100 housing
102 front bulkhead
104 front bulkhead hinge member
106 front bulkhead latch seat member
108 rear bulkhead
110 rear bulkhead hinge member
112 rear bulkhead latch seat member
114 top button assembly
115 top button cylinder
116 tripod/grip mount
118 bottom button assembly
120 bottom hinge member
122 rear-facing camera dome
124 camera selection button assembly
126 app selection button assembly
128 power button assembly
130 actuator seat
132 spring clamp
134 side pad
135 holder
136 retention member
136a retention member lever
136b retention member tab
137 retention well
138 filter lever stop
140 filter lever seat
142 locking pin assembly
144 locking pin
146 locking pin recess
148 locking pin biasing spring
150 locking pin retaining washer
162 actuator assembly cylinder
164 home button actuator
166 recess
167 dam
172 hinge member
174 latch plate
200 actuator assembly
202 0-ring retainer washer
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Feature or element
204 shaft
206 extension member
208 first probe
210 second probe
212 control member
214 stop member
216 biasing spring
218 0-ring
300 lens apparatus
302 dome port housing
304 dome port housing light shade
306 dome port housing 0-ring
308 dome port housing light blocking mask
310 dome port housing locking pin seat
312 optical dome
314 optical dome 0-ring
400 filter assembly
402 external lever
404 external lever 0-ring
406 filter frame
408a, b filter
500 latch
502 latch body
502a cam slot
502b outer cam slot wall
502c inner cam slot wall
504 latch cover retainer
506 locking pin
508 retainer screw
510 washer
512 washer
514 washer
516 extended latch strike
516a extended latch strike pin
518 guide pin
520 spring
600 rear-facing light shade
602a hinge member
602b movable hinge member
602c slit
604 shade body
606 shade latch
650 light mask
700 grip
702 body
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Feature or element
704 wireless network circuit board
706 cover
708 cap
710 extension
712 support plate
714 locking screw
716 locking screw
718 trigger
720 retainer washer
722 0-ring
724 spring
726 0-ring
728 display window
729 0-ring
730 retainer washer
732 0-ring
800 digital device
802 touch screen
804 front-facing camera
[000126] It will be understood that, while various aspects of the present
disclosure
have been illustrated and described by way of example, the invention claimed
herein
is not limited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied within the
scope of
the following claims.
