Patent ID: 6102585
Filing Date: 2000-08-15
Classification: G03B

Abstract:
A camera comprising:a camera body;a lens mounted on the camera body;a first operational member having an operating surface extending through an external surface of said camera body located between said lens and one side of said camera body and being rockably mounted upon a shaft positioned in said camera body;said shaft been aligned to enable a first portion of said first operational member lying to one side of said shaft to pivot about said shaft in a first direction toward an interior of said camera body while a second portion of said first operational member lying to an opposite side of said shaft, pivots about said shaft in said first direction away from the interior of the camera body when a force which is directed towards the interior of said camera body is applied to said first portion and to enable said second portion of said first operational member to pivot in a second direction toward the interior of said camera body and said first portion to pivot in said second direction away from the interior of said camera body, when a force which is directed towards the interior of said camera body is applied to said second portion;a first sensing member engaged by said first operational member when said first operational member is moved in said first direction for initiating a first camera function;a blocking member for preventing said first operational member from engaging said first sensing member when said first operational member is pivoted in said second direction;a second operational member exposed through a second opening in said camera body positioned on the same surface of said camera body as said first operational member and adjacent to said first operational member, said second operational member being movable in a direction toward the interior of said camera body;a second sensing member for initiating a second camera function different from said first camera function when engaged by said second operational member;an external surface of said second operational member being positioned adjacent to said first operational member so as to be closer to said second portion of said first operational member and further away from said first portion of said first operational member and being positioned to one side of said shaft, whereby, when a tip of a finger overlies said first operational member, the external surface of said second operational member is arranged relative to said first operational member so as to prevent the tip of the finger from pressing the second operational member towards the interior of the camera body and pivot the first operational member in said first direction simultaneously therewith.