Patent ID: 6246840
Filing Date: 2001-06-12
Classification: G03B

Abstract:
A locking mechanism for a backside cover that opens or closes a back side of a camera main body, the locking mechanism comprising:a lock pin provided on one of the camera main body and the backside cover;a movable locking member supported by the other of the camera main body and the backside cover, the movable locking member being operable from an outside of the camera main body and movable between a locking position in which a hook part of the movable locking member is engaged with the lock pin in a state where the backside cover closes the back side of the camera main body, and an unlocking position in which the hook part is disengaged from the lock pin;a biasing mechanism which biases the movable locking member toward the locking position;an entrance hole provided on the one of the camera main body or the backside cover where the movable locking member is provided, the entrance hole allowing the lock pin to enter into an engagement position in which an engaging surface of the lock pin is engaged with an engaging surface of the hook part when the backside cover closes the back side of the camera main body; anda tapered surface provided in the entrance hole, wherein when the lock pin does not enter into the engagement position and is pressed in a biasing direction by the movable locking member, the tapered surface contacts the lock pin and guides the lock pin externally from the entrance hole using a pressing force of the movable locking member in cooperation with the tapered surface.