Abstract:
A viewing tunnel for improving the viewability of the display screen of a digital camera under some lighting conditions. The viewing tunnel is a five-panel device that can be used to cradle the digital camera and to shield the display screen from ambient light thereby enhancing an operator&#39;s view of the display screen. The five panels can be configured into a in-use configuration forming a four-sided structure (i.e. a tunnel) through which an operator of the camera can view the display screen while permitting the camera to function in the usual manner.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/835,532, filed Aug. 4, 2006, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to the field of photographic equipment. In particular, to a viewing tunnel for use with a camera having an electronic display. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Digital cameras commonly include an electronic display screen that can be used for composing a scene to be imaged, for reviewing images that have been previously captured, and for providing an operational interface for the camera operator. The electronic display is typically a liquid crystal display (LCD) or other similar display using well-know display technologies. 
         [0004]    A common problem experienced by users of digital cameras is that the display screen is difficult to see under certain lighting conditions such as, for example, in bright sun light. The brightness of the screen display is typically limited by factors such as the LCD or other technology used and the need to limit power consumption in battery-powered cameras. Also, the surface of the display screen can be of a reflective nature and in some cameras the display screen cannot be oriented independently of the camera body and/or of the lens element in order to minimize reflection or glare. 
         [0005]    What is needed is a mechanism for improving the viewability of the display screen of digital cameras under some lighting conditions. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0006]    A viewing tunnel for improving the viewability of the display screen of a digital camera under some lighting conditions. The viewing tunnel is a five-panel device that can be used to cradle the digital camera and to shield the display screen from ambient light thereby enhancing an operator&#39;s view of the display screen. The five panels can be configured into a in-use configuration forming a four-sided structure (i.e. a tunnel) having an aperture through which an operator of the camera can view the display screen while permitting the camera to function in the usual manner. 
         [0007]    In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a viewing tunnel for improving the viewability of the display screen of a digital camera comprising: a first panel; a second panel hingedly attached to the first panel; a third panel hingedly attached to the second panel; a fourth panel hingedly attached to the third panel; a fifth panel hingedly attached to the fourth panel; and a securing mechanism for detachably securing the fifth panel to the first panel; wherein the panels can be folded into an in-use configuration forming a four-sided structure, with the fifth panel secured to the first panel, cradling the digital camera and shielding the display screen from ambient light. 
         [0008]    Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art or science to which it pertains upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The present invention will be described in conjunction with drawings in which: 
           [0010]      FIGS. 1A&amp;B  are respectively top and bottom views of an exemplary embodiment of a viewing tunnel represented laid-out in a plane. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a top view representation of the construction of an exemplary embodiment of the viewing tunnel. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of the viewing tunnel folded into an in-use configuration. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 4A&amp;B  are isometric views of an exemplary embodiment of the viewing tunnel in an in-use configuration cradling a camera. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]      FIGS. 1A&amp;B  are, respectively, top and bottom views of an exemplary embodiment of a viewing tunnel  100  represented laid-out in a plane. The viewing tunnel  100  comprises five panels  110 ,  120 ,  130 ,  140 ,  150  that are hingedly attached one to another. Each panel preferably comprises a core made of a flexible, self-supporting (i.e. semi-rigid) material such as, for example, light to medium weight boxboard. The panels  110 ,  120 ,  130 ,  140 ,  150  are arranged so that each panel is hingedly attached to each of two adjacent panels with the exception of the first  110  and fifth  150  panels that are hingedly attached only to the second  120  and forth  140  panels respectively. The hinged attachment of the panels  110 ,  120 ,  130 ,  140 ,  150  to other adjacent panels  110 ,  120 ,  130 ,  140 ,  150  can be provided by, for example, a fabric that is attached to the panels  110 ,  120 ,  130 ,  140 ,  150 . 
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of the viewing tunnel  100  folded into an in-use configuration. The viewing tunnel  100  can be arranged to form a four-sided structure (i.e. tunnel) by bending the hinged attachments between the panels  110 ,  120 ,  130 ,  140 ,  150  and securing the fifth panel  150  to the first panel  110 . The fifth panel  150  can be detachably secured to the first panel  110  using a detachable securing mechanism  160  such as, for example, a hook-and-loop fastening mechanism (e.g. Velcro®). A first component  162  (e.g. the hooks) of the hook-and-loop fastening mechanism  160  can be attached to the first panel  110  and a second component  164  (e.g. the loops) of the hook-and-loop fastening mechanism  160  can be attached to the fifth panel  150  in an arrangement such that the two components  162 ,  164  of the hook-and-loop fastening mechanism  160  come into operational engagement when the viewing tunnel  100  is folded into an in-use configuration. In an alternative embodiment (not illustrated) other well known detachable securing mechanisms can be used. 
         [0016]      FIGS. 4A&amp;B  are isometric views of an exemplary embodiment of the viewing tunnel  100  in an in-use configuration cradling a camera  200 . The camera  200  is cradled within the viewing tunnel  100 . The portion of the camera  200  including the display screen is contained within the four-sided structure formed by the viewing tunnel  100 . The display screen is viewable through an aperture  105  created by the viewing tunnel  100 . The viewing tunnel  100  shields the display screen from ambient light thereby enhancing an operator&#39;s view of the display screen in some lighting conditions (e.g. by improving contrast or reducing glare). A portion of the camera  200  including, for example, the lens element, a flash lamp and one or more control interfaces (e.g. shutter release, mode setting, aperture and shutter speed controls, menu button, and navigation controls) protrudes from the viewing tunnel  100  in order to provide substantially unobstructed operation of the camera functions. One or more of the panels  110 ,  120 ,  130 ,  140 ,  150  can have a shape adapted to allowing specific portions (e.g. a surface having a user operable control) of the camera  200  to protrude from the viewing tunnel  100 . The shapes of the panels  110 ,  120 ,  130 ,  140 ,  150  comprising the viewing tunnel  100  can be adapted to a particular make (i.e. brand) and model of camera  200 . In an alternative embodiment the shapes of the panels  110 ,  120 ,  130 ,  140 ,  150  comprising the viewing tunnel  100  can be adapted so that a single embodiment of the viewing tunnel  100  can be used with a variety of similarly sized and configured makes and models of cameras. 
         [0017]    The viewing tunnel  100  can optionally include a thumb loop  170  connected to any one of the panels  110 ,  120 ,  130 ,  140 ,  150  so that the thumb loop  170  is accessible to the operator when the viewing tunnel  100  is cradling a camera  200  in the in-use configuration. The thumb loop  170  is adapted to receiving a digit (e.g. the thumb) of the camera  200  operator&#39;s hand. The thumb loop  170  provides for the operator to hold the viewing tunnel  100  cradling the camera  200  in a single hand. The viewing tunnel  100  cradles the camera  200  without the need for any additional attachment mechanism. 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a top view representation of the construction of an exemplary embodiment of the viewing tunnel  100 . The construction of the viewing tunnel  100  can, for example, begin with cutting each of the five panels  110 ,  120 ,  130 ,  140 ,  150  from a semi-rigid material (e.g. boxboard). A piece of fabric  180  is then laid-out on a flat surface. The fabric  180  is preferably dark-colored with a non-reflective finish. The fabric  180  is preferably sized so that it can cover both faces of the five panels  110 ,  120 ,  130 ,  140 ,  150 . The fabric  180  is folded in half along a longitudinal axis. The fabric  180  can be pressed to create a fold line  190  in the fabric  180 . The fabric  180  is unfolded and an adhesive is applied (e.g. sprayed) on to a surface of the fabric  180 . The five panels  110 ,  120 ,  130 ,  140 ,  150  are applied to the adhesive surface of the fabric  180 . The panels  110 ,  120 ,  130 ,  140 ,  150  are arranged in an orientation that will allow them to be folded into the in-use configuration of the viewing tunnel  100  when construction is completed. For example, the five panels  110 ,  120 ,  130 ,  140 ,  150  can be laid-out in a linear sequence along the fold line  190  with a gap (e.g. 1/16 inch) between the edges of adjacent panels. The fabric  180  in the gaps between adjacent panels form the hinged attachment between the panels  110 ,  120 ,  130 ,  140 ,  150 . The fabric  180  is re-folded along the fold line  190  so that each of the panels  110 ,  120 ,  130 ,  140 ,  150  is sandwiched between two layers of the fabric  180 . Excess fabric  180  can be trimmed away using the edges of the panels  110 ,  120 ,  130 ,  140 ,  150  as a guide. Each of two complimentary components of a hook-and-loop fastening mechanism  162 ,  164  can be attached respectively to one face of the first panel  110  and to the opposite face of the fifth panel  150  so that the two components  162 ,  164  will come into contact when the viewing tunnel  100  is folded into the in-use configuration. The components of the hook-and-loop fastener  162 ,  164  can be attached using an adhesive or other well-know attachment mechanisms. Optionally a thumb loop  170  is attached to the first panel  110 . The thumb loop  170  can be attached using an adhesive or other well-know attachment mechanisms. 
         [0019]    It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that numerous modifications and departures from the specific embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.