Waterproof case for camera

A waterproof case for a camera, such as a television camera, comprises a case body having a pair of half cases hinged together so as to form a watertight space therein, a camera mounting shoe having a screw to engage the tripod receptacle of the camera, and a back plate having a flexible retaining tongue, a camera seat formed on one of the half cases to hold the camera mount, and a locking member provided on the camera seat so as to engage the flexible retaining tongue to lock the camera mounting shoe in place so that the camera is held securely in the half case provided with the camera seat. In placing the camera in the waterproof case, the camera mounting shoe fastened to the camera by screwing the screw in the tripod receptacle of the camera is inserted into the camera seat provided on one of the half cases, and then the waterproof case is closed. The flexible retaining tongue is deflected elastically by the locking member as the camera mounting shoe is inserted in the camera seat, and then the flexible retaining tongue snaps back to its normal shape to engage the locking member upon the complete insertion of the camera mounting shoe in the camera seat, so that the camera is held securely in place in the waterproof case in a watertight fashion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a waterproof case for enclosing a camera, 
such as a portable television camera, and, more specifically, to a 
waterproof case for enclosing a camera, capable of facilitating setting a 
camera therein and firmly holding the camera therein in a watertight 
fashion. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
A television camera and a portable television camera (which will 
inclusively be designated as "television cameras" hereinafter) are used 
very often in the water, at a place close by the water, or in the open 
under bad weather conditions, such as in rainy, windy, and/or dusty 
weather. In using a television camera under such unfavorable conditions, 
the television camera is sealed in a watertight, airtight, waterproof case 
to protect the television camera. If sealed simply in a waterproof case, 
the television camera will jolted in the waterproof case, so that the 
television camera is unable to take pictures or the television camera may 
be damaged. 
A conventional waterproof case for a television camera has an internal 
space having a shape conforming to the external shape of the television 
camera so that the television camera can be seated fittingly in the 
waterproof case. This known waterproof case has a complicated construction 
and is expensive. 
Another conventional waterproof case for a television camera is provided on 
its bottom wall with a camera fastening screw that engages the tripod 
receptacle of the television camera to fasten the television camera to the 
waterproof case with the camera fastening screw so that the television 
camera will not jolted in the waterproof case. This known waterproof case 
requires a troublesome operation in putting the television camera in and 
out of the waterproof case. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the foregoing problems in the conventional waterproof cases for 
a television camera, it is an object of the present invention to provide a 
waterproof case for a camera, such as a television camera, capable of 
surely enabling setting a camera therein and removing the same therefrom 
by a single, simple operation and of firmly holding the camera so that the 
camera will not jolted when the same is operated from outside the 
waterproof case. 
In one aspect of the present invention, a waterproof case for a camera 
comprises a case body having a pair of half cases hinged together so as to 
define an airtight space therein, a camera mounting shoe having a screw to 
engage the tripod receptacle of the camera, and a back plate having a 
flexible retaining tongue, a camera seat formed on one of the half cases 
to hold the camera mount, and a locking member provided on the camera seat 
so as to engage the flexible retaining tongue to lock the camera mounting 
shoe in place so that the camera is held securely in the half case 
provided with the camera seat. 
The camera mounting shoe fastened to the camera by screwing the screw in 
the tripod receptacle of the camera is inserted into the camera seat 
provided on one of the half cases. The waterproof case is closed to seal 
the camera therein in a watertight fashion. In placing the camera in the 
waterproof case, the flexible retaining tongue is then deflected 
elastically as the camera mounting shoe is inserted into the camera seats. 
The flexible retaining tongue then snaps back into its normal shape to 
engage the locking member upon the complete insertion of the camera 
mounting shoe in the camera seat, so that the camera is held securely in 
place in the waterproof case.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The present invention will be described hereinafter as applied to a 
waterproof case for a television camera with reference to a preferred 
embodiment thereof. 
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a case body 1 comprises a first half case 2 and 
a second half case 3. A rubber gasket 4 is placed between the respective 
brims 2a and 3a of the half cases 2 and 3 to join the half cases 2 and 3 
together in a watertight fashion. The half cases 2 and 3 are coupled 
together by a hinge 5 connected to the respective bottom walls 2b and 3b 
of the half cases 2 and 3. The half cases 2 and 3 can be fastened together 
in a watertight fashion by a snap fastening mechanism 6 formed on the 
respective upper walls 2c and 3c of the half cases 2 and 3. The half cases 
2 and 3 are formed of a synthetic resin by molding or of aluminum by die 
casting. 
The hinge 5 comprises coaxial knuckles 7a and 7b formed respectively on the 
edges of the respective lower walls 2b and 3b of the half cases 2 and 3, 
and a hinge pin 8 having a threaded extremity, inserted through the 
knuckles 7a and 7b, and screwed in one of the knuckles 7a and 7b. 
The snap fastening mechanism 6 comprises a snap plate 9, which serves also 
as an outer cover, pivotally supported by a pin 100 on the upper wall 2a 
of the first half case 2 at a position near the edge of the upper wall 2a 
so as to be turned on the pin 100 toward the upper wall 3c of the second 
half case 3, a locking plate 10, which serves also as an inner cover, 
having a size smaller than that of the snap plate 9 and pivotally 
supported by the pin 100 so as to be turned on the pin 100 toward the 
upper wall 3c of the second half case 3, a link plate 11 having one end 
pivotally joined to the snap plate 9 and the other end pivotally joined to 
the locking plate 10, a first catch 12 formed of a metal and fixed to the 
upper wall 3c of the second half case 3 so as to catch a lug 9a formed on 
the snap plate 9, and a second catch 13 formed of a metal and fixed to the 
upper wall 3c of the second half case 3 at a position near the edge of the 
upper wall 3c so as to engage the locking edge 10a of the locking plate 
10. 
The second half case 3 has a lens housing 14 formed on the front wall 3d 
thereof at a position corresponding to the taking lens L of a television 
camera C to be sealed in the case body 1, and a viewfinder housing 15 
formed on the rear wall 3e thereof at a position corresponding to the 
viewfinder F of the television camera C as sealed in the case body 1. A 
gasket 17, a glass disk 18 and disk retainer 19 are fitted in that order 
in the opening 16 of the lens housing 14, and a lens cover 20 is put on 
the lens housing 14. A gasket 21, a glass disk 22 and a disk retainer 23 
are fitted in that order in the opening 15a of the viewfinder housing 15 
and an eye cap 24 is put on the viewfinder housing 15. 
A microphone unit 25 is build in the front wall 3d of the second half case 
3. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, the microphone unit 25 comprises a printed 
wiring board 27, a microphone cord 26 to be connected to the external 
microphone connector of the television camera C, an external microphone 
unit 28 electrically connected to the printed wiring board 27, and an 
external microphone connector 29 electrically connected to the printed 
wiring board 27. The external microphone unit 28 is fitted in and held in 
place in a microphone bore 30 formed in the front wall 3d of the second 
half case 3 and is protected by a waterproof protector 31 put on the front 
wall 3c of the second half case 3. The waterproof protector 31 comprises a 
protective sleeve 32, such as a rubber sleeve, receiving the external 
microphone unit 28 and fitted in the microphone bore 30, an elastic 
retaining ring 36 placed contiguously with and in front of the protective 
sleeve 32, a protective disk 35 formed by applying a waterproof, 
air-permeable sheet 34 to a perforated metal disk 33, and placed in 
contact with the front end of the elastic retaining ring 36, a holding 
ring 38 placed in front of the protective disk 35, and 0 ring 37 placed 
between the protective disk 35 and the holding ring 38, and a cover ring 
39 screwed in the front wall 3c of the second half case 3. 
The external microphone connector 29 is fitted fixedly in a bore 40 formed 
in the side wall 3f of the second half case 3. When the external 
microphone connector 29 is not used, the bore 40 is closed with a rubber 
plug 41. 
As best shown in FIG. 3, an operating unit 42 for operating the television 
camera C sealed in the case body 1 is built in the first half case 2. The 
operating unit 42 comprises a lens control switch 45 for varying the focal 
length of the taking lens L, a start switch 46, and a printed wiring board 
44 connected to the remote control connector of the television camera C by 
a remote control cord 43 and electrically connected to the lens control 
switch 45 and the start switch 46. The lens control switch 45 is operated 
by means of a zoom button 47 provided on the upper wall 2c of the first 
half case 2, and the start switch 46 is operated by means of a push buton 
48 provided on the rear wall 2e of the first half case 2. The push button 
48 can be held at either a standby position or a working position with a 
locking lever 49. 
A tripod receptacle 50 is fixed to the outer surface of the bottom wall 2b 
of the first half case 2. A peephole 51 is formed in the side wall 2f of 
the first half case 2 to enable viewing the running condition of the 
recording tape and confirming the residual length of the recording tape. A 
grip band 52 is attached to the outer surface of the side wall 2f. 
As shown in FIG. 2, a leakage inspection window 53 is attached to the lower 
portion of the rear wall 3e of the second half case 3 to enable the 
inspection of the interior of the case body 1 for a leak of water into the 
case body1. In FIG. 2, indicated at 54 is a cover for covering the printed 
wiring board 27 provided within the second half case 3. In FIG. 3, 
indicated at 55 is a holder for holding the printed wiring board 44 within 
the first half case 2, and at 56 is a cover for covering the printed 
wiring board 27. 
The television camera C is put on the waterproof case 1 thus constructed, 
the microphone cord 26 and the remote control cord 43 are connected 
respectively to the external microphone connector and remote control 
connector of the television camera C, and then the half cases 2 and 3 are 
closed up and fastened together to seal the television camera C in a 
watertight fashion in the case body 1. The television camera C is operated 
for taking and recording operation from outside the waterproof case 1. 
A camera mounting shoe 61 is attached to the tripod receptacle of the 
television camera C, and a camera holder 62 is fixed to the first half 
case 2 to surely and fixedly seating the television camera C in the 
waterproof case 1 by a simple operation. 
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, the camera mounting shoe 61 comprises: a 
substantially rectangular base plate 62 having flanges 62a and 62b 
inclined so that their upper portions approach each other and formed 
respectively along its front and rear sides, stopping projections 62c and 
62d formed respectively at the right-hand ends, as viewed in FIG. 3, of 
the flanges 62a and 62b, and positioning a projection 62f formed on its 
upper surface, and provided with a through hole 62e near the positioning 
projection 62f; a plastic back plate 63 fixed to the lower surface of the 
base plate 62 and integrally having an elastic tongue 63a provided with a 
hole 63a.sub.1 ; and a rubber friction pad 64 provided with a through hole 
64a coinciding with the through hole 62e, and a through hole 64b receiving 
the positioning projection 62f therethrough, and attached adhesively to 
the upper surface of the base plate 62. 
The threaded portion 65a of a camera mounting shoe fastening screw 65 to be 
screwed in the tripod receptacle of the television camera C is passed 
through the through hole 62e of the base plate 62 and the through hole 64a 
of the friction pad 64 so as to project from the upper surface of the 
friction pad 64, and a snap ring 66 is attached to the unthreaded portion 
of the camera mounting shoe fastening screw 65 to retain the camera 
mounting shoe fastening screw 65 on the camera mounting shoe 61 so that 
the camera mounting shoe fastening screw 65 is able to rotate and is 
unable to fall off the camera mounting shoe 61. The head 65b of the camera 
mounting shoe fastening screw 65 is able to sink in the back plate 63. 
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the camera mounting shoe 61 in a vertical 
plane including the axis of the positioning projection 62f and that of the 
through hole 62e. 
A camera seat 67 is formed integrally with the bottom wall 2b of the first 
half case 2 so as to extend on the bottom wall 3b of the second half case 
3. The camera seat 67 is provided integrally with guide flanges 68a and 
68b formed respectively along its front and rear sides so as to engage the 
flanges 62a and 62b, respectively. A projection 68c is formed on the upper 
surface of the camera seat 67 at a position corresponding to the through 
hole 63a.sub.1 formed in the elastic tongue 63a of the back plate 63. When 
the camera mounting shoe 61 is inserted in the space between the guide 
flanges 68a and 68b so that the inclined flanges 62a and 62b of the base 
plate 62 are guided respectively by the guide flanges 68a and 68b, the 
elastic tongue 63a is bent elastically by the projection 68c and rides 
over the projection 68c and, eventually, the stopping projections 62c and 
62d of the base plate 62 come into contact with the outer ends of the 
guide flanges 68a and 68b to limit the insertion of the camera mounting 
shoe 61. In this state, the through hole 63a.sub.1 of the elastic tongue 
63a coincides with the projection 68c and hence the elastic tongue 63a is 
allowed to snap into place. In FIG. 4, indicated at 63a' is the elastic 
tongue 63a in a temporarily bent position. Thus, the camera mounting shoe 
61 can snap into place on the camera seat 67. In this state, the camera 
mounting shoe 61 is restrained from vertical movement by the dovetail 
engagement of the flanges 62a and 62, and the guide flanges 68a and 68b 
and from horizontal movement by the engagement of the elastic tongue 63a 
and the projection 68c. Thus, the camera mounting shoe 61 is held securely 
on the first half case of the case body 1. The camera seat 67 having the 
guide flanges 68a and 68b, and the projection 68c is formed integrally 
with the first half case 2 by molding a synthetic resin. 
In separating the camera mounting shoe 61 from the camera seat 67, the 
elastic tongue 63a is bent elastically toward the base plate 62 so that 
the elastic tongue 63a is separated from the projection 68c, and then the 
camera mounting shoe 61 is pulled horizontally off the camera seat 67. 
Referring to FIG. 5, the section of the camera mounting shoe 61 shown in 
FIG. 5 being taken on a vertical plane different from that of the section 
of the same shown in FIG. 4, in placing the television camera C in the 
case body 1, the camera mounting shoe 61 is joined to the bottom wall of 
the television camera C with its positioning projection 62f fitted in a 
positioning hole formed in the bottom wall of the television camera C, and 
then the camera mounting shoe fastening screw 65 is screwed in the tripod 
receptacle of the television camera C to fasten the camera mounting shoe 
61 firmly to the television camera C. The engagement of the positioning 
projection 62f and the positioning hole of the television camera C 
restrains the television camera C from turning relative to the camera 
mounting shoe 61. 
The television camera C thus joined fixedly to the camera mounting shoe 61 
is fitted in the first half case 2 while the camera mounting shoe 61 is 
inserted in the camera seat 67 to hold the television camera C securely in 
the first half case 2 by the engagement of the camera mounting shoe 61 and 
the camera seat 67. Then, the second half case 3 is joined to the first 
half case 2, and the half cases 2 and 3 are fastened together by the snap 
fastening mechanism 6 to seal the television camera C in a watertight 
fashion in the case body 1. 
Although the elastic tongue 63a provided with the through hole 63a.sub.1 in 
this embodiment is formed integrally with the back plate 63, it is also 
possible to employ an elastic tongue 63a separate from the back plate 63 
and to attach the back plate 63 and the separate elastic tongue 63a 
individually to the base plate 62. When the back plate 63 and the elastic 
tongue 63a are separate members, the elastic tongue 63a can be formed of 
an optional appropriate material regardless of the material of the back 
plate 63. 
Since the case body 1 is closed in a watertight fashion, in some cases, it 
is difficult to open the case body 1; that is, if the television camera C 
is packed in the case body 1 in an atmosphere where the ambient 
temperature is comparatively high, and the television camera C is used in 
an atmosphere where the ambient temperature is comparatively low, such as 
in the water or outdoors in the rain, the pressure within the case body 1 
drops below the atmospheric pressure to form a vacuum within the case body 
1, so that it is difficult to open the case body 1 before the temperature 
of the air in the case body 1 increases to the comparatively high 
temperature. To avoid such a difficulty, the case body 1 is vented to 
relieve a vacuum formed in the case body 1 before opening the case body 1. 
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 6, a tubular projection 71 having a vent hole 72 
is formed on the upper wall 3c of the second half case 3, and the locking 
plate 10 is provided with a stopper 73. The stopper 73 consists of a 
protrusion 74 formed integrally with the locking plate 10, and a 
compressible sealing element 75. 
When the snap plate 9 is pressed to its fastening position after closing 
the case body 1, the locking plate 10 is turned to the locking position on 
the second half case 3 and the locking edge 10a of the locking plate 10 
engages the second catch 13. In this state, the compressible sealing 
element 75 of the stopper 73 is pressed to the upper end of the tubular 
projection 71 to close the vent hole 72 of the tubular projection 71 to 
form a watertight space within the case body 1. When the snap plate 9 is 
unfastened to release the locking plate 10 from the second catch 13 
through the link plate 11 to take out the television camera C from the 
case body 1, the stopper 73 is separated from the tubular projection 71 to 
open the vent hole 72 to enable the interior of the case body 1 to 
communicate with the atmosphere by means of the vent hole 72 and, 
consequently, the case body 1 can readily be opened. 
Even if the snap plate 9 serving as an outer cover is opened accidentally 
while the television camera C sealed in the case body 1 is used in the 
water or in the rain, the case body 1 remains watertight and the 
television camera C is able to operate without hindrance, because the 
locking plate 10 remains in place with the stopper 73 pressed to the upper 
end of the tubular projection 71. 
It is also possible to form the vent hole 72 in the upper wall 3c of the 
second half case 3 and to form the stopper 73 on the inner surface of the 
locking plate 10 so close the vent hole 72 when the locking plate 10 is 
pressed to its locking position. 
Although the present invention has been described as applied to a 
waterproof case for a television camera, it is also possible to apply the 
present invention to a waterproof case for a portable instrument other 
than the television camera, such as a still camera. 
As is apparent from the foregoing description, a waterproof case for a 
camera in accordance with the present invention is provided with a camera 
mounting mechanism comprising a camera mounting shoe provided with an 
elastic retaining member and detachably attached to the tripod receptacle 
of the camera, and a camera seat formed in the waterproof case and capable 
of fitly engaging the camera mounting shoe and of locking the elastic 
retaining tongue in place, the camera mounting mechanism enables setting 
the camera in and removing the same from the waterproof case by a simple, 
single operation, the camera mounting mechanism holds the camera securely 
in the waterproof case so that the camera will not jolt even if a high 
pressure is applied to the camera to operate the camera from outside the 
waterproof case, and the waterproof case is inexpensive and simple in 
construction. 
Although the invention has been described in its preferred form with a 
certain degree of particularity, obviously many changes and variations are 
possible therein. It is therefore to be understood that the present 
invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein 
without departing from the scope and spirit thereof.