Lens guard

A lens guard for protecting a camera includes a lens-guard housing, a pressurized gas system, and a gas supply. The housing defines an opening and has a transparent protective lens disposed in the opening and having an outer surface exposed to the environment, an upper portion, and a portion defining apertures shaped to respectively receive therein camera support rods operable to mount the lens-guard housing to the camera in front of a lens. The pressurized gas system is operable to remove fluids and debris from the outer surface of the protective lens. The pressurized gas system includes a blow tube mounted to the upper portion of the housing and having a plurality of outlets directed towards the outer surface of the protective lens. The gas supply fluidically connects to the blow tube and is operable to supply pressurized gas to the blow tube and through the outlets thereof.

Not Applicable

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention lies in the field of camera protection. The present disclosure relates to a lens guard and protective camera cover for protecting a camera lens and camera.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cameras are delicate instruments that need protection from their surroundings, particularly in inclement weather situations. For example, cameras used for filming an outdoor sporting event need protection from rainy weather conditions so that viewers viewing a video of the sporting event do not find the picture obscured by water droplets. Cameras equipped with traditional camera covers typically require the camera operator's hand be inside or underneath the camera cover to access and operate the camera. Moreover, traditional protection of the camera lens merely includes a plastic projection extending beyond the camera lens to help protect against rain. This does not address the problem created when water and dust actually make contact with the camera lens.

Thus, a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art systems, designs, and processes as discussed above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a camera lens guard that overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and that provide such features with an easy-to-use and water-tight seal against the environment and a lens cover that can be cleared of moisture easily.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a lens guard for protecting a camera. The lens guard includes a lens-guard housing defining an opening and having a transparent protective lens disposed in the opening and having an outer surface exposed to the environment. The lens-guard housing further includes an upper portion and a portion defining first and second apertures shaped to respectively receive therein first and second camera support rods operable to mount the lens-guard housing to the camera in front of a lens. The lens guard also includes a pressurized gas system operable to remove fluids and debris from the outer surface of the protective lens. The pressurized gas system includes a blow tube mounted to the upper portion of the housing. The blow tube has a plurality of outlets directed towards the outer surface of the protective lens. A gas supply is fluidically connected to the blow tube and operable to supply pressurized gas to the blow tube and through the outlets thereof.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the lens-guard housing further includes a lower portion and grooves in the lower portion shaped to direct fluid and debris away from the outer surface of the protective lens when the pressurized gas is exiting through the outlets.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, there is provided a visor attached to the upper portion of the housing and shaped to protect at least a portion of the protective lens from weather and glare.

In accordance with an added feature of the invention, there are provided first and second bushings operable to be respectively received within the first and second apertures and, thereby, adjust an inner diameter of each of the first and second apertures to conform to a size of the first and second camera support rods.

In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the lens-guard housing has a receiving groove formed within the opening about a perimeter thereof to receive therein the protective lens.

In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, the lens-guard housing has a detent formed about an outer circumference thereof and which further includes a protective camera cover operable to water-tightly fit about the detent to attach the protective camera cover to the lens guard and receive the camera therein and protect both the camera and the lens of the camera.

In accordance with yet a further feature of the invention, the protective camera cover is comprised of a transparent, water-proof material and the material is tactile to allow for operation of the camera through the material of the protective camera cover.

In accordance with yet an added feature of the invention, the pressurized gas system has a remote control and is remotely operated.

In accordance with yet an additional feature of the invention, the gas supply has a gas source and fluidically connects the gas source to the blow tube.

In accordance with again another feature of the invention, the gas source is a portable compressed gas cylinder.

With the objects of the invention in view, there is also provided a camera protection device, including a lens guard mountable to a lens-side of a camera for protecting a camera lens thereof. The lens guard has a housing defining an opening and includes: a transparent protective lens disposed in the opening, with an outer surface exposed to the environment; an upper portion; and a portion defining first and second apertures shaped to respectively receive therein first and second camera support rods operable to mount the lens guard to the camera in front of a lens. The lens guard also includes a pressurized gas system operable to remove fluids and debris from the outer surface of the protective lens. The pressurized gas system includes a blow tube mounted to the upper portion of the housing. The blow tube has a plurality of outlets directed towards the outer surface of the protective lens. A gas supply is fluidically connected to the blow tube and operable to supply pressurized gas to the blow tube and through the outlets thereof. The camera protection device further includes a protective camera cover secured to and extending from the lens guard and shaped to enclose the camera therein.

In accordance with again a further feature of the invention, the lens-guard housing further includes a lower portion and grooves formed in the lower portion shaped to direct fluid and debris away from the outer surface of the protective lens when the pressurized gas is exiting through the outlets.

In accordance with again an added feature of the invention, there is also provided a visor attached to the upper portion of the housing and shaped to protect at least a portion of the protective lens from weather and glare.

In accordance with again an additional feature of the invention, there are also provided first and second bushings operable to be respectively received within the first and second apertures and, thereby, adjust an inner diameter of each of the first and second apertures to conform to a size of the first and second camera support rods.

In accordance with still another feature of the invention, the lens-guard housing has a receiving groove formed within the opening about a perimeter thereof to receive therein the protective lens.

In accordance with still a further feature of the invention, the protective camera cover is comprised of a transparent, water-proof material and the material is tactile to allow for operation of the camera through the material of the protective camera cover.

In accordance with still an added feature of the invention, the housing has a detent formed about an outer circumference thereof and the protective camera cover has a gasket operable to form a water-tight fit about the detent to attach the protective camera cover to the lens guard.

In accordance with still an additional feature of the invention, the protective camera cover has a closure mechanism operable to substantially close the protective camera cover around the camera.

In accordance with again an additional feature of the invention, the pressurized gas system has a remote control and is remotely operated.

In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, the gas supply has a gas source and fluidically connects the gas source to the blow tube.

Additional advantages and other features characteristic of the present invention will be set forth in the detailed description that follows and may be apparent from the detailed description or may be learned by practice of exemplary embodiments of the invention. Still other advantages of the invention may be realized by any of the instrumentalities, methods, or combinations particularly pointed out in the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention.

Before the present invention is disclosed and described, it is to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.

As used herein, the term “about” or “approximately” applies to all numeric values, whether or not explicitly indicated. These terms generally refer to a range of numbers that one of skill in the art would consider equivalent to the recited values (i.e., having the same function or result). In many instances these terms may include numbers that are rounded to the nearest significant figure.

Herein various embodiments of the present invention are described. In many of the different embodiments, features are similar. Therefore, to avoid redundancy, repetitive description of these similar features may not be made in some circumstances. It shall be understood, however, that description of a first-appearing feature applies to the later described similar feature and each respective description, therefore, is to be incorporated therein without such repetition.

Described now is an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly toFIG. 1, there is shown an exemplary embodiment of a camera protection device10including a lens guard20, a pressurized gas system50, and a protective camera cover70. As shown inFIG. 1, the lens guard20is mounted to the lens side of the camera12, by the camera iris rods16, for protection of the camera lens14(FIG. 6). The protective camera cover70is secured to and extends from the lens guard20to enclose the camera12therein.

As shown inFIG. 2, the lens guard20includes a housing22having an opening28defining a lens area for receiving a transparent protective lens30. The protective lens30is received within a receiving groove40formed within the opening28, about a perimeter thereof. In this exemplary embodiment, the lens area defined by the receiving groove40and the opening28are rectangular to accommodate a large variety of lenses30, such as the well-known “Schneider” lens, e.g., about 6.6 in by about 6.6 in, or any of many available filters or lenses30. Alternatively, the opening28may be circular, ovular, or have any other suitable shape for accommodating a protective lens30. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the housing22is made of 6061 alloy aluminum billet having a thickness of between about 1 and 1.25 in. and a diameter of between about a 9.5 and 10 in.

As further depicted inFIG. 2, the lens-guard housing22includes apertures32formed through the lower portion26of the housing22for receiving therein the camera iris rods16to mount the lens guard22to the camera12in front of the camera lens14. In an exemplary embodiment, the apertures32have a standard 19 mm internal diameter (0.748″). However, if desired, bushings38may be received within the apertures32to adjust selectively the internal diameter of the apertures32to accommodate different sized iris rods16(e.g., rods having an outer diameter of 15 mm (0.5906″) or 17 mm (0.6693″)). Iris rods16are commonly known in the art and serve multiple functions associated with cameras. The bushings38can be secured within the apertures32with set screws44(e.g., 10-32 L-handles) that are turned into the bottom of threaded openings in the housing22, as shown inFIG. 2, for example.

In this exemplary embodiment, the lens housing22also includes lens clamps46, flush mounted to each side of the housing22, with non-illustrated cushions and screws48to allow for easy interchange of any number or kind of the protective lenses30. Alternatively, to allow the lens30to be quickly removed for exchange and cleaning, the protective lens30may be secured by spring-loaded plungers operable to fit within holes of the housing22on either side of the lens30.

The inventive lens guard20is equipped with a pressurized gas system50operable to clear the outer surface of the protective lens30of moisture build-up, water droplets, or dust with a pressurized gas, such as compressed air, for example. As used herein, when compressed air is used as the compressed gas, for example, “pressurized” and “high-pressure” are defined in the range of between approximately 50 psi and approximately 4500 psi. The pressurized gas system50includes a blow tube52mounted within an upper pocket of an upper portion24of the lens-guard housing22. As best illustrated inFIG. 3, the blow tube52has a plurality of outlets54through which gas exits. The blow tube52is mounted in the upper portion24of the lens-guard housing22with the outlets54directed towards the apertures32. In this way, any pressurized gas exiting the openings54is directed against the outer surface of the protective lens30in the same direction as gravity. As shown inFIG. 6, the pressurized gas system50includes a gas supply tube56fluidically connecting a pressurized gas source58to the blow tube52. In this way, any kind of regulator can supply gas (e.g., air) from the pressurized gas source58through the gas supply tube56, the blow tube52, and out through the outlets54thereof to clean the outer surface of the protective lens30of fluids and debris. The pressurized gas system50forces water drops, for example, off the outer surface of the protective lens30with pressure from the pressurized gas source58, which can be automatic, based upon the detection of moisture on the lens30by a moisture-detection system, or manually controlled by a camera operator. In an exemplary embodiment, the pressurized gas source58is a compressed air cylinder, e.g., 91Ci, 550Ci, and 1105Ci, examples of which are shown inFIGS. 6 and 7.

As shown inFIG. 6, the compressed air cylinder58may be provided with a cradle82or belt holder84for portable use. Operation of the pressurized gas system50can be controlled by merely the touch of switch. As shown inFIGS. 6 and 7, the camera operator can clear the protective lens30of water droplets or dust by holding down the switch74of the controller76to turn the gas supply on, i.e., to transfer gas from the pressurized gas source58, through the gas supply tube56, and through the outlets54of the blow tube52. Where the camera12is remotely operated, the remote operator can be provided with a remotely controlled switch74that can, for example, be actuated via wire or wirelessly.

The gas source connection78is configured so that the lens guard20can also operate by running off a standard, master compressed gas system found in a typical sports stadium, field, or golf course environment. The gas supply tube connection80, which connects the gas supply tube56to the lens-guard housing22, and fluidly connects the gas supply tube56to the blow tube52, is adjustable between the left and right sides of the lens-guard housing22to accommodate preference of the camera operator. In this exemplary embodiment, and with regard toFIG. 2, the lens-guard housing22has a hole25formed in each of the right and left sides, through which the blow tube52is received and mounted within the upper portion24of the housing22. The hole25on one side, e.g., the right side inFIG. 2, is sealed with an o-ring35and plug45and the hole (not shown) on the opposing side, e.g., the left side inFIG. 2, is sealed with an o-ring35and the gas supply tube connection80(e.g., an elbow connection) fluidically connecting the blow tube52to the gas supply tube56.

As shown inFIGS. 2 and 4, the lens-guard housing22includes drainage grooves34formed in the lower portion26of the housing22for directing fluids and debris away from the protective lens30outer surface (and away from the camera12) rather than allow the fluids and debris to accumulate in the bottom of the housing22. In this embodiment, the housing22also includes a protective visor36attached to the upper portion24of the housing22, above the blow tube52, for protecting the protective lens30, and thus the camera lens14, from weather and glare. In this exemplary embodiment, the protective lens30is recessed from the outermost surface of the housing22to further protect against weather, debris, and glare. In addition, the outer surface of the protective lens30may be coated with a water-beading solution to aid in the removal of fluids from the protective lens30.

FIGS. 1 and 6show the protective camera cover70in a use position, enclosing therein and protecting a camera12.FIGS. 4 and 5show the protective camera cover70in non-use position, without a camera enclosed therein. In this exemplary embodiment, the protective camera cover70is a transparent plastic material, impervious to water, gas, oil, and most chemicals. In addition, the protective camera cover70is extremely strong and difficult to tear or damage. Further, the protective camera cover70is very malleable, allowing the camera to be operated from outside the cover, and allows heat to pass therethrough so that the camera operator can operate the camera through the cover70even with touch-screen technology.

Referring toFIGS. 2 and 5, the lens-guard housing22includes a detent42formed about an outer circumference thereof. The protective camera cover70is attached to the housing22by a gasket62, e.g., an elastic cord and cord lock, that forms a secure fit about the detent42. As best illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 6, the protective camera cover70has a closure mechanism72to close the protective camera cover70around the camera12. In this exemplary embodiment, there is a plurality of openings disposed along a bottom edge75of the protective camera cover70for receiving therethrough a string, for example, to create a drawstring closure mechanism. Alternatively, the bottom edge75of the protective camera cover70may include snaps, strips of VELCRO®, any other adhesive material, or any other suitable closure mechanism72known by one of ordinary skill in the art to allow the protective camera cover70to more securely enclose and protect the camera12, for example, during windy weather conditions.

The camera protection device10protects both the camera12and camera lens14from inclement weather, such as rain, sleet, snow, and hail, keeps water drops off the protective lens30, and allows a camera operator to operate the camera12in a normal fashion without detriment of picture quality. The pressurized gas system50removes fluids and debris from the protective lens30so that the view through the camera lens14remains unobstructed.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawings illustrate the principles, exemplary embodiments, and modes of operation of the invention. However, the invention should not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed above. Additional variations of the embodiments discussed above will be appreciated by those skilled in the art and the above-described embodiments should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that variations to those embodiments can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.