UNDERWATER CASING FOR CAMERAS

Abstract: An underwater casing for cameras comprising a water-tight housing and means arranged thereon for manoeuvring of the adjustment mechanisms of the camera. The underwater casing comprises two handles (2, 3), which are attached to the water-tight housing (1) by means of connecting pieces (4, 5), which extend out from the housing so that the handles (2) are spaced apart from the housing on both sides thereof, at least certain of said control means (6, 9) being arranged in connection with one or both of the handles (2, 3), so that the user can actuate the control means (6, 9) without releasing the grip of the handles (2, 3). At least one of the handles is rotatable and of the, "gas control lever" type and is via a wire (8, 20) coupled to an adjustment mechanism of the camera, so that rotation of the handle (2, 3) effects manoeuvring of said mechanism.

Description: The present invention relates to an underwater casing for cameras which makes submarine photography possible with standard cameras of different manufactures by means of one and the same underwater casing. For photography under water special underwater cameras can be used. Such cameras are, however, very expensive, and usually a conventional camera is placed in a water-tight, so-called underwater casing. Maneuvering of the camera, i.e. focusing, diaphragm adjustment, etc., is effected with the aid of control means placed on the outside of the underwater casing. Said control means are via water-tight lead-throughs connected to devices on the inside of the casing giving the desired actuation of the respective adjustment mechanisms of the camera. Many problems arise due to the fact that different cameras have a different design and location of these mechanisms, and therefore it is difficult to provide an underwater casing which fits several different types of cameras. Other problems of the commercially available underwater, casings are that- the control means on the outside of the casing are arranged in close connection to the corresponding mechanisms of the camera, which i.a. makes it necessary to change the grip of the underwater casing in order to change, for example, the focusing. This in turn causes problems during the photography of, for example, fish and other animals, since the necessary grip change for the control involves movements scaring the animals. The object of the invention is to eliminate or reduce these and other problems, and for this purpose there is suggested an underwater casing for cameras having the characteristic features indicated in the subsequent claims. A particular embodiment of the underwater casing according to the invention will now described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a schematic rear view, with certain parts left out and some details in section, of an embodiment of the Underwater casing according to the invention, Figure 2 is a schematic top plan view, with some parts removed, of the underwater casing shown in Fig. 1, and Figure 3 is a rear view corresponding to Fig. 1 and illustrating an alternative embodiment of the underwater casing. The underwater casing shown comprises a water-tight and pressure resistant housing 1. Said housing 1 is provided with a removable back la, so that the camera can be inserted into the housing. The back la, which preferably is made of a transparent material, is attached to the rest of the housing by means of suitable attachment and sealing means, e.g. screws and rubber gaskets. The housing is further provided with an annular, preferably slightly conical projection lb defining a chamber for receiving the lens of the camera. Said projection lb is at its front closed by a front piece lc of a transparent material which, of course, has a sufficiently good quality to permit photography. The housing 1 is when used held by two handles 2 and 3 connected to the housing 1 through connecting pieces 4 and 5. The handles 2 and 3 are on either side of the housing 1, as viewed in the photography direction, and are spaced apart from the housing 1, so that the user can conveniently hold the underwater casing. According to a characterizing feature of the invention at least one of the- handles 2 and 3 is completely or partly rotatable, i.e. of the "gas control lever" type (as indicated by the arrows in connection with the handle 2 in Fig. 1 and the handles 2 and 3 in Fig. 3). In a manner explained further below the rotary motion of the handle(s) is transmitted for actuation of a suitable adjustment mechanism of the camera. In this way the user can with a small movement, which does not scare live picture motives, quickly and easily make the desired adjustment. In association with the handle 2 the underwater casing shown also has a second control 6, which is mounted on the connecting piece 4 in connection with the handle 2. The control 6 has the form of a lever being placed so that the user can manipulate the same with his thumb without releasing the grip of the handle 2. Also in this case the maneuvering can be effected with a minimal movement. In the case shown the intention is that the maneuvering of the handle 2 shall actuate the focusing control of the camera, while the control 6 is intended to actuate the aperture adjustment mechanism of the camera. This is often the most suitable design of the control means, but there is, of course, nothing that prevents the control means 2 and 6 shown from being used for actuating other mechanisms of the camera. It is naturally also possible within the scope of the invention to design the handle 3 and the connecting piece 5 in a corresponding way for controlling other mechanisms of the camera such as the shutter-release, time exposure control, film advance lever (when necessa¬ ry), etc., an example of such an embodiment being shown in Fig. 3. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the transmission of power between the control handles 2 and 6 and the adjustment mechanisms of " the camera is effected by means of wires 7 and 8 respectively. To this end the handle 2 is connected to a central shaft 9, which at one end is rigidly secured to a rotary disc 10 placed within the connecting piece Ψ. An O-ring gasket 11 ensures sealing at the lead-through. The lever 6 is correspondingly coupled to a shaft 12, -which in turn is rigidly secured to a second rotary disc 13 in the connecting piece _ A second O-ring gasket 14 provides sealing at the lead- through. The rotary discs 10 and 13 are thus rotatably jour nailed in the connecting piece , and the wires 7 and 8 are fixed to the respective rotary disc (at 15 in Fig. 2). As best appears from Fig. 2 the wires run in corresponding grooves along the periphery of the rotary discs, and they run through the connecting piece Ψ (which is sealingly attached to the housing 1) into the interior of the housing 1. In the embodiment shown the opposed ends of the wires 7, 8 are each connected to a ring 16 and 17 respectively, which are arranged to be placed over the focusing ring and diaphragm adjustment ring respectively. The inside of the ring may avantageously be completely or partly covered with an elastic rubber or plastic moulding or strip 18- for improving the engagement with the lens. By providing the rings 16, 17 with mouldings 18 of different thickness, the inner diameters of the rings can easily be adapted to the lens of the camera in question. Alternatively, for each underwater casing special rings corresponding to the most frequent camera types can be made. According to an alternative embodiment two or more rings, one mounted inside the other may be used instead of each of the shown rings 16 and 17. For example, it is possible to use non-rotary outer rings, which are supported by the housing 1 and wherein one or more inner rings, corresponding to the rings 16 and 17 are rotatably mounted, if a more extensive control of the camera lens in relation to the housing 1 is desired. An essential advantage of using wires 7, 8 as power transmission means according to the invention is that they permit a great flexibility as regards the connection to the adjustment mechanisms of the camera. The wires may thus be arranged quite loosely inside the housing 1 (with the exception of the necessary securing of the wire sleeves, which may be effected at an arbitrary suitable place). This is of particular importance due to the fact that the location and mutual distance between e.g. the diaphragm adjustment and f ocusing~controls vary significantly between different cameras. Thus, the underwater casing according to the invention is practically independent of the distance between the diaphragm adjustment ring and the focusing ring of the lens, since the free wire ends automatically adjus themselves to this distance. If, as in the above indicated alternativ embodiment, guide rings supported by the housing 1 are used, .said distance i adjusted by making the rings supported by the housing 1 dispiaceable in th photography direction, for example by having the latter slidabie along pins (no shown) or the like, which suitably are provided with means for securing i arbitrary positions. In Fig. 1 a design of the control means 6, 9 is shown, which i particularly suitable for photography at great depths, where the pressur difference between the surrounding water and the interior of the housing 1 i great and can lead to maneuvering difficulties due to the fact that the contr means by the pressure are pressed against each other - and/or against th connecting piece. To this end an axial bearing of the low friction type, e.g. ball bearing 19, is arranged between the rotary discs 10, 13, whereby i.a. balancing of the pressure on the control means 2 and 6 is achieved. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3 the handle 2 is provided wit the same kind of control means 2 and 6 as in Fig. 1 for focusing and diaphrag adjustment. In this embodiment also the second handle 3 is rotatable i relation to the connecting piece 5, and it is via a rotary wire or flexible shaf 20 coupled to the housing 1 to permit maneuvering of another function of th camera, suitably the film advance, by rotation of the handle. For this purpos one end of the wire 20 is connected to the central axle of rotation 21 of th handle 3, while its other end is connected to a control element 22 rotatabl arranged in the housing, so that rotation of the handle 3 causes rotation of th control element 22. The latter, which may be exchangeable to fit variou types of cameras, is preferably provided with two downwardly projectin portions 22a and 22b, which are arranged to - viewed in the direction o rotation - straddle an adjustment button, arm, or the like on the camera an thereby permit active driving of said button, arm, " etc. in both directions dependent on the direction in which the handle 3 is turned. The leadthrough o the wire 20 or the control element 22 through the housing 1 should of course b water-tight, and it may be designed in conventional manner, suitably with th use of one or more O-ring gaskets 24. The invention is, of course, not restricted to the above describe and in the drawings specifically shown embodiments, but many modification and variations are possible within the scope of the general inventive idea.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. An underwater casing for cameras comprising .a water-tight housing and means arranged thereon for maneuvering of the adjustment mechanisms of the camera, characterized in that it comprises two handles (2, 3), which are attached to the water-tight housing (1) by means of connecting pieces (4, 5) extending from the housing so that the handles (2, 3) are spaced apart from the housing on both sides thereof, at least some of said control means (6, 9) being arranged in connection with one or both of the handles (2, 3) so that the user can actuate the control, means (6, 9) without releasing the grip of the handles (2, 3). 2. An underwater casing according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the handles (2) is rotatabie and arranged to actuate one of the adjustment mechanisms of the camera on rotation, preferably the focusing adjustment of the camera. 3. An underwater casing according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one rotatabie control means (6) is arranged on at least one of said connecting pieces (4) in connection with the respective handle (2), so that the user can actuate the control means (6) with his thumb without releasing the grip of the handle. ψ. An underwater casing according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the transmission of power between said rotatabie control means (2, 6) and the corresponding camera adjustment mechanism is effected by means of wires (4, 8) attached to the respective adjustment mechanism. 5. An underwater casing according to claim 4, characterized in that each wire (7, 8) is attached to a ring (16, 17), which is removably attachable on the respective camera adjustment mechanism. 6. An underwater casing according to claim 4, characterized in that each wire (7, 8) is attached to a ring supported by the housing (1) and rotatably mounted in relation thereto, in which ring a ring attachable on the respective camera adjustment mechanism can be inserted, said two rings being provided with engagement means, by which the rotary motion of the outer ring is transmitted to the inner ring. 7. An underwater casing according to claim 6, characterized- in that said outer rings are displaceable in relation to each other. 8. An underwater casing according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that each wire (7, 8) is coupled to the respective control means (2, 6) via a rotary disc (10, 13) connected to the control means. 9. An underwater casing according to claim 8, characterized in that said rotary discs (11, 14) are in contact wjth each other via an intermediate axial bearing (19). 10. An underwater casing according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that one (3) of the handles is rotatabie in relation to the corresponding connecting piece (5), and connected to a rotary wire (20), which in turn is connected to a control element (22) rotatably arranged in the housing (1), said control element (22) being arranged to cooperate with an adjustment mechanism, especially a film advancing mechanism, of the camera, so that turning of the handle (3) causes a corresponding rotation of said adjustment mechanism of the camera.

Inventors: AXEN J, LINDBERG B, OESTLING H
Applicants: AXEN J, LINDBERG B, MACHINATOR AB, OESTLING H
Application year: 1979
Main classification: G03B17
IPC codes: G03B17