Abstract:
Disclosed is a hood-cover combination for a lens of a camera. The hood-cover combination includes a hood for detachable attachment to a portion of the camera around the lens, a frame rotationally located in the hood, two covers pivotally connected to the frame and two springs for biasing the covers from the frame so that the frame is kept open.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a camera and, more particularly, to a combination of a cover with a hood for a lens of a camera. 
         [0003]    2. Related Prior Art 
         [0004]    In photography, a camera is often equipped with a cover for covering a lens so that the lens will not be hit or contaminated. However, a photograph cannot be taken without removing the cover from the lens of the camera. This often causes a photographer to miss a good shot when he or she suddenly gets a fleeting glimpse of an object. 
         [0005]    The camera is sometimes equipped with a hood for shielding the lens. Thus, the lens will not be wetted and contaminated by rain or splash of water. Moreover, clear photographs can be taken because undesirable light is blocked from the lens. 
         [0006]    Conventionally, the cover and the hood are two different elements. The cover cannot be used to protect the lens if the hood is attached to the camera. It is troublesome to replace the hood with the lens camera, and vice versa. 
         [0007]    The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0008]    It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide a camera with a hood-cover combination. 
         [0009]    To achieve the foregoing objective, the hood-cover combination includes a hood for detachable attachment to a portion of the camera around the lens, a frame rotationally located in the hood, two covers pivotally connected to the frame and two springs for biasing the covers from the frame so that the frame is kept open. 
         [0010]    Other objectives, advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description referring to the attached drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of two embodiments referring to the drawings wherein: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a hood-cover combination according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged, perspective view of the hood-cover combination shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a cut-away view of the hood-cover combination shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged, partial, cross-sectional view of the hood-cover combination taken along a line A-A shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the hood-cover combination in an early phase of a closing operation; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged, partial, front view of the hood-cover combination shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the hood-cover combination in a final phase of the closing operation; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the hood-cover combination taken along a line B-B shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged, partial, front view of the hood-cover combination shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a frame for a lens of a video camera and the hood-cover combination shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a camera and the hood-cover combination shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  is an exploded view of a hood-cover combination according to the second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 13  is an enlarged, partial, cut-away view of the hood-cover combination shown in  FIG. 12 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 14  is a front view of the hood-cover combination of  FIG. 12 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 15  is an enlarged, partial, cross-sectional view of the hood-cover combination shown in  FIG. 12 ; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 16  is an enlarged, partial, perspective view of the hood-cover combination shown in  FIG. 12 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0028]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 11 , there is shown a hood-cover combination  10  according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The hood-cover combination  10  includes a hood  20 , a frame  30 , a first cover  40 , a second cover  50  and four torque springs  60 . 
         [0029]    The hood  20  is made with an annular configuration. The hood  20  includes a first ring  21 , a second ring  22  made with an internal diameter longer than that of the first ring  21 , and an annular flange  23  extending between the first ring  21  and the second ring  22 . Two separate canopies  24  extend from the second ring  22 . There are two tracks  26  extending on an internal side  25  of the second ring  22 . The tracks  26  are separated from each other by two gaps  28 . Hence, each of the tracks  26  extends for less than 180°. Each of the tracks  26  includes a stop  27  formed thereon. 
         [0030]    The frame  30  is made with an annular configuration. The frame  30  is actually a C-shaped element formed with a first reduced end  31  and a second reduced end  32 . The reduced ends  31  and  32  of the frame  30  are shaped in compliance with each other. The reduced ends  31  and  32  of the frame  30  are normally separated from each other by a gap, i.e., the frame  30  is normally in an expanded position. Two separate extensive portions  34  axially extend from the frame  30 . An arched groove  35  is defined in an external side of each of the extensive portions  34  of the frame  30 . Two lugs  36  are formed on an internal side of each of the extensive portions  34  of the frame  30 . Each of the extensive portions  34  of the frame  30  includes two axial grooves  37  defined in the internal side so that the axial grooves  37  are located between the lugs  36 . 
         [0031]    The first cover  40  includes two arched edges  41 , a pivot  44  extending along an edge extending between the arched edges  41 , an edge  42  formed opposite to the pivot  44 , and a reduced lip  46  extending from the edge  42 . That is, each of the arched edges  41  is located between the pivot  44  and the reduced lip  46 . The pivot  44  is formed with two opposite reduced ends  45 . A tip  43  is formed between each of the arched edges  41  and the reduced lip  46 . A rectilinear distance between the tips  43  is shorter than the internal diameter of the second ring  22  but longer than the diameter of a circle defined by the tracks  26 . 
         [0032]    The second cover  50  includes two arched edges  51 , a pivot  54  extending along an edge extending between the arched edges  51 , an edge  52  formed opposite to the pivot  54 , and a reduced lip  56  extending from the edge  52 . That is, each of the arched edges  51  is located between the pivot  54  and the reduced lip  56 . The pivot  54  is formed with two opposite reduced ends  55 . The reduced lip  56  is shaped in compliance with the reduced lip  46 . A tip  53  is formed between each of the arched edges  51  and the reduced lip  56 . A rectilinear distance between the tips  53  is shorter than the internal diameter of the second ring  22  but longer than the diameter of a circle defined by the tracks  26 . 
         [0033]    Each of the torque springs  60  includes a helical middle section and two ends  61  and  62  extending from the helical middle section. A tunnel is defined by the helical middle section of each of the torque springs  60 . 
         [0034]    In assembly, each of the reduced ends  45  of the pivot  44  is inserted in a bore defined in a related one of the lugs  36 , thus pivotally connecting the first cover  40  to the frame  30 . Each reduced end  45  of the pivot  44  is inserted in the related lug  36  after it is inserted through the tunnel defined by the helical middle section of a related one of the torque springs  60 . The end  61  of each of the torque springs  60  related to the pivot  44  is located in a related one of the axial grooves  37  while the other end  62  of the torque spring  60  is located against the first cover  40 . Thus, the first cover  40  tends to be pivoted from the frame  30  because of the related torque springs  60 . 
         [0035]    Similarly, each of the reduced ends  55  of the pivot  54  is inserted in a bore defined in a related one of the lugs  36 , thus pivotally connecting the second cover  50  to the frame  30 . Each reduced end  55  of the pivot  54  is inserted in the related lug  36  after it is inserted through the tunnel defined by the helical middle section of a related one of the torque springs  60 . One of the ends of each of the torque springs  60  related to the pivot  54  is located in a related one of the axial grooves  37  while the other end of the torque spring  60  is located against the second cover  50 . Thus, the second cover  50  tends to be pivoted from the frame  30  because of the related torque springs  60 . 
         [0036]    The frame  30  is shrunk, i.e., the reduced ends  31  and  32  of the frame  30  are located against each other. Thus, the frame  30  can be located in the second ring  22 , against the annular flange  23 . Then, the reduced ends  31  and  32  of the frame  30  are released from each other, i.e., the frame  30  is expanded so that the tracks  27  are movably located in the arched grooves  35 . After the reduced ends  31  and  32  of the frame  30  are located in one of the gaps  28 , a pin  33  is inserted in an aperture defined in each of the reduced ends  31  and  32  of the frame  30  so that the frame  30  is kept expanded and connected to the hood  20 . Now, the frame  30  looks like a perfect ring as the reduced ends  31  and  32  of the frame  30  are shaped in compliance with each other. 
         [0037]    In operation, referring to  FIG. 4 , the covers  40  and  50  are pivoted from the frame  30  because of the related torque springs  60 . That is, the frame  30  is kept open. 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the covers  40  and  50  are located against the frame  30 , i.e., the frame  30  is closed by the covers  40  and  50 . The reduced lip  46  is located on the reduced lip  56 . The covers  40  and  50  define a smooth surface because the reduced lips  46  and  56  are shaped in compliance with each other. The tips  43  and  53  are located in the gaps  28 . 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIGS. 7 through 9 , the covers  40  and  50  are spun for about an angle of 90° from the position shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . Thus, the tips  43  and  53  are restrained by the tracks  26 . Hence, the covers  40  and  50  are retained against the frame  30 , i.e., the frame  30  is kept closed by the covers  40  and  50 . 
         [0040]    The hood-cover combination  10  can be used with a video camera  70  shown in  FIG. 10 . Alternatively, the hood-cover combination  10  can be used with a camera  71  shown in  FIG. 11 . 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIGS. 12 to 16 , there is shown a hood-cover combination  10  according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is like the first embodiment except that the hood  20  includes two annular elements  80  and  81  that are made separately and then joined together. The annular element  80  is formed with a ring  82  like the first ring  21  and an annular flange  83  like the annular flange  23 . The annular flange  83  however includes apertures  84  defined therein. 
         [0042]    The annular element  81  is like the second ring  22  except formed with hooks  86 . In assembly, the hooks  86  are inserted through the apertures  84  by force, thus connecting the annular element  81  to the annular element  80 . The annular element  81  includes two canopies  85  like the canopies  24 . 
         [0043]    The annular element  80  includes further features for connection to the video camera  70  formed with two separate arched flanges  72 . The annular element  80  includes two separate threads  87  each extending along a section of a helix and including a rear side  88  and a front side  89 . 
         [0044]    In operation, the threads  87  are engaged with the arched flanges  72 , i.e., each of the arched flanges  72  is located between the rear side  88  of one of the threads  87  and the front side  89  of the other thread  87 . Thus, the annular element  80  is connected to the frame of the lens of the video camera  70 . 
         [0045]    The second embodiment further includes a switch  90  and a pusher  91 . The switch  90  includes a slide, a key  92  perpendicularly extending from the slide, and a barb  94  perpendicularly extending from the key  92 . The key  92  is inserted in a slot  93  axially defined in the ring  82 . The slot  93  is located in a gap between the arched threads  87 . The key  92  is kept in the slot  93  because of the barb  94 . 
         [0046]    The key  92  is movable along the slot  93  between a locking position and a releasing position. In the locking position, the key  92  restrains one of the arched flanges  72 , thus preventing the hood  20  from spin relative to the frame of the lens of the video camera  70  so that the hood  20  is kept connected to the frame of the lens of the video camera  70 . In the releasing position, the key  92  releases the arched flange  72 , thus allowing the hood  20  to spin relative to the frame of the lens of the video camera  70  so that the hood  20  can be detached from the frame of the lens of the video camera  70 . 
         [0047]    The pusher  91  includes a strip and a block perpendicularly extending from the strip. The block of the pusher  91  located in another gap between the arched threads  87 . The strip of the pusher  91  is located in a recess  95  defined in an internal side of the ring  82  and restrained by a tab  96  formed on the internal side of the ring  82  so that the pusher  91  is kept connected to the ring  82 . The block of the pusher  91  is located against one of the arched flanges  72 , thus keeping the annular element  80  firmly against the frame of the lens of the video camera  70 . 
         [0048]    The present invention has been described via the detailed illustration of the embodiments. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.