Abstract:
An adapter device is disclosed to which a video camera can easily be attached. The adapter is compatible with both small and large camera lenses which may be attached directly to it. The adapter includes a receptacle which enables the video camera to be located within the adapter after being inserted through a rear opening. Once inserted, the adapter includes both mechanical and electrical connections to enable the camera to be connected to the adapter. A key mechanical connection is located at the front end of the adapter and it interfaces with a lens-unit mount of the camera. The electrical connection is located on the bottom inner surface of the adaptor and the connection interfaces with a terminal block on the video camera.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   The present invention contains subject matter related to Japanese Patent Application JP 2005-001868 filed in the Japanese Patent Office on Jan. 6, 2005, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to an adapter device to which a video camera device is to be attached, and a video camera device. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Video camera devices for business use include a small type to be used being carried on the shoulder of a camera man, and a large type to be used indoors being fixed on a tripod or the like. Also, there is available an adapter device intended to use such a small video camera device with functions of a large video camera device. The adapter device is to be used being fixed to the small video camera device and having a larger lens unit installed thereon. Therefore, when fixing the small video camera device to the adapter device, the video camera device should be connected to the adapter device mechanically as well as electrically. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is therefore desirable to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks of the related art by providing an adapter device to which a small video camera can easily be attached, and a video camera device. 
   It is also desirable to provide an adapter device to which a video camera can easily be handled and connected mechanically and electrically during a series of assembling steps, and a video camera device. 
   According to the present invention, there is provided an adapter device to which a video camera device is to be attached, the adapter device including: an adapter body having formed therein a receptacle in which the video camera device is to be installed and having formed at the rear end thereof an opening through which the video camera device is to be inserted; a mechanical connecting mechanism to be connected to the receptacle in the position of a lens-unit mount of the video camera device; and an electrical connecting mechanism to electrically connect the receptacle and video camera device, the video camera device being to be inserted first at the lens-unit mount thereof into the receptacle from the insertion opening at the rear end of the adapter body; the mechanical connecting mechanism being provided at the front end of the adapter body; and the electrical connecting mechanism being provided on the bottom of the receptacle to receive the terminal block of the video camera device. 
   According to the present invention, there is also provided a video camera device including a video camera and an adapter device to which the video camera is to be attached, wherein the adapter device including: an adapter body having formed therein a receptacle in which the video camera is to be installed and having also formed at the rear end thereof an opening through which the video camera is to be inserted; a mechanical connecting mechanism to be connected to the receptacle in the position of a lens-unit mount of the video camera; and an electrical connecting mechanism to electrically connect the receptacle and video camera, the video camera being to be inserted first at the lens-unit mount thereof into the receptacle from the insertion opening at the rear end of the adapter body; the mechanical connecting mechanism being provided at the front end of the adapter body; and the electrical connecting mechanism being provided on the bottom of the receptacle to receive the terminal block of the video camera. 
   The adapter device according to the present invention includes the electrical connecting mechanism to electrically connect the receptacle and video camera device to each other, the mechanical connecting mechanism is provided at the front end of the adapter body and the electrical connecting mechanism is provided on the bottom of the receptacle to receive the terminal block of the video camera device. So, the adapter body and video camera device are connected to each other mechanically and electrically during a series of assembling steps in which the video camera device is inserted first at the lens-unit mount thereof into the receptacle from the insertion opening at the rear end of the adapter body. That is, the video camera device can easily be attached to the adapter device. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a video camera system according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is also a perspective view of the video camera device being attached to the adapter device; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view, from the bottom side, of the video camera device; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a viewfinder located at the rear end of the adapter device; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the viewfinder having been slid to the front end of the adapter device; 
       FIG. 6  is a plan view of the mechanical connecting mechanism to mechanically connect the camera body to the adapter body, showing the camera body not yet attached to the adapter device; 
       FIG. 7  is also a plan view of the mechanical connecting mechanism to mechanically connect the camera body to the adapter body, showing the camera body attached to the adapter device; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the electrical connecting mechanism of the adapter device, showing a connector being covered with a cover member and lid; 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the electrical connecting mechanism of the adapter body, showing that the adapter device is connectable to a terminal mechanism of the video camera; 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the terminal mechanism of the camera body, showing a shutter covering a terminal leading opening; 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the terminal mechanism of the camera body, showing the shutter uncovering the terminal leading opening; and 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a substantial portion of the terminal mechanism, showing the shutter being locked. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The present invention will be described in detail below concerning the video camera system as an embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the video camera system, generally indicated with a reference numeral  1 , according to the present invention includes a high-performance small video camera device  2  for business use, and an adapter device  3  to which the video camera device  2  is to be attached. In this video camera system  1 , a large lens unit  4  and viewfinder  5  are to be installed to the adapter device  3  having the small video camera device  2  attached thereto. This assembly is fixed on a tripod or the like to provide a large video camera device which is to be usable in a broadcast station or the like. 
   More specifically, the video camera device  2  to be attached to the adapter device  3  includes a camera body  11  whose size is so large as to be carried on the shoulder of a user such as camera man or the like, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The camera body  11  has a lens-unit mount  12  provided at the front end thereof. The lens-unit mount  12  includes a lens mount as disclosed in the Japanese Patent No. 3443919, to which a lens unit can be removably installed. To the lens-unit mount  12 , a lens unit  13  is to be installed which is smaller than the large lens unit  4  to be installed to the adapter device  3 . It should be noted that when the small lens unit  13  is to be installed to the adapter device  3 , it is to be detached from the lens-unit mount  12  of the camera body  11 . 
   On the top of the camera body  11 , there is provided a carrying grip  14  the user can hold for carrying. The carrying grip  14  is shaped to have the general form of an angle bracket, and it is fixed at opposite ends thereof to the top of the camera body  11 . More specifically, the carrying grip  14  is installed at one end  14   a  thereof pivotably at the top front end of the camera body  11  and at the other end  14   b  thereof removably at the rear end of the camera body  11 . When the camera body  11  is to be attached to the adapter device  3  and the viewfinder  5  is to be installed to the adapter device  3 , the carrying grip  14  is to be removed at the other end  14   b  thereof from the camera body  11  in order to install the viewfinder  5  in place, and turned about the one end  14   a  at the front end of the camera body  11  to outside from above the camera body  11 . 
   The camera body  11  has provided at the rear side thereof an on-shoulder carrying portion  15  extending from the front to rear end. When making a video shoot, the user will hold the camera body  11  with the on-shoulder carrying portion  15  on the shoulder. The on-shoulder carrying portion  15  includes a front bevel portion  15   a , rear bevel portion  15   b  and a generally flat portion  15   c  extending contiguously between the front and rear bevel portions  15   a  and  15   b . At the rear bevel portion  15   b , there is provided a terminal mechanism  71  for electrical connection with the adapter device  3 . When the camera body  11  is being detached from the adapter device  3 , the terminal mechanism  71  is protected being covered with a shutter member  74 . 
   Also, an insertion guide  16  is provided on the front bottom of the on-shoulder carrying portion  15  at the bottom of the camera body  11  to guide the camera body  11  going to be attached to the adapter device  3 . When the camera body  11  is inserted first at the front end of the lens-unit mount  12  into the adapter device  3  from the rear end of the latter, the insertion guide  16  will guide the lens-unit mount  12  being fixed to the front portion of the adapter device  3 . 
   Note that at the rear portion of the camera body  11 , there is provided a connecting terminal block  17  to which connecting cords  17   a  including a power cord, signal cords for sending and receiving signals such as video and audio signals, etc. are to be connected. 
   When attaching the video camera device  2  constructed as above to the adapter device  3 , it is inserted first at the front portion at which the lens-unit mount  12  is provided into the adapter device  3  with the small lens unit  13  being removed from the lens-unit mount  12  at the front portion of the camera body  11 . 
   The adapter device  3  to which the video camera device  2  is to be attached includes a body  21  as shown in  FIG. 2 . The adapter body  21  has provided therein a receptacle  22  in which the camera body  11  of the video camera device  2  is to be installed. The receptacle  22  is open at the top thereof for installation of the viewfinder  5  and has formed at the rear end thereof an opening  23  for insertion of the camera body  11 . The insertion opening  23  is closed and opened by a lid  24  installed pivotably to the rear end of the adapter body  21 . 
   The lid  24  is supported at the base end thereof with a hinge  25  to the one rear end of the adapter body  21  to be pivotable in the direction of arrow A and also in a direction opposite to the direction of arrow A in  FIG. 2 . To one rear lateral end of the adapter body  21 , there is fixed a vertical pivot shaft  25   a  of the hinge  25  supporting the lid  24 . It should be noted that the lid  24  has a lock provided at the other end thereof and the adapter body  21  has a locking mechanism provided at the lateral end thereof opposite to the hinge  25 . The lock works with the locking mechanism to lock the lid  24 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , the lid  24  has disposed at the top thereof a mount base  26  on which the viewfinder  5  is to be installed. The viewfinder  5  to be installed on the mount base  26  is, for example, a video monitor of a relatively large type having an approximately 9-inch size and weighing about 8 kg for easier checking of an image on its screen. Since the lid  24  is pivotably supported on the rear end of the adapter body  21  by means of the hinge  25  having the vertical pivot shaft  25   a , the lid  24  can be prevented from being abruptly opened due to the weight of the large viewfinder  5  installed on the mount base  26  when it is operated. If the pivot shaft  25   a  of the hinge  25  is provided horizontally at the lower rear end of the adapter body  21 , the lid  24  is likely to be opened being depressed by the large viewfinder  5  installed on the mount base  26 . 
   The mount base  26  provided at the top of the lid  24  is installed with a slider  27  placed under it as shown in  FIG. 2 . The slider  27  is provided to slide the mount base  26  from the rear to front end of the adapter body  21 , namely, in the direction of arrow B in  FIG. 4 , with the insertion opening  23  of the adapter body  21  being closed by the lid  24 . The viewfinder  5  should preferably be installed as near the optical axis of the lens-unit mount  12  as possible, and the adapter device  3  having the video camera device  2  attached thereto should preferably be shorter as a whole for easier handling. On this account, the adapter device  3  is adapted for installing the viewfinder  5  on the top of the lid  24  that opens and closes the insertion opening of the adapter body  21  in a position where the viewfinder  5  can be nearer to the optical axis of the lens-unit mount  12 . Further the adapter device  3  is designed such that the slider  27  installed on the mount base  26  can be slid from the rear to front end of the adapter device  21 , that is, in the direction of arrow B in  FIG. 4 , with the insertion opening  23  being closed by the lid  24  until the total length of the adapter device  3  having the video camera device  2  attached thereto is as short as possible for easier handling as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
   When the viewfinder  5  is installed on the mount base  26  and lid  24  closes the insertion opening  23  of the adapter body  21 , the grip  14  of the camera body  11  installed in the receptacle  22  will come to before the viewfinder  5 . On this account, whenever the viewfinder  5  is slid from the rear to front end of the adapter body  21 , first the other end  14   b  of the grip  14  is detached from the camera body  11 , and then the grip  14  is turned about the one end  14   a  thereof in the direction of arrow C in  FIG. 4  to have the body portion and other end  14   b  thereof moved out from on the top of the camera body  11  as shown in  FIG. 5 . Thus, the viewfinder  5  becomes slidable with the slider  27  from the rear to front end of the adapter body  21 . As the slider  27  is slid in the direction of arrow B in  FIG. 4  as above, the viewfinder  5  is moved from the rear end of the adapter body  21  toward the front end as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
   Since the grip  14  of the camera body  11  attached to the adapter body  21  is turned from on the camera body  11  when installing the viewfinder  5  on the mount base  26  as above, the viewfinder  5  can be moved toward the front end of the adapter body  21 , so that the adapter device  3  can be reduced in length as a whole. 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , the camera body  11  of the video camera device  2  is inserted first at the front end thereof where the lens-unit mount  12  is provided into the receptacle  22  from the insertion opening  23  of the body  21  of the adapter  3 . An imaging aperture  31  is formed in the front wall of the receptacle  22  of the adapter body  21  correspondingly to the lens-unit mount  12  of the camera body  11  which is to be attached to the adapter device  3 . The imaging aperture  31  provides an interface between the large lens unit  4  which is to be installed at the front of the adapter body  21  and the lens-unit mount  12  of the camera body  11  which is to be installed in the receptacle  22 . Thus, the lens-unit mount  12  of the camera body  11  can be connected to the imaging aperture  31  to have the optical axis thereof aligned with the large lens unit  4  which is to be installed at the front of the adapter body  21 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , there is provided a mechanical connecting mechanism  32  to connect the lens-unit mount  12  of the camera body  11  to the imaging aperture  31  in the adapter body  21 . The mechanical connecting mechanism  32  has a pair of sliding engagement members  34  that rest on a plurality (one pair in this embodiment) of engagement members  33  provided on either side of the lens-unit mount  12  of the camera body  11  as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . The sliding engagement members  34  are disposed, for example, opposite to each other. When the lens-unit mount  12  of the camera body  11  is installed, the sliding engagement members  34  rest on the engagement members  33  of the lens-unit mount  12  and thus the lens-unit mount  12  can be held in position in the imaging aperture  31 . 
   There is also provided a linkage  35  to slide the sliding engagement members  34 . The linkage  35  includes a locking lever  37  having a control  36  and provided at the front end of the adapter body  21  to face the large lens unit  4 . The locking lever  37  is installed pivotably on a pivot  37   a  at the front end of the adapter body  21 , and has the control  36  fitted to an arm portion  37   b  thereof. Also, the locking lever  37  has provided thereon an engagement projection  38   a  which is engaged in an elongated hole  39   a  formed in one end portion of a first link arm  39 . The first link arm  39  has formed at the other end  29   b  thereof a retaining portion  39   b  on which a forcing member  41  is hooked. The forcing member  41  is for example a helical spring of which the one end is hooked on the retaining portion  39   b  of the first link arm  39  and the other end is fixed to a retainer  41   a  at the front of the adapter body  21 . Thus, the forcing member  41  always forces the first link arm  39  in the direction of arrow D in  FIG. 6 . Also, the first link arm  39  is supported at the middle thereof pivotably about a pivot  39   c  at the front end of the adapter body  21 . 
   A second link arm  42  is connected to the first link arm  39 . The second link arm  42  is provided around the imaging aperture  31  in the adapter body  21 , and has one end thereof installed pivotably on a pivot  42   a  at the other end of the first link arm  39 . The second link arm  42  has a fourth link arm  44  installed to the other end thereof by means of a third link arm  43 . It has one of the sliding engagement members  34  fixed to the other end thereof with a screw or the like. The third link arm  43  is installed at one end thereof pivotably on a pivot  43   a  at the other end of the second link arm  42 , and at the other end thereof pivotably on a pivot  43   b  at one end of the fourth link arm  44 . Also, the third link arm  43  is supported at the middle thereof pivotably on a pivot  43   c  at the front end of the adapter body  21 . 
   The forth link arm  44  is installed opposite to the second link arm  42  across the imaging aperture  31 . It is installed at one end thereof pivotably on a pivot  43   b  of the third link arm  43 , and has the other sliding engagement member  34  fixed to the other end with a screw or the like. 
   Each of the sliding engagement members  34  installed to the second and fourth link arms  42  and  44 , respectively, has formed therein an engagement concavity  34   a  in which a plunger  45  provided at the front end of the adapter body  21  is to selectively be engaged. When the camera body  11  is not yet attached to the adapter device  3 , the plunger  45  is engaged in the engagement concavity  43   a  in the sliding engagement member  34 . When the camera body  11  is attached to the adapter device  3 , the plunger  45  is pressed toward the front end of the camera body  11  and thus disengaged from the engagement concavity  34   a.    
   The mechanical connecting mechanism  32  constructed as above is in a state as shown in  FIG. 6  when the camera body  11  is not yet installed in the receptacle  22  of the adapter body  21 . That is, the plunger  45  has the free end thereof projected into the receptacle  22  and engaged in the engagement concavity  34   a  in the sliding engagement members  34  having been slid in a direction opposite to the direction of arrow E in  FIG. 6 , that is, in a direction in which they are moved away from each other. As above, the first link arm  39  is forced by the forcing member  41  in the direction of arrow D in  FIG. 6 . However, since each of the sliding engagement members  34  rests on the corresponding plunger  45 , the first link arm  39  is turned in the direction of arrow F in  FIG. 6 , second link arm  42  is moved in the direction of arrow G in  FIG. 6 , and the fourth link arm  44  is moved in the direction of arrow H in  FIG. 6 . Therefore, the sliding engagement members  34  fixed to the second and fourth link arms  42  and  44 , respectively, are held in positions to which they have been slid in directions opposite to the directions of arrows E in  FIG. 6 , that is, away from the imaging aperture  31 . 
   When the camera body  11  is inserted first at the front end thereof where the lens-unit mount  12  is provided into the receptacle  22  from the insertion opening  23  in the adapter body  21  as shown in  FIG. 2 , the lens-unit mount  12  will first be inserted into the imaging aperture  31 . At this time, the engagement member  33  of the lens-unit mount  12  will also be inserted into the imaging aperture  31 , and the plunger  45  projecting toward the receptacle  22  will be depressed at the free end thereof by the front end of the camera body  11 . Then, the plunger  45  will be disengaged from the engagement concavity  34   a  in the sliding engagement member  34 . Then, the first link arm  39  will be turned being forced by the forcing member  41  in a direction opposite to the direction of arrow F in  FIG. 6  and the second link arm  42  will be moved in a direction opposite to the direction of arrow G in  FIG. 6 , and the fourth link arm  44  will be moved in a direction opposite to the direction of arrow H in  FIG. 6 . Thus, the sliding engagement members  34  fixed to the second and fourth link arms  42  and  44 , respectively, will slide in the direction of arrow E in  FIG. 6  in which they will move toward each other. Thus, the sliding engagement members  34  will rest on the engagement members  33 , respectively, of the lens-unit mount  12  facing the imaging aperture  31  as shown in  FIG. 7 . Thus, the lens-unit mount  12  will be held in position in relation to the imaging aperture  31 . 
   Note that to align the lens-unit mount  12  more accurately with the imaging aperture  31 , a positioning projection provided at the front end of the camera body  11  or at the front end of the adapter body  21  may be engaged in a positioning hole formed at the front end of the adapter body  21  or of the camera body  11 . 
   Also note that to take out the camera body  11  from inside the receptacle  22  of the adapter body  21 , first the control  36  provided at the front end of the adapter body  21  is moved in the direction of arrow I in  FIG. 7 . Then, as the locking lever  37  is turned, the first link arm  39  is pivoted in the direction of arrow F in  FIG. 7  against the action of the forcing member  41 . In conjunction with this pivoting of the first link arm  39 , the second link arm  42  is moved in the direction of arrow G in  FIG. 6  while the fourth link arm  44  is moved in the direction of arrow H in  FIG. 6 . Thus, the sliding engagement members  34  are slid in a direction opposite to the direction of arrow E in  FIG. 7  and disengaged from the engagement members  33 , respectively, of the lens-unit mount  12 , so that the lens-unit mount  12  can be removed from the imaging aperture  31 . As the camera body  11  is removed, the plunger  45  will be projected into the receptacle  22  of the adapter body  21  and engaged in the engagement concavity  34   a  in the sliding engagement member  34 . Thus, the camera body  11  is held ready for installation as in a state shown in  FIG. 6 . 
   Note here that the camera body  11  is guided for insertion by an insertion guide mechanism  51  provided on the bottom of the receptacle  22  of the adapter body  21  as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  until the camera body  11  is installed in the receptacle  22  of the adapter body  21 , that is, up to connection to the mechanical connecting mechanism  32 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , the insertion guide mechanism  51  provided on the bottom of the receptacle  22  of the adapter body  21  includes a pair of outer guides  52  formed adjacent to the front end of the adapter body  21  to extend toward the rear end and a pair of inner guides  53  formed inside the outer guides  52 . The inner guide portions  53  are formed shorter than the outer guides  52  for easier insertion of a guide member provided on the bottom of the camera body  11 . 
   Also, a guide mechanism  55  is provided on the front bottom portion of the camera body  11 . It is to be engaged in the insertion guide mechanism  51 . The guide mechanism  55  includes pair of guide rails  56  which is to be introduced into guide recesses  54 , respectively, formed between the outer guides  52  and inner guides  53  of the insertion guide mechanism  51  as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
   Once the camera body  11  is inserted from the insertion opening  23  at the rear end of the adapter body  21 , the guide rails  56  of the guide mechanism  55  are inserted into the guide recesses  54 , respectively, of the insertion guide mechanism  51  before the lens-unit mount  12  is connected to the mechanical connecting mechanism  32 , so that the camera body  11  will be guided for insertion up to connection to the mechanical connecting mechanism  32 . 
   Also, the adapter body  21  is electrically connected to the camera body  11  simultaneously with the connection of the latter to the mechanical connecting mechanism  32  of the receptacle  22  as shown in  FIG. 2 . To this end, there is provided on the rear bottom portion of the receptacle  22  an electrical connecting mechanism  61  to electrically connect the camera body  11  to the adapter body  21  simultaneously with the mechanical connection between them as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
   More specifically, the electrical connecting mechanism  61  includes a connector  62  for electrical connection to a terminal block  79   a  of a terminal mechanism  71  provided on the bottom of the camera body  11 , cover member  63  provided to cover the connector  62  and a lid  64  fixed to the cover member  63  to open and close an exposed portion of the connector  62 , as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
   The connector  62  is fixed with screws  66  to a base  65  which is to be installed integrally to the bottom of the receptacle  22  of the adapter body  21 . More particularly, the connector  62  is fixed with the screws  66  to a fixture  67  from the side of a connecting portion  62   a  to which the terminal block  79   a  of the terminal mechanism  71  at the camera body  11 , directed toward the rear end of the adapter body  21 , is to electrically be connected. Since the connecting portion  62  to which the terminal block  79   a  of the terminal mechanism  71  of the camera body  11  is electrically connected is disposed being directed toward the rear end of the adapter body  21 , the connector  62  can be electrically connected to the terminal block  79   a  of the terminal mechanism  71  of the camera body  11  when the camera body  11  is inserted into the receptacle  22 . On either side of the connecting portion  62   a  of the connector  62 , there is provided an engagement pin  62   b  which is to be engaged into an engagement hole  79   b  in a terminal member  79  of the camera body  11 . With the engagement pins  62   b  engaged in the engagement holes  79   b  in the terminal member  79 , it is possible to protect the electrical connection between the connecting portion  62   a  and terminal block  79   a.    
   The base  65  has installed thereon the cover member  63  which is slidable in the direction of arrow J in  FIG. 8  in which the camera body  11  is inserted into the receptacle  22 . The connector  62  is covered with the cover member  63 . The cover member  63  is formed generally rectangular and hollow to provide a space in which the connector  62  is to be disposed, and has formed at one lateral side thereof a connector opening  63   a  through which the connecting portion  62   a  of the connector  62  is exposed to outside. For sliding in the direction of arrow J in  FIG. 8  in which the camera body  11  is to be inserted into the receptacle  22 , the opposite lateral sides  63   b  of the cover member  63 , directed in the direction of sliding, provide sliding guides and these sliding guides  63   b  are engaged in guide recesses  65   a , respectively, formed in the base  65 . The cover member  63  is forced by a forcing member  68  such as tensile helical spring or the like disposed in the base  65  in the direction of arrow J in  FIG. 8  which is opposite to the direction in which the camera body  11  is to be inserted. 
   The connector opening  63   a  in the cover member  63 , through which the connecting portion  62   a  of the connector  62  is exposed to outside, is closed by the lid  64 . The lid  64  is supported pivotably on a pivot  69  provided along the upper end of the connector opening  63   a , and forced by a forcing member  69   a  such as torsional helical spring or the like for turning in the direction in the direction of arrow K in  FIG. 8  in which the connector opening  63   a  will be closed. On either side of the lid  64 , there is formed a projecting unlocking tab  64   a  that unlocks the terminal mechanism  71  of the camera body  11 . The bottom of the connector opening  63   a  provides a to-be-pressed portion  63   c  which is to be pressed by a pressing portion  73   c  of a mount plate  72  of the terminal mechanism  71  of the camera body  11 . 
   Note that the base  65  has a positioning projection  65   b  formed under the connector  62 . 
   The electrical connecting mechanism  61  constructed as above takes a state as shown in  FIG. 8  when the camera body  11  is not yet installed in the receptacle  22  of the adapter body  21 . More specifically, the cover member  63  has been slid by the forcing member  68  disposed in the base  65  to the rear end of the receptacle  22  of the adapter body  21 , that is, in a direction opposite to the direction of arrow J in  FIG. 8 , and the lid  64  to close the connector opening  63   a  of the cover member  63  has been turned under the action of the forcing mechanism  69   a  in the direction of arrow K in  FIG. 8  in which the connector opening  63   a  will be closed. Therefore, the connector  62  is covered with the cover member  63  and the connector opening  63   a  is closed. Namely, the connector  62  is protected. 
   The terminal mechanism  71  of the camera body  11 , connected to the electrical connecting mechanism  61  provided on the adapter body  21  is disposed to extend on the rear bevel portion  15   b  and flat portion  15   c  of the on-shoulder carrying portion  16  on the bottom of the camera body  11  as shown in  FIG. 3 . More specifically, the terminal mechanism  71  has a mount plate  72  formed generally L-shaped to extend along the rear bevel portion  15   b  and flat portion  15   c  of the on-shoulder carrying portion  16  as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . The mount plate  72  includes a flat portion  72   a  and bevel plate portion  72   b . The bevel plate portion  72   b  has a terminal opening  73  formed adjacent to the flat portion  72   a . The terminal block of the camera body  11  is exposed to outside through the terminal opening  73 . The terminal opening  73  is formed generally rectangular and opened and closed by a shutter member  74 . 
   The shutter member  74  is supported pivotably on a pivot  74   a  disposed along the upper end of the terminal opening  73 , and forced by a forcing member  74   b  such as torsional helical spring or the like for turning in the direction of arrow L in  FIG. 10  in which the terminal opening  73  will be closed. The shutter member  74  is limited from turning in the direction of arrow L in  FIG. 10  by a turn limiter  75  provided along the lower end of the terminal opening  73 . 
   On either side of the bottom of the terminal opening  74 , a locking member  76  for the shutter member  74  is disposed in a mount portion  76   c  provided inside the mount plate  72  as shown in  FIGS. 10 to 12 . The locking member  76  includes a locking control  76   a  which is to be pressed by the unlocking tab  64   a  of the lid  64  of the electrical connecting mechanism  61  of the receptacle  22  of the adapter body  21 , and a locking piece  76   b  which locks the turning in a direction opposite to the direction of arrow L in  FIG. 10  in which the terminal opening  73  of the shutter member  74  will be opened. A lateral edge of the shutter member  74  is positioned between the locking control  76   a  and locking piece  76   b . The locking member  76  is disposed inside the mount portion  76   c , and forced by an elastic member  78  such as helical spring or the like disposed between the locking member  76  and a closing plate  77  to close the mount portion  76   c  in the direction of arrow M in  FIG. 11  in which it will be projected into the terminal opening  73 . 
   Also, on the flat portion  72   a  of the mount plate  72 , there is fixed the terminal block  79   a  of the terminal member  79  electrically connected to the connecting portion  62   a  of the connector  62  of the electrical connecting mechanism  61  at the receptacle  22  of the adapter body  21  so that the terminal opening  73  is directed outward. On either side of the terminal block  79   a , there is formed an engagement hole  79   b  in which the engagement pin  62   b  provided on the connector  62  is to be engaged. 
   The lower end of the terminal opening  73  in the mount plate  72  provides a pressing portion  73   c  that presses the to-be-pressed portion  63   c  of the cover member  63  of the electrical connecting mechanism  61 . Also, on the flat portion  72   a  of the mount plate  72 , there is provided a positioning member  80  which is to be engaged on a positioning projection  65   b  of the electrical connecting mechanism  61 . Being engaged on the positioning projection  65   b  of the electrical connecting mechanism  61 , the positioning projection  80  protects the electrical connection when the camera body  11  is electrically connected to the adapter body  21 . 
   In the terminal mechanism  71  constructed as above, the shutter member  74  closes the terminal opening  73  in the mount plate  72  to protect the internal terminal block  79   a . At this time, the shutter member  74  is engaged on the locking piece  76   b  of the locking member  76  and locked to close the terminal opening  73 . 
   As having been illustrated and described in the foregoing, the camera body  11  is inserted first at the imaging portion  12  thereof into the receptacle  22  of the adapter body  21  from the insertion opening  23  as shown in  FIG. 2 . Once the camera body  11  is installed in the receptacle  22  of the adapter body  21 , the locking control  76   a  of the locking member  76  of the terminal mechanism  71  of the camera body  11  is pressed by the unlocking tab  64   a  provided at either side of the lid  64  so that the shutter member  74  of the terminal mechanism  71  and the locking piece  76   b  are disengaged from each other as shown in  FIGS. 8 to 10 . Thus, the terminal mechanism  71  of the camera body  11  is unlocked. Next, the to-be-pressed portion  63   c  of the cover member  63  is pressed by the pressing portion  73   c  of the mount plate  72  of the terminal mechanism  71 , and the cover member  63  is slid against the action of the forcing member  68  in the direction in which the camera body  11  is inserted, that is, in the direction of arrow J in  FIG. 8 . Then, the lid  64  fixed to the cover member  63  is pressed from inside by the heads of the screws  66  fixing the connector  62  and thus turned against the force of the forcing member  69   a  in a direction opposite to the direction of arrow K in  FIG. 8  to expose the connecting portion  62   a  of the connector  62  to outside. At this time, the lid  64  of the electrical connecting mechanism  61  will press the shutter member  74  of the terminal mechanism  71  to turn the shutter member  74  in a direction opposite to the direction of arrow L in  FIG. 10  in which the terminal opening  73  will be opened. Thus, the terminal block  79   a  of the terminal mechanism  71  of the camera body  11  will electrically be connected to the connecting portion  62   a  of the connector  62  that moves through the terminal opening  73  thus opened. At this time, the engagement pin  62   b  of the connector  62  is engaged in the engagement hole  79   b  formed on either side of the terminal block  79   a  to protect the electrical connection. Also, since the connector  62  moves through the terminal opening  73 , the electrical connection will not be exposed to outside with the result that the electrical connection will be protected. 
   The video camera system  1  according to the present invention is designed for the camera body  11  to supply a high-voltage power of, for example, about 240 V to the adapter body  21 . The camera body  11  starts supply of the power to the adapter body  21  after detecting when the grounds of the bodies  11  and  21  are connected to each other. So, even if the electrical connection is exposed, it is possible to prevent any foreign matter from touching the electrical connection. It should be noted that the power may be supplied from the adapter body  21  to the camera body  11 . 
   In the above video camera system  1 , the connecting portion  62   a  of the connector  62  is provided to face the insertion opening  23  with the electrical connecting mechanism  61  of the receptacle  22  of the adapter body  21  being protected by the cover member  63  and lid  64  as shown in  FIG. 2 , and the terminal block  79   a  of the terminal member  79  is provided inside the terminal opening  73  in the mount plate  72  of the rear bevel portion  15   b  of the on-shoulder carrying portion  16  of the camera body  11  to face the rear end of the camera body  11  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Therefore, with a series of steps of installing the camera body  11  in the receptacle  22  of the adapter body  21 , the connecting portion  62   a  of the connector  62  at the adapter body  21  can electrically be connected to the terminal block  79   a  of the terminal member  79  at the camera body  11 . 
   For electrical connection between the adapter body  21  and camera body  11 , the lid  64  and cover member  63  of the electrical connecting mechanism  61  at the adapter body  21  are operated by the terminal mechanism  71  of the camera body  21  for the connecting portion  62   a  of the connector  62  to be exposed to outside, and the shutter member  74  of the terminal mechanism  71  at the camera body  11  is turned by the electrical connecting mechanism  61  at the adapter body  21  for the terminal block  79   a  of the terminal member  79  to be exposed to outside. With this series of operations, the connecting portion  62   a  of the connector  62  and terminal block  79   a  of the terminal member  79  are electrically connected to each other. Since the series of operations is effected during insertion of the camera body  11  into the receptacle  22  of the adapter body  21  from the insertion opening  23  and needs no additional operations for electrical connection, the video camera device  2  and adapter device  3  can be handled more easily for assembling. 
   Further, in the video camera system  1 , since the terminal mechanism  71  of the camera body  11  and electrical connecting mechanism  61  provided in the receptacle  22  of the adapter body  21  are disposed opposite to each other, the front end of the adapter body  21  will finally be connected to the lens-unit mount  12  of the camera body  11  by means of the mechanical connecting mechanism  32  with their optical axes being aligned with each other while the camera body  11  is inserted into the receptacle  22  of the adapter body  21  from the insertion opening  23 . Therefore, in this video camera system  1 , the connecting portion  62   a  of the connector  62  of the camera body  11  and terminal block  79   a  of the terminal member  79  of the adapter body  21  can be protected with the adapter body  21  and camera body  11  being separated from each other. Also in the video camera system  1 , the adapter body  21  and camera body  11  can be connected to each other electrically and mechanically while the camera body  11  is inserted into the receptacle  22  of the adapter body  21 , which will lead to easier handling of the video camera device  2  and adapter device  3 . 
   The camera body  11  will be installed to the adapter device  21 , with the insertion opening  23  provided at the rear end of the adapter body  21  being opened by the lid  24 . The mount base  26  on which the viewfinder  5  is to be mounted is provided on the lid  24  with the slider  27  being placed under the mount base  26 . Therefore, the lid  24  having the viewfinder  5  mounted thereon will be very heavy. However, since the lid  24  is supported pivotably on the vertical pivot  25   a  of the hinge  25  of the adapter body  21 , it can be prevented from being abruptly opened downward due to the weight of the viewfinder  5  when it is operated. Also, the grip  14  of the camera body  11  can be detached at the other end  14   b  thereof at the rear end from the camera body  11 , turned about the one end  14   a  at the front end, and the other end  14   b  at the rear end can be put aside from before the slider  27 . Therefore, the slider  27  having the viewfinder  5  mounted thereon can be slid toward the front end of the adapter body  21  so that the adapter device  3  having the video camera device  2  attached thereto can be made as short as possible. Thus, the video camera system  1  is easier to operate. Also, since the viewfinder  5  is mounted on the top of the lid  24 , it can be put nearer to the optical axis of the lens-unit mount  12  of the camera body  11 , which also contributes to improved operability of the video camera system  1 . 
   It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occur depending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they are within the scope the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.