Patent ID: 7585080

Claim:
A lens cover apparatus, comprising: a mounting structure configured for securing the lens cover apparatus to a support structure; a lens cover; a pivot joint structure coupled between the mounting structure and the lens cover and configured for allowing multi-axis articulation of the lens cover with respect to the mounting structure, wherein the pivot joint structure allows the lens cover to independently pivot about a first pivot axis and a second pivot axis and wherein the first pivot axis is non-parallel with respect to the second pivot axis; a spring coupled between the pivot joint structure and the lens cover, wherein the spring exerts a torsional force on the lens cover about the first pivot axis of the pivot joint structure; and an articulation control structure integral with at least one of the lens cover and the mounting structure, wherein the articulation control structure is configured for causing the lens cover to follow a prescribed path of movement with respect to the mounting structure during at least a portion of movement from a use position thereof to a stowed position thereof, wherein a first portion of the articulation control structure is integral with the lens cover, wherein a second portion of the articulation control structure is integral with the mounting structure; wherein the spring and the pivot joint structure are jointly configured for causing spring-biased multi-axis articulation of the lens cover between the use position thereof and the stowed position thereof in response to manual initiation of said articulation; wherein the spring biases the lens cover toward the use position thereof when the pivot joint structure is in a first orientation; and wherein the spring biases the lens cover toward the stowed position thereof when the pivot joint structure is in a second orientation different than the first orientation.