The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 13, 1998
Filed:
Aug. 23, 1996
Hiroyuki Ando, Hachioji, JP;
Tatsuya Suzuki, Tokyo, JP;
Takashi Inoue, Hachioji, JP;
Takashi Muroi, Tachikawa, JP;
Olympus Optical Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A camera has barrier supported by a rail block attached to the body of the camera and movable from a fully closed position where the barrier entirely covers the front of an imaging lens to a fully opened position where the barrier is fully retracted clear of the front of the imaging lens. At its fully closed position and fully opened position, the barrier clicks when a ball is pressed into contact with a cam formed on the rear surface of the barrier. Projection of the ball is restrained by a slip-off prevention portion of the rail block so that the barrier is not subjected to an excessive urging force. In the camera, the barrier is not subjected to an unnecessarily large urging force and is less likely to lift away from the camera. The advantage is particularly great if the barrier in use is narrower than the outer diameter of a lens barrel.