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:
Oct. 13, 1998
Filed:
Feb. 18, 1997
Hitoshi Yoshida, Hachioji, JP;
Hiroshi Akitake, Sagamihara, JP;
Takeshi Ito, Hino, JP;
Hiroyuki Satake, Musashino, JP;
Kazuyuki Iwasa, Hino, JP;
Yoshitaka Naitou, Oume, JP;
Yu Satoh, Hino, JP;
Olympus Optical Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An object of a camera of the present invention is to protect mode change switches, a mode display member, or the like from being damaged or prevent it from malfunctioning, and to improve maneuverability. A center part of a camera body 2 shaped like a rectangular parallelepiped is revealed or hidden by a protective cover 5 that can slide freely between the center part of the camera body 2 and a left-hand part thereof. Arranged on the face, top, and back of the center part of the camera body 2 are a photography lens 3, a strobe 6, and mode change switches 16, a mode display member 17, and the like which are used during photography. These members (photography-time used members) are shielded by the protective cover 5 in a closed state and thus protected from being damaged. Moreover, the incident that the members malfunction can be minimized. Only when an open state is set by sliding the protective cover 5 to the left-hand part of the camera body 2 for the purpose of photography, the photography-time used members are exposed to be operational. Thus, excellent maneuverability is ensured.