GB2084866A - Lens case - Google Patents

Abstract

A lens case Fig. 1 comprises a cylindrical portion (4) arranged to receive a lens and flaps (1a,1b) arranged to be bent over to close an open end of the cylindrical portion (4). The lens case is also provided with a connecting portion (5) so that flaps (1a;1b) can be maintained closed. The cylindrical portion (4) can be made to envelop a lens (8) when mounted on the camera (9) Fig. 5. The flaps (1a;1b) can then be made to pass around the camera (9) and fastened together over the rear face of the camera (9). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Protective photographic case BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a lens case for a camera. The lens case is used for keeping the interchangeable lens for a camera therein and for protecting the same when the photographer carries it with him.

A conventional lens case comprises a cylindrical portion for placing the interchangeable lens therein; a lid of the cylindrical portion; and a hinge connecting the cylindrical portion to the lid. The conventional lens case is useful to keep the lens detached from the camera therein or to carry the same, it is of no use or may be a burden to the photographer when the lens is attached to the camera. Furthermore, the conventional lens case is inconvenient in that when the lens is attached to the camera and is naked, it may occur that the lens is struck against something hard and the surface thereof is damaged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a lens case capable of keeping a lens detached from the camera therein and enabling the photographer to carry the same, and further capable of covering and protecting the lens when the lens is attached to the camera and carried, thus protecting the lens from any damage.

The invention is characterized by a cylindrical portion for placing a lens therein; flap portions extending from the opening ends of the cylindrical portion; and a connecting portion for holding the flap portions bent in such a direction of being overlapped with the opening end surface of the cylindrical portion.

The camera case having the above-mentioned features according to the invention can be used in the following three ways, keeping the lens therein, for carrying the lens and for protecting the lens while it is attached to the camera. In particular, due to the feature that it can cover and protect the lens while it is attached to the camera, the lens is protected from any damage if it is struck against something hard. Furthermore, since the lens case of the invention can be made of a soft material, when the lens case becomes unnecessary because of photographing, it can be placed in a pocket by folding it into a small piece and cannot be any burden to the photographer, unlike the conventional lens case.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a lens case according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional side view of the embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment in Fig. 1, showing one way of use thereof in practice.

Figure 4 is a partially cutaway sectional view of the embodiment in Fig. 1.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the embodiment in Fig. 1, showing another way of use thereof in practice.

Figure 6 is a partial sectional side view of the embodiment in Fig. 5, showing one way of use thereof.

Figure 7 is a partial side view of the embodiment in Fig. 5, showing another way of use thereof.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the main portion of another embodiment of a lens case according to the invention.

Figure 9 is a side view of the main portion of still another embodiment of the invention.

Figure 10 is a side view of the main portion of the embodiment in Fig. 9, which is used in a different manner from that in Fig..9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRE FERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown an embodiment of a lens case according to the invention. In Fig. 1 and 2, the lens case comprises a sheet material 1 which is made of a long strip of leather, and two sheet materials 2, which are made of strips of leather which are shorter than the first-mentioned sheet material 1. In the lens case, there is formed a cylindrical portion 4 with a closed bottom, for placing the lens therein. The cylindrical portion 4 is formed by folding the sheet material 1 at its central portion in the shape of a letter U and sewing the sheet material 1 and the sheet materials 2 on each other at their side edge portions. In Fig. 1, reference numeral 3 indicates the sewn portions.The opposite end portions of the sheet material 1 extend from the opening end portion of the cylindrical portion 4 in such a manner as to face each other, thus constituting flaps 1 a and 1 b. A connecting portion 5, which is made of a magic fastener, is fixed to the outer surface of the top portion of the flap 1 a, while to a portion on the outer surface of the cylindrical portion 4 below the connecting portion 5, there is fixed a connecting portion 6 which is also made of a counterpart magic fastener.

The insides of the sheet materials 1, 2 are lined with cloth with pile. At the bottom portion of the cylindrical portion 4, there is disposed a disc 7 for fixing the porition of the lens.

Various ways of using the above-mentioned embodiment of a lens case of the invention will now be explained. Figs. 3 and 4 show how to keep the lens in the lens case. After a lens 8 is placed in the cylindrical portion 4, the flap portion 1 a of the sheet material is folded so as to cover the opening of the cylindrical portion 4, and the top portion of the flap portion 1 a is then inserted into the cylindrical portion 4, and the connecting portion 5 is brought into pressure contact with the inside of the cylindrical portion 4. Since the inside of the cylindrical portion 4 is lined with the cloth with pile, the connecting portion 5 catches the inner cloth of the cylindrical portion 4, so that they are firmly fixed to each other.The other flap portion 1 b is bent so as to cover the flap portion 1 a and the top portion of the flap portion 1 a and the top portion of the flap portion 1 b is also brought into pressure contact with the connecting portion 6. Since the inside of the flap portion 1b is also lined with the cloth with pile, the flap portion 1 b is caught by the connecting por- tion 6, so that they are firmly connected to each other. Thus, the opening of the cyiindri- cal portion 4 is closed by the flap portions 1 a and 1 b, and the lens 5 is kept in the cylindrical portion 4.The connecting positions of the flap portions 1 a, 1 b with the cylindrical portion 4 can be changed to a certain extent in accordance with the length of a lens to be kept, since their connecting portions are adjuslable within the range where the connecting portions 5, 6 and the cloth with pile can overlap.

Figs. 5 and 6 show another way of using the above-mentioned embodiment of the invention, in which the lens case is used for the lens which is attached to a camera 9. More specifically, the lens (not shown) attached to the camera 9 is covered by the cylindrical portion 4. The flap portion 1 a of the lens cover extends so as to cover a bottom portion of the camera 9, extending therefrom up to the back side of the camera 9, covering the back side of the camera 9. The other flap portion 1 b extends so as to cover an upper portion of the camera 9 and is then bent so as to cover the back side of the camera 9. The back side of the flap portion 1 b is brought into pressure contact with the connecting portion 5, whereby they are firmly connected to each other. When the camera case is used in this way, it can be carried together with the camera 9.

Although the camera 9 may be different in height and depth, depending upon its kind, the invention is applicable to all kinds of cameras because the connecting position of the flaps 1 a and 1 b can be adjusted as desired within the range where the connecting portion 5 and the lining cloth of the flap 1 b can overlap.

Fig. 7 shows another way of using the abovementioned embodiment. In this use mode, a hand-carry portion is formed by the flap la and the flap 1 b after putting the lens 8 in the lens case 4, by connecting the connecting portion 5 of the tip end of the flap 1 a and the inner tip end of the flap 1 b to each other. In this state, it is possible to handcarry the lens case with the lens 8 placed in the lens case by holding a hand-carry portion by hand. In this case, part of the lens placed in the lens case may be exposed from the overlapping openings 1 c and 1 d. Therefore, a tongue member which is capable of covering the exposed portion of the camera can be disposed within the inside of the opening portion of the cylindrical portion 4.

Other modifications of the above-mentioned embodiment of a lens case of the invention will now be explained. Fig. 8 shows one of such modifications. In this modification, openings 1 c and 1 d are respectively formed in the flap portion 11 a and the flap portion 1 b, whid openings 1 c and I d allow the fingers to pass therethrough for carrying the lens case.When carrying the lens case with the fingers passed through the openings 10 and 1 d, the flap portions 1 a and 1 b are not connected to each other. When the lens case is used in the above-mentioned use mode for the lens attached to the camera, with the tip portions of the flap portions 1 a dnd 1 b connected to each other at the back side of the camera, the openings 10, 1 d serve as the holes for allowing any upper and lower projected members of the camera, such as a pentaprism, to pass therethrough. When the lens is kept in this lens case, the flap portions la, 1 b are caused to overlap along the opening of the cylindrical portion 4 as in the mode of use in Figs. 3 and 4.

Figs. 9 and 10 show a further mebodiment of a lens case according to the invention. In this embodiment, part of the sheet material 1 is extended so as to constitute a flap portion 1 e. The inside of the flap portion 1 e is pressed against the connecting portion 6 fixed to the outside of the opening end of the cylindrical portion 4, whereby the flap portion 1 e is firmly connected to the connecting portion 6. In this embodiment, a hand-carry portion can be formed by connecting the inner tip of the flap portion 1 e to the connecting portion 6. Therefore, the lens can be handcarried in this lens case. Furthermore, by closely covering the opening of the cylindrical portion 4 by the flap portion 1 e and bending the flap portion 1 e so as to connect the inner surface of the flap portion 1 e to the connecting portion 6, the lens case can be used for keeping the lens therein.

As shown in Fig. 10, if the lens attached to the camera 9 is covered by the cylindrical portion 4, with the flap portion 1 e extended so as to cover the camera, and the inner tip portion of the flap portion 1 e is connected to the connecting portion 6, the lens case can be used for protecting the lens attached to the camera as in the same mode as shown in Fig.

5. As shown in Fig. 10, openings for allowing any projections of the camera, such as a pentaprism and the attachment members for a tripod, to pass therethrough can be formed in the flap portion 1 e.

As the sheet materials for the lens case of the invention, soft-type synthetic resins, synthetic leather can also be used. Further, such sheet materials can be made one-piece when a suitable material for it is selected. Snap fasteners can be used at the connecting portions.

Claims (7)

1. A lens case comprising a cylindrical portion for placing a lens therein; a flap member extending from an opening end of said cylindrical portion; a connecting portion capable of maintaining said flap member in a condition that said flap member is folded so as to cover said opening end.

2. A lens case as in claim 1, wherein said flap member comprises two sheets of flaps disposed so as to face each other.

3. A lens case as in claim 2, wherein said two flaps have openings which allow the fingers to pass therethrough.

4. A lens case as in claim 1, wherein said flap member comprises one sheet of flap.

5. A lens case as in claim 1, wherein said connecting portion comprises magic fasteners.

6. A lens case as in claim 1, wherein said connecting portion is provided in a position where said connecting portion can be inserted into a camera by said cylindrical portion and said flap member.

7. A protective photographic case substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.