U.S. patent application number 11/499634 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-30 for opening structure of image device.
This patent application is currently assigned to Transpacific IP, Ltd.. Invention is credited to Chiung-Ying Chang, Po-Ching Lu, Anchi Yu.
Application Number | 20060268161 11/499634 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32925303 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060268161 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yu; Anchi ; et al. |
November 30, 2006 |
Opening structure of image device
Abstract
An opening structure of image device comprises a body, at least
a sliding track, at least a sliding sleeve, and a shield, wherein
the sliding sleeve slide on the sliding track in order to drive
synchronously the shield to achieve opening or closing status.
Furthermore, the image device is entirely enclosed into the shield
so as to prevent the image device from dust pollution and
unexpected damage when the shield is at closing status. Meanwhile,
the shield can be designed to be a special look, which will bring
to user a fashionable feeling.
Inventors: |
Yu; Anchi; (Hsinchu City,
TW) ; Lu; Po-Ching; (Yanpu Township, TW) ;
Chang; Chiung-Ying; (Hsinchu City, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BERKELEY LAW & TECHNOLOGY GROUP
1700NW 167TH PLACE
SUITE 240
BEAVERTON
OR
97006
US
|
Assignee: |
Transpacific IP, Ltd.
|
Family ID: |
32925303 |
Appl. No.: |
11/499634 |
Filed: |
August 3, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10838360 |
May 5, 2004 |
|
|
|
11499634 |
Aug 3, 2006 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
348/375 ;
348/E5.026 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 1/00519 20130101;
H04N 1/00557 20130101; H04N 5/2252 20130101; H04N 2101/00
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
348/375 |
International
Class: |
H04N 5/225 20060101
H04N005/225 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 3, 2004 |
TW |
093105629 |
Claims
1-23. (canceled)
24. An opening structure, comprising: a body; a first and a second
sliding track, each having a first end and a second end, wherein
the first ends of the first and second sliding track are coupled to
the body; a first shield coupled to the second end of the first
sliding track; a second shield coupled to the second end of the
second sliding track, wherein the first shield and the second
shield are adapted to travel along said first and second sliding
tracks respectively, to substantially close around said body.
25. The opening structure of claim 24, wherein the body comprises a
plurality of sides, and the first and second sliding tracks are
coupled to substantially opposite sides of said body.
26. The opening structure of claim 24, wherein the first and second
sliding tracks include a limit unit adapted to limit the range of
motion of the respective sliding tracks.
27. The opening structure of claim 26, wherein the limit units of
the first and second sliding tracks cooperate with fillisters
disposed on the respective sliding tracks to limit the range of
motion of the respective sliding tracks.
28. The opening structure of claim 24, wherein the wherein the
first and second sliding tracks each include a lock adapted to lock
the sliding tracks in a position.
29. The opening structure of claim 24, wherein the first and second
shield each include a magnet adapted to hold the first and second
shield in a position.
30. A digital camera, comprising: a digital camera chassis; and an
opening structure body coupled to the digital camera chassis,
comprising; a first and a second sliding track, each having a first
and a second end, wherein the first ends of the first and second
sliding track are coupled to the body; a first shield coupled to
the second end of the first sliding track; a second shield coupled
to the second end of the second sliding track; wherein the first
and the second shield are adapted to travel along said first and
second sliding tracks respectively to substantially close around
said digital camera.
31. The opening structure of claim 30, wherein the body comprises a
plurality of sides, and the first and second sliding tracks are
coupled to substantially opposite sides of said body.
32. The opening structure of claim 31, wherein the first and second
sliding tracks include a limit unit adapted to limit the range of
motion of the respective sliding tracks.
33. The opening structure of claim 32, wherein the limit units of
the first and second sliding tracks cooperate with fillisters
disposed on the respective sliding tracks to limit the range of
motion of the respective sliding tracks.
34. The opening structure of claim 33, wherein the wherein the
first and second sliding tracks each include a lock adapted to lock
the sliding tracks in a position.
35. The opening structure of claim 34, wherein the first and second
shield each include a magnet adapted to hold the first and second
shield in a position.
36. An apparatus, comprising: means for moving a first shield from
a first position to a second position; means for moving a second
shield from a first position to a second position; and means for
locking the first and second shield in the second position to
enable using a digital device.
37. The apparatus of claim 36, further comprising: means for moving
a first shield from the second position to the first position;
means for moving a second shield from the second position to the
first position; and means for coupling the first and second shield
to substantially enclose the digital device.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to an opening structure of image
device, more particularly to an opening structure of image device
preventing the image device from dust pollution and unexpected
damage.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] The digital devices, such as digital still cameras, digital
camcorders and digital players, are very popular nowadays. Such
digital devices are also rich in the type and specification, and
each consumer can choose his favorite such digital devices easily.
However, as a consumer, the fashionable appearances of such digital
devices play a very important role.
[0005] Therefore, each designer of the digital device uses its best
effort to create the distinguishable new product in order to
attract the consumers. But, we look into the appearance of the
digital devices in the market. Most of them may incorporate the
body and lens, and such appearance is too common to make any
impression on the consumers. Furthermore, the lens of the general
digital device shall be free of the dust. When such device does not
operate, the protection device will be active to protect its lens.
The general practice is to incorporate the lens protective cover,
or the one, which can protect the lens automatically while turning
off the digital device. This structure can protect the lens from
the dust effectively, regardless of the variance in the appearance
of the digital device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In the light of the state of the art described above, it is
an object of the present invention to provide an opening structure
of image device with a shield to prevent the image device from dust
pollution and unexpected damage after the shield is at closing
status in order to entirely enclose the image device which is
immune to the problems described above.
[0007] It is another object of this invention to provide an opening
structure of image device with a shield to bring to users a
fashionable feeling for its special look.
[0008] In view of the above and other objects which will become
apparent as the description proceeds, there is provided according
to a general aspect of the present invention an opening structure
of image device, which comprises a body for putting a image device;
a sliding track with a first end connected to a lateral side of
said body and a second end extended out said body; and a sliding
sleeve with a first end putted on said sliding track and a second
end connected a shield, wherein said shield is at closing status
when said sliding sleeve is located on said first end of said
sliding track, and said shield is at opening status when said
sliding sleeve is located on said second end of said sliding
track.
[0009] Base on the idea described above, wherein said sliding track
includes a limit unit and said sliding sleeve includes a fillister,
which said limit unit is put into said fillister in order to limit
said sliding sleeve to move between said first end and said second
end of said sliding track when said sliding sleeve slides on said
sliding track.
[0010] Base on the aforementioned idea, wherein said limit unit is
a bump.
[0011] Base on the idea described above, wherein said sliding track
further includes a first lock unit located on said first end of
said sliding track to fix said sliding sleeve at said first end of
said sliding track.
[0012] Base on the aforementioned idea, wherein said first lock
unit is an elastic piece with bump.
[0013] Base on the idea described above, wherein said sliding track
further includes a second lock unit located on said second end of
said sliding track to fix said sliding sleeve at said second end of
said sliding track.
[0014] Base on the aforementioned idea, wherein said second lock
unit is an elastic piece with bump.
[0015] Base on the idea described above, wherein said image device
is selected from the group consisting of digital still camera,
digital camcorder and digital player.
[0016] In view of the above and other objects which will become
apparent as the description proceeds, there is provided according
to a general aspect of the present invention an opening structure
of image device, which comprises a body for putting a image device;
a first sliding track with a first end connected to one lateral
side of said body and a second end extended out said body; a first
sliding sleeve with a first end putted on said first sliding track
and a second end connected a first shield; a second sliding track
with a first end connected to the other lateral side of said body
and a second end extended out said body; and a second sliding
sleeve with a first end putted on said second sliding track and a
second end connected a second shield, wherein it is at closing
status that said first shield and said second shield connect each
other when said first sliding sleeve is located on said first end
of said first sliding track and said second sliding sleeve is
located on said first end of said second sliding track, and it is
at opening status that said first shield and said second shield
disconnect each other when said first sliding sleeve is located on
said second end of said first sliding track and said second sliding
sleeve is located on said second end of said second sliding
track.
[0017] Base on the idea described above, wherein said first sliding
track includes a limit unit and said first sliding sleeve includes
a fillister, which said limit unit is put into said fillister in
order to limit said first sliding sleeve to move between said first
end and said second end of said first sliding track when said first
sliding sleeve slides on said first sliding track.
[0018] Base on the aforementioned idea, wherein said limit unit is
a bump.
[0019] Base on the idea described above, wherein said second
sliding track includes a limit unit and said second sliding sleeve
includes a fillister, which said limit unit is put into said
fillister in order to limit said second sliding sleeve to move
between said first end and said second end of said second sliding
track when said second sliding sleeve slides on said second sliding
track.
[0020] Base on the aforementioned idea, wherein said limit unit is
a bump.
[0021] Base on the idea described above, wherein said first sliding
track further includes a first lock unit located on said first end
of said first sliding track to fix said first sliding sleeve at
said first end of said first sliding track.
[0022] Base on the aforementioned idea, wherein said first lock
unit is an elastic piece with bump.
[0023] Base on the idea described above, wherein said first sliding
track further includes a second lock unit located on said second
end of said first sliding track to fix said first sliding sleeve at
said second end of said first sliding track.
[0024] Base on the aforementioned idea, wherein said second lock
unit is an elastic piece with bump.
[0025] Base on the idea described above, wherein said second
sliding track further includes a third lock unit located on said
first end of said second sliding track to fix said second sliding
sleeve at said first end of said second sliding track.
[0026] Base on the aforementioned idea, wherein said third lock
unit is an elastic piece with bump.
[0027] Base on the idea described above, wherein said second
sliding track further includes a fourth lock unit located on said
second end of said second sliding track to fix said second sliding
sleeve at said second end of said second sliding track.
[0028] Base on the aforementioned idea, wherein said fourth lock
unit is an elastic piece with bump.
[0029] Base on the idea described above, wherein said first shield
and said second shield connect magnetically.
[0030] Base on the aforementioned idea, wherein said image device
is selected from the group consisting of digital still camera,
digital camcorder and digital player.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages
of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same
becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed
description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
[0032] FIG. 1A schematically illustrates the three-dimensional view
of the opening structure of image device according to the
embodiment of the present invention when the opening structure is
at closing status;
[0033] FIG. 1B schematically illustrates the three-dimensional view
of the opening structure of image device according to the
embodiment of the present invention when the opening structure is
at opening status;
[0034] FIG. 2A schematically illustrates the structure view of the
opening structure of image device according to the embodiment of
the present invention when the opening structure is at opening
status; and
[0035] FIG. 2B schematically illustrates the structure view of the
opening structure of image device according to the embodiment of
the present invention when the opening structure is at closing
status.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0036] The sample embodiments of the present invention will now be
described in greater detail. Nevertheless, it should be recognized
that the present invention can be practiced in a wide range of
other embodiments besides those explicitly described, and the scope
of the present invention is expressly not limited except as
specified in the accompanying claims.
[0037] Please refer to FIG. 1A and 1B, the three-dimensional views
of he opening structure of image device at closing and opening
status respectively according to the embodiment of the present
invention are schematically shown. When the image device 1 is
enclosed with the first shield 2 and the second shield 3, the users
see only the outline of two shields as a baseball. But the shape of
the shields is not limited as specified in FIG. 1A, the designer
can design any shapes for the shields. Only it can be achieve the
purpose that the image device can be enclosed with the shields and
the users see only the outline of the shields after the shields are
at closing status. If the user wants to use the image device 1, he
opens the first shield 2 left and the second shield 3 right, then
the image device 1 is presented as shown in FIG. 1B. The above
shields are not limited as being opened from the middle position of
the opening structure, opening the first shield 2 left or opening
the second shield 3 right. The designer can design a single shield
to enclose the image device and be opened from any position.
[0038] Referring to FIG. 2A, which is the structure view of the
opening structure of image device according to the embodiment of
the present invention when the opening structure is at opening
status. The opening structure 4 includes a body 40, at least a
sliding track 42, at least a sliding sleeve 44, and a first shield
2. The body 40 is used to put the image device 1. The first end of
the sliding track 42 is connected to a lateral side of the body 40
and the second end of the sliding track 42 is extended out the body
40. The first end of the sliding sleeve 44 is putted on the sliding
track 42 and the second end of the sliding sleeve 44 is connected
the first shield 2. So the sliding sleeve 44 can slide right or
left on the sliding track 42 and drive synchronously the first
shield 2. It is the better embodiment of the present invention to
offer the combination of two sliding tracks 42 and two sliding
sleeves 44. It is better that they are put at the opposite ends of
the body 40 to control the moving of the first shield 2 and the
second shield 3 separately as shown in FIG. 2A. When two sliding
sleeves 44 are located on the first ends of two sliding tracks 42
and the first shield 2 and the second shield 3 are connected each
other, the opening structure is at closing status. When two sliding
sleeves 44 are located on the second ends of two sliding tracks 42
and the first shield 2 and the second shield 3 are disconnected
each other, the opening structure is at opening status.
[0039] Besides, the sliding track 42 has a limit unit 420 and the
sliding sleeve 44 has a fillister 440, wherein the limit unit 420
is put into the fillister 440 when the sliding sleeve 44 slides on
the sliding track 42. It can position the sliding sleeve 44 between
the first end and the second end of the sliding track 42 for
avoiding the sliding sleeve 44 to take off the sliding track 42 to
damage the opening structure of image device 40. The limit unit 420
is a bump in FIG. 2A, but it can be protruding spot, hook and other
elements with similar function.
[0040] The sliding track 42 can further include the first lock unit
422 located at the first end and the second lock unit 424 located
at the second end. When the sliding sleeve 44 slides to the first
end of the sliding track 42, the first lock unit 422 can fix
sliding sleeve 44 at the first end of the sliding track 42.
Similarly, when the sliding sleeve 44 slides to the second end of
the sliding track 42, the second lock unit 424 can fix sliding
sleeve 44 at the second end of the sliding track 42. The first and
second lock units 422,424 can be a bump, but they can be protruding
spots, hooks and other elements with similar function.
[0041] Next referring to FIG. 2B, which is the structure view of
the opening structure of image device according to the embodiment
of the present invention when the opening structure is at closing
status. The two sliding sleeves 44 of opening structure 4 are
located on the first ends of two sliding tracks 42, so the first
shield 2 and the second shield 3 are connected each other to
enclose the image device 1, as shown in FIG. 1A. It is the better
embodiment of the present invention that the first shield 2 and the
second shield 3 should have respectively a magnetic element to
attract each other (not shown in the figures).
[0042] Although the specific embodiments have been illustrated and
described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that
various modifications may be made without departing from what is
intended to be limited solely by the appended claims.
* * * * *