Patent Application
20150003821
The present invention generally relates to devices and methods for attaching light transmissive elements, such as a filter or an additional lens, to a camera lens or a camera housing.
There has been research and development directed to the attachment of filters and additional lenses to a camera lens. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,528,238, entitled “Camera Filter Quick Release Adapter” is allegedly directed to the following: “A camera quick release adapter has mobile thread grips in a lower unthreaded guide rim section of a ring fitting the female threads of a camera lens collar. The thread grips are operated to move inward and outward by release tabs above them in an upper section of the same ring. The two parts are attached by a backing and a circular bias spring holds them protruded outward through openings for each in the ring sections. The lower section does not have threads and slips inside the camera lens collar acting as a guide rim. For installing the adapter of this invention in the camera lens collar, the release tabs are manually depressed pushing the thread grips back from connecting with the camera lens collar threads until the lower section of the adapter seats in the base of the lens collar. The tabs are then released, the circular bias spring pushes the thread grips into the threads of the camera lens collar securing the adapter of this invention to the front of the camera lens. For quick releasing, the release tabs are pressed in pushing the thread grips away from the camera lens collar threads releasing the adapter. The ring of this adapter can be quickly removed and quickly installed along with a filter or other compatible photographic equipment attached to it.” Abstract.
Despite research and development in this area, there is still a need in the art for new devices and methods for attaching light transmissive elements to a camera lens or camera housing.
In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a pressure fit camera filter mount. The mount comprises: a light transmissive element mounted to a landing pad; a collar; an extension plate which connects the landing pad to the collar wherein the collar is capable of sliding over a camera lens or camera housing, and wherein the interior of the collar is slightly smaller than the camera lens or camera housing over which it would be slid.
In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a method of attaching a light transmissive element to a camera lens or camera housing. The method comprises: pushing a pressure fit camera filter mount towards a camera body, wherein the mount comprises a light transmissive element mounted onto a landing pad, a collar, and an extension plate which connects the landing pad to the collar, wherein the inside of the collar is slightly smaller than the lens or housing of the camera body; contacting the pressure fit camera filter mount with the camera lens or camera housing, causing the collar to slide over the camera lens or camera housing, thereby attaching the mount to the lens or housing.
Referring now to the drawings where the numeral 8 indicates the invention and is hereafter referred to as invention 8.
A user will place the invention 8 over a camera lens or camera housing, pushing the invention 8 downward towards the camera body. The force of the downward pressure causes the interior collar 1 to come in contact with a camera lens or camera housing. The users downward pressure allows the invention 8 to slide over the camera lens, or camera housing. Without the user's downward pressure, the friction or pressure between the interior collar 1 and the camera lens or camera housing keep the invention 8 affixed to the camera lens or camera housing. To release the invention 8 from a camera lens or camera housing the user adds pressure to the invention 8 in an upward direction away from a camera. The upward pressure on the invention 8 allows the pressure connection between the interior collar 1 and the camera lens or camera housing to disengage allowing the invention 8 to slide off of a camera lens or camera housing.
From a reading of the foregoing, those familiar with the art should understand the assemblage and advantages of the present invention over available camera filters and lens attachment devices, whereas the available attachment devices are not compatible.
Alternative aspects of the invention include, for example, the modification of the shapes and sizes of the collar, interior collar, flexion plate, and landing pad, to accommodate different camera lenses and camera housings. The light transmissive element can be permanently affixed to the landing pad, screw into the landing pad, or could also be a removable piece allowing users to switch out lenses and filters. The light transmissive element can also vary in shape, size and proportion to the collar. The interior collar can also be modified in shape and texture to achieve different levels of pressure connection between the invention and camera lens or housing.
