Video camera having a plurality of housings for a variety of operations

Patent 5742341 Issued on April 21, 1998. Estimated Expiration Date:

May 12, 2015. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

D372255

D372721

Electronic photographic camera
Patent #: 4420773
Issued on: 12/13/1983
Inventor: Toyoda , et al.

Power switching arrangement for video camera apparatus
Patent #: 4945424
Issued on: 07/31/1990
Inventor: Hiroki, et al.

Monitor mounting fixture
Patent #: 5119203
Issued on: 06/02/1992
Inventor: Hosaka, et al.

Folding camcorder for compact storage
Patent #: 5303062
Issued on: 04/12/1994
Inventor: Kawarai, et al.

Video camera apparatus with a connecting device for easy connection with electric apparatus
Patent #: 5341171
Issued on: 08/23/1994
Inventor: Mori, et al.

Dual video and still-film camera
Patent #: 5493353
Issued on: 02/20/1996
Inventor: Chen

Cassette eject mechanism, battery loading mechanism and mechanical chassis supporting mechanism Patent #: 5539463
Issued on: 07/23/1996
Inventor: Morikawa, et al.

Inventors

Application

No. 440234 filed on 05/12/1995

US Classes:

348/373, Support or housing348/333.06, Movable or rotatable unit348/375, For specified accessory348/376, Portable or hand-held358/906, HAND-HELD CAMERA WITH RECORDER IN A SINGLE UNIT396/374Electronic

Examiners

Primary: Faile, Andrew
Assistant: Vu, Ngoc-Yen

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack

Foreign Patent References

0 444 849 EP 09/13/1991
0 565 322 EP 10/13/1993
0581286 EP 02/13/1994
0 581 286 EP 02/13/1994
39 18 279 DE 12/13/1990
61-150474 JP 07/13/1986
61-284889 JP 12/13/1986
63-099677 JP 04/13/1988
63-287176 JP 11/13/1988
1246968 JP 10/13/1989
2312450 JP 12/13/1990

International Classes

H04N 005/222
H04N 005/225

Foreign Application Priority Data

1994-05-12 JP

Abstract

A video camera includes a first housing accommodating a recording and reproducing device for recording and reproducing video signals and having a recess defined therein on an upper surface thereof, and a second housing having a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other and housed in the recess of the first housing at its rest position at which the first surface of the second housing is opposed to the upper surface of the first housing. The second housing has a recess defined therein on the second surface thereof. The video camera also includes a monitor screen mounted on the first surface of the second housing and a support member having a first end to which the second housing is hingedly connected and a second end hingedly connected to the first housing. The support member is housed in the recess of the second housing when the second housing is in the rest position.