Cam mechanism for device having pop-up part

A cam mechanism for a device that is movable between a first position and a second position, said cam mechanism comprising:

• a cam member for movement substantially in a first plane;
• a lock member for movement substantially in said first plane when said cam member is moved from a first position to a second position;
• said lock member including a retaining part for retaining said cam member at a predetermined position and said retaining part being movable in a first direction substantially perpendicular to said first plane to release said cam member;
• and
• a first spring for moving said lock member to a position for retaining said cam member,
• wherein said cam member includes a guide part extending along a side of said cam member and parallel with the first plane, said retaining part of said lock member being urged in a second direction opposite to said first direction toward said guide part.

In combination, a cam mechanism and a device having a pop-up part, said cam mechanism comprising:

• a cam member connected with said pop-up part and arranged for movement substantially in a first plane when said pop-up part is extended and retracted;
• a lock member for engaging said cam member and arranged for movement substantially in said first plane caused by movement of said cam member;
• said lock member retaining said cam member at a predetermined position by said engagement and releasing said cam member for movement thereof when said lock member is moved in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first plane;
• a first spring having a first part for moving said lock member to retain said cam member and a second part for moving said lock member in a direction opposite to said perpendicular direction;
• and
• a second spring for moving said cam member.

A camera comprising:

• a cam member for movement substantially in a first plane;
• a lock member for engaging said cam member and being moved substantially in said first plane by movement of said cam member;
• said lock member having a retaining part for retaining said cam member at a predetermined position;
• a lock release button for moving said lock member in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first plane to release said cam member for movement in said first plane;
• a pop-up part connected with said cam member for protruding from said camera body when said button is activated;
• a first biasing member for moving said lock member to a position for retaining said cam member;
• and
• a second biasing member for moving said cam member.

A cam mechanism for a camera having a part that is moveable between a first position and a second position, said cam mechanism comprising:

• (a) a cam member that moves with the camera part;
• (b) a lock member including an extension part having a first engagement part, a second engagement part and a third engagement part, said first engagement part of said lock member retains said cam member at a predetermined position and is movable in a first direction to release said cam member for movement with the camera part;
• (c) a first axis that supports said lock member for rotation around said first axis;
• (d) a first spring that engages said second engagement part of said lock member for rotation of said lock member around said first axis to retain said cam member;
• and
• (e) a second spring that engages said third engagement part of said lock member for movement of said first engagement part of said lock member in a second direction opposite to said first direction,
• wherein said extension part of said lock member extends in a radial direction from said first axis such that said first engagement part, second engagement part and third engagement part are located on a same side of said first axis.

A cam mechanism for a compact camera having a pop-up part, said cam mechanism comprising:

• (a) a cam member having a generally flat, planar configuration structured and arranged for rotational movement with the pop-up part, said cam member rotates substantially in a first plane around a first axis;
• (b) a lock member including a radial part having a generally flat, planar configuration for rotational movement substantially in said first plane around a second axis,
• said radial part extending away from said second axis in one radial direction thereof toward said cam member and having a first engagement part, a second engagement part and a third engagement part,
• said first engagement part retains said cam member at a retracted position of the pop-up part and is movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first plane to release said cam member for extending the pop-up part;
• and
• (c) a torsion spring having a first end that engages said second engagement part of said radial part for rotating said radial part around said second axis to retain said cam member and a second end that engages said third engagement part of said radial part for moving said first engagement part in an opposite direction to said perpendicular direction.

A cam mechanism for a camera having a pop-up part, said cam mechanism comprising:

• (a) a cam member for rotational movement with the pop-up part substantially in a first plane;
• (b) a cam rotary spring for moving said cam member, said cam rotary spring having a first end and a second end,
• said second end of the cam rotary spring having
• a claw hook position at which said second end is hooked on a spring holder part of the camera for supporting said cam rotary spring,
• a snap position at which the pop-up part is retracted and said cam rotary spring is loaded to a maximum extent, and
• a free position at which said cam rotary spring is not loaded,
• said first end of the cam rotary spring being rotated when the pop-up part is extended by said loaded cam rotary spring moving said cam member;
• and
• (c) a lock member for rotational movement substantially in said first plane to retain said cam member when said pop-up part is retracted and said lock member being movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first plane to release said cam member for the rotational movement.

A lock member for a camera having a cam mechanism for spring-loaded movement of a camera part between a retracted position and an extended position, said lock member comprising:

• (a) a central part having an axial through-hole for supporting the lock member on a rotational axis for movement of the lock member around said axis when the camera part moves between the extended position and the retracted position, said axial through-hole being sized for said lock member to be moveable in an axial direction while supported on the rotational axis;
• and
• (b) a radial part projecting from said central part in a direction away from said axial through-hole on one radial side with respect to said axial through-hole, said radial part having a side surface, a first side edge, a second side edge, and an end edge at an opposite end of said radial part from said central part,
• said first side edge extending outwardly at said end edge of said radial part to form a lock engaging part having a generally hook shape for engaging the cam mechanism to retain the camera part at the retracted position,
• a knob part at said second side edge, opposite to said first side edge, including
• a first hook part projecting toward said central part for engaging a first biasing member that moves said lock engaging part to engage the cam mechanism, and
• a rotary control part projecting away from said central part for engaging a lock control part of the camera that limits movement of said lock engaging part by the first biasing member, and
• a second hook part at said side surface of said radial part, between said first and second side edges, for engaging a second biasing member that moves said lock member in a direction opposite to said axial direction,
• wherein said lock member has a generally flat, planar configuration.