Camera cover

Abstract

The invention is directed to protective and/or decorative removable camera cases and lens covers. In certain embodiments the camera cases and lens covers comprise a deformable lens covering portion through which an extended telescoping lens housing may protrude. In other embodiments, the cases may comprise an opening providing access to the battery chamber of a camera without removing the case from the camera. In yet further embodiments, the camera case comprise a pocket to retain photographic memory chips.

1 . An article comprising a removable case for a camera having a telescoping lens, which removable case comprises a displaceable lens assembly covering portion substantially protecting a lens assembly from cosmetic and/or structural damage when the telescoping lens is in the contracted position and wherein at least part of said lens assembly covering portion is automatically displaced when the telescoping lens is extended, thereby permitting the camera to be used without removing said removable case. 
   
   
       2 . The article of  claim 1  wherein said case comprises a flexible material fitted to and substantially covering the exterior contours of said camera. 
   
   
       3 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the removable case comprises leather. 
   
   
       4 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the removable case comprises a fabric. 
   
   
       5 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the removable case comprises an elastomeric material. 
   
   
       6 . The article of  claim 5  wherein the elastomeric material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: natural rubber; a polyisoprene, a polybutadiene, a chloroprene rubber, an ethylene propylene rubber, ethylene propylene diene rubber, an epichlorohydrin rubber, a polyacrylic rubber, a silicone rubber, a halosilicone rubber, a fluoroelastomer, a perfluoroelastomer, a tetrafluoro ethylene/propylene rubber, a chlorosulfonated polyethylene, an ethylene-vinyl acetate, a thermoplastic elastomer, a thermoplastic vulcanizate, a polyurethane rubber, resilin, elastin, and a polysulfide rubber. 
   
   
       7 . The article of  claim 6  wherein the elastomeric material comprises a silicone rubber. 
   
   
       8 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the displaceable lens covering portion includes one or more incision permitting the extended lens assembly to extend therethrough. 
   
   
       9 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the displaceable lens covering portion comprises at least one substantially circular region through which the lens housing protrudes when in an extended position. 
   
   
       10 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the displaceable lens covering portion comprises at least one substantially oval region through which the lens housing protrudes when in an extended position. 
   
   
       11 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the displaceable lens covering portion comprises a substantially rectangular region through which the lens housing protrudes when in an extended position. 
   
   
       12 . The article of  claim 1  wherein said removable case comprises a front panel. 
   
   
       13 . The article of  claim 12  wherein said front panel comprises a single displaceable lens covering portion. 
   
   
       14 . The article of  claim 12  wherein said front panel comprises a plurality of displacable lens covering portions. 
   
   
       15 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the displacable lens assembly covering portion contains at least one incision selected from the group consisting of: an arcuate incision, a radial incision, a bisectional incision a horizontal incision and a vertical incision. 
   
   
       16 . The article of  claim 15  wherein the displacable lens assembly covering portion contains at least two incisions, each incision being independently selected from the group consisting of: an arcuate incision, a radial incision, a bisectional incision a horizontal incision and a vertical incision. 
   
   
       17 . The article of  claim 16  wherein the displacable lens assembly covering portion contains at least three incisions, each incision being independently selected from the group consisting of: an arcuate incision, a radial incision, a bisectional incision a horizontal incision and a vertical incision. 
   
   
       18 . The article of  claim 16  wherein the displacable lens assembly covering portion contains at least four incisions, each incision being independently selected from the group consisting of: an arcuate incision, a radial incision, a bisectional incision a horizontal incision and a vertical incision. 
   
   
       19 . The article of  claim 1  wherein at least two radial or bisectional incisions in the lens covering portion meet at a single central vertex. 
   
   
       20 . The article of  claim 1  wherein at least three radial or bisectional incisions in the lens covering portion meet at a single central vertex. 
   
   
       21 . The article of  claim 1  wherein at least four radial or bisectional incisions in the lens covering portion meet at a single central vertex. 
   
   
       22 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the removable case further comprises a pocket sized to hold one or more digital image chip. 
   
   
       23 . The article of  claim 22  wherein the removable case further comprises a lens covering portion comprising at least one incision selected from the group consisting of: an arcuate incision, a radial incision, a bisectional incision a horizontal incision and a vertical incision. 
   
   
       24 . The article of  claim 23  wherein the lens covering portion comprises at least two radial of bisecting incisions in the displaceable lens covering portion which meet at a single central vertex. 
   
   
       25 . An article comprising a removable case for a camera comprising a molded elastomeric material fitted to and substantially covering the exterior contours of said camera, which removable covering comprises an integrated pocket sized to hold one or more digital image chip. 
   
   
       26 . The article of  claim 25  wherein said removable covering further comprises at least one raised element which, when the covering is placed on the camera, indicates the position of an operating control of the camera. 
   
   
       27 . The article of  claim 25  wherein said removable case further comprises a displaceable lens covering portion substantially protecting a lens assembly from cosmetic and/or structural damage when the telescoping lens is in the contracted position and wherein said lens assembly covering portion is automatically displaced when the telescoping lens is extended, thereby permitting the camera to be used without removing said removable case. 
   
   
       28 . The article of  claim 27  wherein the displaceable lens covering portion includes at least two approximately radial or bisectional incisions which meet at a single central point. 
   
   
       29 . The article of  claim 28  wherein the displaceable lens covering portion includes at least two approximately radial or bisectional incisions which meet at a single central point. 
   
   
       30 . The article of  claim 29  wherein the displaceable lens covering portion includes at least two approximately radial or bisectional incisions which meet at a single central point. 
   
   
       31 . The article of  claim 25  wherein the elastomeric material comprises a silicone polymer. 
   
   
       32 . The article of  claim 27  wherein the elastomeric material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: natural rubber; a polyisoprene, a polybutadiene, a chloroprene rubber, an ethylene propylene rubber, ethylene propylene diene rubber, an epichlorohydrin rubber, a polyacrylic rubber, a silicone rubber, a halosilicone rubber, a fluoroelastomer, a perfluoroelastomer, a tetrafluoro ethylene/propylene rubber, a chlorosulfonated polyethylene, an ethylene-vinyl acetate, a thermoplastic elastomer, a thermoplastic vulcanizate, a polyurethane rubber, resilin, elastin, and a polysulfide rubber. 
   
   
       33 . The article of  claim 27  wherein the elastomeric material comprises a silicone rubber. 
   
   
       34 . An article comprising a removable case for a camera having a telescoping lens, which removable case comprises a molded elastomeric material fitted to and substantially covering the exterior contours of said camera, said case including a displaceable lens assembly covering portion substantially protecting a camera lens assembly from cosmetic and/or structural damage when the telescoping lens is in the contracted position and wherein at least part of said lens assembly covering portion is automatically displaced when the telescoping lens is extended, thereby permitting the camera to be used without removing said removable case. 
   
   
       35 . An article comprising a removable case for a camera having a telescoping lens, which removable case comprises a molded elastomeric material fitted to and substantially covering the exterior contours of said camera, said case including a displaceable lens assembly covering portion comprises at least one substantially circular elastomeric region comprising one or more incision through which a camera lens housing protrudes when in an extended position, and which region substantially protects a camera lens assembly from cosmetic and/or structural damage when the telescoping lens is in the contracted position, thereby permitting the camera to be used without removing said removable case. 
   
   
       36 . The article of  claim 35  wherein at least two radial or bisectional incisions in the elastomeric lens covering portion meet at a single central vertex.