Canon Patent Application: A clever lens cap

Always losing your lens caps? Can never find them and have to rummage through 5 pockets trying to find it?

Then Canon may be thinking of you (and also me).   They have applied for what appears to be a pretty clever lens cap that opens up while staying on the lens.

Of course, if you use a lens hood this may get in the way, and also get in the way of filters, but for grab and go convenience, these caps may be quite useful.  Especially because Canon believes you can use this cap as the lens hood as well (even though it's probably not as good as a dedicated lens hood)

Canon states;

The present invention works as a lens hood function at the time of shooting and as a lens protection function at the time of non-shooting, thus eliminating the need for lens cap attachment / removal and barrier opening / closing operations. . 

Japan Patent Application 2019-113645