Camera having resiliently biasing label and method

Details Camera having resiliently biasing label and method Camera having resiliently biasing label and method

1999-07-26

2001-07-17

Gray, David M. (Department: 2851)

Photography

Disposable or recyclable camera

C396S411000, C396S535000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06263159

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to photography and photographic equipment and more particularly relates to a camera having a resiliently biasing label and a film loading method.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Because one-time use cameras are manufactured in very large quantities, small changes in costs of individual components present major consequences in aggregation. Biasing elements, such as small metal springs are relatively costly items in one-time use cameras, particularly if the cost of assembly is considered. Resilient elements can be provided as portions of larger molded plastic components, but this can present problems in achieving accurate spring biasing and in detecting defects.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,472,543 discloses a method for accurately attaching compliant labels to camera bodies. Compliant labels are cut from larger sheets of material. it is ordinarily easier to provide uniform physical characteristics in conventionally manufactured shape material than in molded plastic components.
It is known to provide labels and other one-time use camera parts that are replaced when the camera is recycled. U.S. Pat. No. 5,761,542 discloses a one-time use camera in which a film door includes an anti-backup pawl that breaks when the film door is opened and must be replaced to recycle the camera. The shortcoming is that the film door must include the anti-backup pawl.
It is known to load film in a one-time use camera by installing a film cartridge, light-tightly closing the camera, disabling an anti-backup, and prewinding the film onto a second spool by rotating an exposed portion of the second spool. (See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,972,649 and Japanese Patent Publication JP5-134361, published May 28, 1993) The anti-backup is reenabled after the film is prewound. The shortcoming is that the enabling and reenabling are additional steps and are not simple to perform using automated equipment.
JP7-114147 (published May 2, 1995) discloses an anti-backup pawl that is biased by a projection of the back cover. The back cover is shown as closing the film chambers.
It would thus be desirable to provide an improved cameras in which a label provides biasing for a mechanical element.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is defined by the claims. The invention, in its broader aspects, provides a camera that has a casing and a subsystem having a first mechanical element and a second mechanical element. The first mechanical element is movable relative to the casing, between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The mechanical elements are engaged. The subsystem is operative in the engaged position. The subsystem is inoperative in the disengaged position. A label is attached to the casing. The label biases the first mechanical element toward the engaged position. In a method for rendering a one-time use camera operative, a camera frame assembly and a compliant label are aligned. The camera frame assembly has the subsystem having a first and second mechanical elements and an uncovered gap. The first mechanical element is movable relative to the gap, between the engaged and disengaged positions. The mechanical elements are engaged and the subsystem is operative in the engaged position and inoperative in the disengaged position. A label is attached to the camera frame assembly over the gap to bias the first mechanical element toward the engaged position.
It is an advantageous effect of the invention that improved cameras are provided in which a label provides biasing for a mechanical element.


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