Photography – Having camera indicator – Film condition indicator
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-14
2001-10-09
Perkey, W. B. (Department: 2851)
Photography
Having camera indicator
Film condition indicator
Reexamination Certificate
active
06301444
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to the field of photography, and in particular to an exposure count indicator for a camera.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Practically every camera that is available today includes an exposure count indicator. Typically, the exposure count indicator provides a visible indication of the number of film frames that remain available to be exposed on a filmstrip in the camera, i.e. the current number of exposures that can be made on the filmstrip. Conversely, the exposure count indicator can provide a visible indication of the number of film frames actually exposed on the filmstrip, i.e. the number of exposures actually made. In either case, the exposure count indicator includes a numerical scale of successive exposure count indicia that are evenly spaced from one another. The scale of indicia at least range from the number “1” which indicates either that only one frame remains available to be exposed on the filmstrip, or only one frame has been actually exposed, to a higher number which is the maximum number of exposures, for example “15”, “24” or “40”.
Each time one of the film frames is positioned for exposure in the camera, the exposure count indicator undergoes an indicia change.
Prior Art Problem
A known problem described in commonly assigned prior art U.S. pat. No. 4,896,180 issued Jan. 23, 1990 is that it may be difficult for one to clearly tell when the first available frame is positioned for exposure in the camera. Typically, the exposure count indicia include a pre-initialization indicia, e.g. “E” or “0”, used to provide a visual indication that the first available frame has not been positioned for exposure and a successive indicia, e.g. “1”, used to provide a visual indication that the first available frame is positioned for exposure. A series of at least two dot-like or equivalent intermediate indicia are spaced between the pre-initialization indicia “E” or “0” and the successive indicia “1”. This is because the filmstrip must be advanced at least three frame widths in the camera before the first available frame is positioned for exposure. A viewing window in the housing of the camera permits one to initially see the pre-initialization indicia “E” or “0”, then see the intermediate dot-like indicia, and then see the successive indicia “1”. The window is wide enough for one to see more than one of these four indicia. Thus, the patent proposes that a confirmation indicator separate from these indicia be used to provide a visual confirmation indication when the successive indicia “1” is properly in place in the window. The visual confirmation indication reassures one that the first available frame is positioned for exposure.
The Cross-Referenced Application
The cross-referenced application discloses an exposure count indicator having a scale of successive exposure count indicia for visually indicating which film frame is positioned for exposure in a camera, and a confirmation indicator separate from the exposure count indicia for providing a visual confirmation indication that a first available frame is positioned for exposure in the camera. A pointer is supported to move from pointing to a pre-initialization one of the exposure count indicia for visually indicating that the first available frame has not been positioned for exposure in the camera to pointing to a successive one of the exposure count indicia for visually indicating that the first available frame is positioned for exposure. The confirmation indicator is capable of modifying light transmitted through it to prevent objects behind it from being clearly seen, and is fixed adjacent the pre-initialization one of the exposure count indicia to cover the pointer when the pointer points to the pre-initialization one of the exposure count indicia, in order that the pointer cannot be clearly seen, but not to cover the pointer when the pointer points to the successive one of the exposure count indicia, in order that the pointer can at least be partially clearly seen. Thus, the changeover from the pointer not being clearly seen to being at least partially clearly seen provides the visual confirmation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An exposure count indicator comprising a scale of successive exposure count indicia for visually indicating which film frame is positioned for exposure in a camera, and a confirmation indicator separate from the exposure count indicia for providing a visual confirmation indication that a first available frame is positioned for exposure in the camera, is characterized in that:
the confirmation indicator includes a light-transmitting indicator arranged on a single-color background and a separate two-color changeover including a smaller portion that has a color indistinguishable from the color of the background, and which when superimposed to the light-transmitting indicator renders the light-transmitting indicator substantially indistinguishable from the background, and a larger portion that has a color distinguishable from the color of the background, and which when superimposed to the light-transmitting indicator renders the light-transmitting indicator distinguishable from the background; and
a support supports the two-color changeover for movement relative to the light-transmitting indicator to change the smaller portion from being superimposed to the light-transmitting indicator to the larger portion being superimposed to the light-transmitting indicator, in order to provide the visual confirmation indication.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1839517 (1932-01-01), Wildhaber et al.
patent: 2007344 (1935-07-01), Renger
patent: 2917981 (1959-12-01), Sewig
patent: 4037235 (1977-07-01), Ueda
patent: 4896180 (1990-01-01), Lawther
Eastman Kodak Company
Fields Roger A.
Perkey W. B.
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