Photography – Magazine camera – Flexible carrier for plates
Reexamination Certificate
2002-12-12
2003-12-09
Mahoney, Christopher (Department: 2851)
Photography
Magazine camera
Flexible carrier for plates
C396S511000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06659660
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a film cartridge for a photographic camera. More specifically, the present invention relates to a reduced size film cartridge for a compact or collapsible camera that is capable of using standard 35 mm photographic film.
The sale of photographic film and single-use pre-loaded cameras to amateur photographers is a major industry worldwide. The market for these products is almost entirely “event-driven” in that the consumer purchases the film or the single-use camera because they intend to take photographs at a pre-planned event, such as a birthday party, wedding, and the like. Individuals do not typically carry a camera at all times for the capture of “impulse” photographs of non-planned events due to the bulk and weight of current design cameras and film, which inhibits their “constant carry”. This inconvenient size is largely the result of employment of traditional rolled film cartridges and mechanisms in the camera design. As a result, the volume of film sold and developed is a fraction of its total potential usage. While extremely compact cameras have been developed and marketed in the past, such as the Minox-type cameras, the goal of these cameras was concealment, they still exhibited enough volume and weight so as to make them unsuitable for continuous carry, they were of expensive design, and importantly, they employed a specialized film which is not compatible with “fast-turnaround” one-hour film developing establishments geared for processing standard 35 mm film.
Therefore, in view of the concerns discussed above, it would be desirable for a camera to employ a film cartridge that enables it to be as compact as possible, such as in the configuration of a credit card for convenient carry of the camera at all times. It is also, desirable for a such a compact film cartridge to be very inexpensive to manufacture to reduce the overall cost to the consumer. Further, is also desirable for a compact film cartridge to be easy to load and remove from a camera. It is further desirable for the film that is employed in the compact film cartridge to be easy and inexpensive to develop while achieving high picture quality.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention preserves the advantages of prior art film cartridges. In addition, this film cartridge provides new advantages not found in prior art film cartridges, and overcomes many of the disadvantages of such film cartridges.
The invention is generally directed to a novel and unique compact film cartridge with particular application in taking quality photographs using standard 35 mm film. The compact film cartridge of the present invention enables convenient transport of a camera which is well-suited for emergency use, and the like. The compact film cartridge of the present invention enables fast transport of exposures and simplified camera operation.
The preferred embodiment of the film cartridge includes a fanfolded strip of photographic film as described in detail below. The camera in accordance with the present invention includes a front panel. A rear panel is positioned substantially parallel and co-extensive to the front panel. A band of resilient material extends from approximately near the outer edge of the front panel to approximately near the outer edge of the rear panel. The rear panel is controllably movable relative to the front panel. An outer housing sheet member includes a number of strut members extending therefrom. The outer housing sheet member is affixed to the exterior side,of the front panel. The strut members engage with the rear panel to fix the rear panel a distance away from the front panel to obtain the proper focal length. With the strut members in place, both front and rear panels may remain essentially planar, providing the rectangular outer shape of a standard camera. A back cover is affixed to the exterior side of the rear panel. A light-sensitive medium, such as photographic film, is positioned between the rear panel and the back cover. A shutter controls the light imparted to the light-sensitive medium. The light-sensitive medium is exposed to a scene through the lens. The light-sensitive medium may be separate individually stacked photographic film frames, a fan folded photographic film strip or individual film frames residing on a film carrier web. When individual frames are used, they may be assembled into a continuous strip configuration for development using standard photographic equipment.
The credit card camera is originally packaged, for example, at the point of purchase in a compact configuration substantially equal to the size and configuration of a standard credit card. A label which holds the camera in a closed position is removed, and the camera is then fully opened to obtain the proper focal length. The camera is retained in this operational condition by a series of struts about the periphery of the camera. To take a picture, the camera is aimed at the subject scene and the shutter is actuated by depressing a button at the top of the camera. The film is then advanced in accordance with the particular film transport employed. Such film transfer will be discussed in detail below. After all of the film is exposed, the camera, or a removable film cartridge, can be sent to a standard photographic film service for developing. The camera may be returned to a collapsed state for this purpose. Depending on the film transport employed, the film will be prepared accordingly so that it may be accommodated by a standard film developing service. Such preparation for film developing will be discussed in more detail below.
It is the intent of the present invention to provide a film cartridge that is of a shape, size, weight, and design that encourages constant and convenient carry by photographers for the capture of impulse as well as pre-planned photographs. It is further the intent to produce a compact film cartridge which may be employed in a credit card shaped “card camera” which may be constantly carried in an ordinary wallet, or on a key chain, for extended periods of time. Additionally, the present invention permits the compact film cartridge to use common 35 mm film compatible with development at “last turnaround” one-hour film development establishments. It is further the intention of the present invention to enable extremely low-cost manufacture of the camera through elimination of complex geared transport mechanisms to achieve lower camera price for higher sales. Such a flat lightweight film cartridge design will also make mailing a one-time use version to a development facility easier and less expensive, as well as make it easier to package the camera with other consumer goods as a promotion.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a compact film cartridge that can be used in a camera configuration similar to that of a standard credit card.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a compact film cartridge that is inexpensive to manufacture.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a compact film cartridge that employs standard 35 mm film.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a compact film cartridge that results in a camera that is lightweight and compact to facilitate carry at all times for emergency and impulse photography.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a compact film cartridge that is suitable for carrying in a wallet.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a compact film cartridge that is simple to load and remove from a camera.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a compact film cartridge that can be used in a common and familiar “point and shoot camera” design.
REFERENCES:
patent: 308781 (1884-12-01), Menns
patent: 927063 (1909-07-01), Morse
patent: 931525 (1909-08-01), Thornton
Barlow Josephs & Holmes, Ltd.
Mahoney Christopher
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