Photography – Camera detail – Detachable or removable film holder unit
Reexamination Certificate
2003-03-03
2004-10-12
Mahoney, Christopher E (Department: 2851)
Photography
Camera detail
Detachable or removable film holder unit
C396S527000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06802657
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an instant photographic film pack accommodating an instant film, that is, a self-developing type film unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various film packs for use in instant cameras, which accommodate pluralities of mono-sheet type self-developing type film units in box-like cases, have been sold heretofore.
A case of a film pack is generally formed of a plastic endowed with light-shielding ability in a box shape. The case is provided with an exposure aperture for exposing an exposure face of a self-developing type film unit and an ejection aperture for discharging the self-developing type film unit after exposure. The case is also provided with an insertion aperture at which a pusher member, which is disposed in an instant camera and pushes the self-developing type film unit up toward the exposure aperture, is inserted. Further, an exposure aperture cover which is a sheet-like member is accommodated in the case so that the exposure aperture cover is superposed over an array of the self-developing type film units to close the exposure aperture from inside of the case. An insertion aperture cover which is a sheet-like member is also accommodated in the case so as to cover the insertion aperture from inside of the case.
The instant photographic film pack is set in a pack chamber provided in an instant camera. The aforementioned pusher member is attached at a lid member closing the pack chamber of the instant camera. When the lid member is closed, the pusher member is inserted at the insertion aperture of the instant photographic film pack. Then, the exposure aperture cover is ejected from the ejection aperture and the exposure face of the self-developing type film unit is ready to be exposed. When all of the self-developing type film units in the case have been used up and the instant photographic film pack is empty, the instant photographic film pack is taken out from the instant camera and disposed of.
The instant photographic film pack case is formed of plastic, which is discarded as a non-industrial waste and incinerated or filled in the ground. Currently, plastic products, which are formed from plastics produced from mined resources such as oil, are widely used. Such resources are referred to as non-renewable resources, and will eventually be depleted. Furthermore, discarded plastic products are incinerated discharging carbon dioxide and the like into the atmosphere, and therefore, are considered to be one of the major cause of deterioration of the environment.
Correspondingly, efforts for dealing with environmental problems on the part of the whole society have been demanded recently. For manufacturers and vendors, it is becoming to be a social responsibility to produce and retail products having less environmental impact. On the other hand, products of high cost will not sell well even if they have low environmental impact. Therefore, production of environmentally friendly products at an appropriate cost is also strongly demanded.
Consequently, various attempts have been made for realizing an instant photographic film pack that is environmentally friendly and easy to handle and can be produced at a low cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to solve the problems described above, especially, to provide an instant photographic film pack that not only can be produced at a low cost, but also gives low environmental impact as well as is easy to handle. A specific object of the present invention is to provide an instant photographic film pack that can be easily discarded or recycled after use.
A first aspect for achieving these objects relates to an instant photographic film pack loaded in an instant camera comprising: a case body which accommodates therein a plurality of self-developing type film units, has one side thereof open, and has an exposure opening for providing each one of the self-developing type film units with exposure, and a reference surface serving as a reference for location when the instant photographic film pack loaded into the instant camera; a covering portion covering the open side of the case body to form a box body; and a light-shielding cover covering the exposure opening and blocking light, wherein the case body and the covering portion being formed of a paper material.
When the instant photographic film pack is loaded into an instant camera, the case body is fixed into a pack chamber of the instant camera and the reference surface of the case body abuts the inner wall of the pack chamber to locate the instant photographic film pack in the pack chamber.
When a photograph is taken, the light-shielding cover is removed from the exposure opening to expose the exposure surface of a self-developing type film unit. Then, a shutter of the instant camera is released and the exposure surface is exposed to form a latent image thereon.
The exposed self-developing type film unit is discharged through the ejection slit to the outside of the instant camera and automatically developed to form a positive image on an image-forming surface located opposite from the exposure surface.
The case body and the covering portion, which are discarded after use of the instant photographic film pack, are formed of a paper material and can be burnt generating a small amount of heat and gas. Therefore, a discarded instant photographic film pack can be incinerated easily.
Accordingly, the instant photographic film pack can be disposed of incineration or in a land fill with a much smaller environmental impact compared with a conventional instant photographic film pack.
The paper material includes cardboard and a cellulose-resin composite.
The cellulose-resin composite is a composite material mainly composed of a cellulose fiber and a thermoplastic resin. An antioxidant and an aldehyde-neutralizing agent can be added to the cellulose-resin composite as described in the specification of the Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-378198. An amount of the cellulose fiber in the cellulose-resin composite is preferably 25 parts by weight or more, more preferably 51 parts by weight or more per 100 parts by weight of the total amount of the cellulose-resin composite. In view of printability, dimensional accuracy, and easiness of incineration, the weight ratio of the cellulose fiber to the thermoplastic resin is especially preferably from 51:49 to 75:25.
A cellulose fiber that can be blended in the cellulose-resin composite includes a waste paper pulp obtained by crushing, beating, or refining a waste photographic paper or other kinds of waste wood-free paper, a wood pulp, and a non-wood pulp obtained from paper mulberry, mitsumata plant, kenaf, sugar cane, or bamboo tree.
A thermoplastic resin that can be blended is preferably a polyolefine resin in that a polyolefine resin can be incinerated without generating any poisonous gas. Preferable examples especially include a polyethylene resin such as high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, ultra low-density polyethylene, a polypropylene resin and an ethylene-propylene copolymer resin.
The cellulose-resin composite includes a paper-resin mentioned below as well as a heat-pressed sheet made by heat-pressing a paper made from a pulp of the cellulose fiber and a pulp of the thermoplastic resin and a layered sheet made by layering and heat-pressing a cellulosic paper made from the cellulose fiber and a resin paper made from a fiber of the thermoplastic resin. For making the heat-pressed sheet or the layered sheet, the paper(s) are preferably heat-pressed at a temperature wherein the thermoplastic is molten and penetrates between the cellulose fiber.
The cardboard includes a conventional cardboard made from a common wood pulp as well as a cardboard made from the above-mentioned waste paper-pulp or non-wood pulp.
A second aspect for achieving these objects relates to the instant photographic film pack of the first aspect, wherein the covering portion comprises a first insertion opening and a first light-shielding piece,
Mizuno Kazunori
Nishiyama Toshiyuki
Sugiyama Hisaaki
Takatori Tetsuya
Mahoney Christopher E
Sughrue & Mion, PLLC
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