Photography – Camera detail – Detachable or removable film holder unit
Reexamination Certificate
2002-04-17
2004-08-10
Gray, David M (Department: 2851)
Photography
Camera detail
Detachable or removable film holder unit
C396S515000, C396S538000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06773173
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to a photographic film cartridge and camera including the cartridge and in particular although not solely of a kind to provide a semi disposable use.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Nowadays, commonly used photographic films include 135 films, 120 films, 110 films and APS films, among which 135 films are the most popular films. 120 films are mainly used for commercial purposes because of their high quality and larger sizes. The size of 110 films is relatively small and its quality is relatively low, so it is not very popular. APS is a new technology and has a lot of advanced features, however, its film development system is not compatible with 135's , so the growth of APS has been restricted.
The development of disposable cameras has been comparatively fast.
There are many advantages in that they are easy to operate, low in cost, easy to carry and the quality is acceptable. Disposable cameras are particularly suitable for beginners. Since the procedures of inserting and removing the film involves some degree of knowledge and skill, the current disposable camera avoids the possibility of errors as far as loading of films is concerned because the film is pre-loaded.
There are two main disadvantages of disposable cameras. The cost of buying the camera includes both the camera set and the film set, but the camera set is disposed of after a single use although some of them may be recycled. This creates waste. Secondly, being a disposable item in nature, there is tight control on the production cost which therefore restricts the inclusion of more advanced features such as auto flash, auto wind and higher quality lens.
People have been trying to develop a product which can produce good quality photos like an ordinary 135 film camera but at the price of and with simplicity of operations of a disposable camera.
A combination camera body with features such as the lens, shutter, dark room and film winder which was capable of receiving a replaceable film cartridge has been available to the public before. The cartridge for use with the camera body came in the form of two film spooling regions, a first spooling region where the film was spooled in an unused state and a second spooling region to which the film was advanced after having been exposed. The two spooling regions were interconnected by a bridging portion wherein the bridging portion held the film in a position relative to the lens and shutter to allow exposure of each frame of the film. The spooling regions were effectively light sealed regions such that any film within the spooling regions could not be exposed to light. The film extending across the bridging region was able to be exposed to light and, when in use, such light was controlled by the lens and shutter arrangement of the camera body. The cartridge, outside of the camera body, did not provide any dark room effect to the film between the two spooling regions. Hence the use of cameras of this type required the film to be inserted into the camera body and remain within the body during the stages where the film was advanced from one spooling region to another, if no undesirable exposure of the film was to occur as a result of the cartridge being removed from the camera body and thereby allowing any films extending across the bridging region to be exposed. Such earlier designs hence did not lend themselves to allowing for film cartridges to be removed midway during use of the film without risking detrimental exposure of the film extending between the two spooling regions. Earlier type of design also required separate apparatus for processing the film in terms of handling the film from the cartridge after it had been used. Since the predominant format of film now is the 35 mm format and indeed the earlier film types in the cartridges such as the 110 format are now very uncommon, most development labs are set up for developing the 35 mm format or the APS format. Any introduction of a new format may mean that further handling equipment will need to be purchased by development labs to which there will be resistance. It would hence be desirable for a film cartridge to exist which includes a standard 35 mm film incorporated with a film canister which will make the subsequent handling of the film for development by development labs convenient.
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a photographic film cartridge which may be used with a camera body which provides greater flexibility and convenience of use or which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.
It is a further object to provide a camera body and film cartridge combination set which provides greater flexibility and convenience of use or which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.
It is a further object to provide a camera with a film cartridge removable and exchangeable without undesirable exposing of the film therein.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a film cartridge which includes a preloaded film engaged for scrolling to and/or from a standard 35 mm or APS film canister.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, a first aspect of the camera according to the present invention broadly comprises a photographic film cartridge forming a dark room for accommodating a film, and a camera body having a receptacle for removably and snugly accepting the cartridge therein. The cartridge is provided with an opening which remains closed when the cartridge is removed from the receptacle, and is openable for exposing the film to a light control device to form an image on the film when the cartridge is accepted in the receptacle.
A door is provided to be selectively movable between a first position to close the opening and a second position to open the opening. Preferably the door is forced to remain at the first position by a spring and kept there by a locking latch when the cartridge is outside the camera body. Preferably the locking latch is unlocked and the door is moved to the second position upon insertion of the cartridge into the receptacle.
Thus, the cartridge can be removed from the camera body anytime without exposing the film therein. This is very helpful when a user wants to change different types of film to suit different uses (e.g. different ASA) or the grouping of photos of a particular nature in a particular roll of film/film set (e.g. different occasions, different groups of people, different subject matters etc). Interchangeability of camera bodies for one film cartridge can also be achieved with the present invention. A camera body which provides particular features such as a wide angled lens, a colored lens or other effect type lens may be provided, where the film cartridge of the present invention is interchangeable between such bodies.
A second aspect of the present invention broadly comprises a film cartridge containing a film for engagement with a camera body to thereby in combination allow the capturing of an image onto the film in reliance on appropriately provided and positioned light control and projection means of said camera body to selectively allow light to be projected onto a portion of the film in said cartridge to thereby be exposed by said light. The film cartridge comprises: an unexposed film spool region, a second spool region, and a bridging portion between the unexposed film spool region and the second spool region via which the film can be advanced to at least in part be moved from the unexposed film spool region to the second region. The bridging region provides a dark room for the film between the unexposed film spool region and the second spool region. The bridging region includes an opening positioned such that when the film cartridge is engaged with the camera body, film is presented for exposure by light admitted through the light control means of the camera body and the opening of the film cartridge.
A door is provided to the film cartridge to selectively move between a first and second position In the first position, the cartridge opening is closed to prevent light from
Ginfax Development Ltd.
Gray David M
Kaplan & Gilman LLP
LandOfFree
Photographic film cartridge and camera including such does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Photographic film cartridge and camera including such, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Photographic film cartridge and camera including such will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3311215