Photographic film unit and one-time use camera

Details Photographic film unit and one-time use camera Photographic film unit and one-time use camera

1998-12-22

2001-02-20

Gray, David M. (Department: 2851)

Photography

Camera detail

Detachable or removable film holder unit

C242S160300

Reexamination Certificate

active

06190061

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to photography and more particularly relates to a photographic film unit and one-time use camera.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Photographic film units are subject to a number of competing considerations. A bare filmstrip is difficult to handle and is not light-tight by itself. Type 120 film adds a spool and opaque backing paper. Another roll film, Type 220, has a spool, an opaque paper leader, and an opaque paper trailer attached to the filmstrip. These film units are compact and simple, but must be used with care to ensure that the paper and filmstrip do not inadvertently uncoil and become exposed to light. Cartridge films such as Type 135, Type 126, Type 110, and Advanced Photo System™ add a one or two chamber shell over a spool. These film units are more complex and larger relative to the filmstrip enclosed than Type 120 and Type 220, but can be used with less care to ensure that the filmstrip is kept light-tight. One-time use cameras add camera features to a simpler filmstrip or film unit and are subject to similar trade-offs. A one-time use camera that includes a film cartridge requires less care in exposed film removal than a one-time use camera that uses roll film, but is larger and more complex.
It would thus be desirable to provide an improved film unit that is compact and relatively simple, but combines good light-tightness with ease of use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is defined by the claims. The invention, in its broader aspects, provides a photographic film unit has a spool having a shaft and a pair of opposed flanges fixed to the shaft. The shaft defines a spool axis. The flanges each have an inner face and an outer face. The inner faces each have a main portion and a periphery. The periphery is disposed radially and axially outward from the main portion. The filmstrip has opposed first and second ends. The first end is wound on the shaft. The filmstrip has a transverse dimension less than the axial separation of the main portions. A leader is conjoined with the second end. The leader has an inner segment adjoining the filmstrip and an outer segment adjoining the inner segment. The inner segment has a transverse dimension less than the axial separation of the main portions. The outer segment has a transverse dimension less than the axial separation of the peripheries.
It is an advantageous effect of embodiments of the invention that an improved film unit is provided that is compact and relatively simple, but combines good light-tightness with ease of use.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3232024 (1966-02-01), Leinonen
patent: 4135680 (1979-01-01), Blank et al.
patent: 4295713 (1981-10-01), Edwards
patent: 5790912 (1998-08-01), Myers
patent: 5918083 (1999-06-01), Aoki et al.

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