X-ray film and screen exposure holder with separate means for applying contact pressure thereto

Claim 1

A PORTABLE X-RAY FILM HOLDER FOR USE IN RADIOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT, SAID FILM HOLDER COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A FLAT RECTANGULAR ENVELOPE COMPRISED OF TWO SHEETS OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL WHICH IS OPAQUE TO LIGHT AND TRANSPARENT TO X-RAYS, SAID SHEETS BEING DISPOSED IN FACE-TO-FACE CONTIGUITY AND BEING SEALED, EACH TO THE OTHER, ALONG THREE SIDE EDGES THEREOF, THE FOURTH SIDE EDGES OF SAID SHEETS BEING SEPARABLE TO PROVIDE AN OPENING THROUGH WHICH A FLAT SHEET OF X-RAY SENSITIVE MATERIAL MAY BE INTRODUCED INTO THE ENVELOPE, A PAIR OF OPPOSITELY BOWED FLAT STEEL LEAF SPRINGS SECURED SUBSTANTIALLY COEXTENSIVELY TO THE FOURTH SIDE EDGES RESPECTIVELY WITH THE END REGIONS OF THE SPRINGS BEING MAINTAINED IN SUBSTANTIAL CONTIGUITY AND WITH THE MEDIAL REGIONS OF THE SPRINGS BEING NORMALLY SPACED APART, SAID SPRINGS NORMALLY BIASING SAID FOURTH SIDE EDGES OUTWARDLY AWAY FROM EACH OTHER TO MAINTAIN SAID OPENING OPEN, AND A SEALING STRIP OF CHANNEL-SHAPE CROSS SECTION FOR COMPRESSING SAID FOURTH SIDE EDGES TOGETHER COEXTENSIVELY TO CLOSE THE OPENING, SAID SEALING MEMBER INCLUDING A PAIR OF SIDE FLANGES CONNECTED TOGETHER BY A WEB PORTION, THE SIDE FLANGES AT ONE END OF THE SEALING STRIP STRADDLING SAID FOURTH SIDE EDGES, AND A HINGE PIN EXTENDING THROUGH SAID SIDE FLANGES AND SHEETS AT ONE END OF THE SEALING STRIP WHEREBY THE STRIP IS MOVABLE BETWEEN AN OPEN POSITION WHEREIN A MAJOR EXTENT OF THE SIDE FLANGES ARE OUT OF CONTACT WITH THE SHEETS AND A CLOSED POSITION WHEREIN SAID SIDE FLANGES STRADDLE THE SHEETS AND SPRINGS AND EFFECTIVELY ENGAGE SAID FOURTH SIDE EDGES TO COMPRESS THE SAME AGAINST EACH OTHER.