Camera structure for preventing improper automatic exposures

Claim 2

In a single-lens reflex camera of the type which provides automatic exposure determination with light received through the objective, reflector means having a viewing position situated in the path of light received through the objective and permitting proper automatic exposure determination and an exposure position situated beyond said path and preventing proper automatic exposure determination, manually operable positioning means coacting with said reflector means for maintaining the latter in said exposure position for special photography purposes, manually operable selecting means for selecting automatic exposure determination or one of a plurality of exposure-determining factors, manually operable shutter-release means for releasing a shutter of the camera to expose film therein, and blocking means coacting with said positioning means, selecting means, and shutter-release means for responding automatically to positioning of said reflector means in said exposure position thereof by said positioning means and selection of automatic exposure determination by said selecting means to block operation of said shutter-release means, so that an exposure cannot be made with automatic exposure determination while said reflector means is maintained in said exposure position thereof.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 and wherein said blocking means includes a blocking lever having a blocking position where a blocking portion of said lever is situated in the path of movement of part of said shutter-release means to prevent the latter from being actuated, said blocking means also including a spring acting on said blocking lever to urge the latter to said blocking position thereof, said manually operable positioning means coacting with said blocking lever for maintaining the latter in opposition to said spring in a nonblocking position where said blocking portion is out of the path of movement of said part of said shutter-release means, except when said manually operable positioning means has positioned said reflector means in said exposure position thereof.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 2 and wherein said positioning means includes a control lever normally maintaining said blocking lever in said nonblocking position thereof, and said positioning means displacing said control lever away from said blocking lever to release the latter to said spring when said positioning means positions said reflector means in said exposure position thereof.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 1 and wherein said blocking means includes a blocking lever having a blocking position where a blocking portion of said blocking lever is situated in the path of movement of part of said shutter release means to prevent the latter from being actuated, said blocking means also including a spring urging said blocking lever to said blocking position, said manually operable selecting means including a cam engaging said blocking lever to maintain the latter in opposition to said spring in a nonblocking position where said blocking portion is displaced from said part of said shutter-release means, except when said selecting means is in a position-selecting automatic exposure determination.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 1 and wherein said shutter-release means includes a shutter-release member formed with a recess, said blocking means including a blocking lever haVing a blocking portion received in said recess to prevent operation of said shutter-release means, and a spring urging said blocking portion of said blocking lever into said recess, said manually operable positioning means and manually operable selecting means both maintaining said blocking lever in opposition to said spring in a nonblocking position where said blocking portion is situated beyond said recess, so that said blocking portion will be received in said recess only when said positioning means positions said reflector means in said exposure position and said selecting means is in a position-selecting automatic exposure determination.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 1 and wherein said shutter-release means includes an elongated member longitudinally moved from a given rest position in order to actuate the shutter release, said elongated member being formed between its ends with a blocking recess, said blocking means including a blocking lever swingable in a plane which contains said recess when said shutter-release means is in said rest position thereof, and said blocking lever having a blocking finger which enters into said recess to prevent actuation of said shutter-release means, a spring acting on said blocking lever to urge said finger thereof into said recess, said blocking lever having a pair of arms in addition to said finger thereof, said positioning means including a control lever normally engaging one of said arms of said blocking lever to prevent said finger from entering into said recess, said positioning means displacing said control lever away from said one arm to release said blocking lever for movement to a blocking position where said finger is in said recess when said manually operable positioning means positions said reflector means in said exposure position, and said manually operable selecting means including a cam engaging the other of said arms of said blocking lever for preventing said spring from displacing said finger into said recess except when said selecting means is in a position selecting automatic exposure determination.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 6 and wherein said cam has a notch and said other arm has an end received in said notch only when said selecting means is in said position for providing automatic exposure determination.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 6 and wherein said control lever is turnable in a plane normal to that in which said blocking lever moves.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 8 and wherein said control lever is in the form of a bellcrank having one arm normally engaging said one arm of said blocking lever, said positioning means having a rotary member provided with a pin engaging the other arm of said control lever, and a second spring maintaining said other arm of said bellcrank in engagement with said pin, said positioning means when positioning said reflector means in said exposure position displacing said bellcrank to a position releasing said blocking lever for movement to said blocking position thereof.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 1 and wherein said positioning means includes a positioning lever turnable about a given axis and coacting with said reflector means for displacing the latter to said exposure position when said positioning means is actuated, and a second reflector-actuating lever also turnable about said given axis and coacting with said reflector means during normal photography operations for displacing said reflector means to said exposure position just prior to making an exposure.