Lens housing support linkage for bellows type cameras

Claim 1

A photographic camera for exposing film, said camera comprising: a body member for receiving the film; a lens housing carrying a lens for effecting exposure of the film; a collapsible bellows extending between said body member and said lens housing for establishing a light-tight chamber between said body member and said lens housing; and an extendable and retractable support linkage within said light-tight chamber for movably supporting said lens housing in parallel relation to said body member, said support linkage comprising two substantially identical link assemblies located in opposed parallel relation relative to each other, each of said link assemblies including: a. two rearward link bars pivotally supported at their rearward ends to said body member by respective firSt pivot means for locating said rearward ends in spaced relation relative to each other, b. two meshing first gear segments one each attached to corresponding ones of said rearward link bars in concentric relation to said first pivot means, said meshing first gear segments maintaining said rearward link bars in crossed relation relative to each other, c. two forward link bars pivotally supported at their forward ends to said lens housing by respective second pivot means for locating said forward ends in spaced relation relative to each other, one each of said forward link bars corresponding to one each of said rearward link bars, d. two meshing second gear segments one each attached to corresponding ones of said forward link bars in concentric relation to said second pivot means, said meshing second gear segments maintaining said forward link bars in crossed relation relative to each other, and e. hinge means pivotally connecting the forward end of each of said rearward link bars with the rearward end of its corresponding forward link bar; said substantially identical link assemblies being coupled together for positive coordinated movement by a substantially rigid shaft extending between and immovably fixed to at least one of said two second meshing gear segments of each of said link assemblies.