Photographic film unit

Claim 2

A photographic film unit for recording a latent image that is processable by a self-contained processing fluid, said film unit comprising: a photosensitive element including a substantially rectangular exposure area for recording the latent image, said area having an end and corner portions at said end; and a receiver coupled with said element adjacent to said end for receiving processing fluid from said area, said receiver being substantially closed to the entry of said fluid except at said corner portions.

Claim 3

A self-processing film unit for recording a latent image processable by a processing fluid, said film unit defining a first end portion, a central section adapted to be exposed for recording the latent image, and a second end portion, said film unit comprising: a photosensitive element including a support and photosensitive material for recording the latent image in said central section; a process sheet registered in superposed relation with said element for aiding in spreading the processing fluid between said element and said sheet in a longitudinal direction from said first end portion, across said central section, and to said second end portion; means in said second end portion for receiving excess processing fluid remaining after spreading of the fluid across said central section; and means establishing a restriction between said element and said sheet for directing the processing fluid in a lateral direction substantially normal to said longitudinal direction, said means compelling substantial lateral movement of the fluid as it is spread from said central section to said second end portion.

Claim 4

A self-processing film unit for recording a latent image processable by a processing fluid, said film unit defining a first end portion, a central section adapted to be exposed for recording the latent image, and a second end portion, said film unit comprising: a photosensitive element including a support and photosensitive material for recording the latent image in said central section; a process sheet registered in superposed relation with said element for aiding in spreading the processing fluid between said element and said sheet in a longitudinal direction from said first end portion, across said central section, and to said second end portion; means in said second end portion for receiving excess processing fluid remaining after spreading of the fluid across said central section; and means establishing a restriction between said element and said sheet for directing the processing fluid in a lateral direction substantially normal to said longitudinal direction, said means compelling substantial lateral movement of the fluid as it is spread from said central section to said second end portion.

Claim 5

The film unit claimed in claim 2 wherein said directing means comprises a substantially fluid-tight seal between said element and said sheet, said seal being in said second end portion adjacent to said central section.

Claim 6

The film unit claimed in claim 3 wherein said film unit further defines a predetermined width and said seal extends substantially in said lateral direction along at least one half of said width.

Claim 7

An unexposed self-processing photographic film unit for recording a latent image processable by a processing fluid, said film unit comprising: first and second substantially flat elements registered in face-to-face relation, each of said elements defining a pair of lateral edges, first and second ends, and an exposure frame intermediate said ends, said first element including a photosensitive material for recording the latent image within said exposure frame, said second element cooperating with said first element to aid in spreading the processing fluid between said elements in a first direction from said first end, across said exposure frame, toward said second end; means containing the processing fluid for supplying said fluid between said elements at said first end; means for receiving any excess of said fluid from between said elements at said second end; and means disposed between said exposure frame and said receiving means for diverting the spreading of said fluid substantially entirely from said first direction to second directions extending toward said lateral edges.

Claim 8

An unexposed self-processing photographic film unit for recording a latent image processable by a processing fluid, said film unit comprising: first and second substantially flat elements registered in face-to-face relation, each of said elements defining a pair of lateral edges, first and second ends, and an exposure frame intermediate said ends, said first element including a photosensitive material for recording the latent image within said exposure frame, said second element cooperating with said first element to aid in spreading the processing fluid between said elements in a first direction from said first end, across said exposure frame, toward said second end; means containing the processing fluid for supplying said fluid between said elements at said first end; means for receiving any excess of said fluid from between said elements at said second end; and means disposed between said exposure frame and said receiving means for diverting the spreading of said fluid substantially entirely from said first direction to second directions extending toward said lateral edges.

Claim 9

The film unit claimed in claim 5 wherein said diverting means prevents substantially all of said fluid from entering said receiving means except at locations adjacent to said lateral edges.

Claim 10

The film unit claimed in claim 6 wherein said diverting means is defined by a blocking element having first and second sides securely adhered to said first and second elements respectively.

Claim 11

The film unit claimed in claim 6 wherein said diverting means is defined by a direct seal between said first and second elements.

Claim 12

In an unexposed, preregistered, self-processing film unit including a pair of juxtaposed sheets and having means defining an end of said unit, a picture-recording area of at least one of said sheets, and a substantially opaque border around said area, said border including a portion having a width extending from said end to said area, said width having a central segment said sheets defining facing surfaces between which a processing fluid is spreadable in a first direction across said area toward said end, the improvement comprising: fluid control means, extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction and spaced from said end by an amount substantially equal to said width, for defining a fluid trap entirely within said border and for defining entrances to said trap requiring substantial lateral movement of the processing fluid along paths substantially parallel with said fluid control means before permitting entry of the fluid into said trap, said fluid control means being substantially closed to the entry of fluid along said central segment.

Claim 13

In an unexposed, preregistered, self-processing film unit including a pair of juxtaposed sheets and having means defining an end of said unit, a picture-recording area of at least one of said sheets, and a substantially opaque border around said area, said border including a portion having a width extending from said end to said area, said width having a central segment said sheets defining facing surfaces between which a processing fluid is spreadable in a first direction across said area toward said end, the improvement comprising: fluid control means, extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction and spaced from said end by an amount substantially equal to said width, for defining a fluid trap entirely within said border and for defining entrances to said trap requiring substantial lateral movement of the processing fluid along paths substantially parallel with said fluid control means before permitting entry of the fluid into said trap, said fluid control means being substantially closed to the entry of fluid along said central segment.

Claim 14

An unexposed photographic film unit adapted to record a latent image processable by a processing fluid, said film unit comprising: a photosensitive element including an exposure area for recording the latent image, said area having an end and a predetermined width at said end; a process sheet adapted to facilitate spreading of the processing fluid in a predetermined direction over said area; means adjacent to said end for receiving any excess of the processing fluid remaining after spreading of the fluid over said area; and means, including at least one permanent seal disposed between said end and said receiving means, for preventing passage of the processing fluid in said direction over a substantial portion of said width and for permitting passage of the fluid in said direction over a comparatively small portion of said width so as to enter said receiving means.

Claim 15

An unexposed photographic film unit adapted to record a latent image processable by a processing fluid, said film unit comprising: a photosensitive element including an exposure area for recording the latent image, said area having an end and a predetermined width at said end; a process sheet adapted to facilitate spreading of the processing fluid in a predetermined direction over said area; means adjacent to said end for receiving any excess of the processing fluid remaining after spreading of the fluid over said area; and means, including at least one permanent seal disposed between said end and said receiving means, for preventing passage of the processing fluid in said direction over a substantial portion of said width and for permitting passage of the fluid in said direction over a comparatively small portion of said width so as to enter said receiving means.