Spring-powered preloaded camera

Claim 2

A compact camera preloaded with photographic film that has a series of exposure areas and is automatically advanced between exposures by spring power, comprising (1) an integral camera case formed to inhibit opening by A camera user and having an aperture defining a picture-taking light path; (2) shutter means normally blocking the picture-taking light path and operable by a camera user to cause picture-taking exposure of the film in the case; (3) movable advance means for advancing the film, a portion of the film being wound in a supply roll and the unwound portion extending from the supply roll across the picture-taking light path to a take-up roll; (4) drive means comprising a pretensioned spring contained wholly within the case for biasing the advance means in the direction of film-advancing movement, the camera being formed without user-operated means for tensioning of the spring; (5) releasable stop means normally holding the advance means against film-advancing movement; and (6) stop-release means operable by a camera user to temporarily release the stop means and permit movement of the advance means through a limited distance sufficient to advance the film one exposure area.

Claim 3

A compact camera preloaded with photographic film that has a series of exposure areas and is automatically advanced between exposures by spring power, comprising (1) an integral camera case formed to inhibit opening by a camera user and having an aperture defining a picture-taking light path; (2) shutter means normally blocking the picture-taking light path; (3) camera-actuating means operable by a camera user to actuate the shutter means for picture-taking exposure of photographic film in the camera; (4) a take-up spool to which the film is attached, the remaining portion of film extending across the picture-taking light path to a supply roll; (5) drive means comprising a pretensioned spring contained wholly within the case for biasing the take-up spool in the direction of take-up rotation, the camera being formed without user-operated means for tensioning of the spring; (6) releasable stop means normally holding the take-up spool against take-up rotation; and (7) stop-release means connected to the camera-actuating means so as to be actuated by the camera user''s operation of the camera-actuating means to temporarily release the stop means and permit rotation of the take-up spool through an angle sufficient to advance the film one exposure area.

Claim 4

A compact camera preloaded with photographic film that has a series of exposure areas and is automatically advanced between exposures by spring power, comprising (1) an integral camera case formed to inhibit opening by a camera user and having an aperture defining a picture-taking light path; (2) shutter means normally blocking the picture-taking light path; (3) camera-actuating means operable by a camera user to actuate the shutter means for picture-taking exposure of photographic film in the camera; (4) a take-up spool to which the film is attached, the remaining portion of film extending across the picture-taking light path to a supply roll; (5) drive means comprising a pretensioned spring contained wholly within the case for biasing the take-up spool in the direction of take-up rotation, the camera being formed without user-operated means for tensioning of the spring; (6) releasable stop means normally holding the take-up spool against take-up rotation; and (7) stop-release means connected to the camera-actuating means so as to be actuated by the camera user''s operation of the camera-actuating means to temporarily release the stop means and permit rotation of the take-up spool through an angle sufficient to advance the film one exposure area.

Claim 5

the shutter means includes a. normally closed shutter blade means blocking the picture-taking path, and b. linking means linking the actuating button to the shutter blade means such that operation of the actuating button momentarily opens the shutter blade means;

Claim 6

the shutter means includes a. normally closed shutter blade means blocking the picture-taking path, and b. linking means linking the actuating button to the shutter blade means such that operation of the actuating button momentarily opens the shutter blade means;

Claim 7

shutter means normally blocking the picture-taking light path and operable by a camera user to cause picture-taking exposure of photographic film in the light-path;

Claim 8

shutter means normally blocking the picture-taking light path and operable by a camera user to cause picture-taking exposure of photographic film in the light-path;

Claim 9

movable advance means for advancing film from a supply roll across the picture-taking light path to a take-up roll;

Claim 10

movable advance means for advancing film from a supply roll across the picture-taking light path to a take-up roll;

Claim 11

the stop means includes a. at least one stop on the take-up spool movable with the take-up spool, and b. a stop member movable into and out of the path that the stop travels as the take-up spool rotates, the stop member being normally in the path that the stop travels and normally engaged with the stop so as to hold the take-up spool against rotation; and

Claim 12

the stop means includes a. at least one stop on the take-up spool movable with the take-up spool, and b. a stop member movable into and out of the path that the stop travels as the take-up spool rotates, the stop member being normally in the path that the stop travels and normally engaged with the stop so as to hold the take-up spool against rotation; and

Claim 13

A camera of claim 2 in which the stop-release means permits rotation of the take-up spool through a fixed predetermined angle, and the distance between exposure areas on the film gradually increases from the initial exposure areas to succeeding exposure areas.

Claim 14

A camera of claim 2 including connecting means interconnecting the shutter means and stop-release means so that operation of the shutter means results in temporary release of the stop means.

Claim 15

the stop-release means includes connecting means interconnecting the stop member and linking means such that, immediately after the actuating button has been operated and the shutter blade means opened and closed, the stop member is first moved out of the path of the stop on the take-up spool to disengage the stop and then returned to the path of the stop.

Claim 16

the stop-release means includes connecting means interconnecting the stop member and linking means such that, immediately after the actuating button has been operated and the shutter blade means opened and closed, the stop member is first moved out of the path of the stop on the take-up spool to disengage the stop and then returned to the path of the stop.

Claim 17

spring drive means for biasing the advance means in the direction of film-advancing movement;

Claim 18

spring drive means for biasing the advance means in the direction of film-advancing movement;

Claim 19

releasable stop means for normally holding the advance means against film-advancing movement; and

Claim 20

releasable stop means for normally holding the advance means against film-advancing movement; and

Claim 21

A camera of claim 2 in which the stop means includes at least one stop on the take-up spool and a stop member movable into and out of the path that the stop on the spool traverses as the spool rotates, the stop member being normally in the path of the stop on the spool and normally engaged with the stop so as to hold the spool against rotation.

Claim 22

A camera of claim 5 in which the take-up spool includes a recessed track in which the stop member travels, the track being contoured to provide the stop on the take-up spool and including a portion in front of the stop that directs the stop member into engagement with the stop.

Claim 23

stop-release means operable by a camera user to temporarily release the stop means and permit movement of the advance means through a limited distance sufficient to advance the film one exposure area; B. loading the camera means with photographic film so that a portion of the film is wound in a supply roll and the unwound portion extends from the supply roll across the picture-taking light path to a take-up roll; C. pretensioning the spring drive means whereupon the camera is ready for automatic operation by a camera-user; and D. enclosing the camera means and film in an integral exterior case that is not to be opened by a camera user and closes the spring drive means against access to, and tensioning of, the spring drive means by a camera-user.

Claim 24

stop-release means operable by a camera user to temporarily release the stop means and permit movement of the advance means through a limited distance sufficient to advance the film one exposure area; B. loading the camera means with photographic film so that a portion of the film is wound in a supply roll and the unwound portion extends from the supply roll across the picture-taking light path to a take-up roll; C. pretensioning the spring drive means whereupon the camera is ready for automatic operation by a camera-user; and D. enclosing the camera means and film in an integral exterior case that is not to be opened by a camera user and closes the spring drive means against access to, and tensioning of, the spring drive means by a camera-user.

Claim 25

The camera of claim 2 in which the pretensioned spring drive means is disposed inside the take-up spool.

Claim 26

A camera of claim 2 in which the stop means includes (a) a circular toothed gear plate fixed coaxially to one end of the take-up spool and occupying a position adjacent a base plate; (b) a ring that (i) is positioned around the gear plate and rests on the base plate, (ii) has at least one stop on its outer periphery and recesses on the inside of the ring adapted to receive the gear teeth of the gear plate, and (iii) is free to undergo translatory movement with respect to the gear plate wiThout disengaging all of the gear teeth from the recesses; and (c) a fixed stop on the base plate in position to engage the stop on the ring when the portion of the ring carrying the stop is in an extended position where it may undergo translatory movement toward the gear plate; and the stop-release means (a) includes a stop-release lever pivotable over the stop on the ring when the latter is engaged with the fixed stop on the base plate and (b) has means to engage the ring and move it toward the gear plate to free the ring from the fixed stop on the base plate.

Claim 27

A camera of claim 8 in which (a) the translatory movement of the ring disengages some of the gear teeth of the gear plate from the recesses of the ring whereupon the gear plate is free to rotate a limited amount with respect to the ring, and (b) the ring has at least one more recess than the gear plate has gear teeth whereby the gear plate may engage in different recesses of the ring when the gear plate has rotated with respect to the ring.

Claim 28

A camera of claim 2 in which

Claim 31

A camera comprising (1) a case having an opening defining a picture-taking light path; (2) shutter means normally blocking the picture-taking light path and operable by a camera user for picture-taking exposure of photographic film in the camera; (3) advance means For advancing film from a supply roll located on one side of the picture-taking light path to a take-up roll located on the other side of the picture-taking light path; and (4) a storage enclosure for the supply roll including a side wall that (a) is parallel to the axis of the supply roll, (b) is continuous and extends completely around the storage area except where divided to form a slot through which film from the supply roll passes to the take-up spool, (c) is free-standing and attached to the camera only near the trailing edge of the two edges of the side wall that define the slot, and (d) is made of a flexible material whereby the force withdrawing the film from the enclosure may flex the side wall to relieve frictional forces between the surface of the supply roll and the interior of the enclosure.

Claim 32

A camera comprising (1) a case having an opening defining a picture-taking light path; (2) shutter means normally blocking the picture-taking light path and operable by a camera user for picture-taking exposure of photographic film in the camera; (3) advance means For advancing film from a supply roll located on one side of the picture-taking light path to a take-up roll located on the other side of the picture-taking light path; and (4) a storage enclosure for the supply roll including a side wall that (a) is parallel to the axis of the supply roll, (b) is continuous and extends completely around the storage area except where divided to form a slot through which film from the supply roll passes to the take-up spool, (c) is free-standing and attached to the camera only near the trailing edge of the two edges of the side wall that define the slot, and (d) is made of a flexible material whereby the force withdrawing the film from the enclosure may flex the side wall to relieve frictional forces between the surface of the supply roll and the interior of the enclosure.

Claim 33

The camera of claim 12 in which the enclosure comprises a molded plastic free-standing C-shaped wall attached to the camera near one edge at the opening of the C.