Camera attachment for copying photographic transparencies

Claim 2

A photographic attachment for a camera including means defining a film plane, an objective lens of given focal characteristics positioned to form an image at such film plane and means for illuminating a subject positioned in front of such camera to facilitate exposure operations utilizing such objective lens, said attachment comprising: an opaque housing; means on said housing for mounting said attachment to the front of such camera, said housing being disposed adjacent both such camera lens and such illuminating means when said attachment is mounted on such camera, said housing including means for defining a light conducting path between such camera illuminating means and such camera lens when 50 mounted, said means for defining the light conducting path being arranged to intercept a substantial portion of the light rays emitted from such camera illuminating means and redirecting such light rays toward such camera lens; and means for mounting a photographic transparency at a selected position along said light conducting path so that such transparency is illuminated by such light rays and the image thereon may be focused on such film plane.

Claim 3

The attachment of claim 1 wherein said housing overlies such camera lens and such illuminating means when mounted on such camera.

Claim 4

The attachment of claim 1 wherein said housing encloses such camera lens and such illuminating means when mounted on such camera.

Claim 5

The attachment of claim 1 additionally including means, mounted along said light conducting path defining means to receive such light rays intermediate such transparency and such camera lens, for complementing such camera lens to focus such transparency image at such film plane.

Claim 6

The attachment of claim 1 wherein said light conducting path defining means comprises a light reflecting wall surface.

Claim 7

The attachment of claim 1 including means within said housing for diffusing such light rays prior to their passing through such transparency.

Claim 8

The attachment of claim 1 wherein said light conducting path defining means includes means for separating those of such light rays passing from such illuminating means to such transparency at a given instant from those of such light rays passing from such transparency to such camera lens at such given instant.

Claim 9

The attachment of claim 1 wherein said housing comprises two pivotally connected sections which may be pivotally opened with respect to each other to facilitate the insertion of a photographic transparency into said housing and the subsequent removal of such transparency from said housing when said housing is mounted on said camera.

Claim 10

The attachment of claim 4 wherein said light conducting path defining means includes a light-tight tube extending between said means for complementing such camera lens and said transparency mounting means.

Claim 11

The attachment of claim 4 wherein said means for complementing such camera lens comprises a lens.

Claim 12

The attachment of claim 7 wherein such illuminating means is in the form of a ring light substantially surrounding such camera lens and said seperating means is tubular in configuration and is imposed between such camera lens and such ring light when said attachmEnt is mounted on such camera.

Claim 13

The attachment of claim 8 wherein said transparency mounting means comprises a pair of members each of which is respectively positioned in one of said two sections of said housing, whereby they cooperate to fixedly position a photographic transparency within said housing when said sections thereof are disposed in their closed position.

Claim 14

An attachment device for a camera including means defining a film plane, lens means of given focal characteristics and an electronic flash means, the device utilizing such flash means for making copies of photographic transparencies mounted in said device, said device comprising: housing means releasably attachable to the front of such camera, said housing means serving to define an optical axis located to be aligned with the optical axis of such camera lens means when said device is mounted on such camera; means for mounting a photographic transparency within said housing means along said optical axis of said device; lens means mounted within said housing along said optical axis of said device for complementing such camera lens means to focus an image of such transparency at such film plane; and light conducting passage means within said housing for transmitting light rays from such flash means through such transparency towards such camera lens means and such film plane when said device is mounted on such camera, said light conducting passage means including a light-tight tube extending between said complementing lens means and said transparency mounting means, a chamber formed within said housing means so as to be located at that side of said transparency mounting means, and of a transparency when mounted therein, which is remote from said tube and said complementing lens means and means providing a light reflecting wall surface within said chamber.

Claim 15

An attachment device for a camera including means defining a film plane, lens means of given focal characteristics and an electronic flash means, the device utilizing such flash means for making copies of photographic transparencies mounted in said device, said device comprising: housing means releasably attachable to the front of such camera, said housing means serving to define an optical axis located to be aligned with the optical axis of such camera lens means when said device is mounted on such camera; means for mounting a photographic transparency within said housing means along said optical axis of said device; lens means mounted within said housing along said optical axis of said device for complementing such camera lens means to focus an image of such transparency at such film plane; and light conducting passage means within said housing for transmitting light rays from such flash means through such transparency towards such camera lens means and such film plane when said device is mounted on such camera, said light conducting passage means including a light-tight tube extending between said complementing lens means and said transparency mounting means, a chamber formed within said housing means so as to be located at that side of said transparency mounting means, and of a transparency when mounted therein, which is remote from said tube and said complementing lens means and means providing a light reflecting wall surface within said chamber.

Claim 16

A camera attachment device, as defined in claim 13, wherein such electronic flash means is in the form of a ring light surrounding such camera lens and said passage means comprises a plurality of individual passages surrounding said tube and leading away from such camera within said housing exteriorly of said tube.

Claim 17

A camera attachment device, as defined in claim 13, wherein said housing means comprises first and second pivotally connected housing sections, said first section being releasably attachable to such camera.

Claim 18

A camera attachment device, as defined in claim 15, wherein said first housing section encloses said complementing lens, a part of said passage means, and said transparency mounting means.

Claim 19

A camera attachment device, as defined in claim 15, wherein said second housing section forms said chamber therewithin.

Claim 20

A camera attachment device, as defined in claim 15, wherein when said second housing section is pivoted to an open position whereby access to said transparency mounting means is provided to enable insertion or removal of a transparency.

Claim 21

A camera attachment device, as defined in claim 15, wherein said transparency mounting means comprises a recessed slot-like compartment formed in a surface of said first housing section facing said second housing section.

Claim 22

A camera attachment device, as defined in claim 19, wherein said compartment has a central aperture formed therein adjacent to said tube.

Claim 23

A camera attachment device, as defined in claim 15, wherein said means for mounting a transparency comprises resilient means attached to said second housing section which bears against a mount holding such transparency.

Claim 24

A camera attachment device, as defined in claim 21, wherein said resilient means are thus adapted to bear against such transparency mount automatically when said second housing section is at closed position.

Claim 25

A camera attachment device, as defined in claim 15, wherein is included latching means for holding said second housing section at closed position.

Claim 26

A camera attachment device, as defined in claim 13, wherein said camera is of a close-uP self-processing type enabling the making of enlarged copy prints of such transparencies rapidly, in black-and-white or in color.

Claim 27

A camera attachment device, as defined in claim 20, wherein are included a plurality of positioning pins projecting from the surface of said first housing section facing said second housing section for correctly positioning each frame of an unmounted film strip at said compartment aperture.

Claim 28

In combination with a close-up self-processing camera including means defining a film plane, lens means of given focal characteristics positioned to form an image at said film plane and an electronic flash unit surrounding said lens means, a device utilizing said flash means for making copies of miniature photographic transparencies and comprising: housing means; means for releasably attaching said housing means to said camera, said housing means defining an optical axis aligned with the optical axis of said camera lens means when said device is attached to said camera; means for mounting a photographic transparency within said housing means; lens means for complementing said camera lens means mounted within said housing means; and means within said housing means for conducting light rays from said flash unit sequentially through such transparency, said complementing lens means, and said camera lens means to said film plane so that the image on such transparency is focused on said film plane.

Claim 29

In combination with a close-up self-processing camera including means defining a film plane, lens means of given focal characteristics positioned to form an image at said film plane and an electronic flash unit surrounding said lens means, a device utilizing said flash means for making copies of miniature photographic transparencies and comprising: housing means; means for releasably attaching said housing means to said camera, said housing means defining an optical axis aligned with the optical axis of said camera lens means when said device is attached to said camera; means for mounting a photographic transparency within said housing means; lens means for complementing said camera lens means mounted within said housing means; and means within said housing means for conducting light rays from said flash unit sequentially through such transparency, said complementing lens means, and said camera lens means to said film plane so that the image on such transparency is focused on said film plane.