Flex-snubber

Claim 2

A cartridge for flexible strip material, said cartridge comprising: a plurality of walls defining a chamber for strip material; means within the cartridge defining a path for said material, said path defining means having a portion communicating with the chamber; a snubber surface located along the path and engageable by strip material in the cartridge as such material is moved relative to the cartridge; and means supported by said walls for resiliently mounting said snubber surface so that said surface is deflectable in response to tension forces in the material from (1) a first condition wherein a first area of said surface is contacted by said material toward (2) a second condition wherein a second and different area of said surface is contacted by said material, whereby the friction between the material and said surface is a function of the tension in the material.

Claim 3

A cartridge as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises a flexible stem supported by one of said walls.

Claim 4

A cartridge as set forth in claim 1 wherein said snubber surface when in its first condition is at an acute angle with respect to said path, and said surface when deflected to its second condition being engageable throughout substantially the entire width by said strip material.

Claim 5

A cartridge as set forth in claim 3 wherein said snubber surface is substantially frusto-conical in shape.

Claim 6

A cartridge as set forth in claim 4 wherein said mounting means comprises a flexible stem non-rotatably supported by one of said walls, said stem being substantially coaxial with said frusto-conical surface when said surface is in its first condition, said stem being flexed in response to tension forces acting against said surface to permit said surface to move from its first condition toward its second condition, and said stem urging said surface from its second condition toward its first condition.

Claim 7

A cartridge for flexible strip material, said cartridge comprising: a plurality of walls; means within the cartridge defining a path for said material; a snubber comprising a member having a frusto-conical surface located along the path so that the surface is engageable by strip material in the cartridge as such material is moved relative to the path; a resilient stem non-rotatably secured to said member and substantially coaxial therewith, the stem being non-rotatably secured to one of said walls so that said stem is flexed in response to tension forces in the material to permit said surface to move from (1) a first condition wherein a relatively small first area of said surface is contacted by said material toward (2) a second condition wherein a relatively large second area of said surface is contacted by said material, and said stem when flexed exerting a biasing force urging said surface from its second condition toward its first condition, whereby the biasing force and increased friction between the material and the surface serves to dampen tension forces applied to the strip material and smooth movement of said strip material relative to the cartridge.

Claim 8

A cartridge for flexible strip material, said cartridge comprising: a plurality of walls; means within the cartridge defining a path for said material; a snubber comprising a member having a frusto-conical surface located along the path so that the surface is engageable by strip material in the cartridge as such material is moved relative to the path; a resilient stem non-rotatably secured to said member and substantially coaxial therewith, the stem being non-rotatably secured to one of said walls so that said stem is flexed in response to tension forces in the material to permit said surface to move from (1) a first condition wherein a relatively small first area of said surface is contacted by said material toward (2) a second condition wherein a relatively large second area of said surface is contacted by said material, and said stem when flexed exerting a biasing force urging said surface from its second condition toward its first condition, whereby the biasing force and increased friction between the material and the surface serves to dampen tension forces applied to the strip material and smooth movement of said strip material relative to the cartridge.

Claim 9

In a cartridge for flexible strip material, said cartridge comprising a plurality of walls and means defining a path for said flexible strip material between portions of the cartridge, the improvement comprising: snubber means comprising a member having a frusto-conical shaped surface positioned along the path; and a resilient stem secured to said member and supported by one of said walls, whereby the stem can flex when strip material is drawn against said surface so that surges of tension forces in said strip material are dampened and movement of the strip material along the path is dampened.

Claim 10

In a cartridge for flexible strip material, said cartridge comprising a plurality of walls and means defining a path for said flexible strip material between portions of the cartridge, the improvement comprising: snubber means comprising a member having a frusto-conical shaped surface positioned along the path; and a resilient stem secured to said member and supported by one of said walls, whereby the stem can flex when strip material is drawn against said surface so that surges of tension forces in said strip material are dampened and movement of the strip material along the path is dampened.

Claim 11

In a cartridge for use in cinematographic apparatus, said cartridge comprising a plurality of walls defining a take-up chamber and a supply chamber for a roll of flexible film, said cartridge having means defining a path for the film leading from said supply chamber toward said take-up chamber, the improvement comprising: resiliEnt guide means for directing said film along said path, said guide means comprising a frusto-conical shaped member and a flexible stem fixedly secured to said member and to one of said walls of the cartridge.

Claim 12

In a cartridge for use in cinematographic apparatus, said cartridge comprising a plurality of walls defining a take-up chamber and a supply chamber for a roll of flexible film, said cartridge having means defining a path for the film leading from said supply chamber toward said take-up chamber, the improvement comprising: resiliEnt guide means for directing said film along said path, said guide means comprising a frusto-conical shaped member and a flexible stem fixedly secured to said member and to one of said walls of the cartridge.

Claim 13

The improvement as set forth in claim 8 wherein said frusto-conical member is integral with said flexible stem, said frusto-conical member has a relatively small end portion and a relatively large end portion, and said flexible stem extends from said small end portion of said frusto-conical member and is substantially coaxial therewith.

Claim 14

The improvement as set forth in claim 9 wherein a flexible stem is secured to said one of said walls so that the portion of the surface of said frusto-conical member which is along said path can be deflected between a first position wherein the surface is inclined relative to the path and a second position wherein such portion of said frusto-conical member is substantially aligned with said path.

Claim 15

A snubber for use with a cartridge for film or the like, the snubber comprising: a frusto-conical member having a relatively small end portion and a relatively large end portion; and a resilient stem integral with and extending from said small end portion of said frusto-conical member, a portion of said stem remote from said member being connectable to a cartridge, whereby the snubber can be deflected when subjected to a force applied to the surface of said frusto-conical member.

Claim 16

A snubber for use with a cartridge for film or the like, the snubber comprising: a frusto-conical member having a relatively small end portion and a relatively large end portion; and a resilient stem integral with and extending from said small end portion of said frusto-conical member, a portion of said stem remote from said member being connectable to a cartridge, whereby the snubber can be deflected when subjected to a force applied to the surface of said frusto-conical member.