Patent US3718079A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3718079A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shutter assembly for photographic equipment
Assignee: SCRIPTO-TOKAI Corp A CORP OF
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Filing: 1971-10-08
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Granted: 1973-02-27
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Expires: 1991-10-08
Abstract
Abstract A between-the-lens shutter which includes a sealed casing containing a liquid of selected index of refraction to couple two optical elements of the camera lens and which also houses a pair of shutter blades. The shutter blades are mounted to pivot about an axis offset with respect to an aperture through the casing and are controlled by a common cocking-releasing cam. The shutters are cocked sequentially and released simultaneously. A high shutter speed effect is achieved by allowing both shutter blades, when released to return simultaneously toward their normal or rest positions and a slow shutter speed effect is achieved by delaying the return of the second-cocked shutter blade when the two blades are released simultaneously. The delayed return is achieved by a latch made operative by slightly shifting the pivot mounting for the two shutter blades, the latch temporarily holding the second shutter blade in cocked position and being disengaged from this shutter blade in response to movement of the other shutter blade to its rest position after both blades have been simultaneously released by the cam.
Inventors
- 👤 D Fuller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 23:34
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B9/00; G03B9/08; G03B9/10; G03B9/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
A between-the-lens shutter assembly for photographic equipment, comprising in combination; a casing defining a cavity having a geometric center and having oppositely facing outer surfaces, said surfaces being provided with openings radially offset from said geometric center and defining an aperture therethrough; lens elements engaging said surfaces and closing said openings; optical coupling liquid filling said cavity to couple said lens elements; shutter means housed within said casing for selectively permitting light to pass through said aperture, said shutter means including a pair of shutter blades pivotally mounted about an axis near said geometric center and projecting radially therefrom to sweep back and forth over the region between said apertures and in parallel planes perpendicular to the axis of said aperture, said shutter blades having openings which register with said aperture in intermediate positions of said blades; means for biasing said blades to normal positioning; and cam means for sequentially cocking and then releasing said shutter blades.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
A between-the-lens shutter assembly for photographic equipment, comprising in combination; a casing defining a cavity having a geometric center and having oppositely facing outer surfaces, said surfaces being provided with openings radially offset from said geometric center and defining an aperture therethrough; lens elements engaging said surfaces and closing said openings; optical coupling liquid filling said cavity to couple said lens elements; shutter means housed within said casing for selectively permitting light to pass through said aperture, said shutter means including a pair of shutter blades pivotally mounted about an axis near said geometric center and projecting radially therefrom to sweep back and forth over the region between said apertures and in parallel planes perpendicular to the axis of said aperture, said shutter blades having openings which register with said aperture in intermediate positions of said blades; means for biasing said blades to normal positioning; and cam means for sequentially cocking and then releasing said shutter blades.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The between-the-lens shutter assembly as defined in claim 1 including means for selectively altering the shutter speed effect of said shutter means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
175 words
A between-the-lens shutter assembly for photographic equipment, comprising in combination: a casing defining a cavity and having oppositely facing outer surfaces, said surfaces being provided with openings defining an aperture therethrough; lens elements engaging said surfaces and closing said openings; optical coupling liquid filling said cavity to couple said lens elements; shutter means housed within said casing for selectively permitting light to pass through said aperture, said shutter means including a pair of shutter blades pivotally mounted to sweep back and forth over the region between said apertures and in parallel planes perpendicular to the axis of said aperture, said shutter blades having openings which register with said aperture in intermediate positions of said blades; means for biasing said blades to normal positioning; and cam means for sequentially cocking and then releasing said shutter blades, said blades being pivotally mounted about a common axis and said means for biasing urging said blades in relatively opposite directions, and means for selectively latching one of said blades in cocked position to create a slow shutter speed effect.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
175 words
A between-the-lens shutter assembly for photographic equipment, comprising in combination: a casing defining a cavity and having oppositely facing outer surfaces, said surfaces being provided with openings defining an aperture therethrough; lens elements engaging said surfaces and closing said openings; optical coupling liquid filling said cavity to couple said lens elements; shutter means housed within said casing for selectively permitting light to pass through said aperture, said shutter means including a pair of shutter blades pivotally mounted to sweep back and forth over the region between said apertures and in parallel planes perpendicular to the axis of said aperture, said shutter blades having openings which register with said aperture in intermediate positions of said blades; means for biasing said blades to normal positioning; and cam means for sequentially cocking and then releasing said shutter blades, said blades being pivotally mounted about a common axis and said means for biasing urging said blades in relatively opposite directions, and means for selectively latching one of said blades in cocked position to create a slow shutter speed effect.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The between-the-lens shutter assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein the other of said blades unlatches said one blade when said other blade returns to its normal position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
168 words
A shutter assembly for photographic equipment comprising, in combination; means for defining an aperture through which light is to be admitted under control of a shutter assembly to pass through an associated optical system; a pair of overlapped shutter blades normally blocking said aperture; means for pivotally mounting said shutter blades for movement between cocked and normal positions about an axis offset with respect to said aperture; means for biasing said shutter blades in relatively opposite directions about said axis to reside in their normal positions; cam means for camming first one of said blades and then the other of said blades to their cocked positions in opposition to said biasing means and thereafter to disengage said blades simultaneous whereby they may be returned by said biasing means to their normal positions; and each shutter blade having an opening therein positioned so that the two blades register their openings with each other and with said aperture during movement of said blades from their cocked to their normal positions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
168 words
A shutter assembly for photographic equipment comprising, in combination; means for defining an aperture through which light is to be admitted under control of a shutter assembly to pass through an associated optical system; a pair of overlapped shutter blades normally blocking said aperture; means for pivotally mounting said shutter blades for movement between cocked and normal positions about an axis offset with respect to said aperture; means for biasing said shutter blades in relatively opposite directions about said axis to reside in their normal positions; cam means for camming first one of said blades and then the other of said blades to their cocked positions in opposition to said biasing means and thereafter to disengage said blades simultaneous whereby they may be returned by said biasing means to their normal positions; and each shutter blade having an opening therein positioned so that the two blades register their openings with each other and with said aperture during movement of said blades from their cocked to their normal positions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
112 words
The shutter assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein said cam means comprises a rotary cam having at least a pair of primary radial arms disposed in angularly spaced relation with respect to the axis of rotation of said cam, said cam having a pair of secondary radial arms associated with said primary arms, said primary and said secondary arms being offset with respect to each other longitudinally of said axis of rotation; means for rotating said cam in one direction about its axis of rotation; and said one blade having a follower engaged sequentially by said primary arms and said other blade having a follower engaged sequentially by said secondary arms.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
83 words
The shutter assembly as defined in claim 5 including at least the opening in said other blade which is cocked last being out of registry with said aperture when said other blade is in its normal position and at least the opening in said one blade which is cocked first being out of registry with said aperture when said one blade is in its cocked position, whereby at least one blade is always blocking said aperture during the sequential cocking of said blades.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
The shutter assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein that blade which is cocked last also includes an opening registering with said aperture when such blade is cocked, and means for selectively latching the last cocked blade in cocked position to effect a slow shutter speed effect when said blades are released by said cam means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The shutter assembly as defined in claim 8 wherein the last means includes a latch element and means for shifting said blades relative to said latch element.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
A shutter assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein said secondary radial arms are connected in lost-motion relation to said primary arms whereby precise and substantially simultaneous release of said shutter blades is assured.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
111 words
A shutter assembly for photographic equipment comprising, in combination: means for defining an aperture through which light is to be admitted under control of a shutter assembly to pass throUgh an associated optical system; a pair of overlapped shutter blades normally blocking said aperture; means for mounting said shutter blades for movement between cocked and normal positions with respect to said aperture; means for biasing said shutter blades to reside in their normal positions; and cam means for camming said shutter blades from their normal to their cocked positions and then to release them, said cam means including lost-motion means for assuring precise and substantially simultaneous release of both shutter blades.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
111 words
A shutter assembly for photographic equipment comprising, in combination: means for defining an aperture through which light is to be admitted under control of a shutter assembly to pass throUgh an associated optical system; a pair of overlapped shutter blades normally blocking said aperture; means for mounting said shutter blades for movement between cocked and normal positions with respect to said aperture; means for biasing said shutter blades to reside in their normal positions; and cam means for camming said shutter blades from their normal to their cocked positions and then to release them, said cam means including lost-motion means for assuring precise and substantially simultaneous release of both shutter blades.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
A shutter assembly as defined in claim 11 wherein said cam means comprises a multi-arm primary cam and a drive shaft to which said primary cam is affixed, said lost-motion means comprising a multi-arm secondary cam connected to said drive shaft for limited lost-motion with respect thereto.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
A shutter assembly as defined in claim 12 including a cylindrical cam follower carried by each of said shutter blades engageable by the arms of said primary and secondary cams and making essentially line contact therewith to assure precise and simultaneous release of both shutter blades.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
A shutter assembly as defined in claim 12 including a casing housing same and a quantity of optical coupling liquid filling said casing optically to couple a pair of separated lens elements between which said casing is positioned.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-02-27 | 1976-08-28 | 1977-02-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-27 | 1980-08-28 | 1981-02-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-27 | 1984-08-28 | 1985-02-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |