Folding camera

Claim 2

A compact folding camera including a folding viewing device for providing an image of a scene to be photographed comprising: first and second housing sections coupled for movement between folded and extended positions; a folding viewing device mounted on said first housing section and including first and second optical means operatively associable with each other for providing said image, said first and second optical means being coupled to said first housing section for movement relative to one another between inoperative and operative positions; and means responsive to movement of said first and second housing sections from said folded position toward said extended position for automatically moving said first optical means from said inoperative position to said operative position.

Claim 3

A compact folding camera as defined in claim 1 wherein said means responsive to movement of said first and second housing sections include biasing means for urging said first optical means towards said operative position.

Claim 4

A compact folding camera as defined in claim 2 wherein said means responsive to movement further include erecting means responsive to the movement of said second housing section toward said extended position for locating and maintaining said first optical means in said operative position against the force of said biasing means.

Claim 5

A compact folding camera including a viewing device for providing an image of a scene to be photographed comprising: first and second housing sections coupled for movement between folded and extended positions; first and second optical means operatively associable with each other for providing said image, said first and second optical means being coupled to said first housing section for movement relative to one another between inoperative and operative positions; and means responsive to movement of said first and second housing sections from said folded position toward said extended position for moving said first optical means from said inoperative position to said operative position, said means responsive to movement including biasing means for urging said first optical means towards said operative position and erecTing means coupled between said first optical means and said first housing section for locating and maintaining said first optical means in said operative position against the force of said biasing means, said erecting means being engageable with said second housing section in said folded position for locating and maintaining said first optical means in said inoperative position and being disengageable from said second housing section as the latter approaches said extended position for locating and maintaining said first optical means in said operative position.

Claim 6

A compact folding camera including a viewing device for providing an image of a scene to be photographed comprising: first and second housing sections coupled for movement between folded and extended positions; first and second optical means operatively associable with each other for providing said image, said first and second optical means being coupled to said first housing section for movement relative to one another between inoperative and operative positions; and means responsive to movement of said first and second housing sections from said folded position toward said extended position for moving said first optical means from said inoperative position to said operative position, said means responsive to movement including biasing means for urging said first optical means towards said operative position and erecTing means coupled between said first optical means and said first housing section for locating and maintaining said first optical means in said operative position against the force of said biasing means, said erecting means being engageable with said second housing section in said folded position for locating and maintaining said first optical means in said inoperative position and being disengageable from said second housing section as the latter approaches said extended position for locating and maintaining said first optical means in said operative position.

Claim 7

A compact folding camera including a folding viewing device for providing an image of a scene to be photographed comprising: first and second housing sections coupled for movement between folded and extended positions; a folding viewing device mounted on said first housing section and including first and second optical means operatively associable with each other for providing said image, said first and second optical means being coupled to said first housing section for movement relative to one another between inoperative and operative positions; and means responsive to movement of said first and second housing sections from said extended position toward said folded position for automatically moving said first optical means from said operative position to said inoperative position.

Claim 8

A compact folding camera including a folding viewing device for providing an image of a scene to be photographed comprising: first and second housing sections coupled for movement between folded and extended positions; a folding viewing device mounted on said first housing section and including first and second optical means operatively associable with each other for providing said image, said first and second optical means being coupled to said first housing section for movement relative to one another between inoperative and operative positions; and means responsive to movement of said first and second housing sections from said extended position toward said folded position for automatically moving said first optical means from said operative position to said inoperative position.

Claim 9

A compact folding camera as defined in claim 5 wherein said means responsive to movement of said first and second housing sections include biasing means for resiliently urging said first optical means toward said operative position, and erecting means responsive to the movement of said second housing section toward said folded position for locating and maintaining said first optical means in said inoperative position against the force of said biasing means.

Claim 10

A compact folding camera including a viewing device for providing an image of a scene to be photographed comprising: first and second housing sections coupled for movement between folded and extended positions; first and second optical means operatively associable with each other for providing said image, said first and second optical means being coupled to said first housing section for movement between inoperative and operative positions; and means responsive to movement of said first and second housing sections from said extended position toward said folded position for moving said first optical means from said operative position to said inoperative position, said means responsive to movement including biasing means for resiliently urging said first optical means toward said operative position and erecting means responsive to movement of said second housing section toward said folded position for locating and maintaining said first optical means in said inoperative position against the force of said biasing means, said erecting means being coupled between said first optical means and said first housing section and being movable between positions locating and maintaining said first optical means in said operative and inoperative positions, said erecting means being engageable with and movable by said second housing section as the latter is moved from said extended position to said folded position for locating and maintaining said first optical means in said inoperative position.

Claim 11

A compact folding camera including a viewing device for providing an image of a scene to be photographed comprising: first and second housing sections coupled for movement between folded and extended positions; first and second optical means operatively associable with each other for providing said image, said first and second optical means being coupled to said first housing section for movement between inoperative and operative positions; and means responsive to movement of said first and second housing sections from said extended position toward said folded position for moving said first optical means from said operative position to said inoperative position, said means responsive to movement including biasing means for resiliently urging said first optical means toward said operative position and erecting means responsive to movement of said second housing section toward said folded position for locating and maintaining said first optical means in said inoperative position against the force of said biasing means, said erecting means being coupled between said first optical means and said first housing section and being movable between positions locating and maintaining said first optical means in said operative and inoperative positions, said erecting means being engageable with and movable by said second housing section as the latter is moved from said extended position to said folded position for locating and maintaining said first optical means in said inoperative position.

Claim 12

A compact folding camera including a folding viewing device for providing an image of a scene to be photographed comprising: first and second housing sections coupled for movement between folded and extended positions; a folding viewing device mounted on said first housing section and including first and second optical means operatively associable with each other for providing said image, said first and second optical means being coupled to said first housing section for movement relative to one another between inoperative and operative positions; and means responsive to movement of said first and second housing sections between said Folded and extended positions for automatically moving said first optical means between said inoperative and operative positions.

Claim 13

A compact folding camera including a folding viewing device for providing an image of a scene to be photographed comprising: first and second housing sections coupled for movement between folded and extended positions; a folding viewing device mounted on said first housing section and including first and second optical means operatively associable with each other for providing said image, said first and second optical means being coupled to said first housing section for movement relative to one another between inoperative and operative positions; and means responsive to movement of said first and second housing sections between said Folded and extended positions for automatically moving said first optical means between said inoperative and operative positions.

Claim 14

A compact folding camera as defined in claim 8 wherein said first housing section includes recessed portions for receiving said first and second optical means in said inoperative position to provide said viewing device with a low vertical profile when said camera is folded in comparison to its vertical profile when said camera is extended.

Claim 15

A compact folding camera as defined in claim 9 wherein said first and second optical means extend outwardly from said first housing section when in said operative position and are contained in substantially the same plane as said first housing section when located in said inoperative position.

Claim 16

A compact folding camera including a viewing device for providing an image of a scene to be photographed comprising: first and second housing sections coupled for movement between folded and extended positions, said first housing section including recessed portions therein; first and second optical means operatively associable with each other for providing said image, said first and second optical means being coupled to said first housing section for movement relative to one another between an inoperative position wherein said first and second optical means are located in end-to-end relation with one another and are contained in said recessed portions of said first housing section so as to be substantially in the same plane as said first housing section to provide said viewing device with a low vertical profile when said camera is folded in comparison to its vertical profile when said camera is extended, and an extended position wherein said first and second optical means extend outwardly from said first housing section and cooperate with one another to provide said image.

Claim 17

A compact folding camera including a viewing device for providing an image of a scene to be photographed comprising: first and second housing sections coupled for movement between folded and extended positions, said first housing section including recessed portions therein; first and second optical means operatively associable with each other for providing said image, said first and second optical means being coupled to said first housing section for movement relative to one another between an inoperative position wherein said first and second optical means are located in end-to-end relation with one another and are contained in said recessed portions of said first housing section so as to be substantially in the same plane as said first housing section to provide said viewing device with a low vertical profile when said camera is folded in comparison to its vertical profile when said camera is extended, and an extended position wherein said first and second optical means extend outwardly from said first housing section and cooperate with one another to provide said image.

Claim 18

A compact folding camera as defined in claim 10 wherein said first and second optical means are pivotally coupled to said first housing section and are adapted to pivot in opposite directions between their respective inoperative and operative positions.

Claim 19

A compact folding camera as defined in claim 11 wherein said first and second optical means are pivotally coupled to said first housing section and are adapted to pivot in opposite directions between their respective inoperative and operative positions, and said second optical means includes a concave reflective surface and said first optical means includes an eye lens.

Claim 20

A compact folding camera including a viewing device for providing an image of a scene to be photographed comprising: first and second housing sections coupled for movement between folded and extended positions; first and second optical means operatively associable with each other for providing said image, said first and second optical means being coupled to said first housing section for movement relative to one another between inoperative and operative positions; means responsive to movement of said first and second housing sections between said folded and extended positions for moving said first optical means between said inoperative and operative positions; and means for reducing the admission of ambient light between said first and second optical means in said operative position to prevent said ambient light from obscuring said image.

Claim 21

A compact folding camera including a viewing device for providing an image of a scene to be photographed comprising: first and second housing sections coupled for movement between folded and extended positions; first and second optical means operatively associable with each other for providing said image, said first and second optical means being coupled to said first housing section for movement relative to one another between inoperative and operative positions; means responsive to movement of said first and second housing sections between said folded and extended positions for moving said first optical means between said inoperative and operative positions; and means for reducing the admission of ambient light between said first and second optical means in said operative position to prevent said ambient light from obscuring said image.

Claim 22

A compact folding camera as defined in claim 14 wherein said means for reducing the admission of ambient light includes cover means associated with said viewing device, said cover means being positionable over said first and second optical means in said operative position.

Claim 23

A compact folding camera as defined in claim 15 wherein said means for reducing admission of ambient light further includes a collapsible shade coupled to said first housing section, said collapsible shade being movable between a collapsed position and an erected position wherein said collapsible shade is adapted to cooperate with said cover meanS to further reduce admission of ambient light between said first and second optical means.

Claim 24

A compact folding camera as defined in claim 16 wherein said first optical means includes an eye lens and a housing for supporting said eye lens, said housing being configured to further reduce the admission of ambient light between said first and second optical means.

Claim 25

A compact folding camera as defined in claim 8 further including cover means associated with said viewing device, said cover means being adapted to cooperate with portions of said first and second housing sections in said folded position to form a protective covering for said first and second optical means.

Claim 26

A compact folding camera as defined in claim 18 further including a collapsible shade associated with said viewing device wherein said cover means in cooperation with said first and second housing sections in said folded position also forms a protective covering for said collapsible shade.

Claim 27

A compact folding camera as defined in claim 18 wherein said cover means forms a portion of an erecting system for moving said second optical means between said operative and inoperative positions.

Claim 28

A compact folding camera including a viewing device for providing an image of a scene to be photographed comprising: first and second housing sections coupled for movement between folded and extended positions; first and second optical means operatively associable with each other for providing said image, said first and second optical means being coupled to said first housing section for movement relative to one another between inoperative and operative positions; means responsive to movement of said first and second housing sections between said folded and extended positions for moving said first optical means between said inoperative and operative positions; cover means associated with said viewing device, said cover means being adapted to cooperate with portions of said first and second housing sections located in said folded position to form a protective covering for said first and second optical means, said cover means further being configured to form a portion of an erecting system for moving said second optical means between said operative and inoperative positions; and a collapsible shade movable between a collapsed position and an erected position, said cover means being adapted to engage said collapsible shade for moving said collapsible shade from said erected position to said collapsed position and being disengageable from said collapsible shade for permitting said collapsible shade to be moved to said erected position.

Claim 29

A compact folding camera including a viewing device for providing an image of a scene to be photographed comprising: first and second housing sections coupled for movement between folded and extended positions; first and second optical means operatively associable with each other for providing said image, said first and second optical means being coupled to said first housing section for movement relative to one another between inoperative and operative positions; means responsive to movement of said first and second housing sections between said folded and extended positions for moving said first optical means between said inoperative and operative positions; cover means associated with said viewing device, said cover means being adapted to cooperate with portions of said first and second housing sections located in said folded position to form a protective covering for said first and second optical means, said cover means further being configured to form a portion of an erecting system for moving said second optical means between said operative and inoperative positions; and a collapsible shade movable between a collapsed position and an erected position, said cover means being adapted to engage said collapsible shade for moving said collapsible shade from said erected position to said collapsed position and being disengageable from said collapsible shade for permitting said collapsible shade to be moved to said erected position.

Claim 30

A compact folding camera including a viewing device for providing an image of a scene to be photographed comprising: first and second housing sections coupled for movement between folded and extended positions; first and second optical means operatively associable with each other for providing said image, said first and second optical means being coupled to said first housing section for movement relative to one another between inoperative and operative positions; means responsive to movement of said first and second housing sections between said folded and extended positions for moving said first optical means between said inoperative and operative positions; cover means associated with said viewing device, said cover means being adapted to cooperate with portions of said first and second housing sections located in said folded position to form a protective covering for said first and second optical means; and detent means, including latching members associated with said cover means and said second housing section, for latching said cover means to said second housing section when said first and second housing sections are in said folded position and said first and second optical means are in said inoperative position.

Claim 31

A compact folding camera including a viewing device for providing an image of a scene to be photographed comprising: first and second housing sections coupled for movement between folded and extended positions; first and second optical means operatively associable with each other for providing said image, said first and second optical means being coupled to said first housing section for movement relative to one another between inoperative and operative positions; means responsive to movement of said first and second housing sections between said folded and extended positions for moving said first optical means between said inoperative and operative positions; cover means associated with said viewing device, said cover means being adapted to cooperate with portions of said first and second housing sections located in said folded position to form a protective covering for said first and second optical means; and detent means, including latching members associated with said cover means and said second housing section, for latching said cover means to said second housing section when said first and second housing sections are in said folded position and said first and second optical means are in said inoperative position.

Claim 32

A compact folding camera as defined in claim 22 wherein said cover means extends over said firsT and second housing sections when latched to said second housing section thereby releasably locking said first and second housing sections in said folded position.

Claim 33

A compact folding camera as defined in claim 23 wherein said camera is enabled to be moved from said folded position to said extended position by unlatching said cover means from said second housing section.

Claim 34

A compact folding camera as defined in claim 24 wherein said camera may be folded and latched in said folded position once said camera is enabled for movement from said extended position to said folded position by a force applied to said viewing device in a direction toward said first and second housing sections.

Claim 35

A compact, folding, reflex camera including a folding viewing device for viewing an image of a scene formed within said camera comprising: a first housing section, having an aperture therein, and a second housing section coupled to one another for movement between a folded position and an extended position wherein light emanating from said image formed within said camera is directed through said aperture in said first housing section; a folding viewing device mounted on said first housing section and including first and second optical means operatively associable with each other for forming an image of said scene from said light, said first and second optical means being coupled to said first housing section for movement relative to one another between an inoperative position and an operative position wherein said first and second optical means are in operative relation with said light to form said image when said first and second housing sections are in said extended position; and means responsive to movement of said first and second housing sections between said folded and extended positions for automatically moving said first optical means between said inoperative and operative positions.

Claim 36

A compact, folding, reflex camera including a folding viewing device for viewing an image of a scene formed within said camera comprising: a first housing section, having an aperture therein, and a second housing section coupled to one another for movement between a folded position and an extended position wherein light emanating from said image formed within said camera is directed through said aperture in said first housing section; a folding viewing device mounted on said first housing section and including first and second optical means operatively associable with each other for forming an image of said scene from said light, said first and second optical means being coupled to said first housing section for movement relative to one another between an inoperative position and an operative position wherein said first and second optical means are in operative relation with said light to form said image when said first and second housing sections are in said extended position; and means responsive to movement of said first and second housing sections between said folded and extended positions for automatically moving said first optical means between said inoperative and operative positions.

Claim 37

A compact folding camera as defined in claim 26 wherein said second optical means includes a concave mirror for intercepting and reflecting said light toward first optical means to form a real, erect, unreverted, image of said scene from said light.

Claim 38

A compact folding camera as defined in claim 27 wherein said concave mirror comprises an approximately ellipsoid shaped concave mirror.

Claim 39

A compact folding camera as defined in claim 28 wherein said first optical means comprises an eye lens for magnifying said image formed by said ellipsoid shaped concave mirror.

Claim 40

A compact folding camera including a folding viewing device for providing an image of a scene to be photographed comprising: a camera housing including at least one section movable between folded and extended position; a folding viewing device mounted on said movable housing section including first and second optical means operatively associable with each other for providing said image, said first and second optical means being coupled to said movable housing section for movement relative to one another between inoperative and operative positions; and means responsive to movement of said movable housing section between said folded and extended positions for automatically moving said first optical means between said inoperative and operative positions.

Claim 41

A compact folding camera including a folding viewing device for providing an image of a scene to be photographed comprising: a camera housing including at least one section movable between folded and extended position; a folding viewing device mounted on said movable housing section including first and second optical means operatively associable with each other for providing said image, said first and second optical means being coupled to said movable housing section for movement relative to one another between inoperative and operative positions; and means responsive to movement of said movable housing section between said folded and extended positions for automatically moving said first optical means between said inoperative and operative positions.

Claim 42

A compact folding camera as defined in claim 30 wherein said means responsive to movement of said movable housing section includes a second housing section coupled to said movable housing section for movement between folded and extended positions.

Claim 43

A compact folding camera including a folding viewing device, comprising: a housing having at least first and second housing sections coupled for movement between an extended position and a folded position in which said first and second housing sections are disposed in a common plane; and a viewing device coupled to said first housing section for movement between an operative position and an inoperative position in which said viewing device overlies said first and second housing sections to releasably secure said first and second housing sections in said folded position.

Claim 44

A compact folding camera including a folding viewing device, comprising: a housing having at least first and second housing sections coupled for movement between an extended position and a folded position in which said first and second housing sections are disposed in a common plane; and a viewing device coupled to said first housing section for movement between an operative position and an inoperative position in which said viewing device overlies said first and second housing sections to releasably secure said first and second housing sections in said folded position.

Claim 45

A compact folding camera as defined in claim 26 wherein said viewing device is of the reflex type and said second optical means includes a mirror.

Claim 46

A compact folding camera as defined in claim 26 wherein said viewing device is of the direct viewing type and said second optical means includes a lens.

Claim 47

A compact folding camera as defined in claim 30 wherein said second optical means is automatically displaced from its inoperative position to its operative position in response to unfolding said viewing device.

Claim 48

A compact folding camera as defined in claim 30 wherein said movable housing section locates said viewing device in operative relationship with other camera optical elements located within said housing when said movable housing is located in its extended position.

Claim 49

A compact folding camera as defined in claim 30 wherein said first and second optical means are disposed in end-to-end relation when located in their respective inoperative positions.

Claim 50

A compact folding camera as defined in claim 30 wherein said means responsive to movement of said movable housing section include a second housing section coupled to said movable housing section for movement between said folded and erected positions and erecting means engageable with said second housing section for moving said first optical means from said operative to said inoperative position and disengageable from said second housing section for moving said first optical means from said inoperative position to said operative position.

Claim 51

A compact folding camera including a folding viewing device for providing an image of a scene to be photographed comprising: a camera housing including at least one housing section movable between folded and extended positions; a folding viewing device mounted on said movable housing section for movement between a collapsed position wherein said viewing device assumes a compact inoperative position overlying said movable section and an erected position wherein portions of said viewing device are spaced from said movable section to define an optical path within said erected viewing device; and a collapsible shade movable with said viewing device between a collapsed position and an erected position wherein said shade light shields said optical path within said erected viewing device.

Claim 52

A compact folding camera including a folding viewing device for providing an image of a scene to be photographed comprising: a camera housing including at least one housing section movable between folded and extended positions; a folding viewing device mounted on said movable housing section for movement between a collapsed position wherein said viewing device assumes a compact inoperative position overlying said movable section and an erected position wherein portions of said viewing device are spaced from said movable section to define an optical path within said erected viewing device; and a collapsible shade movable with said viewing device between a collapsed position and an erected position wherein said shade light shields said optical path within said erected viewing device.