Light seal for a reflex camera viewfinder

Claim 2

A reflex camera comprising: a film plane; an objective lens; a viewfinder; an aperture that allows light to pass between said viewfinder and said film plane; a mirror normally disposed in a first position in which said mirror covers said film plane of said camera, said mirror being movable, by rotating about an axis disposed at one end thereof, to a second position in which said mirror reflects an image formed by said objective lens towards said film plane; operating means for moving said mirror from said first position to said second position; and a resilient and flexible member, attached to the other end of said mirror, opposite said axis and extending therefrom a fixted and sufficient distance, to prevent light from reaching said film plane through said viewfinder by blocking said aperture when said mirror is in said second position.

Claim 3

The reflex camera described in claim 1, wherein said resilient and flexible member is a flap that engages a wall of an enclosure, which contains said mirror and said film plane, as said mirror approaches said second position, said wall having a shape such that said flap is increasingly bent as said mirror approaches said second position.

Claim 4

The reflex camera described in claim 2, wherein said resilient and flexible member is a flap having a shape which conforms to the shape of said wall at a region surrounding an aperture, in said wall, through which light communicates between said viewfinder and said enclosure.

Claim 5

A reflex camera comprising: an exposure chamber; an objective lens to form a real image inside said exposure chamber on a focal plane; a viewfinder, having an entrance aperture located in a wall of said exposure chamber, to provide a means foor observing said real image; mirror means pivotally mounted adjacent one side of said focal plane, covering a film plane, so as to rotate between a first position covering said focal plane and a second position, uncovering said film plane and oblique thereto, whereat said mirror means reflects said real image formed by said objective lens to said film plane; and a flexible and resilient flap-like member, attached to said mirror means, for blocking light that might otherwise pass through said entrance aperture when said mirror means reflects said real image.

Claim 6

A reflex camera comprising: an exposure chamber; an objective lens to form a real image inside said exposure chamber on a focal plane; a viewfinder, having an entrance aperture located in a wall of said exposure chamber, to provide a means foor observing said real image; mirror means pivotally mounted adjacent one side of said focal plane, covering a film plane, so as to rotate between a first position covering said focal plane and a second position, uncovering said film plane and oblique thereto, whereat said mirror means reflects said real image formed by said objective lens to said film plane; and a flexible and resilient flap-like member, attached to said mirror means, for blocking light that might otherwise pass through said entrance aperture when said mirror means reflects said real image.

Claim 7

The reflex camera of claim 4, wherein said flap-like member for blocking light has a width not exceeding the width of said mirror means.

Claim 8

The reflex camera of claim 4, wherein said means for blocking light extends beyond said mirror means so as to close said entrance aperture when said mirror means is at said second position.

Claim 9

In combination with a camera of the type having: a film plane; an objective lens; a viewfinder; mirror means normally disposed in a first position covering said film plane and rotatable, about a pivot located near one end of said mirror, between said first position and a secondd position where said mirror reflects an image formed by said objective lens toward said film plane; operating means for rotating said mirror from said first position to said second position; an enclosure containing said mirror and said film plaNe and having an opening in one surface for admitting light from said objective lens; and an aperture in a wall of said enclousre for allowing light from said enclosure into said viewfinder; the improvement which comprises: a reesilient and flexible tab member substantially larger than said aperture, attached to the end of said mirror furthest from said pivot, with a shape generally conforming to the shape of said wall surrounding said aperture, and extending beyond said furthest end so said tab member closes said aperture while said mirror is in said second position.

Claim 10

In combination with a camera of the type having: a film plane; an objective lens; a viewfinder; mirror means normally disposed in a first position covering said film plane and rotatable, about a pivot located near one end of said mirror, between said first position and a secondd position where said mirror reflects an image formed by said objective lens toward said film plane; operating means for rotating said mirror from said first position to said second position; an enclosure containing said mirror and said film plaNe and having an opening in one surface for admitting light from said objective lens; and an aperture in a wall of said enclousre for allowing light from said enclosure into said viewfinder; the improvement which comprises: a reesilient and flexible tab member substantially larger than said aperture, attached to the end of said mirror furthest from said pivot, with a shape generally conforming to the shape of said wall surrounding said aperture, and extending beyond said furthest end so said tab member closes said aperture while said mirror is in said second position.

Claim 11

The improvement described in claim 7, wherein said wall has a tilted portion surrounding said aperture and said tab member has a dimple to fit over said tilted portion.

Claim 12

The improvement, for use with a camera of the type having: a film plane; an objective lens; a viewfinder; a mirror normally disposed in a first position covering said film plane and rotatable, about one edge, between said first position and a second position where said mirror reflects an image formed by said objective lens towards said film plane; operating means for rotating said mirror from said first position to said second position; an enclosure with at least one wall containing said mirror and said film plane and having an opening in a forward surface for admitting light from said objective lens; and an aperture in said wall of said enclosure for allowing light from a focusing screen in said enclosure to enter said viewfinder, comprising: a resilient flap attached to the moving end of said mirror, said resilient flap extending a sufficient distance beyond said moving end to close said aperture when said mirror is in said second position.

Claim 13

The improvement, for use with a camera of the type having: a film plane; an objective lens; a viewfinder; a mirror normally disposed in a first position covering said film plane and rotatable, about one edge, between said first position and a second position where said mirror reflects an image formed by said objective lens towards said film plane; operating means for rotating said mirror from said first position to said second position; an enclosure with at least one wall containing said mirror and said film plane and having an opening in a forward surface for admitting light from said objective lens; and an aperture in said wall of said enclosure for allowing light from a focusing screen in said enclosure to enter said viewfinder, comprising: a resilient flap attached to the moving end of said mirror, said resilient flap extending a sufficient distance beyond said moving end to close said aperture when said mirror is in said second position.

Claim 14

The improvement described in claim 9, wherein said resilient flap has a dimple to receive a projection, surrounding said aperture, of said wall into said enclosure so as to permit said resilient flap to conform to said wall.

Claim 15

A photographic camera comprising: means for defining an exposure chamber having an aperture disposed therethrough and including a film plane; an objective lens for selectively exposing a film unit positioned at said film plane to image-carrying light rays; a capping plate mounted within said exposure chamber for displacement between a first position wherein it precludes light rays entering said chamber through said aperture and said objective lens from impinging upon said film plane and a second position wherein it does not preclude light rays entering said chamber through said aperture and said objective lens from impinging upon said film plane; a viewing device communicating with said chamber through said aperture; and a resilient and flexible flap extending from said capping plate for automatically covering said aperture to preclude light rays from entering said chamber therethrough whenever said capping plate is disposed in its said second position.

Claim 16

A photographic camera comprising: means for defining an exposure chamber having an aperture disposed therethrough and including a film plane; an objective lens for selectively exposing a film unit positioned at said film plane to image-carrying light rays; a capping plate mounted within said exposure chamber for displacement between a first position wherein it precludes light rays entering said chamber through said aperture and said objective lens from impinging upon said film plane and a second position wherein it does not preclude light rays entering said chamber through said aperture and said objective lens from impinging upon said film plane; a viewing device communicating with said chamber through said aperture; and a resilient and flexible flap extending from said capping plate for automatically covering said aperture to preclude light rays from entering said chamber therethrough whenever said capping plate is disposed in its said second position.

Claim 17

The camera of claim 11, wherein said capping plate comprises a mirror operative to reflect light rays entering said chamber through said objective lens towards said exposure plane when said capping plate is in its said second position.