Photographic apparatus and process

Claim 2

A photographic film cassette for storing film for exposure in a photographic camera comprising an enclosure means adapted to receive said cassette, the enclosure means comprising electrical contact means, said cassette comprising: a housing including a wall having an exposure opening therein, and a wall having access ports therein said cassette being adapted to retain a battery adjacent said wall having said access ports, such battery comprising terminals which, when positioned in said cassette, register with said access ports; at least one of said access ports having battery terminalmasking means therein movable from a first position to a second position and capable of preventing the establishment of an electrical circuit through the battery terminals when said terminal-masking means is in said first position; means within said housing for mounting said battery terminalmasking means in a position within said access port to be engaged by means associated with the photographic camera enclosure means in order to move said terminal-masking means from said first position to said second postion to facilitate the completion of an electrical circuit through the battery terminals and the electrical contact means when said cassette is positioned in the camera enclosure means, and for moving said battery terminal-masking means from said second position to said first position when said cassette is removed from engagement with the means associated with the photographic apparatus enclousre means which moves said masking means from said first to said second position.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 wherein the means associated with the enclosure means is the electrical contact means.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 2 wherein said battery terminal-masking means comprises at least one cassette-integral cantilevered leaf capable of engagement with the camera electrical contact means whereby force applied to said leaf by the camera electrical contact means imparts sufficient rotational motion to move said leaf from said first position to said second position to expose the battery terminal in registration with said access port having said masking means to intimate contact with the camera electrical contact means.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 3 wherein said battery terminal-masking means comprises two leaves capable of counter-rotation upon the application of rotational stimulation by the camera electrical contact means.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 4 wherein said battery terminal-masking means comprise leaves which, in conjoinder, form a generally V shaped notch to enhance engagement with the camera electrical contact means, said leaves defining a narrow slit therebetween which widens upon counter-rotation of the leaves from Said first position to said second position to facilitate contact bewteen the camera electrical contact means and the battery terminal in registration with said access port having said battery terminal-masking means.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 2 wherein said cassette comprises two access ports.

Claim 8

The invention of claim 6 wherein only one of said access ports has said integral battery terminal-masking means.

Claim 9

The invention of claim 2 wherein said housing is generally six-sided.

Claim 10

The invention of claim 2 wherein said wall having the exposure opening is the top wall of said housing and the access ports are located in the opposed wall of said housing.

Claim 11

A photographic film cassette having retained therein a plurality of film units in stacked relationship for successive exposure in a photographic camera comprising enclosure means adapted to receive said cassette, the enclosure means comprising electrical contact means, said cassette comprising: a housing including a wall having an exposure opening therein, and a wall having access ports therein said cassette being adapted to retain a battery adjacent said wall, having said access ports, the battery comprising terminals which, when positioned in said cassette, register with said access ports; at least one of said access ports having battery terminal-masking means therein movable from a first position to a second position and capable of preventing the establishment of an electrical circuit through the battery terminals when said terminal-masking means is in said first position; means within said housing for mounting said battery terminal-masking means in a position within said access port to be engaged by means associated with the enclosure means in order to move said terminal-masking means from said first position to said second position to facilitate the completion of an electrical circuit through the battery terminals and the electrical contact means when said cassette is positioned in the camera enclosure means, and for moving said battery terminal-masking means from said second postion to said first position when said cassette is removed from engagement with the means associated with the photographic apparatus enclosure means which moves said masking means from said first to said second positions.

Claim 12

A photographic film cassette having retained therein a plurality of film units in stacked relationship for successive exposure in a photographic camera comprising enclosure means adapted to receive said cassette, the enclosure means comprising electrical contact means, said cassette comprising: a housing including a wall having an exposure opening therein, and a wall having access ports therein said cassette being adapted to retain a battery adjacent said wall, having said access ports, the battery comprising terminals which, when positioned in said cassette, register with said access ports; at least one of said access ports having battery terminal-masking means therein movable from a first position to a second position and capable of preventing the establishment of an electrical circuit through the battery terminals when said terminal-masking means is in said first position; means within said housing for mounting said battery terminal-masking means in a position within said access port to be engaged by means associated with the enclosure means in order to move said terminal-masking means from said first position to said second position to facilitate the completion of an electrical circuit through the battery terminals and the electrical contact means when said cassette is positioned in the camera enclosure means, and for moving said battery terminal-masking means from said second postion to said first position when said cassette is removed from engagement with the means associated with the photographic apparatus enclosure means which moves said masking means from said first to said second positions.

Claim 13

In combination, a photographic camera comprising enclosure means adapted to receive a photographic film cassette, and a photographic film cassette for storing film for exposure in said camera, said enclosure means comprising electrical contact means, said cassette comprising: a housing including a wall having an exposure opening therein, and a wall having access ports therein, a battery retained within said cassette adjacent said wall, having said access ports, said battery comprising terminals which, when positioned in said cssette, register with said access ports; at least one of said access ports having battery terminal-masking means therein movable from a first position to a second position and capable of preventing the establishment of an electrical circuit through the battery terminals when said terminal-masking means is in said first position; means associated with said enclosure means to engage and move said terminal-masking means from said first position to said second position to facilitate the completion of an electrical circuit through the battery terminals and said electrical contact means when said cassette is positioned in said camera.

Claim 14

In combination, a photographic camera comprising enclosure means adapted to receive a photographic film cassette, and a photographic film cassette for storing film for exposure in said camera, said enclosure means comprising electrical contact means, said cassette comprising: a housing including a wall having an exposure opening therein, and a wall having access ports therein, a battery retained within said cassette adjacent said wall, having said access ports, said battery comprising terminals which, when positioned in said cssette, register with said access ports; at least one of said access ports having battery terminal-masking means therein movable from a first position to a second position and capable of preventing the establishment of an electrical circuit through the battery terminals when said terminal-masking means is in said first position; means associated with said enclosure means to engage and move said terminal-masking means from said first position to said second position to facilitate the completion of an electrical circuit through the battery terminals and said electrical contact means when said cassette is positioned in said camera.

Claim 15

The invention of claim 11 wherein said means associated with said enclosure means is said electrical contact means.