US3864705A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Photographic apparatus with expansible housing
Assignee: Agfa Gevaert AG
•
Filing: 1973-03-23
•
Granted: 1975-02-04
•
Expires: 1993-03-23
Abstract
Abstract A still camera wherein the main section or body of the housing guides a reciprocable cover member of the housing. The cover member is movable between an extended position and a concealing position and is permanently biased to the extended position by a helical spring. When moved by hand to the concealing position, the cover member overlies the view finder and the picture taking lens in the body and can also block the actuation of camera release. The cover member can be locked in such concealing position by a detent mechanism which includes a tooth on the cover member and a complementary tooth which is mounted in the body and can be moved by a knob into or from engagement with the tooth of the cover member. The latter can transport the film, cock the shutter, advance the exposure counter and/or perform other functions during movement from extended to concealing position or vice versa.
Inventors
- 👤 Alfred Winkler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 17:05
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B17/00; G03B17/42; G03B17/02; G03B17/04; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T292/00; Y10T292/08; Y10T292/0894
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
443 words
In a photographic apparatus, particularly in a still camera, a combination comprising an elongated housing including a first section and a second section supported by and movable relative to said first section in the longitudinal direction of said housing between first and second positions in which one of said sections respectively conceals and exposes a portion of the other of said sections and in which the overall length of said housing is respectively reduced and increased; picture taking lens means and view finder means in said other section, at least one of said means being installed in said portion of said other section so that said one means is at least partially concealed in said first position of said second section; film transporting means mounted in one of said sections and being operable to transport the film in response to movement of said second section between said first and second positions thereof; resilient means reacting against said first section and arranged to bias said second section to said second position so that the movement of said second section to said first position takes place against the opposition of said resilient means and said resilient means at least assists the movement of said second section to said second position; detent means for said second section, said detent means having a member movable to an inoperative position in which said second section can be moved, as often as desired, relative to said first section between said first and second positions thereof, and said member of said detent means being further movable, in either position of said second section, to an operative position in which said second section is locked in said first position against movement from said first position under the action of said resilient means as long as said member of said detent means is located in said operative position while said second section assumes said first position thereof; and actuating means operable by hand to move said member of said detent means from said inoperative to said operative position or from said operative to said inoperative position, said actuating means having a first position of rest which corresponds to said operative position of said member of said detent means and from which said actuating means must be moved by hand in order to move said member of said detent means from said operative position, and said actuating means further having a second position of rest which corresponds to said inoperative position of said member of said detent means and from which said actuating means must be moved by hand in order to move said member of said detent means from said inoperative position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
443 words
In a photographic apparatus, particularly in a still camera, a combination comprising an elongated housing including a first section and a second section supported by and movable relative to said first section in the longitudinal direction of said housing between first and second positions in which one of said sections respectively conceals and exposes a portion of the other of said sections and in which the overall length of said housing is respectively reduced and increased; picture taking lens means and view finder means in said other section, at least one of said means being installed in said portion of said other section so that said one means is at least partially concealed in said first position of said second section; film transporting means mounted in one of said sections and being operable to transport the film in response to movement of said second section between said first and second positions thereof; resilient means reacting against said first section and arranged to bias said second section to said second position so that the movement of said second section to said first position takes place against the opposition of said resilient means and said resilient means at least assists the movement of said second section to said second position; detent means for said second section, said detent means having a member movable to an inoperative position in which said second section can be moved, as often as desired, relative to said first section between said first and second positions thereof, and said member of said detent means being further movable, in either position of said second section, to an operative position in which said second section is locked in said first position against movement from said first position under the action of said resilient means as long as said member of said detent means is located in said operative position while said second section assumes said first position thereof; and actuating means operable by hand to move said member of said detent means from said inoperative to said operative position or from said operative to said inoperative position, said actuating means having a first position of rest which corresponds to said operative position of said member of said detent means and from which said actuating means must be moved by hand in order to move said member of said detent means from said operative position, and said actuating means further having a second position of rest which corresponds to said inoperative position of said member of said detent means and from which said actuating means must be moved by hand in order to move said member of said detent means from said inoperative position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said film transporting means is operated in response to movement of said second section toward said first position thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising shutter means mounted in said first section and movable between cocked and uncocked positions, said second section comprising means for moving said shutter means to said cocked position in response to movement between said first and second positions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said second section is reciprocable between said first and second positions thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said actuating means is shiftable sideways between first and second positions of rest.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said second section complements said first section in said second position thereof to impart to said housing a predetermined outline.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said one section is said second section and said second section follows the outline of said portion of said first section when said second section assumes said first position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
101 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said member of said detent means is mounted in said first section and said detent means further comprises a second member mounted in said second section, said second member engaging said first mentioned member in said operative position of said first mentioned member and in response to movement of said second section to said first position, said first mentioned member being disengaged from said second member in response to movement of said first mentioned member to said inoperative position to thereby release said second section for movement between said first and second positions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
A combination as defined in claim 8, wherein said second member of said detent means comprises a first tooth and said first mentioned member of said detent means comprises a spring having a second tooth which engages and holds said first tooth in said first position of said second section and in said operative position of said first mentioned member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A combination as defined in claim 8, wherein said first section has a projection and said first mentioned member of said detent means comprises an elastic portion which overlies said projection in said operative position of said first mentioned member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A combination as defined in claim 8, wherein at least one of said members of said detent means consists of elastomeric material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said member of said detent means is pivotable between said operative and inoperative positions thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
343 words
In a photographic apparatus, particularly in a still camera, a combination comprising a housing including a first section and a second section supported by and movable relative to said first section between first and second positions in which one of said sections respectively conceals and exposes a portion of the other of said sections; resilient means reacting against said first section and arranged to bias said second section to said second position; and detent means actuatable to releasably hold said second section in said first position against the action of said resilient means, said detent means comprising a first detent member provided on said second section and a second detent member constituting a spring and provided on said first section, said second detent member being pivotable between an operative position in which said second detent member engages said first detent member in response to movement of said second section to said first position and an inoperative position in which said second detent member is disengaged from said first detent member to thus allow said resilient means to return said second section to said second position, said first detent member having a first tooth and said second detent member having a second tooth which engages and holds said first tooth in said first position of said second section and in said operative position of said second detent member, said detent means further comprising actuating means for pivoting said second detent member between said operative and inoperative positions, said actuating means comprising a pushbutton which is depressible in said first section to thereby effect pivotal movements of said second detent member between said operative and inoperative positions, said second detent member further comprising a cam and said pushbutton comprising a follower which is arranged to track said cam and to thereby pivot said second detent member from said operative position in response to depression of said pushbutton, said second detent member further having a notch which receives said follower in said inoperative position of said second detent member and in undepressed position of said pushbutton.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
343 words
In a photographic apparatus, particularly in a still camera, a combination comprising a housing including a first section and a second section supported by and movable relative to said first section between first and second positions in which one of said sections respectively conceals and exposes a portion of the other of said sections; resilient means reacting against said first section and arranged to bias said second section to said second position; and detent means actuatable to releasably hold said second section in said first position against the action of said resilient means, said detent means comprising a first detent member provided on said second section and a second detent member constituting a spring and provided on said first section, said second detent member being pivotable between an operative position in which said second detent member engages said first detent member in response to movement of said second section to said first position and an inoperative position in which said second detent member is disengaged from said first detent member to thus allow said resilient means to return said second section to said second position, said first detent member having a first tooth and said second detent member having a second tooth which engages and holds said first tooth in said first position of said second section and in said operative position of said second detent member, said detent means further comprising actuating means for pivoting said second detent member between said operative and inoperative positions, said actuating means comprising a pushbutton which is depressible in said first section to thereby effect pivotal movements of said second detent member between said operative and inoperative positions, said second detent member further comprising a cam and said pushbutton comprising a follower which is arranged to track said cam and to thereby pivot said second detent member from said operative position in response to depression of said pushbutton, said second detent member further having a notch which receives said follower in said inoperative position of said second detent member and in undepressed position of said pushbutton.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
81 words
A combination as defined in claim 13, wherein said detent means further comprises means for pivoting said second detent member from said inoperative to said operative position thereof in response to depression of said pushbutton to thereby expel said follower from said notch, said second detent member having a ramp along which said follower travels back toward engagement with said cam in response to return movement of said pushbutton to undepressed position in the operative position of said second detent member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2169548A
Cited
US2126312A
Cited
US2358321A
Cited
US2327797A
Cited
US3096699A
Cited
US3153375A
Cited
US3680455A
Cited
US3750549A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-03 | 1978-08-05 | 1979-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-03 | 1982-08-05 | 1983-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-03 | 1986-08-05 | 1987-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |