Cassette light seal for cameras

Claim 2

In a photographic camera fr use with a film handling cassette configured for exposure of a cassette retained photographic film strip and for further operations relating thereto without removal of such film strip from the cassette, such cassette including a cassette housing having means defining first and second openings therein, such first opening configured for exposure and such second opening configured for such further operation, said camera comprising: a camera body; means for receiving such cassette in an operative relation with said camera body, said receiving means including means for providing a substantially light-tight enclosure around such first cassette opening; selectively operable means for transmitting image carrying light rays along an exposure path extending through said enclosure means to such first cassette opening for performing exposure operations; and independent means for light shielding such second cassette opening, said shielding means including a substantially opaque member and means on said camera body for supporting said member in a first position permitting substantially unobstructed insertion of such cassette into its operative position and for supporting said member in a second position biased against said cassette housing in covering relation to such second opening so as to substantially light seal such second opening during exposure operations.

Claim 3

The camera of claim 1 wherein such cassette housing includes a plurality of cassette housing walls with such first opening provided in a first of such cassette housing walls, such second opening provided in a second of such cassette housing walls, said receiving means including a chamber having an open end configured for insertion and removal of such cassette, such cassette being configured for operative location for exposure in said chamber with such second opening of such cassette facing said open end of said chamber, and said opaque member is pivotally mounted on said camera body for displacement between such first and second positions.

Claim 4

In a photographic camera having a body with a chamber to receive a multipurpose film cassette and a closure door movable between open and closed positions with respect to one side of the chamber to permit insertion and removal of the cassette when said door is open and operation of the camera to expose a cassette contained film strip when said door is closed, the cassette having a housing including an edge wall with an exposure opening therein and a side wall with an opening therein facing outwardly toward said one side of said chaMber when the cassette is operatively positioned for exposure in said chamber, the improvement comprising independent means for light shielding the opening in the cassette side wall, said shielding means including a substantially opaque member and means on said camera body for supporting said member in a first position permitting substantially unobstructed insertion of the cassette into its operative position and in a second position biased against the cassette housing in covering relation to the opening of the cassette side wall so as to substantially light seal the opening in the cassette side wall during exposure operations.

Claim 5

In a photographic camera having a body with a chamber to receive a multipurpose film cassette and a closure door movable between open and closed positions with respect to one side of the chamber to permit insertion and removal of the cassette when said door is open and operation of the camera to expose a cassette contained film strip when said door is closed, the cassette having a housing including an edge wall with an exposure opening therein and a side wall with an opening therein facing outwardly toward said one side of said chaMber when the cassette is operatively positioned for exposure in said chamber, the improvement comprising independent means for light shielding the opening in the cassette side wall, said shielding means including a substantially opaque member and means on said camera body for supporting said member in a first position permitting substantially unobstructed insertion of the cassette into its operative position and in a second position biased against the cassette housing in covering relation to the opening of the cassette side wall so as to substantially light seal the opening in the cassette side wall during exposure operations.

Claim 6

The camera of claim 3 wherein said light shielding means includes means responsive to movement of said closure door between its said open and closed positions for displacing said opaque member between its said first and second positions.

Claim 7

In a photographic camera having a body with a chamber to receive a multipurpose film cassette and a closure door movable between open and closed positions with respect to one side of the chamber to permit insertion and removal of the cassette when said door is open and operation of said camera to expose a cassette contained film strip when said door is closed, the cassette having a housing including an edge wall with an exposure opening therein and a side wall with an opening therein facing outwardly toward said one side of the chamber when the cassette is operatively positioned for exposure in said chamber, the improvement comprising: a light sealing shield comprising an opaque plate-like member; means for supporting said plate-like member for orientation in a first position permitting substantially unobstructed insertion of the cassette into said chamber and for orientation in a second position biased yieldably against the cassette side wall and covering the opening therein, said supporting means including an arm supported at one end by the camera body and connected integrally at the other end thereof to said plate-like member to support said plate-like member yieldably inclined at a converging angle to the path traversed by the cassette side wall during cassette insertion thereby to establish said first position, said second position being achieved by movement of said plate-like member to an essentially parallel overlying relation with the cassette housing side wall and the opening therein.

Claim 8

In a photographic camera having a body with a chamber to receive a multipurpose film cassette and a closure door movable between open and closed positions with respect to one side of the chamber to permit insertion and removal of the cassette when said door is open and operation of said camera to expose a cassette contained film strip when said door is closed, the cassette having a housing including an edge wall with an exposure opening therein and a side wall with an opening therein facing outwardly toward said one side of the chamber when the cassette is operatively positioned for exposure in said chamber, the improvement comprising: a light sealing shield comprising an opaque plate-like member; means for supporting said plate-like member for orientation in a first position permitting substantially unobstructed insertion of the cassette into said chamber and for orientation in a second position biased yieldably against the cassette side wall and covering the opening therein, said supporting means including an arm supported at one end by the camera body and connected integrally at the other end thereof to said plate-like member to support said plate-like member yieldably inclined at a converging angle to the path traversed by the cassette side wall during cassette insertion thereby to establish said first position, said second position being achieved by movement of said plate-like member to an essentially parallel overlying relation with the cassette housing side wall and the opening therein.

Claim 9

The apparatus recited in claim 5 including pivotal means supporting said one end of said arm from the camera body so that the convergence of said shield with the cassette side wall is reduced upon pivotal movement of said arm toward the cassette in said chamber.

Claim 10

The apparatus recited in claim 6 including spring means normally restraining said arm in a pivotal position with a portion extending out of said chamber.

Claim 11

The apparatus recited in claim 7 wherein said portion is engageable by the door to move said arm against the normal restraint of said spring means and establish said second position of said shield.

Claim 12

In a motion picture camera having means for releasably receiving, in a secured enclosing arrangement, a film handling cassette which is provided with an elongated strip of unexposed film, means for providing access for image carrying light rays to progressive incremental sections of such film strip, and aperture means for facilitating another photographic operation utilizing such cassette and its retained film strip, said camera including lens means aligned with the access providing means of such cassette when it is operatively positioned in said receiving means, the improvement comprising: a light sealing member; and means for mounting said light sealing member for displacement between a first position wherein said light sealing member does not substantially preclude positioning of such cassette in an operative position in said receiving means and a second position where said member is engaged in light sealing arrangement with such cassette aperture means, the displacement of said light sealing member between its said first and its said second position being respectively automatically responsive to said camera operatively receiving such cassette in the said receiving means and the subsequent release of the cassette therefrom, said light sealing member being positioned in said chamber at a converging angle to the path of insertion of such cassette into said chamber and configured to engage such cassette during said insertion and to be in part displaced thereby between its said positions.

Claim 13

In a motion picture camera having means for releasably receiving, in a secured enclosing arrangement, a film handling cassette which is provided with an elongated strip of unexposed film, means for providing access for image carrying light rays to progressive incremental sections of such film strip, and aperture means for facilitating another photographic operation utilizing such cassette and its retained film strip, said camera including lens means aligned with the access providing means of such cassette when it is operatively positioned in said receiving means, the improvement comprising: a light sealing member; and means for mounting said light sealing member for displacement between a first position wherein said light sealing member does not substantially preclude positioning of such cassette in an operative position in said receiving means and a second position where said member is engaged in light sealing arrangement with such cassette aperture means, the displacement of said light sealing member between its said first and its said second position being respectively automatically responsive to said camera operatively receiving such cassette in the said receiving means and the subsequent release of the cassette therefrom, said light sealing member being positioned in said chamber at a converging angle to the path of insertion of such cassette into said chamber and configured to engage such cassette during said insertion and to be in part displaced thereby between its said positions.

Claim 14

In a motion picture camera having means for releasably receiving, in a secured enclosing arrangement, a film handling cassette which is provided with an elongated strip of unexposed film, the cassette including means for providing access for image carrying light rays to progressive incremental sections of the film strip and aperture means for facilitating another photographic operation utilizing the cassette and its retained film strip, said camera including lens means aligned with the access providing means when the cassette is operatively positioned in said receiving means, said receiving means comprising a receiving chamber including a door member displaceable between an open position permitting access to said chamber for insertion therein or removal therefrom of the cassette, the improvement comprising: a light sealing member; and means for mounting said light sealing member for displacement between a first position wherein said light sealing member does not substantially preclude positioning of such cassette in an operative position in said receiving means and a second position where said member is engaged in light sealing arrangement with such cassette aperture means, the displacement of said light sealing member between its said first and its said second position being respectively automatically responsive to said camera operatively receiving such cassette in the said receiving means and the subsequent release of the cassette therefrom, and said displacement of said light sealing member between its said first and second position is respectively responsive in part to closing and opening of said door member.

Claim 15

In a motion picture camera having means for releasably receiving, in a secured enclosing arrangement, a film handling cassette which is provided with an elongated strip of unexposed film, the cassette including means for providing access for image carrying light rays to progressive incremental sections of the film strip and aperture means for facilitating another photographic operation utilizing the cassette and its retained film strip, said camera including lens means aligned with the access providing means when the cassette is operatively positioned in said receiving means, said receiving means comprising a receiving chamber including a door member displaceable between an open position permitting access to said chamber for insertion therein or removal therefrom of the cassette, the improvement comprising: a light sealing member; and means for mounting said light sealing member for displacement between a first position wherein said light sealing member does not substantially preclude positioning of such cassette in an operative position in said receiving means and a second position where said member is engaged in light sealing arrangement with such cassette aperture means, the displacement of said light sealing member between its said first and its said second position being respectively automatically responsive to said camera operatively receiving such cassette in the said receiving means and the subsequent release of the cassette therefrom, and said displacement of said light sealing member between its said first and second position is respectively responsive in part to closing and opening of said door member.

Claim 16

The camera of claim 10 wherein said aperture means comprises an opening in a side wall of said cassette, said light sealing member comprises an opaque plate-like member, and said camera further including means supporting said plate-like member for orientation in a first position permitting substantially unobstructed insertion of the cassette into said chamber and for orientation in a second position biased yieldably against the cassette side wall and covering the opening therein.

Claim 17

The camera of claim 11 wherein said light sealing member is pivotally mounted in said camera and includes a lug member configured to engage said door member during closing thereof for displacement of said light sealing member between its said positions.