Folding camera

Claim 2

A folding camera comprising: a housing for supporting photographic film in a focal plane; an objective lens assembly for forming an image coincident with the focal plane; a support member for supporting the lens assembly; first coupling means for coupling the support member to the housing for pivotal movement of the support member to an open terminal position wherein the lens assembly is spaced from the housing in image focusing alignment with the focal plane, and to a closed terminal position wherein the camera assumes a more compact configuration with the lens assembly closer to the housing; a lever; second coupling means for coupling the lever to the housing for rocking movement between a home position and a temporary position; a link bar for coupling the lever to the support member to cause the support member to pivot in response to the rocking movement of the lever; third coupling means for pivotally coupling the link bar to the lever; fourth coupling means for pivotally coupling the link bar to the support member and comprising an overcenter joint which is: (a) in a position that is approximately kinematically in-line with and located between the first and third coupling means, when the lever is raised to its temporary position, and (b) moveable (1) in one direction away from the in-line position to permit the support member to pivot to its open terminal position if at the initiation of movement of the lever from its temporary position towards its home position the support member is concurrently subjected to a force urging movement of the support member to its open terminal position, and (2) in a direction opposite the one direction and away from the in-line position to permit the support member to pivot to its closed terminal position if at the initiation of movement of the lever from its temporary position towards its home position the support member is concurrently subjected to a force urging movement of the support member to its closed terminal position.

Claim 3

The folding camera of claim 1, wherein the force is a gravitational force, and wherein the orientation of the camera relative to the direction of the gravitational force determines whether the support member moves to its open or closed terminal positions in response to movement of the lever from its temporary position to approximately its home position.

Claim 4

The folding camera of claims 1 or 2, wherein the lever comprises a door that is adapted to cover the lens assembly when the support member is in its closed terminal position and when the lever is in its home position.

Claim 5

The folding camera of claim 3, wherein the link bar and the lever cooperate to form a strut for supporting the support member when the camera is in its open terminal position and the lever is approximately in its home position.

Claim 6

The folding camera of claim 4, wherein the second coupling means includes a first pin; the third coupling means includes a second pin; the fourth coupling means includes a third pin; and wherein the first pin, the second pin and the third pin are approximately kinematically in-line when the support member is in its open terminal position and the lever is approximately in its home position.

Claim 7

The folding camera of claim 5, wherein the third coupling means comprises a slot formed on the lever and wherein the second pin is mounted on the link bar, the second pin being adapted to translate and pivot relative to the slot.

Claim 8

The folding camera of claims 1 or 2, wherein the link bar and the lever cooperate to form a strut for supporting the support member when the camera is in its open terminal position.

Claim 9

The folding camera of claim 7, wherein the second coupling means includes a first pin; the third coupling means includes a second pin; the fourth coupling means includes a third pin; and wherein the first pin, the second pin and the third pin are approximately kinematically in-line when the support member is in its open terminal position and the lever is approximately in its home position.

Claim 10

The folding camera of claim 8, wherein the third coupling means comprises a slot formed on the lever and wherein the second pin is mounted on the link bar, the second pin being adapted to translate and pivot relative to the slot.

Claim 11

A folding camera comprising: a housing for supporting material to be controllably exposed to actinic radiation; an objective lens assembly for forming an image of the radiation upon said material; a lens assembly supporting member including a chamber-covering wall and an end wall within which the objective lens assembly is situated; wall means extending from the housing and defining a chamber having therewithin a passageway which forms a part of the path of the radiation between the optical lens assembly and the material when the camera is in an erected state; first hinge means pivotally supporting the member to the wall means along a first side of the passageway for permitting movement of the member to a first terminal position wherein the camera is in the erected state for controlled exposure of the material through the objective lens assembly and for movement to a second terminal position wherein the camera is in a more compact folded state with the chamber-covering wall covering the chamber; a lens assembly covering door; second hinge means pivotally supporting the door to the housing along a side of the passageway opposite the first side for pivotal rocking movement from a home position, wherein the door overlies the lens assembly to cover the lens assembly when the camera is in its folded state, to a temporary position, wherein the lens assembly is uncovered from the door for movement of the member towards its first terminal position, and back approximately to the home position; a link bar for coupling the door to the support member to cause the support member to pivot in response to rocking movement of the door; third hinge means for pivotally coupling the link bar to the door; fourth hinge means for pivotally coupling the link bar to the member and comprising an overcenter joint which is: (a) in a position that is approximately kinematically in-line with and between the first and third hinge means, when the door is raised to its temporary position, and (b) moveable (1) in one direction away from the in-line position to permit the member to pivot to its open terminal position if at the initiation of movement of the door from its temporary position towards its home position the member is concurrently subjected to a force urging movement of the member to its open terminal position, and (2) in a direction opposite the one direction and away from the approximately in-line position to permit the member to pivot to its closed terminal position if at the initiation of movement of the door from its temporary position towards its home position the member is concurrently subjected to a force urging movement of the member to its closed terminal position.

Claim 12

A folding camera comprising: a housing for supporting material to be controllably exposed to actinic radiation; an objective lens assembly for forming an image of the radiation upon said material; a lens assembly supporting member including a chamber-covering wall and an end wall within which the objective lens assembly is situated; wall means extending from the housing and defining a chamber having therewithin a passageway which forms a part of the path of the radiation between the optical lens assembly and the material when the camera is in an erected state; first hinge means pivotally supporting the member to the wall means along a first side of the passageway for permitting movement of the member to a first terminal position wherein the camera is in the erected state for controlled exposure of the material through the objective lens assembly and for movement to a second terminal position wherein the camera is in a more compact folded state with the chamber-covering wall covering the chamber; a lens assembly covering door; second hinge means pivotally supporting the door to the housing along a side of the passageway opposite the first side for pivotal rocking movement from a home position, wherein the door overlies the lens assembly to cover the lens assembly when the camera is in its folded state, to a temporary position, wherein the lens assembly is uncovered from the door for movement of the member towards its first terminal position, and back approximately to the home position; a link bar for coupling the door to the support member to cause the support member to pivot in response to rocking movement of the door; third hinge means for pivotally coupling the link bar to the door; fourth hinge means for pivotally coupling the link bar to the member and comprising an overcenter joint which is: (a) in a position that is approximately kinematically in-line with and between the first and third hinge means, when the door is raised to its temporary position, and (b) moveable (1) in one direction away from the in-line position to permit the member to pivot to its open terminal position if at the initiation of movement of the door from its temporary position towards its home position the member is concurrently subjected to a force urging movement of the member to its open terminal position, and (2) in a direction opposite the one direction and away from the approximately in-line position to permit the member to pivot to its closed terminal position if at the initiation of movement of the door from its temporary position towards its home position the member is concurrently subjected to a force urging movement of the member to its closed terminal position.

Claim 13

The folding camera of claim 10, wherein the force is a gravitational force, and wherein the orientation of the camera relative to the direction of the gravitational force determines whether the support member moves to its open or closed terminal positions in response to movement of the door from its temporary position to approximately its home position.

Claim 14

The folding camera of claim 10 or 11, wherein the link bar and the door cooperate to form a strut for supporting the member when the camera is in its open terminal position.

Claim 15

The folding camera of claim 12, wherein the second hinge means includes a first pin; the third hinge means includes a second pin; the fourth hinge means includes a third pin; and wherein the first pin, the second pin and the third pin are approximately kinematically in-line when the support member is in its open terminal position and the door is approximately in its home position.

Claim 16

The folding camera of claim 13, wherein the third hinge means comprises a slot formed on the lever and wherein the second pin is mounted on the link bar, the second pin being adapted to translate and pivot relative to the slot.

Claim 17

The folding camera of claim 14, wherein the second pin is located at one terminus of the slot when the camera is in its folded state and as the door is initially pivoted from the home position towards the temporary position a lost motion coupling exists between the door and the link bar until the second pin engages a second terminus of the slot.

Claim 18

The folding camera of claim 15, wherein the door includes a lip that is adapted to engage the member when the camera is in its folded state to lock the camera in its folded state.

Claim 19

A folding camera comprising: a housing for supporting photographic film for a photographic exposure; lens supporting means hingedly supported to the housing and moveable between a storage position wherein the camera is folded and an exposure position wherein the camera is erected for making the exposure; a cover hingedly supported to the housing for covering a portion of the lens supporting means when the latter is in its storage position and when the cover is in its home position; linkage means cooperating with the cover for supporting the lens supporting means in the exposure position, said linkage means interconnecting the lens support means and the cover such that lifting of the cover when the lens supporting means is either in its storage position or in its exposure position moves the lens supporting means in both instances to an intermediate position where gravity in cooperation with the orientation of the camera relative to gravity determines whether the lens supporting means will be moved to its storage position or to its exposure position in response to return movement of the door towards its home position.

Claim 20

A folding camera comprising: a housing for supporting photographic film for a photographic exposure; lens supporting means hingedly supported to the housing and moveable between a storage position wherein the camera is folded and an exposure position wherein the camera is erected for making the exposure; a cover hingedly supported to the housing for covering a portion of the lens supporting means when the latter is in its storage position and when the cover is in its home position; linkage means cooperating with the cover for supporting the lens supporting means in the exposure position, said linkage means interconnecting the lens support means and the cover such that lifting of the cover when the lens supporting means is either in its storage position or in its exposure position moves the lens supporting means in both instances to an intermediate position where gravity in cooperation with the orientation of the camera relative to gravity determines whether the lens supporting means will be moved to its storage position or to its exposure position in response to return movement of the door towards its home position.

Claim 21

The folding camera of claim 17, wherein the linkage means is pivotally coupled to the lens supporting means and this coupling comprises an overcenter joint when the cover is raised from its home position and the supporting means is in its intermediate position.

Claim 22

The folding camera of claim 18, wherein the linkage means is coupled to the cover by a pin and slot connection wherein the slot is formed on the cover and the pin is mounted on the linkage means, the pin being adapted to pivot and translate relative to the slot.

Claim 23

The folding camera of claim 19, wherein a coupling hingedly supports the lens supporting means to the housing and wherein the overcenter joint is located between this coupling and the pin and slot connection.

Claim 24

The folding camera of claim 20, wherein the pin is located at one terminus of the slot when the camera is folded and as the cover is lifted from its home position a lost motion coupling exists between the cover and the linkage means until the pin engages a second terminus of the slot.

Claim 25

The folding camera of claim 21, wherein the cover includes a lip that is adapted to engage the lens supporting means when the camera is folded to lock the camera in this folded condition.