Camera

Claim 2

A photographic camera having an objective optical axis and a viewfinder optical axis comprising: a first and a second objective lens; corresponding first and second viewfinder lenses; each objective lens and each viewfinder lens being selectively movable to or from a stored position out of alignment with an optical axis and an operating position in alignment with an optical axis whereby only one of said objective lenses and one of said viewfinder lenses is operative at any particular moment; each of said viewfinder lenses being rotatable about an axis substantially along one edge thereof betwen said stored position and said operative position; connecting means for moving said first viewfinder lens to its operating position and said second viewfinder lens to its stored position upon movement of said first objective lens to its operating position and alternatively to move said second viewfinder lens to its operating position and said first viewfinder lens to its stored position upon movement of said second objective lens to its operating position; said connecting means comprising an elongated actuator slide in operable engagement with each of said viewfinder lenses and being positioned and movable parallel to said viewfinder optical axis.

Claim 3

A photographic camera as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said viewfinder lenses comprises two elongated pivot arms extending in opposite directions along said axis whereby said lenses are supported by and rotated about said pivot arms between their respective storage position and operating position.

Claim 4

A photographic camera as claimed in claim 2 comprising an engaging pawl parallel to and in spaced relationship from one of said pivot arms on each viewfinder lens; and said elongated actuator slide being in operable engagement with said engaging pawls on each of said viewfinder lenses.

Claim 5

A photographic camera as claimed in claim 3 where each of said viewfinder lenses and its assocaited pivot arms and engaging pawl is formed from one piece of material.

Claim 6

A photographic camera as claimed in claim 3 wherein said elongated actuator slide extends at least from the engaging pawl of said first viewfinder lens to the engaging pawl of said second viewfinder lens causing rotation of said viewfinder lenses between said stored position and said operating position upon lateral movement of said actuator slide.

Claim 7

A photographic camera as claimed in claim 5 wherein said lens actuator slide contains a slot at one end thereof for receipt of said engaging pawl on said first viewfinder lens whereby said first viewfinder lens is rotated to its operating or stored position upon the force exerted through said slot pushing or pulling said engaging pawl of said first viewfinder lens in a direction parallel to said viewfinder optical axis.

Claim 8

A photographic camera as claimed in claim 5 wherein said second viewfinder lens is spring biased to one of its said positions, whereby said second viewfinder lens will be rotated to its alternate position upon pressure exerted by said lens actuator slide against the engaging pawl of said second viewfinder lens in a direction parallel to said viewfinder optical axis.

Claim 9

A photographic camera as claimed in claim 2 wherein said elongated actuator slide extends at least from said first viewfinder lens to said second viewfinder lens whereby motion of said actuator slide causes rotation of said viewfinder lenses between said stored position and said operating position.

Claim 10

A photographic camera as claimed in claim 8 wherein said connecting means further comprises a series of interengaging linkage members; said first and second objective lenses secured to a mounting means; a first of said interengaging linkage members drivenly engaged with said mounting means; and another of said interengaging linkage members drivingly engaged with said actuator slide whereby motion of said objective lenses will cause motion of said actuator slide through said interengaging linkage members.

Claim 11

A photographic camera as claimed in claim 9 wherein said mounting means comprises a rotatably mounted plate member to which said first and second objective lenses are secured whereby rotation of said plate member alternatively causes said first objective lens to be moved to said operating position in unison with said second operating lens being moved to said stored position and said first objective lens to be moved to said stored position in unison with said second operating lens being moved to said operating position; and said first interengaging linkage member comprises a camming member secured to and extending out from said plate member.

Claim 12

In a photographic camera, the combination of a first objective lens and a second objective lens; a first rotatable viewfinder lens and a second rotatable viewfinder lens for use in a viewfinder system; each of said objective lenses and each of said viewfinder lenses movable between an operative position in alignment with an optical axis and an inoperative position out of alignment with said optical aixs; each of said rotatable viewfinder lenses being rotatable about an axis substantially along one edge thereof between said operative position and said inoperative position, said operative and inoperative viewfinder positions being substantially perpendicular to each other for each viewfinder lens; two pivot arms extending in opposite directions along said rotatable axis of each viewfinder lens whereby said lenses are supported by and rotated about said pivot arms between their respective operative position and inoperative position; an engaging pawl parallel to and in spaced relationship from one of said pivot arms on each viewfinder lens receiving force exerted parallel to the optical axis of said viewfinder lenses tending to rotate said viewfinder lenses about their respective pivot arms; means for mounting said objective lenses whereby when one of said objective lenses is in its operative position the other of said objective lenses is in its inoperative position; an elongated actuator slide extending between and interengaging said engaging pawls on each viewfinder lens and movable parallel to said optical axis providing said force such that when one of said viewfinder lenses is in its operative position the other of said viewfinder lenses is in its inoperative position; and means for interconncting said objective lenses and said actuator slide whereby when said first objective lens is in its operative position said actuator slide forces said first viewfinder lens to its operative position and when said second objective lens is in its operative position said actuator slide forces said second viewfinder lens to its operative position.

Claim 13

In a photographic camera, the combination of a first objective lens and a second objective lens; a first rotatable viewfinder lens and a second rotatable viewfinder lens for use in a viewfinder system; each of said objective lenses and each of said viewfinder lenses movable between an operative position in alignment with an optical axis and an inoperative position out of alignment with said optical aixs; each of said rotatable viewfinder lenses being rotatable about an axis substantially along one edge thereof between said operative position and said inoperative position, said operative and inoperative viewfinder positions being substantially perpendicular to each other for each viewfinder lens; two pivot arms extending in opposite directions along said rotatable axis of each viewfinder lens whereby said lenses are supported by and rotated about said pivot arms between their respective operative position and inoperative position; an engaging pawl parallel to and in spaced relationship from one of said pivot arms on each viewfinder lens receiving force exerted parallel to the optical axis of said viewfinder lenses tending to rotate said viewfinder lenses about their respective pivot arms; means for mounting said objective lenses whereby when one of said objective lenses is in its operative position the other of said objective lenses is in its inoperative position; an elongated actuator slide extending between and interengaging said engaging pawls on each viewfinder lens and movable parallel to said optical axis providing said force such that when one of said viewfinder lenses is in its operative position the other of said viewfinder lenses is in its inoperative position; and means for interconncting said objective lenses and said actuator slide whereby when said first objective lens is in its operative position said actuator slide forces said first viewfinder lens to its operative position and when said second objective lens is in its operative position said actuator slide forces said second viewfinder lens to its operative position.

Claim 14

A photographic camera as claimed in claim 11 wherein said interconnecting means comprises at least two interconnecting linkage members; a first member of said interconnecting linkage members drivenly engaged with said mounting means; and another member of said interconnecting linkage members drivingly engaged with said actuator slide.

Claim 15

A photographic camera as claimed in claim 12 wherein said mounting means includes a rotatably mounted plate member on which said first and second objective lenses are secured; said first member of said interconnecting linkage members comprising a cam member secured to and extending out from said plate member; and said cam member drivingly engaged with another of said interconnecting likage members.

Claim 16

A photographic camera as claimed in claim 12 wherein said actuator slide contains a slot therein; said first member containing an elongated arm extending therefrom; and said elongated arm drivingly received within said slot whereby rotation of said first member will cause said lateral movement of said actuator slide.