US4603967A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rotary-disc test printing easel
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1983-03-11
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Granted: 1986-08-05
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Expires: 2003-03-11
Abstract
Abstract A lighttight paper holding easel device allowing an economic size cutting of photographic color paper to be rotatively test exposed to the light of a conventional color enlarger in a multiple number of steps in a manner which cover protects the paper as the device is advanced between steps of exposing sequential areas of the proof and thereby allows the enlarger operator to switch on a standard roomlight without fear of inadvertantly exposing the light sensitive paper. A means by which the device is equipped with an optional electrical circuit, fitted with a lever operated micro switch, which is operated by the mechanical means of the device to switch the roomlight on and off automatically as the device is advanced between steps of exposing sequential areas of the proof. A removable lighttight paper holder platen having alternate pairs of rotatable disc sets releasably attached to revolve around a centrally placed vertical post, each disc of a pair having a proportionately sized window aperature cut out of its otherwise opaque surface to allow a single sheet of photographic paper to be test exposed in a specific number of equally divided segments. A lighttight papersafe-easel base member of the device in which to store photographic paper and on which to expose single test exposure prints or repeat enlargements.
Inventors
- 👤 John T. Virtanen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 22:54
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B27/00; G03B27/32; G03B27/52; G03B27/58; G03B27/582
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
460 words
A lighttight apparatus adapted to enclose and allow an economic size cutting of light-sensitive photographic color printing paper to be test exposed for color evaluation in an optional number of two or more step-divided segments of the paper, by projecting a beam of light through a color negative positioned in a standard color printing enlarger, onto the said sheet of photographic paper, positioned on the easel of said apparatus, through triangular shaped window apertures formed in mated pairs of rotatable disc sets adapted to be set in registered position by multiply utilized step shaped registration slots formed on the circumferential edge of the one disc of a pair of said disc sets, with the said light-sensitive paper enclosed therein automatically covered over as the aperture openings of said mated pairs of discs are rotatively advanced to the said registered stop positions between steps of exposing individual segments of the said paper; said apparatus comprising a lighttight, light-sensitive paper storage means, forming a paper-safe base member, fitted with a hingeable lighttight cover easel having a recessed top surface plane on which to place and expose a sheet of photographic paper in registered position, with the light-sensitive paper stored inside said paper-safe base member protected from exposrue to light; said base member further comprising a paper holding platen to be hingeably and removably attached; said platen having a reinforcing rib formed on the bottom surface plane, enclosing divided segments of a centrally positioned window opening; said reinforcing rib interrelating with the curb, provided by the recessed surface plane of said easel, to form a lighttight seal; said paper holding platen further including a mechanical enclosure positioned on the top rear surface plane, having fittings formed therein on which to assemble and allow the free movement and interaction of a spring triggered pivotal pawl, steel spring and an optional plug-in lever operated electrical current switch adapter, fitted to an electrical cord , to which an electric light bulb is attached, connected to an electric power source adapted to be switched off and on automatically, by means of the pawl interacting with the circumferential edge and step formed aperture setting slots of said disc sets as the top disc of said pairs of disc sets is rotated, at and between said aperture setting slots, causing said pawl to interact with the lever of said current switch to allow said light bulb to be integrated with the aperture stepped, test exposing function of the said disc sets of the invention; said platen further comprising a snap-on cap, to allow said disc sets to be attached, interchanged and freely rotated about a vertical axle post formed on bridge members dividing segments of said window opening forming a lighttight, rotatably stepped aperture disc, paper exposing cover means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
460 words
A lighttight apparatus adapted to enclose and allow an economic size cutting of light-sensitive photographic color printing paper to be test exposed for color evaluation in an optional number of two or more step-divided segments of the paper, by projecting a beam of light through a color negative positioned in a standard color printing enlarger, onto the said sheet of photographic paper, positioned on the easel of said apparatus, through triangular shaped window apertures formed in mated pairs of rotatable disc sets adapted to be set in registered position by multiply utilized step shaped registration slots formed on the circumferential edge of the one disc of a pair of said disc sets, with the said light-sensitive paper enclosed therein automatically covered over as the aperture openings of said mated pairs of discs are rotatively advanced to the said registered stop positions between steps of exposing individual segments of the said paper; said apparatus comprising a lighttight, light-sensitive paper storage means, forming a paper-safe base member, fitted with a hingeable lighttight cover easel having a recessed top surface plane on which to place and expose a sheet of photographic paper in registered position, with the light-sensitive paper stored inside said paper-safe base member protected from exposrue to light; said base member further comprising a paper holding platen to be hingeably and removably attached; said platen having a reinforcing rib formed on the bottom surface plane, enclosing divided segments of a centrally positioned window opening; said reinforcing rib interrelating with the curb, provided by the recessed surface plane of said easel, to form a lighttight seal; said paper holding platen further including a mechanical enclosure positioned on the top rear surface plane, having fittings formed therein on which to assemble and allow the free movement and interaction of a spring triggered pivotal pawl, steel spring and an optional plug-in lever operated electrical current switch adapter, fitted to an electrical cord , to which an electric light bulb is attached, connected to an electric power source adapted to be switched off and on automatically, by means of the pawl interacting with the circumferential edge and step formed aperture setting slots of said disc sets as the top disc of said pairs of disc sets is rotated, at and between said aperture setting slots, causing said pawl to interact with the lever of said current switch to allow said light bulb to be integrated with the aperture stepped, test exposing function of the said disc sets of the invention; said platen further comprising a snap-on cap, to allow said disc sets to be attached, interchanged and freely rotated about a vertical axle post formed on bridge members dividing segments of said window opening forming a lighttight, rotatably stepped aperture disc, paper exposing cover means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
146 words
Apparatus of claim 1 wherein the said pairs of mated window discs are adapted to be assembled together to form a rotatable unit by means of an eyelet forming the axis of rotation about which the assembled discs are adapted to be rotated, one with the other, within the limits of rotation set by a vertical pin formed on the interfacial bottom plane of the top disc, interacting with the stops formed at the ends of a described arc on the interfacial top plane of the bottom disc; thereby setting the apertures of said disc pair into a registered open alignment, one with the other, in the one stepped position and in a closed lighttight alignment in the alternatively stopped position; said eyelet further allowing the said disc pair to be assembled on the said axle post and retained thereon by means of a snap-on cap.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
121 words
Apparatus of claim 2 wherein the bottom disc of a mated pair of said discs is fitted with a number of slots formed on the circumferential edge which are adapted to be interrelated with said pivot pawl, wherein said pawl is triggered by the spring to set the number of stepped segments during the clockwise rotation of the said discs together; the spring restrained pawl further constraining rotation of the said disc pair past an aperture set position while preventing counterclockwise rotation of the bottom disc allowing the top disc aperture openings of a disc pair to be rotated clockwise, providing a lighttight cover means by which to test expose the said enclosed light-sensitive paper in a stepped and memoried sequence.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus of claim 3 wherein mated pairs of said aperture discs are adapted to form individual disc sets, allowing a single sheet of photographic paper to be test exposed in a specific number of stepped segments; the number of aperture setting slots, of said disc sets, being determined by the sector of the aperture divided into stepped circle of rotation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
115 words
Apparatus of claim 3 wherein said pawl and aperture setting slots are offset and the aperture setting slots formed into the said step shaped detail having an upper step into which the spring triggered pawl is positioned during the clockwise rotation of the discs together, therein restraining further rotation of the discs and restricting the pivotal rotation of the pawl to permit contact with the lever of said current switch to be maintained, allowing the said light bulb to remain switched on; to then be switched off at the point were the spring triggered pawl is injected into the lower step detail of said aperture setting slot by the counterclockwise rotation of the top disc.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
175 words
Apparatus of claim 5 wherein said mated pairs of disc sets are adapted to further include an interrelating stud and rib, formed on the interfacial surface planes of said disc sets, adapted to interlock at the clockwise set drive position of the top disc, therein restraining inadvertent counterclockwise rotation of the top disc; said stud and rib to also provide the means by which to nudge the bottom disc sufficiently at the point of counterclockwise rotation of the top disc from a forward drive clockwise set position, to cause the forward stop pawl restraining upper step, of a said aperture setting slot, to be ejected from under the spring retained pawl to ensure placement of said pawl into the lower step detail of said aperture setting slots, positioning the apertures at the point of full counterclockwise rotation of the top disc, in registered alignment one above the other with a registered portion of a window segment of said paper covering platen, to allow a registered segment of the said photographic paper to be test exposed.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-08-04 | 1990-02-03 | 1990-08-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-08-04 | 1994-02-03 | 1994-08-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-08-04 | 1998-02-03 | 1998-08-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |