Compact folding camera construction

Claim 2

A folding camera for exposing photographic film supplied in a cassette having a pair of cylinder-like housings at opposite ends of a central platform section, said camera comprising: a body for defining a light-tight chamber to receive the cassette with said cylinder-like housings disposed near opposite ends of the body; a first pivotal housing movable between a folded position overlying said central platform section between said cylinder-like housings and an erect position projecting upwardly from said body; and a second pivotal housing lying within said first pivotal housing and movable between a folded position between said cylinder-like housings and an erect position projecting upwardly from said first pivotal housing.

Claim 3

A folding camera as recited in claim 1, including an objective lens fixedly supported from said first pivotal housing and movable therewith within said body in the folded position of said first pivotal housing.

Claim 4

A folding camera as recited in claim 2, including a photoflash unit supported on said second housing for movement between an inoperative, compact position within said second housing and an operative position extended from said second housing.

Claim 5

A folding camera as recited in claim 3, wherein said photoflash unit is pivotally mounted on said second housing for pivotal movement, once said second housing is erected, from an inoperative position within said second housing to an operative position extended from said second housing.

Claim 6

A folding camera as recited in claim 4, wherein said photoflash unit pivots upwardly above said objective lens in the erect positions of said first and second housings.

Claim 7

A folding camera as recited in claim 1, including a hinged back on the bottom of said body and movable between opened and closed positions to enable loading and unloading of the cassette to and from said light-tight chamber.

Claim 8

A folding camera as recited in claim 6, wherein said hinged back includes means for storing and viewing photographs resulting from exposure of the film supplied in the cassette.

Claim 9

A folding camera as recited in claim 7, including means for processing the photographic film supplied in the cassette after exposure, said processing means including a pair of pressure rollers supported by said hinged back.

Claim 10

A folding camera as recited in claim 8, wherein said means for storing and viewing photographs is located to receive film components passing through said processing means and includes a transparent window for viewing processed film components.

Claim 11

A folding camera comprising: a camera body configured for receiving photographic film for presentation for exposure at a given focal plane within said body; a first housing section carrying an objective lens at one end thereof; a second housing section carrying a flash unit at one end thereof; and said first and second housing sections being mounted on said body for pivotal movement thereto and each other at the ends opposite their said one ends between an inoperative folded position wherein said second section is nested in said first section and said first section is nested in said body in overlying relation to said focal plane and an operative erect position wherein said one end of said first housing projects upwardly from said body and said one end of said second housing section projects upwardly from said first section.

Claim 12

A folding camera comprising: a camera body configured for receiving photographic film for presentation for exposure at a given focal plane within said body; a first housing section carrying an objective lens at one end thereof; a second housing section carrying a flash unit at one end thereof; and said first and second housing sections being mounted on said body for pivotal movement thereto and each other at the ends opposite their said one ends between an inoperative folded position wherein said second section is nested in said first section and said first section is nested in said body in overlying relation to said focal plane and an operative erect position wherein said one end of said first housing projects upwardly from said body and said one end of said second housing section projects upwardly from said first section.

Claim 13

The camera of claim 10 wherein said flash unit is mounted in said second section for movement between an inoperative, compact position within said second section when said second section is in its folded position and an operative position extending from said one end of said second section when said second section is in its said erect position.

Claim 14

The camera of claim 11 wherein said flash unit is pivotally mounted on said second section for pivotal movement between its said inoperative and operative positions.

Claim 15

The camera of claim 11 wherein said lens is fixedly mounted to said one end of said first section and movable therewith to a location within said body in the folded position of said first section.

Claim 16

The camera of claim 10 including a reflex through-the-lens viewing system including a viewing path extending through said objective lens and reflected by a plurality of mirrors to a viewing eyepiece, and one of said mirrors is mounted in said body forwardly of said film plane to form a recess in said body between said one mirror and said focal plane, and said objective lens is positioned rearwardly of said one mirror within said body recess when said first section is in its folded condition.

Claim 17

A folding single lens reflex camera comprising: a body configured for receiving photographic film for presentation for exposure at a given focal plane within said body; a housing section carrying an objective lens at one end, said housing section being mounted on said body for movement between an inoperative folded position, wherein said objective lens is located within said body, and an operative, erect position wherein at least said one end of said housing section and said objective lens is positioned upwardly above said body; and a reflex through-the-lens viewing system including a viewing path extending through said objective lens and reflected by a plurality of mirrors to a viewing eyepiece, one of said mirrors being mounted in said body in spaced relation to said focal plane so as to form a recess in said body between said one mirror and said focal plane, and said objective lens is positioned within said recess when said housing is in its folded condition.

Claim 18

A folding single lens reflex camera comprising: a body configured for receiving photographic film for presentation for exposure at a given focal plane within said body; a housing section carrying an objective lens at one end, said housing section being mounted on said body for movement between an inoperative folded position, wherein said objective lens is located within said body, and an operative, erect position wherein at least said one end of said housing section and said objective lens is positioned upwardly above said body; and a reflex through-the-lens viewing system including a viewing path extending through said objective lens and reflected by a plurality of mirrors to a viewing eyepiece, one of said mirrors being mounted in said body in spaced relation to said focal plane so as to form a recess in said body between said one mirror and said focal plane, and said objective lens is positioned within said recess when said housing is in its folded condition.

Claim 19

A compact single lens reflex camera comprising a camera body including means for receiving photographic film for presentation at a given focal plane for exposure to a photographic scene; a lens mounted in said camera body for directing scene light to the interior of the body along a given path traversing and spaced above said focal plane; a first mirror mounted in said body in inclined relation to said given path so as to direct scene light rays from said given path toward said focal plane; a second mirror comprising a double sided mirror mounted in said body for movement between a viewing position overlying said focal plane, wherein the one side of said double sided mirror facing away from said focal plane redirects light back to said first mirror, and an exposure position overlying said first mirror, wherein the other side of said double sided mirror directs scene light from said given path to said focal plane, said one side of said double sided mirror being configured for reflecting scene light received from said first mirror upwardly and rearwardly to again impinge on said first mirror for a second reflection therefrom along an inclined path extending both forwardly and downwardly at an angle to said given path of said lens; an opening provided in the rear of said camera body for viewing along a viewing path spaced between said given path of said lens and said second mirror when said second mirror is in its said viewing position; and a third mirror mounted in said camera body in intercepting relation to said inclined path for redirecting the second reflection from said first mirror across the camera focal plane toward said opening whereby said viewing configuration provides a compact camera arrangement having a folded viewing path generally confined to an exposure chamber of the camera.

Claim 20

A compact single lens reflex camera comprising a camera body including means for receiving photographic film for presentation at a given focal plane for exposure to a photographic scene; a lens mounted in said camera body for directing scene light to the interior of the body along a given path traversing and spaced above said focal plane; a first mirror mounted in said body in inclined relation to said given path so as to direct scene light rays from said given path toward said focal plane; a second mirror comprising a double sided mirror mounted in said body for movement between a viewing position overlying said focal plane, wherein the one side of said double sided mirror facing away from said focal plane redirects light back to said first mirror, and an exposure position overlying said first mirror, wherein the other side of said double sided mirror directs scene light from said given path to said focal plane, said one side of said double sided mirror being configured for reflecting scene light received from said first mirror upwardly and rearwardly to again impinge on said first mirror for a second reflection therefrom along an inclined path extending both forwardly and downwardly at an angle to said given path of said lens; an opening provided in the rear of said camera body for viewing along a viewing path spaced between said given path of said lens and said second mirror when said second mirror is in its said viewing position; and a third mirror mounted in said camera body in intercepting relation to said inclined path for redirecting the second reflection from said first mirror across the camera focal plane toward said opening whereby said viewing configuration provides a compact camera arrangement having a folded viewing path generally confined to an exposure chamber of the camera.

Claim 21

The camera of claim 16 including light blocking means for blocking light from said opening from reaching the film presented at said focal plane when said second mirror is in its said exposure position.

Claim 22

The camera of claim 16 wherein said opening is provided in said camera body for viewing along a path located between the lower edge of said first mirror and the upper surface of said second mirror when said second mirror is in its viewing position.

Claim 23

The camera of claim 18 wherein said third mirror redirects said second reflection from said first mirror across said focal plane along a view path at a small angle to said given path of said lens, and said camera further comprising an eye lens located over said opening and configured for realigning said view path into parallel with said given path.