Patent US4894673A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4894673A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Film cassette
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
•
Filing: 1989-01-12
•
Granted: 1990-01-16
•
Expires: 2009-01-12
Abstract
Abstract In a film cassette, an "exposure-completed" indicator is positioned within a film passage slit to the outside of the cassette shell to be normally covered by the filmstrip. The indicator is uncovered by the filmstrip only when a leader section of the filmstrip is wound through the film passage slit further into the cassette shell, after the filmstrip is completely exposed in a camera. A window is provided in the cassette shell to view the indicator whenever it is uncovered by the filmstrip. This feature is useful to prevent double exposure of the filmstrip, by informing the photographer that the filmstrip should not be re-used in the camera.
Inventors
- 👤 David E. Beach
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 15:54
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B17/00; G03B17/28; G03B17/30; G03B2217/00; G03B2217/26; G03B2217/263; G03B2217/266; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S242/00; Y10S242/912
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
An improved film cassette wherein (a) respective throat portions define a film passage slit to the outside of the cassette shell, (b) a normally unexposed filmstrip has a film leader originally located within said film passage slit, and (c) a film spool is rotatable in a winding direction to wind said film leader from said film passage slit further into said cassette shell after said filmstrip is completely exposed, and wherein the improvement comprises: exposure-completed indicator means positioned within said film passage slit to be normally covered by said filmstrip, and to be uncovered by the filmstrip only when said film leader is further wound into said cassette shell in response to rotation of said film spool in the winding direction; and window means defining an opening in one of said throat portions for permitting said exposure-completed indicator means to be viewed when it is not covered by said filmstrip.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
An improved film cassette wherein (a) respective throat portions define a film passage slit to the outside of the cassette shell, (b) a normally unexposed filmstrip has a film leader originally located within said film passage slit, and (c) a film spool is rotatable in a winding direction to wind said film leader from said film passage slit further into said cassette shell after said filmstrip is completely exposed, and wherein the improvement comprises: exposure-completed indicator means positioned within said film passage slit to be normally covered by said filmstrip, and to be uncovered by the filmstrip only when said film leader is further wound into said cassette shell in response to rotation of said film spool in the winding direction; and window means defining an opening in one of said throat portions for permitting said exposure-completed indicator means to be viewed when it is not covered by said filmstrip.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
201 words
An improved film cassette wherein (a) opposite throat portions define a film passage slit to the outside of the cassette shell, (b) a normally unexposed filmstrip has a film leader originally located within said film passage slit, and (c) a film spool is rotatable in an unwinding direction to advance said filmstrip including its film leader through said film passage slit to the outside of said cassette shell, to expose the filmstrip, and is rotatable in a winding direction to wind the filmstrip including the film leader through the film passage slit further into the cassette shell, and wherein the improvement comprises: exposure-completed indicator means positioned within said film passage slit to be covered by said filmstrip whenever the filmstrip is advanced to the outside of said cassette shell in response to rotation of said film spool in the unwinding direction, and to be uncovered by the filmstrip only when said film leader is further wound into the cassette shell in response to rotation of the film spool in the winding direction; and window means defining an opening in one of said throat portions for permitting said exposure-completed indicator means to be viewed when it is not covered by said filmstrip.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
201 words
An improved film cassette wherein (a) opposite throat portions define a film passage slit to the outside of the cassette shell, (b) a normally unexposed filmstrip has a film leader originally located within said film passage slit, and (c) a film spool is rotatable in an unwinding direction to advance said filmstrip including its film leader through said film passage slit to the outside of said cassette shell, to expose the filmstrip, and is rotatable in a winding direction to wind the filmstrip including the film leader through the film passage slit further into the cassette shell, and wherein the improvement comprises: exposure-completed indicator means positioned within said film passage slit to be covered by said filmstrip whenever the filmstrip is advanced to the outside of said cassette shell in response to rotation of said film spool in the unwinding direction, and to be uncovered by the filmstrip only when said film leader is further wound into the cassette shell in response to rotation of the film spool in the winding direction; and window means defining an opening in one of said throat portions for permitting said exposure-completed indicator means to be viewed when it is not covered by said filmstrip.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-01-15 | 1993-07-17 | 1994-01-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-01-15 | 1997-07-17 | 1998-01-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-01-15 | 2001-07-17 | 2002-01-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |