Methods of an apparatus for providing printed photographs with a border

Claim 2

A still camera which sequentially exposes frames of a negative filmstrip, the camera comprising: a light-tight film exposure compartment having a lens for focusing images on the frames of the filmstrip and a shutter disposed between the lens and filmstrip for exposing the filmstrip to the image; means for indexing the filmstrip with respect to the light-tight film exposure compartment as individual frames are exposed; and means for fogging a portion of the filmstrip with light subsequent to exposing the filmstrip to the image to provide a border area proximate an edge of the filmstrip, which border appears on prints made from the filmstrip.

Claim 3

The camera of claim 1, wherein the fogging means is disposed outside of and downstream from the film exposure compartment.

Claim 4

The camera of claim 1, wherein the fogging means comprises an aperture of a width substantially equal to the width of the border area and an illumination source aligned with the aperture.

Claim 5

The camera of claim 3 wherein the illumination source is electrically energized to provide white light to fog the border area and wherein the camera further includes an electric current source for energizing the illumination source.

Claim 6

The camera of claim 4, wherein the fogging means further includes a first switch for selectively connecting the illumination source to the electric current source, wherein the border is selectively imposed on the filmstrip.

Claim 7

The camera of claim 5, further including means for directly connecting the illumination source to the electrical current source upon indexing an exposed frame of the filmstrip past the film exposure compartment.

Claim 8

The camera of claim 6, wherein the means for indexing the filmstrip comprises an electric motor driving a take-up spool for coiling the filmstrip and wherein the means for directly connecting the electric current source to the illumination source also connects the electric motor to the electric current source, whereby the illumination source forms the border on the negative filmstrip upon indexing the film.

Claim 9

The camera of claim 7, wherein the electric motor rotates in opposite directions upon switching the polarity of the current applied thereto, wherein the filmstrip is unwound from a supply spool as the filmstrip is wound on the take-up spool, wherein the electric motor drives the supply spool to wind the filmstrip on the take-up spool upon rotation in a first direction and drives the take-up spool to rewind the filmstrip thereon upon rotation in a second direction, and wherein the means directly connecting the illumination source to the electric current source includes a circuit having means therein for polarizing the circuit to conduct when current is applied to rotate the electric motor in the first direction and not to conduct when current is applied to rotate the electric motor in the second direction.

Claim 10

The camera of claim 8, wherein the camera includes a view finder presenting a viewed image of the image focused on the filmstrip and mean for altering the viewed imaging of the view finder to correspond to the image actually appearing on the filmstrip after the border has been created on the filmstrip.

Claim 11

The camera of claim 9, wherein the means for altering the viewed image of the view finder is connected to the first switch for transition between a first mode altering the viewed image to a second mode not altering the viewed image.

Claim 12

The camera of claim 8, wherein the means for polarizing the circuit is a diode.

Claim 13

The camera of claim 1, wherein the camera includes a view finder presenting a viewed image of the image focused on the filmstrip and means for altering the viewed image of the view finder to correspond to the image actually appearing on the filmstrip after the border has been created on the filmstrip.

Claim 14

The camera of claim 12 wherein the view finder includes an eyelens with a first reticle thereon defining an area equivalent to the area of a bordered image, and wherein the means for fogging a portion of the filmstrip includes a switch shiftable between a bordered and borderless position for effecting fogging of a portion of the filmstrip, the switch being connected to a second reticle defining an area equivalent to the border area for movement by the switch between a position beneath the first reticle, defining a viewed image without a border, to a position overlapping the first reticle to define a viewed image with a border.

Claim 15

The camera of claim 12 wherein the view finder includes an image plane normally displaying the image presented by the lens to the film strip and wherein the means for fogging a portion of the film strip includes a switch shiftable between a bordered and borderless position for effecting fogging of a portion of the filmstrip, the switch being connected to a mask movable by the switch between a font position overlaying the image plane blocking a portion thereof equivalent to the border area to define a viewed image with a border and a second position out of optical alignment with the image plane so as not to block a portion thereof to define a viewed image without a border.

Claim 18

The mask of claim 15, further including means for energizing the illuminating source only when the filmstrip advances.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the means for energizing the illuminating source only when the filmstrip advances comprises a take-up spool driven by rotation of a shaft of an electric motor in a first direction when current is applied with a first polarity and a circuit interconnecting the source of illumination with the source of current for the electric motor whereby, when the motor is energized, the source of illumination is energized.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the motor is also connected to a supply spool for rotating the supply spool to rewind the filmstrip when current is applied with a second polarity opposite the first polarity, the circuit including means for polarizing the circuit wherein the circuit does not conduct when energized with current of the second polarity.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the means for polarizing the circuit is a diode.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the camera includes a view finder presenting a viewed image of the image focused on the filmstrip and wherein the apparatus further includes means for altering the viewed image to correspond to the image actually appearing on the filmstrip after the border has been created on the filmstrip.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the means for altering the viewed image is operatively associated with the means for selectively energizing the illuminating means, wherein, when the illuminating means is energized, the means for altering the viewed image is operative; and, when the illuminating means is not energized, the means for altering the viewed image is inoperative.

Claim 26

The method of claim 22, further including the step of selectively fogging the exposed negative frame.

Claim 27

The method of claim 23, further including the step of energizing a lamp to perform the fogging step only upon advancing the negative filmstrip.

Claim 28

The method of claim 24 further including the step of altering the height of the viewed image, as viewed by an operator of the camera, to appear similar in height to the image on the photographic print above the border area.

Claim 29

The method of claim 24 wherein the camera includes a battery, an electric illumination source for fogging the exposed negative, a view finder and a switch electrically connecting the battery to the electric illumination source and connected to the view finder, and wherein the method includes the further step of energizing the electric illumination source with the battery and altering the height of the image conveyed by the view finder by closing the switch.