Lens-fitted photographic film package

Claim 2

A lens-fitted photographic film package having a casing previously loaded with unexposed film and a shutter for exposing the unexposed film, comprising: a first chamber for receiving said unexposed film; an exposure station for supporting a portion of film strip pulled out from said first chamber, said portion of film strip being exposed through movement of said shutter; a second chamber for receiving said exposed film strip from said exposure station; a taking lens disposed at an upper side of said casing and between said first and second chambers; a first mirror disposed inside said casing behind said taking lens and above said exposure station for reflecting light entering through said taking lens forwardly and downwardly in said casing; a second mirror disposed inside said casing below said taking lens and forward of said exposure station for reflecting light from said first mirror toward said exposure station; and film advancing mechanism disposed between said first mirror and said second chamber, said exposure station being positioned substantially nearer to said first chamber than to said second chamber so that said first mirror will not interfere with said film advancing mechanism.

Claim 3

A lens-fitted photographic film package as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second mirrors are parallel to each other.

Claim 4

A lens-fitted photographic film package as defined in claim 1, wherein said first chamber contains a roll of unexposed film strip and said second chamber contains a cartridge removable from said casing, said exposed film strip being rewound into said cartridge frame by frame as said film strip is exposed.

Claim 5

A lens-fitted photographic film package as defined in claim 1, wherein said shutter comprises: a pivotally mounted shutter blade; an acceleration lever for accelerating the speed of pivoting of said shutter blade, said acceleration lever having a coupling portion for coupling to said shutter blade and being pivotally mounted on an axle; a spring urging said acceleration lever in a direction to close said shutter blade; and a drive lever engaged at one end in an engaging portion which is formed between said coupling portion and said axle of said acceleration lever, said drive lever driving said shutter blade to open through said acceleration lever.

Claim 6

A lens-fitted photographic film package as defined in claim 4, wherein said engaging portion has an opening therein having a straight edge and an arresting claw formed intermediate said straight edge and projecting into said opening, said arresting claw comprising a ratchet claw which arrests said one end of said drive lever moving in a direction to open said shutter blade for causing said acceleration lever to swing but allows said one end to ride over said claw when said drive lever moves in a direction to close said shutter blade.

Claim 7

A lens-fitted photographic film package having a taking lens and a shutter and being previously loaded with film, comprising: reflection means defining a Z-shaped light path for light entering through said taking lens, said reflection means having a first mirror disposed behind said taking lens and a second mirror disposed below said taking lens; and a mirror hold-down member for pressing said second mirror from a back side thereof, said mirror hold-down member having portions for holding said taking lens and a part of said shutter.

Claim 8

A lens-fitted photographic film package having a taking lens and a shutter and being previously loaded with film, comprising: reflection means defining a Z-shaped light path for light entering through said taking lens, said reflection means having a first mirror disposed behind said taking lens and a second mirror disposed below said taking lens; and a mirror hold-down member for pressing said second mirror from a back side thereof, said mirror hold-down member having portions for holding said taking lens and a part of said shutter.

Claim 9

A lens-fitted photographic film package comprising a casing and a wrapping at least shape-matingly enclosing said casing, said package having a first chamber previously loaded with unexposed film strip and a second chamber into which exposed film strip is wound up, comprising: reflection means disposed between said first and second chambers and forming a Z-shaped exposure light path; a viewfinder disposed above said first chamber and extending through front and rear walls of said casing and of said wrapping; and a taking lens disposed beside said viewfinder for transmitting light from a subject to said Z-shaped exposure light path.

Claim 10

A lens-fitted photographic film package comprising a casing and a wrapping at least shape-matingly enclosing said casing, said package having a first chamber previously loaded with unexposed film strip and a second chamber into which exposed film strip is wound up, comprising: reflection means disposed between said first and second chambers and forming a Z-shaped exposure light path; a viewfinder disposed above said first chamber and extending through front and rear walls of said casing and of said wrapping; and a taking lens disposed beside said viewfinder for transmitting light from a subject to said Z-shaped exposure light path.

Claim 11

A lens-fitted photographic film package as defined in claim 7, wherein said viewfinder is a see-through viewfinder.

Claim 12

A shutter for a camera having a single shutter blade pivotally mounted on an axle, comprising: an acceleration lever for accelerating pivoting of said shutter blade, said acceleration lever having a coupling portion for coupling to said shutter blade and being pivotally mounted on an axle; and a drive lever engaged at one end in an engaging portion which is formed between said coupling portion and said axle of said acceleration lever, said drive lever driving said shutter blade to open in cooperation with said acceleration lever, said engaging portion comprising an arresting claw arresting said one end of said drive lever moving in a direction to open said shutter blade for causing said acceleration lever to swing but allowing said one end to ride over said claw when said drive lever moves in a direction to close said shutter blade.

Claim 13

A shutter for a camera having a single shutter blade pivotally mounted on an axle, comprising: an acceleration lever for accelerating pivoting of said shutter blade, said acceleration lever having a coupling portion for coupling to said shutter blade and being pivotally mounted on an axle; and a drive lever engaged at one end in an engaging portion which is formed between said coupling portion and said axle of said acceleration lever, said drive lever driving said shutter blade to open in cooperation with said acceleration lever, said engaging portion comprising an arresting claw arresting said one end of said drive lever moving in a direction to open said shutter blade for causing said acceleration lever to swing but allowing said one end to ride over said claw when said drive lever moves in a direction to close said shutter blade.

Claim 14

A lens-fitted photographic film package previously loaded with a film and having a taking lens and means for exposing said film, comprising: a main case body in which said taking lens and exposure means are incorporated and which is loaded with said film; means defining a Z-shaped exposure light path in said main case body for transmitting light entering through said taking lens, said means comprising two mirrors disposed in respective corners of said Z-shaped exposure light path and fitted into said main case body; first and second mirror hold-down members made of thin plate to retain said mirrors in place; a rear cover mounted on a rear side of said main case body; a first shading member formed integrally with and on an inner side of said rear cover for covering said first mirror hold-down member when said rear cover is mounted on said main case body; a front cover mounted on said main case body; and a second shading member formed integrally with and on an inner side of said front cover for covering said second mirror hold-down member when said front cover is mounted on said main case body.

Claim 15

A lens-fitted photographic film package previously loaded with a film and having a taking lens and means for exposing said film, comprising: a main case body in which said taking lens and exposure means are incorporated and which is loaded with said film; means defining a Z-shaped exposure light path in said main case body for transmitting light entering through said taking lens, said means comprising two mirrors disposed in respective corners of said Z-shaped exposure light path and fitted into said main case body; first and second mirror hold-down members made of thin plate to retain said mirrors in place; a rear cover mounted on a rear side of said main case body; a first shading member formed integrally with and on an inner side of said rear cover for covering said first mirror hold-down member when said rear cover is mounted on said main case body; a front cover mounted on said main case body; and a second shading member formed integrally with and on an inner side of said front cover for covering said second mirror hold-down member when said front cover is mounted on said main case body.

Claim 16

A lens-fitted photographic film package having a casing previously loaded with unexposed film and a shutter for exposing the unexposed film, comprising: a wrapping at least partially shape-matingly enclosing said casing; a first chamber for receiving said unexposed film; an exposure station for supporting a portion of film strip pulled out from said first chamber, said portion of film strip being exposed through movement of said shutter; a second chamber for receiving said exposed film strip from said exposure station; a taking lens disposed at an upper side of said casing and between said first and second chambers; a first mirror disposed inside said casing behind said taking lens and above said exposure station for reflecting light entering through said taking lens forwardly and downwardly in said casing; a second mirror disposed inside said casing below said taking lens and forward of said exposure station for reflecting light from said first mirror toward said exposure station; and a see-through viewfinder formed in said casing and extending through front and rear walls of said casing and of said wrapping and disposed above said first chamber and adjacent to said taking lens.

Claim 17

A lens-fitted photographic film package having a casing previously loaded with unexposed film and a shutter for exposing the unexposed film, comprising: a wrapping at least partially shape-matingly enclosing said casing; a first chamber for receiving said unexposed film; an exposure station for supporting a portion of film strip pulled out from said first chamber, said portion of film strip being exposed through movement of said shutter; a second chamber for receiving said exposed film strip from said exposure station; a taking lens disposed at an upper side of said casing and between said first and second chambers; a first mirror disposed inside said casing behind said taking lens and above said exposure station for reflecting light entering through said taking lens forwardly and downwardly in said casing; a second mirror disposed inside said casing below said taking lens and forward of said exposure station for reflecting light from said first mirror toward said exposure station; and a see-through viewfinder formed in said casing and extending through front and rear walls of said casing and of said wrapping and disposed above said first chamber and adjacent to said taking lens.

Claim 18

A lens-fitted photographic film package having a casing previously loaded with unexposed film and a shutter for exposing the unexposed film, comprising: a first chamber for receiving said unexposed film; an exposure station for supporting a portion of film strip pulled out from said first chamber, said portion of film strip being exposed through movement of said shutter; a second chamber for receiving said exposed film strip from said exposure station; a taking lens disposed at an upper side of said casing and between said first and second chambers; a first mirror disposed inside said casing behind said taking lens and above said exposure station for reflecting light entering through said taking lens forwardly and downwardly in said casing; a second mirror disposed inside said casing below said taking lens and forward of said exposure station for reflecting light from said first mirror toward said exposure station; first and second mirror frames respectively for supporting said first and second mirrors; and first and second mirror hold-down members respectively for pressing said first and second mirrors from back sides thereof against said first and second frames.

Claim 19

A lens-fitted photographic film package having a casing previously loaded with unexposed film and a shutter for exposing the unexposed film, comprising: a first chamber for receiving said unexposed film; an exposure station for supporting a portion of film strip pulled out from said first chamber, said portion of film strip being exposed through movement of said shutter; a second chamber for receiving said exposed film strip from said exposure station; a taking lens disposed at an upper side of said casing and between said first and second chambers; a first mirror disposed inside said casing behind said taking lens and above said exposure station for reflecting light entering through said taking lens forwardly and downwardly in said casing; a second mirror disposed inside said casing below said taking lens and forward of said exposure station for reflecting light from said first mirror toward said exposure station; first and second mirror frames respectively for supporting said first and second mirrors; and first and second mirror hold-down members respectively for pressing said first and second mirrors from back sides thereof against said first and second frames.

Claim 20

A lens-fitted photographic film package as defined in claim 12, wherein said second mirror hold-down member has portions for holding said taking lens and a part of said shutter.

Claim 21

A lens-fitted photographic film package as defined in claim 12, wherein said first and second mirror hold-down members are formed with at least one slit for providing elastic portions therein, said elastic portions pressing against the backs of said first and second mirrors respectively.

Claim 22

A lens-fitted photographic film package as defined in claim 14, further comprising two shading members for shading said first and second mirror hold-down members from ambient light.

Claim 23

A lens-fitted photographic film package having a casing previously loaded with unexposed film and a shutter for exposing the unexposed film, comprising: a first chamber for receiving said unexposed film; an exposure station for supporting a portion of film strip pulled out from said first chamber, said portion of film strip being exposed through movement of said shutter; a second chamber for receiving said exposed film strip from said exposure station; a taking lens disposed at an upper side of said casing and between said first and second chambers; a first mirror disposed inside said casing behind said taking lens and above said exposure station for reflecting light entering through said taking lens forwardly and downwardly in said casing; a second mirror disposed inside said casing below said taking lens and forward of said exposure station for reflecting light from said first mirror toward said exposure station; and an exposure chamber of rectangular shape is disposed between said exposure station and said second mirror, said exposure chamber having in a top wall thereof an opening through which light passes from said first mirror toward said second mirror, said exposure chamber having on at least one inner wall surface thereof a number of ridges extending in a direction parallel to a path of light reflected from said second mirror toward said exposure station for reducing internal reflection in said exposure chamber, said ridges decreasing in height and width in the direction of said exposure station.

Claim 24

A lens-fitted photographic film package having a casing previously loaded with unexposed film and a shutter for exposing the unexposed film, comprising: a first chamber for receiving said unexposed film; an exposure station for supporting a portion of film strip pulled out from said first chamber, said portion of film strip being exposed through movement of said shutter; a second chamber for receiving said exposed film strip from said exposure station; a taking lens disposed at an upper side of said casing and between said first and second chambers; a first mirror disposed inside said casing behind said taking lens and above said exposure station for reflecting light entering through said taking lens forwardly and downwardly in said casing; a second mirror disposed inside said casing below said taking lens and forward of said exposure station for reflecting light from said first mirror toward said exposure station; and an exposure chamber of rectangular shape is disposed between said exposure station and said second mirror, said exposure chamber having in a top wall thereof an opening through which light passes from said first mirror toward said second mirror, said exposure chamber having on at least one inner wall surface thereof a number of ridges extending in a direction parallel to a path of light reflected from said second mirror toward said exposure station for reducing internal reflection in said exposure chamber, said ridges decreasing in height and width in the direction of said exposure station.

Claim 25

A camera comprising: a taking lens; means supporting a film to receive exposure light from said taking lens; an exposure chamber through which said exposure light travels between said taking lens and a said film; and a plurality of ridges formed on an inner wall surface of said exposure chamber and extending parallel to a direction of travel of said exposure light for trapping light reaching said inner wall surface, said ridges decreasing in height and width in the direction of a said film.

Claim 26

A camera comprising: a taking lens; means supporting a film to receive exposure light from said taking lens; an exposure chamber through which said exposure light travels between said taking lens and a said film; and a plurality of ridges formed on an inner wall surface of said exposure chamber and extending parallel to a direction of travel of said exposure light for trapping light reaching said inner wall surface, said ridges decreasing in height and width in the direction of a said film.

Claim 27

A camera as defined in claim 17, wherein said ridges have an arcuate cross sectional configuration.