US5086311A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Panoramic camera
Assignee: Fujifilm Holdings Corp
•
Filing: 1990-12-18
•
Granted: 1992-02-04
•
Expires: 2010-12-18
Abstract
Abstract A panoramic camera has masking plates selectively movable for masking the exposure aperture so as to form a picture frame of a panoramic size or for opening the whole exposure aperture. A plate actuating mechanism provided on the fixed lens mount selectively sets the masking plates in either the full size position or the panoramic position. According to a preferred embodiment, the camera has a taking lens of the collapsible mount type having movable and fixed lens mounts. A guide groove formed on the movable lens mount engages with a pin formed on an operating knob upon retracting the movable lens mount into the fixed lens mount. The masking plates are thereby retracted from the path of the movable lens mount. The camera includes spring members for biasing the masking plates toward the full size position. An indicator indicates the frame size upon operating the operating knob. The operating knob is arranged in a film passageway for operating the plate actuating mechanism. The frame size is thereby prevented from changing until unloading the film. Two recesses corresponding to the two frame sizes are provided in a slide lever portion formed on the operating knob. A positioning projection formed on the back door engages with either of the arresting recesses so as to keep the slide lever portion at the position of the selected frame size. The camera further includes a mechanism for recording predetermined data on a portion of the film masked by the masking plates.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoji Naka
- 👤 Akio Ohmiya
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 10:58
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B17/00; G03B17/24; G03B37/00; G03B2217/00; G03B2217/24; G03B2217/242; G03B2217/243; G03B2217/248
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A photographic camera comprising: a rectangular exposure aperture for forming a picture frame of full size; masking means for selectively partly masking said exposure aperture so as to form a picture frame of a panoramic size which is vertically reduced from said full size when said masking means is set in a panoramic position and for opening the whole said exposure aperture when said masking means is set in a full size position; actuating means for setting said masking means selectively in either said full size position or said panoramic position; and manual operating means for operating said actuating means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
A photographic camera comprising: a rectangular exposure aperture for forming a picture frame of full size; masking means for selectively partly masking said exposure aperture so as to form a picture frame of a panoramic size which is vertically reduced from said full size when said masking means is set in a panoramic position and for opening the whole said exposure aperture when said masking means is set in a full size position; actuating means for setting said masking means selectively in either said full size position or said panoramic position; and manual operating means for operating said actuating means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A photographic camera as defined in claim 1, wherein said masking means includes a first masking plate for masking an upper portion of said exposure aperture and a second masking plate for masking a lower portion of said exposure aperture.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A photographic camera as defined in claim 2, wherein said masking plates are swung about horizontal shafts parallel to sides of said exposure aperture.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
80 words
A photographic camera as defined in claim 3, further comprising: a taking lens assembly having a movable lens mount and a fixed lens mount into which said movable lens mount is substantially retractable; engagement means formed integrally with said manual operating means; and an engagement portion formed on said movable lens mount for engaging with said engagement means upon retracting said movable lens mount into said fixed lens mount so as to set said masking plates in said panoramic position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A photographic camera as defined in claim 3, further comprising: spring members for biasing said masking plates toward said full size position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
A photographic camera as defined in claim 3, which further comprises a taking lens assembly having a movable lens mount and a fixed lens mount into which said movable lens mount is substantially retractable, and wherein said actuating means is positioned on said fixed lens mount.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A photographic camera as defined in claim 3, further comprising: means for indicating the size of the picture frame upon operating said manual operating means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A photographic camera as defined in claim 3, wherein said manual operating means is disposed in a passageway for film to be loaded in a body of said camera.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A photographic camera as defined in claim 3, wherein said manual operating means is disposed on the outside of a body of said camera for being externally operated.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
96 words
A photographic camera as defined in claim 1, further comprising: a slide lever portion provided slidably along a back door of a body of said camera for being operated by said manual operating means; arresting means formed on said slide lever portion for arresting said slide lever portion in said full size position or in said panoramic position; and positioning means formed on said back door for engaging with said arresting means upon closing said back door so as to prevent said slide lever portion from sliding, thereby to prevent said masking means from changing position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
71 words
A photographic camera as defined in claim 10, wherein said positioning means is a projection member having an advancing inclined surface on its end; and said arresting means are recesses having receiving inclined surfaces engageable with said advancing inclined surface at their inlets for receiving said projection member and for causing said slide lever portion to slide to a position in which said projection member can enter one of said recesses.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
A photographic camera as defined in claim 1, further comprising: means for recording predetermined data on film loaded in a body of said camera on a portion of said film masked by said masking means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A photographic camera as defined in claim 12, wherein said data recording means is disposed on a surface of said masking means facing said film.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
A photographic camera as defined in claim 13, wherein said data recording means includes a liquid crystal display panel and a light-emitting unit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
A photographic camera as defined in claim 13, wherein said data recording means includes a light-emitting diode and a lens.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
A photographic camera as defined in claim 12, wherein said data recording means is disposed on a back door of said camera body for recording said data from behind said film.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
A photographic camera as defined in claim 16, wherein said data recording means includes a liquid crystal display panel and an electroluminescent lamp.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
205 words
A photographic camera comprising: a taking lens assembly having a movable lens mount and a fixed lens mount into which said movable lens mount is substantially retractable; a rectangular exposure aperture for forming a picture frame of full size; a first masking plate for masking an upper portion of said exposure aperture and a second masking plate for masking a lower portion of said exposure aperture in order to form a picture frame of a panoramic size which is vertically reduced from said full size when said masking plates are set in a panoramic position, said first and second masking plates being swingable about horizontal shafts parallel, to sides of said exposure aperture for opening the whole of said exposure aperture when said masking plates are set in a full size position; actuating means for setting said masking plates selectively in either said full size position or said panoramic position; manual operating means for operating said actuating means; engagement means formed integrally with said manual operating means; and an engagement portion formed on said movable lens mount for engaging with said engagement means upon retracting said movable lens mount into said fixed lens mount so as to set said masking plates in said panoramic position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
205 words
A photographic camera comprising: a taking lens assembly having a movable lens mount and a fixed lens mount into which said movable lens mount is substantially retractable; a rectangular exposure aperture for forming a picture frame of full size; a first masking plate for masking an upper portion of said exposure aperture and a second masking plate for masking a lower portion of said exposure aperture in order to form a picture frame of a panoramic size which is vertically reduced from said full size when said masking plates are set in a panoramic position, said first and second masking plates being swingable about horizontal shafts parallel, to sides of said exposure aperture for opening the whole of said exposure aperture when said masking plates are set in a full size position; actuating means for setting said masking plates selectively in either said full size position or said panoramic position; manual operating means for operating said actuating means; engagement means formed integrally with said manual operating means; and an engagement portion formed on said movable lens mount for engaging with said engagement means upon retracting said movable lens mount into said fixed lens mount so as to set said masking plates in said panoramic position.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
146 words
A photographic camera comprising: a rectangular exposure aperture for forming a picture frame of full size; a first masking plate for masking an upper portion of said exposure aperture and a second masking plate for masking a lower portion of said exposure aperture in order to form a picture frame of a panoramic size which is vertically reduced from said full size when said masking plates are set in a panoramic position, said first and second masking plates being swingable about horizontal shafts parallel to sides of said exposure aperture for opening the whole said exposure aperture when said masking plates are set in a full size position; actuating means for setting said masking plates selectively in either said full size position or said panoramic position; manual operating means for operating said actuating means; and spring means biasing said masking plates toward said full size position.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
146 words
A photographic camera comprising: a rectangular exposure aperture for forming a picture frame of full size; a first masking plate for masking an upper portion of said exposure aperture and a second masking plate for masking a lower portion of said exposure aperture in order to form a picture frame of a panoramic size which is vertically reduced from said full size when said masking plates are set in a panoramic position, said first and second masking plates being swingable about horizontal shafts parallel to sides of said exposure aperture for opening the whole said exposure aperture when said masking plates are set in a full size position; actuating means for setting said masking plates selectively in either said full size position or said panoramic position; manual operating means for operating said actuating means; and spring means biasing said masking plates toward said full size position.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
164 words
A photographic camera comprising: a taking lens assembly having a movable lens mount and a fixed lens mount into which said movable lens mount is substantially retractable; a rectangular exposure aperture for forming a picture frame of full size; a first masking plate for masking an upper portion of said exposure aperture and a second masking plate for masking a lower portion of said exposure aperture in order to form a picture frame of a panoramic size which is vertically reduced from said full size when said masking plates are set in a panoramic position, said first and second masking plates being swingable about horizontal shafts parallel to sides of said exposure aperture for opening the whole said exposure aperture when said masking plates are set in a full size position; actuating means provided on said fixed lens mount for setting said masking plates selectively in either said full size position or said panoramic position; and manual operating means for operating said actuating means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
164 words
A photographic camera comprising: a taking lens assembly having a movable lens mount and a fixed lens mount into which said movable lens mount is substantially retractable; a rectangular exposure aperture for forming a picture frame of full size; a first masking plate for masking an upper portion of said exposure aperture and a second masking plate for masking a lower portion of said exposure aperture in order to form a picture frame of a panoramic size which is vertically reduced from said full size when said masking plates are set in a panoramic position, said first and second masking plates being swingable about horizontal shafts parallel to sides of said exposure aperture for opening the whole said exposure aperture when said masking plates are set in a full size position; actuating means provided on said fixed lens mount for setting said masking plates selectively in either said full size position or said panoramic position; and manual operating means for operating said actuating means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
150 words
A photographic camera comprising: a rectangular exposure aperture for forming a picture frame of full size; a first masking plate for masking an upper portion of said exposure aperture and a second masking plate for masking a lower portion of said exposure aperture in order to form a picture frame of a panoramic size which is vertically reduced from said full size when said masking plates are set in a panoramic position, said first and second masking plates being swingable about horizontal shafts parallel to sides of said exposure aperture for opening the whole said exposure aperture when said masking plates are set in a full size position; actuating means for setting said masking plates selectively in either said full size position or said panoramic position; manual operating means for operating said actuating means; and means for indicating the size of the picture frame upon operating said manual operating means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
150 words
A photographic camera comprising: a rectangular exposure aperture for forming a picture frame of full size; a first masking plate for masking an upper portion of said exposure aperture and a second masking plate for masking a lower portion of said exposure aperture in order to form a picture frame of a panoramic size which is vertically reduced from said full size when said masking plates are set in a panoramic position, said first and second masking plates being swingable about horizontal shafts parallel to sides of said exposure aperture for opening the whole said exposure aperture when said masking plates are set in a full size position; actuating means for setting said masking plates selectively in either said full size position or said panoramic position; manual operating means for operating said actuating means; and means for indicating the size of the picture frame upon operating said manual operating means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
A photographic camera as defined in claim 21, wherein said manual operating means is disposed in a passageway for film to be loaded in a body of said camera.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
A photographic camera as defined in claim 21, wherein said manual operating means is disposed on the outside of a body of said camera for being externally operated.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
220 words
A photographic camera comprising: a rectangular exposure aperture for forming a picture frame of full size; a first masking plate for masking an upper portion of said exposure aperture and a second masking plate for masking a lower portion of said exposure aperture in order to form a picture frame of a panoramic size which is vertically reduced from said full size when said masking plates are set in a panoramic position, said first and second masking plates being swingable about horizontal shafts parallel to sides of said exposure aperture for opening the whole said exposure aperture when said masking plates are set in a full size position; actuating means for setting said masking plates selectively in either said full size position or said panoramic position; manual operating means for operating said actuating means; a slide lever portion provided slidably along a back door of a body of said camera for being operated by said manual operating means; arresting means formed on said slide lever portion for arresting said slide lever portion in said full size position or in said panoramic position; and positioning means formed on said back door for engaging with said arresting means upon closing said back door so as to prevent said slide lever portion from sliding, thereby to prevent said masking plates from changing position.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
220 words
A photographic camera comprising: a rectangular exposure aperture for forming a picture frame of full size; a first masking plate for masking an upper portion of said exposure aperture and a second masking plate for masking a lower portion of said exposure aperture in order to form a picture frame of a panoramic size which is vertically reduced from said full size when said masking plates are set in a panoramic position, said first and second masking plates being swingable about horizontal shafts parallel to sides of said exposure aperture for opening the whole said exposure aperture when said masking plates are set in a full size position; actuating means for setting said masking plates selectively in either said full size position or said panoramic position; manual operating means for operating said actuating means; a slide lever portion provided slidably along a back door of a body of said camera for being operated by said manual operating means; arresting means formed on said slide lever portion for arresting said slide lever portion in said full size position or in said panoramic position; and positioning means formed on said back door for engaging with said arresting means upon closing said back door so as to prevent said slide lever portion from sliding, thereby to prevent said masking plates from changing position.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
71 words
A photographic camera as defined in claim 24, wherein said positioning means is a projection member having an advancing inclined surface on its end; and said arresting means are recesses having receiving inclined surfaces engageable with said advancing inclined surface at their inlets for receiving said projection member and for causing said slide lever portion to slide to a position in which said projection member can enter one of said recesses.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
125 words
A photographic camera comprising: a rectangular exposure aperture for forming a picture frame of full size; masking means for selectively partly masking said exposure aperture so as to form a picture frame of a panoramic size which his vertically reduced from said full size when said masking means is set in a panoramic position and for opening the whole said exposure aperture when said masking means is set in a full size position; actuating means for setting said masking means selectively in either said full size position or said panoramic position; manual operating means for operating said actuating means; and means for recording predetermined data on film loaded in a body of said camera on a portion of said film masked by said masking means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
125 words
A photographic camera comprising: a rectangular exposure aperture for forming a picture frame of full size; masking means for selectively partly masking said exposure aperture so as to form a picture frame of a panoramic size which his vertically reduced from said full size when said masking means is set in a panoramic position and for opening the whole said exposure aperture when said masking means is set in a full size position; actuating means for setting said masking means selectively in either said full size position or said panoramic position; manual operating means for operating said actuating means; and means for recording predetermined data on film loaded in a body of said camera on a portion of said film masked by said masking means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
25 words
A photographic camera as defined in claim 26, wherein said data recording means is disposed on a surface of said masking means facing said film.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
23 words
A photographic camera as defined in claim 27, wherein said data recording means includes a liquid crystal display panel and a light-emitting unit.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
20 words
A photographic camera as defined in claim 27, wherein said data recording means includes a light-emitting diode and a lens.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
31 words
A photographic camera as defined in claim 26, wherein said data recording means is disposed on a back door of said camera body for recording said data from behind said film.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
23 words
A photographic camera as defined in claim 30, wherein said data recording means includes a liquid crystal display panel and an electroluminescent lamp.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5010357A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-02-03 | 1995-08-05 | 1996-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-02-03 | 1999-08-05 | 2000-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-02-03 | 2003-08-05 | 2004-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |