Patent US5311231A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5311231A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Lens-fitted photographic film unit and method for assembling the same
Assignee: Fujifilm Holdings Corp
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Filing: 1992-09-30
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Granted: 1994-05-10
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Expires: 2012-09-30
Abstract
Abstract A lens-fitted photographic film unit comprises a main body having a photograph-taking function and a rear cover for shielding the rear of the main body in a light-tight manner. The main body has a film supply chamber and a film take-up chamber both of which are provided with respective bottom openings. The film supply chamber is provided with a first side edge limiting plate so as partially to shield the bottom opening. The rear cover is provided with a cap for closing the bottom opening of the film supply chamber and a second side edge limiting plate. A winding shaft is engaged with a film leader of a photographic film, drawn from a photographic film cassette and positioned in a film supply chamber. Similarly, the empty photographic film cassette is positioned in a film take-up chamber. When the rear cover is attached to the main body, an arc-shaped cutout of the first side edge limiting plate faces an arc-shaped cutout of the second side edge limiting plate to form a circular opening through which the winding shaft is inserted and withdrawn. The winding shaft is rotated in the opening to wind up the film thereon. After forming a film roll, the winding shaft is pulled out of the film roll through the opening and the cap is closed to seal the unit light-tightly.
Inventors
- 👤 Chiaki Suzuki
- 👤 Junichi Takagi
- 👤 Seiji Asano
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:24
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B17/00; G03B17/02; G03B19/00; G03B19/02; G03B19/04; G03B2219/00; G03B2219/02; G03B2219/04; G03B2219/045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A lens-fitted photographic film unit having a main body which includes a film take-up chamber for containing a photographic film cassette and a film supply chamber for containing a film roll formed after drawing a photographic film from said photographic film cassette, there being an exposure frame between said chambers, said lens-fitted photographic film unit comprising: a bottom opening formed in a bottom of said film supply chamber; a rear cover including a rear section covering the rear of said main body; a first cap for closing said bottom opening of said film supply chamber; and side edge limiting means integral with said film unit and permitting a film winding shaft to be inserted into said film supply chamber to wind said film roll thereon but preventing a side edge of said film roll from protruding in a spiral from within said film supply chamber toward the outside thereof when said winding shaft is subsequently pulled out of said film supply chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
162 words
A lens-fitted photographic film unit having a main body which includes a film take-up chamber for containing a photographic film cassette and a film supply chamber for containing a film roll formed after drawing a photographic film from said photographic film cassette, there being an exposure frame between said chambers, said lens-fitted photographic film unit comprising: a bottom opening formed in a bottom of said film supply chamber; a rear cover including a rear section covering the rear of said main body; a first cap for closing said bottom opening of said film supply chamber; and side edge limiting means integral with said film unit and permitting a film winding shaft to be inserted into said film supply chamber to wind said film roll thereon but preventing a side edge of said film roll from protruding in a spiral from within said film supply chamber toward the outside thereof when said winding shaft is subsequently pulled out of said film supply chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A lens-fitted photographic film unit as recited in claim 1, wherein said first cap is integrally and swingably connected with said rear section by a thin flexible web.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A lens-fitted photographic film unit as recited in claim 1, wherein said rear cover includes a second cap swingably secured to said rear cover for closing an opening formed in a bottom of said film take-up chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A lens-fitted photographic film unit as recited in claim 3, wherein said second cap is integrally and swingably connected with said rear section by a thin flexible web.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A lens-fitted photographic film unit as recited in claim 1, wherein said rear section has a curved portion facing said film supply chamber so as to prevent said film roll from being loosened into an oval shape.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
A lens-fitted photographic film unit as recited in claim 1, wherein said side edge limiting means includes a first side edge limiting plate which is provided on said main body at the bottom of said film supply chamber so as to shield a portion of said bottom opening.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A lens-fitted photographic film unit as recited in claim 6, wherein said first side edge limiting plate has a first arc-shaped cutout so as to receive said winding shaft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
A lens-fitted photographic film unit as recited in claim 6, wherein said side edge limiting means further includes a second side edge limiting plate which is formed on said rear section proximate said first cap and shields a portion of said bottom opening, when said rear cover is attached to said main body.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
A lens-fitted photographic film unit as recited in claim 8, wherein said second side edge limiting plate has a second arc-shaped cutout, which forms together with said first cutout a hole through which said winding shaft is inserted and withdrawn.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
A lens-fitted photographic film unit as recited in claim 6, wherein said first side edge limiting plate has a ridge and said first cap has a groove into which said ridge is fitted so as to prevent external light from entering.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
A lens-fitted photographic film unit as recited in claim 9, wherein a circular ridge is formed on said first cap and enters said hole so as to push back a central portion of the side edge of said film roll which slightly protrudes after withdrawing said winding shaft from said film supply chamber.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
231 words
A method for assembling a lens-fitted photographic film unit which includes a main body and a rear cover, said main body having a film take-up chamber for containing a photographic film cassette and a film supply chamber frr containing a photographic film in a roll formed after drawing a photographic film from said photographic film cassette, said method comprising the steps of: engaging a leader of said photographic film with a winding shaft; disposing said winding shaft and said photographic film cassette respectively in said film supply chamber and said film take-up chamber, said winding shaft protruding from a first bottom opening formed in a bottom of said film supply chamber; attaching said rear cover to said main body, said rear cover covering a rear surface of said main body in a light-tight manner but leaving an opening of a size sufficient to permit withdrawal of said winding shaft while preventing withdrawal of said film; rotating said winding shaft so as to draw said photographic film from said photographic film cassette and to wind said photographic film in a roll on said winding shaft; withdrawing said winding shaft from said film supply chamber to separate said winding shaft from said roll of photographic film; and covering said first bottom opening of said film supply chamber with a first cap so as to shield said first bottom opening in a light-tight manner.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
231 words
A method for assembling a lens-fitted photographic film unit which includes a main body and a rear cover, said main body having a film take-up chamber for containing a photographic film cassette and a film supply chamber frr containing a photographic film in a roll formed after drawing a photographic film from said photographic film cassette, said method comprising the steps of: engaging a leader of said photographic film with a winding shaft; disposing said winding shaft and said photographic film cassette respectively in said film supply chamber and said film take-up chamber, said winding shaft protruding from a first bottom opening formed in a bottom of said film supply chamber; attaching said rear cover to said main body, said rear cover covering a rear surface of said main body in a light-tight manner but leaving an opening of a size sufficient to permit withdrawal of said winding shaft while preventing withdrawal of said film; rotating said winding shaft so as to draw said photographic film from said photographic film cassette and to wind said photographic film in a roll on said winding shaft; withdrawing said winding shaft from said film supply chamber to separate said winding shaft from said roll of photographic film; and covering said first bottom opening of said film supply chamber with a first cap so as to shield said first bottom opening in a light-tight manner.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as recited in claim 12, wherein said first cap is swingably mounted on and integral with said rear cover and is swung to close said first bottom opening.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method as recited in claim 12, wherein said film take-up chamber has a second bottom opening and a second cap is swingably mounted on and integral with said rear cover and is swung to close said second bottom opening so as to shield said second bottom opening in a light-tight manner.
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) | 1997-05-09 | 1997-11-08 | 1998-05-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-05-09 | 2001-11-08 | 2002-05-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-05-09 | 2005-11-08 | 2006-05-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |