Patent US5406382A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5655156A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5655156A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for closing a camera body
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
•
Filing: 1996-10-07
•
Granted: 1997-08-05
•
Expires: 2016-10-07
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus is disclosed for closing a camera body of a type including a housing (10) for internal camera components, the housing including a cover part (12) and another part (14); and a plurality of fastener pairs (54, 56; 60, 62) extending between said parts, each fastener pair including a hook (54, 56) and a catch (60, 62) including an opening (64) for engaging a tip (56') of the hook. The apparatus may include a frame 162); a gripper (166-186) supported by the frame, the gripper having a pair of tines (170, 172) separated by a slot (174) for receiving the tip of the hook, a least one of the tines being configured (176-186) to engage an edge of the opening during insertion of the gripper into the opening, whereby said at least one tine is caused to flex into contact with the tip of the hook to grip the tip between said tines; and a cutter (188-192) supported by the frame, said the having a cutting edge (190) extended across the slot for severing the tip from the hook. A method of use also is taught.
Inventors
- 👤 John Sieminski, Jr.
- 👤 David Louis Traino
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 02:03
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B17/00; G03B17/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
Apparatus for closing a camera body of a type including a housing for internal camera components, the housing including a cover part and another part; and a plurality of fastener pairs extending between said parts, each fastener pair including a hook and a catch including an opening for engaging a tip of the hook, said apparatus comprising: a frame; a gripper supported by said frame, said gripper having a pair of tines separated by a slot for receiving the tip of the hook, a least one of said tines being configured to engage an edge of the opening during insertion of said gripper into the opening, whereby said at least one tine is caused to flex into contact with the tip of the hook to grip the tip between said tines; and a cutter supported by said frame, said cutter having a cutting edge extended across said slot for severing the tip from the hook.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
Apparatus for closing a camera body of a type including a housing for internal camera components, the housing including a cover part and another part; and a plurality of fastener pairs extending between said parts, each fastener pair including a hook and a catch including an opening for engaging a tip of the hook, said apparatus comprising: a frame; a gripper supported by said frame, said gripper having a pair of tines separated by a slot for receiving the tip of the hook, a least one of said tines being configured to engage an edge of the opening during insertion of said gripper into the opening, whereby said at least one tine is caused to flex into contact with the tip of the hook to grip the tip between said tines; and a cutter supported by said frame, said cutter having a cutting edge extended across said slot for severing the tip from the hook.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a nest for holding a camera comprising the housing; and means for moving said frame to engage said gripper with the tip of the hook and to force said cutter to sever the tip.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein upon withdrawal of said gripper from the opening after said severing, said tine flexes out of contact with the severed tip, further comprising: means for collecting the severed tip.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the means for collecting comprises a vacuum receiver.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said gripper and cutter are fixedly supported by said frame.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a nest for holding a camera comprising the housing; means for welding the hook to the catch adjacent the tip; means for moving said nest from a first position in which the hook can be engaged by said means for welding, to a second position in which the tip can be engaged by said gripper and the tip can be severed by said cutter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein both of said tines are configured to engage an edge of the opening during insertion of said gripper into the opening, whereby both of said tines are caused to flex into contact with the tip of the hook to grip the tip between said tines.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for closing a camera body of a type including a housing for internal camera components, the housing including a cover part and another part; and a plurality of fastener pairs extending between said parts, each fastener pair including a hook and a catch including an opening for engaging a tip of said hook, said method comprising steps of: closing the cover part and the other part to form the housing, whereby the tips of the hooks engage the openings of the catches; welding the hooks to the catches; and severing the tips from the hooks.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for closing a camera body of a type including a housing for internal camera components, the housing including a cover part and another part; and a plurality of fastener pairs extending between said parts, each fastener pair including a hook and a catch including an opening for engaging a tip of said hook, said method comprising steps of: closing the cover part and the other part to form the housing, whereby the tips of the hooks engage the openings of the catches; welding the hooks to the catches; and severing the tips from the hooks.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 8, further comprising steps of: gripping the tips prior to said severing step; and withdrawing the tips from the opening of the catches.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 8, further comprising a step of: prior to said welding and severing steps, testing the camera; and omitting said welding and severing steps for cameras which fail to meet predetermined standards during said testing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1903097A
Cited
US3328876A
Cited
US3827588A
Cited
US4497113A
Cited
US4833495A
Cited
US5126775A
Cited
US5285229A
Cited
US5349410A
Cited
EP0596509A1
Cited
EP0598393A2
Cited
JPH07134371A
Cited
JPH07244358A
Cited
US5452513A
Cited
EP0704760A1
Cited
US5581321A
Cited
US5530507A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-08-04 | 2001-02-03 | 2001-08-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-08-04 | 2005-02-03 | 2005-08-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-08-04 | 2009-02-03 | 2009-08-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |