 |
Description  |
|
|
BACKGROUND
Photographic cameras of the instant processing variety generally are
categorized in providing for a relatively larger film format. This larger
film size stems basically from a requirement that a resultant developed
picture must be large enough for utilization without resort to enlargement
techniques. Many models of these cameras and related film, as currently
marketed, in addition to utilizing the larger format size, also provide a
film geometry selected to achieve a more enhanced or artistically
desirable image framing. For example, the film recorded image has an
elongate rectangular shape.
When utilized in an appropriate camera, the instant processing film or
photosensitive material is packaged in given quantity within a molded
plastic cassette structure, one flat surface of which is formed to define
an opening, the periphery of which is of rectangular shape corresponding
with the noted image format. To reinforce this periphery or edge, a small
ridge of rectangular cross-section is integrally molded therealong. This
ridge is considered to serve the additional function of assuring proper
alignment and fitting of the cassette and opening at the exposure plane of
the camera. Generally, when the film laden cassette is loaded within a
camera, the ridge may slightly deform to fit within a corresponding cavity
formed with the rear of the camera body. This cavity is formed under very
close tolerance considerations during camera fabrication to assure proper
positioning of a film unit at the image plane.
Following cassette insertion, the camera is readied for use by manually
pulling a tab which effects the removal of an opaque, web-like dark slide
to permit exposure of a forwardmost photosensitive film unit within the
cassette.
Considering now in more detail the noted larger film format size and
geometry, it may be noted that the consuming public long has held an
interest in smaller format, "wallet-size" photographs. Such size is easily
carried and accessible, but of a size perhaps smaller than that desired
for mounting within photographic albums. It would be desirable to provide
a capability for generating such smaller format image size utilizing
inexpensive cameras of the instant processing variety, but without wasting
valuable film and without requiring elaborate modification of those
cameras already sold and in use by the general public. Such conversion
must be so simple as to be capable of being carried out by the typical
amateur user of the camera.
Looking to the latter aspect in more detail, to be practical within the
amateur photographic market, a "wallet sizing" conversion device must meet
somewhat rigid "human engineering" design criteria. For example, the
prospective purchaser will not be interested in any form of device which
can be construed as one wherein he or she will be called upon to modify a
camera in any manner or form. The procedures to be carried out by the
purchaser must be simple in the extreme and not involve the camera
structure itself nor conventional camera film loading procedures. Next,
the "wallet sizing" conversion must operate reliably while remaining
simple in structure and operation. Further the conversion must be just as
simply reversable to regain the larger format image size. Additionally, an
artistically desirable format geometry present as an elongate rectangle
should be preserved even in the smaller format. Next, the cost of such
arrangement must be commensurate with the corresponding lower cost of
popularly priced cameras.
SUMMARY
The present invention is addressed to a film frame selective masking device
which easily adapts a conventional amateur system of the self-developing
type to incorporate a capability for providing photographs of
"wallet-size" format. Non complex in nature and fabricable at low unit
cost, the masking device of the invention readily lends itself to use by
the amateur photographer.
It its preferred embodiment, the device is provided, inter alia, as a thin
frame member which is positionable by the operator within the film frame
opening of a film laden cassette. The frame member is positioned in
resilient, "snap action" fashion just at the cassette opening periphery
and serves to define an outer restraint for an opaque mask. This mask,
rectangular in configuration and having a surface extent of about one-half
the film frame area, is positioned between the cassette, i.e., the
forwardmost film unit, and the thin frame. During installation by the
operator, the opaque dark slide is left in place; the mask is positioned
over it; and the thin frame is snapped into place over the entire
assemblage. The cassette then is positioned within a camera in the usual
fashion and the dark slide is removed with no change in operating
procedure to ready the camera for use. By only operating upon the
inexpensive disposable film cassette to achieve a "wallet sizing"
function, the amateur operator is not intimidated by being called upon to
approach the task of a "camera modification." In consequence, the device
of the invention meets all human engineering criteria for achieving market
acceptance. Of additional importance, however, by inserting the two
components of the invention within the cassette film frame opening, there
is substantially no forewardly disposed obscuration within the light path
of the camera which otherwise may be the cause of flair peripheral blurred
edge effects. Further avoidance of flair is assured through the coating of
both frame 30 and mask 22 with a flat black paint or the like
non-reflective coating.
In use, by tilting the camera to one side, the opaque slide moves by
gravity to one side of the film frame to mask one half of it. A photograph
then is taken using only the unmasked portion of the film frame. Following
that exposure, the camera is tilted in an opposite direction to cause the
mask to slide into its other extreme position and a next exposure is made
using the opposite half of the film unit. Following the second exposure
the film unit, now carrying two images, is removed through camera-mounted
processing components such as rolls and the like.
As a further feature and object of the invention, the above-described
opaque mask is configured so as to contact the film or photosensitive
surface only in the region of its corresponding peripheral contact with
the frame member. This assures an importantly reliable sliding action of
the mask when the camera is tilted to effect its movement from one
terminal position to another.
Other objects of the invention will, in part, be obvious and will, in part,
appear hereinafter.
The invention accordingly comprises the apparatus possessing the
construction, combination of elements and parts which are exemplified in
the following detailed disclosure. For a fuller understanding of the
nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the
following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of the components of the invention in
combination with a film cassette with which they are intended for use;
FIG. 2 is a top view of the thin frame member of the invention;
FIG. 3 is a front view of the frame member of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a top view of the mask element of the invention; and
FIG. 5 is a side view of the mask element of the apparatus of the invention
.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
As discussed above, the apparatus of the present invention operates in
conjunction with a film cassette of a variety incorporating a relatively
larger, snapshot size, opening which is so located within an instant
processing camera when the film cassette is inserted therewithin as to
position an uppermost photosensitive film unit or material at the image
plane of the camera. Such opening will be in the form of a relatively
elongate rectangle, such geometry having been found in the photographic
arts to achieve more pleasing photograhic framing characteristics.
Looking to FIG. 1, such a film laden cassette is represented generally at
10 as it would appear following removal from its container and wrappers
and in readiness for normal insertion within a camera. In this regard the
cassette 10 incorporates a plurality of film unit components as at 12
which are so positioned within cassette 10 as to be sequentially located
at the rectangular opening thereof which is defined by a small ridge 14 of
rectangular cross-section. The lower surface of ridge 14 defines the film
frame and image plane for exposure of the uppermost one of the
photosensitive materials of units 12. This image plane is designated by
the general numeral 16. To protect the uppermost one of the photosensitive
components of film units 12 upon opening a fresh package of film, cassette
10 incorporates a dark slide 18 which is formed of a web of paper or the
like which is treated so as to remain opaque to actinic radiation. In
normal operation of the instant processing camera, the cassette 10 is
inserted within the receiving chamber of the camera, whereupon the ridge
14 is somewhat forceably conformed or nested within a carefully formed
cavity at the rear image plane region of the camera. The receiving chamber
then is closed and the dark slide 18 is manually removed by grasping and
pulling the small tab 20 thereof. When the dark slide has been removed, a
first photosensitive film unit is automatically positioned at the image
plane of the camera ready for exposure.
The instant invention provides an arrangement wherein only one half of the
image plane area is exposed per actuation of the camera within which
cassette 10 is inserted. The mask arrangement for the invention is present
as mask component 22 which is formed of a material opaque to actinic
radiation, preferably a metal such as steel or the like. As will be
elaborated upon in more detail later herein, the use of a heavier metal
facilitates the reliability of operation of the device as well as
facilitates the manufacture of the device under more economical, tolerance
achieving fabrication considerations. Mask 22 is of generally rectangular
shape and is formed having an area extent preferably representing one half
of the film frame area 16. Mask 22 further is configured having two
external edges, as at 24 and 26, which are configured in stepped fashion
such that the substantial portion of its underlying surface as at 28 will
be positioned above the uppermost film unit at film frame 16 when the mask
22 is directly positioned thereover. This particular structuring of mask
22 is revealed in detail in FIGS. 4 and 5.
The dimensioning of mask 22 is provided such that the stepdown peripheries
thereof at 24 and 26 will rest directly upon only the edge surfaces of the
uppermost film unit at image plane 16, the edges of these portions riding
directly adjacent the corresponding inwardly positioned edge of ridge 14.
As is apparent, when the mask 22 is on one side of the opening 16, one
half of the image area thereof adjacent mask 22 is available for exposure
and will provide a snapshot size format corresponding to about one half of
the area of the image plane. Note, that while mask 22 does ride upon the
film surface, it does so only at the periphery thereof.
To retain mask 22 in slideable adjacency with the uppermost film unit at
plane 16, a thin frame member 30 is provided. Referring additionally to
FIGS. 2 and 3, frame 30 is shown to comprise a thin frame structure having
slightly enlarged end components 32 and 34. End component 32 is configured
having an integrally formed outwardly and slightly downwardly extending
tab portion 36, while portion 34 incorporates very small protruding
detents 38 and 40 (FIGS. 2 and 3). Preferably, the frame is formed or
stamped of a generally rigid material. As is apparent, the purpose of the
frame 30 is to retain mask 22 in slideable relation over the uppermost
film surface. To accomplish this in simple and expedient fashion, the
extended portion 32 in combination with tab 36 are arranged so as to
maintain frame 30 nominally at the elevation of ridge 14. The slight
canting of tab 36 provides a generally upwardly directed spring bias of
the frame against the underside of that portion of the ridge 14 with which
it comes in contact. As is revealed from the drawings, that portion may be
either of the shorter sides of the elongate rectangle defined by ridge 14.
Similarly, side 34 of the frame incorporates very small detents 38 and 40
which will be situate just beneath the surface of ridge 14 as it is
present oppositely that side with which tab 36 is engaged. In affect, a
slight spring action is exerted by the frame assembly to provide for its
retention at a proper orientation permitting the slideability of mask 22.
Of further importance, however, the spring-like or resilient behavior of
frame 30 is such as to "give" in concert with ridge 14 in the course of
insertion of cassette 10 within the receiving chamber of a camera. Thus,
the arrangement of the invention accommodates to the pre-existing
"interface" design extent between ridge 14 and the film cassette receiving
structure of the instant processing type camera. Note further in this
regard, that mask 22 does not hinder this necessary resiliency, inasmuch
as it rides over and is supported upon the outer surface of an uppermost
positioned film unit. While remaining of necessary simple structure the
design of the invention accommodates to the necessary human engineering
type aspects relating film laden cassette and camera receiving chamber.
The slightly enlarged side 34 of the frame assures appropriate positioning
against an adjacent ridge portion 14 as well as the proper positioning of
the detents 38 and 40 therebeneath. When the frame is inserted by the
operator into cassette 10, mask 22 will have been dropped upon the
darkslide 18 covered image plane 16. Tab 36 then is simply inserted
beneath a corresponding underside of ridge 14 and the frame 30 then is
pivoted thereabout downwardly such that detents 38 and 40 snap beneath the
opposite corresponding side of ridge 14. Frame 30 thus is resiliently
retained between these two components 32 and 34. Additionally, the frame
is positioned slightly above the corresponding stepped portions 24 and 26
of mask 22. With the simply installed arrangement, mask 22 is free to
slide from one extreme position within the area defined by ridge 14 to the
other. Of course, the mask stops in such an extreme position upon the side
thereof abutting against a corresponding portion of ridge 14.
In operation, mask 22 is positioned over the dark-slide surface at plane 16
and frame 30 is then positioned thereover in the manner above described.
The operator then inserts cassette 10 along with the assembly of the
invention into the receiving chamber of the camera in normal fashion. The
receiving chamber then is closed and the tab 20 of darkslide 18 is pulled
to remove the darkslide and effect the positioning of an uppermost one of
the photosensitive components in the cassette 10 at the image plane of the
camera. The camera then is tilted to one side or the other at the option
of the operator. Mask 22 will slide to one side of opening 16 and as it
abuts against ridge 14 at the conclusion of this sliding movement, a
distinct "click" will be heard by the operator. The camera then is
utilized in normal fashion, however, only one-half of the image plane is
exposed. To accommodate for this, the operator merely frames the image to
be photographed in the appropriate one-half of the view finder of the
camera. Following this exposure, the camera is tilted in the opposite
direction. As before, mask 22 will slide until it reaches an abutting
orientation against an opposite side of ridge 14. Hereagain, a distinct
"click" will be heard by the operator to apprise him that mask 22 is in
proper position for uncovering the opposite side of plane 16. Another
exposure is taken in conventional manner, the operator using the opposite
half of the image area of the view finder. Following the completion of the
second exposure, the film unit, now carrying two "wallet size" exposed
portions, is removed through a processing station of the camera in the
usual fashion and a film unit carrying two wallet size pictures ultimately
is derived.
As is apparent from the above, the instant device is quite simple and in
its preferred embodiment readily may be used by the typical amateur camera
operator. No alteration of the camera itself is required to achieve
wallet-size format photography and the frame may be inserted at the option
of the operator. Following exhaustion of the cassette, the frame 30 and
mask 22 are simply removed for another use.
As is apparent no hint of camera modification is required to describe the
use of the apparatus. Further, the frame-mask combination of the invention
uniquely accomodates to the tolerance-related engineering aspects already
present within the instance processing camera design.
Since certain changes may be made in the above described apparatus without
departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended
that all matter contained in the description thereof or shown in the
accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a
limiting sense.
* * * * *
|
|
 |
|
 |
Description |
|
