GROUND PLANE INDICIA MEANS

• US 3,552,283 A
• Filed: 03/27/1968
• Issued: 01/05/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Babcock David Lockman, Hubert Nerwin
• Original Assignee: Babcock David Lockman, Hubert Nerwin
• Inventors: BABCOCK DAVID LOCKMAN, NERWIN HUBERT
• Application Number:
  US04/716,576
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• US Class Current: 396/50
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/245 Optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2217/243 Optical devices
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2217/246 Details of the markings

Abstract

A ground plane indicia device purpose providing an image on exposed photographic film for the purpose of indicating the ground plane on the developed negative or positive print, regardless of the camera attitude at the time of shooting. The device comprises a transparent body which houses a weighted element adapted to nest in the lowermost corner of the body, under the discipline of the gravitational force. The transparent body may be positioned within the camera body proper, or within a roll film cartridge, the only requirement being that the transparent body be in the path of the exposing light from the subject being photographed to the film at the film plane of the camera. The developed negative or positive film contains an arrowlike imprint on the periphery of the film frame, the arrow pointing toward the ground plane, so that it may be used to conveniently orient the film or transparency.

Claims

1. A ground plane indicia means for a camera having light admitting means through which a film in the camera is exposed, comprising:

a. body means mounted within the camera, said body means defining a unitary chamber in the path of the light passing through the light admitting means when an image exposure is made, said chamber having a plurality of corners;

b. weighted means freely movable within the chamber under gravitational force discipline, and seatable in one of said corners as a function of the orientation of the camera relative to a ground plane; and

said weighted means and said chamber cooperating to define a light passageway of a configuration forming an indicia on the film when an image exposure is made, and which when developed indicates the ground plane for the image.

2. Ground plane indicia means according to claim 1 wherein said chamber has the geometric configuration of a rhombus.

3. Ground plane indicia means according to claim 1 wherein said chamber has the geometric configuration of a rhomboid.

4. Ground plane indicia means according to claim 1 wherein said chamber has the geometric configuration of a rectangle.

5. Ground plane indicia means according to claim 1 wherein said chamber has the geometric configuration of a square.

6. Ground plane indicia means according to claim 1 wherein said weighted means has the geometric configuration of a disc arranged to be moveable between said transparent windows.

7. Ground plane indicia means according to claim 1 wherein said chamber has parallel, spaced apart transparent windows, and said weighted means is interposed between said windows and has the geometric configuration of a disc, the planar faces of which are arranged in spaced relationship from and substantially parallel to said parallel transparent windows.

8. A roll film cartridge adapted for loading into a camera having light admitTing means through which a film in the camera is exposed, comprising:

a. body means mounted within the camera, said body means defining a unitary chamber in the path of the light passing through the light admitting means when an image exposure is made, said chamber having a plurality of corners;

b. weighted means freely movable within the chamber under gravitational force discipline, and seating in one of said corners as a function of the position of the camera relative to a ground plane; and

said weighted means and said chamber cooperating to define a light passageway of a configuration forming an indicia on the film when an image exposure is made which when developed indicates the ground plane for the image.

9. A roll film cartridge according to claim 8 wherein said chamber has the geometric configuration of a rhombus.

10. A roll film cartridge according to claim 8 wherein said chamber has the geometric configuration of a rhomboid.

11. A roll film cartridge according to claim 8 wherein said chamber has the geometric configuration of a rectangle.

12. A roll film cartridge according to claim 8 wherein said chamber has the geometric configuration of a square.

13. A roll film cartridge according to claim 8 wherein said weighted means has the geometric configuration of a disc the planar faces of which are arranged in spaced relationship from and substantially parallel to said parallel transparent windows.