Self photography booth and method

• US 5,072,246 A
• Filed: 11/20/1989
• Issued: 12/10/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donald O. Thayer, Michael D. Thayer
• Original Assignee: Donald O. Thayer, Michael D. Thayer
• Inventors: Thayer, Donald O., Thayer, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hix, L. T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOH, JAE
• Application Number:
  US07/439,642
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 354/75, 354/76, 354/77, 354/78, 354/80, 354/81, 354/220, 354/290, 358/909, 40/124, 312/321.5, 211/88
• US Class Current: 396/2
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/53 for automatically delivering a finished picture after a signal causing exposure has been given, e.g. by pushing a button, by inserting a coin

Abstract

A self photography system comprises a photographic camera having an image inlet. A video camera has an image inlet and an image outlet, and the video camera is disposed proximate the photographic camera. A pane of semitransparent material is aligned with and disposed forwardly of the camera image inlets. A video display is operably connected to the video camera image inlet for displaying the image perceived by the video camera image inlet. The video display is aligned with the pane for displaying the image thereon.

Claims

1. A self photography system, comprising:

(a) a photographic camera having an image inlet;

(b) a video camera having an image inlet and an image outlet, said video camera disposed proximate said photographic camera;

(c) a pane of material having light reflective and light transmissive properties operably associated with and disposed forwardly of said photographic and video camera image inlets; and

(d) a video display means operably connected to said video camera image outlet for displaying the image perceived by said video camera inlet, said video display means aligned with said pane for displaying the image thereon.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

a) said pane is angularly disposed relative to said cameras.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein:

a) said video display means is disposed below said cameras.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein:

a) said pane is disposed at an angle of substantially 45°

relative to the axis of said photographic camera inlet.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein:

a) said video display means includes a monitor, said monitor aligned with said photographic camera image inlet.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein:

a) said pane is disposed at an angle of substantially 45°

to said photographic camera image inlet; and

b) said video display means is disposed below said photographic camera.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein:

a) said video display means is disposed forwardly of said cameras.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein:

a) each of said inlets has an axis of perception, and said axes are focused on a common point in space.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein:

a) said axes lying on a common plane.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein:

a) support means operably interconnect said cameras and

b) means are operably associated with said support means for pivoting said support means and thereby said cameras.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein:

a) said video display means is operably connected to said support means and pivotal therewith.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein:

a) said cameras are disposed above said support means pivot axis; and

,

b) said video display means is disposed below said support means pivot axis.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein:

a) said video display means is disposed forwardly of the pivot axis of said support means.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein:

a) said photographic camera has a photograph discharge means, and said photograph discharge means is disposed along a side of said photographic camera opposite to said video camera.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein:

a) said photographic camera is a film camera.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein:

a) said pane is secured to said support means and pivotal therewith.

35. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

(a) at least a first photograph holder positioned in at least one of said rack means.

17. A self photography booth, comprising:

a) an enclosure having first and second spaced side walls interconnected by spaced first and second end walls, one of said side walls having an entrance therein permitting access to the interior of said enclosure;

b) at least a first opening in one of said end walls;

c) a self photography system operably associated with said first opening and disposed exteriorly relative to the associated end wall, said self photography system comprising a photographic camera having an image inlet directed at the other of said end walls, a video camera having an image inlet directed at said other of said end walls in substantial alignment with said photographic camera image inlet so that said image inlets perceive substantially the same image, a semi-transparent mirror interposed between said cameras and said other of said end walls, and a video display having the inlet thereof operably connected to said video camera and the outlet thereof directed at said mirror so that the image perceived by said video camera is directed by said mirror through said first opening; and

,

d) means positioned in said enclosure and operably connected to said photographic camera for causing operation thereof.

18. The booth of claim 17, wherein:

a) said mirror is disposed at an angle relative to the associated end wall.

19. The booth of claim 18, wherein:

a) said mirror is disposed at an angle of substantially 45°

to the associated end wall.

20. The booth of claim 17, wherein:

a) said video display outlet is aligned with said photographic camera image inlet.

21. The booth of claim 20, wherein:

a) said video display is disposed below said mirror.

22. The booth of claim 17, wherein:

a) means operably secure said cameras, said video display, and said mirrors;

b) said securing means are pivotal; and

,

c) means are operably associated with said securing means for causing pivoting thereof.

23. The booth of claim 22, wherein:

a) said image inlets are commonly disposed above a portion of said securing means.

24. The booth of claim 22, wherein:

a) said securing means includes first and second interconnected platforms, said cameras each being mounted to said first platform and said video display being mounted to said second platform.

25. The booth of claim 24, wherein:

a) said first platform is disposed above said second platform.

26. The booth of claim 17, further comprising:

a) a secondary enclosure secured to said first mentioned enclosure and extending from said end wall having said opening; and

,

b) said self photography system disposed within said second enclosure.

27. The booth of claim 26, wherein:

a) an access door is pivotally secured to said secondary enclosure for permitting access to said self photography system; and

,

b) at least a first display means is operably secured to said door for displaying a photograph holder.

28. The booth of claim 17, wherein:

a) said photographic camera is a film camera.

29. Self-service photography system, comprising:

a) a housing comprising first and second integral enclosures, said enclosures each having an interior and being of substantially equal height and width but dissimilar length;

b) said first enclosure includes a pivotal door securing an opening to the interior thereof;

c) an accessway disposed in said second enclosure for permitting access to the interior thereof;

d) a self photography system positioned in said first enclosure for permitting an individual located within said second enclosure to take a photograph thereof; and

,

e) at least a first rack means secured to said door for displaying and permitting retrieval of a photograph holder disposed therein.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein:

a) there are a plurality of rack means secured to said door.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein:

a) said rack means are aligned in a plurality of vertically spaced rows, each row having at least two rack means.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein:

a) lock means are operably associated with said door for selectively securing said door in a closed position.

33. The system of claim 30, wherein:

a) each of said rack means is recessed into said door.

34. The system of claim 30, wherein:

a) said rack means each includes a transparent front portion for permitting viewing of the enclosed photograph holder.

36. The method of taking a self portrait, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a self photography system comprising camera means including photographic and video image producing means, a semi-transparent angularly disposed mirror in front of the camera means and a video display below the camera means in alignment with the mirror for directing the image perceived by the video image producing means onto the mirror for thereby being directed to a user;

(b) posing in front of the camera means;

37. A self photography system, comprising:

(a) camera means including photograph producing means and video image producing means, said camera means including an image inlet and a video image outlet;

(b) a pane of material having light reflective and light transmissive properties operably associated with and disposed forwardly of said image inlet; and

,

(c) video display means operably connected to said video image outlet for displaying the image perceived by said image inlet, said video display means aligned with said pane for displaying the image thereon.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein:

(a) said pane of material is angularly disposed relative to said image inlet.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein:

(a) said pane has a first edge adjacent said camera means and a second edge remote therefrom, said first edge is at an elevation less than the elevation of said second edge.

40. The system of claim 37, wherein:

(a) said video display means is disposed below said camera means.

41. The system of claim 37, wherein:

(a) said video display means is disposed forwardly of said camera means.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein:

(a) said video display means is disposed below said camera means.

43. The system of claim 37, wherein:

(a) means are operably associated with said camera means, said pane and said video display means for causing cooperating pivoting thereof.

44. The system of claim 37, wherein:

(a) payment receiving means are operably associated with said camera means for controlling operation thereof.

45. The system of claim 37, wherein:

(a) photographic discharge means are operably associated with said camera means and disposed adjacent thereto for dispensing a photograph to a user.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein:

(a) said discharge means includes a chute having a discharge end disposed below said camera means.