Folding disposable camera apparatus in combination with instant film

• US 5,103,249 A
• Filed: 10/24/1990
• Issued: 04/07/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Senshin Capital LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Polaroid Corporation (PLR IP Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Keene, Lauren
• Primary Examiner(s): Hix, L. T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLANKENSHIP, HOWARD BENNETT
• Application Number:
  US07/602,490
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 354/83, 354/84, 354/85, 354/86, 354/187, 354/192, 354/193, 354/194, 354/245, 354/304, 354/288
• US Class Current: 396/6
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/04 collapsible, foldable or extensible, e.g. book type
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/52 of the Land type
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2219/045 adapted for unloading the film in the processing laboratory, e.g. disposable, reusable or recyclable cameras

Abstract

A folding disposable camera for use with instant film for taking photographs typically with eight black and white or color photographs in a 4"×5" and 31/4"×41/4" format, foldable between a packaged stacked position and a picture taking position, including a frame for mounting a foldable enclosure constructed of a unitary blank of sheet material having a plurality of side panels and a front wall for enclosing the instant film positioned in a film container provided in the frame, the frame having a spreader bar apparatus attached at an open end for providing an exit path for the film and film tab including a spreader bar having a slanted groove, an upper tab channel and a lower tab channel the spreader bar acting to release developer contained with the instant film, with a lens and shutter mechanism being mounted on the front wall, and a method of packaging the folding disposable camera with a pack of instant film in a unitary package.

Claims

1. A combined disposable camera and instant film apparatus which apparatus comprises;

A) an instant film means for making a plurality of photographs including developer means;

B) a frame having an open end, a closed end and a back wall characterized by a film compartment for receiving and containing the instant film means and having a tab for manually advancing the instant film means;

C) a spreader means integrally fastened to the frame at the open end for providing a plurality of exit channel means for channeling the film means and for compressively releasing the developer means for developing photographs;

D) a ramp adjacent the back wall of the frame and inclined upwardly for guiding the film means upon manually drawing the film means from the film compartment;

E) a spreader bar adjacent the exit channel means including ridge means extending across the bottom of the spreader bar, the ridge means having grooves for compressing the instant film means and releasing the within contained developer means as such means is manually drawn through the spreader bar after exposure of the film means;

F) a folding enclosure means for enclosing the instant film means and providing controlled exposure thereof having a first pair of sidewalls, a second pair of sidewalls and a pair of front wall panels, including a first front wall panel and a second front wall panel joined by fold lines permitting folding between a first flat position, a second folded stacked position and a third film enclosure position, the enclosure means being adapted for mounting on the frame when in the third film enclosure position;

G) an aperture means for providing an opening in the front wall panels;

H) a lens means for covering the aperture means and making a controlled image of an object upon the film means contained in the film compartment;

I) a view finder means for aiming the camera;

J) a shutter means for controlling the passage of light passing through the aperture means.

2. The disposable camera apparatus of claim 1 wherein the spreader means comprises;

i) an end plate extending transversely across the open end of the frame characterized by a lower elongated film channel for providing a lower exit channel for the instant film means;

ii) a top plate having an arched central guide member characterized by an upper exit channel for providing a duct for the tab provided on the instant film means.

3. A folding camera apparatus comprising;

a) a camera enclosure means adapted to be mounted on a frame containing film means and providing controlled exposure thereof in a light lock having a plurality of sidewalls including at least four side walls including a first pair of sidewalls, a second pair of sidewalls and a pair of front wall panels, including a first wall panel and a second wall panel permitting folding between a firs flat position, a second folded stacked position and a third film enclosure position, wherein the enclosure means is adapted for mounting on the frame and the panels and the first pair of sidewalls, the second pair of side walls and the front wall panels are mutually foldably joined to each other by longitudinal fold lines permitting folding;

b) the frame adapted to receive instant film, the frame means comprising an end plate extending transversely across the open end of the frame characterized by a lower elongated film channel for providing a lower exit for film, the top plate having an arched central guide member characterized by an upper exit channel for providing an upper exit channel for a tab;

c) a spreader means fixedly mounted on the frame comprising a spreader bar;

d) a ramp adjacent the back wall of the frame;

e) an aperture means for providing an opening in the first front wall panels;

f) a lens means for covering the aperture means and making a controlled image of an object upon the film means;

g) a view finder means for aiming the camera apparatus;

h) a shutter means for controlling the passage of light passing through the aperture means into the folding enclosure means, the shutter means being mounted adjacent the aperture means on said first front wall panel and adapted for moving between an open position and a closed position.

4. The flat folding camera apparatus of claim 3 wherein the camera apparatus is disposable.