Folding photographic method and apparatus

• US 5,950,020 A
• Filed: 01/16/1998
• Issued: 09/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Polaroid Corporation (PLR IP Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Silver, Jason D., Kirby, John P., Neely, Paul F., Clark, Peter P., Ball, Alan D., Whiteside, George D.
• Primary Examiner(s): RUTLEDGE, DELLA J
• Application Number:
  US09/008,644
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 396/73, 396/75, 396/83, 396/100, 396/103, 396/121, 396/348, 396/535, 396/30
• US Class Current: 396/73
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/52 of the Land type

Abstract

A multiple focal length folding imaging device includes a first and second housing which are operably joined together for movement relative to one another so that the second housing is movable relative to the first housing between at least a first position and a second position. The first housing is formed to at least partially receive therein the second housing, such that when the second housing is in the first position, the second housing is at least partially received within the first housing. The second housing includes an exiting aperture for allowing exiting of at least one image recordable unit therefrom when in the second position, and when the second housing is in the first position, the exiting aperture is at least partially disposed within the first housing so that the at least one image recordable unit cannot exit from the exiting aperture. Furthermore, the imaging device includes a lens movement mechanism for transferring linear motion to rotational motion so that different lens systems can be readily moved into the optical path of the imaging device.

Claims

1. A camera comprising:

a first and a second housing being operably joined together for movement relative to each other such that said second housing is movable relative to said first housing between at least a first position and a second position, said first housing being formed to at least partially receive therein said second housing such that when said second housing is in said first position said second housing is at least partially received within said first housing;

a film plane disposed in said second housing; and

a focusing lens means, disposed in said first housing, for directing image forming light rays from a scene to the film plane disposed in said second housing at said second position;

said focusing lens means comprising;

at least a dual focal length lens arrangement having first and second lens systems;

respectively, each of the lens systems being movable into and out of operative optical relationship with the focusing lens means for providing corresponding different focal lengths for the camera.

2. The camera of claim 1 wherein one of the lens systems is a telephoto type.

3. The camera of claim 2 wherein said camera is of the self-developing type.

4. The camera of claim 1 further comprising means for mounting each of the lens systems for sequential movement into and out of operative optical relationship with the focusing lens means, such that only one of the lens systems is in operative relationship at any one time.

5. The camera of claim 4 wherein said means for mounting each of the lens systems includes a single carrier means which is movable between first and second positions, such that one of the lens systems is in operative optical relationship with the focusing lens means when said carrier is in the first position and the other of the lens systems is in operative optical relationship with the focusing lens means when said carrier is in the second position.

6. The camera of claim 4 wherein said mounting means includes a separate carrier means for each of the lens systems, wherein each of the separate carriers is coupled to each other so as to be mutually movable with respect to each other, whereby only one of the respective lens systems is in operative optical relationship with the focusing lens means when the other lens system is out of operative optical relationship.

7. The camera of claim 1 wherein means are provided for changing camera functions in response to which of the lens systems is in operative relationship with the focusing lens system.

8. Apparatus for use with an imaging device, said apparatus comprising:

first and second housing means being operably joined together for movement relative to each other such that said second housing means is movable relative to said first housing means between at least a first position and a second position, said first housing means being formed to at least partially receive therein said second housing means and being connectable to the imaging device, such that when said second housing means is in said first position said second housing means is at least partially received within said first housing means;

said second housing means including an exiting means for allowing exiting of at least one image recordable film unit therefrom when in said second position, and when said second housing means is in said first position said exiting means is at least partially disposed within said first housing means to prevent said at least one image recordable film unit from exiting.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said second housing means houses a film cassette containing a plurality of self-developing said film units, each of which is sequentially exitable from said exiting means.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said first housing means houses imaging means including means for exposing one of said film units.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said imaging device is in an operable mode when said second housing means is in said first position and said imaging device is in an inoperable mode when said second housing means is in said second position.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said first and second housing means house a multiple focal length imaging system.

13. A multi-focal length camera of the self-developing type comprising:

first and second housing means being operably joined together for movement relative to each other such that said second housing means is movable relative to said first housing means between at least a first position and a second position, said first housing means being formed to at least partially receive therein said second housing means, such that when said second housing means is in said first position said second housing means is at least partially received within said first housing means;

said second housing means including an exiting means for allowing exiting of a film unit therefrom when in said second position, and when said second housing means is in said first position said exiting means is at least partially disposed within said first housing means preventing said film unit from exiting.

14. The camera of claim 13, wherein said second housing means houses a film cassette containing a plurality of self-developing said film units.

15. The camera of claim 14, wherein said first housing means houses imaging means for sequentially exposing each one of said film units.

16. The camera of claim 14, wherein whenever said camera is in an imaging mode, said second housing means is in said first position and whenever said camera is in a non-imaging mode said second housing means is in said second position.

17. A lens positioning method for use in an imaging device, said imaging device including a first housing means having at least one first focusing means and a second housing means having at least one second focusing means, said method comprising the steps of:

moving a first of said at least one first focusing means into an optical path of said imaging device when said first housing means is moved to a first position;

moving a second of said at least one first focusing means into said optical path when said first housing means is moved to a second position different from said first position; and

transferring motion of said first housing means into motion of said second housing means for moving a first of said at least one second focusing means into said optical path upon moving said first housing means to said first position and moving a second of said at least one second focusing means into said optical path upon moving said first housing means to said second position.

18. A lens positioning system for use in an imaging device having optical means for directing light along an imaging optical path from a scene onto a film plane, photometric means, viewfinder optics means and means for operating with multiple focal lengths, said lens positioning system comprising:

first housing means for housing first focusing lens means, means for passing light, photometric correction means and viewfinder optics correction means;

second housing means for housing second focusing lens means, said second focusing lens means comprising first focal length focusing lens means and second focal length focusing lens means; and

motion transfer means for transferring motion of said first housing means into motion of said second housing means so that, in a first focal length position, said first focal length focusing lens means and said means for passing light are both positioned along the imaging optical path, said photometric correction means and said photometric means are both positioned along a photometer path and said viewfinder optics correction means and said viewfinder optics means are both positioned along a viewfinder optical path, and in a second focal length position, said second focal length focusing lens means and said first focusing lens means are both positioned along said the imaging optical path and both said photometric means and said viewfinder optics means are positioned in line with said means for passing light.

19. The lens positioning system of claim 18, wherein both said photometric means and said photometric correction means are light photometers.

20. The lens positioning system of claim 18, wherein said motion transfer means comprises:

a rack and pinion operably connected to said first housing means;

a gear shaft having said pinion connected thereto adjacent to one end of said gear shaft and having a fork arm connected thereto adjacent to another end of said gear shaft, said fork arm being perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said gear shaft;

a lens shaft connected to said second housing means; and

an extending arm connected adjacent to one end of said lens shaft, said extending arm attached to said fork arm and perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said lens shaft.

21. The lens positioning system of claim 18, wherein said second housing means comprises a first lens carrier for housing said first focal length focusing lens means, and a second lens carrier for housing said second focal length focusing lens means.

22. The lens positioning system of claim 21, wherein said motion transfer means comprises:

a rack and pinion operably connected to said first housing means;

a gear shaft having said pinion connected thereto adjacent to one end of said gear shaft and having a first beveled gear at the other end of said gear shaft;

a first lens shaft positioned perpendicular to said gear shaft and connected at one end to said second housing means and having a second beveled gear interactive with said first beveled gear at the other end of said first lens shaft.

23. The lens positioning system of claim 21, wherein said motion transfer means further comprises a linkage for transferring rotational movement of said first lens shaft to rotational movement of a second lens shaft connected to said second lens carrier.

24. The lens positioning system of claim 18, wherein said motion transfer means further comprises:

a first arm pivotally attached at one end to a pivot point on a body and fixedly attached at another end to said viewfinder optics correction means having a second arm protruding therefrom;

a leaf spring connected at one end to said first focal length focusing lens means and at another end to said first arm; and

a stop for aligning said viewfinder optics correction means along the viewfinder optical path when engaged with said second arm.

25. A lens positioning system for providing multiple focal lengths in an imaging device having means for directing image forming light rays from a scene to an imaging plane, said lens positioning system comprising:

first housing means for housing a first focusing lens means;

second housing means for housing a second focusing lens means; and

means for transferring motion of said first housing means into motion of said second housing means, said first and second housing means being movable to position said first and second focusing means along an optical path of said image directing means to provide at least one of said multiple focal lengths.

26. The lens positioning system of claim 25, wherein said first and second housing means are movable by said means for transferring motion to position said first and second focusing means along said optical path of said image directing means to provide another of said multiple focal lengths.

27. The lens positioning system of claim 25, wherein said at least one multiple focal length provides a telephoto type lens system.

28. The lens positioning system of claim 25, wherein said at least one multiple focal length provides a wide angle type lens system.