Camera having label-stopped optical system

• US 6,282,374 B1
• Filed: 07/26/1999
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Smith, Stephen J., Boyd, James D., Cramer, Michael P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gray, David M.
• Application Number:
  US09/360,752
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 396/6, 396/322, 396/332, 396/333, 396/529, 396/530, 396/531, 396/532, 396/533, 396/544, 396/545
• US Class Current: 396/6
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2219/045 adapted for unloading the film in the processing laboratory, e.g. disposable, reusable or recyclable cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 9/02 Diaphragms

Abstract

A camera has a body and a label adhered to the body. The body has a lens assembly including a taking lens. The taking lens defines an optical axis. The taking lens has at least one optical element. The optical element has a central part and a peripheral part. The lens assembly has a label receiving surface. The label receiving surface has an outer perimeter. The label receiving surface is free of obstructions to label-placement. The label is adhered to the label receiving surface in spaced relation to the outer perimeter. The label has a hole disposed substantially concentric with the optical axis. The label includes an opaque blocking portion surrounding the hole and overlapping the peripheral part.

Claims

1. A camera comprising:

a body defining a film area and having a lens assembly including a taking lens, said taking lens defining an optical axis, said taking lens having at least one optical element, said optical element having a central part and a peripheral part, said parts providing light paths, unblocked by said body, into said film area, said optical element having a label receiving surface, said label receiving surface having an outer perimeter; and

a label adhered to said label receiving surface in spaced relation to said outer perimeter, said label having a hole disposed substantially concentric with said optical axis, said label including an opaque blocking portion surrounding said hole and overlapping said peripheral part;

wherein said label receiving surface is free of obstructions to light-tight placement of said label in any of a variety of positions on said label receiving surface and said lens assembly includes a cradle supporting and partially enclosing said taking lens.

2. A camera comprising:

a taking lens having at least one optical element, said optical element having an optical axis;

a cradle supporting said taking lens, said cradle having an opening aligned with said optical axis, said opening and said taking lens defining a first field of view, said cradle having a label receiving surface surrounding said opening; and

a label adhered to said label receiving surface, said label having a hole aligned with said opening, said label blocking light originating in a part of said field of view from entering said opening.

3. The camera of claim 2 wherein said label receiving surface is opaque.

4. The camera of claim 2 wherein said label is concentric with said optical axis to within a tolerance of ±

0.3 mm.

5. The camera of claim 2 wherein said label is concentric with said optical axis to within a tolerance of ±

0.2 mm.

6. The camera of claim 2 wherein said label is concentric with said optical axis to within a tolerance of ±

0.1 mm.

7. A camera comprising:

a taking lens defining an optical axis, said taking lens having at least one optical element;

a cradle supporting and partially enclosing said taking lens, said cradle having a uniformly smooth label receiving surface, said label receiving surface having an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter, said inner perimeter and said taking lens defining an initial optical aperture; and

a label adhered to said label receiving surface in spaced relation to said outer perimeter, said label having a hole disposed substantially concentric with said optical axis, said label stopping said taking lens down to a final optical aperture smaller than said initial optical aperture.

8. The camera of claim 7 wherein said label overlaps said inner perimeter.

9. The camera of claim 7 wherein said label is spaced from said taking lens.

10. The camera of claim 7 wherein said label receiving surface is curved and said adhered label is compliant, wrinkle-free and fold-free.

11. A camera comprising:

a body defining a film area and having a lens assembly including a taking lens, said taking lens defining an optical axis, said taking lens having at least one optical element, said optical element having a central part and a peripheral part, said parts providing light paths, unblocked by said body, into said film area, said optical element having a label receiving surface, said label receiving surface having an outer perimeter; and

a label adhered to said label receiving surface in spaced relation to said outer perimeter, said label having a hole disposed substantially concentric with said optical axis, said label including an opaque blocking portion surrounding said hole and overlapping said peripheral part;

wherein said label receiving surface is free of obstructions to light-tight placement of said label in any of a variety of positions on said label receiving surface and said label receiving surface is curved and said adhered label is compliant, wrinkle-free and fold-free.

12. A camera comprising:

a body defining a film area and having a lens assembly including a taking lens, said taking lens defining an optical axis, said taking lens having at least one optical element, said optical element having a central part and a peripheral part, said parts providing light paths, unblocked by said body, into said film area, said optical element having a label receiving surface, said label receiving surface having an outer perimeter; and

a label adhered to said label receiving surface in spaced relation to said outer perimeter, said label having a hole disposed substantially concentric with said optical axis, said label including an opaque blocking portion surrounding said hole and overlapping said peripheral part;

wherein said label receiving surface is free of obstructions to light-tight placement of said label in any of a variety of positions on said label receiving surface and said peripheral part of said lens element includes a molded-in support structure.

13. The camera of claim 12 wherein said optical element has an outside surface and an inside surface and said label is adhered to said outside surface.

14. A camera comprising:

a body having a lens assembly including a taking lens and a light-blocking blocking cradle supporting and partially enclosing said taking lens, said taking lens defining an optical axis, said taking lens having at least one optical element, said optical element having a central part and a peripheral part, said cradle having a label receiving surface, said label receiving surface having an outer perimeter, said label receiving surface being free of obstructions to label-placement; and

a label adhered to said label receiving surface in spaced relation to said outer perimeter, said label having a hole disposed substantially concentric with said optical axis, said label including an opaque blocking portion surrounding said hole and overlapping said peripheral part.

15. The camera of claim 14 wherein said label receiving surface has an inner perimeter opposite said outer perimeter and said label overlaps said inner perimeter.

16. The camera of claim 14 wherein said label receiving surface is free of protuberances.

17. The camera of claim 14 wherein said label receiving surface is uniformly smooth.

18. The camera of claim 14 wherein said label receiving surface is curved and said label is compliant.

19. The camera of claim 14 wherein said cradle has a base and a cylindrical wall adjoining said base, said base including said label receiving surface, said base having an opening surrounded by said label receiving surface, said label being adhered to said label receiving surface in spaced relation to said wall.

20. The camera of claim 14 wherein said cradle includes a cover section and said label is adhered to said cover section.

21. The camera of claim 14 wherein said label is concentric with said optical axis to within a tolerance of ±

0.3 mm.

22. The camera of claim 14 wherein said label is concentric with said optical axis to within a tolerance of ±

0.2 mm.

23. The camera of claim 14 wherein said label is concentric with said optical axis to within a tolerance of ±

0.1 mm.

24. The camera of claim 14 wherein said label is annular.