Depressurized underwater one-time-use camera with seal integrity indicator and method

• US 6,636,697 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2001
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Smith, Stephen J., Stiehler, Wayne E., Baker, Craig A.
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAY, DAVID M
• Application Number:
  US10/027,291
• Publication Number:
  US 20030118334A1
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 396/25-29
• US Class Current: 396/26
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/08 Waterproof bodies or housings

Abstract

In a photography method, a partial vacuum is provided within a pressure housing of a camera having an unexposed film unit. The camera is sealed against both air entry and venting, while in the partial vacuum. The camera is kept sealed until the film unit is fully exposed and while sealed, a relative pressure differential between the interior of the camera and an environment external to the camera is continuous indicated. The camera has a housing having an internal cavity water-tightly sealed from the external environment. The internal cavity has an unsubmerged internal pressure, at room temperature, less than air pressure at sea level. The camera has a camera frame assembly disposed in the internal cavity and a seal integrity indicator that provides the continuous indication of the relative pressure differential.

Claims

1. A photography method comprising the steps of:

placing a pressure housing of a camera in an enclosure;

providing a partial vacuum within said enclosure following said placing;

during said providing, sealing said housing against both air entry and venting;

maintaining said sealing; and

during said maintaining, continuously indicating any relative pressure differential between said housing and an environment external to said housing.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said indicating further comprises showing a first indication when said environment external to said camera is at pressure higher than said camera, showing a second indication when said environment external to said camera is at the same pressure as said camera, and showing a third indication when said environment external to said camera is at a pressure lower than said camera.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said showing further comprises deflecting of a free region of an elastomer facing inward and outward when said environment external to said camera is at said pressure higher than said camera and at said pressure lower than said camera, respectively.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising preventing overdeflection of said free region when said environment external to said camera is at said pressure higher than said camera.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising submerging said camera to a depth of at least 9 meters, during said maintaining.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising heating said camera to a temperature of up to 49 degrees C., during said maintaining.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising submerging said camera to a depth of at least 9 meters, during said maintaining.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising submerging said camera to a depth of at least 9 meters, during said maintaining.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said assembling includes placing a camera frame assembly in said housing, said camera frame assembly having an unexposed film unit;

and said maintaining is until said film unit is fully exposed.

10. A photography method comprising the steps of:

providing a partial vacuum within a pressure housing of a camera having an unexposed film unit;

during said providing, sealing said camera against both air entry and venting;

maintaining said sealing of said camera until said film unit is fully exposed;

during said maintaining, deflecting a free region of an elastomer facing inward and outward when said environment external to said camera is at a pressure higher than said camera and at a pressure lower than said camera, respectively; and

preventing overdeflection of said free region when said environment external to said camera is at said pressure higher than said camera.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising submerging said camera to a depth of at least 9 meters, during said maintaining.

12. A photography method comprising the steps of:

providing a partial vacuum within a pressure housing of a camera having an unexposed film unit;

during said providing, seating a winding knob in a passage through said housing;

during said providing, sealing said camera against both air entry and venting;

maintaining said sealing of said camera until said film unit is fully exposed;

during said maintaining, continuously indicating any relative pressure differential between said camera and an environment external to said camera.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising, prior to said providing, sealing front and back housing parts of said housing together.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising, prior to said seating, placing said housing and said winding knob in an enclosure and closing said enclosure;

and wherein said providing a partial vacuum step further comprises partially evacuating said enclosure.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein said partial vacuum is air at a pressure of 59 Kpa at room temperature.

16. A photography method comprising the steps of:

providing a partial vacuum within a pressure housing of a camera;

during said providing, sealing said housing against both air entry and venting;

maintaining said sealing of said camera;

submerging said camera to a depth of at least 9 meters, during said maintaining;

during said maintaining, continuously indicating any relative pressure differential between said camera and an environment external to said camera.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said partial vacuum is air at a pressure of 59 Kpa at room temperature.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising heating said camera to a temperature of up to 49 degrees C., during said maintaining.

19. A photography method comprising the steps of:

providing a partial vacuum within a pressure housing of a camera;

during said providing, seating a winding knob in a passage through said housing;

during said providing, sealing said housing against both air entry and venting;

maintaining said sealing of said camera;

heating said camera to a temperature of up to 49 degrees C., during said maintaining;

submerging said camera to a depth of at least 9 meters, during said maintaining;

during said maintaining, continuously indicating any relative pressure differential between said camera and an environment external to said camera.

20. An underwater camera comprising

a housing defining an internal cavity, said housing having an engineering plastic shell and an elastomer facing united with a surface of said shell, said housing sealing said internal cavity water-tightly from an external environment, said internal cavity having an unsubmerged internal pressure, at room temperature, less than air pressure at sea level;

a camera frame assembly disposed in said internal cavity; and

a seal integrity indicator mounted to said housing, said seal integrity indicator having a first state when said internal pressure is less than external pressure and a second state when said internal pressure is equal to external pressure.

21. The camera of claim 20 wherein said internal pressure is less than 101 Kpa when said camera is at a temperature of 49 degrees C.

22. The camera of claim 21 wherein said internal pressure is 59 Kpa at room temperature.

23. The camera of claim 20 wherein said internal pressure is 59 Kpa at room temperature.

24. The camera of claim 20 wherein said camera frame assembly includes a film unit having a prewound film roll.

25. The method of claim 20 wherein said shell and said facing are codiffused.