Photography booth and method

• US 4,959,670 A
• Filed: 12/11/1989
• Issued: 09/25/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donald O. Thayer Jr
• Original Assignee: Donald O. Thayer Jr
• Inventors: Thayer, Donald O. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): MATHEWS, ALAN A
• Application Number:
  US07/448,265
• Time in Patent Office: 288 Days
• Field of Search: 354/75, 354/76, 354/126, 354/129, 354/219, 354/224, 354/225, 354/290, 354/81, 358/224, 358/909
• 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 booth comprises a booth having a first end portion for a person to be photographed and a spaced and aligned opposite second end portion. A camera is operably associated with the second end portion and includes a selectively operable film advance system for advancing a length of film having a plurality of frames through the camera in a sequential manner and a shutter button for selectively exposing a frame of the film with an image of the person. A video camera is operatively associated with the second end portion and with the camera for receiving the image of the person perceived by the camera. A video display is operably associated with the video camera and with the second end portion for displaying the perceived image. A push button selector assembly is operably associated with the camera for selectively causing or preventing operation of the film advance system after operation of the shutter assembly so that prevention of operation of the film advance system prevents the film from advancing to the next frame so that the exposed frame may receive multiple exposures and operation of the film advance system causes the film to advance to the next frame.

Claims

1. A photography booth, comprising:

(a) an enclosure including first and second spaced walls;

(b) opening means disposed in said first wall;

(c) a photographic camera in alignment with said opening means for perceiving said second wall;

(d) a video camera;

(e) means operably associating said photographic and video cameras for causing the image perceived by said photographic camera to be directed to said video camera;

(f) video display means in alignment with said opening means, said video display means being operably associated with said video camera so that the image perceived by said photographic camera is displayed thereon and directed toward said second wall;

(g) means operably associated with said photographic camera for causing a length of film therein to be exposed;

(h) platform means pivotally associated with said first wall;

(i) said photographic and video cameras being mounted to said platform means; and

,

(j) means operably associated with said platform means for causing pivoting thereof.

2. The booth of claim 1, wherein:

(a) said video camera has an image inlet directed along a first axis; and

,

(b) said display is directed along a second axis transverse to said first axis.

3. The booth of claim 1, wherein:

(a) said photographic camera is disposed above said video display.

4. The booth of claim 1, wherein:

(a) said video camera is disposed above said video display.

5. The booth of claim 4, wherein:

(a) said photographic camera is disposed above said video display.

6. The booth of claim 1, wherein said pivoting means includes:

(a) a resilient member having first and second ends, said first end being secured to said platform means; and

,

(b) drive means operably associated with said first wall and disposed above said platform means, said member second end secured to said drive means and operable therewith for causing pivoting of said platform means.

7. The booth of claim 6, wherein said drive means includes:

(a) an electric motor having a rotatable shaft; and

,

(b) a sheave mounted to said shaft and rotatable therewith, said second end being secured to said sheave.

8. The booth of claim 1, wherein:

(a) said photographic and video cameras are disposed above said video display; and

,

(b) said platform means is pivotal about an axis intermediate said video display and said photographic and video cameras.

9. The booth of claim 8, wherein:

(a) said axis is defined by a shaft extending generally transverse to said photographic camera and parallel to said first wall.

10. The booth of claim 8, further comprising:

(a) illuminating means operably associated with said first wall and disposed above said photographic and video cameras; and

,

(b) means operably associated with said illuminating means and with said exposure causing means for assuring cooperative operation of said illuminating and exposure causing means.

11. The booth of claim 1, further comprising:

(a) means operably associated with said second wall for supporting an individual to be photographed.

12. The booth of claim 11, wherein:

(a) said supporting means extending along said second endwall and having a length substantially equal to the length of said second wall.

13. The booth of claim 11, wherein:

(a) said supporting means is disposed below said photographic and video cameras.