GB2136978A - Camera with Built-in Lens Cover Mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

A camera (36) within a housing (34, 37) has a lens-enclosing front wall portion (16) projecting forwardly of the other front wall portions which has a forwardly facing lens exposing opening (18). A guideway (48) (see Figs. 7, not shown) extends along the lens-enclosing front wall portion (16) to establishing a path of movement of a flexible lens cover curtain (20) provided therein from positions covering and uncovering the lens movement being by means of handle (28) on the housing. The curtain is preferably relatively rigid along its longitudinal axis parallel to its path of movement and is flexible transversely thereto. Movement of the curtain may also cause movement of a flash unit (26) from a retracted to an extended position, and of a cover of the view finder (24). The camera also includes a battery compartment (6) having a moveable cover to allow insertion/removal of a battery. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Camera with Built-in Lens Cover Mechanism This invention relates to cameras, more particularly to a built-in lens cover mechanism for a still camera.

This invention is most applicable though not only applicable, to still cameras commonly designed to receive 35 mm film which generally is packaged in a cylindrical cartridge with a projecting film leader which is attached to a takeup spool in the film compartment of the camera.

Further reference will be made to 35 mm cameras only but is not to be construed as limit to 35 mm cameras. Such cameras usually have a housing where the lens-cortaining portion thereof forwardly projects from the front of the camera housing making it difficult to incorporate a built-in lens cover. However, some aspects of the invention have a broader application.

It is desirable to prevent the build-up of dust on the picture-taking lens of a camera. The 35 mm film cartridge-receiving still camera is generally a relatively expensive camera, and is most commonly sold with leather-like cases enclosing the entire camera so that dust build-up does not normally occur when the camera is not in use and is enclosed in its case. Such cases generally have a front cover flap which is releasably snap fastened to the rest of the case so that by releasing one snap fastener the cover flap can be partially released where it dangles from the rest of the case, exposing the operating portions of the camera, and by releasing another snap fastener can be completely separated from the rest of the casing, if desired.Also, in such cameras it is common to provide a separate removable lens cap for the lens of the camera to prevent damage to the lens and also to protect the camera lens from dust accumulation when the cover flap referred ta is partially or completely separated from the rest of the case.

The right and left end portions of the housings of such cameras generally have fairly closely spaced front and rear walls of a fairly large area and of a shape enabling them to be securely and comfortably grasped by the user when taking a picture. In recent years, some 35 mm filmreceiving cameras have been made with retractable housings which form their own casings and so enclose all lens and viewfinder windows in their retracted positions. The housings of such cameras commonly have telescoping right and left sections which have very narrow right and left outer end portions which cannot be readily or securely grasped, and forwardly bulging lens-enclosing inner end portions which enclose and cover the camera lens and viewfinder window when the housing sections are in their closed or retracted positions.

When these housing sections are pulled to their extended positions, the picture-taking lens and viewfinder windows are uncovered. However, to securely grasp the camera in a normal manner for picture taking, the user must generally grasp the bulging uncomfortable portions of the camera housing sections.

In inexpensive cameras of the type having film magazines which hold film providing picture frames much smaller than 35 mm frame sizes, the small, light-weight lenses used in these cameras enable the entire front and rear walls thereof to be flat and to be comfortably gripped in only one hand, if desired. These inexpensive cameras are commonly sold without casings, and so to avoid build-up of dust on the camera lens built-in lens covers are sometimes incorporated in such cameras. A handle is provided to move the lens cover between its lens covering and uncovering positions. Since these cameras do not have through-the-lens viewfinders, a viewfinder cover is provided on some of these cameras which move with the lens cover so that the user knows when he can see the view to be photographed the picture-taking lens is uncovered.Due to the size and configuration of full sized 35 mm filmreceiving cameras, as described, the use of such built-in lens and viewfinder covers have not been heretofore provided.

For cameras which require two cylindrical 1.5 volt batteries or one rectangular 9 volt battery for energizing built-in flash units, aperture control circuits and the like, the housing size of such cameras often became undesirably large. One of the aspects of the invention to be described provides an improved location of the battery compartment for housing such batteries, so that a camera housing of minimum overall size results, providing a camera housing of optimum fixed small size and shape which can be securely and comfortably grasped. Normally, the battery compartments of 35 mm film-receiving cameras have been located at one of the end portions of the camera housing, requiring that the dimensions of the camera be increased in a horizontal direction, giving the camera an undesired enlarged horizontally elongated profile.

According to a first aspect of the present invention a camera comprises a housing and guideway-forming means to allow movement of a cover curtain mountable in a guideway to move between a position covering and uncovering the lens. Preferably movement of the cover curtain is between a position covering a lens exposing opening and a position uncovering the lens exposing opening.

According to a second aspect of the present invention a camera comprises a housing with manually operable shutter release means exposed thereon, a portion containing the picture containing lens of the camera, a lens-enclosing front wall portion projecting forwardly of the other front wall portions of the camera housing, and having a forwardly facing lens exposing opening at the outer end thereof, guideway-forming means forming a guideway extending along the lens-enclosing front wall portion of the housing for establishing a path of movement for a flexible lens cover curtain inserted therein from a position covering the lens exposing opening to a position uncovering the lens exposing opening, a flexible lens cover curtain mounted in the guideway for movement between the said positions; and means for moving the lens cover curtain between the said positions in the guideway.

Both the first and second aspects of the present invention provide a camera with a built in lens cover mechanism. Thus according to the present invention a non-retractable camera having a forwardly projecting iens-containing section so that, unlike retractable cameras, the housing configuration remains fixed, and has right and left end portions which always have the desired size and shape to be securely and comfortably grasped by the user's right and left hands may be provided. Thus the picture-taking lens cover is so designed that its movement between a lens covering and lens uncovering position does not affect the shape of the camera housing, as in the case of known retractable 35 mm film-receiving cameras.

The movement of the cover curtain is conveniently from a covered position to an uncovered position in which at least part of the cover curtain is in a plane substantially rearwardly of the plane it occupied in the covered position.

Preferably the cover curtain is relatively rigid along its longitudinal axis parallel to its path of movement and is flexible transversely thereto and the guideway preferably follows a path which is devoid of sharp bends. Preferably the guideway- forming means establishes a path of movement of the flexible lens cover curtain which path includes laterally spaced generally parallel end portions respectively in planes just behind the lens opening and laterally to one side and substantially rearwardly of the lens exposed opening and an intermediate portion which gradually merges into the parallel path portions.

Thus, a vertical flexible lens cover curtain may be provided which is guided in a guideway for movement along an irregular (non-flat) path extending along a forwardly projecting lensenclosing front wall portion of the camera housing having a forwardly facing lens exposing opening at the forward end thereof. The cover curtain is thus preferably flexible about axes in a direction transverse to its path of movement in the guideway and is rigid (self-supporting) along its other longitudinal axis (i.e. parallel to the direction of movement of the curtain) so that the curtain, when pushed along an irregular guideway, readily follows the same.This guidway preferably traverses a path extending between an outermost vertical plane immediately behind the lens exposing opening at the front end of the lensenclosing front wall portion of the camera housing and a plane substantially rearwardly and to one side thereof, via a rearwardly and gradually outwardly slanting connecting guideway portion, so that the guideway is devoid of any sharp bends.

Conveniently there is a lens-enclosing front wall portion of the camera housing in the central portion of the camera; the camera housing has right and left end portions on opposite sides of the lens-enclosing front wall portion, each end portion including vertical walls contoured and spaced to be readily grasped by a user's right and left hand, the guideway extending generally horizontally along the inner face of the front wall of one of the end portions of the camera housing and the lens-enclosing front wall portion to points immediately above and below the lens opening.

The means for moving the cover curtain between the said positions may suitably be a handle projecting through a slot in a front wall of the camera housing and the construction may provide that the cover curtain moves generally horizontally in the guideway, and the handle projects through a generally horizontally elongated guide slot in the front wall of an end portion of the camera housing.

One embodiment provides that the guideway forming means guides the lens cover curtain for generally horizontal movement in the housing and includes a generally horizontal slot formed in the housing laterally to one side of the lens-enclosing front portion thereof, a generally vertical rigid member, the generally vertical end of the lens cover curtain located furthest from the lens exposing opening when the lens is covered thereby being secured to the vertical rigid member, and the handle is connected to the generally vertical rigid member so that as the handle is moved along the slot in one direction or the other the curtain is moved generally horizontally in the guideway in one direction or the other between the said positions.

Thus the curtain is preferably secured at its inner end to a rigid arm which is constrained for movement in a path in a rear plane parallel to the lens exposing opening. A handle may be provided on this arm which passes forwardly through a guide slot in the front wall of the camera housing.

Moving the handle along this slot moves the cover curtain between a lens-covering position where the curtain spans and covers the lens and lens'exposing opening and a position uncovering the lens and lens exposing opening to one side of the lens and lens opening.

While the broad aspects of the invention envision the movement of the lens cover curtain in a path extending in a vertical direction, it most advantageously traverses a horizontal path, which extends to one of the hand graspable end portions of the camera housing. Also, such a horizontal path of movement may cooperate with a further aspect of the invention which provides for a flash unit, or a viewfinder or both.

According to a third aspect of the present invention a camera comprises a flash unit movable from a retracted position in the camera housing to an extended position projecting therefrom, and means connecting the cover curtain with the flash unit so that as the lens cover curtain moves between the said portions the flash unit moves from its retracted to its extended position. Thus the present invention extends to a camera and a built-in flash unit movable between a retracted position within the camera housing to an extended position remote from the lens of the camera to avoid "pink eye" pictures.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention a camera comprises a viewfindercontaining section including a viewing window at the rear of the camera housing; a viewfinder exposing opening at the front of the camera housing, and a viewfinder cover movable between a position covering the viewfinder exposing opening to a position uncovering the viewfinder exposing opening, permitting a user to view the scene to be photographed; and means connecting the cover curtain with the viewfinder cover so that as the cover curtain moves between the said positions the viewfinder cover is moved between a position covering the viewfinder exposing opening and a position uncovering the viewfinder exposing opening.

The viewfinder cover is mounted in the housing for movement preferably in a path parallel to the path of movement of the lens cover curtain, which is preferably a horizontal path of movement as described. The viewfinder cover may be a rigid vertical panel carried on the top of the vertical arm to which the inner vertical end of the lens cover curtain is connected, so that as the lens cover curtain is moved between its lens covering and lens uncovering positions the viewfinder is similarly moved between a position covering the viewfinder exposing opening.

The present invention also extends to a combination of the third and fourth aspects of the invention. Thus, according to a fifth aspect of the present invention a camera comprises a flash unit movable from a retracted position within the camera housing to an extended position where it projects from the camera housing; the camera having a viewfinder-containing section including a viewing window at the rear of the camera and a viewfinder exposing opening at the front of the camera to permit the user to view the scene to be photographed; and a viewfinder cover movable from a viewfinder exposing opening covering to a viewfinder exposing opening uncovering position; and means connecting the cover curtain both to the flash unit and the viewfinder cover for moving the flash unit from the retracted to the extended position and the viewfinder cover from a position covering the viewfinder exposing to a position uncovering the viewfinder exposing opening when the cover curtain is moved from the lens covering to the lens uncovering position.

Preferably the paths of movement of the cover curtain, flash unit and viewfinder cover are in the same generally horizontal direction. A preferred construction provides that the viewfindercontaining section and the flash unit are located at the upper extremities of the camera, the flash unit including a housing which forms an integral extension of the viewfinder cover, and the means connecting the cover curtain, flash unit and viewfinder cover is a vertical rigid arm to which one marginal edge portion of the cover panel is anchored.

Thus in a preferred embodiment a sub assembiy is formed of the cover curtain connected to a vertical rigid arm as described, with the viewfinder cover panel carried on top of the arm and the flash unit housing being an integral horizontal extension of the viewfinder cover panel. Thus, as the lens exposing opening cover curtain is moved from a lens covering to a lens exposing opening uncovering position and the viewfinder cover is moved from its viewfinder exposing opening covering to its viewfinder exposing opening uncovering position, the flash unit is moved from its retracted to its extended position, so that only a single control handle or the like is necessary for these purposes.

An electrical energy source housing may usefully be incorporated in a camera according to any of the above aspects of the present invention.

The housing preferably has a movable cover and is preferably towards the top and one side of the housing. A depressible shutter release button is conveniently connected to an electrical energy source to activate a camera shutter and take a picture.

Thus, according to a final aspect of the present invention a camera comprises a housing having left and right end potions including vertical front and rear walls contoured and spaced to be grasped by the user to steady the camera during a picture-taking operation, a picture-taking lens exposable in a lens exposing opening in the front wall of the camera housing; manually operable shutter release means including a depressible control button for opening the shutter to effect a picture-taking operation; electrically operable means requiring a DC battery to energize the same, the portion of the front wall of at least one portion of the camera housing to be grasped by a user's hand being located in a lower portion of the camera housing; above the lower front wall portion a forwardly projecting portion of the camera housing containing the depressible control button being exposed on the outside thereof, a battery compartment for holding battery means for energizing the electrically operable means being provided in the upper extremities of the housing behind the forwardly projecting portion of the housing, and the housing having a movable cover means for exposing the battery compartment for permitting the insertion of a battery into or removal of a battery from the compartment.

The shutter release button is preferably exposed on the top of a forwardly projecting portion of the housing and the movable cover is preferably located at the rear of the upper extremity of the camera housing.

Thus, a preferred embodiment provides a camera with a battery compartment for a pair of 1.5 volt batteries, or a single rectangular 9 volt battery, located in the upper extremity of the camera housing where the shutter release button and other elements of the camera have been commonly located. Since most cameras are made for right handed users, the shutter release button for 35 mm film receiving cameras is most desirably located at the right hand end and top side of the camera housing. To make room for the battery compartment, the shutter release button may conveniently be moved forwardly and mounted in a forwardly projecting portion of the camera housing and other camera elements are re-located to leave a fairly large battery compartment space.Preferably the rear section of this compartment is provided with a swinging door to expose the battery compartment to enable a battery or batteries to be readily inserted into or removed from this battery compartment.

This forward movement of the shutter release button increases the dimensions of the camera housing only in a forward direction, where the lens enclosing portion of the front wall of the camera housing is already projecting much further forwardly of the camera, and thus the overall dimensions of the camera are not adversely affected by moving the shutter release button forwardly in this manner.

The present invention may be put into practice in various ways but one camera and two electrical control circuits therefor embodying the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a 35 mm filmreceiving still camera, the camera being in its normal inoperative state where the viewfinder and picture-taking lens are covered and the flash unit is retracted into the camera housing; Figure 2 is a view of the camera shown in Figure 1 where the camera is in a picture-taking condition effected by the movement of a handle shown in Figure 1, which uncovers the lens opening and viewfinder exposing opening of the camera, and moves the flash unit from a retracted to an extended position projecting from the camera housing;; Figure 3 is an exploded view of the camera of Figures 1 and 2 showing a main camera body, and the housing parts which enclose the front and rear of the camera body; Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a sub-assembly carried by the front housing part of Figure 3, which sub-assembly includes a flexible lens cover curtain, a viewfinder cover and the flash unit; Figure 5 is a fragmentary rear perspective view of the camera shown in Figures 1 to 4; Figure 6 is an enlarged rear elevational view of the front housing part shown in Figure 3; Figure 7A is a horizontal sectional view through the front housing part, taken along section line 7A-7A when the sub-assembly shown, in Figure 4 is in a position where the lens exposing opening and viewfinder-exposing opening are covered by the sub-assembly of Figure 4;; Figure 7B is a view corresponding to Figure 7A where the sub-assembly of Figure 4 has been moved into a position which -uncovers the lens exposing opening and viewfinder-exposing opening; Figure 7C is a vertical sectional view through Figure 7A, taken along section line 7C-7C; Figure 8 is a fragmentary horizontal view through the front housing part shown in Figure 3, taken along section line 8A-8Ato show the position of the viewfinder-exposing opening cover where it covers the viewfinder exposing opening and the position of the flash unit in its retracted position; Figure 8B is a view corresponding to Figure 8A when the sub-assembly of Figure 4 is moved to its position where the viewfinder exposing opening is uncovered and the flash unit extends from the camera housing;; Figure 9A is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view through the camera shown in Figure 1, taken along section line 9A-9A, and shows the battery compartment located at the upper right hand extremity of the camera housing; Figure 9B is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through Figure 9A, taken along section line 98-98; Figure 1 OA is a simplified functional box diagram of one electrical control circuit which responds to operation of the shutter release button and to movement of the sub-assembly of Figure 4; and Figure 1 OB is a simplified functional box diagram of another electrical control circuit which responds to operation of the shutter release button and to movement of the sub-assembly of Figure 4.

The terms of orientation as used throughout the specification such as right, left, vertical and horizontal are relative terms and used to describe the camera when held by a user in one orientation of use. The terms are not to be construed as limiting.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the 35 mm film-receiving camera thereshown has a housing 4 with opposite right and left end portions 4A and 4B as, viewed by the user (left and right as viewed in the drawings), whose lower extremities are sized and contoured to provide comfortable gripping surfaces for the right and left hands of the user holding the camera in a normal orientation as illustrated, where the relatively long dimension of the camera housing extends generally horizontally in the orientation shown and one orientation of use. To this end, the right and left end portions of the camera housing have lower front generally vertical walls 6 and 11, respectively, which are engaged by the fingers of the hands holding the camera, and rear generally vertical wall portions 8 and 8' respectively, which are engaged by the thumb of the user's right and left hand. (These wall portions 8 and 8' are shown as formed by the main generally vertical wall of a pivotally mounted film compartment door 10). The housing has opposite right and left generally vertical end wall portions 9-9' and 13'13', respectively, which receive or face the palms of the user's hands involved. These wall portions are formed by generally vertical end walls of a front housing part 34, the door 10 and a rear housing part 37.The lower front wall 6 at the right end of the camera housing is shown merging with outwardly and rearwardly inclining generally vertical wall portions 6' and 6" which form a tapered handle grip configuration to be comfortably grasped by the right hand of the user.

The camera housing has a central portion 4C which has a lower forwardly projecting, lensenclosing front wall portion 1 6 formed by an outermost generally vertical wall 1 6a of generally square configuration and the margins of wall 1 6a join outwardly and rearwardly inclining generally vertical right and left walls 1 6b-1 6b which intersect the vertical front walls portions 122 and 11 of the camera housing, and generally horizontally extending rearwardly and outwardly inclining top and bottom 1 6c-1 6c'. As shown in Figure 2, when opening 1 8 is uncovered, picturetaking lens 1 9 and auto-focus flash light-receiving window 21 and ambient light-receiving window 23 are exposed.Supported for movement behind the opening 18 is a flexible lens cover curtain 20 which is sized to cover the entire opening 18. In a manner to be described, the lens cover curtain 20 is mounted for movement along an irregular path extending along the inner surface of the outermost vertical wall 1 6a, the inclined vertical wall 1 6b' and the vertical wall 11 which enables the curtain to be moved between positions which cover and uncover the opening 1 8.

The viewfinder section of the housing is preferably located at the upper extremity of the camera housing above the lens-enclosing front wall portion 1 6. To this end, the housing has an upper front wall portion having a front viewfinder exposing opening 22 which, in the inoperative condition of the camera, is covered by a vertical cover panel 24. The upper rear wall 8" of the camera has in alignment with the front opening 22 a viewfinder viewing window 25 (Figure 5) through which the user may view the scene to be photographed when the cover panel 24 is moved to a position uncovering the front opening 22 in the manner to be explained.

At the upper and left extremity of the front of the camera housing is a flash unit-receiving opening 27 best seen in Figure 2, in which opening is slidably disposed the front marginal portion of a flash unit housing 26. The flash unit housing is movable between a retracted position shown in Figure 1, when the outer edges of the flash unit housing are flush with the adjacent surfaces of the camera housing, to an extended position where it projects substantially beyond the end wall of the housing as shown in Figure 2.

As illustrated, the camera has an automatic focussing feature requiring that a flash lamp 26d (Figures 8A and 8B) contained within the flash unit housing 26 be initially energized whenever shutter release button 29 is depressed fully during a picture taking operation. The flash of light generated by the flash unit reflects off of an object to be photographed within a flash picture taking range, and, the reflected light enters the autofocus window 21 when the lens exposing opening 18 is uncovered. The camera includes means which senses the amplitude of the reflected flash of light, which is a measure of the distance the object involved is spaced from the camera. The picture-taking lens 1 9 is then automatically moved into a position to effect a proper focussing of the camera.The lens cover curtain, viewfinder cover and the flash unit housing sub-assembly 21 is moved from its initial position shown in Figure 1 , to a position where the lens exposing opening 1 8 is uncovered, the viewfinder exposing window 22 is uncovered and the flash unit 26 is in its extended position as shown in Figure 2.

The means for simultaneously moving these elements of the camera is preferably a handle 28 projecting through a generally horizontal slot 30 in the middle of the front wall 11 of the left end portion of the camera housing; so that the handle 28 and slot 30 are straddled by the fingers of the user's left hand during a picture taking operation.

The lens cover curtain 20, viewfinder cover 24 and flash unit 26 form a sub-assembly 21 which is best shown in Figure 4. As there shown, the curtain 20, which is preferably made of a semirigid flexible material of vertical undulating cross section, is a generally rectangular panel secured in any suitable way to a rigid generally vertical arm 32a. This generally vertical undulating cross section provides flexibility in a direction transverse to its direction of movement in the housing so that it readily follows curves in its path of movement, while the curtain is rigid and self supporting along its longitudinal axis parallel to its direction of movement.The vertical arm 32a terminates at the top thereof in a horizontal flange 32b, in turn, secured to the bottom of the flash unit housing 26 and viewfinder cover 24 which is shown as a thin vertical rectangular panel which is a horizontal extension of the flash unit housing.

The arm 32a, flange 32b, flash unit housing 26 and viewfinder panel 24 may be a single piece synthetic plastics moulded part. The flash unit housing 26 is shown having a front opening 26b in which a light diffusing panel 26c is mounted.

The flash lamp (not shown) is mounted behind the panel 26c.

The front wall 1 6a has a lens exposing opening 1 8 behind which the lens 1 9 of the camera is enclosed and a flexible lens cover curtain 20 spans the rear of the opening 1 8 in the storage condition of the camera. In a manner to be described, the lens cover curtain 20 traverses in a regular path extending along the inner surface of the front wall 1 6a, the inclined vertical walls 1 6b and the wall 11 and the curtain 20 is moved into a lens opening exposing position, as shown in Figure 2.

The sub-assembly 21 comprising the lens cover curtain 20, viewfinder cover 24 and flash unit housing 26, as best shown in Figure 4, is mounted in place on the inside of the front housing part 34 shown in Figure 3. The front housing part is mounted in any suitable way around the front of a main camera body 36 which may contain all the operating parts of the camera, except for the shutter release button 29 and associated parts and the sub-assembly 21 mounted on the front housing part 34. A rear housing part 37 is secured in any suitable way around the rear portion of the main camera body 36. Screws and the like threading into holes (not shown) is one common way of securing the housing parts 34 and 37 to the main camera body 36. The rear housing part 37, among other things, carries the film compartment door 10.The viewfinder section on the main camera body 36 is identified in Figure 3 by reference numeral 40.

Guideway-forming means are provided for guiding the irregular path of movement of the flexible lens cover curtain 20 and includes a guideway-forming wall member 44 (Figure 6) anchored by screws 46 or the like to the outermost wall 1 6a of the lens-enclosing portion 16 of the housing, the wall member 44 having a contour conforming to the adjacent contour of the walls 1 6a and 1 6b to define a guideway 48 (Figures 7A and 7B) between the wall member 44 and the walls 1 6a and 16b. The wall member 44 has a large circular opening 50a in alignment with the upper portion of the lens exposing opening 1 8 and small circular openings 50b and 50c to be aligned with the auto-focus and ambient lightreceiving windows 21 and 23.The guideway 48 has an inclined portion 48a extending from the rearward-most margin of the inclined wall 1 6b to the left margin of the outermost wall 1 6a and merging via a curved portion 48a' with a portion 48b parallel with the wall 1 6a and extending above and below the opening 1 8 and terminating near the right margin of the opening 18, as best shown in Figures 7A and 7B.

Since the inner margin of the curtain 20 is connected to the rigid depending arm 32a which, in turn, is guided by the horizontal slot 30 in the wall 11, this slot 30 becomes a guideway constraining the movement of the curtain along a path generally parallel to the wall 11. The path of movement of the curtain 20 thus includes outermost generally parallel path end portions defined by the slot 30 and the guideway portion 48b and an intermediate preferably rearwardly and outwardly inclining guiding portion 48a following-the contour of the vertical wall 16b'.

Movement of the cover from a position covering the opening behind which the lens is situated to a position uncovering the opening behind.which the lens is situated comprises movement of the cqver curtain so that at least part of the cover curtain has moved into a plane substantially rearvvardly of the plane it initially occupied. ~~ The entry to theguideway 48 is aIng margin 49 of the wall 44 member shown in Figure 6.The sub-assembly of Figure 4 is mounted in place by feeding the leading vertical edge of the: curtain 20 into the margin 49 into the.passagbway 48 pushing the same into the passageway portions 48b and 48a, while inserting the handle 28 through the horizontal slot 30 in wall 11. When the front housing part 34 is mounted over the main body 36, main body guideway-forming projections 35 (Figure 3) form a guide backing for the rigid arm member 32a to which the curtain 20 is secured. The relative positions of the viewfinder cover panel 24 and the flash unit housing 26 of the sub-assembly 21 of Figure 4 when moved between their extreme positions are shown respectively in Figures 8A and 8B.

As previously indicated, such an embodiment provides improved location of a compartment for holding the battery or batteries which power the electrical control circuitry of the camera. Usually, the upper right extremity of the camera housing contains a number of parts including the depressible pushbutton 29 so that there is no room for incorporation of two 1.5 volt cylindrical batteries or a single 9 volt rectangular battery. In the present invention, these parts are relocated to leave an empty space for a battery compartment 61 (Figures 9A and 9B). As shown in Figure 1, the shutter release button 29 is located in a forwardly projecting portion 51 at the upper right extremity of the camera housing. This projecting portion 51 is formed on the front housing part 34 above the hand-gripping part of the camera housing.As perhaps best shown in Figure 9B, the shutter release button 29 has a downwardly extending shank portion 29a which makes engagement with movable mechanical and electrical control elements generally indicated by reference numeral 53. Thus, when the button 29 is depressed, it actuates these control elements to carry out various functions of the camera during a picture-taking operation, such as initiating energization of the flash unit focussing the camera and releasing the shutter.

The defining walls of the battery compartment of the camera referred to include the upper extremities of vertical front wall 1 22 of the main housingbody 34 (Figure 3), and the right hand end of top wall 55 thereof.-Perhaps as best seen in Figure 3, the bottom wall of the battery compartment is defined by a horizontal wall 42 -formed on the main camera body 36. As illustrated, the inner generally vertical margin of this compartment is defined by a generally vertical wall 43 (Figure 3) on the main camera body 36, and the rest of the battery compartment is defined buy a battery cover member 57 having a top wall 57a in alignment with the top wall 55 of the front housing-part 34, a vertical end wall 57b, and a rear wall 57c. The battery compartment cover 57 is movably mounted in any.suitable way to allow batteries-to be inserted and removed. As shown in Figure 9A, the battery compartment cover 57 has hinged arms 65 which are pivoted around generally vertical pins 67 so that rear wall 57c when pivoted to close the battery compartment forms part of the rear housing part 3-7. A latch 69 is provided for releasirig the battery compartment cover 57 so that it can be pivoted into a position (shown in broken lines in Figure 9A) to expose the rear end of the battery compartment along its entire length, to permit the placement of battery 63 into or the removal of the battery from the compartment.

With reference to Figure 5, this shows the rear of the camera housing including the upper wall 8" thereof which contains the viewfinder window 25. This wall 8" further contains a horizontal slot 69 through which projects an ASA control projecting from the rear of the main camera body 36, a film exposure counter window 70 in alignment with the film counter control exposed at the rear of the main camera body 36, and red and green window 72 and 74 in alignment with red and green LED or other light sources exposed on the rear of the main camera body 36. These light sources respectively indicate that there is inadequate or adequate lighting conditions to take a picture.

For a better understanding of the manner in which the camera illustrated operates, reference should now be made to the block diagram of the control circuitry of the camera as shown in Figure 10A. It should be understood, however, that the present invention dealing with the structural aspects of the camera are not limited to any particular details of the control circuitry. However, as thereshown, when the shutter release button 29 is lightly depressed, control arm 53a associated with switch means 53b is operated by the bottom shank portion 219a of shutter release button 29 which triggers a time-out circuit 62.

The time-out circuit 62 is connected to the battery 63 so that when it is triggered into operation it connects the battery 63 to control circuitry 64 which controls the electrical portions of the circuit, such as the charge circuit for a capacitor which operates the flash lamps for a given time-out period, for example 30 seconds.

After the termination of the 30 seconds time-out period, the circuit leading to the battery 63 is opened, so that no further drain on the battery occurs. The control circuitry 64 also operates the red light source visible in the window 72. When the red light is on this indicates that the capacitor for the flash lamp is not yet adequately charged.

The control circuitry 64 may also control the green light source visible in the window 74-, which if there is adequate ambient illumination could be a steady green light and if there is inadequate ambient illumination requiring energization of the flash lamp, can provide a flashing green light indication after the capacitor for operating the flash lamp is fully charged.

It is desirable that the time-out circuit 62 also be rendered operative in the same manner just described when the sub-assembly 21 in Figure 4 is moved from its position shown in Figure 1 where the camera is not operative to-its position shown in Figure 2 where the camera is operative.

Finally, a switch -60 is shown in Figure 1-OA which may have a depressible operating pin 60a which is depressed when the flash lamp housing 26 is in its retracted position and which pin is spring biased two an open position whenthefiash lamp housing 26 is moved to its extended position, to activate the time-out circuit 62.

The sub-assembly 21 may also be used to operate a main power on-off circuit where there is no time-out circuit involved. This application of the invention is shown in Figure 1 OB, where the switch 60 is normally open when the flash lamp housing 26 is in its retracted position and is moved to its closed position when the flash lamp housing is moved to its extended position. In such case, the battery 63 is shown connected by the switch 60 to activate the control circuitry 64.

The present invention provides a still camera with built-in lens cover mechanism both by itself and in conjunction with the viewfinder cover and flash unit formed into a sub-assembiy which is of an easy to assemble and mount construction.

Also the present invention may provide an improved location of the battery compartment to minimize the size of the camera housing.

Claims (24)

1. A camera comprising a housing and guideway-forming means to allow movement of a cover curtain mountable in a guideway to move between a position covering and uncovering the lens.

2. A camera as claimed in Claim 1 in which movement of the cover curtain is between a position covering a lens exposing opening and a position uncovering the lens exposing opening.

3. A camera comprising a housing with manually operable shutter release means exposed thereon, a portion containing the picturecontaining lens of the camera, a lens-enclosing front wall portion projecting forwardly of the other front wall portions of the camera housing, and having a forwardly facing lens exposing opening at the outer end thereof, guideway-forming means forming a guideway extending along the lens-enclosing front wall portion of the housing for establishing a path of movement for a flexible lens cover curtain inserted therein from a position covering the lens exposing opening to a position uncovering the lens exposing opening, a flexible lens cover curtain mounted in the guideway for movement between the said positions; and means for moving the lens cover curtain between the said positions in the guideway.

4. A camera as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3 in which the movement of the cover curtain is from a covered position to an uncovered position in which at least part of the cover curtain is in a plane substantially rearwardly of the plane it occupied in the covered position.

5. A camera as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4 in which the cover curtain is relatively rigid along its longitudinal axis parallel to its path of movement and is flexible transversely thereto.

6. A camera as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5 in which the guideway follows a path which is devoid of sharp bends.

7. A camera as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 6 in which the guideway-forming means establishes a path of movement of the flexible lens cover curtain which path includes laterally spaced generally parallel end portions respectively in planes just behind the lens opening and laterally to one side and substantially rearwardly of the lens exposing opening and an intermediate portion which gradually merges into the parallel path portions.

8. A camera as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 7 in which there is a lens-enclosing front wall portion of the camera housing in the central portion of the camera; the camera housing has right and left end portions on opposite sides of the lens-enclosing front wall portion, each end portion including vertical walls contoured and spaced to be readily grasped by a user's right and left hand, the guideway extending generally horizontally along the inner face of the front wall of one of the end portions of the camera housing and the lens-enclosing front wall portion to points immediately above and below the lens opening.

9. A camera as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8 in which the means for moving the cover curtain between the positions is a handle projecting through a slot in a front wall of the camera housing.

1 0. A camera as claimed in Claim 9 in which the cover curtain moves generally horizontally in the guideway, and the handle projects through a generally horizontally elongated guide slot in the front wall of an end portion of the camera housing.

11. A camera as claimed in Claim 10 in which the guideway-forming means guides the lens cover curtain for generally horizontal movement in the housing and includes a generally horizontal slot formed in the housing laterally to one side of the lens-enclosing front portion thereof, a generally vertical rigid member, the generally vertical end of the lens cover curtain located furthest from the lens exposing operating when the lens is covered thereby being secured to the vertical rigid member, and the handle is connected to the generally vertical rigid member so that as the handle is moved along the slot in one direction or the other the curtain is moved generally horizontally in the guideway in one direction or the other between the said positions.

12. A camera as claimed in any one of the preceding claims comprising a flash unit movable from a retracted position in the camera housing to an extended position projecting therefrom, and means connecting the cover curtain with the flash unit so that as the lens cover curtain moves between the said portions the flash unit moves from its retracted to its extended position.

13. A camera as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 12 comprising a viewfinder-containing section including a viewing window at the rear of the camera housing; a viewfinder exposing opening at the front of the camera housing, and a viewfinder cover movable between a position covering the viewfinder exposing opening to a position uncovering the viewfinder exposing opening, permitting a user to view the scene to be photographed; and means connecting the cover curtain with the viewfinder cover so that as the cover curtain moves between the said positions the viewfinder cover is moved between a position covering the viewfinder exposing opening and a position uncovering the viewfinder exposing opening.

14. A camera as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 11 comrising a flash unit movable from a retracted position within the camera housing to an extended position where it projects from the camera housing; the camera having a viewfindercontaining section including a viewing window at the rear of the camera and a viewfinder exposing opening at the front of the camera to permit the user to view the scene to be photographed; and a viewfinder cover movable from a viewfinder exposing opening covering to a viewfinder exposing opening uncovering position; and means connecting the cover curtain both to the flash unit and the viewfinder cover for moving the flash unit from the retracted to the extended position and the viewfinder cover from a position covering the viewfinder exposing to a position uncovering the viewfinder exposing opening when the cover curtain is moved from the lens covering to the lens uncovering position.

1 5. A camera as claimed in Claim 14 in which the paths of movement of the cover curtain, flash unit and viewfinder cover are in the same generally horizontal direction.

1 6. A cameras claimed in Claim 14 or 15 in which the viewfinder-containing section and the flash unit are located at the upper extremities of the camera, the flash unit including a housing which forms an integral extension of the viewfinder cover, and the means connecting the cover curtain, flash unit and viewfinder cover is a vertical rigid arm to which one marginal edge portion of the cover panel is anchored.

17. A camera as claimed in any one of the preceding claims comprising an electrical energy source housing.

1 8. A camera as claimed in Claim 1 7 in which the electrical housing has a movable cover and the electrical housing is towards the top and one side of the housing of the camera.

19. A camera as claimed in Claim 17 or 18 in which there is a depressible shutter release button connected to an electrical energy source to activate a camera shutter and take a picture.

20. A camera comprising a housing having left and right end portions including vertical front and rear walls contoured and spaced to be grasped by the user to steady the camera during a picturetaking operation, a picture-taking lens exposable in a lens exposing opening in the front wall of the camera housing; manually operable shutter release means including a depressible control button for opening the shutter to effect a picturetaking operation; electrically operable means requiring a DC battery to energize the same, the portion of the front wall of at least one end portion of the camera housing to be grasped by a user's hand being located in a lower portion of the camera housing; above the lower front wall portion a forwardly projecting portion of the camera housing containing the depressible control button being exposed on the outside thereof, a battery compartment for holding battery means for energizing the electrically operable means being provided in the upper extremities of the housing behind the forwardly projecting portion of the housing, and the housing having a movable cover means for exposing the battery compartment for permitting the insertion of a battery into or removal of a battery from the compartment.

21. A camera as claimed in Claim 1 9 or 20 to 21 in which the shutter release button is exposed on top of a forwardly projecting portion of the housing.

22. A camera as claimed in Claim 18, 19, 20 or 21 in which the movable cover is located at the rear of the upper extremity of the camera housing.

23. A still camera substantially as specifically described herein with reference to any one of Figures 1 to 6, 7A, 7B, 7C, 8A, 8B, 9A or 9B singly or in combination.

24. A still camera as claimed in Claim 23 operated according to an electrical control circuit substantially as specifically described herein with reference to Figure 1 OA or Figure 1 OB.