US371458A - higgins - Google Patents

Description

s Sh'eet-Sheet 1.f

(No Model.)

J. J. HIGGINS.

PHOTOGRAPHIO CAMERA.

No. 371,458. Patented Oct. 11, 1887.

I, I I a I y (No Model) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. J. HIGGINS.

PHOTOGRAPHIO GAMERA.

No. 371,458. Patented Oct. 11, 1887.

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(No Model.) 3Sheets-Sheet 3. J. J. HIGGINS.

PHOTOGRAPHIG CAMERA. No. 371,458. Patented Oct. 11, 1887.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN J. HIGGINS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO E. & H. T. ANTHONY & COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 371,458, dated @ctober 11, 1887.

Application filed July 13, 1887. Serial No.- 2l4,l37. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. HIGGINS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Photographic Cameras, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in the i construct-ion of photographic cameras, and especially those termed detective or portable, and also to certain new and useful de.

vices connected therewith.

My invention consists in making the body I of the camera in two or more parts united by hinges or equivalent devices,whereby the camera-box may be opened and the interior thereof utilized as a receptacle, in which the plateholders and other accessories may be conveniently carried; also, by the separation of the body of the camera into distinct and, so to speak, independent parts, the substitution of a lens of one focus for a lens of a different focus is effected by simply changing the front of the camera, as hereinafter stated, and I thus avoid the necessity of purchasing and transporting two complete cameras.

In the drawings, Figurelillustrates abottom plan view ofthe camera,it also showinga frame 50 having a viewlens detached from the rest of the camera at the right-hand sideof the figure. Fig. 2 illustrates a side plan view of the same parts. Fig. 3 illustrates a horizontal section, taken through the rear part of the camera, showing the push-button for outwardly starting the plate holders. Fig. 4 illustrates a front riew ot the frame holding a shorter focus-lens. Fig. 5 illustrates a front view of the camera, the lid containing the light-excluder having been opened. Fig. 6 illustrates a view, looking into the camera-box when opened, showing the arrangement of the plateholders therein. Fig. 7 illustrates a side sectional View of the rear part of the camera, illustrating the method employed for holding the lid in therear end of the camera open. Fig. 8 illustrates a-side view of the supplemental case for holding the plate-holders. Fig. 9 illustrates an end view of the supplemental case for containing the plate-ho1ders. Fig. 10 illustrates a view of the interior of the front of the camera, showing the setting mechanism for the shutter, the shutter being set ready for operation. Fig. ll illustrates a like view of the interior of the front of the camera, the shutter 5 having been tripped. Fig. 12 illustrates details of construction of the shuttersetting mechanism.

In the drawings the same reference-letters refer to the same parts in all the figures.

I will first describe my camera as provided with a comparatively long focus-lens.

A is the camera-box proper. It is made in two parts, B B, hinged together at C O.

D D is the handle, made in two parts, one being attached to one part of the box and the other to the other part thereof.

D is a catch to hold the parts of the box together when closed. It may be of any desired construction.

E is the front part of the camera,adapted to be opened to give access to the lens, shutter, and mechanism therewith connected.

F is the usual side door, through which the plate holders are introduced into the rear of the camera for exposure.

G, Fig. 3, is a little button placed at the 0pposite side of the camera from the door F. It is provided with a short shank, which passes through a hole made in the side of the camera, and is enlarged on its inner end, as at H, so that it cannot drop out.

I isa plate-holder in position ready to take a picture.

J is the focusing mechanism for adjustment S5 of the lens. It forms no part of this invention, and need not be specifically explained.

K, Figs. 4 and 5, is the usual finder.

L is the light-excluding shield located in front of the lens. It is a thin plate of metal, 0 wood, or other suitable material, and is pivoted at M.

N is a slide, which plays through a slot, N, Fig. 2, made in the side of the front of the camera E. The slide is provided with a push- 5 button, 0, on the outside of the camera. Its inner end is bifurcated, as shown, which bifurcation engages with a pin, 0, on the shield L.

P is a little catch, which is screwed to the inside of the drop E, the free end whereof projects outwardly away from the frame, and is adapted to receive the edge of the shieldLbeneath it, so that when closed the shield will be sustained against pressure from without by this catch.

Q, Q Q Q. Fig. 6, are guiding and shield supporting ribs attached to the inner walls of the rear half of the camera. They are so located that they will sustain one or more plate-holders (seen at It R) on each side between them and the sides of the camera, but outside of the field of the lens. Thus these plate-holders need not be removed from the camera during the taking of impressions.

Sis a frame,preferably ofcard board,leather, or equivalent light and thin material,adapted to fit into the vacant space within the camera. It is intended to contain the plate holders which have to be removed during the taking of impressions. It is seen detached and filled with plate-holders it B, &c., in Figs. Sand 9. There is a hole, T, made in its side, (see Fig. 8,) by means of which the plate-holders can be easily ejected therefrom by the linger.

U, Fig. 6, is the lens.

V, Fig. 7, is a small pivoted supporter for the lid at the rear end of the camera. By its use the lid may be sustained higher or lower, as required, to properly screen or protect the eyes of the operator, the better to see the rear of the plate. This is very useful in taking pictures out of doors.

The operation of the apparatus as thus far described is as follows: When starting totake impressions, the operator, instead of carrying the camera and also a separate package of plate-holders, as formerly, opens the camera box and placesthe requisite number of plate holders within it. Someof them may be placed behind the guiding and supporting ribsQand others in the frame S, which is dropped into the vacant space between the outside plate holders, It. The whole apparatus is easily carried by the handle D D. \Vhen desiring to takeimpressions,the camerais again opened, the case S containing the plate-holders is removed, the camera-box is then again closed, a plate-holder is then inserted in the rear of the camera,and the impression is taken -in the usual way. Duringthese operations thelightexcluding shield L is very conveniently operated from the exterior of the camera by means of the push-button O, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 5, and when it is desired to remove the plate-holders and plate from the rear of the camera pressure upon the pushbutton G will push the plate-holder forward over the little ledge W on the opposite side of the camera, which engages with a rabbet on the plateholder, thus avoiding the awkward feature in the use of these apparatuses of having to press the plate-holder rearwardly against the springs X, and at the same time draw it outwardly through the door F with the same hand.

The foregoing has, as stated, pertained to the use of the comparatively long focus-lens in connection with the other parts of the apparatus. Referring now to the use of a lens having a shorter focus, as shown at to, Figs. 1,

2, and 4, its construction is well known and does not require special explanation. The finder K, the light excluder L, and the other parts shown in Fig. 4 are all well understood, and these parts and the other requisite parts may be made as desired. In order to adapt it to use in my peculiar combination, however, I provide this part of the camera with separable hinges (seen at b b) or other interchangeable interlocking connectingdevices, and with half ahaudle (seen at 0,) and I make the hinges C which connect the two parts of the eamera-box A, separable and in such manner that the uniting-pin d, which connects the two leaves of the hinges, may be readily witlr drawn, so that the part B, which contains the longer focuslens, can be readily separated from the rear part of the camera by simply withdrawing the pin from the hinges and the frame containing the shorter focus-lens be readily substituted. A convenient method of doing this is to extend the uniting-pin of the hinge in the form of an eye or ring, as shown in Fig. 1, by which it can be readily withdrawn and thetwo leaves of the hinge disengaged one from the other.

Figs. 10, 11, and 12 illustrate the mechanism for resetting and tripping the shutter when taking instantaneous pictures.

a is the shutter. It is pivoted at b,and provided with an aperture, 0, and with notches (Z (7 on its periphery.

e is the lens.

f is a catch pivoted at g. and normally pressed upward by a spring, It.

'i is a sleeve which fits snugly over the lens holding tube, but may be turned thereon. To

it is fastened a plate spring, j, the free end of which projects in a substantially radial manner fromthe edge of the sleeve 1'. The shutter a has a pin, a, on its front surface, which, when the shutteris rotated on its axis b',comcs in contact with the springj,aud bends it down wardly and around the sleeve 2, thus putting it under tension. The spring catch f, engaging with the notches (Z d on the periphery of the shutter, holds it in such position as may be desired untilreleased. Then the springjinstantly throws the shutter back again to its normal position, causing the aperture 0 therein to pass quickly across the hole in rear of the lens,thus producing the instantaneous exposure desired.

For a more full description of the parts I refer to the United States Letters Patent granted to me, assignor to E. H. T. Anthony & 00.. dated June7, 1887, No. 364,413.

In order that the shutter a may be set and tripped from the exterior of the camera, I provide the following mechanism:

is a curved lever, preferably cut from sheet brass.

Z is a downwardly-extending finger extending from the lever is. v

m is a spring, which is attached at one end to the lower end of the finger Z and at its other end to the frame of the camera. The lever 7: is extended through a hole in the side ICC IIO

of the frame, and is provided with a pull but ton, a, on its end.

0 is a spring attached to the frame, which bears on a small pin, 1), fastened to the lever k. This spring normally presses the lever k downwardly, maintaining it in contact with an extension of the pin a, which projects from the rear side of the shutter.

g is an upwardly-extending stud on the upper side of the lever 75, which, when thelever is drawn out nearly to the limit of its movement, engageswith a deflector, r, attached to the frame. whereby the spring 0 is aided in pressing the shutter farther around until the notch d engages with the catch f. Thisis desirable when the tension on the spring j is at its greatest, as explained in my said former patent.

s is a curved lever, also preferably cut from sheet-brass. It is pivoted at t to the frame, and curving around the lens-case, as shown, engages, by means of a pin projecting from it, with the end of the spring-catch f. Aspring, a, normally throws this lever t upwardly, so that its weight does not rest on the catch, which might tend to releaseitfrom the notches in the shutter inopportunely.

'0 is arod, which projects through apassageway or hole made in the side of the frame and slides therein. Its inner end rests against the upper end of the bent lever s.

w, Fig. 12, is astop-pin,which projects from the rear side of the shutter and strikes against a like pin in a plate, 00, thus stopping theshutter from going too far around under the action of the spring j. Any other suitable stop or friction device may be used for this purpose.

The operation of these devices is as follows: Upon pulling the button a outwardly the lever 7;, acting on the rearward extension of the pin a in the shutter, and aided by the spring 0 and the deflector 1", causes the shutter to rotate on its axis until the springcatchfenters the first notch, (1. During this movement the pin a in the shutter, having come in c0ntact with the springj, has pressed it partially around the periphery of the cap 2' and has put it under slight tension. At this stage in the rotation of the shutter the aperture 0 therein will be coincident with the hole in the shield in rear of the lens and the apparatus will be in proper condition for taking long exposure pictures. To adapt the apparatus to take instantaneous pictures, (which is the special intent of this part of my invention,) the bar is is pulled still farther out into the position shown in dotted linesin Fig. 10. The spring-catch f readily moves out of the notch d, allowing for this further revolution of the shutter, owing to the rear edge of the notch (I being beveled off, as shown in Fig.11. It then rests in the second notch, d, and the springj is put underincreased tension, and the aperture c in the shutter is carried over to the left beyond the center of the lens, and the solid part of the shutter covers the opening in the rear of the lens, excluding the light. To make the instantaneous exposure,pressure is applied to the end of the rod 22, which, acting on the curved lever s, discngages the catch f from the notch d,and the springj then instantly throws the shutter back again to its original position, the picture being taken during the transit of the aperture 0 across the center of the lens.

It is of course not'essential that the guiding and supporting ribs Q should be employed. The case S may be used alone, or the case S maybe dispensed with and the space which it occupies may be filled with loose holders or other accessories.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. A portable photographic camera box having a vacant unoccupied space internally adapted to receive plate-holders used with the camera, the said box being divided between the lens and the exposure-plate, whereby it may be opened and the said space utilized for the reception of plate-holders or other accessories, substantially as set forth.

2. A photographic camera made in two or more parts divided between the lens and the exposed plate, whereby the box may be opened for the reception ofplate-holders,and provided with ribs, grooves, frames, or equivalent de vices for the holding and retention of the plate-holders, said plate-holders being outside the field of view, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. A photographic camera the box whereof is made in two or more parts, the division or divisions occurring between the lens and the exposure plate, whereby the interior space of the camera box may be utilized for the reception of plate-holders or other accessories, and a detachably-attached lens -holding part or frame, whereby a lens of one character may be replaced by alens of a different character, substantially as set forth.

4. The described improvement in cameraboXes, consisting in two or more lens-holding parts or frames, each provided with detachable connecting devices which engage with counterpart connecting devices on the body of the camera, whereby lenses of different foci may be used in connection with the same camerabox, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, in a camera,ofapivoted light-excluder, L, and a sliding button, 0, outside of the camera which engages with the light-excluder eccentric to the pivot by means of a spindle passing through the side of the camera-box, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. The combination, in a camera, ofa pushbutton projecting beyond the side of the camera opposite the door through which the plateholders are introduced in the rear of the camera, the inner end of the push-button engaging with the edge of the plate-holder when in position within the camera, whereby the plateholder may be started outwardly from the camera by applying pressure to the puslrbutton, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, in a camera, of a pivoted shutter provided with a light-admitting I der tension by the rotation of the shutter, a 15 aperture, a sliding lover or rod operated spring-catch which engages with notches on from the exterior of the frame and engaged the shutter and holds it against the stress of with the shutter for its rotation, a spring put the spring, and a rod or lever operated from under tension by the rotation of the shutter, the exterior of the frame for the release of the a spring-catch which engages with notches on catch, substantially as set forth.

the shutter and holds it against the stress of i Signed at New York, in the county of New the spring, and means for releasingthe eateh, York and State of New York, this 8th day of substantially as set forth. July, A. D. 1887.

8. The combination, in a camera, of a pivoted shutter provided with a lightadnlitting aperture, a sliding lever or rod operated from 1 the exterior of the frame and engaged with the shutter for its rotation, a spring put un- JOHN J. HIGGINS.

\Vitnesses:

J. T. FRYER, R. A. ANTHONY.

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