WO2006029466A1

WO2006029466A1 - A digital recyclable camera

Info

Publication number: WO2006029466A1
Application number: PCT/AU2005/001407
Authority: WO
Inventors: Justin Wright
Original assignee: Justin Wright
Priority date: 2004-09-16
Filing date: 2005-09-16
Publication date: 2006-03-23

Abstract

A recyclable digital camera with a download port on an exterior part of the casing (5) of the camera to allow images in the camera memory to be downloaded from the camera and a removable wrap (7) at least partially encloses the casing which carries branding information or decoration. Typically the wrap encloses the major part of the casing. The wrap may be a heat shrink plastics film. The wrap must be at least partially removed or must be pierced, to enable access to the download port. A method of distributing a recyclable digital camera which includes at a processing centre removing the wrap and replacing the wrap with another similar wrap also carrying branding information or decoration is claimed.

Description

"A DIGITAL RECYCLABLE CAMERA"

FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention relates to cameras and in particular to digital recyclable cameras.

BACKGROUND

Image capture devices, for example digital cameras, are well known for their use in recording a particular moment or event, for example holiday, special family occasion, a significant event, or a business opportunity. Such devices are relatively expensive due in part to the requirement for reliability and long life of the components, and the complicated mechanism and extra components incorporated into most of these types of devices.

Many customers find many functions of conventional digital cameras problematic and are attracted to simpler models of digital cameras. Many customers also prefer to use a cheaper digital camera in environments where the camera may be damaged, for example on a boat or at the beach.

PCT patent publication WO 03/047245 titled "Recyclable Digital Camera" describes a recyclable digital camera that can take video and/or still images and overcomes at least some of the above disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved or alternative camera or to at least provide the public with a useful choice.

In broad terms in one aspect the invention comprises a recyclable digital camera including a lens through which images may be recorded, a power source, a memory, an image button to allow images to be recorded onto the memory, a download port to allow images in the camera memory to be downloaded, a casing that houses the lens, power source, image button, memory, and download port, and a wrap that extends at least partially around the casing and includes branding of a first seller that is replaced when the camera is recycled with another wrap that includes branding of a second seller where the first and second seller may be different. In the preferred embodiment the wrap is a plastic film wrap and tnay be shrink wrap plastic film. A paper wrap may alternatively be used. The -wrap may be adhered to the casing of the recyclable digital camera but must be removable from the camera. In preferred embodiments the wrap must be removed or at least partially broken or pierced to facilitate download of images from the camera, In these embodiments the wrap may cover a tool access slot which when accessed by a tool exposes the download port_s the wrap may cover the download port, or alternatively the wrap may cover both a tool access port and the download port. The images taken by the recyclable digital camera may be stills, video or a combination of video and stills.

In one embodiment the wrap also covers the access to the power source. In alternative embodiments the wrap does not cover access to the power source.

The invention advantageously provides a recyclable digital camera that includes a wrap carrying branding from a seller where the wrap is replaceable and subsequent wraps can contain branding from different sellers.

In broad terms in a further aspect the invention comprises a method of distributing a recyclable digital camera comprising the steps of transferring possession of the camera with a wrap including branding of a first seller from a retailer to a customer for use of the camera by the customer, subsequently transferring possession of the camera from the customer to a processing centre, at the processing centre replacing the wrap with a wrap including branding of a second seller that may be different to the first seller, and them transferring possession of the camera from the processing centre to a retailer for subsequent transfer to a customer for re-use of the camera. In another aspect in broad terms the invention comprises a method of distributing a recyclable digital camera comprising the steps of transferring possession of the recyclable camera including a wrap with branding of a first seller from a retailer to a customer for financial consideration on the condition that legal title to the camera is retained by a title holder other than the customer and retailer, transferring at least part of the financial consideration from the retailer to the title holder transferring possession of the camera from the customer to a processing centre, at the processing centre replacing the wrap with a wrap including branding of a second seller, and transferring possession of the camera from the processing centre to the title holder. for subsequent transfer to a customer for re-use of the camera.

The processing centre may be a camera retailer, or a separate facility that receives camera from many sources, or a manufacturer of camera, or any suitable facility.- The processing centre may operate on behalf of one or more sellers,

The term 'comprising' as used in this specification and claims means 'consisting at least in part of, that is to say when interrupting independent claims including that term, the features prefaced by that term in each claim will need to be present but other features can also be present.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described by way of example only and without intending to be limiting with reference to the following drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side view of a recyclable digital video camera of the invention;

Figure 2 is the front view of the recyclable digital video camera of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is the back view of the recyclable digital video camera of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is the top view of the recyclable digital video camera of Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is a flow chart of a business method of the invention,

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 is a side view of a recyclable digital video camera of the invention. The recyclable digital video camera includes a power switch 1, small screen 2, LED 3, and delete button 4. The camera also includes a lens (focussing or non-focussing), microphone, view finder, image button, and battery (not shown in this Figure). The camera may further include a flash, and a mode button that allows the camera to be switched between a stills mode and a video mode if the camera is capable of taking both stills images and video. Additionally, as shown in Figure 1 , an aperture 6 may be provided for attaching a strap to the camera. It should be noted that the invention is not limited to any particular shape of the case or body of the camera, or configuration of the control buttons on the case. Power switch 1 allows the user to turn the camera on and off. LED 3 may be on to provide an indication that the camera is on.

Screen 2 may for example be a small liquid crystal display which provides an indication of the status of the camera. This indication may include an indication of the state of the battery charge, the mode of the camera (stills or video in. a camera that allows both modes), and the number of images that can still be recorded. If the camera is a stills camera this will be the number of stills that can be recorded until the memory allocation is full. If the camera is a video camera this will be the amount of recording time remaining until the memory allocation is full. If the camera is a dual video and stills camera the number, of images display will depend on the current mode of the camera.

Delete button 4 may optionally allow the user to delete previously recorded images from the camera memory and reuse that memory. The image may be either video or still depending on the set up of the camera.

The camera case or body 5 is at least partially covered by a wrap 7. In the preferred embodiment wrap 7 is a plastics film shrink wrap. In alternative embodiments wrap 7 may be of non-shrink plastics film or paper, for example. The wrap 7 includes branding (not shown) identifying the seller of the camera and generally decorating the camera, printed on the plastics film.

The seller may be the camera retailer or may be another company. No branding is provided on the camera other than that contained on the wrap. When a camera is returned by the user the camera is refurbished at a processing centre. Part of this refurbishment involves removing the wrap (if it is still in place) and replacing the wrap with a new wrap, also comprising branding from a seller. Each time the camera is refurbished the existing wrap is removed and replaced with a, new wrap which may cany branding of the same or different seller.

The camera also includes a download port from which images stored in the internal memory of the camera may be downloaded. For security the download port is not easily accessible to prevent camera users from downloading the images of the camera without authorisation. In preferred embodiments the wrap provides some of the security to the download port. The wrap may cover the download port itself and/or cover an access port via which the download port can be accessed. In the camera shown in the drawings the download port is concealed behind a flat cover plate 20 on the exterior of the camera. An access port is provided on the camera which, when combined with a tool allows the cover 20 to be removed and the download port accessed. The access port associated with the download port can be thought of as a lock for the download port with the tool providing the key to the lock. The actual access port and tool will generally not be as complex as a lock and key. For example Figure 4 shows the top of the camera including two access ports 8 and 9. When a complementary tool is inserted into access port 8 the cover plate 20 can be removed allowing access to a download port in the body of the camera behind the cover plate 20. the wrap 7 may at least partially cover the cover plate 20 or equivalent In one embodiment wrap 7 also covers a battery door into a battery compartment within the camera case. Damage provides an indication of whether a user has attempted to access the battery.

When the camera is returned to a receiving centre the wrap is removed or at least partially removed to allow access to the download port so that images on the camera can be downloaded. In this embodiment the wrap also provides evidence of tampering with the camera. For example if a user has previously attempted to self-download the images a broken wrap will be evidence of tampering. For further protection the images may be stored in a non- standard format so that if the user does download the images the user will not be able to view the images. Figure 2 shows a front view of one embodiment of camera of the invention. As can been seen from Figure 2 the camera includes a view finder 10, lens 12, flash 13, microphone 14 and image button 15, If the camera is designed for stills only the microphone may be omitted. In some embodiments the flash may be omitted.

Image button 15 allows the user to take images with the camera by for example, pushing the image button once to take stills and holding the image button down to take video. A mode button 16 (shown in Figure 3) may be used to switch the camera between digital and stills mode. Also shown on Figure 3 is the front end of the view finder. When the images are taken they are stored in an internal memory of the camera for later download onto another medium.

The image and mode buttons may comprise simply touch sensitive (capacitance-based) pads on the camera casing for example and the term "button" is used in a non-limiting sense.

Figure 5 illustrates a preferred form method 200 for distributing the recyclable digital camera. In one embodiment the camera is owned by an organisation referred to as the title holder. The title holder has legal title to the camera although possession of the camera is transferred to parties other than the title holder. In other embodiments ownership of the camera may pass between title holders and the camera may be owned by one title holder -while another party has possession of the camera. A camera may be manufactured by or for the initial title holder. The camera is transferred 202 frorn the title holder to a retailer. Alternatively the camera and title of the camera may be passed to a new title holder. Before the camera is passed to a retailer a wrap is wrapped around the camera case. The wrap includes branding of a seller who will typically be the current title holder or a licensee of the current title holder. A retailer will typically operate- from a commercial premises or store but it is also envisaged that the retailer could advertise products to customers, and sell those products through other channels, for example via the Internet,

When a customer "purchases" the camera from the retailer possession of the camera is transferred 204 from the retailer to a customer. In preferred embodiments during the transaction the customer does not acquire legal title to the camera; legal title to the camera is retained by a party other than the customer. The customer exchanges financial consideration for possession and use of the camera.

A typical camera is configured to enable a customer to record 15 to 30 minutes of animated images, such as video images. The camera may also be configured to enable a customer to capture a predefined number of still images. These animated and still images are stored in a memory within the camera.

Once the user has recorded a desired or maximum amount of video footage and/or still images, the customer transfers 206 possession of the camera from the customer to a receiving centre, In one form, the receiving centre may be a kiosk into which a customer inserts the camera for processing. The receiving centre may be located at a retail premises but is not necessarily the same retail premises from which the customer originally obtained possession of the camera,

The receiving centre removes or destroys at least a portion of the wrap to allow access to the download port thereby allowing access to those components that store image and sound within the casing. The receiving centre may produce for the customer a DVD or VHS, a cassette tape containing the images, data files in a suitable image format, for example MPEG, .IFF, GIF or AVI type files for example, or simply paper copies of still images, which are provided to the customer.

The camera is retained within the receiving centre and may then be transferred 208 from the receiving centre to a processing centre In one embodiment the receiving centre and processing centre are the same. In other embodiments the processing centre is remote from the receiving centre. A processing centre may receive cameras from a number of receiving centres. The processing centre may be operated by the camera manufacturers, a seller or group of sellers or a retailer. The processing centre may be run on behalf of the manufacturer, a seller or group of sellers or a retailer. At the processing centre the camera is refurbished and rewrapped. Refurbishment may include replacing the battery, cleaning the camera, deleting any images from the camera memory, testing the camera and repairing or replacing any worn parts. Rewrapping the camera involves removing any remaining wrap oπ the camera and wrapping the camera in a new wrap. The new wrap includes branding and decoration of a seller, This seller may be the same or different to the previous seller. The processing centre may receive orders form sellers for a quantity of cameras with the sellers branding on the wrap. In alternative embodiments the processing centre may be contracted to provide retailers with cameras with the wraps of one or more sellers,

The processing centre then transfers the cameras to the title holders, the sellers, or the retailers. If the cameras are transferred to the title holders or sellers they can later be transferred to the retailers in step 202.

The foregoing describes the invention including preferred forms thereof, Alternations and modifications as will be obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be incorporated within the scope hereof as defined by the accompanying claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A recyclable digital camera including a casing, a lens, a power source, memory within the casing, an image button on the exterior of the casing to control recording of images onto the memory, a download port on an exterior part of the casing to allow images in the camera memory to be downloaded from the camera, and a removable plastics film wrap that surrounds and at least partially contacts and encloses the casing and which carries branding information or decoration.

2. A recyclable digital camera according to claim 1 wherein the wrap encloses the major part of the casing.

3. A recyclable digital camera according to either one of claims 1 and 2 wherein the wrap is heat shrink plastics film which has been heat shrunk onto the casing. .

4. A recyclable digital camera according to anyone of claims 1 to 3 wherein the wrap must be at least partially removed or must be pierced, to enable access to the download port

5. A recyclable digital camera according to claim 4 wherein the wrap covers the download port.

6. A recyclable digital camera according to claim 4 wherein the wrap covers a separate removable cover component over the download port.

7. A recyclable digital camera according claim 4 wherein the wrap covers an aperture in the exterior of the casing into which a tool must be inserted to enable removal of a separate removable cover component over the download port in the casing to enable access to the download port.

8. A recyclable digital camera according to anyone of claims 1 to 7 wherein the branding or decoration is printed on the wrap.

9. A recyclable digital camera including a casing, a lens, a power source, memory within the casing, an image button on the exterior of the casing to control recording of images by the camera, a download port on the exterior of the casing for downloading images frottj the camera, and a wrap around the casing which substantially encloses the casing and which covers the download port or an access aperture into which a tool must be inserted to enable access to the download port, and which wrap carries branding information or decoration.

10.- A method of distributing a recyclable digital camera comprising the steps of transferring from a retailer to a customer possession of the camera with a wrap around the camera which at least partially encloses and contacts the camera body and which wrap carries branding information or decoration, subsequently transferring possession of the camera from the customer to a processing centre, at the processing centre removing the wrap and replacing the wrap with another similar wrap also carrying branding information or decoration, and transferring possession of the camera from the processing centre to the party having title to the camera for subsequent transfer to a Customer.

11. A method of distributing a recyclable digital camera comprising the steps of transferring from a retailer to a customer possession of the camera with a wrap around the camera which at. least partially encloses and contacts the cover and body and which wrap carries branding information or decoration, subsequently transferring possession of the camera from the customer to a processing centre, at the processing centre removing the wrap and replacing the wrap with another similar wrap also carrying branding information or decoration, and transferring possession of the camera from the processing centre to a retailer for subsequent transfer to a customer.

12. A method according to either one of claims 10 and 11 including replacing the wrap with a wrap which carries branding or decoration information which is different to that carried by the removed wrap.

13. A method according to any one of claims 10 to 12 including downloading images from the camera after removing the wrap and before replacing the wrap with another similar wrap.

14. A method according to anyone of claims 9 to 13 wherein the wrap is a printed plastics film.

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein the wrap covers the download port on an exterior part of the casing of the camera,

16. A method according to claim 14 wherein the wrap covers a separate removable cover component over the download port in the casing of the camera.

17. A method according claim 14 wherein the wrap covers an aperture in the exterior of the casing of the camera, into which a tool must be inserted to enable removal of a separate removable cover component over the download port in the casing to enable access to the download port,

18. A method of distributing a recyclable digital camera comprising the steps of transferring possession of the recyclable camera including a wrap around the camera which substantially encloses the camera body and which camera branding of a first seller from a retailer to a customer for financial consideration on the condition that legal title to the camera is retained by a title holder other than the customer and retailer, transferring at least part of the financial consideration from the retailer to the title holder, transferring possession of the camera from the customer to a processing centre, at the processing centre replacing the wrap with a wrap including branding of a second seller that may be different to the first seller, and transferring possession of the camera from the processing centre to the title holder for subsequent transfer to a customer.

19. A method according to claim 18 wherein the processing centre is a camera retailer.

20. A method according to claim 18 wherein the processing centre is a separate facility that receives camera from many sources.