GB2032634A - Pocket camera - Google Patents

Abstract

A camera body of substantially flat construction except for bulges 4 and 5 at the top and bottom to accommodate a film spool 3 enables the use of a film 2 of a width which occupies substantially the whole of the distance between the top and bottom walls 1a and 1b. A picture may be formed on the full format of normal miniature film. One of the bulges may form part of the rewinding mechanism 6. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Photographic camera The invention relates to a photographic camera of flat construction for a normal miniature film.

Known cameras of flat construction achieve their flat characteristic by providing a foldable camera housing with struts wherein the lens is connected to the remainder of the housing by bellows or alternatively the camera is designated as a tube camera with a collapsible plinth tube or it is intended to be used with half-width subminiature film (pocket system).

These known cameras, however, have disadvantages. Collapsible and tube cameras of this type require operations before and after taking a picture in order to reach the picture-taking condition from the transport condition, and vice versa. In addition, it is more difficult with these cameras to focus the lens accurately.

In order to achieve a flat construction sub-miniature films can be used for taking the picture. The main disadvantages of using subminiature films is that production of prints requires enlarging at a very large scale which has an unfavourable effect on the quality of the picture.

It is the purpose of the invention to eliminate these disadvantages and to produce a camera which uses standard miniature film and which the user can put flat into his pocket.

It is also the object of the invention to develop a photographic camera of flat construction for a normal miniature film, which takes the picture on the full format of the miniature film.

According to the invention there is provided a photographic camera of flat construction comprising a housing including top and bottom walls, a lens mounted on a front wall which extends between the top and bottom walls, the spacing between the top and bottom walls being the same as the width of the film, the top and bottom walls having bulges (4, 5) into which the axial ends of the film spool (3) extended.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the camera; Figure 2 shows a schematic part section through the camera of figure 1 showing the spool space and a rewinding device.

The camera housing 1 has top and bottom walls 1 a, 1 b between which a front wall 1 C extends. A lens 1 d is mounted on the front wall.

The spacing between the top and bottom walls corresponds to the width of the film 2. Bulges 4, 5 are provided at the place where the film spool 3 is located so that the axial ends of the film spool can project into the bulges. In the illustrated embodiment one of he bulges forms part of a rewinding mechanism 6. This design makes it possible to achieve a construction which is of minimum thickness and so is advantageous for the user while maintaining the full format of the miniature film.

1. A photographic camera of flat construction comprising a housing including top and bottom walls, a lens mounted on a front wall which extends between the top and bottom walls, the spacing between the top and bottom walls being approximately the same as the width of the film, the top and bottom walls having bulges (4, 5) into which the axial ends of the film spool (3) extend.

2. A photographic camera according to Claim 1 in which one of the bulges forms part of a rewinding mechanism.

3. A photographic camera substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (3)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Photographic camera The invention relates to a photographic camera of flat construction for a normal miniature film. Known cameras of flat construction achieve their flat characteristic by providing a foldable camera housing with struts wherein the lens is connected to the remainder of the housing by bellows or alternatively the camera is designated as a tube camera with a collapsible plinth tube or it is intended to be used with half-width subminiature film (pocket system). These known cameras, however, have disadvantages. Collapsible and tube cameras of this type require operations before and after taking a picture in order to reach the picture-taking condition from the transport condition, and vice versa. In addition, it is more difficult with these cameras to focus the lens accurately. In order to achieve a flat construction sub-miniature films can be used for taking the picture. The main disadvantages of using subminiature films is that production of prints requires enlarging at a very large scale which has an unfavourable effect on the quality of the picture. It is the purpose of the invention to eliminate these disadvantages and to produce a camera which uses standard miniature film and which the user can put flat into his pocket. It is also the object of the invention to develop a photographic camera of flat construction for a normal miniature film, which takes the picture on the full format of the miniature film. According to the invention there is provided a photographic camera of flat construction comprising a housing including top and bottom walls, a lens mounted on a front wall which extends between the top and bottom walls, the spacing between the top and bottom walls being the same as the width of the film, the top and bottom walls having bulges (4, 5) into which the axial ends of the film spool (3) extended. Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the camera; Figure 2 shows a schematic part section through the camera of figure 1 showing the spool space and a rewinding device. The camera housing 1 has top and bottom walls 1 a, 1 b between which a front wall 1 C extends. A lens 1 d is mounted on the front wall. The spacing between the top and bottom walls corresponds to the width of the film 2. Bulges 4, 5 are provided at the place where the film spool 3 is located so that the axial ends of the film spool can project into the bulges. In the illustrated embodiment one of he bulges forms part of a rewinding mechanism 6. This design makes it possible to achieve a construction which is of minimum thickness and so is advantageous for the user while maintaining the full format of the miniature film. CLAIMS

1. A photographic camera of flat construction comprising a housing including top and bottom walls, a lens mounted on a front wall which extends between the top and bottom walls, the spacing between the top and bottom walls being approximately the same as the width of the film, the top and bottom walls having bulges (4, 5) into which the axial ends of the film spool (3) extend.

2. A photographic camera according to Claim 1 in which one of the bulges forms part of a rewinding mechanism.

3. A photographic camera substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.