US3752044A - Daylight loader for x-ray processor and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a daylight loader having an opening in adjacent front and side walls. Each opening is covered by four interwoven pieces of one-way stretch fabric, the stretch being oriented in the direction of weave, and a fabric flap hinged to the top of the dark side of each opening covering the entire opening.

Description

United States Patent 1191 [76] Inventor: Ronald Paul Layne, 233 Greystone Ln., Rochester, NY. 14618 22 Filed: May 26, 1972 21 Appl. 190.; 257,225

52 us. (:1. 95/1, 95/91. 511 1111. c1. 00311 17/00 58 Field of Search 95/1, 91

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,314,352 4/1967 Grant 95/91 X Layne DAYLIGHT LOADER For: X-RAY PROCESSOR'AND THE 1.11m

1451 Aug. 14, 1973 396,573 H1889 Johnson 95/! Primary Examiner-John M. Horan AttorneyT. B. Roessel Disclosed is a daylight loader having an opening in adjacent front and side walls. Each opening is covered by four interwoven pieces of one-way stretch fabric, the stretch being oriented in the direction of weave, and a fabric flap hinged to the top of the dark side of each opening covering the entire opening.

ABSTRACT 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures DAYLIGHT LOADER FOR X-RAY PROCESSOR AND THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to daylight loaders for film processors, particularly dental X-ray film processors and the like. Daylight loaders are simply light-tight boxes which are attached to or formed integral the input side of the film processor. The operator puts his hands through two light-tight openings in the processor, so that he can strip any protective covering from the film and insert the film into the processor without danger of exposing the film.

One type of prior art daylight loader has fabric sleeves attached to the two openings. The operator pulls the sleeves up his arms in order to gain entry to the daylight loader. Lighttightness is provided by the length of the sleeve and the numerous folds in the slee e fabric, as the sleeves are pulled to or above the operators elbow. The principal drawback of such loader is that once the operator puts one sleeve on, it is difficult to put the other one on, and occasionally assistance is required. Also, the sleeves hanging from the loader are often referred to as elephant trunks and do not present an attractive appearance.

Another type of loader employs an elastic diaphragm having a small opening through which the operator puts his hands. The opening expands as the hand is inserted so that the diaphragm grips around the wrist or forearm of the operator. One drawback of this diaphragm arrangement is that, if the opening in the diaphragm is large enough to permit easy access of the operator's hands, it may not be light-tight, and, conversely, if the opening is too small for the operators hands, it will be difficult to penetrate the diaphragm and, once penetrated, the diaphragm will be too tight for comfort.

The daylight loader of the present invention has each opening covered by interwoven bands of one-way stretch fabric, and a fabric flap. This arrangement permits easy access through the opening and lighttightness regardless of the size of the operators hand and forearm. In addition, the openings are provided in adjacent sides of the loader to reduce its length.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention may be characterized in one aspect thereof by the provision of a daylight loader comprising a light-tight housing having two openings,-

preferably one opening being in each of two adjacent side walls of the housing; each opening being covered by two vertical and two horizontal interwoven bands of one-way stretch fabric, the stretch being oriented in the direction of weave; and .a fabric flap on the dark side of the housing hinged to the top of the opening, the size of the flap being sufficient to cover the opening.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION horizontal interwoven bands of one-way stretch fabric, wherein the direction of stretch is oriented in the direction of weave.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a daylight loader having its access openings sealed by an easily penetrated cover capable of forming a light-tight seal around the hand of the operator, the cover being flush with the side of the loader and being pleasing in appearance.

These and other objects, advantages and charecterizing features of the present invention will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description thereof, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings depicting the same.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the daylight loader of the present invention shown attached to a film processor or the like;

FIG. 2 is a view in section of the processor opening, taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the loader opening taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1, showing an operator's hand inserted through the opening; and

FIG. 4 is a front view of the loader opening showing the covering deformed as if a hand were inserted therethrough.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows the daylight loader 10 attached to the entrance side of a film processor 12. It should be appreciated that the film loader can be manufactured as a separate item and attached to the processor or can be formed integral the processor itself. While processor 12 may be any film process ing apparatus, the loader of the present invention is particularly useful in the processing of dental X-ray films and the like, wherein the exposed film is held in the daylight loader while a protective covering is removed and the film then inserted into the processor 12 for developing.

The loader is simply a light-tight housing having two openings 14 and 16. While the openings may be both on the same side of the housing, it is preferred, for purposes of keeping the length of the loader as short as possible, that the openings 14 and 16 be in adjacent side walls of the loader. The openings in this position also facilitate the manipulation of the film within the loader because the operator has his hands oriented at right angles.

The cover for each opening comprises four bands of interwoven stretch fabric indicated respectively at 18, 20, 22 and 24. Bands l8 and 22 are horizontally oriented, while bands20 and 24 are vertically oriented, these bands being woven together in a simple' basket weave design. Band 18, for example, extends over the upper portion of band 24 and under the upper portion of band 20.

The width of each band should be sufficient to cover at least one half of the opening, but a slight overlap of the band widths is preferred to insure that the vertical and horizontal portions together cover the entire opening.'Due to the double thickness provided by the interwoven bands, a band width of less than one half the opening will still act to maintain light-tightness when a hand is inserted through the opening. However, this is not preferred.

Each band is made of a one-way stretch fabric. Either woven or needled fabric may be used, but it is important to the invention that the stretch of the fabric be in the direction in which the bands are woven together. For example, the direction of stretch of horizontal bands 18 and 22 is horizontal, while the direction of stretch of vertical bands 20, 24 is vertical.

In addition to the cover formed by bands 18-24, FIGS. 2 and 3 show that there is aflap 26 of material on thedark side of each opening. This flap is suspended from adjacent the top of the opening and is of a sufficient size to cover the entire opening. When a hand is inserted through the opening, this flap rides up on to the back of the hand as shown in FIG. 3. The flap is carried down toward the opening when the hand is withdrawn to help maintain the opening light-tight.

If a fist is not made when the hand is inserted or withdrawn through the interwoven bands 18-24, or through any elastic diaphragm for that matter, the thumb tends to drop under the palm and move toward the little finger side of the hand. This causes the hand to form a concave trough extending from the wrist and along the palm to the ends of the fingers. Since the material covering the loader openings cannot conform to the shape of this trough, light can enter the loader. The purpose, therefore, of flap 26 riding and overlapping the back of the hand is to block any light entering through this trough.

An important feature of the invention as set out hereinabove is that bands 20-24 are each elastic fabrics having a oneway stretch, the bands being woven together in a simple basket weave design. This permits the individual bands to expand in one direction and collapse in another, as the hand is thrust through a loader opening. The collapsing of the bands about the hand makes for ease of entry through the opening, while the stretching of the bands aids in conforming the bands to the profile of the hand to maintain a light-tight sea]. This collapsing and expanding is illustrated in FIG. 4, wherein the stretching of theband around the hand is indicated by the arrows.

While any suitable woven or needled elastic fabric with a one-way stretch may be suitable for use in the present invention, it should be appreciated that the fabric should be such that stretching the fabric does not cause the individual fibers to separate to such an extent that light is transmitted through the band. However, the double thickness formed by weaving bands 18, 20, 22 and 24 together in a simple basket weave design adds a safety factor to insure that no light is transmitted through the covering of the loader openings when the individual bands are stretched as a hand is inserted. it

has been found that a particular woven elastic fabric sold by Wyomissing Corp. under their catalogue No. SP3446W has a weave sufficiently fine for purposes of the present invention.

Thus, it should be appreciated that the present invention accomplishes its intended objects in providing a daylight loader which is relatively compact and attractive, there being no unsightly sleeves hanging from the loader openings. The four interwoven bands of oneway stretch elastic fabric provides a closure for the loader openings which is easily penetrated by the operators hand, and which forms a light-tight seal about the hand. The use of the extra flap on the dark side of the loader insures that the opening is maintained light-tight as the operators hand is withdrawn.

Having thus described the invention in detail, what is claimed as new is:

l. A daylight loader for film processors and the like comprising:

a. a light-tight housing having at least one access opening; and b. four interwoven band of one-way only stretch elastic fabric covering said opening, said bands being interwoven in a simple basket-weave design with each of said elastic bands having its direction of stretch oriented in the direction of weave. 2. A daylight loader as set forth in claim 1, including a fabric flap of a size sufficient to cover said opening hinged to the dark side of said housing adjacent the top of said opening.

3. A daylight loader as set forth in claim I, wherein said housing has a pair of said openings, one opening which a hand can be inserted, said means comprising:

a. four bands of elastic one-way only stretch fabric, each of a length sufficient to extend across said opening and a width sufficient to extend across at least one half of said opening;

b. said bands being attached at their ends to said housing adjacent said opening and interwoven across said opening in a basket weave wherein two of said bands extend vertically and two horizontally with the stretch of each band being oriented in the direction of its weave; and g c. a fabric flap of a size sufficient to cover said opening attached at one'end to the dark side of said housing adjacent the top of said opening, whereby said flap hangs down across said four interwoven bands.

Claims (4)

1. A daylight loader for film processors and the like comprising: a. a light-tight housing having at least one access opening; and b. four interwoven band of one-way only stretch elastic fabric covering said opening, said bands being interwoven in a simple basket-weave design with each of said elastic bands having its direction of stretch oriented in the direction of weave.

2. A daylight loader as set forth in claim 1, including a fabric flap of a size sufficient to cover said opening hinged to the dark side of said housing adjacent the top of said opening.

3. A daylight loader as set forth in claim 1, wherein said housing has a pair of said openings, one opening in each of adjacent side walls of said housing.

4. A daylight loader for film processors and the like including a light-tight housing having at least one access opening, means covering said opening through which a hand can be inserted, said means comprising: a. four bands of elastic one-way only stretch fabric, each of a length sufficient to extend across said opening and a width sufficient to extend across at least one half of said opening; b. said bands being attached at their ends to said housing adjacent said opening and interwoven across said opeNing in a basket weave wherein two of said bands extend vertically and two horizontally with the stretch of each band being oriented in the direction of its weave; and c. a fabric flap of a size sufficient to cover said opening attached at one end to the dark side of said housing adjacent the top of said opening, whereby said flap hangs down across said four interwoven bands.

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