WO1992006405A1

WO1992006405A1 - Cartridge for cassette film

Info

Publication number: WO1992006405A1
Application number: PCT/US1990/005695
Authority: WO
Inventors: Charles J. Hsiung
Original assignee: Hsiung Charles J
Priority date: 1990-10-09
Filing date: 1990-10-09
Publication date: 1992-04-16

Abstract

A photographic cartridge for cassette film (10) that allows standard 35 millimeter film cassettes (42) to be converted to a cartridge format. The cartridge (10) consists of a film supply container (12) and a film take-up container (14) that are connected by a bridge means (16); the bridge means has a central opening (18) and on at least one end a means for releasably securing the film cassette (42). In one embodiment, the central opening (18) on said bridge means is designed to receive replaceable inserts (20). Each insert has a central opening (26) that defines a respective shape for the image area. A flat rectangular slide member (32) is provided that is sized to slide in and out of a slot (36) located on the top of the bridge means (16). When the slide member (32) is in the slot (36) it prevents light from reaching the film. Thus, this feature permits the removal of the cartridge (10) from a camera without danger of exposing the film.

Description

CARTRIDGE FOR CASSETTE FILM

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to photographic film cartridges and is particularly directed to means for enabling the user of cassette-loaded film to form a film cartridge using the cassette-loaded film and to select a desired shape for the image area of film carried by the film cartridge.

BACKGROUND ART

It has long been known in the photographic field, that packaging film in cartridges or magazines has numerous advantages over or cassette film, in loading and unloading. Thus, with cartridge film, the cartridge is loaded by simply dropping the cartridge into the camera; with cassette film, it is necessary to securely attach the leading edge of the film to the windup spool and to thread the film into the camera. Furthermore, film cartridges can be removed and replaced at any time, even when partially exposed, whereas cassette film cannot. Therefore, cartridge film and film loaded in magazines have been widely accepted by both professional and amateur Photographers.

The ability to combine the popularity of cassette-packaged film, such as 35 millimeter film, with the advantages offered by cartridged-packaged film has not been available.

Furthermore, with all previous camera and cartridges the shape and dimension of the image area has been fixed by the camera and could not be altered. Conventionally, the shape of the image area has been horizontally rectangular. If the photographer desired to employ a different shape or dimension, it could not be done during exposure. Thus, none of the prior art film loading apparatus, including film cartridges, have been entirely satisfactory,

A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention however, the following U.S. patents were considered:

PATENT NUMBER INVΈNTOR ISSUED

4,887, 111 Hsiung 12 December 1989

3,593, 635 servetnick, H. 20 July 1971 3,528, 356 Eagle, J. 15 September 1970 4,326, 666 Nagata, S, 11 February 1969

3, 347; 142 Steisslinger, K. 17 October 1967

The Hsiung patent which was issued to the same inventor as the inventor of the instant application, discloses an adjustable film cartridge. The cartridge consists of a film supply housing, a film storage housing and a bridge structure that adjustably connects the two housings. The adjustable cartridge allows a variety of film type, size or format to be used and allows a plurality of horizontal and vertical imaging frames to be selected.

The Nagata and Eagle patents each disclose film cartridges which are for use only with specific cameras which are also disclosed in the patents. The Steisslinger and servetnick patents relate only to film cartridges.

All of the prior art patents seek to overcome the film loading problems discussed above in the BACKGROUND

ART sect i on . However, none of these patents provide any additional incentive for manufacturers to adapt their cameras to use film cartridges, nor do they provide any additional incentive for photographers to demand their use. Thus, none of the prior film cartridges has beer entirely satisfactory.

DISCLOSURE OF THF INVENTION The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome with the instant invention and a novel film cartridge is disclosed which provides the ease of film loading and handling which has characterized prior art film cartridges. The inventive cartridge for cassette film is capable of use with a substantial range of film type, size, format and length and provides additional versatility and flexibility of use for 35 millimeter film which are presently unobtainable with any type of film packaging, in addition, the film cartridge of the instant invention is capable of use with a wide variety of cameras.

The disadvantages of Frier art film loading apparatus es are overcome with the instant invention in that an improved film cartridge is provided which permits the user to

o mount and convert cassette-loaded film, and in particular 3 5 mm film, into a cartridge format, o to vary the shape of the image area substantially at will and

o to employ substantially any desired shape for the image area.

The advantages of the instant invention are preferably attained by providing an improved film cartridge having a bridge member formed with means for releasably securing a film cassettes on at least one end of the bridge member to form either the film supply or film take-up container of the cartridge. The cartridge may also employ a plurality of replaceable inserts mountable in the bridge member. Each insert defines a respective shape for the image area of said cartridge together with slide means insertable into the bridge member to prevent exposure of the film when the cartridge is removed from the camera.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide improved film loading and handling for photographic film.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved film loading which enables the user to employ cassette-loaded film in a convenient cartridge format.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved photographic film cartridges which employ film cassettes as the film supply and film take-up containers of said cartridge.

An additional object of the invention is to provide improved film loading apparatus for Photographic film which enables the photographer to vary the shape of the image area during a given photographic session without danger of exposing the film.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved film loading capability for photographic film which enables the photographer to change the shape of the image area substantially at will.

A specific object of the invention is to provide an improved film cartridge having a bridge member formed with means for releasably securing a film cassette on at least one end of the bridge means that serves as the film supply or film take-up container of the cartridge. Additionally, the cartridge may include a plurality of replaceable inserts each defining a respective shape for the image area, together with means to allow the insert to be slideably inserted into the bridge means to prevent exposure of the film in the cartridge when the cartridge is removed from the camera. These and other objects and features of the instant invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIGURE 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of the film cartridge that incorpoates an insert member and that has a slot into which is inserted a slide member.

FIGURE 2 is a front view of a replaceable insert for use with the film cartridge of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a side view of the replaceable insert of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE A is a front view of the slide member of the film cartridge of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a left end view of the film cartridge of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a front view of a second embodiment of the film cartridge that does not include an insert member, slide member or the slide member slot.

BEST MOD E FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The cartridge for cassette film is presented in terms of two embodiments. The first embodiment, as shown in FIGURES 1-5, comprises a film cartridge indicated generally at 10, having a film supply container 12 and a film take-up container 14 that are connected by a suitable bridge means 16. The bridge means 16 is formed of an opaque material and is provided with a central opening 18 which is slightly larger than the maximum image area to be provided by the film cartridge 10 and an insert member 20 is replaceably mounted in the opening 18 by suitable attaching means, such as resilient tabs 22, as best seen in FIGURE 3. The insert member 20 is also formed of an opaque material and has a front plate 24 which is slightly larger that the opening 18 of the bridge means 16, while the attaching means 22 projects form the rear surface of the front plate 24 and are positioned to resiliently engage the edges of the opening 18 of the bridge means 16 to releaseably mount the insert 20 on the bridge means 16.

Each of the insert members 20 is formed with a central opening 26, each having a respective shape. Thus, the insert 20, as shown in FIGURE 1. has a central opening 26 which is rectangular in shape, as seen at 28 in FIGURE 1, while the insert member 20, as shown in FIGURE 2, has a central opening 26 which is triangular in shape, as seen at 30 in FIGURE 2. Obviously, the shape of the central opening 26 may also be made square, circular, elliptical or substantially any desired shape. Also, a flat, generally rectangular slide member 32 is provided, that is formed of opaque. material and having a tab 34, or the like, to facilitate insertion and withdrawal of the slide member 32. The slide member 32 is slideably into and out of a slot 36 formed in the top of the bridge member 16. when the slide member 32 is located in the slot 36, it serves to prevent light from reaching film located in the bridge 16 and hence, permits removal of the cartridge 10 from the camera without danger of exposing the film.

The second embodiment, as shown in FIGURE 6, is similar in structure to that of the first embodiment. However, in the second embodiment, the bridge means does not employ an insert member 20 or a slide member 32. Therefore, the insertion slot 36 is also not required.

AS stated above, the cartridge 10 comprises a film supply container 12 and 5 film take-up container 14 located on respective ends of the bridge member 16. The containers 12 and 14 may be formed integral with the bridge member 16, as seen by the film supply container 12 in FIGURE 1 and has been conventional with film cartridges of the prior art However, if desired, the bridge member 16 may be provided with releasable fastening means, such as resilient flanges 38 and 40, projecting from the upper and lower edges, respectively, of the bridge member 16 to releasably mount a film cassette, such as that indicated at 42, to the bridge member 16 to serve as either the film supply container 12 of film take-up container 14 of the cartridge 10.

Film cassettes, such as that shown at 42, are formed with a central opening 44 and contain a film spool having a neck 46 which projects out of the upper end 48 of the cassette 42. Accordingly, the upper retaining flange 38 is preferably formed with a central opening 50 to receive the neck 46 of the cassette 42, whi l e lower retaining flange 40 is preferably formed with a central raised boss 52 which is insertable into the opening 44 in the lower end of the cassette 42. As seen in FIGURE 5, the end 54 of the bridge member 16 adjacent the cassette retaining flanges 38 and 40, is preferably formed with an opening 56 which is dimensioned to frictionally receive the flange 58 of the cassette 42 and to form a light-tight seal with the flange 58. Thus, to use an empty film cassette, such as cassette 42, as a film take-up container 14 for the cartridge 10, the user simply inserts the neck 46 of the cassette 42 through the opening 50 of the upper retaining flange 38, engages the boss 52 of the lower retaining flange 40 in the opening 44 at the lower end of the cassette 42 and snaps the flange 58 of the cassette 42 into the opening 56 of the bridge member 16. Film from the film supply container 12 is then threaded through the bridge member 16 and inserted into the flange 58 of the cassette 42. Obviously, if desired, retaining flanges, such as the retaining flanges 38 and 40 could be provided on the opposite end of the bridge member 16 to permit a film cassette, such as cassette 42, to be secured to the bridge member 16 to serve as the film supply container 12 or retaining flanges, such as the retaining flanges 38 and 40 could be provided at both ends of the bridge member 16 and two film cassettes, such as cassette 42, could be employed; one to serve as the film supply container 12 and the other to serve as the film take-up container

14.

in using the film cartridge 10 of the present invention, the photographer selects a desired cartridge in which, as described above, the film supply and take-up containers 12 and 14 may be fixedly attached to the bridge member 16 or may be one or more film cassettes, such as cassette 42, releasably secured to the bridge member 16 by suitable retaining flanges, such as retaining flanges 38 and 40. with the first embodiment, the photographer can decide what shape he wishes the image area to have and may select an insert member 20 having a central opening 26 of the desired shape. This insert member 20 is then mounted on the cartridge 10 by inserting the attaching means 22 into the central opening 18 of the bridge means 16 to maintain the insert member 20 resiliently mounted on the bridge means 16 of the cartridge 10. Obviously, the shape of the central opening 26 of the insert member 20 will serve to define the shape of the image area when the film is exposed.

Subsequently, if the photographer wishes to use a different shape for the image area, he simply removes the cartridge 10 from the camera, removes the insert member 20, mounts a different insert member 20 having a central opening 26 formed with the newly desired shape for the image area and replaces the cartridge 10 in the camera. It will be apparent that substantially any desired number of insert members 20 may be provided, each having the central opening 26 thereof formed to define a respective shape for the image area when the film is exposed. Moreover, it will be apparent that the insert members 20 can be replaced quickly and easily by simply pulling the front plate 24 of the insert member 20 away from the bridge means 16 of the cartridge 10 to displace the resilient tabs 22 from engaging the edges of the central opening 18 of the bridge means 16 and, hence, to release the insert member 20.

To mount a new insert member 20, the desired insert member 20 is pressed against the bridge means 16 with the resilient tabs 22 of the new insert member 20 adjacent the respective edges of the opening 18 of the bridge means 16, causing the resilient tabs 22 to releasably grip the edges of the opening 18 of bridge means 16 and, thereby, releasably mounting the insert member 20 on the film cartridge 10. such replacement can be made quickly and easily whenever the photographer desires to do so.

Obviously, numerous variations and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, it should be clearly understood that the forms of the present invention des cri bed above and shown in the f i gures of the accompanying drawing are illustrative only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

Claims

CLA I M S

1. A photographic film cartridge comprising:

a) a bridge means having a central opening slightly larger than the maximum image area to be provided by said cartridge, and b) means for releasably securing a film cassette to at least one end of said bridge means to serve as a film container for said ridge.

2. The film cartridge of claim 1 further comprising:

a) a pair of retaining flanges projecting from the upper and lower edges of said bridge means, and

b) a film cassette releasably retained by said flanges to serve as one of said container portions of said cartridge.

3. The film cartridge of claim 1 further comprising:

a) a pair of retaining flanges projecting from the upper and lower edges of both ends of said bridge means, and b) a pair of film cassettes each releasably retained by the flanges at a respective end of said bridge means to serve as said container portions of said cartridge.

4. The film cartridge of claim 2 wherein the retaining flange projecting from the upper edge of said bridge means is formed with a central opening dimensioned to receive the neck of the film spool of said cassette.

5. The film cartridge of claim 2 further comprising:

a) said film cassette having a flange extending along one side thereof, and b) said bridge means having an opening formed in said one end dimensioned to frictionally receive the flange of said cassette.

6. The film cartridge of claim 1 wherein said film cassette is a 35 millimeter film cassette.

7. A photographic film cartridge comprising:

a) a film supply container portion, b) a film take-up container portion, c) bridge means joining said film supply portion with said film take-up portion, said bridge means being formed of opaque material and having a central opening slightly larger than the maximum image area to be provided by said cartridge, and d) an insert member releasably mounted in said opening and formed with a central opening defining the shape of the image area to be provided by said cartridge.

8. The film cartridge of claim 7 further comprising a plurality of said insert members interchangeably mountable in said central opening of said bridge means and each formed with a central opening shaped to define a respective shape for said image area.

9. The film cartridge of claim 7 further comprising releasable attaching means mounting said insert member on said bridge means.

10. The film cartridge of claim 7 wherein said releasable attaching means are resilient tabs projecting from the rear surface of said insert member and positioned to releasably engage the edges of the central opening of said bridge means.

11. An insert for defining the shape of the image area to be provided by a film cartridge having a bridge means formed with a central opening; said insert comprising:

a) a flat front plate formed to overlie to central opening of said bridge means and formed with a central opening shaped to define a desired shape for the image area provided by said cartridge, and

b) attaching means releasably mounting said insert in position on said bridge means.

12. The insert of claim 11 wherein said attaching means are resilient tabs projecting from the rear surface of said front plate to releasably engage the edges of the central opening of said bridge means.

13. The film cartridge of claim 7 further comprising:

a) a pair of retaining flanges projecting from the upper and lower edges of one end of said bridge means, and

14. The film cartridge of claim 7 further comprising:

15. The film cartridge of claim 13 wherein the retaining flange projecting from the upper edge of said bridge means is formed with a central opening dimensioned to receive the neck of the film spool of said cassette.

16. The film cartridge of claim 13 further comprising:

a) said film cassette having a flange extending along one side thereof, and b) said bridge means having an opening formed in said one end dimensioned to fractionally receive the flange of said cassette.

17. The film cartridge of claim 7 further comprising:

a) a slot formed in the upper edge of said bridge means; and

b) a flat, generally rectangular plate formed of opaque material and insertable into said slot to prevent light from exposing film located in said bridge means of said cartridge,

18. A cartridge for cassette film comprising:

a) a 35 millimeter film cassette that serves as a film supply container,

b) a 35 millimeter film cassette that serves as a film take-up container,

c) a bridge means formed of opaque material and having:

(1) on one end a means for releasably securing said film supply container and on the other end a means for releasably securing said film take-up container,

(2) a central opening sized to accommodate one frame of said 35 millimeter film, and

(3) a slot located above said central opening,

d) an insert member releasably mounted in said central opening of said bridge means and having a central opening defining the shape of the image area to be provided by said cartridge, and

e) a slide member sized to fit into said slot where when slide is inserted, it prevents light from reaching the film permitting the removal of said cartridge from a camera without danger of exposing said film.