Eastman-kodak Company

William H Goddard

Ralph M Lyon

Alan V Vandemoere

William E Thomas

Camera with folding flash reflector

A photographic camera capable of taking various size exposures comprises a back frame opening for making a full size exposure on a film in the camera, and respective masking blades supported for pivotal movement between a masking position for masking corresponding portions of the back frame opening to allow only a reduced size exposure to be made on the film and a non-masking position not masking the corresponding portions of the back frame opening to allow a full size exposure to be made on the film. The masking blades are connected via a connecting link having at least one elastic portion which constitutes a living hinge to permit the masking blades to be pivoted between their masking and non-masking positions. Preferably, the masking blades and the connecting link are integral to be one-piece.

Photographic camera for various size exposures using one-piece masking

A single-use camera comprises an exterior decorative cardboard casing having an open end and a cut-out, and a plastic light-tight camera housing having an end portion with a film cartridge receiving chamber located outside the exterior casing adjacent the open end and a remaining portion including a taking lens located inside the exterior casing with the taking lens at the cut-out. According to the invention, the end portion and the remaining portion of the camera housing include respective cooperating means for removably connecting the end portion to the remaining portion to permit the end portion to be disconnected from the remaining portion to uncover the cartridge receiving chamber without being obstructed by the exterior casing, whereby a film cartridge may be removed from the cartridge receiving chamber without first taking the exterior casing off the camera housing.

Single-use camera with removable end portion for cartridge access

In a disposable single-use camera comprising an inner camera shell pre-loaded with film and an outer paper pack which substantially encloses the camera shell, a lens shade connected to the shell overlies the paper pack at the perimeter of an opening in the pack for the taking lens. Thus, the paper pack is secured flatly in place between the camera shell and the lens shade to prevent the pack from shifting into the field of view of the taking lens or bowing away from the shell.

Disposable single-use camera with lens shade

An open frame sight viewfinder for a photographic camera comprises an aiming or target ring positioned forward of a correspondingly shaped viewing aperture. The aiming ring is encircled by a relatively narrow annular zone of light rays, including the extreme rays, which pass through the viewing aperture, and it has an outer diameter which is greater than the viewing diameter of the viewing aperture. Consequently, when the camera is correctly aimed at the subject, the aiming ring appears to be concentrically located within the viewing aperture although separated from the periphery of the viewing aperture by a narrow band of ambient light. However, when the camera is incorrectly tilted relative to the subject, the aiming ring appears distorted within the viewing aperture and quickly eclipses a section of the narrow light band.

Growing community of inventors

Hilton, NY, United States of America

William H Goddard