The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 26, 1999
Filed:
Jun. 11, 1998
Michael R Allen, Churchville, NY (US);
Jude A Sangregory, Spencerport, NY (US);
Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, NY (US);
Abstract
A group of two different variable format cameras comprise a viewfinder in each of the cameras; a single format mask supported for movement into and out of the viewfinder in one of the cameras, and an identical format mask supported for movement into and out of the viewfinder in the other camera; a format-encodement-on-film closeable switch in one of the cameras, and an identical switch in the other camera; and a closing actuator connected to the mask in one of the cameras to close the switch in that camera when the mask is moved into the viewfinder in that camera, and a different closing actuator connected to the mask in the other camera to close the switch in that camera when the mask is moved out of the viewfinder in that camera. Preferably, a single format-encodement-on-film light source is connected with the format-encodement-on-film closeable switch in one of the cameras to provide an optical encodement on film when that switch is closed, and an identical light source is connected with the format-encodement-on-film closeable switch in the other camera to provide an optical encodement on film when that switch is closed. This arrangement provides a savings of parts desirable in low cost cameras such as one-time-use cameras.