Abstract: A storage assemblage is disclosed for cassettes each of which holds an image bearing medium having recorded images and for index print sheets each of which has printed pictures that match the images on the image bearing medium in one of the cassettes. According to the invention, the storage assemblage comprises display containers each of which includes a flat transparent cover and a flat back dimensioned to snugly hold an index print sheet between them with the pictures on the index print sheet visible through the cover. The back has a nest open at an inner side of the back to receive a cassette and projecting from an outer side of the back to hold the cassette out of the way of the index print sheet.

Abstract: A compact camera comprises a flash unit and a viewfinder airspace. The flash unit and viewfinder airspace are relatively sized to fit the flash unit into the viewfinder airspace for storage purposes.

Abstract: In a film cassette, a spool is supported for rotation in an unwinding direction inside a cassette shell, a filmstrip is coiled about the spool to form a roll with an outermost film convolution that is a nonprotruding leader, and a stripper is located substantially adjacent a passageway to the exterior of the shell for receipt between a leading edge of the leader and a next-inward film convolution of the roll to divert the leading edge into the passageway when the spool is rotated in the unwinding direction. According to the invention, the leading edge of the leader is inclined at one angle rearwardly from its center point on a longitudinal centerline of the filmstrip towards one longitudinal edge of the filmstrip relatively remote from the stripper and is inclined at another angle forwardly from the centerpoint towards another longitudinal edge of the filmstrip relatively close to the stripper. This arrangement facilitates advancement of the leading edge into and through the passageway.

Abstract: A container is disclosed for a cassette housing an image bearing medium having recorded images, for a stack of photographic picture prints made from the recorded images, and for an index print having rows of small-size positive images that match the recorded images. The container comprises a book-like jacket including a pair of leaves separated by a spine joined to the leaves at respective fold lines to permit the leaves to be arranged opposing each other. At least one of the leaves is photographic paper to permit the index print to be formed directly on that leave. The spine is wide enough to permit the stack of photographic picture prints to be stored between the leaves when the leaves oppose each other. An openable pocket web joined to the leaves across the spine is opened to receive the cassette when the leaves oppose each other. A storage sheath with a window for viewing the index print is adapted to receive the jacket with its leaves opposing each other.

Abstract: In a film cassette, a film stripper is located relative to a film egress passageway to be received between the film leader and the next inward convolution of a film roll to direct the film leader into the passageway responsive to rotation of the film roll in an unwinding direction. According to the invention, the stripper is united with a light blocking device for movement, when the light blocking device is moved to a light blocking position relative to the passageway, to a non-stripping position out of reach of the film roll to prevent receipt of the stripper between the film leader and the next inward convolution and for movement, when the light blocking device is moved to a non-blocking position relative to the passageway, to a stripping position within reach of the film roll to allow receipt of the stripper between the film leader and the next inward convolution.

Abstract: A photographic camera comprises a camera body having a front opening, a lens holder, and mounting means located inside the camera body for supporting the lens holder to move the lens holder through the front opening into and out of the camera body. The mounting means cooperates with the lens holder to form a single labyrinth which prevents ambient light that may enter the front opening substantially from reaching a film plane inside the camera body. According to the invention, covering means is arranged in surrounding relationship with the lens holder and extends through the front opening for cooperating with the lens holder to form a second labyrinth that augments the single labyrinth to further prevent ambient light from reaching the film plane.

Abstract: A recyclable, single use photographic film package and camera comprising a light/tight film casing having an exposure opening, a roll of unexposed film withdrawn from its canister and wound on a film winding reel disposed on one side of the exposure opening in the light-tight casing, the canister disposed on the other side of the exposure opening in the light-tight film casing, and an externally operable film winding thumbwheel for winding the film past the shutter and image area and into its canister as the film is exposed frame by frame. When all frames are exposed, the package is recycled after processing the exposed film by substituting a fresh roll of film and new packaging for resale.

Abstract: A film cartridge comprises a cartridge shell for housing a filmstrip, and a coded mechanism for providing an indication of one or more properties of the filmstrip. The coded mechanism includes a cavity formed in the outside of the shell to be accessible, a cover affixed to the outside of the shell that completely covers the cavity, and at least one cut-out in the cover uniquely positioned over the cavity to permit entry into the cavity only through the cut-out to provide an indication of one or more properties of a filmstrip housed in the shell.

Abstract: In a photographic camera, a warning flag is supported for movement between a non-operative position outside the field of view of the camera viewfinder to prevent the warning flag from being seen in the field of view and an operative position a certain distance in front of the viewfinder to make the warning flag visible in the field of view. The viewfinder includes a magnifier lens located to place the warning flag in focus when the warning flag is in its operative position but to not substantially distort the view through the viewfinder of a subject to be photographed.

Abstract: A film cassette comprises a spool supported inside a shell for rotation to thrust a filmstrip coiled about the spool to the exterior of the shell whether the filmstrip is unexposed or is partly exposed, and a film exposure status indicator secured to the spool for rotation from an unexposed position for providing a visible indication that the filmstrip is unexposed to respective partly exposed and fully exposed positions for providing visible indications that the filmstrip is only partly exposed or is substantially exposed. A spool lock is supported for movement to arrest the spool with the film exposure status indicator in the unexposed, partly exposed or fully exposed position, and to release the spool. According to the invention, the spool lock includes a film speed indicator for providing a detectable indication of the speed of the filmstrip which is not detectable when the spool lock is arresting the spool and is detectable when the spool lock has released the spool.

Abstract: In a film cartridge, a spool hub has a coaxial cavity in one end portion. A cartridge housing for the spool hub has a hole in one end wall that is aligned with the cavity to permit access to the cavity through the hole. A hermetic plug is sized to fit tightly in the hole to act as an airtight seal for the hole, but is sufficiently compliant to permit it to be forcibly pushed intact from the hole into the cavity to provide a visible indication that the film cartridge has been used.

Abstract: A compact camera has a rectractable objective lens carrier that is associated with a flip open flash unit to move to an extended taking position as the flash unit is moved to an opened or unfolded position and to move to a retracted storage position as the flash unit is moved to a closed or folded position. A locking device is biased to engage the lens carrier substantially when the lens carrier is in its taking position to lock the lens carrier in that position, and can be disengaged from the lens carrier to permit the lens carrier to be moved to its storage position.

Abstract: In a camera to be used with a self-opening cassette, an interlock for a cover piece of the camera and a light valve of the cassette prevents the cover piece from being opened when the light valve cannot be closed because a filmstrip is protruding out of the cassette.

Abstract: A film assemblage comprises an elongate filmstrip and a relatively shorter leader adhered together at respective overlapping areas and adapted to be wound onto a take-up spool in a camera beginning with the leader and followed by the filmstrip. The filmstrip and/or the leader has a hole located and dimensioned relative to the overlapping areas to receive at least one of the overlapping areas when the leader and the filmstrip are wound onto a take-up spool in a camera. Since one of the overlapping areas is located in the hole when the filmstrip and the leader are coiled tightly about the take-up spool, the double thickness of the overlapping areas will not leave any pressure marks on the filmstrip.

Abstract: A film cassette comprising a cassette shell having an end face with an end opening, and a rotatable spool core supported inside the shell with one end protruding through the end opening to outside the shell, is characterized in that a covering label is affixed to the end face of the shell and to the one end of the spool core to prevent rotation of the spool core. The covering label is frangible to allow it to be broken to permit rotation of the spool core and to provide a visible indication the cassette was used. The end face of the shell has a relieved area which immediately surrounds the end opening in the end face along a location beneath the covering label. When the cassette is loaded into a photographic camera, a fracturing piece is received into the relieved area which breaks the covering label.

Abstract: A portrait camera is intended to be used for picture-taking in a horizontal orientation and in a vertical orientation. When the camera is oriented horizontally, two head-finder circles or the like are visible in the field of view of the viewfinder to frame the respective heads of two people. When the camera is oriented vertically, only one of the head-finder circles is visible in the field of view of the viewfinder to frame the head of one person. Thus, two people are to be photographed when the camera is oriented horizontally, but only one person is to be photographed when the camera is oriented vertically.

Abstract: In a photographic camera, a neutral density or other light reducing filter in the viewfinder obscures details of a subject viewed through the viewfinder in low light to provide a warning that ambient light is insufficient for a proper daylight exposure. The filter has little or no light reducing capability at a central portion and along a peripheral portion to serve as aiming and framing features, respectively.

Abstract: A photographic camera comprises a camera housing with a viewfinder having a defined field of view, a hollow lens snout projecting from the camera housing forward of the viewfinder, a taking lens supported substantially at a front end of the lens snout, and exposure control means.

Abstract: A photographic camera comprising a camera housing which has an internal viewfinder tunnel with a frame finder opening in a front wall of the housing, and a taking lens extension projecting longitudinally from the front wall, is characterized in that the taking lens extension has a channel-like cut-out substantially along its length which converges rearwardly toward the frame finder opening to effectively extend the viewfinder tunnel to facilitate aiming the photographic camera.

Abstract: A photographic camera comprises a camera body having its height greater than its width, its depth less than its width, and a lowermost internal chamber which extends a substantial amount of the width and the depth for storing relatively heavy components such as batteries and an electric motor to concentrate the mass proximate the bottom of the camera body. A front face of the camera body includes a longitudinal indentation located above the chamber which extends a substantial amount of the width to receive similar right- and left-hand fingers of a photographer whereby the photographer can readily grip the camera body in the vicinity of the chamber.