Abstract: A dual wheel exposure counter comprising a rotatable tenths counter wheel having a series of at least two spaced units, and a rotatable unit counter wheel having a series of ten spaced units and a rotating member which rotates the tenths counter wheel to change by one unit when the unit counter wheel is rotated to change by ten units, is characterized in that a retaining member engages the tenths counter wheel to prevent rotation of the tenths counter wheel and can be moved temporarily out of engagement with the tenths counter wheel to permit the tenths counter wheel to be rotated to change by one unit, and the unit counter wheel includes an actuating member separate from the rotating member that moves the retaining member temporarily out of engagement with the tenths counter wheel when the unit counter is rotated to change by ten units, whereby the rotating member can then rotate the tenths counter wheel to change by one unit.

Abstract: An exposure count indicator comprises a scale of successive exposure count indicia for visually indicating which film frame is positioned for exposure in a camera, and a confirmation indicator separate from the exposure count indicia for providing a visual confirmation indication that a first available frame is positioned for exposure in the camera. The confirmation indicator includes a light-transmitting indicator arranged on a single-color background and a separate two-color changeover including a smaller portion that has a color indistinguishable from the color of the background, and which when superimposed to the light-transmitting indicator renders the light-transmitting indicator substantially indistinguishable from the background, and a larger portion that has a color distinguishable from the color of the background, and which when superimposed to the light-transmitting indicator renders the light-transmitting indicator distinguishable from the background.

Abstract: An exposure count indicator includes a flexible split ring having a series of exposure count indicia provided along the split ring, and a mask that covers the split ring to prevent the exposure count indicia from being seen. When the split ring is rotated relative to the mask, the split ring is advanced through a ring egress opening in the mask to progressively relocate the split ring from being beneath one side of the mask to being above another side of the mask to allow the exposure count indicia to be progressively seen. Thus, the split ring becomes increasingly present at one side of the mask and decreasingly present at the other side of the mask as the exposure count indicia can be increasingly seen.

Abstract: An exposure count indicator for providing a visible indication of the number of frames that remain available to be exposed or are actually exposed on a filmstrip in a camera, comprises a numerical scale of successive exposure count indicia at least divided into an initial range of indicia that are evenly spaced from one another a particular distance and a remaining range of indicia that are evenly spaced from one another a different distance less than the particular distance the exposure count indicia that are in the initial range are spaced from one another, in order that when one views the respective indicia in the remaining range after all of the indicia in the initial range have been viewed it can serve as a warning that one is coming closer to the end of the filmstrip because the indicia in the remaining range are spaced apart a lesser distance than the indicia in the initial range.

Abstract: An exposure count indicator has a scale of successive exposure count indicia for visually indicating which film frame is positioned for exposure in a camera, and a confirmation indicator separate from the exposure count indicia for providing a visual confirmation indication that a first available frame is positioned for exposure in the camera. A pointer is supported to move from pointing to a pre-initialization one of the exposure count indicia for visually indicating that the first available frame has not been positioned for exposure in the camera to pointing to a successive one of the exposure count indicia for visually indicating that the first available frame is positioned for exposure.

Abstract: A camera has a rear backframe (exposure) opening, including a pair of spaced opposite ends across which successive sections of a filmstrip are moved for each section of the filmstrip to be advanced over the backframe opening. A pair of parallel film rails have longitudinal film support surfaces that support each section of the filmstrip over the backframe opening. A pair of parallel film debris catching combs are positioned between the film rails, proximate respective ones of the opposite ends of the backframe opening, and inwardly of the longitudinal film support surfaces to remove any debris from each section of the filmstrip before that section is advanced over the backframe opening. One of the film debris catching combs preferably is positioned inwardly of the film support surfaces farther than the other comb.

Abstract: A dual lens camera has a lens carrier with a shorter focal length lens and a longer focal length lens for alternatively positioning only one of the lenses at a picture-taking axis. A single aperture for each one of the lenses is movable forward and rearward along the picture taking axis. The lens carrier is movable forward and rearward along the picture-taking axis in unity with the aperture, and is movable relative to the aperture to position the shorter focal length lens at the picture-taking axis when the aperture is moved rearward along the picture-taking axis and to position the longer focal length lens at the picture-taking axis when the aperture is moved forward along the picture-taking axis.

Abstract: A shutter mechanism comprising a shutter that is operated to allow the passage of light, and a self-timer with a shaped memory alloy control that can be deformed and that when subjected to electrical current heats to recover from being deformed and after some delay during recovery initiates operation of the shutter, is characterized in that a manually set timer member is connected to the shaped memory alloy control and is supported to be manually moved to deform the shaped memory alloy control to set the self-timer and for the shaped memory alloy control to reverse-move the timer member during recovery of the shaped memory alloy control.

Abstract: A camera comprising a cartridge receiving chamber for a film cartridge with a filmstrip having a protruding film leader, a film door that opens and closes to uncover and re-cover the chamber, a backframe opening for exposing successive sections of the filmstrip, a film platen positioned over the backframe opening to support each section of the filmstrip at the backframe opening, and a film support positioned within the backframe opening to prevent the film leader from becoming jammed in the backframe opening when the film cartridge is placed in the chamber, is characterized in that the film platen is movable to at least partially uncover the backfrane opening in order to provide a film entry zone for the film leader into the backframe opening when the film door is opened, and the film support is coupled with the film platen for movement to the film entry zone to be positioned to prevent the film leader from becoming jammed in the backframe opening when the film platen is moved to partially uncover the backfra

Abstract: A film-engaging sprocket drive for use with an edge-perforated filmstrip having successive uniform-pitch film perforations includes a set of two coaxial sprocket wheels each having a series of uniform-pitch film-engaging teeth that are similarly shaped to engage the filmstrip within the film perforations and that are arranged in successive pairs of one tooth from one sprocket wheel and another tooth from the other sprocket wheel. The sprocket wheels each are rotatable relative to the other to similarly increase the pitch of the two teeth in the respective pairs of teeth to greater than the pitch of the film perforations. A return spring is arranged to rotate one sprocket wheel relative to the other sprocket wheel to decrease the pitch of the two teeth in the respective pairs of teeth substantially to the pitch of the film perforations.

Abstract: A camera comprising a housing, and a carry strap attached to the housing to permit the carry strap to be longitudinally extended from the housing as a closed loop to receive one's hand in the closed loop and being elastic to be stretched around the housing to be stored on the housing, is characterized in that the carry strap has an ornamental figure which is arranged to be upstanding from the housing when the carry strap is stretched around the housing to be stored on the housing. Preferably, the carry strap has an integral platform that is wider than the remainder of the carry strap to serve as a support base for the ornamental figure. The platform is positioned on a top face of the housing, and the ornamental figure is upstanding on the platform, when the carry strap is stretched around the housing to be stored on the housing.

Abstract: A camera has a rear cover part, and a rotatable counter dial with a numerical scale of exposure count indicia to be successively viewed. Each of the indicia has the same color. A label on the rear cover part is superimposed to the counter dial and has the same color as the indicia to render the indicia invisible in order to prevent them from being viewed. The label includes a viewing portion that is not the sane color as the indicia and is arranged to be superimposed successively to the indicia when the counter dial is rotated. As a result, the indicia are made successively visible in order to permit them to be successively viewed. Eye-readable information is imprinted on the label, and the counter dial is transparent to permit the information to be visible through the counter dial in order to be read.

Abstract: A camera has a rear cover part, a label on the rear cover part, and a numerical scale of exposure count indicia to be successively viewed. The numerical scale of exposure count indicia is located on the label, and each of the indicia has the same color. A color-absorbing optical filter is rotatable superimposed to the indicia and is a color that absorbs the color of the indicia to render the indicia invisible in order to prevent them from being viewed through the filter when light is reflected from the indicia to the filter. The filter includes a viewing portion that is arranged to be superimposed successively to the indicia when the filter is rotated and does not absorb the color of the indicia. As a result, the indicia are successively visible through the viewing portion in order to permit them to be successively viewed. Eye-readable information on the label is a color that is transmitted through the filter to permit the information to be read when light is reflected from the information to the filter.

Abstract: A stepper motor includes the following. A rotatable hub. A first shaped memory alloy (abbreviated to SMA) rotary-driver, which when heated undergoes a shape change to rotationally couple with the hub and rotate the hub in a predetermined direction, and which can be deformed to reverse the shape change to rotationally uncouple from the hub. A first return spring connected with the first SMA rotary-driver for deforming the first SMA rotary-driver, when no longer heated, to reverse the shape change of the first SMA rotary-driver and rotationally uncouple the first SMA rotary driver from the hub. A second SMA rotary-driver, which when heated undergoes a shape change to rotationally couple with the hub and rotate the hub in the predetermined direction, and which when can be deformed to reverse the shape change to rotationally uncouple from the hub.

Abstract: A camera comprises an information-bearing medium movable to record predetermined information on a filmstrip. The information-bearing medium is a magnetic roller recorder on which is magnetically stored the information, and which is rotationally supported in place for stationary rolling contact with a magnetic track on a filmstrip as the filmstrip is advanced, whereby the information can be repetitively recorded along the magnetic track on the filmstrip. The magnetic roller recorder can be provided apart from the camera as an owner-personalization accessory for the camera.

Abstract: A camera includes a cartridge receiving chamber for receiving a film cartridge having a rotatable film spool with an accessible end cavity, and a winding spindle for rotationally engaging the film spool inside its end cavity to wind exposed film into the film cartridge. The winding spindle has a concentric outer collar that is elastically expandable inside the end cavity to effect frictional torque contact with the film spool, and a concentric inner spool core that is rotatable within a center hole in the outer collar to force the outer collar to expand into frictional torque contact with the film spool. A slight reverse rotation of the inner spool core relative to the outer collar allows the outer collar to resiliently retract out of frictional torque contact with the film spool. Then, the winding spindle can be removed from the end cavity to permit the film cartridge to be removed from the cartridge receiving chamber.

Abstract: A lens and mount assemblage includes a lens and a mount for the lens which are secured to one another. The mount has elastic retaining members constructed to be deformed against the lens to secure the lens to the mount. A front cover part that fits over the lens and the mount has rigid deforming members arranged to deform the retaining members against the lens when the front cover part is fit over the lens and the mount.

Abstract: A camera comprising a cartridge receiving chamber for a film cartridge with a film leader that can be advanced from the film cartridge in preparation for film exposure and can be wound into the film cartridge after film exposure, a film door movable open to open the chamber and movable closed to close the chamber, and a door lock movable to lock the film door closed and movable to release the film door, is characterized in that a film sensor is originally positioned to be moved by the film leader as the film leader is advanced from the film cartridge, and a dual purpose indicator and blocker is connected to the film sensor to be moved to block the door lock from being moved to release the film door and to provide a visible indication when the film sensor is moved by the film leader, whereby the dual purpose indicator and blocker prevents the film door from being opened and warns that the film leader has been advanced from the film cartridge in preparation for film exposure.