Abstract: A portable camera support. The camera support comprises a shoulder support member which rests on and extends forwardly from a user's shoulder and which supports a camera. A telescoping extension tube extends forwardly from the front end of the shoulder support member and is pivotably attached to a torso engaging support member, the lower end of which bears upon the user's chest or torso. A preferred adjustable bracing member permits selective adjustment of the height of the camera. A camera mounting plate permits forward and rearward adjustment of the position of the camera, as well as limited left- and right-handed rotation to accommodate left- and right-handed users.

Abstract: A camera (10) comprises a track (14) and a camera unit (12) which is operable to move along the track (14). The camera unit (12) comprises a slit aperture camera for producing a panoramic image. A motor (28) on the camera unit (12) provides power to wheels (20) which are matingly engaged with the upper and lower rails (16, 18) of the track (14). The upper and lower rails (16, 18) are operable to supply electricity to the motor (28). The speed of the camera unit (12) along the track (14) and the speed of the film within the camera unit (12) may be selected by the user.

Abstract: In an image recording apparatus for forming an image on a photosensitive recording medium by exposing the matter to light through a light-transmissive original or a mask member, a light-transmissive and dielectric conveying means is disposed between a light source and the photosensitive recording medium and has an outer surface for carrying thereon the original or a mask member with a space between the latter and the photosensitive recording medium. The conveying means is electrified by electrifying means such as a corotron, a brush to electrostatically attract the original or a mask member thereto.

Abstract: In an electrostatic protection device for electronic cards, the electronic card has a module bearing, on one of its faces, a network of conducting tracks to which at least one integrated circuit is connected. Each contact is close to a contact at a reference potential. The contact bears, on its periphery, metal sharp-pointed proturberances placed so as to face other metal protuberances borne by the contacts so as to favor the formation of electric arcs between two facing protuberances.

Abstract: A camera has a film pack reception zone from which film prints are ejected after film exposure, and is characterized by timewise separated exposures of different sections of an in-place film, in that zone, and ejection of the in-place film only after completion of exposure of different sections of the in-place film.

Abstract: A portable ion generator has a housing with a high tension source therein. The high tension source has two output connections of which one is electrically conductively connected to a high voltage needle electrode while the other is electrically conductively connected to a counterelectrode disposed around the needle electrode. So that the housing of the generator can be worn without being obtrusively visible, without adversely affecting operation of the electrodes, the needle electrode and the counterelectrode are carried by a relatively small carrier member and connected to the high tension source by means of flexible electrical conductor elements. The ion generator has a contact element which is at the potential of the counterelectrode and which may be provided on the housing and/or the carrier member.

Abstract: A mounting apparatus for an interchangeable lens camera has a mount lock member which is provided on a body mount of a camera body and which can be disengageably engaged in a lock hole on the interchangeable lens mount. A mount lock releasing member moves in association with the mount lock member and retracts the mount lock member from the body mount when the mount lock member is pushed in. Contact members on the body mount and the lens mount are brought into contact with each other when the interchangeable lens is locked to the camera body, wherein the contact members provided on the camera body have contact pins which can retractably project from the body mount and which are continuously biased to project from the body mount. When the mount lock member is retracted from the body mount, the contact pins are also retracted from the body mount.

Abstract: A battery holding device disposed in a battery case in a main body of a camera. In the battery holding device, there is provided a slidable and rotatable battery cover in a battery insertion opening in the battery case. The battery cover can remove the engagement of a battery by an engagement member in a position where the insertion opening is closed and also can open the battery insertion opening in a rotatable position.

Abstract: A harp is provided for mounting on a swinging door. The harp includes a centrally disposed opening and a plurality of musical strings stretched over the opening. A plurality of mallets is provided for striking the strings when the door undergoes swinging motion, thereby emitting musical tones. Each mallet includes a stiff rod having a mallet head at one end, bearings mounted in tandem on a stiff on a shaft are provided into which the rods insert for oscillatory movement of the mallet heads about the shaft. In contrast to door harp of the prior art, the harp can be mounted on a door with its strings tilted away from horizontal.

Abstract: A vehicular mounted support for cameras or other optical devices comprises a support pillar attachable to the window of the vehicle and having a spacer to steady the pillar in at least partially spaced-apart relationship with the window. The pillar supports a mounting arm which in turn holds a camera or other mounting device. The mounting arm is positionably adjustable with respect to the length of the support pillar and may be articulated to allow for a better positioning of the optical device.

Abstract: A camera is adapted for use with a film cassette in which a film spool is rotatable to unwind a filmstrip off the spool to automatically thrust a non-protruding leader portion of the filmstrip from the cassette to enable the leader portion to be propelled in the camera over an exposure opening and to a film take-up means. The filmstrip including the leader portion has a natural tendency to curve crosswise. In the camera, a pressure plate is resiliently biased to an operative position for pressing the filmstrip flat at the exposure opening. A restraining device is operated to hold the pressure plate in a retracted position sufficiently removed from the exposure opening. This permits the filmstrip to assume its natural cross-curvature in order to significantly increase the longitudinal strength of the leader portion to facilitate its being propelled over the exposure opening and to the film take-up means responsive to unwinding rotation of the film spool.

Abstract: A removable unitary keyboard protector with attachment means adaptable to a broad spectrum of keyboard instruments. The protector includes a rear section with fastening means comprising fastening wedges adapted to conform to the space in between the black keys of the keyboard thereby attaching the keyboard protector thereto, a central cover position, and a frontal section fashioned to protect the keys and keyboard mechanism from contaminants or destructive forces to which such keyboard is accidentally or intentionally subjected.

Abstract: An improved panhead for a tripod and the like includes a tray and a releasable shoe. A quick release mechanism is provided to release the shoe from the tray. To prevent separation of the shoe from the tray, with the release mechanism in the release position, the tray is provided with side walls and a bottom surface and a rear wall, the latter inclined, the shoe including an inclined rear wall. The side walls of the tray are provided with flanges which are spaced from the bottom surface and which cooperate with the shoe to retain the shoe on the tray with the release of the shoe. In this way, even if released, the shoe will not separate as the panhead is tilted on any of its axes.

Abstract: A mechanical keyboard according to the present invention has a main sostenuto pedal mechanism for holding off a damper associated with a key depressed and an auxiliary sostenuto pedal mechanism provided for keys of a bass range for holding off the associated damper or dampers, and the auxiliary pedal is provided in the vicinity of a soft pedal for easy depression.

Abstract: A block set includes a plurality of sounding blocks which can be optionally arranged and each block is provided an electronic or a mechanical sounding device in the block so that upon a treading on an individual block by a player's foot, the sounding block can be actuated to produce musical sound with respect to a specific scale note and upon a continuous treading on the plural blocks, a complete musical composition or song can be finished.

Abstract: A finder optical system comprises from the object side an objective lens having a positive refractive power as a whole, a condenser lens arranged in the vicinity of an image plane of the objective lens, an eyepiece consisting of a single lens element and having a positive refractive power, and further comprises a prism installed between the condenser lens and the eyepiece to introduce light fluxes having been passed through the condenser lens into the eyepiece, and wherein the finder optical system fulfills the following conditions; .nu.<50, 15 mm<fe<50 mm, 0.7<L/fe <1, wherein, .nu. represents an Abbe number of the prism, fe represents a focal length of the eyepiece, and L represents an optical path length of the prism defined as a ratio of thickness of the prism to the refractive index thereof. Thereby, axial chromatic aberration can be corrected well, and additionally, a finder image with high mangification is obtainable.

Abstract: A motor driven panoramic mounting for cameras which provides an automatic pan range and the ability to go beyond the automatic range under manual control. The automatic mode is restarted regardless of the position of the camera at the restart. Four mechanical actuators are used which move a star shaped cam that turns another cam upon which a reversing switch actuator rides. The reversing switch cam has a central flat positioned within the movement differential zone of the limit switch so that it remains in its last condition due to hysteresis, whereas the outer end flats actuate the switch to reverse the camera motion.

Abstract: Tuning pins that provide adjustable torque, mount directly onto the string plate of a piano, and require no wrest plank. The pins have threaded cores that resemble conventional tuning pins except for coarser threads, and have coaxial collars intermediate their length. Torque is adjusted with a locknut that is also used to mount the pin. Torque is developed by lubricated friction interfaces. Each lubricated friction interface comprises a stationary friction element, a friction element that turns with the pin, and a film of lubricant material between the two. The lubricant material may be hydrodynamic fluid or solid. One or more compliance elements, assembled onto the core, provide compensation for wear and vernier adjustment of torque. In the preferred embodiments the compliance elements are Belleville type spring washers that also act as friction elements. Cores can be made with integral collars, or the collars can be separate parts that are secured to the core.

Abstract: An optical instrument system has an optical instrument body and an optical accessory instrument. The optical instrument body is capable of accommodating an electric power source and includes a supply circuit for supplying an electric power from the electric power source and a body side circuit for performing digital information communication.

Abstract: A housing for a surveillance camera protects the camera from damage from projectiles, including small firearms. The housing is generally spherical for reducing wind resistance, and is ballistically rated. The housing is formed of three layers to achieve the ballistic rating while maintaining low weight. A rubber-containing thermoplastic alloy provides the outer surface, an acrylic is intermediate, and ballistic aluminum is the interior layer. The camera is fully rotatable, and a ballistically rated hemisphere rotates with the camera while a clear window allows the camera to see. An outer cover is made of acrylic which may be tinted to conceal the camera window. A blower is mounted within the housing at the top thereof, and the discharge may heat or cool the camera drive motor and the rollers that mount the rotatable hemisphere. To achieve the ballistic rating economically, the inner layer is formed of aluminum, and the inner layer is used as the mold for vacuum forming the outer, thermoplastic, layers.