Abstract: A camera having an exposure system and including an electrical function board, such as a flash board, operatively coupled to the exposure system. A cover closely adjoins the electrical function board and has an opening that exposes a part of the board including a contact pad and a protruding subunit closely adjoins the contact pad. The opening has a rimless margin. An elastomeric button is disposed in the opening. The button has a bridge and a conductive puck connected to the bridge. The button is resiliently deformable from a non-actuated conformation, in which the puck is spaced apart from the contact pad, to an actuated conformation, in which the puck shorts the contact pad. The bridge overlies the protruding subunit in both conformations. The bridge has an excursion that is insufficient to substantially transmit force to the protruding subunit.

Abstract: A camera comprises an exposure counter for indicating the number of frames of a film load that have been exposed or remain to be exposed, and a flash illumination light source for illuminating a subject being photographed. The exposure counter has a phosphorescent substance that becomes luminescent due to the absorption of radiation and continues with an afterglow some time after the radiation has stopped, to permit one to read the exposure counter in dimly lit or dark ambience. A light pipe directs illumination from the light source to the phosphorescent substance. Thus, the exposure counter can be read in dimly lit or dark ambience after the light source has been used.

Abstract: A camera structure includes a multiple function shutter button assembly that is capable of performing multiple functions in combination with other camera elements. More specifically, the camera includes a camera body, a circuit board attached to the camera body, a shutter button assembly including a sliding member movably coupled to the camera body, wherein the sliding member comprises a shutter button arm, a shutter actuation arm, and an electrical contact arm, and a biasing mechanism for biasing the sliding member to an initial position. The shutter actuation arm includes a shutter actuation member that activates a shutter release mechanism of the camera when a force is applied to the shutter button arm to move sliding member from the initial position to a shutter actuation position.

Abstract: An improved film cartridge handling mechanism for effecting end-wise loading of a film cartridge into a deployable loading chamber of a camera for automatic film advance into a film transport path on closure of the loading chamber, for locking the loading chamber in the closed position when the filmstrip is advanced from the film cartridge, and for preventing the loading chamber from being deployed when the filmstrip is in the filmstrip transport path. A film cartridge is aligned with the filmstrip transport path, and the cartridge film door is opened on movement of the film loading chamber into the closed position. The filmstrip is advanced through the filmstrip transport path past the exposure gate and into a takeup chamber as exposures are made and rewound after all exposures are made. A filmstrip edge sensor is deflected by the presence of the filmstrip in the filmstrip transport path indicating that the film door is open and interferes with the opening mechanism for deploying the film loading cartridge.

Abstract: An ejector mechanism is provided for use in any system which uses photographic film, such as cameras, film development equipment and any other systems designed for film cartridges. One embodiment of the ejector mechanism includes an ejector slide, an ejector slide spring, a trigger lever, a trigger lever spring, a cover plate and a loading chamber. The ejector slide includes a spring hook, a first guide pin, a second guide pin, a trigger lever tab, a trigger lever notch and a film cartridge pin. The trigger lever includes a trigger lever spring attachment, a trigger lever slot, a pawl, a trigger lever head and a trigger control tab. The cover plate includes a ejector spring attachment, a trigger spring hook, a first guide slot and a trigger control ramp. The first guide slot engages the first guide pin attached to the ejector slide to support first guide pin movement along the first guide slot. The first guide slot further includes a latch tab and a latch slot.

Abstract: A camera is provided with a loading chamber insertion mechanism for receiving a film cartridge of the type having a retention slot formed therein inserted manually into an insertion position by positively engaging the retention slot, pulling the cartridge into the chamber, and seating the cartridge in a seated position. A movable clamp and escapement mechanism are operable in an initial, insertion position for latching a carriage against movement in response to a biasing force provided by a tensioning spring. The movable clamp is pivotally mounted to the clamp for movement within escapement channels that cooperatively latch the carriage in the insertion position. The clamp pivots on the carriage within the escapement channels on being contacted by the film cartridge during its initial end-wise insertion by the user.

Abstract: A camera having a loading chamber for receiving an elongated film cartridge of the type having an engagement notch formed in the cartridge shell and having a combined insertion and ejection mechanism for engaging the engagement notch for positively pulling the film cartridge in and seating it with an audible "click" sound to reassure the user that the film cartridge is loaded properly in the loading chamber. A bell crank is attached for pivotal movement with respect to the film cartridge loading chamber and has spaced apart, insertion and ejection crank legs and rods that extend into the loading chamber to engage the inserted end and the notch of the cartridge, respectively, at different points during the insertion and ejection of the cartridge. An over center spring is attached to the bell crank to urge it into and resist movement from either the insertion or seated positions.

Abstract: A camera includes a camera body and a cartridge holder having an opening through which the cartridge holder receives a film cartridge. The cartridge holder is movable between a closed position in which the opening is covered by a portion of the camera body and an open position in which the opening is not covered by the portion of the camera body. A film cartridge in the cartridge holder is automatically moved at least part way out of the cartridge holder when the cartridge holder is moved from the closed position to the open position.

Abstract: A camera is disclosed which includes a loading chamber for receiving a film cartridge. A groove in the film cartridge is engaged by a retention member during movement of the film cartridge from the loading chamber. The retention member allows the film cartridge to move partially out of the loading chamber but prevents the film cartridge from completely moving out of the loading chamber. The retention member is capable of being disabled to allow the film cartridge to be completely moved out of the loading chamber.