Abstract: A camera comprising a chamber for a film cassette having a film passageway through which an exposed filmstrip is progressively moved into the cassette and a light lock that is to be closed within the film passageway after the exposed filmstrip is completely moved into the cassette, and a movable closing mechanism for closing the light lock, is characterized in that the closing mechanism has a closing portion configured on the closing mechanism to be moved from outside the film passageway to inside the film passageway when the exposed filmstrip is moved completely into the cassette, in order to close the light lock.

Abstract: A variable format camera comprising a front cover part having a particular-format viewfinder opening, and at least one other-format mask movable beneath the front cover part into alignment with the viewfinder opening to change the format of the view through the viewfinder opening to that of the mask and out of alignment with the viewfinder opening, is characterized in that a format-encodement-on-film switch is actuatable to provide a format encodement on a filmstrip in the camera; the mask has a switch actuator for actuating the encodement switch; and a rigid support for the switch actuator maintains a gap between the switch actuator and the encodement switch when the switch actuator does not actuate the encodement switch, to prevent the switch actuator from accidentally actuating the encodement switch because the front cover part is pressed inwardly.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for making a nanochannel glass (NCG) rica, having the steps of: coating a face of an etched NCG with a replica material (with or without an intervening buffer layer), where the etched NCG face has a plurality of channels arranged in a desired pattern, to form a replica coating on the NCG conforming to the pattern; and removing the replica coating from the etched NCG. The present invention is also the replica made by this process.

Abstract: A camera frame assembly for use with photographic film. The camera frame assembly has a pair of path subenclosures. Each subenclosure has a platen subunit and an intermediate section subunit joined in fixed relation to the platen subunit. The path subenclosures are joined together with the platen subunits in alignment and the intermediate section subunits in alignment, such that the platen subunits form a platen for the photographic film and the intermediate section subunits form an intermediate section overlying the platen.

Abstract: A camera comprising a main body part having a backframe opening for exposing successive sections of a filmstrip, a metering sprocket rotatably supported on the main body part proximate the backframe opening and having respective teeth that can project through individual perforations in the filmstrip to engage successive sections of the filmstrip at the backframe opening, and a rear cover part having a plurality of parallel film guide ribs longitudinally extending to guide successive sections of the filmstrip over the backframe opening, is characterized in that one of the film guide ribs includes an integral portion configured to at least partially surround the teeth of the metering sprocket one at a time, in a predetermined location at which each tooth projects from one of the perforations in the filmstrip, to retain a film section at the backframe opening in engagement with the tooth.

Abstract: A one-time-use camera provided with an opaque cover part comprising a door portion and a remaining portion, a line of weakness between the door portion and the remaining portion that allows the door portion to be pivoted along the line of weakness to open the door portion, and a pair of lead-in slots between the door portion and the remaining portion each having an open lead-in end and an opposite end that is closed at the line of weakness to facilitate pivoting the door portion to be opened, is characterized in that the slots are partially filled between their open and closed ends with opaque tear substances that are thin enough to be readily ripped, from the open ends of the slots to the closed ends of the slots, when the door portion is pivoted along the line of weakness to be opened.

Abstract: A camera comprising a film winder rotatable in a film winding direction for winding an exposed filmstrip into a film cassette, and a closing mechanism movable to a final position to close a light lock of the film cassette and able to be reset to a starting position to be used again, is characterized in that the film winder is rotatable in a reverse direction which is opposite to the film winding direction, and a resetting device coupled with the film winder resets the closing mechanism from its final position to its starting position when the film winder is rotated in the reverse direction.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for modifying a substrate in a predetermined pattern, comprising the steps of: (a) applying a material to the face of an etched nanochannel glass (NCG), where this face has a pattern of channels corresponding to the predetermined pattern, and (b) contacting the substrate with the etched NCG face having applied material, under conditions for transferring the material to the substrate.

Abstract: A lens assembly for a camera comprising a taking lens, a lens mount having a light-admitting opening and several engageable members, and a lens retainer having a light-admitting opening and several engageable members equal in number to the engageable members of the lens mount to permit the respective engageable members of the lens retainer and the lens mount to mutually engage to connect the lens mount and the lens retainer to one another with the taking lens located between the lens mount and the lens retainer in optical alignment with the respective light-admitting openings, is characterized in that the lens retainer has at least one retaining member that engages the taking lens to hold the taking lens securely to the lens retainer in optical alignment with the light-admitting opening of the lens retainer, to permit the lens retainer to be connected with the taking lens intact to the lens mount.

Abstract: A camera comprising a housing, a chamber within the housing for a film cassette which includes a light shield that is opened to allow movement of a filmstrip through a film passageway to the cassette interior and is closed to prevent ambient light from entering the cassette interior through the film passageway, and a driver rotatable within the housing in opening and closing directions in engagement with the light shield to open and close the light shield, is characterized in that a control lever connected to the driver can be rotationally positioned to protrude out of the housing from a slot in the housing, when the light shield is open, to permit the control lever to be grasped to be manual rotated in the closing direction, and can be positioned not to protrude out of the housing from the slot, when the light shield is closed, to substantially prevent the control lever from being grasped to be manually rotated in the opening direction.

Abstract: A one-time-use camera comprising a main body part having a spaced pair of cartridge receiving and film roll chambers and a film exposing chamber located between the cartridge receiving and film roll chambers, a separate-part light baffle inserted into the film exposing chamber, a metering sprocket rotatably supported on the main body part for engaging an intermediate film section which bridges a film cartridge loaded into the cartridge receiving chamber and at least a partial film convolution placed in the film roll chamber, and a rear cover part fitted to the main body part to make the main body part light-tight, is characterized in that the light baffle has a film holder for preventing the intermediate film section which bridges the film cartridge loaded into the cartridge receiving chamber and at least the partial film convolution placed in the film roll chamber from separating from the metering sprocket before the rear cover part is fitted to the main body part.

Abstract: A one-time-use camera comprising a main body part having a light-receiving and film roll chambers and an integral pair of parallel film rails located alongside the light-receiving chamber, and a separate-part light baffle inserted into the light-receiving chamber between the film rails, is characterized in that the light baffle has an integral pair of parallel film rails that are aligned with the respective film rails of the main body part to serve as a longitudinal extension of the respective film rails of the main body part from the light-receiving chamber to the film roll chamber.

Abstract: A camera comprises a taking lens having an integral collar, a main body portion including a rigid fixed lens-support for the taking lens, and a front cover portion for the main body portion including an integral lens-surround arranged at least opposite the collar to leave a space between the lens-surround and the collar. The lens-surround can be forcibly depressed into the space towards the taking lens. The resilient lens-retaining means, interconnects the lens-surround and the collar within the space, for urging the taking lens against the lens-support and for providing increased resistance when the lens-surround is forcible depressed into the space to prevent the lens-surround from disturbing the taking lens.

Abstract: A camera for use with a film cassette having a movable light lock supported within a film egress/ingress slot to be moved closed after a filmstrip is wound into the cassette, comprises a cassette-receiving chamber, and a movable driver to be moved to close the light lock before the cassette is removed from the chamber. An exterior ingress opening to the chamber is provided to admit an insertion tool into the chamber to push the cassette out of the chamber. The driver has a weakened portion and is located for the tool to push the driver to force the cassette out of the chamber. Fixed means is located to break the weakened portion during movement of the driver, whereby the camera will be disabled.

Abstract: A light shield (40, 100) for closing the film slot (33) in a film cartridge (20) is configured as a light shielding strip (40, 100) which extends around a film strip (26) coiled on a supply spool (25) within the film cartridge (20). The light shielding strip (40, 100) has a first end portion (44, 102) for covering the film slot (33) and a second end portion (54) for engagement by the film lead (56) of the film strip (26). When the film strip (26) is initially advanced, detents (64) on the light shielding strip (26) are engaged temporarily by teeth (66) on the supply spool (25) to pull the light shielding strip (26) open so that the film strip (26) projects from the cartridge (20). Upon rewinding the film strip (26), a film lead portion (56) of the film strip (26) engages other detents (72, 142) on the light shielding strip (40, 100) to push the light shielding strip (40, 100) back over the film slot (33) to thereby again close the film slot (33).

Abstract: A camera is provided having a film roll chamber for holding an unexposed roll of film, an exposure chamber into which ambient light enters through a taking lens to impinge on the film, and a light blocking member for preventing light entering through the taking lens from entering the film roll chamber. According to the invention, the light blocking member includes a stepped piece having a first step sufficiently raised to prevent light from entering the film roll chamber and a second step raised above the first step for supporting edges of the film In a preferred embodiment, the light shielding member supports the emulsion side of the film.

Abstract: A recyclable single-use camera in which a front casing portion is separable from a main body portion to replace a taking lens during recycling of said camera, is characterized in that the taking lens has a front lens element and a rear lens element. The rear lens element is secured to the main body portion in order to prevent removal of the rear lens element. The front casing portion holds the front lens element in optical alignment with the rear lens element, and permits removal of the front lens element to allow it to be replaced whenever the front casing portion is separated from the main body portion during recycling of the camera.

Abstract: An electronic flash assemblage comprising a circuit board having an exposed electrically conductive patch, and an electrically conductive flash reflector adapted to be attached to the circuit board, is characterized in that the flash reflector has a resilient electrically conductive extension which protrudes from the flash reflector to cause it to be deformed against the conductive patch when the flash reflector is attached to the circuit board, whereby the resilient extension will be inherently biased against the conductive patch to make an electrical connection between the conductive patch and the flash reflector.

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.