Patents by Inventor Thomas E. Dussinger

Thomas E. Dussinger has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20030228144
    Abstract: A camera includes a main body part, a pair of front and rear cover parts that house the main body part between them, and a cover attachment to the front cover part. An operational device is mounted on the main body part to be included within the front and rear cover parts, and is depressible to be activated. The front cover part has a hole positioned over the operational device to permit the operational device to be accessed through the hole to be depressed. The cover attachment to the front cover part covers the hole in the front cover part to conceal the hole, and has an actuating member that is depressible through the hole to depress the operational device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Publication date: December 11, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas E. Dussinger, Anna C. Schelling, Jude A. Sangregory
  • Patent number: 6655858
    Abstract: A camera includes a main body part, a pair of front and rear cover parts that house the main body part between them, and a cover attachment to the front cover part. An operational device is mounted on the main body part to be included within the front and rear cover parts, and is depressible to be activated. The front cover part has a hole positioned over the operational device to permit the operational device to be accessed through the hole to be depressed. The cover attachment to the front cover part covers the hole in the front cover part to conceal the hole, and has an actuating member that is depressible through the hole to depress the operational device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Thomas E. Dussinger, Anna C. Schelling, Jude A. Sangregory
  • Patent number: 6012857
    Abstract: A camera comprising a chamber for a film cassette having a film spool inside the cassette that is windingly rotated to progressively wind an exposed filmstrip into the cassette and a light lock that is to be closed after the exposed filmstrip is completely wound into the cassette, a rotatable film winder for windingly rotating the film spool, a film sensor urged against the exposed filmstrip before the exposed filmstrip is completely wound into the cassette to sense the presence of the exposed filmstrip, and a closing mechanism movable to close the light lock when the exposed filmstrip is completely wound into the cassette, is characterized in that the film winder has an urging component that urges the film sensor against the exposed filmstrip only when the film winder is rotated, whereby the film sensor is not urged against the exposed filmstrip when the film winder is stationary. Thus, the film sensor will not distort the filmstrip during exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Jude A. Sangregory, Anthony DiRisio, Thomas E. Dussinger
  • Patent number: 6014521
    Abstract: A one-time-use camera comprising a film cassette with a film spool that is rotated in an unwinding direction during camera manufacture to unwind a filmstrip from the cassette to form an unexposed film roll and in a winding direction during camera use to wind the filmstrip from the unexposed film roll into the cassette and with a light lock that is open when the filmstrip is unwound from the cassette or wound into the cassette and that is otherwise closed, a closing mechanism operable to close the light lock which includes a film sensor, and a film winder rotatable in the winding and unwinding directions when coaxially engaged with the film spool and engageable with the closing mechanism to operate the closing mechanism to close the light lock, is characterized in that the closing mechanism has an engageable portion that can be engaged with the film winder to cause rotation of the film winder in the winding direction to urge the film sensor against the filmstrip and a non-engageable portion that cannot be enga
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Thomas E. Dussinger
  • Patent number: 6014520
    Abstract: A one-time-use camera comprising a film cassette which has a filmstrip that is to be progressively wind into the cassette following each exposure and a light lock that is to be closed after the filmstrip is completely wound into the cassette, and a single-piece closing unit for closing the light lock which has a film sensing portion in contact with the filmstrip as the filmstrip is progressively wound into the cassette to determine when the filmstrip is completely wound into the cassette and a closing portion movable to close the light lock when the film sensing portion determines that the filmstrip is completely would into the cassette, is characterized in that a fixed stop is arranged opposite the cassette to form a capture space for the film sensing portion between the fixed stop and the cassette, the film sensing portion is connected to the closing portion at an intermediate weakened portion that is constructed to allow the film sensing portion to be folded towards the closing portion without becoming sep
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Jude A. Sangregory, Thomas E. Dussinger
  • Patent number: 5933665
    Abstract: A camera comprising a slide manually movable in forward and reverse directions, and a spool drive device connectable with a film spool for rotation in a winding direction to similarly rotate the film spool, is characterized in that the slide and the spool drive device are engaged with each other at a first location, to rotate the spool drive device in the winding direction, and simultaneously slip in contact with each other at an opposite location, to not interfere with rotation of the spool drive device in the winding direction, when the slide is moved in the forward direction, and are engaged with each other at the opposite location, to rotate the spool drive device in the winding direction, and simultaneously slip in contact with each other at the first location, to not interfere with rotation of the spool drive device in the winding direction, when the slide is moved in the reverse direction, whereby a two-way drive coupling is created between the slide and the spool drive device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: David C. Smart, Thomas E. Dussinger
  • Patent number: 5899592
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Thomas E. Dussinger, Douglas H. Pearson
  • Patent number: 5815754
    Abstract: A camera for use with a film cassette having a spool rotatable to wind an exposed filmstrip including a trailing film end portion into the cassette and a light lock movable to be closed after the trailing film end portion is wound into the cassette, comprising a film winder rotatable in engagement with the spool in a film winding direction to rotate the spool in the same direction to wind the exposed filmstrip including the trailing film end portion into the cassette, and a closing actuator movable in engagement with the light lock to close the light lock, is characterized in that a drive motor is drivingly connected with the film winder to rotate the film winder in the film winding direction, and a motor switch capable of changing state to turn off the drive motor is disposed to change state to turn off the drive motor when the closing actuator is moved to close the light lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Edward N. Balling, Joel S. Lawther, Thomas E. Dussinger
  • Patent number: 5794089
    Abstract: A camera comprises a slide manually movable in a forward direction and in a reverse direction; a spool drive member adapted to be connected to a film spool for driving rotation in a winding direction to windingly rotate the film spool to wind an exposed film onto the film spool; and a two-way coupling between the slide and the spool drive member to drivingly rotate the spool drive member in the winding direction in order to windingly rotate the film spool when the slide is manually moved in the forward and reverse directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Thomas E. Dussinger, David C. Smart
  • Patent number: 5629750
    Abstract: A camera for use with a film cassette having a light lock movable to be closed after an exposed filmstrip is wound into the cassette, comprises a chamber for the cassette from which the cassette can be removed, and a driver movable to close the light lock before the cassette is removed from the chamber. An ingress opening to the chamber is provided to admit an insertion tool into the chamber to push the cassette out of the chamber. A cover is movable relative to the ingress opening to uncover the ingress opening after the driver is moved to close the light lock, to permit the insertion tool to be moved through the ingress opening to push the cassette out of the chamber when the light lock is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: David C. Smart, Thomas E. Dussinger
  • Patent number: 5614976
    Abstract: A camera for use with a film cassette having a spool rotatable to wind an exposed filmstrip including a trailing film end portion into the cassette and a light lock movable to be closed after the trailing film end portion is wound into the cassette, comprises a manual film winder rotatable in engagement with the spool in a film winding direction to rotate the spool in the same direction to wind the exposed filmstrip including the trailing film end portion into the cassette and locking means coupled with the light lock to prevent further rotation of the film winder in the film winding direction when the light lock is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: David C. Smart, Thomas E. Dussinger
  • Patent number: 5568218
    Abstract: A camera assemblage comprise a taking lens, a body section having a chamber and a front lens opening for the taking lens which is open to the chamber, and a light-baffle including a forward wall having an exposure opening and a plurality of baffle panels pivotably connected to the front wall for folding to fit the light-baffle into the chamber with the exposure opening behind the front lens opening. The forward wall is positioned to press the taking lens against the body section to clamp the taking lens within the chamber between the front lens opening and the exposure opening when the light-baffle is fit into the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Thomas E. Dussinger, David C. Smart
  • Patent number: 5550608
    Abstract: A camera comprising a cassette-receiving chamber for holding a film cassette provided with a light lock which is pivoted closed before removing the cassette from the chamber, is characterized in that an exterior opening to the chamber is positioned to longitudinally admit an implement into the chamber for rotation to pivot the light lock closed and to further admit the implement into the chamber to push the cassette out of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: David C. Smart, Thomas E. Dussinger
  • Patent number: 4887176
    Abstract: A double-sided recording device supports two transducers in fixed relation on opposite sides of a storage medium so that a fixed separation is maintained between the transducers. By making the separation substantially greater than the transducing cross-section of the medium, only one transducer at a time can effectively interface with the medium. Each transducer is mounted in a stabilizing device having an air bearing surface that promotes an effective interface through one-sided contact with the medium. In one embodiment, the medium is supported on a drive spindle that moves axially between two playing positions, one in which the medium is brought into operative relation with the first transducer and the other in which the medium is brought into operative relation with the second transducer. In another embodiment, the transducers are supported in fixed relation on a yoke that moves in relation to a fixed motor spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1989
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Thomas E. Dussinger, John M. Riley, Gerald J. Kosarko
  • Patent number: 3968507
    Abstract: A mechanism in which a latch is movable between a latching and an unlatching position. The latch includes a first arm engageable by a shutter actuator to move the latch to its unlatching position, a second arm for retaining a piezoelectric firing spring in a latched position when the latch is in its latching position and a third arm movable into engagement with a film advance mechanism to prevent short stroke operation during movement of the piezoelectric firing spring to its latched position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1974
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1976
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Stoneham, Thomas E. Dussinger
  • Patent number: D466915
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Anna C. Schelling, Robert J. Stanchus, Thomas E. Dussinger, Anthony F. DiGaetano
  • Patent number: D472914
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Anna C. Schelling, Thomas E. Dussinger, Robert J. Stanchus, Anthony F. DiGaetano
  • Patent number: D474219
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Anna C. Schelling, Thomas E. Dussinger, Robert J. Stanchus, Anthony F. DiGaetano