Abstract: A camera housing comprises an exterior longitudinal edge that is curved widthwise; a single opening through the exterior longitudinal edge that interrupts the exterior longitudinal edge to create a gap in the exterior longitudinal edge; and an insert having a longitudinal edge that is curved widthwise the same as the exterior longitudinal edge and configured to fit in the opening to align the longitudinal edge of the insert with the exterior longitudinal edge in order that the longitudinal edge of the insert is positioned within the gap to appear to be a continuation of the exterior longitudinal edge, and including a viewfinder window with an exterior flat face that is inclined into the longitudinal edge of the insert to at least partially interrupt the longitudinal edge of the insert in order to prevent the occurrence of image distortion when looking though the viewfinder window in the vicinity of the longitudinal edge of the insert.

Abstract: A film support and circuit board assemblage for a camera includes a film support which has a group of film supporting projections that each project an identical height from a film facing side of the film support, and a circuit board which has a raised part. The film support has a film supporting projection that projects from the film facing side the same height as the group of film supporting projections and that is hollow to form an open cavity in an opposite side of the film support. The circuit board is arranged next to the opposite side of the film support, with the raised part protruding into the cavity to make the camera compact.

Abstract: In a camera having a camera body which includes a film cartridge compartment, a spool compartment, an exposure unit including a lens barrel, and a sheath component that covers the camera body, a flashlight emission unit and an electric circuit unit for activating the flashlight emission unit are both attached to the sheath component.

Abstract: A receiving device for a film cassette, having a light-proof housing. The housing includes a film-advancing device which is assigned a gripping region for the start of the film projecting out of the film cassette. In order to facilitate insertion of the film into the camera body or into a magazine, the receiving device can be pivoted or drawn out of the housing, with parallel shifting of the axis of rotation of the receiving device, thus allowing insertion or removal of the film cassette. In the open position the inserted film cassette is spaced apart from the film-advancing device by a greater distance than in the closed position. The distance of the inserted film cassette from the gripping region in the open position is of such a size that the start of the film projecting out of the film cassette, even in the case of the smallest commercially available length, extends almost right up to the gripping region.

Abstract: An opaque rear cover part for a one-time-use camera comprising a door cover portion and a remaining cover portion arranged to permit the door cover portion to be pivoted open relative to the remaining cover portion about a pivot axis, and a fracture line of weakness formed between the door cover portion and the remaining cover portion to create a break along the fracture line of weakness which permits the door cover portion to be separated from the remaining cover portion when the door cover portion is pivoted open, is characterized in that the fracture line of weakness is entirely not coincident with the pivot axis and is angled with respect to the pivot axis in order to effect a shearing stress in addition to a bending stress at the fracture line of weakness which causes the door cover portion to separate from the remaining cover portion when the door cover portion is pivoted open.

Abstract: A one-time-use camera provided with a taking lens, and a front cover part that includes a lens surround having a lens opening for the taking lens, is characterized in that an outer cover part is positioned over the front cover part and includes a lens surround shaped distinctively different than the lens surround of the front cover part, has an open-air lens opening, and is fitted over the lens surround of the front cover part in a way that the lens opening in the lens surround of the outer cover part is optically aligned with the lens opening in the lens surround of the front cover part, in order to recase the one-time-use camera.

Abstract: A device comprising a main body and a sub-body that is rotatably supported on a side surface of the main body, wherein a bearing is located on either the main body or the sub-body and a shaft that engages with said bearing is located on the other unit, the shaft having an extension that extends into the main body or the sub-body that has the bearing and a connecting area that is formed throughout the lengths of the shaft and the extension; there is a notch that is connected to the connecting area around the circumference of the extension; and a flexible printed circuit board is placed such that it runs through the connecting area inside the shaft, exits the notch of the extension along its circumference and wraps around the extension.

Abstract: A manual film drive control system for a camera having a manual film drive, the control system comprising a film drive actuation means (85) and a film drive direction switch (90), the film drive actuation means being movable in two directions, movement in the first direction causing the film drive to move in a film advance direction and movement in a second direction causing the film drive to move in a film rewind direction, the film drive direction switch being moveable between a film advance mode in which it allows the film drive actuation means to move in the first direction but not in the second direction and a film rewind mode in which it allows the drive actuation means to move in the second direction, but not in the first direction.

Abstract: A camera housing includes a front cover part and a rear cover part which have two adjacent end portions provided with respective concavities that similarly extend inward to define adjacent concave surfaces of the two end portions. The two end portions continue over the concavities to form adjacent ribs spaced from the concave surfaces to permit an accessory for the camera housing to fit between the ribs and the concave surfaces. The accessory has at least one fastener that fits between the ribs and the concave surfaces and engages the ribs to hold the ribs together in order to prevent the front and rear cover parts from separating at the two end portions.

Abstract: A camera has a transmitting mechanism, for transmitting a driving force necessary for camera operation, that is provided behind a path for feeding a film. The camera has a cartridge chamber wherein a film cartridge is loaded, and the film cartridge is loaded in the cartridge chamber in a direction parallel to the orientation of its shaft. The transmitting mechanism may be provided behind an exposure aperture through which light flux from an object is projected onto a film.

Abstract: A lens-fitted film unit includes: a first member for constituting an external surface of the lens-fitted film unit; a second member for constituting the external surface together with the first member; and an external member adhered to at least a part of the first or second member so that at least one portion of a boundary portion of the first and second members is covered. A direction in which the external member is easily torn, is a direction intersecting with the boundary portion of the first and second members.

Abstract: A front chassis and a rear chassis of an electronic camera are made of light transmissible resin. The electronic camera has a plurality of light-shielding elements to prevent unnecessary light (external ambient light and internally emitted light, for example) from entering optical systems such as taking lenses and light guides which guide light to an electronic flash control sensor. Further, the shielding elements prevent unnecessary light from entering photoelectric converters such as imaging devices and electronic flash control sensors. These light shielding elements enables the interior components of the camera to be visible therethrough, while ensuring that operational functions of the electronic camera are not adversely affected by entering unnecessary light.

Abstract: A one-time-use camera capable of being disassembled and comprising a main body part, a lens secured releasably to the main body part to permit the lens to be released from the main body part during camera disassembly, and a cover part separable from the main body part during camera disassembly, is characterized in that the lens is connected with the cover part to cause the lens to be released from the main body part when the cover part is separated from the main body part during camera disassembly. This facilitates camera disassembly.

Abstract: A one-time-use camera comprising a main body part, a cover part that can be separated at least partially from the main body part, and a viewfinder having a pair of front and rear viewing lenses optically aligned for viewing a subject to be photographed, is characterized in that the cover part is connected to one of the front and rear viewing lenses to move the one viewing lens out of optical alignment with the other viewing lens when the cover part is separated at least partially from the main body part, whereby the one viewing lens can be readily identified to prevent the viewfinder from being erroneously reused. Preferably, the one viewing lens is connected to the main body part in addition to being connected to the cover part in order to hold the cover part to the main body part. A fracture line of weakness exists between the one viewing lens and the main body part which is broken when the one viewing lens is moved out of optical alignment with the other viewing lens.

Abstract: An opaque rear cover part for a one-time-use camera comprising a door cover portion and a remaining cover portion arranged to permit the door cover portion to be pivoted open relative to the remaining cover portion about a pivot axis, and a fracture line of weakness formed between the door cover portion and the remaining cover portion to create a break along the fracture line of weakness which permits the door cover portion to be separated from the remaining cover portion when the door cover portion is pivoted open, is characterized in that the fracture line of weakness is not coincident with the pivot axis in order to effect a shearing stress in addition to a bending stress at the fracture line of weakness, which causes the door cover portion to separate from the remaining cover portion when the door cover portion is pivoted open.

Abstract: An apparatus adapted to use a solar battery or an apparatus applied to such an apparatus comprises a first cover which is provided on the apparatus adapted to use the solar battery, a second cover which is provided on the apparatus adapted to use the solar battery and which is capable of moving independently of the first cover, and an opening device for opening both of the first and second covers when a temperature rise occurs.

Abstract: A camera having a multi-purpose cover comprising a camera body having a multi-purpose cover provided thereon, the multi-purpose camera being provided in such a manner that the cover can outwardly move the outline of the camera body. The camera having a multi-purpose cover has improved handaling properties and enhanced protecting functions.

Abstract: A one-time-use camera comprises an opaque main body part; a flash device on the main body part that provides flash illumination; a taking lens on the main body part; a light-transmitting outer cover having an opening for the flash device and an opening for the taking lens; and an opaque inner cover part, behind the light-transmitting outer cover, having an opening for the flash device that is aligned with the opening for the flash device in the light-transmitting outer cover, and including an opaque lens baffle for the taking lens that projects from the opaque inner cover part, through the opening for the taking lens in the light-transmitting outer cover, and protrudes from the light-transmitting outer cover to prevent the light-transmitting outer cover from transmitting flash illumination to the taking lens.

Abstract: A camera for partially preexposed, multiple exposure film including a body with an exposure well and a film track across the well. A lens is attached to the camera body at the other end of the exposure well. A mask which includes a plate and a substantially perpendicular flange is positioned at the back of the exposure well adjacent to the film track. The flange extends into the exposure well and is adhered to the wall thereof. The plate includes margins to overlap with the body of the camera about three sides around the exposure well. Another camera includes an asymmetrically arranged exposure well relative to the film track such that the body of the camera about the exposure well extends to cover the preexposed image segment on a multiple exposure film strip.

Abstract: A one-time use camera having a strobe unit and performing stroboscopic photographing by causing a xenon discharge tube to emit light. The camera includes a film roll chamber for accommodating a photographic film and the strobe unit. The strobe unit further includes a pair of strobe circuit base boards, arranged on both sides of a front surface of the film roll chamber of the one-time use camera, for driving the xenon discharge tube and a connecting member for electrically connecting the strobe circuit base boards with each other.

Abstract: In a camera having a lens barrel in front of a camera main frame and a top body panel on an upper portion of the camera main frame, the camera has: a front cover for covering a front of the camera main frame; a top body panel cover for covering a top body panel; a bottom cover for covering a bottom of the camera main frame, said bottom cover having a configuration that a part of the bottom cover turns in a front side of the camera main frame; a decorative sheet for said front cover for covering left and right of the lens barrel, said decorative sheet having a property that it curves in such a direction that a center portion with respect to the vertical direction expands in front of the camera; and a front cover ring for covering a periphery of the lens barrel, said front cover ring pressing down said decorative sheet. The front cover ring is mounted by turning.

Abstract: A lens cover mounted camera with a lens cover movable to selectively assume at least a closing condition that covers a front surface of a photographing lens and an opening condition that exposes the front surface of the photographing lens, and further having a lens cover operating member for conducting the opening and closing operations of the lens cover and further for shifting the lens cover in directions of the optical axis of the photographing lens. When the camera is switched to a using condition or a non-using condition, the lens cover is respectively shifted to an opening position or a closing position through the lens cover operating member. This design minimizes the protruding quantity of the lens cover from a camera body and prevents the lens cover from being easily broken even if a careless external force or shock works on the lens cover during the use of the camera.

Abstract: A camera comprising a manually depressible release button for a shutter, and a frame counter for indicating the number of exposures remaining to be made on a filmstrip, is characterized in that the release button is at least partially transparent and the frame counter is beneath the release button to permit the frame counter to be seen through the release button, whereby there is no need for a separate window for viewing the frame counter.

Abstract: A camera in the shape of an automobile includes a rear face that is substantially identical to a camera and a front shaped like an automobile body. The camera body includes a lens, a viewfinder, a film cannister compartment and a take-up spool compartment. One front wheel rotates relative to the automobile body and serves as a rewind member. In order to position the front wheel at the proper position on the automobile body, a gear mechanism is provided between the rewind wheel and the take-up spool shaft. The automobile body extends beyond the front of the camera body forming an opening in which a carry strap is mounted. The latch actuator for the rear cover is located on the bottom of the camera where it does not interfere with the automobile shape. A rear spoiler extends upward to serve as a finger grip and a push button located at the gas cap serves as a shutter actuator.

Abstract: A one-time-use camera including a main body part with a cartridge receiving chamber for a film cartridge and a film roll chamber for an unexposed filmstrip that is prewound from the film cartridge into an unexposed film roll, a cover part for the main body part, a shutter mechanism opened and closed to expose successive sections of the filmstrip, and a film winding motor operable to wind each exposed section of the filmstrip into the film cartridge when the shutter mechanism is closed, is characterized in that the cover part has a temporary motor defeat that prevents operation of the film winding motor when the shutter mechanism is closed, to allow the shutter mechanism to be tested without having to operate the film winding motor, but is removable from the cover part to allow the film winding motor to be operated.

Abstract: A camera comprises a cartridge chamber for loading therein an image recording medium cartridge, an image recording medium accommodating chamber for accommodating therein an image recording medium sent out from the image recording medium cartridge, a lens barrel constituting a part of at least one wall of a wall constituting the cartridge chamber and a wall constituting the image recording medium accommodating chamber, and a positioning portion, molded integrally with a camera body, for positioning the image recording medium at a photo-taking aperture position.

Abstract: A camera has a housing with a bottom face and a front face. A support leg is pivotable away from the bottom face of the housing and a handle is pivotable away from the front face of the housing which can together, but not individually, stably support the housing upright when they are both pivoted away from the housing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a camera comprising a camera main body composed of a plurality of units including at least a lens barrel unit, a spool chamber unit and a Patrone chamber unit, a strobe unit including a strobe light emitter which is movable to a light emission possible position where strobe light emitter projects from the camera main body and an accommodating position where it is accommodated in the camera main body and a drive mechanism supported by the spool chamber unit or the Patrone chamber unit and driving the strobe unit.

Abstract: The lens barrel cover of a camera is made separately from its front cover, whereby the center positions of the lens barrel and opening of the lens barrel cover can easily be aligned with each other. Also, since the insertion opening of the front cover is disposed as being shielded with the lens barrel cover, the insertion opening is not exposed to the exterior of the camera, whereby the appearance of the camera will not be spoiled even if the insertion opening and lens barrel positionally deviate from each other. Further, since the front cover is pressed toward the main body section as the lens barrel cover is being attached, no gap is formed between the front cover and the main body section.

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 multiple focal length folding imaging device includes a first and second housing which are operably joined together for movement relative to one another so that the second housing is movable relative to the first housing between at least a first position and a second position. The first housing is formed to at least partially receive therein the second housing, such that when the second housing is in the first position, the second housing is at least partially received within the first housing. The second housing includes an exiting aperture for allowing exiting of at least one image recordable unit therefrom when in the second position, and when the second housing is in the first position, the exiting aperture is at least partially disposed within the first housing so that the at least one image recordable unit cannot exit from the exiting aperture.

Abstract: A film cartridge mounting mechanism for use in an exterior film-feeding camera is disclosed which allows the camera to be more compact in size, more convenient and portable to use, at a substantially reduced cost. It includes (a) an exposed accommodation chamber on one side of a main body of the camera, the exposed accommodation chamber having an arc shaped contact surface with the camera for receiving a film cartridge; (b) a positioning base and a top plate provided in the accommodation chamber, wherein the position base having and the top plate form a lower bound and upper bound, respectively, of the accommodation chamber; (c) a plurality of restraints provided in the position base having and the top plate for anchoring a film cartridge; and (d) an inlet for introducing a film from the film cartridge into a film-conveying slot in the camera main body.

Abstract: A self-developing camera is disclosed which comprises a housing assembly including a film exit opening. Provision is made for an objective lens assembly mounted on the housing assembly and which defines an optical axis for optically capturing images of a scene and directing the images to a focal plane. A mirror in the housing assembly redirects the scene light from the objective lens assembly to a film unit of the self-developing type adjacent the focal plane. The mirror is in an operative orientation generally below the optical axis when the camera is held in a generally horizontal image capture mode.

Abstract: A camera includes a chamber for receiving a film cartridge having a light-lock movable between open and closed positions, a chamber cover movable between a closed position covering the chamber and an open position uncovering the chamber, and manually operable means for releasing the chamber cover to move from its closed position to its open position. An ejector is provided for ejecting the film cartridge at least part way out of the chamber. An actuating member is sized and positioned such that it can be moved by the releasing means to both actuate the ejector to eject the cartridge from the chamber, and move the light-lock from its open to closed position.

Abstract: A camera includes a lens arranged on an optical axis for focusing an image upon a focal plane bounded by rails that define a reference for locating an imaging medium relative to the focal plane, an electronic image sensor, and an imager mounting plate supporting the image sensor against the rails in the focal plane. By including on one or more of the rails a plurality of alignment holes that are precisely located relative to the optical axis, and a like plurality of locating pins on the imager mounting plate, the pins on the mounting plate locate into the corresponding holes in the film rails to center the image sensor with respect to the optical axis at the focal plane.

Abstract: A touch sensitive electronic switch for a camera comprises a pair of front and rear cover parts of the camera that constitute separate electrical conductors which when temporarily bridged by one's hand allow a direct current path between the front and rear cover parts, and an insulator configured to fill a space between the front and rear cover parts in order that the front and rear cover parts and the insulator together define a housing for the camera.

Abstract: A lens-fitted photo film unit includes a housing and a wrapping wound about the housing in belt-like fashion. The housing is pre-loaded with unexposed photo film, and incorporates a taking lens and a shutter mechanism. The housing has a rear cover, which has recesses. Outer edges of the recesses are convex. Ridges are formed in the recesses for supporting the wrapping about the housing. Upper surfaces of the ridges are convex.

Abstract: A camera comprising a cartridge receiving chamber for a film cartridge with a filmstrip including a film leader, a film takeup chamber, a backframe opening located between the cartridge receiving chamber and the film take-up chamber, a metering sprocket for engaging the filmstrip, and a film slit between the cartridge receiving chamber and the backframe opening to permit the film leader to be longitudinally inserted through the film slit from the cartridge receiving chamber across the backframe opening and to the film take-up chamber when the film cartridge is placed in the cartridge receiving chamber, is characterized in that a film guide is supported for movement in a first direction relative to the metering sprocket to be able to guide the film leader over the metering sprocket when the film leader is inserted through the film slit from the cartridge receiving chamber across the backframe opening and to the film take-up chamber and for movement in a reverse direction relative to the metering sprocket to be

Abstract: A one-time-use camera with a front cover part, is characterized in that the front cover part has a lens bezel, a longitudinal opening partially surrounding the lens bezel, and at least one grooved line of weakness extending to the longitudinal opening, to permit one portion of the front cover part to be broken away from another portion of the front cover part along the grooved line of weakness and separated at least partially around the lens bezel. Thus, the front cover part can be rendered detectably different during disassembly of the one-time-use camera to retrieve the exposed film. This allows the front cover part to be readily identified to be discarded, and prevents it from being erroneously reused.

Abstract: A lens-fitted photographic film unit includes a unit body having at least a curved surface, such as a semi-cylindrical grip protruding forwardly from a front wall of the unit body. The unit body is wrapped in an outer case made of a sheet material. The sheet material is knurled or indented with a pattern in those portions of the outer case which are bent to cover the curved to impart flexibility thereto, or where the photographer grips the film unit.

Abstract: A flash camera comprising a main body part and an electronic flash unit connected together, is characterized in that the main body part has a mount for the flash unit that is provided with an engageable portion and at least one locator portion, and the flash unit has an engageable portion for engaging with the engageable portion of the mount that projects rearwardly from the flash unit and at least one locator portion for mating with the locator portion of the mount that projects rearwardly from the flash unit, parallel to and farther than the engageable portion of the flash unit, to permit the locator portion of the flash unit to mate with the locator portion of the mount before the engageable portion of the flash unit can engage with the engageable portion of the mount.

Abstract: A camera has a camera body in which a film is drawn out of a film cartridge to be wound by a film take-up spool positioned in a spool chamber. The camera has a film passage formed in the camera body for guiding the film drawn out of the film cartridge to the spool chamber. The rear surface of the camera body extends substantially in parallel to a plane connecting an axial center of the film take-up spool with an axial center of a cartridge spool of the film cartridge. The film passage is formed such that a surface of the film located in the film passage intersects the plane connecting the axial center of the film take-up spool with the axial center of the cartridge spool.

Abstract: In a lens-fitted photo film unit having a main body portion containing a roll of unexposed photo filmstrip and having photographic mechanisms mounted thereto, and outer walls covering the main body portion, any clearance provided for relative movement between two adjacent members is made to be not less than any gap in outer walls of the film unit. Particle diameters of the sands, which may enter at any gap in the outer wall, are less than the gap and thus less than any clearance, so that the clearance is not clogged up with the sands.

Abstract: A mechanism which makes it possible to unlock a cartridge compartment cover manually from a body of a camera, when an electric source is short of power, the cover of which is normally unlocked electrically therefrom. An opening is formed in a wall, forming the battery compartment, which is usually shut up from outside by a battery compartment cover that can be opened manually if necessary. One end of a locking nail, the other end of which locks/unlocks a cartridge compartment cover which is unlocked electrically from the camera body at normal use, extends inside the opening. When the battery is short of electric power, the cartridge compartment cover can be opened to take the cartridge out, by opening the battery compartment cover manually first, by taking the battery out of the battery compartment, and by operating the locking nail from inside of the battery compartment manually.

Abstract: A closure of a container and more particularly a removable light-tight door. The door includes a plane surface and sides having two partitions and each orientated at 90.degree. with respect to the plane surface. The outer partition of the edge is obtained by folding the wall and the inner partition consists of an attached folded panel with four elements, spot welded. The sides of the door form a U which comes to cooperate with the U formed by the sides of the container. Guide elements are provided in at least two corners of the door.

Abstract: A film passage is formed at a rear side of an exposure aperture which is disposed between a cartridge chamber 11 and a film take-up chamber 12. The film passage comprises a passage channel 15 integrally formed with a camera main body and a film support plate covering a rear side of the passage channel. By covering the passage channel with the film support plate, an inside of the slit-like film passage is maintained in light-tight state before attaching the rear cover to the main body. A film take-up chamber cover is attached to the film take-up chamber to constitute a part of a wall thereof. By covering a rear side of the film take-up chamber with the film take-up chamber cover, the inside of the film take-up chamber is maintained in light-tight state before attaching the rear cover to the main body.

Abstract: A camera-mounted VTR having a grip part for holding a main unit of the VTR at one side surface of the main unit of the VTR. A view finder is provided at the main unit of the VTR in such a way as it may be raised or inclined in respect to the main unit of the VTR and at the same time a recording button is arranged at a location hidden by the view finder when the main unit of the VTR is inclined.