Film assemblage of the self-developing type together with apparatus for processing thereof

Apparatus for use with commercially available still picture cameras having means for operably locating a single reel cartridge of film of the non-self-processing type which is adapted to have sequentially recorded thereon a plurality of discrete subject images when utilized in such cameras and which has a generally cylindrical housing structure of a given diameter and a given length with an elongated light sealed opening extending therethrough, a spool mounted in the housing structure for rotation about an axis extending lengthwise of the housing structure and including a central substantially uninterrupted axle portion around which an elongated strip of such photographic film is coiled for storage intermediate the central axle portion of the spool and the inner surface of the cylindrical housing structure with a free end of the film strip extending through the opening, said apparatus comprising:

• a generally cylindrical housing structure of substantially said given diameter and given length and having an elongated light sealed opening extending lengthwise thereof;
• a spool mounted in said housing structure for rotation about an axis extending lengthwise of said housing structure, said spool including a central axle portion having a recess formed therein of given depth and width;
• an elongated strip of unprocessed photosensitive self-developing film having a sufficient length to accommodate the sequential recording thereon of a plurality of discrete subject images, a width greater than the length of said spool recess and a first end connected to said spool, said self-processing film strip being coiled around said spool's central axle portion with its other end extending through said housing structure's opening, said self-processing film strip including a pod of processing fluid sufficient to process the entire photosensitive surface of said self-processing film strip, said pod being located adjacent said first end of said self-processing film strip and dimensioned to be seated in said recess of said spool's central axle portion so that substantially the same length of said self-processing film strip can be stored around said central axle portion within said cylindrical housing structure as could be so stored in said apparatus with said pod of processing fluid removed therefrom and whereby the same camera may be employed to effect the exposure of said self-processing film strip as well as the type of film heretofore utilized therein;
• and
• means for precluding said other end of said self-processing film strip from being drawn inside of said housing structure whereby said self-processing film strip may be withdrawn from said housing structure for sequential exposure in the camera and thereafter rewound back inside of said housing structure to facilitate its removal from the camera with said other end of said film strip being available to enable subsequent processing of said film strip outside of the camera.