# US 4,392,731 A · Photographic film cartridge assemblies with removable filters

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- Number: US 4,392,731 A
- Document ID: US4392731A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/344,575
- Filed: 1982-02-01
- Granted: 1983-07-12
- Earliest claimed: 1982-02-01
- Assignees: Eastman Kodak Company
- Inventors: Roger S. Van Heyningen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4392731A

## CPC

- G03B 17/32: Locating plates or cut films
- G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D)

## Abstract

A film cartridge assembly is adapted to be received in cameras, and contains film which may or may not match the camera's exposure characteristics. A filter is carried by the cartridge to compensate for the exposure characteristics of cameras not matched to the film's photographic characteristic. The filter is selectively removable from the optical path of cameras having exposure characteristics matching that of the film, and automatic means are provided to effect such removal. In a preferred embodiment, cartridge assemblies including instant film units of a predetermined speed are provided with a neutral density filter at the exposure aperture. When inserted into a camera adapted for properly exposing such film units, the neutral density filter is removed by action of the camera before the first exposure is made. Cameras adapted to properly expose only film of slower speed do not effect removal of the filter, and the amount of light reaching the film during exposure is reduced by the presence of the filter in the exposure aperture.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A film cartridge assembly adapted to be received for exposure in cameras of two types, one of said types having a predetermined exposure characteristic and the other of said types having exposure characteristic other than the predetermined exposure characteristics, said cartridge assembly comprising:
a cartridge body;
photographic film in said cartridge body having a photographic characteristic matching the predetermined exposure characteristic of the one camera type;
a filter carried by said cartridge body so as to be in the exposure light path to the film, said filter being adapted to compensate for the non-matching exposure characteristic of the other type of cameras; and
means cooperative only with cameras of said one type of assuring removal of said filter from the light path of such cameras before film in the assembly is exposed by the camera.

### Claim 2

A film cartridge assembly adapted to be received for exposure in cameras of two types, one of said types having a predetermined exposure characteristic and the other of said types having an exposure characteristic other than the predetermined exposure characteristic, said cartridge assembly comprising:
a cartridge body;
photographic film in said cartridge body having a photographic characteristic matching the predetermined exposure characteristic of the one camera type;
a filter removably carried by said cartridge body so as to be in the exposure light path to the film, said filter being adapted to compensate for the non-matching exposure characteristic of the other type of cameras; and
means operable only in cameras of said one type for assuring removal of said filter from the cartridge body before the film in the assembly is exposed by the camera.

### Claim 3

A film cartridge assembly adapted to be received for exposure in cameras of two types, one of said types having a predetermined exposure characteristic and the other of said types having an exposure characteristic other than the predetermined exposure characteristic, each of the camera types having means for removing a film cover from the cartridge assembly; said cartridge assembly comprising:
a cartridge body;
photographic film having a photographic characteristic matching the predetermined exposure characteristic of the one camera type;
a film cover closing the exposure light path to the film for protecting the film from light;
a filter carried by said cartridge body so as to be in the exposure light path to the film, said filter being adapted to compensate for the non-matching exposure characteristic of the other type of cameras; and
means, so structured in relation to the film cover and the film cover removing means of only the one type camera, for assuring removal of said filter from the light path of such cameras before the film in the assembly is exposed by the camera.

### Claim 4

A film cartridge assembly adapted to be received for exposure in cameras of two types, one of said types having exposure characteristics matching a predetermined film speed and the other of said types having exposure characteristics matched to a film speed slower than the predetermined film speed, said cartridge assembly comprising:
a cartridge body;
photographic film of the predetermined speed in said cartridge body;
a neutral density filter carried by said cartridge body so as to be in the exposure light path to the film, said filter being adapted to compensate for the slower speed exposure characteristics of the other type of cameras; and
means operable only with cameras of the one type of assuring removal of said filter from the light path of such cameras before film in the assembly is exposed by the camera.

### Claim 5

A film cartridge assembly adapted to be received for exposure in cameras of two types, one of said types having exposure characteristics matching a predetermined film speed and the other of said types having exposure characteristics matched to a film speed slower than the predetermined film speed, said cartridge assembly comprising:
a cartridge body;
photographic film in said cartridge body of the predetermined speed;
a neutral density filter removably carried by said cartridge body so as to be in the exposure light path to the film, said filter being adapted to compensate for the slower speed exposure characteristics of the other type of cameras; and
means operable only with cameras of the one type for assuring removal of said filter from said cartridge body before film in the assembly is exposed by the camera.

### Claim 6

A film cartridge assembly adapted to be received in cameras of two types; one of said types having exposure characteristics matching a predetermined film speed and the other of said types having exposure characteristics matched to a speed slower than the predetermined film speed, each of the camera types having means for removing a film cover from the cartridge assembly; said cartridge assembly comprising:
a cartridge body;
photographic film in said cartridge body of the predetermined speed;
a film cover closing the exposure light path to the film for protecting the film from light;
a neutral density filter carried by said cartridge body so as to be in the exposure light path to the film, said filter being adapted to compensate for the slower speed exposure characteristics of the other type of cameras; and
means, so structured in relation to the film cover and the film cover removing means of only the one type camera for assuring removal of said filter from the light path of such cameras.