Film cassette with integrated cassette element lock and light blocking device
AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorDennis R. Zander
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a film cassette, a light blocking device is supported for movement to a light blocking position for preventing ambient light from entering a cassette shell and to a non-blocking position, and a separate cassette element such as a film spool is supported for movement to use the film cassette. According to the invention, locking apparatus for normally engaging the cassette element to prevent movement of the cassette element is coupled with the light blocking device for movement, when the light blocking device is moved to its non-blocking position, to a non-locking position disengaged from the cassette element to allow movement of the cassette element. Thus, the film cassette cannot be used unless the light blocking device is in its non-blocking position.
Claims6
An improved film cassette wherein light blocking means is supported for movement to a light blocking position for preventing ambient light from entering a cassette shell and to a non-blocking position, and a separate cassette element is supported for movement to use said film cassette, and wherein the improvement comprises:
- locking means for normally engaging said cassette element to prevent movement of the cassette element is coupled with said light blocking means for movement, when the light blocking means is moved to its non-blocking position, to a non-locking position disengaged from the cassette element to allow movement of the cassette element,
- whereby said film cassette cannot be used unless said light blocking means is in its non-blocking position.
An improved film cassette wherein light blocking means is supported for movement to a light blocking position for preventing ambient light from entering a cassette shell and to a non-blocking position, and a spool is supported inside said shell for rotation in an unwinding direction to advance a filmstrip coiled about said spool to outside the shell, and wherein the improvement comprises:
- locking means for normally engaging said spool to prevent rotation of the spool in the unwinding direction is coupled with said light blocking means for movement, when the light blocking means is moved to its non-blocking position, to a non-locking position disengaged from the spool to allow rotation of the spool in the unwinding direction,
- whereby said filmstrip cannot be advanced to outside said shell unless said light blocking means is in its non-blocking position.
An improved film cassette wherein light blocking means is supported for movement to a light blocking position for preventing ambient light from entering a cassette shell to expose a filmstrip inside said shell and to a non-blocking position, and wherein the improvement comprises:
- a film exposure status indicator is supported for movement from one position for providing a visible indication said filmstrip is unexposed to another position for providing a visible indication the filmstrip is exposed;
- and
- locking means for normally engaging said status indicator to prevent movement of the status indicator from its one position to its other position is coupled with said light blocking means for movement, when the light blocking means is moved to its non-blocking position, to a non-locking position disengaged from the status indicator to allow movement of the status indicator from its one position to its other position,
- whereby said status indicator cannot provide a visible indication said filmstrip is exposed unless said light blocking means is moved to its non-blocking position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.