# US 5,708,855 A · One-time-use camera with built-in flash-every-exposure device incrementally destroyed after each exposure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,708,855 A - Document ID: US5708855A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/781,764 - Filed: 1997-01-10 - Granted: 1998-01-13 - Earliest claimed: 1997-01-10 - Assignees: Eastman Kodak Company - Inventors: Paul Teremy - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5708855A ## CPC - G03B 19/04: Roll-film cameras - G03B 2219/045: adapted for unloading the film in the processing laboratory, e.g. disposable, reusable or recyclable cameras - H05K 1/0286: {Programmable, customizable or modifiable circuits (by programmable non-printed jumper connections H05K3/222)} - 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) - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract A one-time-use camera comprising a filmstrip to be successively exposed in the camera is characterized in that frangible members in the camera operate in conjunction with successive exposure of the filmstrip and are capable of being incrementally destroyed after each exposure of the filmstrip to prevent reuse of the frangible members, when the filmstrip is completely exposed, and a breaking device independent of the frangible members incrementally destroys the frangible members after each exposure of the filmstrip. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A one-time-use camera comprising a filmstrip to be successively exposed in said camera, is characterized in that: a frangible component in said camera operates in conjunction with successive exposure of said filmstrip and is capable of being incrementally destroyed after each exposure of the filmstrip to prevent reuse of said frangible component when the filmstrip is completely exposed; a breaking cutter incrementally destroys the frangible component after each exposure of said filmstrip; and said frangible component and said breaking cutter are supported for movement of one relative to the other after each exposure of said filmstrip to allow the breaking cutter to incrementally destroy the frangible component. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A one-time-use camera as recited in claim 1, wherein a spool is incrementally rotatable to wind said filmstrip onto said spool after each exposure of the filmstrip, and a manually rotated film advance thumbwheel is coaxially connected to said spool and to said frangible component to incrementally rotate the spool to wind said filmstrip onto the spool after each exposure of the filmstrip and at the same time to incrementally rotate the frangible component relative to said breaking cutter for the cutter to incrementally destroy the frangible component. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A one-time-use camera as recited in claim 1, wherein an electronic flash is used to provide a flash illumination for each exposure of said filmstrip, and said frangible component includes a series of electrically conductive members which can be coupled with said electronic flash to effect flash illumination and are successively destroyed after each exposure of the filmstrip to prevent their reuse to effect flash illumination. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A one-time-use camera as recited in claim 3, wherein said breaking cutter severs the respective electrically conductive members, and said series of electrically conductive members and said breaking cutter are supported for incremental movement of one relative to the other after each exposure of said filmstrip for the cutter to successively sever the respective electrically conductive members. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A one-time-use camera as recited in claim 4, herein said frangible component includes a rotatable support disk having an annular groove on one face of said support disk, said respective electrically conductive members are located on said face of the support disk to radially extend across said annular groove, and said breaking cutter is fixed to protrude into said annular groove to successively sever the respective electrically conductive members when said support disk is rotated. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A one-time-use camera as recited in claim 5, wherein a spool is incrementally rotatable to wind said filmstrip onto said spool after each exposure of the filmstrip, and a manually rotated film advance thumbwheel is coaxially connected to said spool and to said support disk to incrementally rotate the spool to wind said filmstrip onto the spool after each exposure of the filmstrip and at the same time to incrementally rotate the support disk relative to said breaking cutter for the cutter to successively sever the respective electrically conductive members. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) A one-time-use camera as recited in claim 5, wherein said respective electrically conductive members are integrally formed at similar ends with a common electrically conductive hub located on said face of the support disk, proximate one side of said annular groove, and are integrally formed at opposite ends with individual conductive pads located on the face of the support disk, proximate another side of the annular groove, and said electronic flash includes separate electrical leads in continuous contact with said electrically conductive hub and in successive contact with said individual conductive pads as the support disk is rotated. ### Claim 8 A method of preventing reuse of a one-time-use camera in which a filmstrip is to be successively exposed, comprising the steps of: operating a frangible component in the camera each time the filmstrip is exposed; and moving one of the frangible component and a breaking cutter relative to the other after each exposure of the filmstrip for the cutter to incrementally destroy the frangible component to prevent reuse of the frangible component when the filmstrip is completely exposed. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A method as recited in claim 8, wherein an electronic flash is used to provide a flash illumination for each exposure of said filmstrip, the frangible component includes a series of electrically conductive members which can be coupled with the electronic flash to effect flash illumination, and the breaking cutter successively destroys the respective electrically conductive members after each exposure of the filmstrip to prevent their reuse to effect flash illumination.