# US 5,710,946 A · Water-resistant camera with optical wedge to shift image of non-aligned film frame counter

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- Number: US 5,710,946 A
- Document ID: US5710946A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/781,275
- Filed: 1997-01-10
- Granted: 1998-01-20
- Earliest claimed: 1997-01-10
- Assignees: Eastman Kodak Company
- Inventors: James G. Rydelek; Alan E. Lewis
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5710946A

## CPC

- G03B 1/60: Measuring or indicating length of the used or unused film; Counting number of exposures
- G03B 17/08: Waterproof bodies or housings
- G03B 2219/045: adapted for unloading the film in the processing laboratory, e.g. disposable, reusable or recyclable cameras
- 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 water-resistant camera comprising a frame counter having successive numbered portions for indicating the particular number of exposures remaining for picture-taking, and an optical magnifier for transmitting ambient light beams to the frame counter to form an enlarged image of any one of the numbered portions in order to facilitate viewing the one numbered portion, is characterized in that the optical magnifier is positioned out of optical alignment with at the one numbered portion, and includes an optical wedge that bends the light beams the optical magnifier transmits to the frame counter in order to make the enlarged image of the one numbered portion appear to be optically aligned with the optical magnifier.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A water-resistant camera comprising a frame counter having successive numbered portions for indicating the particular number of exposures remaining for picture-taking, and an optical element for transmitting ambient light beams to said frame counter to form an image of any one of said numbered portions in order to view the one numbered portion, is characterized in that:
said optical element is positioned out of optical alignment with said one numbered portion, and includes an optical wedge that bends the light beams the optical element transmits to said frame counter in order to make the image of said one numbered portion appear to be optically aligned with the optical element.

### Claim 2

A water-resistant camera comprising a frame counter having successive numbered portions for indicating the particular number of exposures remaining for picture-taking, and an optical magnifier for transmitting ambient light beams to said frame counter to form an enlarged image of any one of said numbered portions in order to facilitate viewing the one numbered portion, is characterized in that:
said optical magnifier is positioned out of optical alignment with said one numbered portion, and includes an optical wedge that bends the light beams the optical magnifier transmits to said frame counter in order to make the enlarged image of said one numbered portion appear to be optically aligned with the optical magnifier.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A water-resistant camera as recited in claim 2, wherein said optical wedge has two planar light-transmitting surfaces at which the light beams are refracted and an included angle between said transmitting surfaces that is less than 45.degree..

### Claim 4

A water-resistant camera comprising a frame counter having successive numbered portions viewable through a window to indicate the particular number of exposures remaining for picture-taking, and an optical magnifier for transmitting ambient light beams to said frame counter to form an enlarged image of any one of said numbered portions in order to facilitate viewing the one numbered portion through said window, is characterized in that:
said optical magnifier is positioned optically off-center with respect to said window, and includes an optical wedge that bends the light beams the optical magnifier transmits to said frame counter in order to make the enlarged image of said one numbered portion appear to be optically centered with respect to the optical magnifier when viewed through said window.

### Claim 5

A water-resistant casing for containing a camera provided with a frame counter having successive numbered portions for indicating the particular number of exposures remaining for picture-taking, comprising an optical magnifier for transmitting ambient light beams to the frame counter to form an enlarged image of any one of the numbered portions in order to facilitate viewing the one numbered portion when said casing contains the camera, is characterized in that:
said optical magnifier is positioned to be out of optical alignment with the one numbered portion when said casing contains the camera, and includes an optical wedge that bends the light beams the optical magnifier transmits to the frame counter in order to make the enlarged image of the one numbered portion appear to be optically aligned with the optical magnifier.