Photographic film cartridge and camera including such

In combination, a camera body and a photographic film cartridge detachably attachable to camera body, the combination comprising:

• the camera body including a light control device for communicating an image to a film in the cartridge in the camera body, and camera body and camera operating elements for permitting communication of an image through the light control device to the film:
• the cartridge comprising an unexposed film a spool region, a second spool region spaced from the unexposed film spool region and a bridging portion between the unexposed film spool region and the second spool region such that the film can be advanced from the unexposed film spool region past the bridging portion to the second spool region, and when the cartridge is in the camera body, the bridging portion is positioned with respect to the lens in the camera body so that an image can be captured on film then at the bridging portion;
• film operating elements in the camera body and cooperating film operating elements on the cartridge for being operated together for advancing the film in the cartridge from the unexposed film spool region to the second spool region past the bridging portion;
• the bridging portion being so shaped with respect to the cartridge and the camera body as to define a dark room for film passing between the unexposed film spool region and the second spool region;
• a light transmission opening in the cartridge at the bridging portion, the opening being positioned such that when the cartridge is in engagement with the camera body, and with the opening open, film at the bridging portion is presented for exposure by light passing the lens and the opening in the film cartridge;
• a door on the film cartridge, the door is shaped to prevent light from entering through the opening into the darkroom in the cartridge;
• the door being selectively moveable between a closed position where the door blocks the opening in the cartridge and an open position wherein the door has been moved to open the opening in the cartridge and permit exposure of film at the bridging region in the darkroom;
• the camera body has an enclosed chamber therein and the cartridge is shaped to be received in and is receivable in the chamber in the camera body to define the combination, and wherein the door is operable to the open position only with the cartridge fully installed in the camera body.

A photographic film cartridge for detachable attachment to a camera body, the film cartridge comprising:

• an unexpected film spool region, a second spool region spaced from the unexposed film spool region and a bridging portion between the unexposed film spool region and the second spool region such that the film can be advanced from the unexposed film spool region past the bridging portion to the second spool region;
• the bridging portion being so shaped with respect to the cartridge and the camera body as to define a dark room for film passing between the unexposed film spool region and the second spool region;
• a light transmission opening in the cartridge at the bridging portion, the opening being positioned such that when the cartridge is in engagement with the camera body, and with the opening open, film at the bridging portion is presented for exposure by light passing the lens and the opening in the film cartridge;
• a door on the film cartridge, the door is shaped to prevent light from entering through the opening into the darkroom in the cartridge;
• the door being selectively moveable between a closed position where the door blocks the opening in the cartridge and an open position wherein the door has been moved to open the opening in the cartridge and permit exposure of film at the bridging region in the darkroom;
• an actuator connected with the door for moving the door between the open and closed position;
• and
• a safety latch on the cartridge for the door, and the actuator cooperating with the safety latch for releasing the safety latch for enabling movement of the door from the closed position to the open position.

A photographic film cartridge for detachable attachment to a camera body, the film the film cartridge comprising:

• an unexposed film spool region, a second spool region spaced from the unexposed film spool region and a bridging portion between the unexposed film spool region and the second spool region such that the film can be advanced from the unexposed film spool region past the bridging portion to the second spool region;
• the bridging portion being so shaped with respect to the cartridge and the camera body as to define a dark room for film passing between the unexposed film spool region and the second spool region;
• a light transmission opening in the cartridge at the bridging portion the opening being positioned such tat when the cartridge is in engagement wit the camera body, and with the opening open, film at the bridging portion is presented for exposure by light passing the lens and the opening in the film cartridge;
• a door on the film cartridge, the door is shaped to prevent light from entering through the opening into the darkroom in the cartridge;
• the door being selectively moveable between a closed position where the door blocks the opening in the cartridge and an open position wherein the door has been moved to open the opening in the cartridge and permit exposure of film at the bridging region in the darkroom;
• the cartridge including a first part having one of the film spool regions and a second part including the other film spool region and the bridging portion;
• a separable latching connection between the first and second parts of the cartridge, wherein upon the cartridge parts being latched, film can pass between the spool regions past the bridging portion, and with the parts unlatched and separable, access to the one spool region is enabled.

A camera body for receiving a photographic film cartridge in a detachable manner, the camera body including:

• a body, a receptacle in the body shaped to the shape of a film cartridge to be disposed in the receptacle;
• a light control device on the camera body for passing light into the camera body receptacle to illuminate an area of the cartridge disposed therein;
• a holding device inside the camera body receptacle facing toward the cartridge and biased into engagement with the cartridge for retaining a cartridge installed in the camera body;
• a release mechanism on the camera body associated with the holding device and operable by a user to release the holding device and thereby to release the cartridge for removal of the cartridge from the camera body.