Patent ID: 6154609
Filing Date: 2000-11-28
Classification: G03B

Abstract:
In a lens-fitted photographic film unit having a preloaded photographic film, a taking lens, an exposure aperture and an exposure mechanism for exposing said photographic film, said lens-fitted photographic film unit comprising:upper and lower exposure aperture masking plates movable in front of said exposure aperture between a full size position outside a light path from said taking lens to define a picture frame in a full size of said exposure aperture, and a panoramic size position wherein said exposure aperture masking plates are inserted in said light path to mask out upper and lower portions of said exposure aperture to define a panoramic size picture frame;an urging member for urging said exposure aperture masking plates toward a first one of said full size and said panoramic size positions;stopper members for positioning said exposure aperture masking plates in a second one of said full size and said panoramic positions;an operation member manually moved to select one of said full size and said panoramic size positions; andan interconnecting mechanism cooperating with said operation member to switch over said exposure aperture masking plates conjointly with said operation member;the improvement wherein said interconnecting mechanism comprises a switching member moving conjointly with said operation member such that said switching member moves by an excessive amount after bringing said exposure aperture masking plates into contact with said stopper members against the force of said urging member, and a connecting member connecting said switching member to said exposure aperture masking plates to switch over said exposure aperture masking plates conjointly with said switching member, and wherein either said connecting member or said switching member has a resilient portion for absorbing the excessive movement of said switching member after said exposure aperture masking plates are stopped against said stopper members.