Disposable camera with composite image forming means

A camera and more particularly, but not exclusively, a disposable camera has an exposure chamber therein which defines an aperture over which an exposable film strip is displaced to expose an image of a subject being photographed. A transparent film member, provided with one or more predetermined images thereon, is disposed against this aperture whereby to expose in superimposition on a film frame of the exposable film strip a composite image which is comprised of the subject being photographed in combination with the one or more predetermined images on the transparent film member.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
The present invention relates to a camera and more particularly, but not 
exclusively, a disposable camera having a transparent film member disposed 
over the aperture of the internal exposure chamber of the camera whereby 
to expose in superimposition on a film frame of the exposable film strip a 
composite image. 
BACKGROUND ART 
In my corresponding U.S. application filed on Jun. 18, 1996, and entitled 
"Camera With Composite Image Modifying Means", there is disclosed a camera 
which incorporates therein a transparent carrier member having one or more 
predetermined images which can be located adjacent the aperture of the 
exposure chamber of a camera and changed by the user from outside the 
camera housing. 
Examples of composite image forming film packs are also described in U.S. 
Pat. Nos. 4,816,848, 5,249,008, 4,268,144 and 4,894,671. It is therefore 
known in the prior art to provide film packs for instant cameras wherein a 
message is preprinted on an overlay sheet in the film pack and when a 
natural subject is photographed the message will be transferred to the 
light-sensitive photograph sheet and appear with the subject. It is also 
known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,038,161 to construct a camera wherein a primary 
and a secondary film is provided in the camera with a dark mask figure 
located against the primary film to prevent the primary film from being 
exposed in the area of the dark mask figure. This dark mask figure co-acts 
with a like contour figure contained on a film and exposed on the 
exposable film strip to produce a composite image with the subject being 
photographed. 
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,471,268, there is disclosed a data display plate and a 
rigid carrier mounting the plate therein. The data consists of simple 
characters and dates that are printed on the photograph by the use of a 
light emitting diode to accomplish the exposure. A mask support member is 
also utilized to receive light emitted by the diode. 
In all of the prior art, the creation of composite images on a film strip 
is complex and requires special modifications to existing cameras. There 
is therefore a need to provide a simple, economical disposable camera in 
which there is incorporated a film frame with one or more images to be 
superimposed on a film frame of a regular film strip together with a 
subject being photographed whereby to produce a composite image. 
SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
A feature of the present invention is to provide such a disposable camera 
capable of fulfilling the above-mentioned need. 
According to another feature of the present invention there is provided a 
disposable camera wherein a transparent film member having one or more 
predetermined images is secured against the aperture of the internal 
exposure chamber of the disposable camera whereby a composite image can be 
produced on an exposable film strip. 
Another feature of the present invention is to provide a disposable camera 
in which the film canister is provided with an exposable film strip and a 
transparent film strip having a plurality of predetermined images which 
are juxtaposed to film frames of the exposable film strip to produce 
composite images on the frames of the exposable film strip. 
Another feature of the present invention is to incorporate in a camera 
aperture a flexible transparent membrane having one or more predetermined 
images for superimposition on an exposable film strip and during shutter 
operation, and wherein the membrane is universally adaptable to different 
size apertures of different cameras and is in facial contact with the film 
strip, and further wherein the invention is substantially more economical 
as compared to the prior art. 
According to the above features, from a broad aspect, the present invention 
provides a camera, and preferably but not exclusively, a disposable camera 
having therein an exposure chamber provided with an aperture over which an 
exposable film strip is displaced to expose an image of a subject being 
photographed. The improvement comprises a transparent film member, having 
one or more predetermined images thereon, and which is disposed against 
the aperture whereby to expose in superimposition on a film frame of the 
exposable film strip, a composite image comprised of the subject being 
photographed in combination with the one or more predetermined images.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is 
shown at 10 a disposable camera having therein an exposure chamber 11 
provided with an aperture 12 in a rear end thereof. The exposure chamber 
is a rectangular chamber and a shutter and lens assembly is secured to a 
forward end thereof. The camera is provided with a cartridge cavity 13 at 
one end thereof and a take-up spool receiving cavity 14 at an opposite end 
thereof for retaining therein a take-up spool 15 as hereinshown. The 
improvement in the disposable camera 10 resides in the securement of a 
transparent film member 16 about the aperture 12, and on which there is 
exposed or otherwise printed one or more predetermined images 17. The 
transparent film member 16 is secured about the outer periphery 18 of the 
aperture 12 or at predetermined positions therealong. 
As shown in FIG. 2, the transparent film strip 16 is disposed in facial 
contact with an exposable film strip 19 contained in a film canister 20 
and displaced over the aperture 12, one frame at a time. The free end of 
the exposable film 19 is secured to the take-up spool 15. The spool 14 is 
rotatable by a take-up wheel 21 as shown in FIG. 3 and as is well known in 
the art. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 2, the transparent film member 16 
with its one or more predetermined images 17 is juxtaposed with a film 
frame of the exposable film 19 and when a subject is photographed the 
subject is exposed on the exposable film strip 19 in the area of the 
aperture 12 and the one or more images on the transparent film member 16 
are also superimposed onto the film frame by the opening of the camera 
shutter whereby to produce a composite image 22, as shown in FIG. 2B, and 
which is comprised of the subject 23 being photographed together with the 
predetermined image 17. 
As can be seen from FIG. 3, the disposable camera is located in a cardboard 
housing 24 on which may be printed instructional material 25 to indicate 
to a user person the nature of the one or more predetermined images 17 and 
how the camera can be used to produce composite images and further 
suggesting compositions. 
FIG. 4 shows how the transparent film member 16 may be secured to the outer 
periphery 18 about the aperture of the exposure chamber 11. As hereinshown 
the transparent film member 16 was automatically assembled about the 
periphery of the exposure chamber by a carrier member 26 which is 
comprised of a suction cup 27 capable of automatically transporting and 
positioning the transparent film member 16 in perfect alignment with the 
outer peripheral edge 18 of the exposure chamber. Fusing bars or fingers 
28 are brought into registry with a peripheral edge portion 16' of the 
transparent film member 16 whereby to fuse them to the outer peripheral 
edge 18 of the exposure chamber 11. The fusing bars 28 and the carrier 
member 26 are then retracted. It can be appreciated that with this type of 
assembly apparatus the transparent film member may be transferred over the 
aperture of the exposure chamber and secured thereto very quickly in an 
automatic camera assembly machine. 
Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown another manner of securing the 
transparent film member about the outer peripheral edge 18 of the exposure 
chamber 11. As hereinshown the outer periphery 18 is provided with 
locating prongs 29 disposed at predetermined locations about at least 
portions of the outer peripheral edge 18. Locating apertures 30 are 
provided at predetermined locations adjacent a periphery 31 of the 
transparent film member 16 and positioned to receive associated ones of 
the prongs 29 for retention of the film sheet over the aperture. Again, 
this transparent film member 16 may be transferred over the aperture of 
the exposure chamber 11 by automatic means and the prong end could then be 
fused. 
FIG. 6 shows a still further example of how the transparent film member 16 
is permanently secured over the outer peripheral edge 18 of the exposure 
chamber 11. As hereinshown the transparent film member 16 is provided with 
a contact glue strip 32, or other suitable type of glue strip, such as a 
double-sided adhesive, at predetermined locations adjacent the outer 
periphery 31 or all along thereof. The transfer member 33 as hereinshown 
is also provided with a vacuum chamber 34 and with press arms 35. As the 
transparent film member 16 is transferred in registry with the outer 
peripheral edge 18 of the aperture 12, the legs 35 apply pressure to bond 
the transparent film strip 16 to the peripheral edge 18. FIG. 7 shows the 
film strip 16 bonded by the glue 32 to the peripheral edge 18 of the 
exposure chamber 11. 
FIG. 8 shows a still further manner in which the transparent film member 16 
may be permanently secured over the aperture 12. As hereinshown, the 
transparent film member 16 is slidingly retained in a cartridge frame 36 
which is a U-shaped frame having an open edge to permit insertion of the 
transparent film member 16 therein. The cartridge frame 36 is then 
transferred and adhesively secured by the adhesive 37 to the peripheral 
edge 18 of the exposure chamber 11. 
Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, there is shown a further method of 
permanently disposing one or more predetermined images of a transparent 
film member in registry with the aperture 12 of the exposure chamber 11. 
As hereinshown a transparent film strip 40 is provided with a plurality of 
transparent exposure frames 41, see FIG. 10, each of which carries one or 
more predetermined images 42. The transparent film strip 40 is wound with 
the film strip about a spool 44' positioned within the disposable camera 
housing. These juxtaposed films are then wound in a canister 44 during 
picture taking. It is important during camera assembly to align the first 
frame of the transparent film with the camera aperture so that both the 
transparent film strip and the exposable film strip can be advanced in 
unison and in synchronism whereby the successive frames or the transparent 
film strip are positioned in registry with the aperture 12 of the exposure 
chamber 11. To achieve this, it is preferable to secure the films together 
and this can be done by fusing a section of the juxtaposed film strips 
near their free take-up end positioned with the canister 44. This type of 
composite film cartridge needs to also be precisely mounted in the 
disposable camera whereby the first frame to be exposed is properly 
aligned with the exposure chamber aperture. 
Although the present invention has been described with emphasis as to its 
use with disposable cameras, it is to be understood that it can be adapted 
to any type of camera having therein an exposure chamber provided with an 
aperture. 
It is within the ambit of the present invention to cover any obvious 
modifications of the preferred embodiment described herein, provided such 
modifications fall within the scope of the appended claims.