Camera with film metering responsive shutter release

A camera includes a depressible shutter relase button; and a film metering mechanism for metering a filmstrip in the camera. The shutter release button is positioned on one side of a pivotable trigger which raises a release element when the shutter release button is depressed. The release element, coupled to the film metering mechanism, remains in a raised position until the film metering mechanism has metered the filmstrip. Preferably, the shutter release can be used in a pump-action camera, the shutter release remaining hidden until a succeeding exposure frame has been advanced and metered.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
Reference is made to commonly assigned co-pending U.S. patent applications 
Ser. No. 08/577,285, entitled: PUMP CAMERA, and filed in the names of 
Dennis R. Zander, David C. Smart, Thomas Dussinger, and Edward N. Balling, 
Ser. No. 08/577,288, entitled: FILM METERING MECHANISM and filed in the 
names of Thomas Dussinger, Dennis R. Zander, David C. Smart, and Edward N. 
Balling, Ser. No. 08/577,289, entitled: FILM ADVANCE IN A PUMP CAMERA, and 
filed in the name of Edward N. Balling, David C. Smart, Dennis R. Zander, 
and Thomas Dussinger, and Ser. No. 08/580,095, entitled: CAMERA WITH FILM 
METERING RESPONSIVE SHUTTER RELEASE, and filed in the names of Edward N. 
Balling and David C. Smart, each of which are assigned to the assignee of 
this application. 
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates generally to the field of photography. More 
specifically, the invention relates to a film advancing system for a 
camera including a shutter release which cooperates with a film metering 
mechanism. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
In the production of single-use cameras, the traditional method of film 
advance has been the classic thumbwheel design. This system is used due to 
the low cost and ease of customer use. 
Conventionally, a thumbwheel is used which drives a sprocket which engages 
the perforations of a filmstrip contained within the camera to advance the 
filmstrip in a frame by frame manner across the exposure gate. The 
rotation of the sprocket also cocks the high energy lever. When the 
trigger is fired, the high energy lever is released and the shutter blade 
is tripped. At the end of the stroke, the high energy lever also releases 
the thumbwheel lock and film sprocket. 
A timing problem occurs in that the above sequence produces a race which is 
created between the closing of the shutter blade and the release of the 
film sprocket, which releases the thumbwheel and the filmstrip for 
advance. If the film sprocket is released before the closing of the 
shutter blade, then film motion may blur the image, producing undesirable 
results. 
Additionally, the use of a thumbwheel film advance system requires several 
rotations of the wheel in order to advance a frame sized portion of the 
filmstrip into and out of the exposure gate. 
There is a need then to provide a simple efficient and economical film 
advance system which advances an exposure frame in a single movement, and 
in which the functions between film metering and image capture are 
uniquely separable. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems 
set forth above. Briefly summarized, according to one aspect of the 
present invention, there is provided a camera comprising: 
a depressible shutter release button; and 
film metering means for metering a filmstrip in said camera, which is 
characterized by: 
means coupled to said shutter release button and said film metering means 
for retaining the shutter release button depressed until the film metering 
means has metered the filmstrip. 
An advantageous feature of the invention is that with the shutter release 
button being hidden after each picture is taken, there is a decreased 
chance for double exposures to be taken. 
A further advantageous feature of the present invention is that a camera 
having the present invention can include a pump cover which can be opened 
and closed without prematurely advancing the film and with no resulting 
damage to the film advance mechanism until the shutter release has been 
popped indicating that another image can be captured. 
A still further advantageous feature of the present invention is that 
operation of a camera made in accordance with the present invention is 
simple, reliable, and efficient and includes separable image capture, and 
film advancing mechanisms, virtually eleiminating the possibility of film 
chatter. 
These and other aspects, objects, features and advantages of the present 
invention will be more clearly understood and appreciated from a review of 
the following Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments and 
appended Claims, and by reference to the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
First Embodiment 
A first embodiment of the present invention is herein described with 
reference to FIGS. 1-20 with certain modifications effected and described 
with reference to FIGS. 50-57. Throughout the course of the discussion, 
terminology such as "top", "bottom", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", etc, 
are used relating to the particular FIGS. These conventions, however, 
should not be considered limiting to the concept of the present invention, 
but are intended only to provide a frame of reference for descriptive 
discussion. 
Beginning with FIG. 1, an exploded view is provided for a camera 10 having 
a plastic frame portion 12 including molded-in features which define a 
film supply chamber 14 for containing an unexposed film roll (not shown), 
a film cartridge chamber 16 for containing a film cartridge 28, shown 
partially in FIG. 30, and an exposure chamber 18 situated between the film 
supply chamber 14 and the film cartridge chamber 16 through which ambient 
light enters the camera 10 through a front opening 20. In addition, the 
frame portion 12 serves to support several of the major photographic 
components of the camera 10, as herein described. The film cartridge 28, 
FIG. 30, for purposes of the foregoing discussion is a conventional 
lighttight film magazine which is commonly known in the field having a 
rotatably engageable spool end. Other film cartridges having engageable 
film spool ends can be used, such as the so-called "thrusting-type" film 
cartridges described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,948,063, 5,031,853, and 
5,248,108, among others. The workings of the cartridges themselves is 
known and does not form a part of the present invention, except where 
indicated. That is, a spool having means for supporting a filmstrip and 
having engageable means for winding the filmstrip thereon could be 
utilized. 
A translatable pump handle or cover 30 is attached in a known manner to the 
exterior of the camera 10 and is movable from an opened or extended 
position, FIG. 2, to a closed position, FIG. 3 relative to the frame 12. 
The pump cover 30 is preferably a plastic injection-molded component 
having a front half section 32, and a rear half section 34 which combine 
to form an open end 35, as well as define an interior recess 33 which is 
sized to enclose a portion of the frame portion 12 when the pump cover 30 
is translated from the opened to the closed position. The interior wall of 
the rear half section 34 includes a stationary linear gear rack 36 having 
a set of spaced gear teeth 37 for engaging an adjacent idler gear 38 that 
is mounted by placement of the gear hub through a post 39 extending from 
the top of the frame portion 12. 
A tapered engagement or contacting arm 40 is disposed along the interior 
wall of the front half section 32, a portion of which extends from the 
open end 35 of the cover 30, for contacting film metering and demetering 
apparatus attached to the camera frame 12, as described in greater detail 
below. 
The cover 30 further includes a slotted or cutout portion 46 along a top 
surface 45 adjacent the open end 35 for allowing access to a depressible 
shutter release button 52 when the cover is in the opened position, FIG. 
2. Otherwise, the shutter release button 52 as well as a front lens 
element 100 are each hidden when the pump cover 30 is in the closed 
position, FIG. 3. 
Referring back to the exploded view of FIG. 1 as well as FIG. 5, a 
pivotable trigger 50 is a unitary plastic injection molded beam-like 
member having an upper portion 54 and a lower portion 56, attached via a 
pair of lugs or pins 58 which engage a pair of corresponding slots 59 
protruding from the top of the frame portion 12. The upper portion 54 of 
the trigger 50 includes the depressible shutter release button 52 at one 
end adjacent an opening 57, not shown in FIG. 5, sized for accommodating 
the vertical shaft 61 of a film cartridge drive 60. The lower portion 56 
includes a slotted portion 55 at the remaining end while the trigger 50 is 
pivotable about the connection formed by the lugs 58 and slots 59. 
Referring specifically to FIGS. 1 and 6-7(d), the film cartridge drive 60 
includes a depending lower portion 64, which when assembled to the top of 
the frame portion 12 extends through an opening 65 into the cavity of the 
film cartridge chamber 16. The lower depending portion 64 includes an 
external driving element 63, sized for engaging a spool end of a film 
cartridge 28, FIG. 30, in a known manner to cause the cartridge spool to 
wind film into the cartridge. 
A supporting surface 62 from which the vertical shaft 61 upwardly extends 
supports a drive gear 66 having a set of circumferentially disposed gear 
teeth 67. A drive spline 70, having a pair of depending engagement teeth 
72 and a flange 69 is coaxially mounted through the opening 57 in the 
trigger 50 and onto the vertical shaft 61 of the cartridge drive 60 
through a center aperture. The flange 69 is sized to retain the spline 70 
within the opening 57 so that the trigger 50 supports the spline when 
assembled thereto. The depending teeth 72 of the spline 70 extend through 
the hub of the drive gear 66 for engagement with a cavity 74 of the 
cartridge drive 60 through the supporting surface 62. The cavity 74 is 
defined by an annulus having a series of equally spaced and inwardly 
depending drive teeth 88, wherein each space is sized to retain an 
engagement tooth 72 when the spline 70 is engaged into the cavity. A 
return drive spring 68, not shown in FIGS. 6-7(d) but clearly shown in 
FIGS. 1 and 8(a)-8(c), separates the drive gear 66 from the bottom of the 
trigger 50 and biases the shutter release button 52 in an undepressed 
position. 
Initially, the drive spline 70 is not engaged; that is, while the shutter 
release button 52 is in the undepressed state, the lower engagement teeth 
72 are not engaged in the cavity 74. As seen in the partial view of FIG. 
6, the drive gear 66 is always in engagement with the idler gear 38. 
However, no positive force can be imparted to the film cartridge 28, FIG. 
30, until the spline 70 is engaged into the cavity 74 of the cartridge 
drive 60. Preferably, and according to this embodiment, a compliant sheet 
metal spring 75, shown in FIGS. 1 and 8(a)-8(c), is attached to the top of 
the upper portion 54 of the trigger 50 through a slotted aperture 71, 
allowing the vertical shaft 61 of the cartridge drive 60 to pass 
therethrough. The compliant spring 75 bears against the top of the spline 
70 to supply the necessary biasing force to keep the spline engaged in the 
cavity 74 when the shutter release button 52 is depressed, as described in 
greater detail below. As noted, the idler gear 38 is positioned for 
engagement between the drive gear 66 and the linear gear rack 36 on the 
interior of the pump handle 30, as shown in FIG. 6. The operation of each 
of the above components are described in greater detail below. 
Referring to FIGS. 1, 5, 12, and 13, a cylindrical metering release element 
76 includes a hollowed center for mounting over a frame post 78, shown 
only in FIG. 1, and to allow corresponding rotation, as well as a bottom 
slotted portion 83 which is initially aligned relative to a top resting 
surface 82 of a frame protrusion 79. The metering release element 76 
includes a recessed area 77, adjacent the slotted portion 83 which is used 
in conjunction with a cantilevered spring arm 96 of an adjacently 
assembled high energy lever 90, as detailed below, to allow the metering 
release element to rotate. The metering release element 76 also includes a 
depending elongate section 85 extending from the periphery of the metering 
release element 76 for engaging the end portion 104 of the demetering 
lever 106, shown particularly in FIG. 2, as well as a supporting top 
section 84 having a recessed cutout 86 directly beneath which are used for 
engaging the slotted portion 55, FIGS. 1, 5 of the trigger 50. 
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, the high energy lever 90 is pivotally mounted 
to an adjacent frame post through a mounting aperture 91, shown only in 
FIG. 1, and is biased in a released or fired position, shown in FIG. 5, by 
a torsion spring 94, also shown only in FIG. 1, having one end mounted to 
a post of the lever and the remaining end attached to a separate frame 
post, while the body of the spring is wound around a protruding portion 95 
extending around the mounting aperture. 
Referring to FIG. 5, the high energy lever 90 includes a shutter blade 
striking portion 99 which extends beyond the front of the frame portion 
12, FIG. 10, when the assembled lever is in the released position. A 
cantilevered spring arm 96 extends upwardly and across the front of the 
lever 90 relative to the shutter blade striking portion 99 and includes a 
contact portion 97 having a groove 87 sized for receiving a portion of the 
tapered engagement arm 40 of the pump cover 30 as shown in FIG. 11. When 
the lever 90 is in the released position, the contact portion 97 also 
extends outward of the front of the frame portion 12. 
Referring to FIGS. 1, 5 and 13, a pivotable demetering lever 106 is 
attached through a coaxial mounting aperture 107 to the top of the 
protruding portion 95 of the high energy lever 90, and is pivotally biased 
to rotate in the direction shown by arrow 103, FIG. 13, to a first locking 
position with a slotted portion 114 of a metering pawl member 110 by a 
sheet-metal spring 108, FIG. 12, which is engaged in a slot of the frame 
portion 12, FIG. 12. The lever 106 includes a locking pin 105 extending 
from a bottom surface for engaging the slotted portion 114 of the metering 
pawl member 110, as well as an oppositely disposed articulating end 
portion 104, best seen in FIG. 12, used primarily for contacting the 
elongate portion 85 of the metering release element 76. 
Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, the metering pawl member 110 includes a twin 
pawl filmstrip hook 112, which is movable into and out of the film plane 
of the camera 10 through a slot 17, FIG. 9, of the frame portion 12, and 
is biased by a torsion spring 118 which is connected at one end to a post 
116 extending from the top surface of the metering pawl member and at the 
other end to a post 119 of the frame portion 12. Preferably, the spring 
118 is wrapped about an intermediate post 117 extending from the top of 
the metering pawl member 110 at one end while the metering pawl member is 
supported within a pair of slots 93 and 17, FIGS. 1, 14 in the top of the 
frame portion 12 which are oversized to allow both pivotal and axial 
movement for reasons which are detailed below. 
In describing the remainder of the components attached to the frame portion 
12 and referring to FIG. 1, the front lens element 100 is attached to the 
front of the frame portion by a snap fitting retainer 102, aligning the 
lens element with the front opening 20. A shutter blade 120 having an 
engagement end 122 also includes a masking portion 124 which covers the 
front opening 20 of the frame portion 12 of the camera 10. 
A keeper plate 130 attached to the top of the frame portion 12 retains a 
number of the previously described components, and includes a slotted 
holding portion 129 for retaining a rotatable frame counter 132 having a 
set of peripheral teeth 135, FIG. 9, which is incremented by a counter 
actuator 126 attached to the top of the demetering lever 106. 
It should be noted that specifics relating to the operation of, or 
pertaining to other features of the camera 10, such as use of the 
viewfinder (not shown) or flash assembly (not shown) are commonly known in 
the field of photography, and require no additional discussion. 
Referring to FIG. 2, a partial view of the camera 10 illustrates the pump 
cover 30 in a fully opened or extended position which is the initial 
position for describing the operational sequence of the film advance 
system. As is evident from FIGS. 1 and 3, the front lens element 100 and 
the depressible shutter button 52 of the trigger 50 are clearly exposed to 
the user when the pump cover 30 is in this position. 
Operation of the First Embodiment 
Referring to FIGS. 3-20 and 50-57, the following discussion describes the 
operational sequence of the described film advance system according to 
this particular embodiment. The sequence begins with the pump cover 30 in 
the fully opened position, as shown in FIG. 2. 
FIG. 4 illustrates a partial view of the camera 10 showing the initial 
relative positions of each of the above described film advance components. 
The front and rear covers of the described camera 10 are not illustrated 
for the sake of clarity. 
Initially, the shutter release button 52 is visible in the cutout portion 
46 of the pump cover 30 in an undepressed position. Therefore, the upper 
portion 54 of the trigger 50 is raised relative to the lower portion 56, 
which supports the metering release element by engagement of the recessed 
cutout 86 with the slotted portion 55. In this initial position, the 
presence of the metering release element 76 blocks the release of the high 
energy lever 90, which is preset in the cocked position against the 
biasing force supplied by the torsion spring 94, FIG. 1. 
Referring to FIG. 5, the locking pin 105 of the demetering lever 106 is 
initially engaged with the slotted portion 114 of the metering pawl member 
110, and is biased in this position by the sheet metal spring 108, as 
shown in FIG. 12, which bears against the lever. In addition, the metering 
pawl member 110 is biased in a filmstrip engaging position by the torsion 
spring 118, positioning each of the twin pawls of the metering hook 112 in 
engagement with a set of exposure position or frame-defining perforations 
25 of a filmstrip 24. 
Referring now to FIGS. 8(a)-8(c), the operation of the film advance system 
is keyed by the depression of the shutter release button 52, which also 
controls the following functions: First, the trigger return spring 68 
positioned between the drive gear 66 and the trigger 50 is compressed as 
the shutter release button 52 is moved downwardly towards the cartridge 
drive 60 by the finger pressure of a user. The adjacent drive spline 70 
being on the upper portion 54 of the trigger 50 is also pushed by the 
bottom of the upper portion of the trigger 50 similarly in a downward 
direction along the vertical shaft 61 of the film cartridge drive 60 and 
through the hub of the drive gear 66, and causing the two lower engagement 
teeth 72, to enter the cavity 74 of the cartridge drive 60 to mesh with 
corresponding drive teeth 88 provided on the interior of the film 
cartridge drive 60, as shown in FIGS. 8(c) as well as FIGS. 7(b) and 7(d). 
The engagement teeth 72 of the drive spline 70, preferably and according 
to this embodiment, slide through the hub of the drive gear 66 along a set 
of guides (shown in FIG. 7(c)), which are molded in the hub of the drive 
gear. The described engagement of the drive spline 70 links the rotational 
movement of the drive gear 66 with the cartridge drive 60. 
Still referring to FIGS. 8(a)-8(c), and as previously noted, located on the 
top surface of the upper portion 54 of the trigger 50 and attached thereto 
through a slot 73, FIG. 1, is a compliant spring 75, preferably made from 
sheet metal. The spring 75 travels with the upper portion 54 of the 
trigger 50 when the shutter release button 52 is depressed, as shown in 
FIG. 9, and loads a spring force which is sufficient to hold the drive 
spline 70 in mesh with the 35 cartridge drive 60 while the trigger 50 
remains pivoted. 
Referring to FIG. 10, the depression of the shutter release button 52 also 
causes the release of the high energy lever 90, FIG. 6, as the attached 
metering release element 76 is raised by the supporting lower portion 56 
of the trigger 50 due to the pivoted connection between the lugs 58 and 
the slots 59. Preferably, the metering release element 76 is lifted a 
distance sufficient to allow the high energy lever 90 to pass underneath; 
in this embodiment, a distance of approximately 2.0-2.7 mm allows the high 
energy lever 90, to rotate at a high speed due to the stored force of the 
spring 94, shown only in FIG. 1, in a clockwise direction about its pivot, 
thereby having the shutter blade striking portion 99 momentarily strike 
the engagement end 122, FIG. 1, of the shutter blade 120, FIG. 1, in a 
manner conventionally known to allow ambient light to enter the exposure 
chamber 18, FIG. 1, to impinge on a portion of the filmstrip 24, FIG. 5. 
Once the shutter release button 52 has been depressed and the high energy 
lever 90 has been released beneath the metering release element 76, the 
upper portion 54 of the trigger 50 will remain in a "down" position until 
the high energy lever 90 has been recocked, as described below. It will be 
readily apparent that retaining the shutter release button 52 in the 
depressed position is preferable as described in that the possibility of 
the camera user creating double exposures is virtually eliminated. 
FIG. 10 is an enhanced partial perspective view of the described camera 10 
immediately after the preceding events have occurred. Referring to FIG. 11 
and in the released position, the contact portion 97 of the spring arm 96 
extends outward of the front of the frame portion 12 of the camera 10 and 
is aligned with the path of the tapered engagement arm 40 of the pump 
cover 30, as well as the recessed portion 77, FIG. 13, of the metering 
release element 76. 
Still referring to FIG. 11, it is evident that the presence of the released 
high energy lever 90 also prevents the metering release element 76 from 
assuming the initial lowered position, and therefore the trigger 50 
remains pivoted. As the pump cover 30 begins to move inwardly in a closing 
direction, shown by arrow 89, the front edge 41 of the tapered engagement 
arm 40 is aligned with and engages the groove 87 provided on the 
contacting portion 97 of the spring arm 96, FIG. 12. The presence of the 
engagement arm 40 causes the cantilevered spring arm 96, FIG. 12, to 
inwardly deflect toward the back of the camera 10 and into the recessed 
portion 77 of the metering release element 76, as shown in FIG. 13. As the 
pump cover 30 continues to translate in the direction 89, the force 
applied to the metering release element 76 by the contact portion 97 
causes the metering release element 76 and the high energy lever 90 to 
each respectively pivot in a counterclockwise fashion. 
Referring to FIG. 12, and as the metering release element 76 is rotated 
counterclockwise by the closing movement of the pump cover 30, the 
elongate portion 85 of the metering release element 76 is rotated through 
a position which causes contact with the articulating end portion 104 of 
the demetering lever 106, causing a corresponding rotation, in e lever, in 
the direction 101, sufficient to overcome the biasing force of the 
sheet-metal spring 108, thereby also causing the locking pin 105 to be 
pivoted out of locking engagement with the slotted portion 114 of the 
metering pawl member 110. 
Simultaneously, and referring to FIG. 11, the pivotal movement of the 
demetering lever 106 causes a similar clockwise movement by the attached 
counter actuator 126 due to its connection therewith. A flexible contact 
element 128 extending from the top of the actuator engages the peripheral 
teeth 135 of the frame counter 132. The rotational movement of the counter 
actuator 126 is sufficient to cause the frame counter 132 to rotate by one 
increment in a known manner. In the meantime, however, the twin pawl 
metering hook 112 of the metering pawl member 110 remains in engagement 
with the perforations of the filmstrip 24, in the same relative position 
shown in FIG. 5. 
As is evident from FIG. 13, the counterclockwise rotation of the metering 
release element 76 in addition to unlocking the metering pawl member 110, 
also causes the raised bottom surface adjacent the slotted portion 83 to 
rest upon surface 82 of the frame protrusion 79, retaining the metering 
release element in a raised position, even after the metering release 
element is no longer supported by the high energy lever 90 which is being 
cocked by the pump cover 30. 
Each of the above described movements occur immediately after the 
depression of the shutter release button 52, and preferably within about 
the first four (4) millimeters (mm) of travel of the pump cover 30 in the 
closing direction, see FIG. 6. To insure that the filmstrip 24, FIG. 5, is 
not prematurely driven, the engagement teeth 37 of the gear rack 36 are 
shortened or removed entirely according to this embodiment along the first 
four millimeters of travel, preventing engagement of the gear rack with 
the stationary idler gear 38; therefore, though the drive gear 66 is 
substantially in engagement with the idler gear 38, the filmstrip 24, FIG. 
5, will not have had any winding force applied to draw the filmstrip into 
the film cartridge 28, FIG. 30, while the pump cover 30 has allowed or 
caused the multiple functions described above to occur. 
Referring now to the partial view of the camera 10 shown in FIG. 6, and as 
the pump cover 30 continues to travel inwardly in direction 89 and beyond 
the first four millimeters of travel, the idler gear 38 meshes with the 
first complete engagement tooth 37 of the linear gear rack 36, causing 
clockwise rotation of the idler gear and corresponding counterclockwise 
rotation of the meshed drive gear 66 to commence winding of the filmstrip 
24, FIG. 5, in a film winding direction into the film cartridge 28, FIG. 
30. Preferably, a partial tooth (not shown) can be provided on the linear 
gear rack 36 prior to the first complete tooth 37 to insure proper 
alignment between the gear rack and the idler gear 38 prior to film 
advancement by translational movement of the pump cover 30. 
Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 14-16, and as noted above, the twin pawl 
metering hook 112 of the unlocked metering pawl member 110 is retained in 
engagement with the perforations 25, shown only in FIG. 5, of the 
filmstrip 24 also shown only in FIG. 5, even after the locking pin 105 has 
been pivoted out of the slotted portion 114. As the filmstrip 24 is caused 
to move under the winding force supplied by the movement of the gear rack 
37 with the idler gear 38 and the corresponding engagement between the 
engaged idler gear and the drive gear 66, as shown in FIG. 6, the unlocked 
metering pawl member 110 translates with the engaged filmstrip 24, FIG. 5, 
against the force of the spring 118 and along the path of the film plane 
due to the presence of the slots 93 and 17, FIGS. 1, 14 of the frame 
portion 12, until a ramped cam surface 111, shown only in FIG. 14, at the 
bottom of the metering pawl member 110 contacts a corresponding ramped cam 
surface 113, shown only in FIG. 14, of the frame portion 12 found on an 
inner surface of the slot 17. As the metering pawl cam surface 111 moves 
up the ramped portion of the frame cam surface 113, the metering hook 112 
of the metering pawl member 110 is caused to move inwardly, in a direction 
away from the filmstrip 24, FIG. 5, and out of the film plane as the 
metering pawl member is caused to both translate and pivot. 
The absence of the tension supplied by the engaged filmstrip 24, FIG. 5, in 
combination with the biasing force supplied by the torsion spring 118 
causes the metering pawl member 110 to laterally translate, as well as 
pivot in a direction 121 away from the centerline of the camera 10 toward 
the film supply chamber 14, as shown in FIG. 17. 
In addition, the lateral slide of the metering pawl member 110 caused by 
the biasing of the torsion spring 118 causes a raised metering pawl cam 
surface 115 adjacent the slotted portion 114 to engage the locking pin 
105, holding the demetering lever 106 in place between the force of the 
sheet metal spring 108, FIG. 12, and the cam surface 115. 
Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19, the continued travel of the pump cover 30 in 
the closing direction, arrow 89, causes engagement of the stepped portion 
43 of the engagement arm 40 with the spring arm 96 of the high energy 
lever 90, pivoting the high energy lever in a counterclockwise direction 
beneath the metering release element 76 against the biasing force supplied 
by the spring 94, shown only in FIG. 1. As noted previously, the rest 
surface 82, FIG. 13, supports the metering release element 76 in a raised 
position allowing the high energy lever 90 to be moved in the described 
manner. 
Referring to FIGS. 5, 19, and 20, the filmstrip 24 continues to be wound 
into the film cartridge 28, FIG. 30, due to the respective engagements 
between the linear gear rack 36, the idler gear 38, the drive gear 66, the 
engaged drive spline 70, and the cartridge drive 60. As the filmstrip 24 
translates across the film rails (not shown) of the camera frame portion 
12 which border the exposure chamber 18, the metering hook 112 of the 
metering pawl member 110, which has been relocated back into the film 
plane through the slot 17, FIG. 9, of the frame portion 12 due to the 
biasing force of the torsion spring 118, will drop into the next set of 
perforations 25 of the advancing filmstrip 24. 
Engagement of the moving filmstrip 24 with the metering hook 112 is 
sufficient to overcome the biasing force of the spring 118, causing 
subsequent movement of the metering pawl member 110 in direction 123, FIG. 
19, toward the film cartridge chamber 16. The filmstrip 24, FIG. 5, and 
the metering pawl member 110 are each pulled a relatively short distance 
as the locking pin 105 of the demetering lever 106 slides along the raised 
cam feature 115 until the locking pin has slid to the end of the raised 
cam feature, dropping the locking pin to a lowered position under the 
biasing force of the sheet metal demetering spring 108, FIG. 12, and into 
a locked position with the slotted portion 114 of the metering pawl member 
110. 
When the locking pin 105 of the demetering lever 106 drops into the slotted 
portion 114 of the metering pawl member 110, the filmstrip 24, FIG. 5, has 
been metered. 
Referring now to FIG. 20, the dropping of the locking pin 105 into the 
slotted portion 114 of the metering pawl member 110 causes a reversal of 
the chain of events previously described; that is, the demetering lever 
106 is caused to rotate counterclockwise, per arrow 127, under the biasing 
force supplied by the demetering spring 108, FIG. 12, having sufficient 
force to rotate the articulating end portion 104, FIG. 12, against the 
elongate portion 85, causing a clockwise rotation of the metering release 
lever 76, in direction 133. As is evident from the FIGS., the engagement 
arm 40 of the pump cover 30 is no longer in contact with the spring arm 96 
and is preferably tapered so as to have a reduced width to insure the pump 
cover 30 is not in active engagement with the metering release lever 76 or 
the high energy lever 90 when the pump cover 30 has been closed beyond a 
predetermined position. 
Therefore, the spring arm 96, FIG. 5, is also no longer in engagement with 
the metering release element 76 since there is no inward bearing force 
against the contact portion 97, making the respective movements of the 
high energy lever and the metering release element separate and 
independent. 
Referring to FIGS. 13 and 20, the preceding chain of events also causes the 
bottom surface of the metering release element 76 to drop from the rest 
surface 82, allowing the lower surface of the slotted portion 83 to drop 
into contact therewith, thereby dropping the lower portion 56 of the 
trigger 50 and pivoting the upper portion 54, FIG. 20, to an original 
raised position, shown by arrows 129, 131, FIG. 20. 
Referring to FIGS. 7(c) and 20, as the upper portion 54 of the trigger 50 
returns to its raised position, the two engagement teeth 72 of the spline 
drive 70 are pulled out of active engagement with the cartridge drive 60. 
Therefore, despite the fact that the drive gear 66 remains engaged with 
the idler gear 38 and the teeth of the gear rack 36, as shown in FIG. 6, 
there is no winding force supplied to the filmstrip or the film spool. 
Therefore, the filmstrip 24, FIG. 5, is no longer being wound into the 
film cartridge as the pump cover 30 continues translation in the closing 
direction. The shutter release button 52, though moved to the undepressed 
position, is still sufficiently recessed relative to the top surface of 
the pump cover 30 to allow opening and closing of the cover relative to 
the camera frame 12 without interference. 
In summary, the pump cover 30 remains free to continue movement in the 
closing direction, arrow 89, as the filmstrip 24 is now metered, the 
cartridge gear drive is disengaged, and the upper portion 54 of the 
trigger 50 has been restored to the raised position. All of the demetering 
and metering of the filmstrip 24, FIG. 5, takes place during the closing 
stroke of the pump cover 30. The pump cover 30 is also movable to the 
fully open position, FIG. 2, by pulling the pump cover away from the 
centerline of the camera 10. Repeated opening and closing of the pump 
cover 30, is also permitted without disengagement or damage to the camera 
10 until the shutter release button 52 is depressed, restarting the film 
transport system in the identical manner described above. 
It should be appreciated that alternate configurations can be imagined 
which allow the metering release element and the high energy lever to 
pivot in the manner described in order to produce a similar chain of 
events. Two such configurations are herein detailed with reference to 
FIGS. 50-54 and 55-57. For purposes of the discussion which follow, 
similar parts are labeled with the same reference numerals for the sake of 
clarity. 
Referring first to FIGS. 50-54, the pump cover 30 can include an inwardly 
depending arm 143 having a contoured surface 145 for contacting a 
modified, but still cantilevered spring arm 139 having a contact section 
141 without a groove which allows simultaneous rotation of the metering 
release element 76 and the high energy lever 90. 
As in the first embodiment, the firing of the high energy lever 90 in the 
direction 157, FIG. 52, aligns the contact portion 141 of the spring arm 
139 with the inwardly projecting portion 143 of the pump cover 30 for 
contact therewith. 
Similarly, the firing of the lever 90 causes the shutter blade contacting 
portion 99, FIG. 50, to momentarily strike the shutter blade 120, FIG. 1, 
as described above, placing the high energy lever in the released position 
beneath the raised metering release element as shown in FIG. 52, the frame 
portion 12 having a slot 19 sized for accommodating the spring arm 139. 
Referring to FIG. 53, as the pump cover 30 is translated in the closing 
direction 89, the raised metering release element 76 rotates in the 
direction 161 as the inwardly protruding arm 143 bears against the contact 
portion 141 of the spring arm 139, rotating the high energy lever 90 in 
the direction 158, in a manner similarly described above. The rotation of 
the metering release element 76 causes the elongate portion 85 to bear 
against the end protrusion 104 of the demetering lever 106, causing a 
clockwise pivot in the direction 165, and unlocking the metering pawl 
member 110, which is spring-biased to move in the direction 163, after the 
filmstrip 24, FIG. 5, has disengaged from the metering pawl, as described 
above. 
Referring to FIG. 54, and also in a manner previously described, continued 
translation of the pump cover 30 in the closing direction 89, provides 
drive engagement between the gear rack (not shown), the idler gear 38, and 
the cartridge drive 60, whereby the metering pawl member 110 moves, arrow 
164, with the advancing filmstrip 24, FIG. 5, until the demetering lever 
is biased back, arrow 166, into the slotted portion 114. 
Referring now to the second example shown in FIGS. 55-57, the metering 
release element 76 and the high energy lever 90 can be independently 
pivoted by the pump cover 30. According to this example, an inwardly 
protruding portion 42 is located adjacent the top of the pump cover 30 in 
lieu of either the tapered engagement arm 40 and the inwardly projecting 
portion 143. It should be readily apparent that the location of the 
protruding portion can be varied. The portion 42 includes a ramped contact 
surface 44, FIG. 57, which is configured to engage the top of the metering 
release element 76 when the element is raised by the trigger 50, as shown 
only in FIG. 50. The top of the metering release element 76 includes a 
corresponding top contact surface 81 in the form of a raised semi-circular 
ring for contacting the contact surface 44 of the portion 42. The edge of 
the pump cover 30 is aligned with an elongate portion 92 of the high 
energy lever 90 to separately pivot the high energy lever as the pump 
cover is closed, and after the high energy lever has fired. 
In operation, and referring to FIGS. 56 and 57, the shutter release button 
52 of the illustrated camera is depressed, as previously described, and 
the pump cover 30 is moved in closing direction 89. The inwardly extending 
portion 42 on the top of the pump cover 30 engages the contact surface 81, 
causing a counterclockwise rotation of the metering release lever 76 about 
the frame post 78, FIG. 55, shown by arrow 151. As in the previously 
described embodiment, as the metering release lever 76 rotates, the 
elongate section 85 contacts the end protrusion 104 of the demetering 
lever 106, as most closely seen in FIG. 57, causing a clockwise rotation, 
shown by arrows 153 and 155 of the demetering lever against the biasing of 
the spring 108, as well as causing the locking pin 105, FIG. 55, on the 
underside of the lever to be disengaged from the slotted portion 114 of 
the metering pawl member 110. 
The closing movement of the pump cover 30 additionally causes engagement of 
an extending portion 92 of the high energy lever 90 with the front edge 41 
of the pump cover 30, causing the high energy lever to be rotated against 
the force of the torsion spring 94 in the direction shown by arrow 149, 
FIG. 56. 
Referring in general to the FIGS., the operation of the film advance system 
for each of the above examples is identical to that primarily described 
above wherein the idler gear 38 is brought into engagement with the gear 
teeth 37 of the linear gear rack 36 to advance the filmstrip 24 from the 
film supply chamber 14 across the exposure chamber 18 and into the 
confines of the film cartridge 28, FIG. 30. As the engaged portion of the 
filmstrip 24 begins to move in a direction away from the film supply 
chamber 14 toward the film cartridge chamber 16, the metering pawl member 
110 is caused to move against the torsion the torsion spring 118 until a 
pair of cam surfaces 111, 113, FIG. 15 on the metering pawl member and the 
top surface of the frame portion 12, such as described above, causes 
disengagement of the filmstrip 24 from the metering hook 112. The metering 
pawl member 110 is biased by the torsion spring 118, placing the metering 
hook 112 through the frame slot 15, FIG. 9, and back into the film plane, 
where the metering hook awaits the next set of perforations 25, FIG. 30. 
As should be apparent, if the shutter release button 52 is not depressed, 
the pump cover 30 will remain translatable relative to the camera frame 
12. Because the shutter release button 52 has not been depressed, the 
metering release element 76 has not been raised and the extending portion 
42 of the pump cover 30 will remain above the contact surface 81 or the 
spring arm feature and will therefore not contact the metering release 
element 76, keeping the metering pawl member 110 engaged and the high 
energy lever 90 in the cocked position. The pump cover 30 in the meantime 
can be freely translated in the opening and closing directions without 
changing the state of the camera. 
Second Embodiment 
A second and alternate embodiment of the film advance system according to 
the present invention is now described with reference to FIGS. 21-41. 
Referring to FIG. 21, there is shown an exploded view of a camera 200 
comprising a plastic frame portion 230, having molded-in features for 
defining a film supply chamber 204 for retaining an unexposed film roll 
(not shown) and a film cartridge chamber 205 for retaining the film 
cartridge 28, FIG. 30, which are oppositely situated relative to an 
exposure chamber 210, as is commonly known. 
A translatable pump cover 220 is attached to the exterior of the frame 
portion 230 through a set of slots 203 located in the front and rear of 
the cover for attachment over a set of correspondingly located over sized 
pins 206 located on the front and rear of the frame portion 230 to allow 
the cover to be moved between an opened, FIG. 22, and a closed position, 
such as shown in FIG. 3 of the preceding embodiment. It should be readily 
apparent that other suitable mounting assemblies can be utilized for 
movably attaching the cover 220 to the frame portion 230. 
Referring to FIGS. 21 and 22, a top surface 221 of the cover 220 includes 
an aperture 223 for accessing a shutter release button 240 when the cover 
is in the opened position, while a pair of interior parallel slots or 
channels 222, 224 are provided on the front interior of the cover 220 for 
engaging with film metering and demetering mechanisms, which are described 
in greater detail below. 
A front (not shown) and rear cover 212 lighttightly seal the camera 200 in 
a manner similar to that previously shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Details 
relating to the function and fitting of the covers to the frame portion 
are commonly known in the field and do not form a part of the present 
invention. 
The camera frame portion 230 is illustrated with a number of the major 
components of the film advance system assembled thereto. 
Referring to FIGS. 21, 23 and 25, a cylindrical metering release element 
250 having a hollowed center is attached to the frame portion 230 through 
an appropriately sized post 231 and includes a pair of oppositely disposed 
elongate sections 256, 258 extending from the periphery. A supporting top 
section 251 includes a recess 253 for engaging a slotted end 236 of a 
pivotable trigger 234. The trigger is not shown in FIG. 25 in order to 
show clarity of other aspects of the invention. The metering release 
element 250 is spring biased in a first rotational position by an 
extension spring 264, shown in phantom, having one end attached to the 
frame 230 and the remaining end attached to a top post 254 of the element. 
In the first rotational position, the elongate portion 256 extends from 
the front of the frame portion 230 for contact by the translatable pump 
cover 220 as described below. 
Referring to FIGS. 21 and 23, the trigger 234 is similar to that described 
in the preceding embodiment, and includes the depressible shutter release 
button 240 at one end and the slotted remaining end 236. The trigger 234 
is pivotally mounted by pin 239 inserted through a hole located in the top 
of the frame portion 230. 
Referring to FIGS. 21, 23 and 25, a high energy lever 260 is adjacently 
attached to a separate frame post 235 through a mounting aperture 261 and 
is biased in a cocked or loaded position by a torsion spring 265. The 
lever 260 includes an extending arm portion 266, which like the elongate 
portion 256, extends from the front of the frame portion 230 when the 
lever is in the cocked position. 
The presence of the metering release element 250 prevents the high energy 
lever 260 from moving from the cocked position to a fired position, as 
best shown in FIG. 23, until after the shutter release button 240 has been 
depressed and the metering release element 250 has been raised by the 
pivoting action of the trigger 234. 
Still referring to FIGS. 21, 23 and 25, a demetering lever 270 having an 
upper portion 271, a mounting portion 276, and a lower portion 273 is 
mounted to an adjacent post 237, shown only in FIG. 21, on the top of the 
frame portion 230 through a mounting aperture 275. The lower portion 273 
includes a bottom extending locking pin 272, FIG. 26, for engaging a 
slotted portion 294, FIG. 26 of a metering pawl member 290. The upper 
portion 271 bifurcates from the mounting portion 276 by a pair of 
depending arms 277, 279, most clearly shown in FIG. 23. The demetering 
lever 270 is biased to an initial rotational position by a spring 274, 
shown in phantom in FIG. 23, having one end attached to a frame post 238, 
and the remaining end to a post located on a top surface of the arm 279. 
The depending arm 277 includes a locking portion 278 at its end which 
engages the periphery of a film advance gear 310. 
Referring now to FIGS. 21, 23, 26, and 30, the metering pawl member 290 is 
attached to the top of the frame portion 230 beneath the lower portion 273 
of the demetering lever 270, and includes an extending outboard section 
283 having a post which engages an end of an extension spring 292, shown 
in phantom in FIG. 23, the other end of the spring being attached to a 
separate post 297 of the frame portion 230. The spring 292 is not shown in 
FIGS. 26 and 30 for the sake of clarity. The slotted portion 294 extends 
from the top of the lever 290 for accommodating the locking pin 272 of the 
demetering lever 270 when the metering pawl member 290 is initially biased 
in a first position by the spring 292. A metering hook 298 having a pair 
of pawl-like extensions 300 extends from the lever body 293 into the film 
plane of the camera 200 through a slot 215, FIG. 26, in the frame portion 
230 for engaging frame-defining perforations 25 of a filmstrip 24, as 
shown in FIG. 30. 
Referring to FIGS. 21 and 23, a shutter blade 302, including an engagement 
end 307, is attached to the front of the frame portion 230 and is biased 
by a spring 304, shown in phantom in FIG. 23, attached at one end to a 
frame post 306 in a position which covers a front opening (not shown), so 
that when contacted by the extending arm portion 266 of the high energy 
lever 260, the shutter blade momentarily allows light to pass through the 
front opening and into the exposure chamber 210, as is readily known in 
the field. 
Referring to FIGS. 21, 23, and 25, a film advance or drive gear 310 having 
a set of peripheral gear teeth 312 is centrally mounted at the hub of a 
cartridge drive element 315, shown partially in FIG. 21, which when 
assembled to the frame portion 230 extends through an opening 311 into the 
film cartridge chamber cavity to engage the film spool (not shown) of the 
film cartridge 28, FIG. 30, in a known manner. As previously noted, the 
film cartridge 28 can be any conventional 35 mm film magazine having an 
engageable spool end which allows film to be wound into the confines of 
the magazine, or a thrusting-type film cartridge, such as those described 
by U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,948,063, 5,031,853, and 5,248,108, the contents of 
which are herein incorporated by reference. The gear teeth 312 are 
initially engaged by the locking portion 278 of the demetering lever 270, 
which is fitted between a pair of the circumferential gear teeth, as best 
shown in FIG. 25. 
When the locking portion 278 is released, in the manner described below, 
the film advance gear 310 is permitted to rotate to advance the filmstrip 
24, FIG. 30, between the film supply chamber 204, FIG. 21, and the film 
cartridge chamber 208, FIG. 21, as described below. A pinion gear 318 is 
mounted to the top of the film advance gear 310 through a pin (not shown) 
which supports the gear for rotation and causes corresponding rotation of 
the film advance gear. The pinion gear 318, which includes a set of 
peripheral gear engagement teeth 319, is not shown in FIGS. 23 and 25 for 
clarity. 
Referring to FIGS. 21 and 24, a movable gear rack 320 is attached within a 
recessed region 313 on the top of the frame portion 230 above the film 
cartridge chamber 205, the rack including a set of linearly arranged 
engagement teeth 322 for engaging the gear teeth 319 of the pinion gear 
318. A compression spring 326 is attached at one end to a support 327 
extending from the rack 320 and at the other end is biased into a sidewall 
321 of the recessed region 313. The opposing side of the gear rack 320 
from the sidewall 321 of the recessed region includes a curved end 328 
which extends from the end of the frame portion 230 and is engageable with 
a sidewall of the pump cover 220. 
A keeper plate 340 is positioned at the top of the frame portion 230 to 
retain the above components and to guide the gear rack 320 by means of a 
slot 342 which is sized for retaining a guide pin 325 protruding from the 
top of the gear rack 320. 
Operation of Second Embodiment 
Referring to the FIGS. 21-40, and in operation, a film cartridge 28, FIG. 
30, is loaded into the film cartridge chamber 205 of the camera frame 
portion 230 and an unexposed film roll (not shown) is loaded into the film 
supply chamber 204. The end of the filmstrip outermost on the unexposed 
film roll is brought across the frame 230 to the spool (not shown) of the 
cartridge 28 and attached by means not shown, but conventionally known. 
The pump cover 220 is initially positioned in a fully opened position 
relative to the camera frame portion 230, with the shutter release button 
240 being visible through the top aperture 223, as shown in FIG. 22. 
Referring specifically now to the partial views of the camera 200 depicted 
in FIG. 26, and as the shutter release button 240 is depressed, the 
trigger 234 is pivoted such that the slotted end 236, FIG. 21, bears 
against the underside of the supporting portion 251, FIG. 21, thereby 
lifting the metering release element 250 sufficiently to allow release of 
the high energy lever 260 under the biasing force of the spring 264, 
whereby the extending arm portion 266 of the lever momentarily strikes the 
engagement end 307, FIG. 21, of the shutter blade 302, FIG. 21, in a 
manner commonly known. In the meantime, the extending elongate portion 256 
of the metering release element 250 remains aligned with the upper channel 
222 of the pump cover 220 when raised by the trigger 234. 
The high energy lever 260 is now in the position shown most clearly in FIG. 
27, with the front extending arm portion 266 also aligned with the path of 
the pump cover 220, which is partially shown. All of the remaining 
components of the film advance system are unaffected by the preceding 
events; that is, the demetering lever 270 is still engaged with the film 
advance gear 310 and the metering pawl member 290, respectively. For 
clarity, portions of the described camera 200 are not shown in FIGS. 23, 
25-27, 29, 31-34, 39, and 41, including the gear rack 320 and the keeper 
plate 340. 
Referring to FIG. 28, the pump cover 220 is then translated in the closing 
direction, shown by arrow 289, wherein the curved end 328 of the gear rack 
320 is engaged by the interior of the sidewall of the cover. The 
displacement of the gear rack 320 causes the spring 326 to compress 
against the interior sidewall 321 of the recessed region 313 of the frame 
portion 230, while the engagement teeth 322 of the rack 320 contact but 
slide over the gear teeth 319 of the pinion gear 318 which is not 
permitted to move due to the locked engagement between the locking portion 
278, FIG. 25, and the film advance gear 310. 
As the pump cover 220 continues to be translated in the closing direction, 
arrow 289, the leading edge 225 of the cover first contacts the extending 
arm portion 266 of the high energy lever 260, causing a counterclockwise 
rotation of the lever beneath the raised metering release element 250 and 
against the force of the torsion spring 265, FIG. 23. Referring to FIG. 
29, and at the same time, the elongate portion 256 enters the upper 
channel 222, allowing the metering release element 250 to remain supported 
in the raised position, the channel being sized to accommodate the 
elongate portion without rotating the metering release element. 
Referring to FIGS. 29-31, the upper channel 222 includes an integral rib 
280 having a ramped front surface 282 and a rear edge 284, shown in 
phantom in FIG. 31. As the pump cover 220 continues to translate in the 
closing direction 289, toward the center of the camera 200, the ramped 
front surface 282 of the rib 280 engages the extending front elongate 
portion 256, causing a counterclockwise rotation of the metering release 
element 250, shown in FIG. 31 by arrow 281. 
In the meantime, the high energy lever 260 has already been fully pivoted 
to the cocked position and has been moved out entirely from under the 
metering release element 250 by the translation of the pump cover 220, as 
shown most clearly in FIG. 31. The presence of the pump cover 220, 
however, retains the high energy lever 260 in a cocked position. 
Furthermore, and as shown in the top view of FIG. 31, a raised shelf 233 
extending from the top of the camera frame portion 230 supports the 
oppositely extending elongate portion 258, preventing the metering release 
lever 250 from prematurely dropping into the lower channel 224 until the 
filmstrip 24, FIG. 30, has been metered. 
Referring to FIG. 32, and as the pump cover 220 continues to be translated 
in the closing direction, arrow 289, the elongate portion 256 of the 
metering release element 250 is caused to reenter the upper channel 222 of 
the cover due to the biasing force supplied by the spring 264, shown in 
phantom, thereby keeping the metering release element in a raised position 
and allowing the pump cover to reach the end of the closing stroke, as 
dictated by the length of the cover slots 203, as well as the slot 342 of 
the keeper plate 340, each shown in FIG. 21. Referring to FIG. 30, and at 
the end of the closing stroke, the spring 326 is fully loaded against the 
sidewall 321, FIG. 28, of the recessed portion 313, FIG. 28. As previously 
noted, the gear rack 320 is not shown in FIG. 32 for the sake of clarity. 
Referring now to FIGS. 33-41, and by reversing the translation direction, 
shown as arrow 291, the pump cover 220 can be moved back to the opened 
position, producing the following sequence of events: 
First, and referring specifically to FIGS. 33 and 34, the extending 
elongate portion 256 contacts the back edge 284 of the rib 280 in the 
upper channel 222 of the pump cover 220, causing the metering release 
element 250 to rotate in direction 286, FIG. 34, and causing contact 
between the opposing elongate portion 258 and an edge of the metering arm 
279 of the demetering lever 270. A corresponding counterclockwise 
rotation, arrow 287, of the lever 270 rersult, causing the locking 
portions 278, 272 to be moved out of engagement with the film advance gear 
310 and the slotted portion 294 of the spring-biased metering pawl member 
290, respectively. 
As evident from FIG. 36, disengagement of the locking portion 278 from the 
film advance gear 310 allows the filmstrip 24 to be advanced from the film 
supply chamber 204 to the film cartridge 28 contained in the film 
cartridge chamber 205 by the opening movement of the pump cover 220 as 
follows. 
Referring to FIGS. 35-38 in general, the teeth 325 of the gear rack 320 
engage the gear teeth 319 of the pinion gear 318, causing a 
counterclockwise rotation of the gear and the associated cartridge drive 
element 315, in direction 314 shown in FIGS. 36 and 37, which rotates the 
spool end (not shown) of the cartridge 28 in a film winding direction. The 
preloading of the spring 326 provides a biasing force as the curved end 
328 of the rack 320 remains in contact with the sidewall of the cover 220 
while the cover is moving in the opening direction, arrow 291. 
Still referring to FIGS. 35-38, and as the film advance gear 310 is rotated 
in the film winding direction to move the filmstrip 24, the metering pawl 
member 290 is caused to translate with the filmstrip 24 in direction 331, 
FIG. 35, in a manner similar to that described in the first embodiment, 
until a cam surface 295 of the metering pawl, shown in phantom in FIG. 34, 
engages a corresponding cam surface 299, also shown in phantom in FIG. 34, 
of the frame portion 230, as shown in FIG. 36, causing the metering hook 
298 to be moved inwardly toward the interior of the camera 200 and causing 
the pawls 300 to move out of engagement with the film perforations 25, as 
best shown in FIG. 36. 
Referring to FIG. 37, once the tension of the moving filmstrip 24 has been 
removed from the metering hook 298, the spring 292 causes the metering 
pawl member 290 to be positioned per arrow 332 with the metering hook 298 
in a film engaging position, similar to the first embodiment. Continued 
rotation of the film advance gear 310 in the film winding direction by the 
translation of the pump cover 220 moves the filmstrip 24 in direction 333 
past the metering hook 298 until the pawls 300 sense and reengage the next 
set of film perforations 25, FIG. 38. 
In addition, and referring to FIG. 34, the rotational movement of the 
metering release lever 250, in direction 286, also forces the elongate 
portion 258 from the raised shelf 233 of the camera frame portion 230. 
Because the high energy lever 260 has been pivoted out from beneath the 
metering release lever 250 and remains restricted from attaining the 
released position by the interior wall of the pump cover 220, the metering 
release element is allowed to drop as biased by spring 264, FIG. 23. Thus, 
the elongate portion 256 is caused to drop into the lower channel 222 of 
the pump cover 220, as seen most particularly in FIG. 39. The demetering 
lever 270, however, is restricted from assuming its initial biased 
position by a raised cam surface 308, FIG. 39, adjacent the slotted 
portion 294 which engages the locking pin 272, as most clearly shown in 
the partial view of the camera depicted in FIGS. 38 and 39. 
Referring to FIGS. 38 and 39, and after the metering hook 298 reengages the 
film perforations 25, the metering pawl member 290 is caused to move with 
the advancing filmstrip 24 until the locking pin 272 is caused to move off 
the cam surface 308 and into the slotted portion 294 under the biasing of 
the spring 292, FIG. 23, producing a clockwise rotation, arrow 335, of the 
demetering lever 270, as shown in FIG. 40, which reengages the locking pin 
272 with the slotted portion 294, and the locking pin 278 with the film 
advance gear 310, as previously shown in FIG. 31, preventing further 
filmstrip advance. 
Referring to FIGS. 40 and 41, the locking of the metering pawl member 290 
insures the filmstrip 24 has been metered. The camera is now in the opened 
position, previously shown in FIG. 22. 
The pump cover 220 can be translatably moved between the opened and the 
closed position while the shutter release button remains in the 
undepressed state without damage to the camera 200; that is when the cover 
is moved in the closing direction, the elongate portion 256 of the 
metering release element 250 will be accommodated by the lower channel 
224. 
Third Embodiment 
A film advance system according to a third embodiment is herein described 
with reference to FIGS. 42-49. In brief, a pair of separately disposed 
levers are used to move an idler gear into and out of engagement with a 
drive gear in order to advance a filmstrip in this particular film drive 
system. The details of this particular embodiment are herein described. 
Referring first to the exploded view of FIG. 42, there is shown a camera 
400 made in accordance with this particular embodiment, including a frame 
portion 402 having molded-in features for defining a film supply chamber 
405, and a film cartridge chamber 407, which are oppositely located 
relative to an exposure chamber 409, as described in the preceding 
embodiments, the details of which are commonly known in the field. 
A translatable pump cover 440 having an interior recess 441 includes a set 
of front and rear slots 444 for engaging corresponding pins 403 located on 
the exterior of the frame portion 402 for enabling the cover to move 
between an opened and a closed position. The cover 440, as depicted in the 
opened position in FIG. 43, also includes a top surface 445 having an 
aperture 443 sized to allow access to a depressible shutter release button 
412 when the cover is in the opened position. 
A number of film advance components are mounted to the frame portion 402. 
Referring to FIGS. 42 and 44, these components include a trigger 410, 
similar to those described in the two preceding embodiments, having the 
shutter release button 412 at one end and an oppositely disposed slotted 
end 413 for supporting a metering release lever or element 420. The 
trigger 410 also includes a pair of pins 415 at the center of its span 
which are fitted into corresponding slots 417 in the top of the frame 
portion 402 to allow the trigger to pivot. 
Referring to FIGS. 42 and 45, the metering release element 420 includes a 
cylindrically shaped body portion 423 having a hollow center which allows 
mounting to a frame post 421, and which is biased in a first rotational 
position by a spring 422, shown in phantom in FIG. 45. An elongate portion 
424, extends from the periphery of the cylindrical body portion 423 beyond 
the front of the frame portion 402 when the element 420 is in the first 
rotational position for contacting an engagement arm (not shown) of the 
pump cover 440. A gear lifting arm 426 also depends from the cylindrical 
body portion 423 and includes a ramped surface 427 at its depending end 
for engaging and lifting an idler gear 438 when the metering release 
element 420 is pivoted about the frame post 421, as described in greater 
detail below. Referring only to FIG. 42, an upper supporting portion 429 
includes a recess 428 for engaging the slotted end 413 of the trigger 410. 
Referring to FIGS. 42 and 45, a high energy lever 430, similar to those 
previously described in the two preceding embodiments, includes a mounting 
aperture through which the lever is attached over an adjacent frame post 
and is biased by a torsion spring 432, attached to the lever in a manner 
previously described. In addition, and as in the preceding second 
embodiment, the lever 430 includes a depending arm 436 which extends from 
the front of the frame portion 402 for contacting a shutter blade 470 in a 
manner commonly known. Initially, the lever 430 is held against the force 
of the torsion spring 432 in a cocked position, and is prevented from 
release by the presence of the metering release element 420, which 
initially is in a lowered position until the shutter release button 412 is 
depressed is depressed. 
A linear gear rack 442 similar to that provided in the first described 
embodiment is provided on the interior of the rear side of the pump cover 
440, though for purposes of this embodiment the integral engagement teeth 
are not shown for clarity. A channel 446, FIGS. 42, 46, included on the 
interior of the front half of the pump cover 440, is aligned to engage the 
elongate portion 424 of the metering release element 420 after the shutter 
release button 412 has been depressed and includes an engagement arm (not 
shown), similar to the integral rib provided in the described second 
embodiment above, which causes the metering release element to pivot 
against the force of the spring 422. 
Referring to FIG. 42, the idler gear 438 includes a lower depending portion 
437 which is mounted over a frame post 404 through a hub aperture as well 
as through a slotted portion 492 of a gear lifting lever 490, which is 
also attached over the frame post 404. The gear 438 includes a set of 
circumferential gear teeth sized for engaging the gear teeth of a 
cartridge drive 460 and the gear rack 442, respectively. 
Referring to FIGS. 42 and 46, the gear lifting lever 490 includes an upper 
portion 494 including the slotted portion 492, as well as a lower portion 
496, which also includes a similarly defined slotted portion 498. A pin 
499 depending from the bottom of the lower portion 496 is engageable 
within a hole 452 in the top surface 454 of a metering pawl member 450. 
The slotted portion 492 includes a cam surface 493, shown only in FIG. 42, 
which depends from the top of the upper portion 494, and is used for 
raising and lowering the idler gear 438, as is described in greater detail 
below. Initially, the idler gear 438 is positioned within the slotted 
portion 492, but beneath the cam surface 493, resting on the upper portion 
494. 
Referring to FIGS. 42 and 44, the metering pawl member 450 is also a 
plastic molded component attached to the top of the frame portion 402 and 
includes an outboard portion 456 which includes a post 453 to which is 
attached one end of a compression spring 455, shown in phantom in FIG. 44. 
The remaining end of the spring is attached to a frame post 459, FIG. 44, 
which biases the metering pawl member 450 in a first position. The hole 
452 is provided on one end of the metering pawl member 450 and a metering 
hook 458, FIG. 42, is provided on the opposite end having a pair of pawls 
which extend into the film plane through a slot in the frame portion 402. 
Referring to FIG. 42, a cartridge gear drive 460 is preferably a single 
plastic molded component having a top gear element 462 including a set of 
circumferential gear teeth sized to mesh with the gear teeth of the idler 
gear 438 and a lower depending portion 463 which extends through an 
opening 465 in the top of the frame portion 402 and into the cavity of the 
film cartridge chamber 407 for engaging the spool end of a film cartridge 
(not shown) in a manner commonly known. The gear drive 460 is stationarily 
positioned to engage the end of the cartridge spool to wind film in a film 
winding direction when the gear teeth are engaged in a manner commonly 
known. 
A keeper plate 474 having a slot 342 is placed on the top of the frame 
portion 402 to retain the above components, including a commonly known 
frame counter 478, wherein the idler gear 438 is preferably biased by a 
spring (not shown) between the top of the gear and the keeper plate. 
Operation of Third Embodiment 
Referring in general to FIGS. 42-49, the operation of the camera 400 
according to this particular embodiment can be described beginning with 
the pump cover 440 being retracted in a fully opened position, as shown in 
FIG. 43, in which the shutter release button 412 is accessible through the 
opening 443, and the remaining film advance components are in the initial 
positions described above. 
Referring to FIG. 45, the shutter release button 412 is depressed, arrow 
449, FIG. 45, which pivots the trigger 410 and causes the metering release 
element 420 to be lifted as the slotted end 413, FIG. 44, engaged in the 
recess 428, FIG. 42, engages the bottom of the upper supporting portion 
429, FIG. 42. The lifting movement of the metering release element 420 
allows the unconstrained high energy lever 430 to fire due to the force of 
the torsion spring 432, actuating the shutter blade 470 in a known manner 
as the depending arm 436 contacts an engagement end of the shutter blade, 
which is preferably spring biased to allow the front opening (not shown) 
to be momentarily opened to allow ambient light to enter the exposure 
chamber 409. 
The releasing movement of the high energy lever 430 holds the metering 
release element 420 in a raised position, and thereby also causes the 
trigger 410 to remain pivoted, leaving the shutter release button 412 in 
the depressed state and preventing the attempt of double exposures by a 
user of the camera. The pump cover 440, FIG. 46, is now ready to be moved 
to the closed position. 
Referring to FIGS. 46-49, the movement of the pump cover 440 in the closing 
direction, shown by arrow 448 causes the following events to occur almost 
simultaneously: First, the leading edge 447 of the pump cover 440 engages 
the depending arm 436 of the high energy lever 430, thereby commencing 
rotation of the lever against the force of the spring 432 in a 
counterclockwise direction about its pivot. As noted, the raising of the 
metering release element 420 aligns the elongate portion 424 with the 
channel 446 of the pump cover 440, which is sized to allow the elongate 
portion 424 to enter the channel until the engagement arm (not shown) 
within the channel engages the elongate portion 424 and causes 
counterclockwise rotation of the element about the frame post 421, FIG. 
42, against the bias of the spring 422. The extending gear lifting arm 426 
of the metering release element 420 is also pivoted in a counterclockwise 
direction 446, and into contact with the bottom of the idler gear 438, as 
shown in FIG. 48. The ramped surface 427 of the gear lifting arm 426 
engages the lower depending portion 439, FIG. 42, lifting the idler gear 
438 in direction 431 against the force of the spring (not shown) and the 
keeper plate 474, FIG. 42, and into contact with the engagement teeth (not 
shown) of the linear gear rack 442, which moves integrally with the pump 
cover 440 in direction 448 and causes a corresponding clockwise rotation 
of the idler gear per arrow 433, also producing engagement with the drive 
gear 462 of the adjacent film cartridge gear drive 460, to create a 
corresponding rotation causing the film spool (not shown) within the film 
cartridge (not shown) to rotate in a film winding direction 435 in a 
manner commonly known. 
The rotation of the film spool (not shown) in the film winding direction 
435, FIG. 48, causes the filmstrip 24, FIG. 30, contained in the film 
supply chamber 405, FIG. 42, to be pulled across the film rails (not 
shown) bordering the exposure chamber 409, FIG. 42, which defines the film 
plane. The movement of the filmstrip 24, FIG. 30, causes the metering hook 
458, FIG. 42, and the remainder of the metering pawl member 450 to be 
pulled in the direction of the film plane along with the engaged filmstrip 
24 until a cammed surface (not shown, but similar to the cam surfaces 113, 
295 previously described above) at the bottom of the metering pawl member 
contacts a corresponding cammed surface 406, FIG. 46, of the frame portion 
402, pivoting the metering pawl member 450 out of engagement with the 
filmstrip perforations 25, FIG. 30 in the previously described manner. The 
biasing of the spring 455, FIG. 48, causes the metering pawl member 450 to 
move to a position in which the metering hook 458 reenters the film plane 
and into contact with the advancing filmstrip 24 until the next set of 
perforations 25 are available, also in a manner previously described. 
Referring to FIGS. 42 and 48, and as the metering pawl member 450 is pulled 
by the spring force of the metering pawl spring 455 to its biased 
position, the gear lifting lever 490 is also moved laterally with the 
metering pawl member 450 due to its pinned connection with the metering 
pawl member. The idler gear 438 is subsequently slid up the ramped cam 
surface 493 of the slotted portion 492 onto a raised boss portion 497 of 
the gear lifting lever 490, holding the idler gear in engagement with the 
gear rack 442 and the cartridge gear drive 460. 
The pump cover 440 continues to move in the closing direction according to 
arrow 448, creating engagement between the gear rack 442, the idler gear 
438, and the drive gear element 462, thereby rotating the film spool (not 
shown) of the film cartridge (not shown) in a known manner to advance the 
filmstrip 24, FIG. 30, from the film supply chamber 405, FIG. 42, along 
the film plane until a new set of frame-defining perforations 25, FIG. 30, 
are presented to the metering hook 458, FIG. 42, to engage, as in the 
manner described in the preceding two embodiments. 
Referring to FIG. 49, and upon engagement of the metering hook 458, shown 
only in FIG. 42, with a new set of perforations 25, FIG. 30, of the 
advancing filmstrip 24, the metering pawl member 450 again is caused to 
move with the filmstrip 24, FIG. 30, against the biasing force of the 
spring 455. This additional translation of the metering pawl member 450 
causes the idler gear to be cammed down the ramped surface 493, FIG. 48, 
of the slotted portion 492, allowing the idler gear 438, which is 
preferably spring biased with the keeper plate 478, FIG. 42, to drop out 
of engagement with the cartridge gear drive 460, stopping further film 
advance, and thereby metering the filmstrip. The keeper plate 472 is not 
shown in FIGS. 46-49 for clarity. 
Still referring to FIG. 49, and at the same time, the metering release 
element 420 is caused by the channel 446 to drop from a raised surface 
(not shown) located on the top of the frame portion 402, in that the high 
energy lever 430 has been rotated out from under the element, due to the 
closing movement of the pump cover 440. 
Rather than including an engagement arm in a channel 446 of the cover 440, 
as described above, it should be readily apparent that other means can be 
used to cause the metering release element 420 to rotate as the pump cover 
440 is translated between the opened and the closed positions, such as 
those previously described in the first embodiment above. 
The invention has been described with reference to a number of specifically 
defined embodiments. However, it will be appreciated that variations and 
modifications can be effected by a person of ordinary skill in the art 
without departing from the scope of the invention. 
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TS LIST for FIGS. 1-57 
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10 camera 
12 frame portion 
13 guide member 
14 film supply chamber 
15 slot 
16 film cartridge chamber 
17 slot 
18 exposure chamber 
19 slot 
20 front opening 
21 raised portion 
22 cutout 
24 filmstrip 
25 perforations 
28 film cartridge 
30 pump handle 
32 front half 
33 interior recess 
34 rear half 
35 open end 
36 linear gear rack 
37 gear teeth 
38 idler gear 
39 post 
40 tapered engagement arm 
41 front edge 
42 contacting portion 
43 stepped portion 
44 contoured contacting surface 
45 top surface 
46 top slotted portion 
50 trigger 
52 shutter release button 
54 upper portion 
56 lower portion 
57 opening 
58 lug pins 
59 slotted portion 
60 cartridge drive 
61 vertical shaft 
62 supporting surface 
63 external driving element 
64 depending portion 
65 opening 
66 drive gear 
67 drive teeth 
68 return spring 
69 flange 
70 drive spline 
71 slotted aperture 
72 engagement teeth 
74 recess 
75 spline spring 
76 metering release element 
77 recessed area 
78 post 
79 frame protrusion 
80 bottom portion 
81 contact surface 
82 rest surface 
83 slotted portion 
84 top portion 
85 elongate portion 
86 cutout 
87 groove 
88 drive teeth 
89 arrow 
90 high energy lever 
91 aperture mounting 
92 extending portion 
93 slot 
94 torsion spring 
96 spring arm 
98 high energy lever spring 
99 shutter blade striking portion 
100 front lens element 
101 arrow 
102 lens retainer 
104 end portion 
105 locking pin 
106 demetering lever 
107 mounting aperture 
108 demetering lever spring 
110 metering pawl member 
111 cammed surface 
112 twin pawl metering hook 
113 cammed surface 
114 slotted portion 
115 cammed surface 
116 post 
117 post 
118 torsion spring 
119 post 
120 shutter blade 
122 engagement end 
124 masking portion 
126 counter actuator 
127 arrow 
128 flexible contact element 
129 arrow 
130 keeper plate 
131 arrow 
132 frame counter 
133 arrow 
135 teeth 
137 projecting portion 
139 spring arm 
141 contact portion 
143 inwardly projecting portion 
145 contoured contacting surface 
147 elongate portion 
149 arrow 
151 arrow 
153 arrow 
157 arrow 
161 arrow 
163 arrow 
164 arrow 
165 arrow 
200 camera 
203 slots 
204 film supply chamber 
205 film cartridge chamber 
206 pins 
209 film cartridge 
210 exposure chamber 
212 rear cover 
215 slot 
220 pump cover 
221 top surface 
222 upper channel 
223 aperture 
224 lower channel 
225 front edge 
230 camera frame 
231 post 
232 top surface 
233 shelved surface 
234 trigger 
236 slot 
240 shutter release button 
250 metering release element 
251 top supporting portion 
253 recess 
256 elongate portion 
258 elongate portion 
260 high energy lever 
261 mounting aperture 
264 spring 
265 spring 
266 extending portion 
270 locking lever 
271 upper portion 
272 locking pin 
273 lower portion 
274 spring 
275 mounting aperture 
276 mounting portion 
277 gear engaging arm 
278 locking portion 
279 metering arm 
280 rib 
282 ramped surface 
283 outboard portion 
284 edge 
285 post 
289 arrow 
290 metering pawl member 
291 arrow 
292 spring 
294 slotted portion 
296 top surface 
297 post 
298 cam surface 
299 cam surface 
304 spring 
306 frame post 
307 engaging end 
308 cam surface 
310 film advance gear 
311 opening 
312 gear teeth 
313 recessed region 
315 cartridge driving element 
318 pinion gear 
319 gear teeth 
320 gear rack 
321 sidewall 
322 linear engagement teeth 
323 recessed region 
325 guide pin 
326 compression spring 
327 support post 
328 curved end 
330 guide pin 
340 keeper plate 
342 slot 
400 camera 
402 frame portion 
403 pins 
405 film supply chamber 
406 camming surface 
407 film cartridge chamber 
409 exposure chamber 
410 trigger 
412 shutter release button 
413 slotted end 
414 slot 
415 pins 
417 slots 
420 metering release element 
421 frame post 
422 spring 
424 elongate portion 
426 gear lifting arm 
427 ramped surface 
429 top supporting portion 
430 high energy lever 
432 torsion spring 
436 extending arm 
438 idler gear 
439 depending portion 
440 pump cover 
441 recess 
442 linear gear rack 
443 aperture 
444 slots 
445 top surface 
446 channel 
447 leading edge of cover 
448 arrow 
449 arrow 
450 metering pawl member 
451 body section 
452 hole 
453 post 
454 top surface 
455 spring 
456 outboard section 
458 metering hook 
459 post 
460 cartridge gear drive 
462 gear 
463 depending portion 
464 opening 
470 shutter blade 
474 keeper plate 
478 frame counter 
490 gear lifting lever 
492 slotted portion 
493 ramped cam surface 
494 upper portion 
496 lower portion 
497 raised boss 
498 slotted portion 
499 pin 
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