Camera cover release mechanism

A camera includes a lighttight body portion and a cover having an interior recess sized for receiving an end of said body portion. The cover is coupled to the body portion and is movable in opposing directions between an opened position and a closed position. A portion of the body or the cover includes stop surfaces for preventing the cover from opening beyond the opening position which are deformable or detachable to allow the cover to be released from the body portion of the camera. Alternately, the cover can be part of a two part releasable assembly which can be separated either destructively or non-destructively from the camera.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
Reference is made to commonly assigned copending applications Ser. No. 
08/577,285, entitled: PUMP CAMERA filed in the names of Dennis R. Zander, 
David C. Smart, Thomas Dussinger, and Edward N. Balling, and Ser. No. 
08/577,285, entitled: CAMERA COVER GUIDE MECHANISM, concurrently 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, and in 
particular to still photographic cameras. More specifically, this 
invention relates to the removal of a movably retractable cover from a 
lighttight camera body. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Cameras are known in the field which include an actuating cover which is 
movable relative to a lighttight camera body portion between an opened and 
a closed position. The cover is coupled to the camera body portion and 
engages the film advancing mechanism as the cover is translated between 
the opened and the closed position to advance and meter a contained 
filmstrip for exposure by the user. 
There are a number of reasons for requiring the removal of the above 
described actuatable cover from the lighttight camera body. One such 
reason is to allow access to the film cartridge chamber in order to remove 
the film cartridge from the confines of the camera body after all of the 
exposures have been taken. Typically, the film cartridge may be removed 
from the camera by either opening the film cartridge chamber door, or by 
opening the rear cover of the lighttight camera body. The presence of the 
coupled pump cover, however, may therefore prevent film cartridge removal. 
The removal of the film cartridge is applicable to literally any form of 
still photographic camera, including any having an actuatable cover as 
described. 
Another reason, more applicable to so-called "single or one-time use" 
cameras which have recently evolved and are manufactured by the Eastman 
Kodak Company, and Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., among others, is for 
recyclability purposes, in order to access reusable photographic 
components, such as the film advancing mechanism and electronic flash 
assemblies, contained within the lighttight camera body section of the 
camera. 
A competing concern, however, which is particular to the above referred to 
single-use cameras, is to avoid unauthorized reloading of film into the 
camera. 
To that end, there is a need to remove the actuatable pump cover in a 
simple and efficient manner. There is a further need to remove the cover 
in a manner which promotes recyclability, in the case of recyclable 
cameras, such as the more recently evolved "single or one-time use" 
cameras while discouraging unauthorized reuse in the case of those covers 
used in single-use cameras. 
It should be noted that these needs extend to other forms of covers which 
do not necessarily interact with the film advance mechanisms of the 
camera, and therefore are not actuatable. Such covers may include 
protective covers which are slipped over the lighttight camera body and 
used to encase and protect the body from damage. 
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 body portion; 
and a cover having an interior recess sized for receiving an end of said 
body portion, said cover being coupled to said body portion and movable in 
opposing directions between an opened position and a closed position, 
characterized by means for releasing said cover from the body portion to 
allow removal of the cover therefrom. 
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of 
removing a translatable cover coupled to a camera body portion, said cover 
having an interior recess for covering at least one end of the body 
portion and an open end, and movable in opposing directions between an 
opened position and a closed position relative to the body portion, 
comprising the steps of: 
i) translating the cover in one of the opposing directions to the opened 
position; 
ii) applying force to an engagement member which prevents said cover from 
being translated beyond the opened position in the translating direction; 
and 
iii) translating the cover in the translating direction beyond the opened 
position until the cover is decoupled from the body portion of the camera. 
An advantage provided by the present invention is that the actuatable cover 
and body portion of the camera can be designed to provide a feature which 
must be broken or damaged, to decrease the opportunity for unauthorized 
reuse of the camera, while still allowing the camera to be recycled. 
Another advantage realized by the present invention is that the cover can 
also be constructed so as not to be functionally destroyed when the cover 
is removed, therefore also allowing the cover to be reusable. By making 
the cover reusable, there is a significant savings in the cost to recycle 
and manufacture the camera. 
A further advantage of the present invention is that by making the cover 
removable, either destructively or non-destructively, allows the film 
cartridge to also be conveniently removable for the photofinisher, such as 
for the so-called "single or one-time use" cameras, or alternately for the 
photographer in conventional reusable cameras. 
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 
The following discussion describes a number of separate embodiments, each 
of which relate to a single or one-time use camera having a number of 
recyclable parts. It will become apparent from the following discussion, 
however, that the concepts of the present invention pertain to other forms 
of still photographic cameras. In addition, it will also be apparent that 
the concepts of the present invention apply to covers, such as lens covers 
and the like, which merely cover the lighttight camera body and do not 
necessarily interact with the film advance mechanism. 
FIRST EMBODIMENT 
A first embodiment is described with reference to FIGS. 1(a)-6. Beginning 
with FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b), there is shown a camera 10 made in accordance 
with a first embodiment of the present invention wherein a plastic 
injection-molded camera body 12 includes a front cover 14 and a rear cover 
16 which sandwich a camera frame (not shown) and are secured together in a 
known manner to form a lighttight assembly. A translatably movable pump 
cover 18 is coupled to the camera body 12 so as to overlap an end portion 
of each of the assembled front and rear covers 14, 16, and is movable 
between an opened position and a closed position, shown in FIGS. 1(a) and 
1(b), respectively. 
The camera 10 includes a number of photographic components, such as a 
viewfinder 11, a taking lens 13, and an electronic flash assembly 15. The 
taking lens 13 faces forward and defines a forward portion 101, rear 
portion 103, and two side ends 105 of the camera body 12. Further, the 
camera body 12 contains respective chambers (not shown) for containing a 
film cartridge (not shown) and an unexposed film scroll (not shown) in 
opposite chambers relative to an exposure chamber (not shown). Each of the 
preceding elements are well known in the field of photography and require 
no further discussion that is essential to the workings of the present 
invention. 
When the pump cover 18 is moved to the closed position, FIG. 1(b), the 
taking lens 13, and shutter release button (not shown) are each covered. 
Further, the movement of the cover between the opened and the closed 
positions causes an engagement arm 32 positioned on the interior of the 
front side of the cover 18 to engage the film advance system (not shown) 
of the camera 10 to advance and meter a contained filmstrip (not shown). 
The cooperation of the pump cover 18 with the film advance system of the 
camera 10 is described more completely in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. 
application Ser. No. 08/577,285, which is hereby incorporated by 
reference. 
The translatable pump cover 18 according to this first embodiment is shown 
more particularly in FIG. 2, and along with the rear and front covers 14, 
16, FIG. 1(b), is also a plastic injection-molded component including an 
interior recess 19 for fitting over an end portion of the assembled camera 
body 12, FIG. 3, and an open end 20. Molded into the bottom surface 21 of 
the pump cover 18 adjacent the open end 20 is a bendable tab portion 22 
defined by a peripheral groove 25 surrounding the entirety of the tab 
portion with the exception of one end 23 to allow hinging. 
The tab portion 22 itself includes a vertically extending projection 24 on 
the interior side of the pump cover 18 having a ramped profile that 
commences at the hinged end 23. The pump cover 18 is prevented from 
excessive movement in the opening direction beyond the opened position of 
FIG. 1(a), shown by arrow 27, FIG. 4, due to a stop surface 26 at the 
terminus of the ramped profile. A guide groove 30, FIG. 3, on the camera 
body portion 12, FIG. 3, is sized for retaining the vertical projection 24 
when the cover 18 is coupled to the body portion, the end of which defines 
the opened position of the cover due to engagement with the stop surface 
26. 
A guide arm or member 31 is disposed adjacent the bottom of the pump cover 
18 on the interior of a front side 23, beneath the above described 
engagement arm 32, each extending from the open end 20. As noted, the 
function of the engagement arm 32 particularly in connection with the film 
advance mechanism (not shown) of the camera 10, is more completely 
described in the previously incorporated U.S. Ser, No. 08/577,285. The 
function of the guide arm 31 is described in greater detail in copending 
and commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/608,371, which 
is also incorporated by reference. 
Referring now to FIG. 3, the bottom surface 17 of the assembled camera body 
portion 12 includes the guide groove 30 for retaining the vertically 
extending projection 24 of the tab portion 22 when the pump cover 18 is 
coupled thereto. 
In the present embodiment, the removal of the pump cover 18 preferably 
takes place after all of the exposures of a contained filmstrip (not 
shown) have been taken. The removal operation is shown in FIGS. 4-6. As 
the pump cover 18 is moved in the opening direction, shown by arrow 27, 
the tab portion 22 is made bendable away from the camera body portion 12 
by known means, such as using finger pressure or preferably a tool, (not 
shown) such as a screwdriver, which is applied through a tool engagement 
hole 29 located adjacent the stop surface 26, FIG. 2, of the tab portion 
22 and hinging the tab portion away from the interior of the camera about 
the end 23, as most particularly shown in FIG. 6. The displacement of the 
stop surface 26 away from the camera body portion 12, permits the pump 
cover 18 to be translated in the opening direction 27 beyond the opened 
position and allows the cover to be removed from the camera body portion 
12 in a non-destructive manner. 
SECOND EMBODIMENT 
As shown in FIGS. 7-9, a second embodiment of the present invention 
illustrates that the above described tab portion 22, FIG. 6, can be made 
separately removable or breakable relative to the pump cover 18, as 
opposed to being bendable. Similar parts are denoted with the same 
reference numerals for the sake of clarity. 
Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the pump cover 18 of this embodiment is 
entirely similar to that previously described in the first embodiment with 
the exception that the tab portion 40 attached to the bottom surface 21 of 
the pump cover 18 includes four equally spaced breakaway insets 42, one on 
each side of the tab portion in lieu of the peripheral groove 15, FIG. 2, 
and hinged end 23, FIG. 2. The tab portion 40 is coplanar with the bottom 
surface 21 and includes an interior extending projection 24, similar to 
that previously described, having a stop surface 26 which engages a guide 
groove 30 located on the bottom surface 17 of the camera body portion 12 
to prevent movement of the cover in the opening direction, arrow 44, 
beyond a predetermined opened position as dictated by the length of the 
guide groove. 
In operation, and referring to FIG. 9, a tool (not shown) can be used to 
break the tab portion 40 at each of the breakaway insets 42 to remove the 
tab portion 40 from the bottom surface 21 of the pump cover 18. With the 
tab portion 40 removed as shown, the cover 18 can be removed from the 
camera body 12 by translating the cover in the opening direction, shown by 
arrow 44. The absence of the stop surface 26 allows the cover 18 to be 
removed from the camera body portion 12. 
After removal, the pump cover 18 can be placed over a camera body portion 
12, but will not function efficiently because the tab portion 40 has been 
removed from the bottom surface 21, therefore discouraging possible 
unauthorized reloading and reuse of the camera with a used cover. 
Though the tab portions of each of the preceding embodiments have been 
shown on the bottom surface 21 of the pump cover 18, it should be readily 
apparent that other configurations and positions can easily be imagined. 
THIRD EMBODIMENT 
A third embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 10-14. As in 
the preceding embodiment, similar parts are denoted by the same reference 
numerals for the sake of clarity. 
In this embodiment, an assembled camera 65 is shown in FIG. 12 having a 
pump cover 67 coupled to a lighttight body portion 69. The pump cover 67 
is similar to that previously described, that is having an interior recess 
and an open end for fitting over an end portion of the lighttight body 
portion 69 and being movable relative to the body portion between an 
opened position and a closed position. Further, the cover 67 like those of 
the preceding embodiments includes an engagement arm 32 for engaging the 
film advance system of the body portion 69 when the cover is moved between 
the opened and the closed positions. The pump cover 65 is shown in the 
opened position in FIG. 12. 
Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, the camera body section 69 is also similar to 
those previously described being constructed of molded front and rear 
covers 14, 16 which sandwich a camera frame (not shown) having attached 
thereto a number of known photographic components, including the film 
advance system (not shown). An example is more completely described in the 
cross-referenced 72240 application. 
Referring now to the partial views of the cover 67 and the body portion of 
FIGS. 10 and 11, and rather than providing a tab portion on the bottom of 
the cover as described in the previous two embodiments, a ramped 
projecting locking tab 46 is provided on the interior of the front surface 
28 of the pump cover 67 for engaging a longitudinal groove 54 
correspondingly located on the front side 23 of the camera body portion 
69. The longitudinal groove 54 is located in the center of a bendable 
guide portion 48 defined by a peripheral groove 50 extending about each 
side of the guide portion with the exception of one end 51, to allow 
hinging. The projecting locking tab 46 includes a stop surface 52 which 
prevents the coupled cover 67 from being opened beyond the opened position 
in the direction shown by arrow 55, FIG. 12 which is defined by the end of 
the longitudinal groove 54. 
The removal of the pump cover 67 is herein described with reference to 
FIGS. 12-14. Application of an inwardly directed force is used; that is, a 
force directed toward the interior of the camera 65, to pivot the bendable 
guide portion 48 about the hinged end 51, and move the longitudinal groove 
54 out of engagement with the projecting locking tab 46. The pump cover 67 
is then unencumbered from additionally translating in the opening 
direction 55, non-destructively releasing the cover from the camera body 
portion 69. 
As should be readily apparent, the respective positions of the guide 
portion and ramped locking projecting tab should not be limited to those 
defined herein. That is, other positions can be realized to effect release 
of the pump cover 67. 
FOURTH EMBODIMENT 
A fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 17-19. As in 
the preceding, similar parts are denoted with the same reference numerals 
for the sake of clarity. 
Referring to FIG. 17, there is shown a camera 75, shown in part, having a 
camera body portion 77 and a translatable pump cover 79, each similar to 
those previously described. The pump cover 79 includes an open end and an 
interior recess which is sized to cover an end of the camera body portion 
77, the cover being movable between an opened position and a closed 
position relative to the camera body portion. The pump cover 79 is shown 
in the opened position in the partial view of FIG. 17. 
The camera body portion 77 includes molded front and rear covers 14, 16 as 
previously described which are assembled by known means and sandwich a 
camera frame (not shown) containing a number of known photographic 
components to form a lighttight assembly. 
Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19, partial cutaway views are provided of the 
interior of the pump cover 79 and the camera body portion 77 to more 
clearly show the workings of the invention. Located on the interior of the 
front cover 14 of the camera body portion 77 and beneath the taking lens 
opening 81 is a ramped projecting tab 82 having a triangular or other 
convenient shape, including a stop surface 84. A rectangular slot 86 is 
provided in the front cover 14 which extends longitudinally across the 
assembled front cover and is sized to retain a guide arm or member 80 
extending from the open end 20 of the pump cover 79. The guide member 80 
includes a locking portion 87 at its cantilevered end 88 for engaging the 
stop surface 84 of the ramped projecting tab 82 of the camera body portion 
77 when the pump cover 79 is translated to the opened position, as shown 
in the cutaway view of FIG. 18 and is hinged from the remaining end 90. 
In passing, it should be noted that the rectangular slot 86 is positioned 
so as not to affect the lighttight integrity of the camera body portion 
77. 
When coupled to the camera body portion 77, the pump cover 79 is prevented 
from movement in the opening direction, shown by arrow 92, beyond the 
opened position of FIG. 17, which is defined by the engagement of the stop 
surface 84 located adjacent the end of the rectangular slot 86 with the 
locking portion 87 of the guide member 80, as shown in the cutaway view of 
FIG. 18. In order for the described engagement to occur, the guide member 
80 is initially bent inwardly and is accommodated into the rectangular 
slot 86. The pump cover 79 is restricted from movement in the opposite 
closing direction (not shown) by engagement of the open end 20 of the 
cover with a stop surface 96 of the camera body portion 77. 
The pump cover 79 is released from the camera body portion 77 by applying a 
deflecting force onto the guide member 80 in a direction 94 toward the 
interior of the camera 73, as most clearly shown in FIG. 19 using finger 
pressure, or other known means, and translating the cover in the opening 
direction 92. The guide member 80, being hinged at the end 90 is free to 
bend inwardly, thereby breaking the contact between the stop surface 84 
and the locking portion 87. The pump cover 79 is then unrestricted in the 
opening direction 92 and is allowed to translate beyond the opening 
position, allowing removal of the cover. 
FIFTH EMBODIMENT 
A fifth embodiment of the present invention is shown with reference to 
FIGS. 15(a)-15(b). As in the preceding embodiments, similar parts are 
denoted by the same reference numerals for the sake of clarity. 
The preceding discussion related to features molded into either the pump 
cover and/or the body portion which are engageable to allow the cover to 
be opened beyond the opened position in the opening direction. In this 
embodiment, however, rather than providing a pump cover having a bendable 
or breakable tab portion, the pump cover 56 is an assembled component 
consisting of a front half section 58 and a rear half section 60 which are 
made to be separable. 
The camera body portion 77 is like that of the fourth embodiment described 
above being assembled by known means of molded front and rear covers 14, 
16 which sandwich a camera frame (not shown). The body portion includes a 
rectangular slot 86 in the front cover 14 for accommodating a guide member 
80 extending from the open end 20 of the front half section 58 of the pump 
cover 56. The guide arm or member 80 is cantilevered, as previously 
described and when the pump cover 56 is assembled to the camera body 
portion 77, the guide member is guided into the slot or engagement surface 
86, FIG. 15(b). 
When assembled to form the camera 85, as shown in FIG. 15(a), the pump 
cover 56 overlaps the body portion 77 of the camera and is movable between 
the opened and closed positions. The pump cover 56 is shown in the opened 
position in FIG. 15(a). The pump cover 56 is restricted from movement in 
the closing direction by engagement of the open end 20 of the cover with a 
stop surface 96 located on the top of the camera body portion. The pump 
cover 56 is also restricted from movement in the opening direction 
according to this embodiment by the engagement of the locking portion 87, 
FIG. 19, of the guide member 80 with an interior projecting tab 82, FIG. 
19, adjacent the slot 86 of the front cover 14, though other means, such 
as the bendable or breakable tab portions described above or other known 
means, such as other stop surfaces (not shown) on the body portion 77 or 
the cover 56 can be utilized. 
Referring more specifically to FIG. 15(b), the rear half section 60 of the 
pump cover 56 includes a series of end grooves or slots 64 for receiving 
corresponding releasable snap hook portions 62 extending from the interior 
periphery of the front half section 58, though other known means for 
releasably attaching the front and rear half sections can be utilized. 
Disengagement of the releasable snap hook portions 62 from the end grooves 
64 of the rear half portion 60, allows the rear half section to be 
directly removed from the camera 85, in the direction 98 and also allows 
the front half section 58 to be released in that the separation of the 
front and rear half sections removes any constraining forces on the front 
half section 58 with the lighttight camera body portion 77. 
SIXTH EMBODIMENT 
A sixth embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 
16(a)-16(c). As in the preceding embodiments, similar parts are denoted by 
the same reference numerals for the sake of clarity. 
Referring to FIGS. 16(a) and 16(b), the assembled camera 95, FIG. 16(c), of 
this embodiment includes a pump cover 66 similar to those previously 
described; that is, having an interior recess and an open end 20 to 
overlap the assembled front and rear covers 14, 16 of the camera body 
portion 12, as well as an engagement arm 32 and a guide member 31, each 
extending from the open end 20 for engagement with the camera body portion 
as detailed in the previously referred to and cross-referenced patent 
applications (Attorney Dockets 72240 and 73155 respectively). 
The pump cover 66 according to this embodiment is made up of an upper cover 
section 76 and a lower cover section 78 which are separated by a pull-away 
tab section 68 which wraps about the periphery of the pump cover with the 
exception of the open end 20. The pull-away tab section 68 includes a 
breakaway end 70 and a peripheral pull-away strip 72 within a groove 74 of 
the cover 66 which is a molded in feature. 
Referring to FIGS. 16(a)-16(c), and in operation, removal of the pull-away 
tab section 68 is initiated by first bending the breakaway end 70 away 
from the camera body portion 12 and then pulling the strip 72 around the 
perimeter of the pump cover. The removal of the pullaway tab section 68 
releases the unconstrained top portion 76 of the cover 66 from the 
remainder of the cover and also from the camera body 12, as shown in FIG. 
16(c). The lower portion 78 of the cover 66 is therefore also removable 
from the remainder of the camera 95. 
It should be readily apparent that separation of the cover 66 into the 
upper and lower sections 76, 78, renders the cover unusable. 
The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. 
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. 
TS LIST FOR FIGS. 1-19 
10 camera 
11 viewfinder 
12 body 
13 taking lens 
14 front cover 
15 electronic flash assembly 
16 rear cover 
17 bottom surface--camera body 
18 pump cover 
19 interior recess 
20 open end 
21 bottom surface--pump cover 
22 tab portion 
23 end of tab portion 
24 vertical projection 
25 peripheral groove 
26 stop surface 
27 arrow 
28 front surface--pump cover 
29 tool engagement hole 
30 guide groove 
31 guide arm 
32 engagement arm 
34 end surface 
36 stop surface 
40 breakable tab portion 
42 breakaway insets 
44 arrow 
46 projecting locking tab 
48 bendable guide portion 
50 peripheral groove 
51 hinged end 
52 stop surface 
54 longitudinal groove 
55 arrow 
56 pump cover 
58 front half section 
60 rear half section 
62 releasable snap hook sections 
64 end grooves 
65 camera 
66 pump cover 
67 pump cover 
68 pull-away tab section 
69 camera body portion 
70 breakaway end 
72 strip 
74 groove 
75 camera 
76 top portion 
77 camera body portion 
78 bottom portion 
79 pump cover 
80 guide member 
81 taking lens opening 
82 ramped projecting tab 
84 stop surface 
86 rectangular slot 
87 locking portion 
88 cantilevered end 
90 hinged end 
92 arrow 
94 inward direction arrow 
95 camera 
96 stop surface--camera body 
98 arrow