Improvements in Photographic Cameras.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 16th Dec., 1893
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[Communicated from abroad by THE MAGIC INTRODUCTION COMPANY, of
321, Broadway, in the City of New York, United States of America.]
Improvements in Photographic Cameras.
1, OLIVER IMRAY, of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the
County of London, Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-—
This invention relates to photographic cameras, and particularly to that class
which is known as detective cameras.
The object is to produce a small camera which will occupy about the same space
as an ordinary watch; inexpensive in its construction and of great utility.
The invention consists in the several novel features of construction and operation
which are hereinafter described and specifically set forth in the claims hereunto
annexed:
It is constructed as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,
in which
Fig. 1, is a front view of the camera, complete.
Fig. 2, is an edge view thereof.
Fig. 3, is a front view of the camera, with the front cover removed, showing the
camera ready for operation.
Fig. 4, is a view of the position of the parts at the instant of exposure.
Fig. 5, is a view thereof after the exposure, showing the parts in the position
they occupy before the camera is again wound up for another instantaneous
axposure.
Fig. 6, is a front view of the body and plate thereon, said plate being partially
broken away to show the spring which engages with the plate (which is removed).
Fig. 7, is a cross section on line x x, Fig. 1.
Fig. 8, is a cross section on line y y, Fig. 5.
Fig. 9, is a rear view of the body, with the rear cover removed, showing the
aperture for exposing the film.
Fig. 10, is a view of the film, showing the position of the exposures thereon.
Fig. 11, is a view of the wire spring or filler which is inserted upon a groove
in the front face of the body, for the purpose of holding it firmly within the case.
Similar letters and numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.
A, is the outer shell and comprises the case 1 having its front edge recessed at
regular intervals, one of the recesses being shown at 2, and the spaces 3, between the
recesses numbered consecutively.
4, is a front cover recessed upon its upper edge, as shown at 5, and provided
with an exposing opening 6 in its lower lateral face.
7, is an ordinary rear cover having projecting flanges fitting over the shell 1, in
the ordinary way; and 8 is preferably a rubber band placed over the meeting joint
of the cover and the shell for the purpose of excluding light, securing the cover
upon the shell and the further purpose of imparting a roughened surface to the hand
o that that part of the body may be readily turned within the front cover to bring
it in position for another exposure.
B, is a body or base, constructed of aluminium, wood, cork or other material, to
which operating parts of the camera are attached, and which is provided upon two
of its lateral edges with ears 9, having apertures therein adapted to allow the ends

page_text: of the spring 10 to pass through them and the flange upon the cover for the
purpose of holding it on.
In the front side of the base B, is constructed a central recess 11; and 12 is a
slotway opening from it to the periphery.
Upon the base B is secured a plate 13 having an opening 14 opposite the lens 15
seated in the lower side of the body; and 16 is a larger continuation of the
opening 14, opening upon the film 17, which is circular in form and is enclosed
between the back of the base and the inner face of the rear cover.
The opening 16 is of any form or shape desired, but preferably in the form of a
key-stone, as is shown in Fig. 9, for the purpose of producing the negatives radially
upon the film, as shown in Fig. 10.
The plate 13 is also provided with a central opening 18, opposite to the recess 11;
and 19 is an opening at one side thereof adapted to receive the upturned end of
the spring 20¹ which is located in a slotway in the base B, the free end of which is
adapted to play vertically, as will hereinafter be more fully set forth.
21, is a plate provided upon one side with a lug 22, as shown, having one of
its corners rounded, said plate 21 has an opening 23 near one edge, and a slot 24
near its lower edge.
-
20, is an elastic connection secured to the inner central face of the plate 21, passing
through the slotway 12, where it is secured near the periphery thereof, for the
.purpose of producing a tension to at all times force the plate 21 toward the left,
the purpose of which will hereinafter more fully appear in the operation of the
device.
The front corner of the base B is slightly removed, as shown at a, for the purpose
of allowing to place therein a spring washer b, shown in Fig. 11, and which serves
as a washer or filler to maintain the body within the casing above referred to.
'
The importance of this is to obviate the necessity of at all times constructing the
base B of the exact size to fill the casing, as it will be observed that these bases
are liable to vary a little both by manufacture and by the action of the atmosphere
upon them, so that by using this washer. one is enabled to make them a little scant
and rely upon the spring to hold them firmly therein.
25, is a lever pivoted at its inner end upon the upturned end e of the spring 20},
thence passing to the outer edge of the casing, where its end is turned over to
serve as a push button, for the purpose of releasing the plate 21 to produce an
instantaneous exposure.
The invention is operated as follows, when an instantaneous exposure is desired,
assuming that the camera is in the position shown in Fig. 3.
The camera is first placed in a position so that the object to be photographed
will be in front of the opening 6, of the camera. The thumb then presses upon the
lever 25 until it throws the lug 22 down out of engagement with one of the
recesses 2. The tension then produced by the spring 20 throws the plate 21 around
to the left, the slotway 24 passing over the lens 15, when the instantaneous exposure
is made.
The tension of the spring 20 then moves the plate 21 to the position shown in
Fig. 5. When the thumb is removed, the camera is then taken in the left hand
and, with the right hand upon the rubber band it is rotated so that the slotway 24
in the plate 21 will take the path indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 5, and
again assume the position shown in Fig. 3, where it is ready for another
operation.
To produce a time exposure, a pin is passed through the opening d in the front
cover 4 then through the opening 23 in the plate 21 and into the small opening e in
the plate 13. The pivotal point of the plate 21, is thus changed so that by pressing
down upon the lever 25, the slotway 24 will pass over the lens 15 and be stopped
there, while the aperture is over the lens, as shown in Fig. 4, and remain there
until the lever 25 is released by the hand.
It will be observed that when the film is placed between the outer flange of the
case 1, and the rear cover 7, then by rotating the outer casing within the front

page_text: cover 4, which is always stationary with the base, the film is brought into successive
exposures with the aperture 16, so that pictures taken by a successive revolution
will all appear radially, as shown in Fig. 10, upon the film.
It is obvious that my foreign correspondents do not wish to limit themselves. to
the exact construction of the different parts as shown and described and that same
may be modified without departing from the scope of the said invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, it is declared that what is
claimed is:
1. A camera shutter comprising a plate pivoted on a movable pivot and arranged
to travel in one direction to make an exposure and to move in another direction to
obscure the lens, substantially as specified.
2. A camera shutter so mounted and arranged as to have a movement in two
directions, such that the path of its exposure-opening shall describe a closed figure
during its complete travel, substantially as specified.
3. A camera shutter mounted on a movable pivot and having a lug arranged to
engage recesses in the shell or case of a camera and provided with means by which
it is forced in a direction to cause an exposure, substantially as specified.
4. A camera shutter mounted on a movable pivot and having a lug arranged to
engage recesses in the shell or case of a camera, and provided with means by which
it is forced in one direction to cause an exposure and in another direction to obscure
the lens, substantially as specified.
5. A camera shutter mounted on a movable pivot and having a lug arranged to
engage recesses in the shell or case, and provided with means for making an
exposure, in combination with means for retarding the further movement of the
shutter, whereby a time-exposure is made, substantially as specified.
6. A camera shutter mounted on a movable pivot and provided with means for
engaging the shell or case of a camera, in combination with a spring arranged to
hold said shutter in close contact with its base or support and means for making an
exposure, substantially as specified.
7. A camera shutter mounted on a movable pivot and provided with means for
engaging recesses in the shell or case of a camera, in combination with a spring
arranged to hold said shutter in close contact with its base or support, and a push
lever or arm to shift the pivotal bearing to cause an exposure, substantially as
specified.
8. A camera shutter pivoted on the free end of a spring secured to the base of a
camera and provided with means for engaging recesses in the shell or case of said
camera, in combination with a spring arranged to hold said shutter in close contact
with its base or support, and a push-lever or arm for shifting the pivotal bearing of
said shutter to cause an instantaneous exposure, substantially as specified.
9. A camera shutter arranged to oscillate on a movable pivot and provided with
a lug, in combination with a spring arranged to hold said shutter in close contact
with its base or support, a push-lever or arm for shifting the pivotal bearing of
the shutter, and a cap provided with an exposure-opening, substantially as
specified.
10. The combination with the base and lens of a camera, of a shutter mounted
on a movable pivot and arranged to move in two directions and means for
retarding the movement of said shutter in one of its directions, substantially as
specified.
11. In a camera, the combination, with the base provided with a lens, of a shutter
mounted on a movable pivot and provided with a lug engaging recesses in the shell
or case, a spring holding said shutter in contact with said base, and a push-lever or
arm operating the shutter, substantially as specified.
12. In a camera, a shutter supported on a movable pivot and arranged to move in
a downward direction to make an exposure and in a direction tangential to the first
direction to obscure the lens, substantially as specified,

page_text: 13. In a camera, the combination, with a base provided with a lens, of a shutter
supported on a movable pivot and arranged to move in two directions, a cap
provided with an exposure-opening and a spring securing said cap to said base,
whereby the cap and base and the shutter may be rotated to bring an unexposed
portion of a film opposite the exposure-opening, substantially as specified.
Dated this 14th day of November 1893.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.