Improvements in Cameras.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 5th Sept., 1893-Accepted, 14th Oct., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cameras.
I, THOMAS CHARLES NAYLOR of 13 Greek Street, Soho Square in the County
of London Photographic Apparatus Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in cameras and is designed to instan-
taneously place in position the respective parts of a closed camera, by pressing a
spring on the top of the camera when closed the base board and front instan-
taneously fall into position ready for exposure this is accomplished by means of
automatic springs, connecting the stretcher and the base and likewise connecting
the front and the base, the lens and shutter being also ready the trouble and delay
due to screwing etc. is avoided.
The camera has a double extension closes into a small compass, and is provided
with a slot in the side of the front in which works a pin or stud connected by a
link to the base, thus enabling it to be used as a swing back, and by means of a
stop at the bottom of the slot the front can be always kept perpendicular to the
base when the camera is opened.
Dated this 3rd day of November 1892.
THOMAS CHARLES NAYLOR.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cameras.
I, THOMAS CHARLES NAYLOR, of 13 Greek Street, Soho Square, in the
County of London, Photographic Appparatus Manufacturer, 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,
reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters and figures
marked thereon, that is to say :—
This invention relates to improvements in cameras, and is designed for the
purpose of enabling the respective parts of the camera, when closed, to instan-
taneously come into position ready for use, by merely pressing upon a spring catch,
or the like, with which the camera is provided. The act of pressing upon said
spring catch, or the like, causes the base board and the front to immediately fall
into position ready for exposure; this movement being effected by springs con-
nected to the stretchers and the base board, and by others connected to the front
and the base board. The lens and shutter being also ready the trouble and delay
due to screwing etc. are avoided.
The camera has a double extension, closes into a small compass, and is provided
at each side of the back frame with a slot in which works a pin or stud connected
by a stretcher or link to the base, thus enabling it to be used as a "swing-back."
By means of a stop, situated near the bottom of said slot, the back frame can be
kept upright or perpendicular to the base board when the camera is opened.
In order that my said invention may be readily understood, I will describe the
same fully with reference to the drawings hereunto annexed.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a camera in its closed position, a portion of the
sides of the back frame being broken away so as to better show the interior
parts;
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the camera in its opened position;

page_text: a plan of Fig. 1;
Fig. 4 is a front elevation as seen from the right of Fig. 2;
Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the camera showing the parts in the position they
occupy when closed, the base board in this figure being shown in dotted lines for
sake of clearness; and
Fig. 6 is a horizontal cross section of the front frame taken on the line A, B,
of Fig. 5.
a is the back frame of the camera, and is the base board which is hinged
thereto at a¹. The upper part of the back frame is provided with a spring
catch c, and the base board, or its extension frame, with a slotted tongue c', which,
when the camera is closed, engages with said catch and keeps the parts in their
closed position.
d is the stretcher or link which is pivotted at d¹ to a bracket d' on the base
board, and connects it to the back frame. There are two of these stretchers or
links, one at each side of the camera, and their upper ends are each furnished with
a pin or stud d³ which enters, and is capable of working in, a vertical slot a²
formed in each side of the back frame. These pins or studs are provided with
milled heads d', and are also connected to spiral springs e (one at each side of the
camera) whose lower ends are secured to the back frame at e'. These springs
constantly tend to draw the pins d³ towards the bottom of the slots a³, so that
when the parts are released by pressing upon the catch c, the said springs, through
the intervention of the stretchers or links d, cause the base board to immediately
assume its open or horizontal position, as shown by Fig. 2.
One of the sides of the back frame is provided with a pivotted catch, which,
when turned into the position shown in Fig. 2, will come into the path of the
pin d and thus act as a stop to limit the extent to which said pin can descend
down its slot, the situation of said stop being such as to ensure the base board
always occupying a truly horizontal position with respect to the back frame when
the camera is opened. By turning the milled heads the parts can be kept
in the desired position without any chance of their becoming inadvertently
shifted.
In order to cause the front frame g of the camera to occupy an upright
position, and the bellows to expand simultaneously with the opening of the camera,
1 pivot the said front frame, at g', g', in a second frame h, which latter is hinged
to the extension or travelling frame i at h. This second frame is controlled by
springs carried by studs or pins k, projecting from brackets k', which are secured
to the extension or travelling frame, as best seen at Fig. 4.
The free ends of the
springs are prolonged so as to constitute arms j' which pass through eyes h² on
the frame h, whereby said springs can exert their pressure on the frame h at these
points, and thus act more effectually upon the frame to bring it into its upright
position when the parts are released, as already explained. The ends of the
arms are furnished with knobs, and the upper portions of the hinged frame h
are bent over for the purpose of preventing these parts, when the camera is
being opened, or closed, from injuring the leather composing the bellows of the
camera.
The bellows of the camera, instead of being attached directly to the front
frame 9, is affixed to a movable plate or frame m which is slotted at m', m', and
connected to the frame by screw pins m² passed through the said slots m'. In
this way, the frame g is made capable of sliding vertically upon the frame m so
that when the camera is closed, the parts occupy the position indicated in Fig. 5,
the frame being permitted to assume the position there indicated without in
any way injuring the bellows, or otherwise interfering with its position relatively
to the camera.
The frame is retained in its upright or vertical position by means of a toggle
or knee-jointed strut h³ whose ends are pivotted respectively to the frame h and
extension frame i, or to the base board when there is no extension or travelling
frame.

page_text: The frame is also furnished with a spring pin 1, or equivalent catch, for the
purpose of enabling the front frame g to be kept in its vertical position within
the frame when the camera is in use, the said front frame g being provided
with stops or projections g*, g*, which, by coming against the frame h, prevent the
frame g from being pressed too far through the frame h.
When the caniera is to be closed, it is only necessary to press the toggle or
knee-jointed strut upwardly, so that its joint comes out of alignment, and then
to apply pressure with the fingers to the back part of the top of the front frame g.
This will have the effect of releasing the frame from engagement with the spring
pin 1, and also of causing said front frame to turn forwardly about its pivots g' in
the direction of the arrows 1, 1, while the second frame h will turn inwardly about
its hinge in the direction of the arrow 2. Thus the two frames will be caused
to approach the base board and to lie approximately parallel thereto. By then
turning up the base board, while still retaining the frames g and in the position
above mentioned, the camera will be caused to assume the position shown in
Fig. 1. The camera can thus be easily and conveniently closed, and be retained
80 by the spring catch c until again required for use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The improved camera, constructed substantially as herein before described,
whereby on the release of a catch, the parts are caused to automatically assume
their opened position in the manner specified.
2. In a camera as above claimed, the means for effecting the automatic opening
of the camera, consisting of spring controlled stretchers or links connected to the
back frame and to the base board; of a front frame pivotted in a spring controlled
frame hinged to the extension or travelling frame (or to the base board) and
having a spring catch, or other device, for retaining the said front frame in
place; of a toggle or knee-jointed strut for retaining said spring controlled frame
in its upright position when the camera is opened; and of a catch or other
equivalent device for retaining the parts in their closed position and for allowing
of their release when the camera is to be used, substantially as herein described.
3. My improvements in cameras, substantially as herein described and shown in
the annexed drawings.
ERNEST DE PASS,
Chartered Patent Agent,
78, Fleet Street, London, and 6, Victoria Street, Nottingham,
Agent for the Applicant.