Improvements in Photographic Camera Apparatus.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Apr., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 4th Jan., 1895-Accepted, 9th Feb., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Photographic Camera Apparatus.
I GEORGE FRANCIS HORNE, of 21 St. John's Square, Clerkenwell, in the
County of London, Draughtsman and Engraver on Wood do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows
The invention relates to photographic cameras and is designed to facilitate their
use and the closing and opening of the parts.
In carrying out my invention I form the folding sides, bottom and top of the
dark chamber of the camera of sufficiently strong but flexible material capable of
folding, or extension, into a light-tight chamber at will and the extended walls
thereof are retained at their full extent by means of pairs of articulated arms, or
rigid leaves, hinged to the front and back framework and to each other so that the
folding of the sides is followed by the folding of these arms.
These hinged arms can be straightened out and passed a little beyond, but only
a little, when they are stopped by a projection on one or both coming against its
fellow arm so as to prevent the bend, or elbow protruding through the side of the
chamber.
The shutter to this light-tight chamber is hinged, or articulated to the framework
or front wall with spring pressure having a constant tendency to close it. This
cover, shutter, or flap has a connection say of sheet india rubber, or other
convenient material which is attached to a vessel of like, or other convenient
elastic material air tight and extensible by means of a flexible, or other pipe
passing through the intervening wall of the chamber when the shutter is applied
in side and the inflation may be effected by compression of the usual, or other
convenient pneumatic ball, or equivalent forcing means operated by the hand, or
otherwise. The inflation of the vessel causes it to assume a projecting position and
the lifting, or removal of the shutter, whilst its deflation and collapse allows the
shutter to fall or close the lens aperture.
The lenses I sometimes for lightness and cheapness mount in wood cylinders
which may be screwed into correspondingly threaded wood casings, with facility
for focal adjustment.
Dated the cat do
A 1004
I GEORGE FRANCIS HORNE, of 21 St. John's Square, Clerkenwell, in the
County of London, Draughtsman and Engraver on Wood, 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 :-
The invention relates to photographic cameras, and is designed to facilitate their
the closing and opening of the parts and their retention in an open or distended
position without the aid of spiral or other forms of springs.
use,

page_text: In carrying out my invention I form the folding sides, bottom, and top of the
dark chamber of the camera of sufficiently impermeable or light tight flexible or
limp material capable of folding, or extension, into a light tight chamber at will
and the extended walls thereof are retained at their full extent by means of pairs
of articulated arms, or rigid leaves, hinged to the front and back framework and to
each other, so that the folding of the sides is followed by the folding of these arms
but so that no springs are requisite to keep them in their extended position that is
to say:
These hinged arms are straightened out and passed a little beyond, but only a
little, when they are stopped by a projection on one, coming against its fellow
arm, so as to prevent the bend, or elbow protruding through the side of the
chamber.
The shutter to this light-tight chamber is hinged, or articulated to the framework,
or front wall, with spring pressure having a constant tendency to close it. This
cover, shutter or flap has a connection, say of sheet india rubber, or other
convenient material, which is attached to a vessel of like or other convenient
elastic material, airtight and extensible by means of a flexible or other pipe passing
through the intervening wall or the chamber when the shutter is applied inside;
and the inflation may be effected by compression of the usual, or other convenient
pneumatic ball, or equivalent forcing means operated by the hand, or otherwise.
The inflation of the vessel causes it to assume a projecting position and the lifting
or removal of the shutter, whilst its deflation and collapse allows the shutter to fall,
or close the lens aperture.
The lenses I sometimes for lightness and cheapness mount in wood cylinders,
which may be screwed into correspondingly threaded wood casings, with facility
for focal adjustment thereby.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shews a longitudinal section of my improved camera body with the
parts in their extended position.
Figure 2 is a similar view with the parts in their partially closed position.
Figure 3 is a section on the line X X Figure 1, shewing the shutter
mechanism.
A is the front of the camera B is the back of same here shewn with usual groove
to receive a dark slide or focussing screen.
C represents the bellows or sides of the camera, being suitably attached to the
front and back of the camera.
D, D shew the articulated arms or stretchers, the extremities of which are
hinged to the front and back framework, at or near the top and bottom thereof,
these arms being also hinged at their centres, one arm being provided with a
projection or stop, such as E, whereby the arms, when opened out, are retained in
an extended position, aided by the resiliency of the arins, which I prefer to make
of steel or similarly elastic material.
By pressing the arms or stretchers inwards the camera will be collapsed into a
very small compass, the bellows or covering also folding inwards.
The shutter mechanism consists of a hinged or pivotted flap G on the camera
front suitably placed as regards the lens aperture F, which is normally closed by
the flap, by means of the spring H or similar means having a constant tendency to
close it. An inflated bladder or vessel I is connected to the shutter G by means
of a band or extension N this bladder being attached to a base piece K on the
camera front, a tube O connecting a pneumatic ball and tube M, L with the
inflateable bladder I. Figure 2 shews the shutter in its normal or closed position,
the bladder I being drawn in or collapsed by the resilience of the ball M aided by
the spring H whilst when the bladder I is inflated by compression of the ball M, it
assumes an extended or projecting position causing the shutter G to uncover the
lens aperture F; the return of the shutter being effected by the spring H, on the
ball M being released.

page_text: The shutter mechanism if preferred can be mounted as a separable attachment
to the camera proper and further it may be used in front of the lens instead of at
the back thereof, as shewn. All that is needed is to mount these parts on a
suitable base adapted to be slidden into, onto or connected with suitable holding
parts at the place where the attachment is required.
Although I have shewn a simple front and back frame for the camera, it is
obvious that the camera may be provided with the usual rising and cross fronts,
and swing back.
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 combination of the front and back frames and limp or flexible sides of a
collapsible camera for photographic use with folding, distending and connecting
hinged arms so as to dispense with the aid of spiral or other springs, as set forth
and shewn by the drawings.
2. The construction and arrangement of parts of apparatus for operating a
photographic camera shutter pneumatically, substantially as set forth.
3. The construction or arrangement in combination of parts of a collapsible
camera for photographic use with pneumatically operated shutter apparatus,
substantially as set forth.
Dated the 4th day of January 1895.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.