Improvements in and connected with Photographic Cameras.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 7th June, 1895-Accepted, 14th Sept., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Photographic Cameras.
GUSTAV FRANKE, Doctor of Medicine, 3, Schuhmannstrasse, Berlin, Germany,
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 a new focussing attachment for photographic apparatuses
and its chief aim is to entirely dispense with the hood or curtain in use hitherto,
and also to enable the operator to focus objects in a sure and convenient manner.
The hood or curtain used hitherto has the great drawback that it flaps about in
the wind when used in the open air, because there is no really practical method of
fixing the cloth to the camera, and consequently sure and exact observation of the
optical image on the glass slide is greatly impeded. Besides this it covers up the
adjusting appliances of the camera, such as slide, adjusting screws etc. it does not
sufficiently exclude light from below interferes with free respiration and speech
besides disarranging the hair or head dress of the operator.
In consequence of all this disadvantages and inconveniences, endeavours have
been made for some time past to invent an arrangement which would remedy these
drawbacks, but all new attachments constructed with this intention proved useless
as they only proved inconvenient in other ways without being free from the usual
drawbacks.
It is claimed that the invention to which this application refers entirely does
away with all this evils. The apparatus is represented in Figures 1 to 3. Figs. 1
and 2 shewing a side view of the apparatus attached to a camera and a top view
respectively, whereas Fig. 3 shews a section of the attachment at the line x-x in
Fig. 1.
The attachment consists mainly of a frame a, and a head-piece d, which are both
covered with a material which excludes light and are connected moveably at b by
a joint.
The frame, which is rectangular, and open at both ends is formed merely of one
or two spirals a¹ which are bent to a rectangular section and these spirals serve to
keep the tissue above mentioned in a state of tension and stretched, at the same
time permitting any required movement.
A ring b, formed of elastic wire Fig. 3 is attached to the free end of the frame a,
which is on the opposite side of the camera g, and the ring is attached to the
material of the frame and around this ring another ring e, of the headpiece d,
engages in such a manner, that it can revolve round the former. This headpiece d
consists of wire coils e, which are likewise encased by a perfectly non-transparent
material and terminates in an aperture e¹ of peculiar form as seen in the drawing.
The wire used for forming the latter aperture is very soft, and therefore the
aforesaid aperture can be fitted to any face by suitably bending the wire thus
forming a light excluding joint or closure. The aforesaid ring c, of the headpiece d,
is made of elastic material and is of smaller diameter than the elastic ring b of the
frame a.
In order to connect the two rings, the ring c, is forced or squeezed over
the ring b, and thus moves in a groove formed by the larger ring b, and the end of
the spiral a. By this means a moveable joint between the headpiece d and the
frame a, is formed, which also excludes all light.
The junction of the whole attachment with the frame f, of the glass slide of the
camera 9, is chiefly formed by the rails h, which are attached to the frame of

page_text: the camera and under which the framework a, is gripped at its free end, but the
junction can be formed in other ways; for instance by means of one or more hooks
which are attached to the frame of the sighting slide and engage over the edge of
the wire framework.
The foregoing attachment offers the following advantages: The framework a,
can easily be connected with the frame of the glass slide excluding all light from
the interior of same and always assumes the requisite position by means of the
elasticity of the spirals aforesaid, so that the whole slide plate is visible from the
aperture e, without any particular action of the hands or head. By bringing
the upper part of the face in contact with the aperture in question the latter
accommodates itself to the shape of the former by means of the pliability of the
headpiece in such a manner, that all exterior light is excluded from the eyes of the
operator and the head of the latter can be moved forward at will by means of
the compressibility of the spirals so that both short and farsighted persons can use
this flexible funnel without using any other arrangement. Speech and respiration
are unimpeded as the operators nose and mouth are not covered.
The attachment can also be moved sideward in any direction, as the flexible
wire-spirals allow of this, thus the utmost corners of the slide plate can be observed,
all the time, when in use, the part of the aperture that is bent like the bridge of a
pair of spectacles is supported by the nose of the operator, and pressed against the
face by the spirals in a manner, that all external light is excluded. This peculiar
construction of the attachment is important when views of a wide angle of vision,
and architectural views are taken and has hitherto excelled every other similar
attachment, in this respect. In cases when high and broad views succeed each
other the attachment need not be taken off, but all that need be done, is to turn
the headpiece d, to the extent of an angle of 90° on the ring b.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim :-
1. An attachment serving as a substitute for the ordinary hood or head curtain
used for photographic cameras and consisting of the flexible framework (a) covered
with suitable woven material, said framework which is moveably attached to a
headpiece (d) which is also flexible and covered with suitable stuff and ends in a
suitably shaped aperture (e), the latter (e) is shaped in such a manner that its
edges can be made to closely fit the upper portion of any human face and exclude
all external light therefrom.
2. The rotary junction of the framework (a) with the head piece (d) in such a
manner that the ring (c) belonging to the headpiece is of smaller diameter than the
ring (b) of the framework (a) and is forced over the latter forming a moveable
joint between both parts, which excludes all external light as herein duly set forth
and particularly described.
Dated this 5th day of June 1895.
ROBERT KRAYN,
Agent for Applicant.