Underwater housing for enclosing photographic apparatus

Claim 2

An underwater housing for use with a self-developing camera of the type including means for advancing a film unit from a position within the camera, through an exit opening in the camera, and along a substantially planar predetermined path of travel exteriorly of the camera, said underwater housing comprising: a watertight case for receiving and supporting such a selfdeveloping camera, said watertight case being configured to completely enclose the camera and the substantially planar predetermined film unit path of travel exteriorly of the camera; means for receiving and storing a plurality of film units advanced from such a self-developing camera supported within said watertight case; and means defining a transparent section in said watertight case in the vicinity of the substantially planar predetermined film unit path of travel exteriorly of such a self-developing camera supported within said watertight case for viewing a film unit advanced along the predetermined path within said watertight case from a position exteriorly of said watertight case.

Claim 3

An underwater housing as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for receiving and storing film units includes a chamber within said watertight case and said chamber is defined, at least in part, by said transparent section.

Claim 4

An underwater housing as defined in claim 1 wherein such a self-developing camera includes an objective lens and said underwater housing further includes a transparent picture taking port for transmitting light to the objective lens.

Claim 5

An underwater housing as defined in claim 3 wherein said watertight case includes a forward side which the objective lens of the camera is adapted to face when the camera is supported within said watertight case and said picture taking port and said transparent section are both located on said forward side of said case.

Claim 6

An underwater housing as defined in claim 3 wherein the camera''s objective lens has a predetermined angular field of view and said transparent section is disposed at an angle with respect to said picture taking port so that said transparent section does not intrude into field of view of the lens.

Claim 7

An underwater housing as defined in claim 5 wherein said angle is an obtuse angle.

Claim 8

An underwater housing as defined in claim 3 wherein such a self-developing camera includes a viewing device and said underwater housing including a transparent viewing device port through which the viewing device may be observed from a position exteriorly of said underwater housing.

Claim 9

An underwater housing as defined in claim 1 further including control means on said watertight case for operating such a self-developing camera supported within said watertight case from a position exteriorly of such a watertight case.

Claim 10

An underwater housing as defined in claim 8 wherein said control means includes means for actuating a camera start button.

Claim 11

An underwater housing as defined in claim 9 wherein said control means includes means for focusing an objective lens on the camera.

Claim 12

An underwater housing as defined in claim 9 wherein said control means includes means for adjusting a camera exposure control system.

Claim 13

An underwater housing for use with a self-developing camera of the type including means for advancing a film unit from a position within the camera, through an exit opening in the camera, and along a predetermined film unit path of travel exteriorly of The camera, said underwater housing comprising: a first housing section for receiving and supporting such a self-developing camera; a second housing section for receiving and storing film units advanced from such a self-developing camera supported by said first housing section, said second housing section being coupled to said first housing section such that at least a major portion of the predetermined film unit path of travel extends into said second housing section and said first and second housing sections cooperate to completely enclose the camera and film unit path of travel in a watertight manner; and means defining an interior passageway providing communication between said first and second housing sections and through which a film unit being advanced from the exit opening of such a self-developing camera supported by said first housing section may pass to advance into said second housing section along the predetermined film unit path of travel.

Claim 14

An underwater housing for use with a self-developing camera of the type including means for advancing a film unit from a position within the camera, through an exit opening in the camera, and along a predetermined film unit path of travel exteriorly of The camera, said underwater housing comprising: a first housing section for receiving and supporting such a self-developing camera; a second housing section for receiving and storing film units advanced from such a self-developing camera supported by said first housing section, said second housing section being coupled to said first housing section such that at least a major portion of the predetermined film unit path of travel extends into said second housing section and said first and second housing sections cooperate to completely enclose the camera and film unit path of travel in a watertight manner; and means defining an interior passageway providing communication between said first and second housing sections and through which a film unit being advanced from the exit opening of such a self-developing camera supported by said first housing section may pass to advance into said second housing section along the predetermined film unit path of travel.

Claim 15

An underwater housing as defined in claim 12 wherein said second housing section includes a transparent film unit observation port for viewing film units advanced into said second housing section.

Claim 16

An underwater housing as defined in claim 13 where said transparent film unit observation port is disposed in overlying relation to the predetermined film unit path of travel extending into said second housing.

Claim 17

An underwater housing as defined in claim 13 wherein such a self-developing camera includes an objective lens and a viewing device and said first housing section includes a transparent picture taking port and a transparent viewing device port configured to be aligned, respectively, with the objective lens and viewing device when such a self-developing camera is supported in said first housing section.

Claim 18

An underwater housing as defined in claim 15 wherein the camera film exit opening is positioned below the objective lens and the predetermined film unit path of travel extends forwardly and downwardly of the objective lens and said transparent film unit observation port on said second housing section extends forwardly and downwardly of said transparent picture taking port on said first housing section.

Claim 19

An underwater housing as defined in claim 15 wherein said transparent film unit observation port is disposed at an obtuse angle with respect to said transparent picture taking port.

Claim 20

An underwater housing as defined in claim 15 further including control means mounted on said first housing section and adapted to be operatively associated with such a camera supported in said first housing section for controlling the operation of the camera from a position exteriorly of said underwater housing.

Claim 21

An underwater housing as defined in claim 15 wherein said first housing section includes one removable wall providing access for loading such a self-developing camera into said first housing section.

Claim 22

An underwater housing as defined in claim 19 wherein said one wall includes said transparent viewing device port.

Claim 23

An underwater housing for use with a self-developing camera of the type including means for advancing a film unit from a position within the camera, through an exit opening in the camera, and along a substantially planar predetermined path of travel exteriorly of the camera, and means for releasably retaining one end of a film unit advanced along the predetermine path of travel, said underwater housing comprising: a watertight case for receiving and supporting such a self-developing camera, said watertight case being configured to completely enclose the camera and the substantially planar predetermined film unit path of travel exteriorly of the camera; means defining a transparent section in said watertight case in the vicinity of the substantially planar predetermined film unit path of travel exteriorly of such a self-developing camera supported within said watertight case for viewing a film unit advanced along the predetermined path within said watErtight case from a position exteriorly of said watertight case; and means for disengaging a retained film unit from the retaining means of the camera.

Claim 24

An underwater housing for use with a self-developing camera of the type including means for advancing a film unit from a position within the camera, through an exit opening in the camera, and along a substantially planar predetermined path of travel exteriorly of the camera, and means for releasably retaining one end of a film unit advanced along the predetermine path of travel, said underwater housing comprising: a watertight case for receiving and supporting such a self-developing camera, said watertight case being configured to completely enclose the camera and the substantially planar predetermined film unit path of travel exteriorly of the camera; means defining a transparent section in said watertight case in the vicinity of the substantially planar predetermined film unit path of travel exteriorly of such a self-developing camera supported within said watertight case for viewing a film unit advanced along the predetermined path within said watErtight case from a position exteriorly of said watertight case; and means for disengaging a retained film unit from the retaining means of the camera.

Claim 25

An underwater housing for use with a self-developing camera of the type including an objective lens and means for advancing a film unit from a position within the camera, through an exit opening in the camera, and along a predetermined film unit path of travel exteriorly of the camera and extending forwardly of the objective lens, said underwater housing comprising: a watertight case for enclosing such a self-developing camera and the predetermined film unit path of travel exteriorly of the camera; support means within said watertight case for supporting such a self-developing camera; means defining a first transparent section in said watertight case for transmitting light to the objective lens of such a self-developing camera supported in said case; means defining a second transparent section in said watertight case for observing a film unit within said watertight case that has been advanced along the predetermined film unit path of travel, said second transparent section being configured to extend forwardly of said first transparent section and overlay the predetermined film unit path of travel extending forwardly of the objective lens of such a self-developing camera supported within said watertight case; and means defining a chamber within said watertight case for receiving and storing a plurality of film units advanced from such a self-developing camera supported within said watertight case.

Claim 26

An underwater housing for use with a self-developing camera of the type including an objective lens and means for advancing a film unit from a position within the camera, through an exit opening in the camera, and along a predetermined film unit path of travel exteriorly of the camera and extending forwardly of the objective lens, said underwater housing comprising: a watertight case for enclosing such a self-developing camera and the predetermined film unit path of travel exteriorly of the camera; support means within said watertight case for supporting such a self-developing camera; means defining a first transparent section in said watertight case for transmitting light to the objective lens of such a self-developing camera supported in said case; means defining a second transparent section in said watertight case for observing a film unit within said watertight case that has been advanced along the predetermined film unit path of travel, said second transparent section being configured to extend forwardly of said first transparent section and overlay the predetermined film unit path of travel extending forwardly of the objective lens of such a self-developing camera supported within said watertight case; and means defining a chamber within said watertight case for receiving and storing a plurality of film units advanced from such a self-developing camera supported within said watertight case.

Claim 27

An underwater housing as defined in claim 22 wherein said means defining said chamber includes said second transparent section of said watertight case.

Claim 28

An underwater housing as defined in claim 22 wherein such a self-developing camera includes a viewing device and said watertight case further includes a third transparent section located in position for observing the viewing device of such a self-developing camera supported within said watertight case.

Claim 29

An underwater housing as defined in claim 22 wherein said second transparent section is disposed at an obtuse angle with respect to said first transparent section.

Claim 30

An underwater housing for use with a self-developing camera of the type including an objective lens, means for advancing a film unit from a position within the camera, through an exit opening in the camera, and along a predetermined film unit path of travel exteriorly of the camera and extending forwardly of the objective lens, and means for releasably retaining one end of a film unit advanced along the predetermined path of travel, said underwater housing comprising: a watertight case for enclosing such a self-developing camera and the predetermined film unit path of travel exteriorly of the camera; support means within said watertight case for supporting such a self-developing camera; means defining a first transparent section in said watertight case for transmitting light to the objective lens of such a self-developing camera supported in said case; means defining a second transparent section in said watertight case for observing a film unit within said watertight case that has been advanced along the predetermined film unit path of travel, said second transparent section being configured to extend forwardly of said first transparent section and overlay the predetermined film unit path of travel extending forwardly of the objective lens of such a self-developing camera supported within said watertight case; and means within said watertight case for disengaging a film unit retained by the retaining means of the camera.

Claim 31

An underwater housing for use with a self-developing camera of the type including an objective lens, means for advancing a film unit from a position within the camera, through an exit opening in the camera, and along a predetermined film unit path of travel exteriorly of the camera and extending forwardly of the objective lens, and means for releasably retaining one end of a film unit advanced along the predetermined path of travel, said underwater housing comprising: a watertight case for enclosing such a self-developing camera and the predetermined film unit path of travel exteriorly of the camera; support means within said watertight case for supporting such a self-developing camera; means defining a first transparent section in said watertight case for transmitting light to the objective lens of such a self-developing camera supported in said case; means defining a second transparent section in said watertight case for observing a film unit within said watertight case that has been advanced along the predetermined film unit path of travel, said second transparent section being configured to extend forwardly of said first transparent section and overlay the predetermined film unit path of travel extending forwardly of the objective lens of such a self-developing camera supported within said watertight case; and means within said watertight case for disengaging a film unit retained by the retaining means of the camera.

Claim 32

An underwater photographic system comprising: a self-developing camera including: a camera housing; a film unit exit opening in said camera housing; and means for advancing a film unit from a position within said camera housing, through said exit opening, and along a substantially planar film unit path of travel exteriorly of said camera housing; in combination with an underwater housing including: a watertight case for receiving and supporting said self-developing camera, said watertight case being configured to completely enclose said camera and said substantially planar predetermined film unit path of travel exteriorly of said camera housing; means defining a first transparent section in said watertight case in the vicinity of said substantially planar predetermined film unit path of travel exteriorly of said camera housing for viewing a film unit advanced along said predetermined path of travel within said watertight case from a position exteriorly of said watertight case; and means defining an interior chamber within said watertight case for receiving and storing film units advanced from said camera.

Claim 33

An underwater photographic system comprising: a self-developing camera including: a camera housing; a film unit exit opening in said camera housing; and means for advancing a film unit from a position within said camera housing, through said exit opening, and along a substantially planar film unit path of travel exteriorly of said camera housing; in combination with an underwater housing including: a watertight case for receiving and supporting said self-developing camera, said watertight case being configured to completely enclose said camera and said substantially planar predetermined film unit path of travel exteriorly of said camera housing; means defining a first transparent section in said watertight case in the vicinity of said substantially planar predetermined film unit path of travel exteriorly of said camera housing for viewing a film unit advanced along said predetermined path of travel within said watertight case from a position exteriorly of said watertight case; and means defining an interior chamber within said watertight case for receiving and storing film units advanced from said camera.

Claim 34

The underwater photographic system of claim 27 wherein said means defining said interior chamber includes said first transparent section.

Claim 35

The underwater photographic system of claim 27 wherein said camera further includes an objective lens located on said camera housing so that said substantially planar predetermined film unit path of travel extends forwardly and downwardly of said objective lens and said underwater housing further includes means defining a second transparent section in said watertight case disposed in alignment with said objective lens for transmitting light therethrough to said objective lens.

Claim 36

The underwater photographic system of claim 29 wherein said first transparent section is disposed at an obtuse angle with respect to said second transparent section.