Handheld viewer for transparency film

Claim 1

A compact, handheld viewer for use with photographic transparency film located within a film cassette in roll form, in individual film mounts, or in strip form, said viewer comprising: a housing having means for defining first and second chambers, said first chamber being configured to receive a film cassette of the type having a spool therein about which a length of film containing a plurality of frames each of which contains a visible image is wound and an exit slot through which a leader or leading end of the film is adapted to extend to the exterior of the cassette for attachment to a take-up reel; means defining a passageway interconnecting said first and second chambers, said passageway including a projection station through which the film in the film cassette or a film strip containing a plurality of individual scenes are adapted to be advanced and into which individually mounted film transparencies are adapted to be inserted; a film spool drive rotatively mounted within said first chamber; a film take-up reel rotatively mounted within said second chamber, said take-up reel including means for releasably securing the leader to said take-up reel; means for illuminating said projection station; and manually actuatable means for selectively driving said film take-up reel in a direction so as to withdraw the film from the film cassette and advance it through said projection station or for driving said film spool drive in a direction which will rewind the film into the film cassette while simultaneously unwinding the film from said film take-up reel.