Warning indicator for a camera

Abstract

A camera having a recess for receiving a roll of film and a take-up mechanism for advancing the film, the film having registration holes along the edges thereof, is provided with a sprocketed wheel for engagement with the registration holes, the wheel advancing when the film is advanced by the take-up mechanism. The wheel is coupled to a mechanical flag, in one embodiment, and to an electronic indicator, in another embodiment, to warn the operator of the camera when the film is not advancing properly.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a camera having a body .[.with a viewfinder.]., .Iadd.a shutter release means, .Iaddend.a recess for temporarily receiving a roll of film and a take-up mechanism for advancing the film from said roll, the film having a plurality of registration holes situated along at least one edge thereof, .[.the improvement.]. .Iadd.a warning system independent of said shutter release mechanism for warning an user of the camera of the improper threading of the film into said take-up mechanism, said warning mechanism .Iaddend.comprising a sprocket wheel assembly having sprockets for engagement with .Iadd.the .Iaddend.registration holes in the film, said wheel assembly rotating in response to advancement of the film, .[.a flag moveably.]. .Iadd.a rotatably mounted indicator .Iaddend.disposed in the .[.field of view of said viewfinder.]. .Iadd.body .Iaddend.and means for moving said .[.flag out of the view of said viewfinder.]. .Iadd.indicator .Iaddend.in response to the rotation of said assembly .Iadd.when the film is properly threaded into said take-up mechanism, said indicator remaining stationary when said shutter release means is operated.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the body includes .Iadd.a viewfinder and .Iaddend.a cover assembly for providing access to said recess, and said .[.flag.]. .Iadd.indicator .Iaddend.is moved into a warning position in .[.the field of view of.]. the viewfinder in response to disengagement of the cover assembly. 
     
     
       3. In a camera having a body with a recess for temporarily receiving a roll of film, shutter release button and a take-up mechanism for advancing the film from said roll, the film having a plurality of registration holes situated along at least one edge thereof, the improvement comprising a sprocket wheel assembly having sprockets for engagement with registration holes in the film, said wheel assembly rotating in response to advancement of the film; a first switch operated in response to depression of the shutter release button; a second switch operated in response to rotation of said wheel assembly; a latch which is set in response to operation of the first switch and reset in response to the operation of said second switch and a warning indicator responsive to the state of said latch for providing a warning indication when said latch is set. 
     
     
       4. The camera according to claim 3 further including a third switch operated in response to partial depression of said release button and wherein said warning indicator provides a warning indication when said latch is set and said third switch is operated. 
     
     
       5. The camera according to claim 3 wherein said warning indicator emits visible light when providing a warning indication. .[.6. In a camera having a body with a recess for temporarily receiving a roll of film and a take-up mechanism for advancing the film from said roll, the film having a plurality of registration holes situated along at least one edge thereof and the take-up mechanism including a film advancement lever, the improvement comprising a sprocket wheel assembly having sprockets for engagement with registration holes in the film, said wheel assembly rotating in response to advancement of the film and means coupled to the wheel assembly for warning the operator of camera non-advancement of said film, said warning means including means for inhibiting the normal movement of said lever in response to the non-rotation of said wheel..]. 
     
     
           In a camera having a body with a viewfinder, .Iadd.shutter release means, .Iaddend.means for temporarily receiving a roll of film and means for advancing the film from said roll, .[.the improvement.]. .Iadd.a warning system for warning an user of the camera of the improper threading of the film into said advancing means, said warning mechanism .Iaddend.comprising: an assembly provided independently of the film advancing means and operatively in contact with the film for movement in response to advancement of the film and for non-movement in response to non-movement of the film; a flag moveably disposed in a given position within the field of view of said viewfinder; and means for moving said flag out of .[.same.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.given position in response to the movement of said assembly .Iadd.when the film is properly threaded into said take-up mechanism, and for maintaining said flag in a fixed 
     
     
        position when the shutter release means is operated. .Iaddend. 8. A camera according to .[.claims.]. .Iadd.claim .Iaddend.1, .[.3 or 6,.]. wherein said wheel assembly remains stationary in response to non-advancement of said film. .Iadd.9. A camera according to claim 3 wherein said wheel assembly remains stationary in response to non-advancement of said film. .Iaddend. .Iadd.10. In a camera having a case with a chamber for receiving a roll of film and a take-up mechanism for advancing the film frame by frame, the film having a plurality of registration holes along at least one edge thereof, a warning system independent of the shutter release mechanism for warning an user of the camera of the improper threading of the film into said take-up mechanism, said warning mechanism comprising: (a) an assembly having spockets adapted to engage the registration holes in the film, said assembly moving in response to advancement of the film;   (b) a window in said case;   (c) a rotation warning device disposed internally of said case and viewable through said window, said rotational warning device having two display conditions, a first display condition warning the operator of the camera of the non-advancement of the film and a second display condition advising the operator of the proper advancement of the film; and   (d) means independent of the shutter release mechanism operationally coupling said sprockets to said warning device for rotating said warning device from said first display condition in response to movement of said assembly when the film is properly threaded into said take-up mechanism, said warning device not rotating when said shutter release mechanism is operated. .Iaddend.