Patent · US Expired

One-time use camera having breakable component and recycling method

US6282375A · kind A · utility

2Cited by
11References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 26, 1999
Grant dateAug 28, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 26, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03B19/04
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A camera has a body having a functional subsystem and first and second cover parts. The second cover part moves relative to the first cover part from a closed position to an unclosed position to open the body. A label has an attachment portion that is adhered to at least one of the cover parts. The label has a breakable component joined to the attachment portion. The attachment portion supports the breakable component on the body in operative relation to the functional subsystem. The attachment portion disrupts from a use configuration to a replacement configuration responsive to the moving of the secondary cover part. Responsive to this disrupting of the attachment portion, the breakable component breaks irreparably. In a method for recycling the camera, the camera is opened, destroying the breakable component. The exposed film is removed. Unexposed film is loaded. The camera is light-tightly closed and following the closing, the original label is replaced by a label having an intact breakable component.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.