Photographic Developing Tray

Abstract

The present invention relates to photographic developing trays and more specifically to a novel tray having a parabolic shaped fluid holding recess with a central portion thereof enlarged and deepened to accommodate the fingers of one holding the print being processed and having sloping drain boards on either side of the fluid recess.

Description

The primary object of the invention is to provide a developing tray suitable for use with large photographic prints and to provide means whereby the user or operator can submerge the print paper uniformly into the developing solution without finger interference from the sides or bottom of the tray.

A second object of the invenJion is to provide a developing tray for large photographic prints which requires a minimum volume of developing solution for complete coverage of the print paper as it is washed in the developing solution.

A Further object of the invention is to provide means integral with the tray for catching excess solution as it drops from the print paper and returning it to the fluid holding recess.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following detailed description of a preferred form of the invention taken in connection with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the developing tray of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the developing tray of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 3--3 of FIG. 2.

The developing tray 5 is preferrably molded in one unitary structure from a plastic or other material impervious to photographic chemicals. The tray is generally rectangular in shape in plan view and has elevated sides and ends 7 and 9, respectively. Sloping inwardly from the top of the two sides 7 are a pair of drain boards 11 to catch and channel the excess solution which falls from the photographic print paper.

Depending from the lower edges of the drain boards 11 is a substantially parabolicly shaped basin 13 for receiving and holding the developing solution. The bottom Of the basin is enlarged laterally and deepened around the longitudinal center of the tray in order to provide additional space for the fingers of the one holding the edges of the print paper. Without the deepened portion 15 of the basin 13 the edges of the print might emerge from the solution when the user's fingers contacted the floor of the basin of the surfaces of the side drain boards.

A plurality of laterally disposed deepened channels 17 are also provided in the floor of the basin spaced apart along its length. These channels act to increase the rigidity of the tray structure and to also break up the flow of developing solution so as to keep the solution well mixed as it is used.

Claims

I claim:

1. A developing tray for photographic film comprising a unitary structure having a generally rectangularly-shaped base with elevated end and side walls, the top portion of said side walls carrying a pair of oppositely disposed, inwardly slanting, drainboards and a depending basin therebetween, wherein the said basin includes an enlarged and deepened portion at the longitudinal center of said basin.