Electronic flash unit having an adjustable mounting mechanism and movable electrical plug

Abstract

An electronic flash unit includes a housing having an elongate passage. An electrical plug having a pair of contacts electrically connected to the flashtube-firing circuitry is movably mounted in the passage to locate the contacts at varying positions relative to the housing. The flash unit further includes a camera mounting bracket that is adjustable relative to the base of the housing. A ratchet mechanism prevents a control button operatively associated with the bracket and an electrical control switch from closing the switch to energize the flashtube-firing circuitry when the bracket engages the housing base.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Reference is made to commonly assigned, copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 528,529, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,941,447 entitled CAMERA FLASH SOCKET filed Nov. 29, 1974 in the name of Hargrave et al.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an electronic flash unit and, more particularly, to an electronic flash unit having an adjustable mounting mechanism and electrical plug movable to permit operational coupling of the flash unit to photographic cameras of varying size and electrical design, respectively.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Photographic camera manufacturers, like manufacturers in many other industries, often produce a variety of models of a particular product. For example, many camera manufacturers produce a number of different models of the well known pocket camera. These models may range from a very simple, low-cost design to a camera designed to operate over a wide range of picture-taking conditions. The former may include only a single lens and a fixed-speed shutter whereas the latter may employ an optical system having a number of optical components to achieve a high resolution image of the scene being photographed as well as exposure control apparatus controlled electronically to automatically set both the camera diaphragm and shutter speed in accordance with scene conditions. Of course, there may be other intermediate camera models which include features between that offered with the low-cost design and that possible with the camera having the highest quality and the greatest number of photographic features. With a wide range of camera models, the consumer is more able to select a camera according to his specific needs and desires.

As can readily be understood, because of the various designs incorporated into each of the different camera models, it may be necessary to have minor physical differences from one model to another of a particular line of cameras. For example, it may be necessary that one camera model be slightly larger than the other models or it may be that the camera flash-receiving receptacle is not located in exactly the same position on the camera body with respect to the other models. This results despite the fact all models may utilize the same size film, and have essentially the same flash-firing mechanism, etc.

As a result of these differences, camera accessory equipment, such as an electronic flash unit, manufacturing for a particular line of cameras may not be suitable for all camera models. There have been various attempts in the past to manufacture camera accessory equipment which can be utilized with cameras of different physical size and electrical design. For example, adjustable brackets for detachably connecting various photographic accessory equipment to cameras of varying size are known in the photographic art. U.S. Pat. No. 2,614,471 issued to J. Markowitz on Oct. 21, 1952, discloses a flash lamp supporting bracket which is adjustable to accommodate cameras of various sizes.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,949,838 issued to V. Skalabrin on Aug. 23, 1960, discloses an adjustable grip for compact cameras, the grip being connected to a flash accessory clip on top of the camera and to a tripod socket on the bottom thereof. The grip is adjustable to accommodate cameras of different size and cameras wherein the position of the flash accessory clip may vary.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,852,790 issued to J. A. Robinson on Dec. 3, 1974 discloses a mechanism generally intended to mount an electronic flash unit on cameras of different size as well as cameras in which the flash attachment mechanism may be at different locations on the camera body. A mechanism of the kind disclosed in the Robinson patent is intended to mount a flash unit on a camera of the type having a flash unit attachment associated with rotating flash units. To achieve this result, a slidable and rotatably mounted post is included that has a cross-section adapted to fit into a rotatable flash cube socket built in a camera. Since the camera socket rotates after each exposure to present a different side of the flash cube, the post is able to rotate freely without effect on the flash unit even though the post is inserted into the camera flash cube receiving receptacle. With this arrangement the post serves as a means of supporting the flash unit on the camera and because the post is slidable, the flash unit is not restricted for use with cameras having a rotatable socket at notbuttom. Socket isapplication. It suffices to say that the third contact is of no particular significance to the present invention and that by virtue of base 104 and front and rear surfaces 106, 108, plug 100 is configured such that when inserted into socket 24 an electrical signal produced by the camera flash-firing mechanism is appropriately applied to contacts 113, 114.

Base 104 is integrally connected to a rectangular-shaped intermediate support member 115. Member 115 is located within a rectangular opening 116 formed from bottom wall 42 of flash unit 40. It is preferred that the width of member 115 be only slightly less than the width of opening 116 to permit free movement of such member therealong yet to guard against dirt, sand or other contaminants becoming wedged between member 115 and the opening so as not to impede such movement.

As is shown most clearly in FIG. 5 member 115 is integrally connected to a generally U-shaped member 117 defined by spaced, parrallel parallel legs 117a, 117b which are coupled together through base portion 117c. Legs 117a, 117b are spaced to receive therebetween an interior flash unit partition or wall 120 which extends generally from side 44 of flash 40 to the other side thereof parallel to wall 42. The top 120a of the wall faces front wall 45 and as is most clearly shown in FIG. 5 is spaced from the front wall by a distance which permits base 117c to be loosely received in such a space. By virtue of the arrangememt arrangement between member 117 and wall 120 and the aforementioned location of intermediate member 115, the entire plug assembly, as is most clearly shown in FIG. 4, can be slidably moved from one end of track 102 to the other end thereof guided by wall 120.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 4, it can be seen therein that the aforementioned contact strips 113, 114 are affixed to U-shaped member 117 and terminate on the outer side of leg 117b thereof. Contact strips 113, 114 are warpped wrapped around member 117 as shown in FIG. 4 and follow the surface of intermediate member 115 through opening 116 wherein each of such strips terminate on front surface 106 as shown in FIG. 2.

Electrical wires 124, 125 are connected respectively to contact strips 113, 114 and are connected at the opposite end thereof to flash-firing circuit 66, as shown in FIG. 8 so as to be electrically coupled to flash trigger electrode 47a.

It can be appreciated that as plug 100 is moved along track 102 a certain amount of movement of wires 124, 125 occurs. Furthermore, a certain amount of slack or excess wire length will occur for those positions of plug 100 along the track that are closest to the input connection to flash circuit 66. It is preferred to isolate as much of the wires from the extreme interior of flash unit 40 as possible to gaurd guard against snagging or catching of wires 124, 125 as they move with or follow plug 100. To achieve this result, a wall 126 is spaced from wall 120 toward the interior of the flash unit and extends from back wall 43 to front wall 45. By virtue of wall 126 and the combination of plug assembly portion 117 and wall 120 a substantially enclosed elongate chamber 130 is formed between each of such walls and the flash unit side walls. Chamber 130 serves to collect and to thereby confine any excess wire, by virtue of the location of plug 100, to a limited space within the interior of flash unit 40. Due to the inherent stiffness of wires 124, 125, each wire is caused to fold back on itself as plug 100 is moved so as to form a pair of open ended loops within chamber 130, the size of these loops being determined by the location of the plug along wall 120. This effect is most clearly illustrated in FIG. 4. Wires 124, 125 may then be passed through spaced openings in wall 125 to be connected to flash circuit 66. That portion of the wires between wall 126 and circuit 66 remains stationary and wire entanglement within the flash interior is prevented.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention. In accordance with that preferred embodiment, there has been described an electronic flash unit having an adjustable flash attachment bracket and a movable electrical plug that accomplishes the aforementioned objectives.

Claims

1. In an electronic flash unit having a housing, a flashtube mounted within said housing, and electrical means for energizing said flashtube, the improvement comprising:

a. electrical contacts adapted to be electrically connected to the output terminals of a flash-firing mechanism;

b. means associated with said housing for defining an operational path;

c. means electrically connecting said electrical contacts to said electrical means; and

d. means mounting said electrical contacts for moving said contacts along said path while said contacts remain electrically connected to said electrical means to position said contacts over a continuous range of flashfiring locations relative to said flashtube.

2. In an electronic flash unit having a housing, a flashtube mounted within said housing, and electrical means for energizing said flashtube, the improvement comprising:

a. means for defining electrical contacts adapted to be operatively coupled to a flash-firing mechanism;

b. means associated with said housing for defining an operational path;

c. means electrically connecting said electrical contacts to said electrical means; and

d. a support member, mounting said electrical contacts, mounted for movement along said operational path to effect relative movement between said contacts and said flashtube to position said contacts over a range of flash-firing positions relative to said flashtube;

e. said electrically connecting means being adapted for maintaining said contacts electrically connected to said electrical means while said support member is moved along said operational path.

3. In an electronic flash unit having means for receiving a source of electrical energy, a flashtube, and an energizable electrical control circuit for flashing said flashtube, the improvement comprising:

a. a flash mounting mechanism for detachably coupling said flash unit to a photographic camera, said mounting mechanism being mounted for movement between (1) an extended position in which said mounting mechanism is located to permit said flash unit to be mounted on the camera, and (2) a retracted position in which said mounting mechanism is ineffective to mount said flash unit on the camera;

b. an actuatable control switch having (1) a normal open position in which a received source of electrical potential is disconnected from said control circuit, and (2) a closed position in which the received electrical potential source is connected to said control circuit;

c. a ratchet mechanism for preventing said control switch from being closed while said mounting mechanism is in its retracted position; and

d. a manually actuatable control member operatively associated with said control switch and said ratchet mechanism and having (1) a first position in which said control switch is urged into its closed position, (2) a second position wherein said control switch automatically assumes its normal open position, and (3) a third position wherein said ratchet mechanism is effectively disabled to permit said mounting mechanism to assume its extended position.

4. In an electronic flash unit having a flashtube, a housing in which said flashtube is located, trigger circuit means for triggering said flashtube ON, and first and second electrical contacts electrically connected to said trigger circuit means and adapted to be electrically connected to the output terminals of a flash-firing mechanism, the improvement comprising:

a. means associated with said housing for defining an operational path having first and second terminal positions between which said first and second contacts are located; and

b. means for moving said first and second contacts relative to said flashtube over a continuous range of positions between said first and second terminal positions while maintaining said first and second contacts continuously connected to said trigger circuit means.

5. In an improved electronic flash unit having a flashtube and electrical means for energizing said flashtube, said electronic flash unit further including a plug having cooperating contacts electrically connected to said electrical means, the improvement comprising:

a. a housing in which said flashtube is located, said housing defining a passage in which said plug is located; and

b. guide means for slidably moving said plug along said passage to enable said cooperating contacts to be positioned over a continuous range of flash-firing positions relative to said flashtube without disconnecting said cooperating contacts from said electrical means.

6. In an electronic flash device for mounting on any of a series of cameras having first electrical contact means, the location of the first electrical contact means on each camera varying from camera to camera, said electronic flash device including second electrical contact means for engaging such first electrical contact means, and circuit means electrically connected to said second electrical contact means for electrically operating said flash device, the improvement comprising:

a. means for mounting said flash device on any of such cameras in a position adjacent the first electrical contact means of the camera that is mounted; and

b. means providing for movement of said second electrical contact means while electrically connected to said circuit means over a plurality of positions corresponding to the varying locations of the first electrical contact means of the cameras on which said flash device is to be mounted.

7. In an electrically operated flash device for mounting on a variety of cameras, each of which cameras has first electrical contact means for cooperation with second electrical contact means of said flash device, the location of said first electrical contact means on each camera varying from camera to camera with respect to a corresponding surface of such cameras, the improvement comprising:

a. means electrically connected to said second electrical contact means for electrically operating said flash device;

b. means for detachably mounting said flash device on any of such cameras at substantially the same location on such corresponding surface of each of such cameras; and

c. a support member, mounting said second electrical contacts, and mounted to provide for movement of said second electrical contact means over a continuous range of positions corresponding to the varying locations of the first electrical contact means of the cameras on which said flash device is to be mounted.

8. In an electronic flash device for mounting on any of a variety of cameras, each of which cameras has signal transmitting means, the location of the signal transmitting means varying from camera to camera with reference to a flash locating surface on each camera, said flash device including signal receiving means for communicating with the signal transmitting means, circuit means electrically connected to said signal receiving means for electrically operating said flash device, and mounting means for attaching said flash device to the flash receiving surface of any of such cameras, the improvement comprising:

means providing for movement of said signal receiving means relative to said mounting means over a plurality of positions corresponding to the varying locations of the signal transmitting means of the cameras on which said flash device is to be attached, the movement of said signal receiving means being effectable while maintaining electrical connection between said signal receiving means and said circuit means.

9. In an electrically operated flash device for mounting on any of a series of cameras, each of which cameras has a first group of electrical contacts for engaging a second group of electrical contacts on said flash device, the location of the group of contacts on each camera varying from camera to camera with reference to a flash locating surface of the camera, the improvement comprising:

a. means electrically connected to said second group of electrical contacts for flashing said flash device;

b. mounting means for attaching said flash device to a camera in a position abutting the flash locating surface of the camera; and

c. means providing for movement of said second group of electrical contacts while maintaining electrical connection to said flash device flashing means over a range of positions corresponding to the varying locations of the first group of electrical contacts of the cameras on which said flash

device is to be attached.

10. In an electronic flash unit for use with any of a variety of cameras of the type having a flash-firing electrical receptacle located on a flash receiving surface, the location of such receptacle varying from camera to camera within its associated flash receiving surface, the improvement comprising:

a. an electrical plug adapted to be electrically connected to the flash-firing electrical receptacle of such cameras;

b. electrical means for flashing said flash unit;

c. means electrically connecting said electrical plug to said electrical means;

d. means for detachably mounting said flash unit on any of such cameras abutting their flash receiving surfaces; and

e. means providing for movement of said electrical plug over a continuous range of positions without disconnecting said electrical plug from said electrical means, said range of positions including the varying locations of the receptacle of the camera on which said flash unit is to be mounted.