Photographic apparatus for use with flash units having individual striker elements

Claim 2

Photographic apparatus for use with disposable photoflash units, which units have at least one flashlamp fireable by striking and at least one releasable preenergized striking element, the lamp and striking element being supported on a base having means defining an access opening through which release of the striking element can be effected, said apparatus comprising: means for detachably receiving such a photoflash unit with an access opening of the unit positioned in a predetermined location relative to the apparatus; means moveable through an access opening positioned at said location for releasing the striking element associated therewith; and means for moving said releasing means through said access opening to release said striking element and thereby fire the lamp associated therewith.

Claim 3

A photographic camera for use with a disposable photoflash unit, which unit has a plurality of flashlamps fireable by striking, a releasable preenergized striker for each lamp and a base for said unit having an access opening associated with each striker through which said striker can be released, said camera comprising: means for actuating a shutter to effect an exposure; means for detachably receiving such a photoflash unit with a lamp positioned at a firing site, and the access opening associated with the striker for said lamp positioned at an actuating site; movable means for releasing said striker, said means being narrow enough to be received by said access opening and having an end with at least one dimension broad enough to release said striker; and means associated with said shutter actuating means for moving said releasing means through said access opening to release said striker in timed relation with actuation of said shutter.

Claim 4

A photographic camera for use with a disposable photoflash unit, which unit has a plurality of flashlamps fireable by striking, a releasable preenergized striker for each lamp and a base for said unit having an access opening associated with each striker through which said striker can be released, said camera comprising: means for actuating a shutter to effect an exposure; means for detachably receiving such a photoflash unit with a lamp positioned at a firing site, and the access opening associated with the striker for said lamp positioned at an actuating site; movable means for releasing said striker, said means being narrow enough to be received by said access opening and having an end with at least one dimension broad enough to release said striker; and means associated with said shutter actuating means for moving said releasing means through said access opening to release said striker in timed relation with actuation of said shutter.

Claim 5

A photographic camera for use with a disposable photoflash unit, which unit has a plurality of lamps fireable by striking an impact receiving element, a striking mechanism associated with each lamp, said striking mechanism including an energizeable striking elemenT and means for holding said striking element in an energized condition urged toward said impact receiving element, said striking mechanism including means defining a release surface engageable for release of said striking element, said surface being elongated in at least a first direction for ease of engagement, and a base for said unit having a plurality of base openings, each providing access to one of said engageable surfaces, said camera comprising: a housing with a wall including an actuating opening, means mounted in said housing for receiving such a photoflash unit with a lamp at a firing site and the base opening associated with said lamp positioned in alignment with said actuating opening, a releasing member movable through said aligned openings into said unit to engage the release surface associated with said base opening to release the striking element associated therewith, said member having a surface for engaging said release surface with at least one dimension of substantial size in a direction transverse to said first direction to ensure engagement of said surfaces; and means for moving said member through said aligned opening to move said engaging surface into releasing engagement with said release surface to fire said lamp.

Claim 6

A photographic camera for use with a disposable photoflash unit, which unit has a plurality of lamps fireable by striking an impact receiving element, a striking mechanism associated with each lamp, said striking mechanism including an energizeable striking elemenT and means for holding said striking element in an energized condition urged toward said impact receiving element, said striking mechanism including means defining a release surface engageable for release of said striking element, said surface being elongated in at least a first direction for ease of engagement, and a base for said unit having a plurality of base openings, each providing access to one of said engageable surfaces, said camera comprising: a housing with a wall including an actuating opening, means mounted in said housing for receiving such a photoflash unit with a lamp at a firing site and the base opening associated with said lamp positioned in alignment with said actuating opening, a releasing member movable through said aligned openings into said unit to engage the release surface associated with said base opening to release the striking element associated therewith, said member having a surface for engaging said release surface with at least one dimension of substantial size in a direction transverse to said first direction to ensure engagement of said surfaces; and means for moving said member through said aligned opening to move said engaging surface into releasing engagement with said release surface to fire said lamp.

Claim 7

A photographic camera for use with a disposable photoflash unit, which unit is of the type having a plurality of flashlamps fireable by striking, a releasable preenergized striker for each lamp and a base for said unit having an access opening associated with each striker through which said striker can be released, said camera comprising: means for actuating a shutter to effect an exposure; means for detachably receiving such a photoflash unit, said means being rotatable to successively position the access openings of a received unit at an actuating site; movable releasing means, said means being narrow enough to be received by an access opening located at said site and having an end with at least one dimension broad enough to release a striker associated with such an opening; and means associated with said shutter actuating means for moving said releasing means through said access opening to release the striker associated therewith in timed relation with actuation of said shutter.

Claim 8

A photographic camera for use with a disposable photoflash unit, which unit is of the type having a plurality of flashlamps fireable by striking, a releasable preenergized striker for each lamp and a base for said unit having an access opening associated with each striker through which said striker can be released, said camera comprising: means for actuating a shutter to effect an exposure; means for detachably receiving such a photoflash unit, said means being rotatable to successively position the access openings of a received unit at an actuating site; movable releasing means, said means being narrow enough to be received by an access opening located at said site and having an end with at least one dimension broad enough to release a striker associated with such an opening; and means associated with said shutter actuating means for moving said releasing means through said access opening to release the striker associated therewith in timed relation with actuation of said shutter.

Claim 9

Photographic apparatus for use with a disposable flash unit, each such flash unit having a plurality of flashlamps fireable by striking, a releasable preenergized striker for each lamp and a base having an access opening associated with each striker through which said striker can be released, said apparatus comprising: rotatable means for detachably receiving such a flash unit with an access opening of the flash unit positioned in a predetermined location relative to the apparatus; means for rotating said receiving means to successively position individual access openings of such a flash unit at said predetermined location; means movable through an access opening positioned at said predetermined location for releasing a striking element associated therewith; and means for moving said releasing means through said access opening to release such a striking element and thereby fire the lamp associated therewith.

Claim 10

Photographic apparatus for use with a disposable flash unit, each such flash unit having a plurality of flashlamps fireable by striking, a releasable preenergized striker for each lamp and a base having an access opening associated with each striker through which said striker can be released, said apparatus comprising: rotatable means for detachably receiving such a flash unit with an access opening of the flash unit positioned in a predetermined location relative to the apparatus; means for rotating said receiving means to successively position individual access openings of such a flash unit at said predetermined location; means movable through an access opening positioned at said predetermined location for releasing a striking element associated therewith; and means for moving said releasing means through said access opening to release such a striking element and thereby fire the lamp associated therewith.

Claim 11

A camera for use with disposable photoflash units, which units have at least one flashlamp fireable by striking and at least one releasable preenergized striking element, the lamp and striking element being supporting on a base having means defining an access opening through which release of the striking element can be effected, said camera comprising: means for detachably receiving such a photoflash unit with an access opening of the unit positioned in a predetermined location relative to the apparatus; means movable through an access opening positioned at said location for releasing the striking element associated therewith; means for effecting picture-taking actuation of said camera; and means responsive to said picture-taking actuating means for moving saiD releasing means through said access opening to release said striking element and thereby fire the lamp associated therewith in synchronization with said picture-taking actuation.

Claim 12

A camera for use with disposable photoflash units, which units have at least one flashlamp fireable by striking and at least one releasable preenergized striking element, the lamp and striking element being supporting on a base having means defining an access opening through which release of the striking element can be effected, said camera comprising: means for detachably receiving such a photoflash unit with an access opening of the unit positioned in a predetermined location relative to the apparatus; means movable through an access opening positioned at said location for releasing the striking element associated therewith; means for effecting picture-taking actuation of said camera; and means responsive to said picture-taking actuating means for moving saiD releasing means through said access opening to release said striking element and thereby fire the lamp associated therewith in synchronization with said picture-taking actuation.