US3583841A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Means for determining the condition of percussively ignitable flashbulbs
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1969-03-03
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Granted: 1971-06-08
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Expires: 1989-03-03
Abstract
Abstract The metallic ignition member of a percussively ignitable flashbulb is coated with an insulating material which melts, burns, vaporizes or becomes conductive under the influence of the heat produced when the flashbulb is ignited. A pair of spaced electrical contact members are adapted to engage the coated ignition member to provide a switch in series with a signal lamp or the like. If the bulb has not been fired, the contact members are insulated from the metallic ignition member by the coating material so that the switch remains in an open condition. After the bulb is fired, the fingers are shorted by the metallic ignition member to close the switch and thereby energize the signal lamp.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald M Harvey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 02:47
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B15/00; G03B15/02; G03B15/03; G03B15/04; G03B15/0478; F; F21; F21K; F21K5/00; F21K5/02; F21K5/023
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
A photographic apparatus having socket means for receiving a percussively ignitable flashbulb, said flashbulb including an ignition member comprising a metallic member provided initially with a layer of insulating material adapted to lose its insulating effectiveness under the influence of the heat to which said material is subjected when said flashbulb is fired, said apparatus comprising: a. percussion means for firing a flashbulb received in said socket means, b. a source of electrical energy, c. an electrically energizable device, d. a switch defined by a pair of spaced contact members adapted to engage the ignition member of said flashbulb received in said socket, said contact members being insulated from one another by said insulating material beforE said flashbulb is fired to maintain said switch in an open condition and being shorted by said metallic member after said bulb is fired to close said switch, and e. circuit means connecting said electrically energizable device with said source of electrical energy through said switch to energize said device upon closure of said switch.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
171 words
A photographic apparatus having socket means for receiving a percussively ignitable flashbulb, said flashbulb including an ignition member comprising a metallic member provided initially with a layer of insulating material adapted to lose its insulating effectiveness under the influence of the heat to which said material is subjected when said flashbulb is fired, said apparatus comprising: a. percussion means for firing a flashbulb received in said socket means, b. a source of electrical energy, c. an electrically energizable device, d. a switch defined by a pair of spaced contact members adapted to engage the ignition member of said flashbulb received in said socket, said contact members being insulated from one another by said insulating material beforE said flashbulb is fired to maintain said switch in an open condition and being shorted by said metallic member after said bulb is fired to close said switch, and e. circuit means connecting said electrically energizable device with said source of electrical energy through said switch to energize said device upon closure of said switch.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said electrically energizable device comprises a signal lamp.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said socket means include: means to receive a plurality of said flashbulbs; and means to move said flashbulbs intermittently along a predetermined path to locate successive ones thereof at different preestablished positions, said pair of contact members being engageable with the ignition member of the one of said flashbulbs located at a predetermined one of said positions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus according to claim 3 in which said pair of contact members is engageable with the ignition member of that flashbulb received by said socket means and located at the one of said positions which comprises a firing position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus according to claim 3 in which said pair of contact members is engageable with the ignition member of that flashbulb received by said socket means and located at the preestablished position immediately preceding the one of said positions which comprises a bulb firing position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
An apparatus according to claim 3 including a plurality of pairs of said contact members defining a corresponding plurality of said switches, each of said pairs of contact members being engageable with the ignition member of a flashbulb located at a corresponding one of said preestablished positions, said apparatus including a plurality of said electrically energizable devices respectively connectable with said source of electrical energy through corresponding ones of said switches.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
135 words
For use with a flash unit of the type having: a plurality of percussively ignitable flashbulbs, and a conductive member corresponding to each flashbulb coated with an insulating material which loses its insulating effectiveness under the influence of heat when its corresponding flashbulb is fired, an apparatus comprising: means for receiving said unit with a flashbulb positioned for firing, means for actuating percussive firing of said positioned bulb, means for reclining a source of electrical energy, electrical contact means for receiving one of the conductive members of said unit and connecting at least a portion of its normally insulating material in a series circuit with said source of electrical energy, and means for detecting current in said circuit upon loss of the insulating effectiveness of said insulative material subsequent to firing of said positioned bulb.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
135 words
For use with a flash unit of the type having: a plurality of percussively ignitable flashbulbs, and a conductive member corresponding to each flashbulb coated with an insulating material which loses its insulating effectiveness under the influence of heat when its corresponding flashbulb is fired, an apparatus comprising: means for receiving said unit with a flashbulb positioned for firing, means for actuating percussive firing of said positioned bulb, means for reclining a source of electrical energy, electrical contact means for receiving one of the conductive members of said unit and connecting at least a portion of its normally insulating material in a series circuit with said source of electrical energy, and means for detecting current in said circuit upon loss of the insulating effectiveness of said insulative material subsequent to firing of said positioned bulb.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
146 words
A photographic apparatus for use with a flashbulb unit having a metallic member provided initially with a layer of insulating material adapted to lose its insulating effectiveness under the influence of heat generated when said flashbulb is fired, said apparatus comprising: means for receiving a flashbulb unit; means for receiving a source of electrical energy; a switch defined by a pair of spaced contact members adapted to engage said metallic member of a flashbulb unit received in said socket, said contact members being insulatable from one another by said insulating material before said flashbulb is fired to maintain said switch in an open condition and being shortable by said metallic member after said bulb is fired to close said switch; an electrically energizable device; and circuit means for connecting said electrically energizable device with said means for receiving a source of electrical energy through said switch.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
146 words
A photographic apparatus for use with a flashbulb unit having a metallic member provided initially with a layer of insulating material adapted to lose its insulating effectiveness under the influence of heat generated when said flashbulb is fired, said apparatus comprising: means for receiving a flashbulb unit; means for receiving a source of electrical energy; a switch defined by a pair of spaced contact members adapted to engage said metallic member of a flashbulb unit received in said socket, said contact members being insulatable from one another by said insulating material before said flashbulb is fired to maintain said switch in an open condition and being shortable by said metallic member after said bulb is fired to close said switch; an electrically energizable device; and circuit means for connecting said electrically energizable device with said means for receiving a source of electrical energy through said switch.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-07 | 1974-12-07 | 1975-06-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-07 | 1978-12-07 | 1979-06-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-07 | 1982-12-07 | 1983-06-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |