US3597602A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Photoflash reflector suitable for flashcube
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1968-12-16
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Granted: 1971-08-03
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Expires: 1988-12-16
Abstract
Abstract A photoflash lamp-reflector module particularly suitable for use in a four-sided photoflash array such as a flashcube. The reflector is formed in the shape of a parabola having curved winged portions whose tangents form an angle of more than 45* with respect to the optical axis of the reflector. Due to the curvature of the winged portions, a series of reflectors may be arranged in a back-to-back relationship with each other to form a flashcube assembly without any interference or distortion occurring between the winged portions of adjacent reflectors. In a preferred embodiment, the reflector is formed at its innermost region with a transversely extending channel-shaped recessed area for snugly accommodating a minor portion of the circumferential extent of a tubular flashlamp throughout substantially its full length.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard D Divoky
- 👤 Peter H Malmquist
- 👤 Robert M Anderson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 15:13
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B15/00; G03B15/02; G03B15/03; G03B15/04; G03B15/0442
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
A photoflash device comprising the combination of a reflector and a photoflash lamp wherein: said photoflash lamp is a tubular lamp, said reflector has a parabolic-type reflecting surface for essentially its entire effective reflecting area with said photoflash lamp seated in the innermost part of the reflector and confined substantially entirely therewithin and with the reflector having forward wing portions extending forwardly beyond the centerline of said lamp and terminating in a peripheral rim, and said reflector has a curvature the tangent to which, at points thereon forwardly of the centerline of the lamp seated therein aNd adjacent to the rim forms an angle of more than 45* to the optical axis of the reflector at all points forward in the direction of light projection so that said reflector can be arranged back-to-back with three other like reflectors in adjacent relation to one another to form four sides of a cube, with each reflector facing outwardly in a different direction at 90* intervals from the adjacent reflector and with the rims of adjacent reflectors substantially adjoining one another, without interference between their said forward wing portions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
186 words
A photoflash device comprising the combination of a reflector and a photoflash lamp wherein: said photoflash lamp is a tubular lamp, said reflector has a parabolic-type reflecting surface for essentially its entire effective reflecting area with said photoflash lamp seated in the innermost part of the reflector and confined substantially entirely therewithin and with the reflector having forward wing portions extending forwardly beyond the centerline of said lamp and terminating in a peripheral rim, and said reflector has a curvature the tangent to which, at points thereon forwardly of the centerline of the lamp seated therein aNd adjacent to the rim forms an angle of more than 45* to the optical axis of the reflector at all points forward in the direction of light projection so that said reflector can be arranged back-to-back with three other like reflectors in adjacent relation to one another to form four sides of a cube, with each reflector facing outwardly in a different direction at 90* intervals from the adjacent reflector and with the rims of adjacent reflectors substantially adjoining one another, without interference between their said forward wing portions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A photoflash device according to claim 1 in which said lamp and said reflector are bisymmetrical on the two sides of a plane bisecting the lamp longitudinally.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
96 words
A photoflash device according to claim 1 in which four of said reflectors are formed adjacent to each other in a single sheet of material with the rims of adjacent reflectors substantially adjoining one another so that the sheet of material may be folded at the dividing regions between adjacent reflectors to produce a device with reflectors and lamps facing outwardly in each of the four directions in one plane to form four sides of a cube, without interference of the surfaces of one reflector with the surfaces of another such as would cause distortion therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
A photoflash device according to claim 1 in which the curvature of said parabolic-type surface is continuous except for part of the region behind said lamp at the innermost portion of the reflector wherein the reflector surface is formed at its innermost region with a channel-shaped recessed area extending transversely of its optical axis and within which the said lamp is longitudinally positioned with a minor portion of its circumferential extent,
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
110 words
A photoflash device according to claim 2 in which four of said reflectors are formed adjacent to each other in a single sheet of material with the rims of adjacent reflectors substantially adjoining one another and with the axes of their recessed lamp-positioning areas extending parallel to each other so that the sheet of material may be folded at the dividing regions between adjacent reflectors to produce a device with reflectors and lamps facing outwardly in each of the four directions in one plane to form four sides of a cube, without interference of the surfaces of one reflector with the surfaces of another such as would cause distortion therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
In a photoflash device according to claim 4 a reflector having a parabolic-type surface approximately according to the formula y axb wherein a is approximately between 1.611 and 1.593 and b is approximately between 2.072 and 2.145.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A photoflash device according to claim 6 having a reflector which has a parabolic-type surface approximately according to the formula y 1.6x2.14
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
A photoflash device according to claim 1 wherein said reflector comprises a cylindrical parabolic-type central portion middle of said lamp, and said reflector terminates at and at least partial paraboloidal-type surfaces at each end of said cylindrical central portion, and said lamp is positioned in said reflector longitudinally of the said cylindrical central portion thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
A photoflash device according to claim 1 in which the portions of said reflector having a parabolic-type surface have a curvature approximately according to the formula y axb wherein a is approximately between 1.611 and 1.593 and b is approximately between 2.072 and 2.145.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A photoflash device according to claim 9 having a reflector which has a parabolic-type surface approximately according to the formula y 1.6x2.14
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) | 1974-08-02 | 1975-02-01 | 1975-08-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-02 | 1979-02-01 | 1979-08-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-02 | 1983-02-01 | 1983-08-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |