Socket for percussively ignitable multiple-lamp flashbulb units

Claim 2

A socket member adapted to receive a flash illumination unit including a plurality of percussively ignitable flashbulbs each of which is provided with a corresponding percussion-firing element, said socket member including: a. orientation means for positioning said illumination unit in predetermined relation to said socket member when said illumination unit is received by said socket member, and b. retention means for retaining said illumination unit in received relation with said socket member, characterized by; c. firing means including a plurality of firing members supported by said socket member, said firing members being operatively movable independently of each other into firing cooperation with the corresponding ones of said percussion firing elements of said illumination unit received by said socket member.

Claim 3

In a camera including: a. shutter means operable to effect exposure of film within said camera, b. a rotatable socket member adapted to receive a percussively ignitable flashcube including a plurality of flashbulbs each of which is provided with a corresponding percussion-firing element, c. socket-indexing means for incrementally rotating said socket member relative to said camera to thereby locate different ones of the flashbulbs of said flashcube received by said socket member at a predetermined firing position, and d. an igniter member operable in predetermined timed relation with the operation of said shutter means, the improvement comprising; e. firing means including a plurality of firing members carried by said socket member for respective movement into firing cooperation with the corresponding ones of said percussion elements of said flashcube received by said socket member, said igniter member being adapted upon operation thereof to effect such movement only of that one firing member cooperable with the percussion firing element of that flashbulb then located at said firing position to thereby effect ignition of that flashbulb in predetermined synchronism with the operation of said shutter means.

Claim 4

In a camera including: a. shutter means operable to effect exposure of film within said camera, b. a rotatable socket member adapted to receive a percussively ignitable flashcube including a plurality of flashbulbs each of which is provided with a corresponding percussion-firing element, c. socket-indexing means for incrementally rotating said socket member relative to said camera to thereby locate different ones of the flashbulbs of said flashcube received by said socket member at a predetermined firing position, and d. an igniter member operable in predetermined timed relation with the operation of said shutter means, the improvement comprising; e. firing means including a plurality of firing members carried by said socket member for respective movement into firing cooperation with the corresponding ones of said percussion elements of said flashcube received by said socket member, said igniter member being adapted upon operation thereof to effect such movement only of that one firing member cooperable with the percussion firing element of that flashbulb then located at said firing position to thereby effect ignition of that flashbulb in predetermined synchronism with the operation of said shutter means.

Claim 5

The invention defined by claim 2 including resilient means biasing said firing members in a predetermined direction relative to said socket member.

Claim 6

The invention defined by claim 3 in which said resilient means bias said firing members toward respective inoperative positions at which the portions of said firing members cooperable with said firing elements are retracted into said socket member.

Claim 7

The invention defined by claim 2 including signal means for sensing and indicating the condition of the one of said flashbulbs located at said firing position, said signal means comprising: a. spring means for biasing that one firing member cooperable with the firing element of the flashbulb located at said firing position toward firing cooperation with that firing element but with insufficient force to effect ignition of that flashbulb, and b. indicator means operated by that one firing member in accordance with the position assumed thereby under the influence of said spring means for providing a visible warning signal if the flashbulb located at said firing position has previously been fired.

Claim 8

A socket for receiving a flash unit on a photographic camera, the flash unit including a plurality of mechanically fireable flash devices, the socket comprising: a support member for receiving the flash unit on the camera with each of the respective flash devices at a predetermined position of orientation relative to the socket; a plurality of flash-firing members each at a predetermined position of orientation relative to the socket, the predetermined positions of said firing members being located relative to the predetermined positions of the flash devices to pair each firing member with a respective flash device when the flash unit is received by said support member, each of said firing members being movable between a retracted position, wherein said member will be spaced from a respective flash device paired with said member, and an extended position, wherein said member will engage a flash device paired with said member without firing the device, said member being actuatable in the extended position to fire the device, and means for moving said firing members to their retracted positions when no flash unit is received by said support member and for moving said firing members to their extended positions when a flash unit is received by said support member.

Claim 9

A socket for receiving a flash unit on a photographic camera, the flash unit including a plurality of mechanically fireable flash devices, the socket comprising: a support member for receiving the flash unit on the camera with each of the respective flash devices at a predetermined position of orientation relative to the socket; a plurality of flash-firing members each at a predetermined position of orientation relative to the socket, the predetermined positions of said firing members being located relative to the predetermined positions of the flash devices to pair each firing member with a respective flash device when the flash unit is received by said support member, each of said firing members being movable between a retracted position, wherein said member will be spaced from a respective flash device paired with said member, and an extended position, wherein said member will engage a flash device paired with said member without firing the device, said member being actuatable in the extended position to fire the device, and means for moving said firing members to their retracted positions when no flash unit is received by said support member and for moving said firing members to their extended positions when a flash unit is received by said support member.

Claim 10

Photographic apparatus for receiving and firing a multidevice flash unit; each device including a mechanically fireable flashlamp, and a firing element having an energized position from which the element is releasable to fire the flashlamps; the apparatus comprising: a support member for receiving the flash unit on the camera with each of the respective flash devices at a predetermined position relative to the socket; and, a plurality of firing members each at a predetermined angular orientation relative to the socket, the predetermined orientations of said firing members and the predetermined positions of said flash devices being located to pair each of the firing members with a respective flash device when the flash unit is received by said support member; each of said firing members having a first extended position for nonreleasably engaging an energized firing element of a respective flasH device, and a second extended position for releasing the respective energized firing element and for sensing the absence of an energized firing element; a signal device having a first condition indicative of an operative flash device and a second condition indicative of an inoperative flash device; and means for coupling said signal device to at least a respective one of said firing members to set the signal device to its first condition when the firing member is in its first extended position, and for setting said signal device to its second condition when the firing member is in its second extended position.

Claim 11

Photographic apparatus for receiving and firing a multidevice flash unit; each device including a mechanically fireable flashlamp, and a firing element having an energized position from which the element is releasable to fire the flashlamps; the apparatus comprising: a support member for receiving the flash unit on the camera with each of the respective flash devices at a predetermined position relative to the socket; and, a plurality of firing members each at a predetermined angular orientation relative to the socket, the predetermined orientations of said firing members and the predetermined positions of said flash devices being located to pair each of the firing members with a respective flash device when the flash unit is received by said support member; each of said firing members having a first extended position for nonreleasably engaging an energized firing element of a respective flasH device, and a second extended position for releasing the respective energized firing element and for sensing the absence of an energized firing element; a signal device having a first condition indicative of an operative flash device and a second condition indicative of an inoperative flash device; and means for coupling said signal device to at least a respective one of said firing members to set the signal device to its first condition when the firing member is in its first extended position, and for setting said signal device to its second condition when the firing member is in its second extended position.

Claim 12

Photographic apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said firing members further have a retracted position, wherein the socket includes means for moving said firing members to their retracted positions when no flash unit is received by said support member, and wherein said last-mentioned means is coupled to said signal device to set said device to its first condition when no flash unit is received by said support member.

Claim 13

Photographic apparatus for use with a multilamp flash unit of the type having a plurality of lamps fireable by striking, a striker for each lamp lodged in a preenergized position and dislodgeable to fire its lamp and a base having an access opening for each striker through which the striker can be contacted for dislodging, said apparatus comprising: means for rotatably receiving such a multilamp unit; a plurality of actuating members mounted for rotation with a received multilamp unit, each of said members being aligned with a different one of the access openings of the received unit during such rotation; and means for applying a dislodging force to at least one of said actuating members to dislodge a striker of a received unit to fire the lamp associated with the striker.

Claim 14

Photographic apparatus for use with a multilamp flash unit of the type having a plurality of lamps fireable by striking, a striker for each lamp lodged in a preenergized position and dislodgeable to fire its lamp and a base having an access opening for each striker through which the striker can be contacted for dislodging, said apparatus comprising: means for rotatably receiving such a multilamp unit; a plurality of actuating members mounted for rotation with a received multilamp unit, each of said members being aligned with a different one of the access openings of the received unit during such rotation; and means for applying a dislodging force to at least one of said actuating members to dislodge a striker of a received unit to fire the lamp associated with the striker.

Claim 15

Photographic apparatus for use with a multilamp flash unit of the type having a plurality of lamps fireable by striking, a striker for each lamp lodged in a preenergized position and dislodgeable to fire its lamp and a base having an access opening for each striker through which the striker can be contacted for dislodging, said apparatus comprising: means for rotatably receiving such a multilamp unit; a plurality of actuating members mounted for rotation with a received multilamp unit, each of said members being nonreleasably engageable with a different one of the strikers of the received unit during such rotation; and means for applying a dislodging force to at least one of said actuating members to dislodge a striker of a received unit to fire the lamp associated with the striker.

Claim 16

Photographic apparatus for use with a multilamp flash unit of the type having a plurality of lamps fireable by striking, a striker for each lamp lodged in a preenergized position and dislodgeable to fire its lamp and a base having an access opening for each striker through which the striker can be contacted for dislodging, said apparatus comprising: means for rotatably receiving such a multilamp unit; a plurality of actuating members mounted for rotation with a received multilamp unit, each of said members being nonreleasably engageable with a different one of the strikers of the received unit during such rotation; and means for applying a dislodging force to at least one of said actuating members to dislodge a striker of a received unit to fire the lamp associated with the striker.

Claim 17

Photographic apparatus for use with a multilamp flash unit of the type having a plurality of lamps fireable by striking, a striker for each lamp lodged in a preenergized position and dislodgeable to fire its lamp and a base having an access opening for each striker through which the striker can be contacted for dislodging, said apparatus comprising: means for rotatably receiving a multilamp unit of the type described; a plurality of actuating members mounted for rotation with a received multilamp unit, each of said members being movable from a retracted first position through a different one of the access openings of the received unit into nonreleasing engagement with the striker associated with such opening; and means for moving said actuating members into such nonreleasing engagement with the strikers in response to receipt of a multilamp unit in said receiving means.

Claim 18

Photographic apparatus for use with a multilamp flash unit of the type having a plurality of lamps fireable by striking, a striker for each lamp lodged in a preenergized position and dislodgeable to fire its lamp and a base having an access opening for each striker through which the striker can be contacted for dislodging, said apparatus comprising: means for rotatably receiving a multilamp unit of the type described; a plurality of actuating members mounted for rotation with a received multilamp unit, each of said members being movable from a retracted first position through a different one of the access openings of the received unit into nonreleasing engagement with the striker associated with such opening; and means for moving said actuating members into such nonreleasing engagement with the strikers in response to receipt of a multilamp unit in said receiving means.

Claim 19

Photographic apparatus for use with a multilamp flash unit of the type having a plurality of lamps fireable by striking, a striker for each lamp lodged in a preenergized position and dislodgeable to fire its lamp and a base having an access opening for each striker through which the striker can be contacted for dislodging, said apparatus comprising: means for rotatably receiving such a multilamp unit; a plurality of actuating members mounteD for rotation with a received multilamp unit, each of said members having a first position in nonreleasing engagement with one of the strikers of a received unit and a second position to which said member is movable to either release a striker or sense the absence of a striker; means for urging at least one of said members from said first position toward said second position with insufficient force to dislodge a striker but with sufficient force to sense the absence of a striker; and means responsive to the presence of a member in its second position for indicating the absence of the striker to an operator.

Claim 20

Photographic apparatus for use with a multilamp flash unit of the type having a plurality of lamps fireable by striking, a striker for each lamp lodged in a preenergized position and dislodgeable to fire its lamp and a base having an access opening for each striker through which the striker can be contacted for dislodging, said apparatus comprising: means for rotatably receiving such a multilamp unit; a plurality of actuating members mounteD for rotation with a received multilamp unit, each of said members having a first position in nonreleasing engagement with one of the strikers of a received unit and a second position to which said member is movable to either release a striker or sense the absence of a striker; means for urging at least one of said members from said first position toward said second position with insufficient force to dislodge a striker but with sufficient force to sense the absence of a striker; and means responsive to the presence of a member in its second position for indicating the absence of the striker to an operator.

Claim 21

Photographic apparatus for use with a multilamp flash unit of the type having a plurality of lamps fireable by striking, a striker for each lamp lodged in a preenergized position and dislodgeable to fire its lamp and a base having an access opening for each striker through which the striker can be contacted for dislodging, said apparatus comprising: means for rotatably receiving such a multilamp unit; a plurality of actuating members mounted for rotation with a received multilamp unit, each of said members having a first position in nonreleasing engagement with one of the strikers of a received unit and a second position to which said member is movable to either release a striker or sense the absence of a striker; means for urging at least one of said members from said first position toward said second position with insufficient force to dislodge a striker but with sufficient force to sense the absence of a striker; a controllable camera component; and means responsive to the presence of a member in its second position for controlling the operation of said component.

Claim 22

Photographic apparatus for use with a multilamp flash unit of the type having a plurality of lamps fireable by striking, a striker for each lamp lodged in a preenergized position and dislodgeable to fire its lamp and a base having an access opening for each striker through which the striker can be contacted for dislodging, said apparatus comprising: means for rotatably receiving such a multilamp unit; a plurality of actuating members mounted for rotation with a received multilamp unit, each of said members having a first position in nonreleasing engagement with one of the strikers of a received unit and a second position to which said member is movable to either release a striker or sense the absence of a striker; means for urging at least one of said members from said first position toward said second position with insufficient force to dislodge a striker but with sufficient force to sense the absence of a striker; a controllable camera component; and means responsive to the presence of a member in its second position for controlling the operation of said component.