Selective actuating mechanism for percussive photoflash lamp array

Claim 2

A selective actuating mechanism for a photoflash lamp array; said array including a support member, a plurality of percussively-ignitable flashlamps mounted in a row on said support member, and a plurality of preenergized strikers mounted on said support member and releasable to fire said flashlamps; the selective actuating mechanism comprising, in combination: a longitudinal channel in said support member located parallel to said row of flashlamps; a slidable bar retained in said channel; and, means provided on said slidable bar for sequentially releasing said preenergized strikers to fire respective flashlamps of said array in response to successive indexing of said slidable bar along said channel.

Claim 3

The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the sequence of releasing said strikers is programmed by the spatial disposition of said releasing means on said slidable bar.

Claim 4

The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said strikers are mounted so that, in the preenergized condition, said strikers project beyond the periphery of said channel to overlie a portion of said slidable bar.

Claim 5

The mechanism of claim 3 wherein said releasing means comprises one or more ramps, and the sequence of releasing said strikers is programmed by the number and respective location of said ramps along the length of said slidable bar.

Claim 6

The mechanism of claim 4 wherein said strikers are evenly spaced, the number of said ramps equals the number of said strikers, each of said ramps is adapted to release a respective one of said strikers, and each successive ramp after the first is spaced D + (n-1)x from its preceeding ramp in the striker release sequence, where D is the distance between strikers, n is the number of the ramp in the striker release sequence, and x is the distance said slidable bar translates along said channel during each indexing increment for release of a striker.

Claim 7

The mechanism of claim 1 further including a plurality of ratchet drive teeth on said slidable bar which are engagable for indexing said bar.

Claim 8

A photoflash assembly comprising, in combination: a substantially planar base member containing a longitudinal channel; a slidable bar retained in said channel; a plurality of percussively-ignitable flashlamp mounted in a row on said base member parallel to said channel; a plurality of preenergized strikers mounted on said base member and individually releasable to fire a respective one of said flashlamps; and means projecting from said slidable bar and adapted for selectively releasing said preenergized strikers; said slidable bar being operative upon translation along said channel to selectively release said strikers in a predetermined sequence by means of said projecting means to thereby fire the respectively associated flashlamps.

Claim 9

A photoflash assembly comprising, in combination: a substantially planar base member containing a longitudinal channel; a slidable bar retained in said channel; a plurality of percussively-ignitable flashlamp mounted in a row on said base member parallel to said channel; a plurality of preenergized strikers mounted on said base member and individually releasable to fire a respective one of said flashlamps; and means projecting from said slidable bar and adapted for selectively releasing said preenergized strikers; said slidable bar being operative upon translation along said channel to selectively release said strikers in a predetermined sequence by means of said projecting means to thereby fire the respectively associated flashlamps.

Claim 10

The assembly of claim 7 wherein said base member has an aperture therethrough within said channel, and further including means provided on said slidable bar which is accessible through the aperture in said base to be engaged for indexing said slidable bar along said channel, said bar being operative in response to successive iNdexing to sequentially release said strikers by means of said projecting means to fire respective ones of said flashlamps.

Claim 11

The assembly of claim 8 wherein the preenergized strikers mounted on said base member project beyond the periphery of said channel to overlie a portion of said slidable bar, and said means projecting from said slidable bar comprises one or more ramps linearly disposed along one side of said bar, said sequence of releasing said strikers being programmed by the number and respective location of said ramps along the length of said slidable bar.

Claim 12

The assembly of claim 9 wherein said means accessible to be engaged for indexing said slidable bar comprises a plurality of evenly spaced ratchet drive teeth, said teeth being disposed on a side of said bar diametrically opposite that on which said ramps are located, and said aperture being located at the bottom of said channel.

Claim 13

The assembly of claim 10 wherein said strikers are evenly spaced, the number of said ramps equals the number of said strikers, each of said ramps is adapted to release a respective one of said strikers, and each successive ramp after the first is spaced D + (n-1)x from its preceeding ramp in the striker release sequence, where D is the distance between strikers, n is the number of the ramp in the striker release sequence, and x is the distance said slidable bar translates along said channel during each indexing increment for release of a striker.

Claim 14

The assembly of claim 11 wherein the pitch of said ratchet drive teeth is x, and the aperture in said base comprises a slot parallel to said channel and having a length of 2x.

Claim 15

The assembly of claim 9 wherein: each of said flashlamps has a primer tube depending therefrom; said base member contains a plurality of bores each for receiving the primer tube of a respective one of said flashlamps to provide support therefor; and, each of said preenergized strikers is a portion of a folded torsion spring comprising a substantially hairpin torsional section having two segments joined by a bight, said striker portion projecting from one of said segments, a supporting foot projecting from the other of said segments and fixedly mounted on said base member, and a catch formed at the tip of said foot, said striker portion crossing said foot with said catch restraining said striker portion in a cocked condition.

Claim 16

The assembly of claim 9 further including a second row of percussively-ignitable flashlamps mounted on said base parallel to said first-mentioned row of flashlamps, a second longitudinal channel in said base member parallel to said first mentioned channel, said first and second rows of flashlamps being parallel with and disposed between said first and second channels, a second slidable bar retained in said second channel, a second plurality of preenergized strikers mounted on said base member and individually releasable to fire a respective one of the flashlamps of said second row, said second plurality of strikers projecting beyond the periphery of said second channel to overlie a portion of said second slidable bar, one or more ramps linearly disposed along one side of said second bar for selectively releasing said second plurality of preenergized strikers, a second aperture in said base member located in said second channel, and means provided on said second slidable bar which is accessible through the second aperture in said base to be engaged for indexing said slidable bar along said second channel, said second bar being operative in response to successive indexing to sequentially release said second plurality of strikers by means of the ramps on said second bar to fire respective ones of the flashlamps in said second row.

Claim 17

The assembly of claim 14 wherein said base is substantially rectangular, the flashlamps of said second row are staggered relative to the flashlamps of said first row, and said first and second slidable bars are adapted to be indexed in opposite directions, and further including first and second arrays of substantially concave reflectors located between said first and second rows of flashlamps and arranged in nested back-to-back relationship to face in opposite directions, each reflector of said first array being disposed behind a respective one of the flashlamps of said first row and each reflector of said second array being disposed behind a respective one of the flashlamps of said second row, said staggering of lamps and nesting of reflectors providing areas on said rectangular base into which said first and second channels are respectively extended to provide a free end space in each channel into which the bar retained therein can move upon being indexed.