Camera with built-in stroboscopic flash

Claim 1

A camera comprising, in combination: a casing having means for supporting photographic film therein; a lens mounted in the casing and positioned to focus an image on said film disposed therein; a manually operated film advance mechanism mounted in said casing and adapted for advancement of the film from frame to frame, said film advance mechanism having a ratchet wheel to prevent film unwinding; a shutter mechanism disposed in the casing between the lens and the film supporting means for selective exposure of each frame, said shutter mechanism comprising a fixed plate having an aperture therein positioned on the optical axis of said lens, a shutter blade pivotally mounted on the fixed plate and normally biased into a position to close the aperture, an operating arm movably mounted on the fixed plate and having a portion extending to the exterior of the casing to permit manual depression thereof, and an actuating linkage connecting said arm and said shutter blade to instantaneously pivot the blade to open the aperture and expose the film upon depression of the operating arm; a mechanical safeguard assembly linking said shutter operating arm and said film advance mechanism adapted to prevent multiple exposures of a single film frame and to prevent film advancement prior to exposure of each film frame, said assembly comprising a pivotally mounted lever arm in operative engagement with said shutter operating arm and movable between a first lever arm position permitting depression of said shutter operating arm and a second lever position preventing depression of said shutter operating arm, said lever arm being moved to said first lever arm position upon actuation of the film advance mechanism and to said second lever arm positIon upon depression of said shutter operating arm, and a tooth movable between a first tooth position into engagement with said ratchet wheel to prevent actuation of the film advance mechanism and a second tooth position out of engagement with said ratchet wheel as the first lever arm is caused to move through engagement with cooperative linkage in the film advance mechanism, and associated cam means connected via intermediary linkage acts upon the tooth in a counterclockwise direction to disengage the tooth and simultaneously the first lever arm is freed to permit actuation of the film advance mechanism, said tooth being moved to said first tooth position upon actuation of the film advance mechanism and to said second tooth position upon depression of said shutter operating arm; and electronic stroboscopic flash means disposed in said casing in a position to illuminate the image to be photographed, said means comprising a reusable flash bulb, an electrical power source, and an actuating circuit including electrical contact means connecting said bulb and said power source, said contact means being in operative engagement with said shutter mechanism and adapted to be actuated simultaneously with the opening of said shutter blade to energize the bulb.