Flash device for a photographic camera

Claim 2

In a flash device, comprising: a flash means having an electric flash tube adapted to emit light when flashed; a reflector for projecting the light emitted by the flash tube means having a curved reflector; a transparent panel covering the front periphery of said reflector and receiving the flash light projected by said reflector means; a filter having edges; a casing having an opening through which the flash light is projected, said opening defining a plurality of edges; housing means located between said reflector means and said casing along one edge of said opening for housing said filter in a rest position within said casing; handle means formed near a first edge of said filter and extending outwardly of said opening when said filter is in its rest position; means for slidingly guiding said filter into said housing means in said casing; means for retaining said filter in an operational position at which said filter covers said opening, said filter being rotatable into its operational position after being slid out from said housing means; and spring means extending into said opening and pressing against a second edge of said filter oppositE said first edge when said filter is in its operational position, said spring means facing an edge of the opening; said retaining means being defined by a locking projection on said casing located forwardly of the edge of said opening facing said spring means, said locking projection being adapted to frictionally engage with said first edge of said filter when in its operational position to thereby retain said filter in its operational position, and being adapted to release said first edge of said filter against the force of said spring means during a shift of said filter to its rest position.

Claim 3

In a flash device according to claim 1, further comprising another spring means mounted on a wall partially defining said housing means in resilient contact with said filter in its rest position, whereby said filter is retained in its rest position in a stable manner.

Claim 4

In a flash device according to claim 2, wherein said housing means and said guide means are provided along the uppermost edge of said opening, said handle means being formed near the lower edge of said filter, said first-mentioned spring means extending into said opening and pressing against the uppermost edge of said filter when in its operational position to thereby retain said filter in its operational position, and said locking projection being located on said casing forwardly of the lowermost edge of said opening, and being adapted to frictionally engage with said lowermost edge of said filter when in its operational position.

Claim 5

In a flash device, comprising: a flash means having an electric flash tube adapted to emit light when flashed; a reflector for projecting the light emitted by the flash tube means having a curved reflector; a transparent panel covering the periphery of said reflector and receiving flash light projected by said reflector means; a filter; a casing having an opening through which the flash light is projected; housing means located between said reflector means and said casing along one edge of said opening so as to house said filter in a rest position within said casing; handle means formed near one edge of said filter and extending outwardly of said opening when said filter is in its rest position; means including a pair of guide slots located on one of said filter and said housing means adjacent the filter, and a pair of guide pins located respectively on the other of said filter and the housing means for loose fitting interengagement with said respective guide slots for guiding said filter into said housing means in said casing; and means for retaining said filter in its operational position at which said filter covers said opening, said filter being rotatable into its operational position after being slid out from said housing means; said guide slots being respectively defined by opposite resilient walls and extending along substantially the entire length of said filter, each of said slots at one of its ends terminating in a slit of a width smaller than that of said respective guide pins; each of said slots ends being brought into engagement with said respective guide pins when said filter is slid outwardly of said housing means, thereby permitting a rotation of said filter about said guide pins, said slits being diametrically enlarged to an extent equal to the diameter of said respective guide pins due to the resiliency of said opposite resilient walls when said filter is pulled outwardly with a force sufficient to pull said pins through said slits, whereby the engagement between said guide slots and guide pins is released.

Claim 6

In a flash device, comprising: a flash means having an electric flash tube adapted to emit light when flashed; a reflector for projecting the light emitted by the flash tube means having a curved reflector; a transparent panel covering the periphery of said reflector and receiving flash light projected by said reflector means; a filter; a casing having an opening through which the flash light is projected; housing means located between said reflector means and said casing along one edge of said opening so as to house said filter in a rest position within said casing; handle means formed near one edge of said filter and extending outwardly of said opening when said filter is in its rest position; means including a pair of guide slots located on one of said filter and said housing means adjacent the filter, and a pair of guide pins located respectively on the other of said filter and the housing means for loose fitting interengagement with said respective guide slots for guiding said filter into said housing means in said casing; and means for retaining said filter in its operational position at which said filter covers said opening, said filter being rotatable into its operational position after being slid out from said housing means; said guide slots being respectively defined by opposite resilient walls and extending along substantially the entire length of said filter, each of said slots at one of its ends terminating in a slit of a width smaller than that of said respective guide pins; each of said slots ends being brought into engagement with said respective guide pins when said filter is slid outwardly of said housing means, thereby permitting a rotation of said filter about said guide pins, said slits being diametrically enlarged to an extent equal to the diameter of said respective guide pins due to the resiliency of said opposite resilient walls when said filter is pulled outwardly with a force sufficient to pull said pins through said slits, whereby the engagement between said guide slots and guide pins is released.

Claim 7

In a flash device according to claim 4, wherein said slots are located on opposite side walls partially defining said housing means and are made of resilient material, and said guide pins are located on a filter frame mounted along at least one pair of opposite edges of said filter. 6. In a flash device according to claim 4, wherein said slots are located on a filter frame mounted along at Least one pair of opposite edges of said filter, and are made of resilient material, and said guide pins are located on opposite side walls partially defining said housing means.

Claim 8

In a flash device including a flash means having an electric flash tube adapted to emit light along an optical axis when flashed, a curved reflector for projecting the light emitted by the flash tube and a transparent panel covering the front periphery of the reflector and receiving flash light projected by the reflector, a filter holder, comprising: a casing having side walls and an opening through which the flash light is projected, said opening defining a plurality of edges; at least one filter having edges; means for housing said filter in a rest position within said casing substantially parallel to the optical axis of flash light coming from said flash device, said means being located between said flash device and said casing along one edge of said opening; means including a filter frame mounted along at least one pair of opposite edges of said filter for slidingly guiding said filter parallel to said optical axis within said casing, a pair of guide slots located respectively on one of said frame and said side walls of said casing adjacent said frame, and a pair of guide pins located respectively on the other of said frame and said side walls for loose fitting engagement with said respective guide slots; the lowermost edge of said opening being in frictional engagement with the lowermost edge of said filter for retaining said filter in an operational position at which said filter covers said opening, said filter being movable into its operational position after being slid out from said housing means, and a locking projection being provided on said casing forwardly of said lowermost edge of said opening, said locking projection being adapted to engage said lowermost edge of said filter when in its operational position to thereby retain said filter in its operational position; and spring means mounted on a wall of said casing within said housing means in resilient contact with said filter in its rest position, to thereby bring said guide slots and said guide pins into pressure contacting relationship with one another so as to retain said filter in its rest position in a stable manner, said locking projection being adapted to release said lowermost edge of said filter against the force of said spring means during a shift of said filter to its rest position, said spring means extending into said opening of said casing and overlying said filter when in its operational position, said spring means thereby pressing against the uppermost edge of said filter when in its operational position, and said spring means serving to enhance the frictional engagement between said lower edge of said filter and said lowermost edge of said opening.

Claim 9

In a flash device including a flash means having an electric flash tube adapted to emit light along an optical axis when flashed, a curved reflector for projecting the light emitted by the flash tube and a transparent panel covering the front periphery of the reflector and receiving flash light projected by the reflector, a filter holder, comprising: a casing having side walls and an opening through which the flash light is projected, said opening defining a plurality of edges; at least one filter having edges; means for housing said filter in a rest position within said casing substantially parallel to the optical axis of flash light coming from said flash device, said means being located between said flash device and said casing along one edge of said opening; means including a filter frame mounted along at least one pair of opposite edges of said filter for slidingly guiding said filter parallel to said optical axis within said casing, a pair of guide slots located respectively on one of said frame and said side walls of said casing adjacent said frame, and a pair of guide pins located respectively on the other of said frame and said side walls for loose fitting engagement with said respective guide slots; the lowermost edge of said opening being in frictional engagement with the lowermost edge of said filter for retaining said filter in an operational position at which said filter covers said opening, said filter being movable into its operational position after being slid out from said housing means, and a locking projection being provided on said casing forwardly of said lowermost edge of said opening, said locking projection being adapted to engage said lowermost edge of said filter when in its operational position to thereby retain said filter in its operational position; and spring means mounted on a wall of said casing within said housing means in resilient contact with said filter in its rest position, to thereby bring said guide slots and said guide pins into pressure contacting relationship with one another so as to retain said filter in its rest position in a stable manner, said locking projection being adapted to release said lowermost edge of said filter against the force of said spring means during a shift of said filter to its rest position, said spring means extending into said opening of said casing and overlying said filter when in its operational position, said spring means thereby pressing against the uppermost edge of said filter when in its operational position, and said spring means serving to enhance the frictional engagement between said lower edge of said filter and said lowermost edge of said opening.

Claim 10

The flash device according to claim 7 wherein a plurality of said filters is provided, and wherein said casing comprises; plural means for housing each said filter in its rest position within said casing, said plural housing means provided at plural portions along the peripheral wall of said opening; plural guide means for said respective filters; and plural means for retaining respective ones of said filters in an operational position after being movable into such operational position by being slid out from its respective housing means.

Claim 11

The flash device according to claim 7, wherein said filter has a projection element thereon near its lower most edge so as to extend outwardly of said opening when said filter is in its rest position.

Claim 12

The flash device according to claim 7, wherein said guide slots are located in said frame, and said filter frame is provided with cut-away portions at said guide slots engaging said guide pins when said filter is in its rest position.

Claim 13

In a flash device including a flash means having an electric flash tube adapted to emit light along an optical axis when flashed, a curved reflector for projecting the light emitted by the flash tube and a transparent panel covering the front periphery of the reflector and receiving flash light projected by the reflector, a filter holder, comprising: a casing having side walls and an opening through which the flash light is projected, said opening defining a plurality of edges; at least one filter having edges; means for housing said filter in a rest position within said casing substantially parallel to the optical axis of flash light coming from said flash device, said means being located between said flash device and said casing along one edge of said opening; means including a filter frame mounted along at least one pair of opposite edges of said filter for slidingly guiding said filter parallel to said optical axis within said casing, a pair of guide slots located respectively on one of said frame and said side walls of said casing adjacent said frame, and a pair of guide pins located respectively on the other of said frame and said side walls for loose fitting engagement with said respective guide slots; the lowermost edge of said opening being in frictional engagement with the lowermost edge of said filter for retaining said filter in an operational position at which said filter covers said opening, said filter being movable into its operational position after being slid out from said housing means, and a locking projection being provided on said casing forwardly of said lowermost edge of said opening, said locking projection being adapted to engage said lowermost edge of said filter when in its operational position to thereby retain said filter in its operational position; and wherein one of said frame and said side walls in which said guide slots are located is of a resilient material, said slots extending along substantially the entire length of said filter, each of said slots at one of its ends terminating in a slit of a width smaller than that of said respective guide pins; each of said slots ends being brought into engagement with said respective guide pins when said filter is slid outwardly of said housing means, thereby permitting a rotation of said filter frame about said guide pins, said slits being adapted to be diametrically enlarged to an extent equal to the diameter of said respective guide pins due to their resiliency when the filter frame is pulled outwardly with a force sufficient to pull said pins through said slits, whereby the engagement between said guide slots and said guide pins is released.

Claim 14

In a flash device including a flash means having an electric flash tube adapted to emit light along an optical axis when flashed, a curved reflector for projecting the light emitted by the flash tube and a transparent panel covering the front periphery of the reflector and receiving flash light projected by the reflector, a filter holder, comprising: a casing having side walls and an opening through which the flash light is projected, said opening defining a plurality of edges; at least one filter having edges; means for housing said filter in a rest position within said casing substantially parallel to the optical axis of flash light coming from said flash device, said means being located between said flash device and said casing along one edge of said opening; means including a filter frame mounted along at least one pair of opposite edges of said filter for slidingly guiding said filter parallel to said optical axis within said casing, a pair of guide slots located respectively on one of said frame and said side walls of said casing adjacent said frame, and a pair of guide pins located respectively on the other of said frame and said side walls for loose fitting engagement with said respective guide slots; the lowermost edge of said opening being in frictional engagement with the lowermost edge of said filter for retaining said filter in an operational position at which said filter covers said opening, said filter being movable into its operational position after being slid out from said housing means, and a locking projection being provided on said casing forwardly of said lowermost edge of said opening, said locking projection being adapted to engage said lowermost edge of said filter when in its operational position to thereby retain said filter in its operational position; and wherein one of said frame and said side walls in which said guide slots are located is of a resilient material, said slots extending along substantially the entire length of said filter, each of said slots at one of its ends terminating in a slit of a width smaller than that of said respective guide pins; each of said slots ends being brought into engagement with said respective guide pins when said filter is slid outwardly of said housing means, thereby permitting a rotation of said filter frame about said guide pins, said slits being adapted to be diametrically enlarged to an extent equal to the diameter of said respective guide pins due to their resiliency when the filter frame is pulled outwardly with a force sufficient to pull said pins through said slits, whereby the engagement between said guide slots and said guide pins is released.

Claim 15

In a flash device including a flash means having an electric flash tube adapted to emit light along an optical axis when flashed, a curved reflector for projecting the light emitted by the flash tube and a transparent panel covering the front periphery of the reflector and receiving flash light projected by the reflector, a filter holder comprising: a casing having opposed side walls and an opening through which the flash light is projected, said opening defining a plurality of edges; at least one filter having edges; means partially defined by said opposed side walls for housing said filter in a rest position therein substantially parallel to the optical axis of flash light coming from said flash device, said means being located between said flash device and said casing along one edge of said opening; means including guide slots formed on said opposite side walls for slidingly guiding said filter parallel to said optical axis within said casing, said guide means further including a filter frame surrounding said filter and guide pins located on said filter frame and extending into said guide slots, said guide pins being in loose fitting engagement with said respective guide slots; the lowermost edge of said opening being in frictional engagement with the lowermost edge of said filter in an operational position at which said filter covers said opening, said filter being movable into its operational position after being slid out from said housing means; spring means mounted on said casing and extending into said housing means, said spring means serving to press against said filter in its rest position to thereby bring said guide pins and said guide slots into pressure contacting relationship with one another so as to retain said filter in its rest position, said spring means including projections located adjacent to said one edge of said opening when the filter is in its rest position, said projections pressing against the uppermost edge of said filter when in its operational position, thereby enhancing the frictional engagement between said lowermost edge of said filter and said lowermost edge of said opening; and said filter means being further defined by an engaging projection located on said casing forwardly of said edge of said opening, said engaging projection being adapted to engage said lowermost edge of said filter when in its operational position, to thereby retain said filter in its operational position, and being adapted to release said lowermost edge of said filter from said engagement against the force of said spring means during the shift of said filter to its rest position from its operational position.

Claim 16

In a flash device including a flash means having an electric flash tube adapted to emit light along an optical axis when flashed, a curved reflector for projecting the light emitted by the flash tube and a transparent panel covering the front periphery of the reflector and receiving flash light projected by the reflector, a filter holder comprising: a casing having opposed side walls and an opening through which the flash light is projected, said opening defining a plurality of edges; at least one filter having edges; means partially defined by said opposed side walls for housing said filter in a rest position therein substantially parallel to the optical axis of flash light coming from said flash device, said means being located between said flash device and said casing along one edge of said opening; means including guide slots formed on said opposite side walls for slidingly guiding said filter parallel to said optical axis within said casing, said guide means further including a filter frame surrounding said filter and guide pins located on said filter frame and extending into said guide slots, said guide pins being in loose fitting engagement with said respective guide slots; the lowermost edge of said opening being in frictional engagement with the lowermost edge of said filter in an operational position at which said filter covers said opening, said filter being movable into its operational position after being slid out from said housing means; spring means mounted on said casing and extending into said housing means, said spring means serving to press against said filter in its rest position to thereby bring said guide pins and said guide slots into pressure contacting relationship with one another so as to retain said filter in its rest position, said spring means including projections located adjacent to said one edge of said opening when the filter is in its rest position, said projections pressing against the uppermost edge of said filter when in its operational position, thereby enhancing the frictional engagement between said lowermost edge of said filter and said lowermost edge of said opening; and said filter means being further defined by an engaging projection located on said casing forwardly of said edge of said opening, said engaging projection being adapted to engage said lowermost edge of said filter when in its operational position, to thereby retain said filter in its operational position, and being adapted to release said lowermost edge of said filter from said engagement against the force of said spring means during the shift of said filter to its rest position from its operational position.

Claim 17

The flash device according to claim 12, wherein said filter frame is provided with notches engaging said operational projections of said spring means when said filter is in its rest position.

Claim 18

In a flash device including a flash means having an electric flash tube adapted to emit light along an optical axis when flashed, a curved reflector for projecting the light emitted by the flash tube and a transparent panel covering the front periphery of the reflector and receiving flash light projected by the reflector, a filter holder comprising: a casing having opposed side walls and an opening through which the flash light is projected, said opening defining a plurality of edges; at least one filter having edges; means partially defined by said opposed side walls for housing said filter in a rest position therein substantially parallel to the optical axis of flash light coming from said flash device, said means being located between said flash device and said casing along one edge of said opening; means including guide slots formed on said opposed side walls for slidingly guiding said filter parallel to said optical axis within said casing, said guide means further including a filter frame surrounding said filter and guide pins located on said filter frame and extending into said guide slots, said guide pins being in loose fitting engagement with said respective guide slots; the lowermost edge of said opening being in frictional engagement with the lowermost edge of said filter in an operational position at which said filter covers said opening, said filter being movable into its operational position after being slid out from said housing means; wherein said opposed walls in which said guide slots are formed are made of a resilient material, each of said slots at their ends near said opening being provided with slits having a width narrower than the diameter of said respective guide pins, said guide pins engaging said last-mentioned slots ends when said filter frame is pulled out from the casing thereby permitting the rotation of said filter about said guide pins, and said slits being resiliently deformed to an extent equal to the diameter of said respective guide pins when said filter is pulled outwardly with a force sufficient to pull said pins through said slits, thereby releasing the engagement of said guide pins and said guide slots.

Claim 19

In a flash device including a flash means having an electric flash tube adapted to emit light along an optical axis when flashed, a curved reflector for projecting the light emitted by the flash tube and a transparent panel covering the front periphery of the reflector and receiving flash light projected by the reflector, a filter holder comprising: a casing having opposed side walls and an opening through which the flash light is projected, said opening defining a plurality of edges; at least one filter having edges; means partially defined by said opposed side walls for housing said filter in a rest position therein substantially parallel to the optical axis of flash light coming from said flash device, said means being located between said flash device and said casing along one edge of said opening; means including guide slots formed on said opposed side walls for slidingly guiding said filter parallel to said optical axis within said casing, said guide means further including a filter frame surrounding said filter and guide pins located on said filter frame and extending into said guide slots, said guide pins being in loose fitting engagement with said respective guide slots; the lowermost edge of said opening being in frictional engagement with the lowermost edge of said filter in an operational position at which said filter covers said opening, said filter being movable into its operational position after being slid out from said housing means; wherein said opposed walls in which said guide slots are formed are made of a resilient material, each of said slots at their ends near said opening being provided with slits having a width narrower than the diameter of said respective guide pins, said guide pins engaging said last-mentioned slots ends when said filter frame is pulled out from the casing thereby permitting the rotation of said filter about said guide pins, and said slits being resiliently deformed to an extent equal to the diameter of said respective guide pins when said filter is pulled outwardly with a force sufficient to pull said pins through said slits, thereby releasing the engagement of said guide pins and said guide slots.