Camera outfit for connecting a flash unit to a photographic camera

Claim 2

A connecting device for connecting detachably between a flash unit and a photographic camera, comprising: a solid strip, means formed in said solid strip for securing said solid strip to said camera, a groove formed at one end of said solid strip, and means for mounting said flash unit to said groove, said groove extending completely through said solid strip, said mounting means having one end formed with a head portion and the other end engaged to said flash unit, a substantially intermediate portion thereof being adapted to be inserted through said groove when said flash unit is to be mounted to said solid strip.

Claim 3

A connecting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mounting means comprises a set screw having one end formed with a head portion and the other end threadably engaged to said flash unit, a substantially intermediate portion of which is adapted to be inserted through said groove when said flash unit is to be mounted on said solid strip.

Claim 4

A connecting device as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one surface of the solid strip adjacent to the groove and facing towards said head portion of said set screw is provided with a rubber covering for providing a friction relative to said head portion.

Claim 5

A connecting device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said groove rearwardly extends with respect to the camera at an angle on both sides of an imaginary line passing in parallel relation to the lengthwise direction of the solid strip, said angle being equal to or greater than the angle of friction represented by tan 1/ Mu , wherein / Mu is a coefficient of friction between the wall defining said groove and said substantially intermediate portion of said set screw that has been inserted in said groove.

Claim 6

A connecting device for connecting detachably between a flash unit and a photographic camera, which comprises; a solid strip having one end curved at right angles to provide an upright seat portion; means formed in said solid strip for securing said strip to said camera; a groove formed in said seat portion of said solid strip and extending completely through said seat portion; and means for mounting said flash unit to said groove comprised of a housing structure having one end closed by a wall, a plunger having one end formed with a substantially circular clamping head and the other end situated wtihin said housing structure, a substantially intermediate portion of which slidably extends through said wall, and means manually operable to move said plunger with said clamping head away from said wall thereby to permit a portion of said plunger between said clamping head and said wall to be relatively inserted through said groove in said seat portion of said solid strip, said manually operable means, when inactive, permitting said clamping head to clamp said seat portion between said clamping head and said wall of said housing structure.

Claim 7

A connecting device for connecting detachably between a flash unit and a photographic camera, which comprises; a solid strip having one end curved at right angles to provide an upright seat portion; means formed in said solid strip for securing said strip to said camera; a groove formed in said seat portion of said solid strip and extending completely through said seat portion; and means for mounting said flash unit to said groove comprised of a housing structure having one end closed by a wall, a plunger having one end formed with a substantially circular clamping head and the other end situated wtihin said housing structure, a substantially intermediate portion of which slidably extends through said wall, and means manually operable to move said plunger with said clamping head away from said wall thereby to permit a portion of said plunger between said clamping head and said wall to be relatively inserted through said groove in said seat portion of said solid strip, said manually operable means, when inactive, permitting said clamping head to clamp said seat portion between said clamping head and said wall of said housing structure.

Claim 8

A connecting device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said mounting means further comprises means for fastening said housing structure to said flash unit.

Claim 9

A connecting device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said groove in said seat portion has one end situated in alignment with the center of said seat portion and the other end situated rearwards Of said camera mounted on said solid strip.

Claim 10

A connecting device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said groove in said seat portion has one end situated in alignment with the center of said seat portion and the other end situated at the bent portion between the body of said solid strip and said upright seat portion, said groove extending in the direction intersecting the lengthwise direction of said solid strip.

Claim 11

A connecting device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said seat portion is formed with a recess for receiving a photosensitive element adaptable for controlling the operation of the flash unit, said photosensitive element being held in position to face towards an object to be photographed irrespective of the angle of inclination of said flash unit with respect to the shooting direction of the camera.

Claim 12

A connecting device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said fastening means comprises a band adapted to encircle a flash stick of said flash unit, and a fitting piece to which both ends of said band are connected, said fitting piece being adjustably accommodated within said housing structure for adjustment of a fastening force exterted by said band.

Claim 13

A connecting device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said band comprises an elastic metallic material.

Claim 14

A connecting device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said mounting means further comprises means for selectively positioning said flash unit so as to permit the direction of travel of rays of light emitted from said flash unit to upwardly diverge from the shooting direction of the camera.

Claim 15

A connecting device for connecting detachably between a flash unit and a photographic camera, which comprises; a solid strip having one end curved at right angles to provide an upright seat portion; means formed in said solid strip for securing said solid strip to said camera; a groove formed in said seat portion of said solid strip and extending completely through said seat portion; and means for mounting said flash unit to said groove which includes a housing structure having one end closed by a wall, a plunger having one end formed with a substantially circular clamping head and the other end situated within said housing, a substantially intermediate portion of which slidably extends through said wall, means for biasing said plunger in one direction with said clamping head close to said wall, and means manually operable to move said plunger in the opposite direction against said biasing means with said clamping head remote from said wall thereby to permit a portion of said plunger between said clamping head and said wall to be relatively inserted through said groove in said seat portion of said solid strip, said manually operable means, when not in operation, permitting said clamping head to clamp said seat portion between said clamping head and said wall of said housing structure.

Claim 16

A connecting device for connecting detachably between a flash unit and a photographic camera, which comprises; a solid strip having one end curved at right angles to provide an upright seat portion; means formed in said solid strip for securing said solid strip to said camera; a groove formed in said seat portion of said solid strip and extending completely through said seat portion; and means for mounting said flash unit to said groove which includes a housing structure having one end closed by a wall, a plunger having one end formed with a substantially circular clamping head and the other end situated within said housing, a substantially intermediate portion of which slidably extends through said wall, means for biasing said plunger in one direction with said clamping head close to said wall, and means manually operable to move said plunger in the opposite direction against said biasing means with said clamping head remote from said wall thereby to permit a portion of said plunger between said clamping head and said wall to be relatively inserted through said groove in said seat portion of said solid strip, said manually operable means, when not in operation, permitting said clamping head to clamp said seat portion between said clamping head and said wall of said housing structure.

Claim 17

A connecting device as claimed in claim 13, further comprising means for fastening said housing structure to said flash unit in a detachable manner.

Claim 18

A connecting device as claimed in claim 14, wherein said fastening means comprises a band adapted to encircle a flash stick of said flash unit, and a fitting piece to which both ends of said band are connected, said fitting piece being adjustably accommodated within said housing structure for adjustment of a fastening force exerted by said band.

Claim 19

A connecting device as claimed in claim 15, wherein said band comprises a metallic material having sufficient resiliency.

Claim 20

A connecting device as claimed in claim 14, further comprising means for selectively positioning said flash unit so as to permit the direction of travel of rays of light emitted from said flash unit to upwardly diverge from the shooting direction of the camera.

Claim 21

A connecting device as claimed in claim 17, wherein said selectively positioning means comprises a pin member slidably accommodated in a wall of said housing structure and having one end operatively connected with said manually operable means, at least one detent hole formed on one surface of said seat portion facing towards said housing structure, into which the other end of said pin member is collapsibly engageable, and means for biasing said pin member in one direction, engagement of said other end of said pin member into said blind hole being effected by said biasing means while disengagement thereof from said blind hole being effected only when said manually operable means is operated.

Claim 22

A connected device as claimed in claim 17, wherein said selectively positioning means comprises a plate member of split ring shape secured to one surface of said seat portion facing opposite to said housing structure, said plate member having a nail member integrally formed therewtih, and at least one detent recess formed in said housing structure for engagement with said nail member.

Claim 23

A connecting device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said groove in said seat portion has one end situated in alignment with the center of said seat portion and the other end situated rearwards of said camera mounted on said solid strip.

Claim 24

A connecting device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said groove in said seat portion has one end situated in alignment with the center of said seat portion and the other end situated at the bent portion between the body of said solid strip and said upright seat portion, said groove extending in the direction intersecting the lengthwise direction of said solid strip.

Claim 25

A connecting device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said seat portion is formed with a recess for receiving a photosensitive element adapted for controlling the operation of the flash unit, said photosensitive element being held in position to face towards an object to be photographed irrespective of the angle of inclination of said flash unit with respect to the shooting direction of the camera.