Patent US1028058A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3866033A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3866033A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Photoflash assembly with serially advancing percussive lamps
Assignee: GTE Sylvania Inc
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Filing: 1973-11-21
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Granted: 1975-02-11
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Expires: 1993-11-21
Abstract
Abstract A photoflash magazine comprising a plurality of percussivelyignitable flashlamps with associated striker springs and reflector segments movably supported within a closed container having a front face window and stationary reflector portion located at a remote firing position in the container. Each lamp, spring and reflector combination is mounted on a respective pallet to provide an individual flash unit which is slidably retained in an endless channel or supported on an endless chain. The plurality of such flash units are advanced sequentially to the firing position by a sprocket wheel engaging the pallets or chain and driven by a rotor activated by a film advancing mechanism in a camera to which the magazine is attached. The firing position and window are offset from the camera lens sufficiently to reduce ''''red-eye'''' effect, and a mechanical coupling is disposed between the firing position and an access aperture in the magazine for transmitting a mechanical impulse from a camera actuating member to individually release a striker spring to fire a lamp at the firing position.
Inventors
- 👤 John C Stacy
- 👤 John J Vetere
- 👤 Sedgwick R Bennett
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 06:53
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B15/00; G03B15/02; G03B15/03; G03B15/04; G03B15/0478; G03B15/0484; F; F21; F21K; F21K5/00; F21K5/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A photoflash assembly comprising, in combination: a base member; a plurality of units, each including a percussively ignitable flashlamp and an associated preenergized striker movably supported on said base member, each striker being individually releasable to fire its respective flashlamp; means for controlling the path of travel of said movable flashlamp-striker units; and means for moving said plurality of units along said controlled path of travel to advance said flashlamp-striker units sequentially to a firing position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
A photoflash assembly comprising, in combination: a base member; a plurality of units, each including a percussively ignitable flashlamp and an associated preenergized striker movably supported on said base member, each striker being individually releasable to fire its respective flashlamp; means for controlling the path of travel of said movable flashlamp-striker units; and means for moving said plurality of units along said controlled path of travel to advance said flashlamp-striker units sequentially to a firing position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein each of said flashlamps has a primer tube depending therefrom, and each of said units includes a platform containing a bore for receiving the primer tube of a respective one of said flashlamps to provide support therefor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
88 words
The assembly of claim 2 wherein 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 a respective one of said platforms, 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 5
Dependent Claim
85 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein said means for controlling the path of travel comprises a channel in said base member, each of said units includes a pallet upon which said associated flashlamp and striker are mounted, each of said pallets being slidably retained in said channel and having means suitable for engagement by a sprocket, and said means for moving said plurality of units comprises a sprocket wheel rotatably mounted on said base with the sprockets thereof engaging one or more of said pallets.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
The assembly of claim 4 wherein said sprocket wheel is mounted on said base by a rotatable drive shaft means having a portion depending from said base which is indexably receivable in rotatable mounting means on a camera, said camera having a film advancing mechanism coupled to said rotatable mounting means which is operative upon actuation to rotate said drive shaft and sprocket wheel to thereby advance said flashlamp pallets along said channel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The assembly of claim 4 wherein each of said units further includes a reflector mounted on its respective pallet behind the flashlamp thereon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
103 words
The assembly of claim 6 wherein said base comprises one side of a closed container having a window in the front face thereof, said container enclosing said sprocket wheel and said plurality of units retained in said channel, said firing position being aligned with said window, and further including a stationary reflector segment disposed in said container at the front face thereof and aligned with the window therein so that it will in turn be aligned with each pallet reflector as its associated flashlamp-striker unit is moved into firing position to thereby provide a two segment reflector for each lamp in firing position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
86 words
The assembly of claim 7 wherein said assembly is receivable on a camera hAving a mechanical actuating member for firing one of said flashlamps, said base has an aperture therethrough, and further including mechanical coupling means mounted on said base and disposed between said aperture and said firing position, said coupling means being accessible through said aperture to be actuated by said actuating member and thereupon being operative to release the striker of a unit disposed at said firing position to fire the flashlamp associated therewith.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
The assembly of claim 8 wherein said window and the firing position aligned therewith are located such that when said assembly is mounted on a camera having a lens, said window and associated firing position are offset a predetermined distance from said lens for reducing the effect of ''''red-eye.''''
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The assembly of claim 9 wherein the predetermined distance between the center of said lens and the center of a lamp at said firing position is at least about two and one-half inches.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
84 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein: said means for controlling the path of travel comprises carrier means on said base movable longitudinally thereof; each of said units includes a platform supported on said carrier means and upon which said associated flashlamp and striker are mounted; and said means for moving said plurality of units comprises a spindle rotatably mounted on said base, and a mechanism on said base for translating a rotary motion of said spindle to a longitudinal motion by said carrier means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein said assembly is receivable on a camera having a lens, and said firing position is located on said base such that when said assembly is mounted on said camera, said firing position is offset a predetermined distance from said lens for reducing the effect of ''''red-eye.''''
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The assembly of claim 12 wherein the predetermined distance between the center of said lens and the center of a lamp at said firing position is at least about 2 1/2 inches.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
86 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein said assembly is receivable on a camera having a mechanical actuating member for firing one of said flashlamps, said base has an aperture therethrough, and further including mechanical coupling means mounted on said base and disposed between said aperture and said firing position, said coupling means being accessible through said aperture to be actuated by said actuating member and thereupon being operative to release the striker of a unit disposed at said firing position to fire the flashlamp associated therewith.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
The assembly of claim 14 wherein said firing position is located such that when said assembly is mounted on a camera having a lens, the center of a lamp at said firing position is offset from the center of said lens by at least about 2 1/2 inches.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
123 words
The assembly of claim 14 wherein said mechanical coupling means comprises a system of first and second dual acting levers, one arm of said first lever being pivotally linked to one arm of said second lever, the other arm of said first lever being accessible through said aperture to be pushed away from said base by said actuating member, and a portion of the other arm of said second lever being located between said base and the striker of a unit disposed at said firing position, whereupon actuation of said other arm of the first lever away from said base causes deflection of said other arm of the second lever away from said base to thereby release said striker at the firing position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
101 words
The assembly of claim 14 wherein said mechanical coupling means comprises a substantially linear shaft rotatable about its axis and having a projection at each end approximately normal to the axis thereof, one projection being accessible through said aperture to be pushed against by said actuating member whereby said shaft and projections are cuased to rotate about the axis of the shaft, and the other projection being located to underlie the striker of a unit disposed at said firing position, whereupon rotation of said Shaft by said actuating member causes said last-mentioned projection to release said striker at the firing position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
183 words
The assembly of claim 14 wherein said mechanical coupling means comprises, a cammed disk having a rotatable drive shaft means which is indexably receivable in rotatable mounting means on a camera, a spring-loaded lever means having an arm located between said base and the striker of a unit disposed at said firing position, and a slidable bar disposed between said cammed disk and said spring-loaded lever with one end of said bar being adjacent said cammed disk, said camera having a film advancing mechanism coupled to said rotatable mounting means which is operative upon actuation to rotate said drive shaft and cammed disk whereby the rotary position of said cammed disk forces said bar against said spring-loaded lever to hold said lever in a cocked condition, the end of said bar adjacent said cammed disk being accessible through said aperture to be pushed away from said base by said actuating member, such actuation releasing said bar from said cammed disk to thereby release said spring-loaded lever whereupon said arm thereof deflects away from said base to release said striker at the firing position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The assembly of claim 18 wherein said means for moving said plurality of units comprises a rotary member attached to said drive shaft means and operatively coupled to said plurality of flashlamp-striker units.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-10 | 1978-08-12 | 1979-02-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-10 | 1982-08-12 | 1983-02-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-10 | 1986-08-12 | 1987-02-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |