Photographic apparatus for use with percussively ignitable and electronic flash units

Claim 1

The combination of a photographic apparatus having a housing provided with an aperture, a socket for multiple flash lamp holders indexible in said housing between a plurality of predetermined positions and an impeller which is movable from a first to a second position to extend outwardly through said aperture at least in said second position thereof and to thereby initiate thE firing of a flash lamp in a holder which is connected with said socket, with an electronic flash unit having a casing including a foot directly but separably connectable to and indexible with said socket, said casing having an opening in register with said aperture to permit entry of said impeller into said casing at least in said second position of said impeller when said foot is connected with said socket, said flash unit further comprising normally open switch means provided in said casing and including first contact means and a plurality of second contact means, one for each position of said socket, said second contact means being indexible with and movable relative to said foot so that a different second contact means is located behind said opening in each position of said socket, said impeller being arranged to move the second contact means behind said opening into engagement with said first contact means not later than upon completion of movement from said first to said second position thereof when said foot is connected with said socket, and said flash unit further comprising a source of artificial light in circuit with said switch means and arranged to illuminate the subject in response to engagement between said first contact means and one of said second contact means.