Photographic camera for use with different types of photographic flash devices

Claim 2

In a camera of the type having means adapted for operatively receiving a photographic flash device of a first type and a photographic flash device of a second type, each of said flash devices having a particular flash guide number, the improvement comprising: a. a guide number setting member settable to a plurality of positions each of which is indicative of a particular flash guide number; b. an aperture control member operatively coupled to said guide number setting member movable between (1) a cocked position in which said aperture control member is ineffective to regulate lens aperture size and (2) a plurality of operational positions each of which is functionally related to lens aperture size; and c. means actuatable upon coupling either of said flash devices to said flash-receiving means for rendering said aperture control member effective to regulate lens aperture size, said actuatable means including means for positioning said aperture control member in accordance with flash guide number at which said guide number setting member is set only when one but not the other of said flash devices is operatively coupled to said camera.

Claim 3

In a camera of the type having means adapted for operatively receiving a photographic flash device of a first type and a photographic flash device of a second type, each of said flash devices having a particular flash guide number, the improvement comprising: a. a guide number setting member selectively settable over a range of positions each of which is indicative of a particular flash guide number; b. an aperture control member operatively associated with said guide number setting member and adapted to be moved over a range of operational positions, each of which is functionally related to a particular lens aperture size; c. means actuatable upon coupling either type of said flash devices to said flash-receiving means for positioning said aperture control member at a fixed, predetermined operational position related to a predetermined guide number which is independent of said guide number setting member; and d. means enabling said guide number setting means effective for controlling said aperture control member dependent on the guide number at which said guide number setting member is set when the flash device of the first type is coupled to said camera but not when the flash device of the second type is coupled thereto.

Claim 4

In a camera of the type having means adapted for operatively receiving a photographic flash device of a first type and a photographic flash device of a second type, each of said flash devices having a particular flash guide number, the improvement comprising: a. a guide number setting member selectively settable over a range of positions each of which is indicative of a particular flash guide number; b. an aperture control member operatively associated with said guide number setting member and adapted to be moved over a range of operational positions, each of which is functionally related to a particular lens aperture size; c. means actuatable upon coupling either type of said flash devices to said flash-receiving means for positioning said aperture control member at a fixed, predetermined operational position related to a predetermined guide number which is independent of said guide number setting member; and d. means enabling said guide number setting means effective for controlling said aperture control member dependent on the guide number at which said guide number setting member is set when the flash device of the first type is coupled to said camera but not when the flash device of the second type is coupled thereto.

Claim 5

In a camera having means adapted for operatively receiving an electronic flash unit having a particular flash guide number, and flash lamp receptacle means for receiving a photographic flash lamp having a predetermined flash guide number, the improvement comprising: a. a guide number setting member having means settable to the guide member of the electronic flash device to be received by said camera; b. a lens aperture control member operatively associated with said guide number setting member and movable from (1) a tensioned position wherein said control member is ineffective to control lens aperture size over (2) a range of operational positions each of which is functionally related to a particular lens aperture size; c. means operably coupled to said lens aperture control member responsive to coupling either the electronic flash device or the flash lamp to said camera for releasing said aperture control member from said tensioned position for movement to a particular one of said operational positions; d. control means operably associated with said guide number setting member and said aperture control member releasing means movable between (1) a cocked position in which said guide number setting member is ineffective to influence said aperture control member to (2) a released position in which said aperture control member is biased in accordance with the setting of said guide number setting member, said control means being responsiVe to said aperture control member releasing means for movement to said released position only when a flash unit but not a flash lamp is coupled to said camera; and e. means operably coupling said aperture control member to said control means for effecting movement of said aperture control member into an aperture regulating position functionally related to the position of said control means.

Claim 6

In a camera having means adapted for operatively receiving an electronic flash unit having a particular flash guide number, and flash lamp receptacle means for receiving a photographic flash lamp having a predetermined flash guide number, the improvement comprising: a. a guide number setting member having means settable to the guide member of the electronic flash device to be received by said camera; b. a lens aperture control member operatively associated with said guide number setting member and movable from (1) a tensioned position wherein said control member is ineffective to control lens aperture size over (2) a range of operational positions each of which is functionally related to a particular lens aperture size; c. means operably coupled to said lens aperture control member responsive to coupling either the electronic flash device or the flash lamp to said camera for releasing said aperture control member from said tensioned position for movement to a particular one of said operational positions; d. control means operably associated with said guide number setting member and said aperture control member releasing means movable between (1) a cocked position in which said guide number setting member is ineffective to influence said aperture control member to (2) a released position in which said aperture control member is biased in accordance with the setting of said guide number setting member, said control means being responsiVe to said aperture control member releasing means for movement to said released position only when a flash unit but not a flash lamp is coupled to said camera; and e. means operably coupling said aperture control member to said control means for effecting movement of said aperture control member into an aperture regulating position functionally related to the position of said control means.

Claim 7

A camera as defined in claim 3 wherein said control means includes: a. an elongate control member arranged to follow said guide number setting member and having first and second end portions separated by a predetermined length, said first end portion being movable in spaced relation to said aperture control member and said second end portion having coupling means mounted thereon; b. a positioning element movable about a fixed axis between (1) a tensioned position and (2) a rest position and having means defining an arcuate groove spaced relative to said axis and which is adapted to operatively receive said coupling means, said groove having a radius of curvature equal to said length separating said first and second end portions wherein said first end portion is positioned to coincide with the center of curvature when said positioning element is in said tensioned position independent of said guide number setting member and wherein said first end portion is located at a distance from said center of curvature when said positioning element is in its rest position, which distance is functionally related to said guide number setting member; c. a control lever pivotal in accordance with the position of said first end portion; and d. control means operatively associated with said aperture control member and said control lever and adapted to locate said aperture control member in accordance with the position said control lever is located from said aperture control means.

Claim 8

In a camera of the type having means adapted for receiving an electronic flash unit and means for receiving a photographic flash lamp, the flash lamp and flash unit having independent guide numbers, the improvement comprising: a. a positioning element mounted for movement between (1) a cocked, neutral position and (2) a released, control position; b. a guide number setting member selectively settable over a range of positions in accordance with flash guide number; c. a lens aperture control member movable from (1) a tensioned position wherein said control member is ineffective to control lens aperture size over (2) a range of operational positions each of which is functionally related to a particular lens aperture size; d. releasable means communicating with said flash lamp and said flash unit receiving means actuatable upon coupling either flash device to said camera for releasing said aperture control member to render the latter effective to regulate lens aperture size, said releasable means further including means for releasing said positioning element for movement to said control position only when a flash unit is coupled to said camera; e. a transmission member responsive to said guide number setting member and to said positioning element, said transmission member including means movable between (1) a normal position when said positioning element is in said neutral position, which is independent of said guide number setting member, and (2) an aperture influencing position when said positioning element is in said released position related to the guide number at which said guide number setting member is set; and f. means operably coupling said aperture control member to said transmission member for effecting movement of said aperture control member into an aperture regulating position functionally related to the position of said transmission member.

Claim 9

In a camera of the type having means adapted for receiving an electronic flash unit and means for receiving a photographic flash lamp, the flash lamp and flash unit having independent guide numbers, the improvement comprising: a. a positioning element mounted for movement between (1) a cocked, neutral position and (2) a released, control position; b. a guide number setting member selectively settable over a range of positions in accordance with flash guide number; c. a lens aperture control member movable from (1) a tensioned position wherein said control member is ineffective to control lens aperture size over (2) a range of operational positions each of which is functionally related to a particular lens aperture size; d. releasable means communicating with said flash lamp and said flash unit receiving means actuatable upon coupling either flash device to said camera for releasing said aperture control member to render the latter effective to regulate lens aperture size, said releasable means further including means for releasing said positioning element for movement to said control position only when a flash unit is coupled to said camera; e. a transmission member responsive to said guide number setting member and to said positioning element, said transmission member including means movable between (1) a normal position when said positioning element is in said neutral position, which is independent of said guide number setting member, and (2) an aperture influencing position when said positioning element is in said released position related to the guide number at which said guide number setting member is set; and f. means operably coupling said aperture control member to said transmission member for effecting movement of said aperture control member into an aperture regulating position functionally related to the position of said transmission member.