US4592635A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Power handle for electronic flash unit and remote shutter release device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1985-05-28
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Granted: 1986-06-03
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Expires: 2005-05-28
Abstract
Abstract A battery power handle is shown for use with a photographic camera, and it is provided for use with an electronic flash unit as well as a remote shutter release device that is capable of being fastened to the shutter release button of the camera. When the power handle energizes the shutter release device, it trips the camera. The power handle includes a hollow housing containing a plurality of batteries that are joined in series-parallel circuit. The top of the power handle includes a wiring compartment having an electrical connector on its top wall for receiving and holding a mating electrical connector of a standard electronic flash unit that may be attached thereto. The wiring compartment includes a printed circuit board having a DC-to-DC inverter circuit to step up the low voltage DC from the batteries into high voltage DC to power the flash unit.
Inventors
- 👤 Buddy W. Vaughn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 23:18
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B17/00; G03B17/38; G03B15/00; G03B15/02; G03B15/03; G03B15/05; G03B2215/00; G03B2215/05; G03B2215/0514; G03B2215/056; G03B2217/00; G03B2217/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
314 words
A battery power handle for use with a photographic camera for tripping the shutter release button of the camera and energizing a portable flash unit, said power handle comprising: a. a hollow elongated housing containing a plurality of dry cell batteries that are connected in series-parallel circuit; b. the top end of the elongated housing including a hollow wiring compartment that is closed at the top and is furnished with an electrical connector for receiving and holding a mating electrical connector of a portable electronic flash unit that is attached to the top end of the power handle; c. the said wiring compartment including a printed circuit board having a DC-to-DC inverter circuit to step up the low voltage DC from the batteries into high voltage DC to power the said flash unit; d. the lower end of the flash unit having a battery compartment, and a dummy battery replacement module fitted into this battery compartment, the said dummy battery module having a cable connected back to the said wiring compartment of the power handle to pick up the low voltage DC from the power handle; e. and a removable high voltage cable connected between the wiring compartment of the power handle and the flash unit for furnishing the high voltage DC from the power handle to the flash unit; f. the said wiring compartment of the power handle being furnished with a cable of low voltage DC that is connected at its other end to a camera shutter release solenoid that is adapted to be fastened to the shutter release button of the camera; g. and a shutter release switch mounted on the exterior of the said power handle so that when it is actuated the camera shutter is released and the flash unit is being simultaneously energized by the high voltage DC furnished from the DC-to-DC inverter circuit of the power handle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
314 words
A battery power handle for use with a photographic camera for tripping the shutter release button of the camera and energizing a portable flash unit, said power handle comprising: a. a hollow elongated housing containing a plurality of dry cell batteries that are connected in series-parallel circuit; b. the top end of the elongated housing including a hollow wiring compartment that is closed at the top and is furnished with an electrical connector for receiving and holding a mating electrical connector of a portable electronic flash unit that is attached to the top end of the power handle; c. the said wiring compartment including a printed circuit board having a DC-to-DC inverter circuit to step up the low voltage DC from the batteries into high voltage DC to power the said flash unit; d. the lower end of the flash unit having a battery compartment, and a dummy battery replacement module fitted into this battery compartment, the said dummy battery module having a cable connected back to the said wiring compartment of the power handle to pick up the low voltage DC from the power handle; e. and a removable high voltage cable connected between the wiring compartment of the power handle and the flash unit for furnishing the high voltage DC from the power handle to the flash unit; f. the said wiring compartment of the power handle being furnished with a cable of low voltage DC that is connected at its other end to a camera shutter release solenoid that is adapted to be fastened to the shutter release button of the camera; g. and a shutter release switch mounted on the exterior of the said power handle so that when it is actuated the camera shutter is released and the flash unit is being simultaneously energized by the high voltage DC furnished from the DC-to-DC inverter circuit of the power handle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
76 words
The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein the said power handle is furnished with a set of eight AA batteries connected in a series-parallel circuit to furnish 6 volt DC power to both the DC inverter circuit and to the said shutter release solenoid, while the said DC inverter circuit furnishes between 150 to 175 volts DC at about between 350 ma and 500 ma of current for the power available to the flash unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention is recited in claim 2 wherein the said flash unit may be supplied only with the low voltage DC from the batteries in the handle by the disconnection of the said removable high voltage cable.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
178 words
The invention as recited in claim 2 wherein the said eight AA batteries in the power handle are arranged in 2 sets of 4 batteries apiece, one set above the other, where two batteries of each set are arranged right side up and the remaining two batteries of each set are arranged inverted the lower end of the power handle being fitted with a removable cap, the interior of the cap being provided with a compression spring that in turn engages a support plate fitted into the lower end of the power handle in a given position and supporting a pair of parallel spring contact members each in enagement with two of the four batteries of the lower set of batteries to form a series connection, the upper end of the elongated housing having a second pair of parallel spring contact members arranged perpendicular to the direction of the first said pair of spring contact members and each being in engagement with two of the four batteries of the upper set of batteries to form a parallel connection.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2418714A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-06-02 | 1989-12-02 | 1990-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-06-02 | 1993-12-02 | 1994-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-06-02 | 1997-12-02 | 1998-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |