Disposable single-use camera and accessory re-usable electronic flash unit

• US 4,801,957 A
• Filed: 02/18/1988
• Issued: 01/31/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Vandemoere, Alan V.
• Primary Examiner(s): MATHEWS, ALAN A
• Application Number:
  US07/157,239
• Time in Patent Office: 348 Days
• Field of Search: 354/126, 354/129, 354/145.1, 354/147, 354/288
• US Class Current: 396/195
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/05 Combinations of cameras with electronic flash apparatus; Electronic flash units
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 19/04 Roll-film cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/0514 Separate unit
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/056 Connection with camera, e.g. adapter
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2219/045 adapted for unloading the film in the processing laboratory, e.g. disposable, reusable or recyclable cameras

Abstract

A disposable single-use camera is generally of the type wherein an inner camera part is pre-loaded with film and includes a taking lens, and an outer sealed pack contains the camera part and has an opening for the taking lens. According to the invention, the inner camera part has flash synchronization access ports and the outer sealed pack is constructed of a perforable material which overlays the access ports. An accessory re-usable electronic flash unit intended for use with the disposable camera includes electrically conductive flash synchronization pins shaped to perforate the outer sealed pack to enter the access ports, whereby the flash unit is removably connected to the inner camera part.

Claims

1. An improved combination of a disposable single-use camera and an electronic flash unit, wherein (a) an inner camera part is pre-loaded with film and includes a taking lens and a shutter and (b) an outer sealed pack contains said camera part and has an opening for said taking lens, and wherein the improvement comprises:

said inner camera part has flash synchronization access ports;

said outer sealed pack is constructed of a perforable material which overlays said access ports; and

said flash unit includes electrically conductive flash synchronization pins shaped to perforate said outer sealed pack to enter said access ports, whereby the flash unit is removably connected to said inner camera part.

2. The improvement as recited in claim 1, wherein said flash unit has integral means for positioning it relative to said outer sealed pack to locate the flash unit in proper relation with said taking lens for a flash exposure and to drive said conductive pins through the sealed pack into said access ports.

3. The improvement as recited in claim 2, wherein said integral means includes a shell-like member for partially covering said outer sealed pack, said shell-like member having an opening for said taking lens and respective supports for said conductive pins.

4. The improvement as recited in claim 2, wherein said shutter is electrically conductive and is mounted for movement to fully open, an electrically conductive return spring is connected to said shutter, one of said access ports is arranged to position a conductive pin in that port in continuous contact with said return spring, and another port is arranged to position a conductive pin in that port in contact with said shutter only when the shutter is fully opened.

5. An accessory re-usable electronic flash unit intended for use with a disposable single-use camera comprising an (a) inner camera part pre-loaded with film and including a taking lens, a shutter, and flash synchronization access ports and (b) an outer sealed perforable pack containing said camera part and having an opening for said taking lens, wherein said flash unit comprises:

electrically conductive flash synchronization pins shaped to perforate said outer sealed pack to enter said access ports, whereby said flash unit is removably connected to said inner camera part.

6. An electronic flash unit as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

integral means for positioning said flash unit relative to said outer sealed pack to locate the flash unit in proper relation with said taking lens for a flash exposure and to drive said conductive pins through the sealed pack into said access ports.

7. An electronic flash unit as recited in claim 6, wherein said integral means includes a shell-like member for partially covering said outer sealed pack, said shell-like member having an opening for said taking lens and respective supports for said conductive pins.

8. An improved disposable single-use camera intended for use with an accessory re-usable electronic flash unit including electrically conductive flash synchronization pins, wherein said disposable camera comprises (a) an inner camera part pre-loaded with film and including a taking lens and a shutter and (b) an outer sealed pack containing said camera part and having an opening for said taking lens, and wherein the improvement comprises:

said outer sealed pack is constructed of a perforable material which can be perforated by said conductive pins; and

said inner camera part has flash synchronization access ports arranged directly behind said outer sealed pack to immediately receive said conductive pins when the pins perforate the sealed pack.

9. The improvement as recited in claim 8, wherein said shutter is electrically conductive and is mounted for movement to fully open, an electrically conductive return spring is connected to said shutter, one of said access ports is arranged to position a conductive pin in that port in a continuous contact with said return spring, and another port is arranged to position a conductive pin in that port in contact with said shutter only when the shutter is fully opened.