Telescoping flash unit for a camera
First Claim
1. A camera having a telescoping flash unit, the telescoping flash unit comprising:
- a base arranged in the camera, the base having an inner wall;
a segmented body comprising a plurality of segments including a first segment and a last segment, each segment having an inner wall, the segmented body being housed within the base and extendable therefrom in a telescope-like manner such that in a fully extended position the last segment is farther away from the camera than the first segment;
a flash head attached to the last segment and shaped such that when the telescoping flash unit is not extended, the flash head is substantially flush with the upper surface of the camera; and
means for supplying electrical power and controls to the flash head from the camera such that the flash head can emit a flash when a photograph is taken.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A telescoping flash unit for a camera helps substantially reduce "red-eye" by extending the flash head to a position far enough away from the objective lens such that the angle of incidence from the flash unit to the subject'"'"'s eyes is too great for the light to be reflected from the subject'"'"'s eyes directly back into the objective lens. The compact nature of the camera is maintained when the flash unit is not being used, by either retracting the flash unit back into the body of the camera, or detaching it from the camera. The flash unit is easily separable from the camera body or the external bracket should the flash unit need to be repaired or replaced.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A camera having a telescoping flash unit, the telescoping flash unit comprising:
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a base arranged in the camera, the base having an inner wall; a segmented body comprising a plurality of segments including a first segment and a last segment, each segment having an inner wall, the segmented body being housed within the base and extendable therefrom in a telescope-like manner such that in a fully extended position the last segment is farther away from the camera than the first segment; a flash head attached to the last segment and shaped such that when the telescoping flash unit is not extended, the flash head is substantially flush with the upper surface of the camera; and means for supplying electrical power and controls to the flash head from the camera such that the flash head can emit a flash when a photograph is taken. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A telescoping flash unit for a camera comprising:
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an external bracket having a vertical section and an integral horizontal section, the horizontal section having means for detachably mounting the bracket to the bottom of the camera; a base having its bottom detachably fastened to the lower portion of the vertical section by a securing means, the base having an inner wall; a segmented body comprising a plurality of segments including a first segment and a last segment, each segment having an inner wall, the segmented body being housed within the base and extendable therefrom in a telescope-like manner such that in a fully extended position the last segment is farther away from the camera than the first segment; a flash head attached to the last segment; and means for supplying electrical power and controls to the flash unit from the camera such that the flash head can emit a flash when a photograph is taken. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A telescoping flash unit for a camera comprising:
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a base adapted to be received into the camera, the base having an inner wall; a segmented body comprising a plurality of segments including a first segment and a last segment, each segment having an inner wall, the segmented body being housed within the base and extendable therefrom in a telescope-like manner such that in a fully extended position the last segment is farther away from the camera than the first segment; a flash head attached to the last segment; and means for supplying electrical power and controls to the flash head such that the flash head can emit a flash when a photograph is taken, said means comprising electrical conductors secured into longitudinal grooves in the inner wall of each segment and of the base wherein the grooves within one of the segments are aligned with the grooves in each other segment. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification