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

• US 4,973,998 A
• Filed: 01/16/1990
• Issued: 11/27/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Gates, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mathews, A. A.
• Application Number:
  US07/465,672
• Time in Patent Office: 315 Days
• Field of Search: 354/126, 354/129, 354/145.1, 354/147, 354/149.11, 354/288
• US Class Current: 396/155
• 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 inner camera part and has an opening for the taking lens. 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 has electrically conductive flash synchronization pins shaped to perforate the outer sealed pack to enter the access ports to connect the flash unit to the disposable camera. According to the invention, the inner camera part includes engageable locator means fixed with respect to the acccess ports, and the flash unit includes positioning means adapted to perforate the outer sealed pack before the flash synchronization pins can perforate the pack for engaging the locator means to properly position the pins for entry into the access ports.

Claims

1. An improved combination of disposable single-use camera and an accessory re-usable electronic flash unit, wherein said disposable camera comprises (a) an inner camera part pre-loaded with film and including a taking lens and flash synchronization access ports, and (b) an outer sealed perforable pack containing said inner camera part and having an opening for said taking lens, wherein said flash unit has electrically conductive flash synchronization pins shaped to perforate said outer sealed pack to enter said access ports, and wherein the improvement comprises:

said inner camera part includes engageable locator means fixed with respect to said access ports; and

said flash unit includes positioning means adapted to perforate said outer sealed pack before said flash synchronization pins can perforate the pack, for engaging said locator means to position the pins for entry into said access ports.

2. The improvement as recited in claim 1, wherein said positioning means is adapted to engage said locator means in movable relation to permit said flash unit and said inner camera part to be moved with respect to one another to move said flash synchronization pins into said access ports following engagement of the positioning means and the locator means.

3. The improvement as recited in claim 2, wherein said locator means includes a rib member integrally formed with said inner camera part, and said positioning means includes a pair of perforating members spaced slightly apart to snugly receive said rib member between them after they have perforated said outer sealed pack.

4. An improved accessory re-usable electronic flash unit intended for use with a disposable single-use camera comprising (a) an inner camera part pre-loaded with film and including a taking lens, flash synchronization access ports, and engageable locator means fixed with respect to the access ports, and (b) an outer sealed perforable pack containing the inner camera part and having an opening for the taking lens, wherein said flash unit has electrically conductive flash synchronization pins shaped to perforate the outer sealed pack to enter the access ports, and wherein the improvement comprises:

said flash unit includes positioning means adapted to perforate the outer sealed pack before said flash synchronization pins can perforate the pack, for engaging the locator means to position the pins for entry into the access ports.