CN112673313B

CN112673313B - Flash generator holding device and flash system

Info

Publication number: CN112673313B
Application number: CN201980058811.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 约翰·沃纳; 菲利普·法尔堡
Original assignee: Profoto AB
Current assignee: Profoto AB
Priority date: 2018-09-11
Filing date: 2019-09-10
Publication date: 2022-07-12
Anticipated expiration: 2039-09-10
Also published as: CN112673313A; WO2020055314A1

Abstract

A flash generator holding device comprising a first and a second holding part, a joint device rotatably connecting the first and the second holding part, the first or the second holding part being connected to the flash generator. The joint arrangement comprises a first and a second joint part connected to a first and a second holding part, respectively, wherein the first joint part is rotatably connected to the second joint part, whereby the first and second holding parts are rotatably connected, an actuator for changing the position of the first and/or second joint part from a respective position at which a position adjustment of the position of the first and/or second joint part can be performed to a respective position at which both are locked relative to each other or vice versa, and position adjustment control means for controlling the adjustment of the position of the first and second joint part relative to each other, the adjustment being able to be effected by rotating the former relative to the latter or vice versa.

Description

Flash generator holding device and flash system

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a flash generator holding device. The present disclosure also relates to a flash system comprising a flash generator and a flash generator holding device.

Background

When using a flash generator that is not an integral part of e.g. a camera or corresponding device, but a separate device, it is desirable to be able to change the angle of the flash generator to achieve different types of illumination of the object to be photographed or filmed. In many cases, the flash generator is attached to a bracket or a manually held rod that can be fixed. In order to change the angle of the emitted flash light, it is necessary to change the angle at which the flash generator is held. There is a holding device for a flash generator, which is configured with a joint. One part of the joint is connected to the flash generator and the other part of the joint is connected to e.g. a bracket or a rod, as the case may be. The two parts of the joint are then rotatably connected to each other so that the angle of the flash generator can be changed.

It is previously known that the respective joint parts may have friction surfaces formed to come into contact by means of a screw arrangement to prevent the two joint parts from moving relative to each other. When the angle of the flash generator is to be changed, the screw means is loosened and the two joint parts can move freely relative to each other. However, such free movement is difficult to control, and it can be quite difficult to hold the two respective joint parts in their respective desired positions while attempting to tighten the threaded means such that the relative positions of the two joint parts are locked at the desired angle.

Disclosure of Invention

The present disclosure relates to improvements relating to flash generator holding devices.

Accordingly, a flash generator holding device is proposed, comprising:

-a first holding portion;

-a second holding portion;

a joint arrangement configured to rotatably connect the first holding portion with the second holding portion,

wherein the first holding part or the second holding part is connected to or connectable to the flash generator,

wherein, this piecing devices includes:

-a first joint part and a second joint part, the first joint part being connected to the first holding part, the second joint part being connected to the second holding part, and the first joint part being rotatably connected to the second joint part by means of a shaft, whereby the first holding part is rotatably connected with the second holding part;

-position adjustment control means configured for controlling an adjustment of the position of the first joint part and the position of the second joint part relative to each other, which adjustment can be effected by rotating the first joint part relative to the second joint part and/or by rotating the second joint part relative to the first joint part;

an actuator for changing the axial position of the first joint part relative to the shaft and/or the axial position of the second joint part relative to the shaft from a respective axial position at which a rotational position adjustment of the first joint part relative to the second joint part can be performed to a respective axial position at which the first joint part and the second joint part are locked relative to each other and/or from a respective axial position at which the first joint part and the second joint part are locked relative to each other to a respective axial position at which a rotational position adjustment of the first joint part relative to the second joint part can be performed;

-locking means configured to lock the first joint part and the second joint part relative to each other, and

wherein,

the locking arrangement comprises a first locking member and a second locking member, wherein the first locking member forms part of one of the first joint part and the second locking member forms part of the other of the first joint part and the second joint part, wherein the first locking member comprises a first surface, wherein the second locking member comprises a second surface, wherein the first surface and the second surface are arranged to face each other, and wherein the first locking member and the second locking member are configured to enter into locking engagement with each other when pressed together.

By means of the flash generator holding arrangement, a combination of a locking arrangement configured to lock the first joint part and the second joint part relative to each other and an arrangement controlling the adjustment of the position of the first joint part and the position of the second joint part relative to each other is provided. By being able to control the relative position of the two joint parts, a more precise adjustment of the angle between the joint parts and thus the angle of inclination of the flash generator relative to any object connected to the other holding part can be made. The flash generator holder, and thus the connected flash generator as a whole, will also be easier to hold and easier to operate. It will be experienced by the user that the desired position of the flash generator will be more easily obtained by rotating the relevant holding part.

An advantage achieved by this locking means is that once the desired position and angle of the flash generator holding means is reached, a secure locking can be achieved. The locking means is compact due to the two surfaces engaging each other and thereby locking the two joint portions and thereby the two retaining portions relative to each other.

The position adjustment control means may comprise at least one resilient member. This will help to make the position adjustment controllable.

The position adjustment control means may include friction adjustment means for adjusting friction between the first joint part and the second joint part. The friction adjusting means will also contribute to making it possible to control the position adjustment. The actuator may be configured to have this friction adjusting function when the first joint portion and the second joint portion are in respective positions at which position adjustment can be performed.

The position adjustment control means may be configured such that adjustment of the position of the first joint part and the position of the second joint part relative to each other may be performed in a stepwise manner. This will also help to improve the control of the adjustment.

According to one example, the position adjustment control arrangement comprises at least one resilient protruding member arranged in a first surface of the first locking member, and wherein the control arrangement comprises at least one recess arranged in a second surface of the second locking member. Even if the position control means and the locking means have separate components, a very compact solution is achieved by integrating the components of the position adjustment control means with the respective first and second surfaces of the locking member.

The position adjustment control device may include a first control portion and a second control portion, wherein the first control portion forms a part of one of the first joint part and the second joint part, and the second control portion forms a part of the other of the first joint part and the second joint part, wherein the second control portion includes at least one recess, and the first control portion includes a plurality of elastic protruding members configured to come into engagement with the at least one recess during relative rotational movement of the first control portion and the second control portion by means of relative rotation of the first holding portion and the second holding portion. By means of the device, the possibility of step control of the position adjustment is achieved. Each step may be formed to correspond to a particular angular adjustment. The step control is achieved by sequential engagement of the resilient projecting member with the at least one recess occurring during relative rotation. The user will experience the following advantages: the stepping motion is sensed when the position of the flash holding portion connected to the flash generator is adjusted by rotating the flash holding portion.

The resilient protruding members may be distributed in a ring shape. If there is only one recess or few recesses, the protruding member is preferably so much as to exhibit an annular shape that the protruding member will come into engagement with the recesses in sequence upon relative rotation of the first joint part and the second joint part.

The second control portion may include a plurality of recesses. The recesses may be distributed in a ring shape. By having a plurality of recesses, preferably distributed in a ring shape, the number of protruding members may be reduced and still provide step control of the adjustment.

In general, the resilient protruding members and the recesses are preferably evenly distributed in the respective surfaces.

According to an alternative example, the position adjustment control apparatus may include a first control portion and a second control portion, wherein the first control portion forms a part of one of the first joint portion and the second joint portion, and the second control portion forms a part of the other of the first joint portion and the second joint portion, and the second control portion may include a plurality of recesses, and the first control portion may include at least one elastic projecting member. The at least one resilient projecting member is configured to enter into sequential engagement with the plurality of recesses during relative rotational movement of the first and second control portions by means of relative rotation of the first and second retaining portions. According to one example, the first control portion comprises a plurality of resilient protruding members. The plurality of protruding members may be distributed in a ring shape. Preferably, the protruding members are evenly distributed in or on the surface. For example, the protruding members are evenly distributed in a ring shape corresponding to the ring shape according to which the recesses are distributed. The depressions are preferably also distributed uniformly, preferably in a ring shape.

In general, for all examples, it may be said that the one or more recesses and the one or more resilient protruding members are arranged in a respective geometrical configuration such that the at least one protruding member will come into engagement with the recesses during relative rotation of the first joint part and the second joint part in the manner described above.

The resilient protruding members may be located in corresponding cavities provided in the first control portion. The resilient protruding member may be a spring-loaded protruding member, e.g. by a compression spring. The spring then provides elasticity to the protruding member. However, the resilience may be provided by other means. For example, the protruding member may be made of a material that will make the protruding member resilient. For example, the protruding member may be made of plastic or metal.

The resilient projecting member may for example be a pin located in the cavity and having one end projecting from the cavity. The pin may be spring loaded, for example. This may be achieved by providing a compression spring at the end of the pin inserted into the cavity. According to an alternative example, the resilient protruding member may be a spherical member. A compression spring may then be arranged between the bottom of the cavity and the spherical member, whereby resilience is achieved. A portion of the spherical member should then protrude from the cavity so that it can enter the provided recess.

In general, the recess preferably has a shape that matches the portion of the resilient projecting member configured to come into engagement with the recess. When the resilient protruding member is a pin and has an end protruding from the cavity, the end may have a rounded shape, such as a hemispherical shape or a part-spherical shape. When the end of the pin has this shape or the elastic projecting member is a spherical member, the recess may be cup-shaped or have the mentioned hemispherical shape or part-spherical shape. By having a corresponding rounded shape of the elastic protruding member and the recess, the protruding member can slide out of one recess and into the next recess when the joint parts are rotated relative to each other. Alternatively, if there is only one recess or few recesses, the resilient protruding member will slide into the recesses in sequence during rotation and thereby enable a stepwise adjustment of the relative position.

There may be many variations of the recesses and protruding members. The modification of the recess may be arranged as a recess in the first surface of the first mentioned locking member and the modification of the protruding member may be arranged to protrude from the second surface of the second locking member, or the modification of the protruding member may be arranged to protrude from the first surface of the first locking member and the modification of the recess may be arranged as a recess in the second surface of the second mentioned locking member. Of course, the mentioned cavities will be provided as cavities formed in the surface. The mentioned annular shape may be an annular shape built into the respective surface.

In general, when describing the adjustment of the relative positions of the first joint section and the second joint section during relative rotation as steps, it should be understood that these steps may be very small and represent only small angle adjustments.

The first surface of the first locking member may be configured as an annular surface. The second surface of the second locking member may be configured as an annular surface. This is advantageous because the joint portion is intended to undergo relative rotational movement.

The locking means may comprise a compression spring arranged between the first and second locking members. The function of such a spring is to urge the first and second locking members apart when they are in unlocked engagement with one another. Or rather, when the actuator no longer applies any pressure to one of the first and second locking members that presses the first and second locking members together into engagement, the first and second locking members are urged apart. There may be one or more springs that perform this function.

According to one example, at least one of the first and second locking members is movable by means of an actuator in an axial direction with respect to the shaft towards the other locking member, wherein one of said first and second surfaces comprises a plurality of protrusions and the other surface comprises a plurality of recesses, and wherein the protrusions and recesses are configured to enter into locking engagement with each other when the first and second locking members are pressed together by means of the actuator. Thus, in this position no relative rotational movement occurs between the locking members, i.e. between the joint members. The recess may have a shape corresponding to the shape of the protrusion.

On surfaces with protrusions there will also be recesses between the protrusions. Thus, both surfaces may be described as having protrusions and recesses between the protrusions. Thus, an alternative to describing the locking engagement between the locking members is that both surfaces include a protrusion, and the protrusion on one surface comes into locking engagement with a corresponding protrusion on the other surface, and the protrusion on the other surface comes into locking engagement with a corresponding protrusion on one surface. Then, the recess formed between two adjacent protrusions located on one of the locking member surfaces has a shape corresponding to the shape of the protrusion located on the other locking member surface.

According to one example, the protrusion may be configured as a radial rib and the recess may be configured as a radial recess or groove.

However, the protrusions and recesses of the first and second surfaces may also have other shapes. The protrusions and recesses of the first and second surfaces may for example be configured as pins and corresponding recesses. The first and second surfaces may also have other shapes than annular.

It should also be mentioned that according to another example, the locking device may comprise a first locking member and a second locking member, one of which is movable in a direction towards the other locking member, and wherein the first surface of the first locking member is a friction surface and the second surface of the second locking member is a friction surface, and said surfaces are arranged facing each other. According to this example, the first and second friction surfaces are brought into locking engagement with each other when the first and second locking members are pressed together by means of the actuator. The surface may for example be an annular surface.

According to one example, the at least one resilient protruding member may be arranged in the first surface of the first locking member and outside or inside the protrusion or recess. In this context, the expression at least one shall also include the case of having a plurality of protruding members.

According to one example, the first locking member may comprise a disc-shaped member having a radial surface comprising the first surface of the first locking member. The protrusion or recess may be provided on the outside of the at least one resilient protrusion member.

According to one example, the at least one recess may be arranged in the second surface of the second locking member and may be arranged outside or inside the protrusion or recess. In this context, the expression at least one will also include the case of having a plurality of recesses.

According to one example, the second locking member may comprise a disc member having a radial surface comprising the second surface of the second locking member. The protrusion or recess may be disposed outside of the at least one recess.

In general, advantages are achieved when the first locking member and the at least one protruding member of the first control portion may be combined on one surface. In a corresponding manner, it is advantageous when the second locking member and the at least one recess of the second control portion can be combined on one surface. The disc shape is advantageous in that the joint portion is intended to undergo relative rotational movement.

According to one example, the shaft is centrally positioned in a space in the joint arrangement, wherein the shaft has a first end and a second end, the first end being rigidly connected to the second joint part, and the actuator head of the actuator being movably connected at the second end by means of a threaded connection, wherein the actuator head comprises a contact surface configured to come into contact with a corresponding contact surface provided on the first joint part when screwing the actuator head inwards, whereby pressure applied when screwing the actuator head inwards will move the first joint part towards and into locking engagement with the second joint part. By means of the screw function, a variable force can be applied to the first joint part to move the joint part towards the second joint part. The first locking member of the first joint section will then come into engagement with the second locking member of the second joint section and, when the pressure from the actuator head increases, a locking engagement is achieved. When the actuator head is screwed outwards and the pressure on the first joint part is released, the first joint part will move away from the second joint part by means of a compression spring located between the first and second locking members.

According to an example, the flash generator holding arrangement may comprise means configured to restrict movement of the first joint part when changing the respective positions of the first joint part and the second joint part. The device may comprise a flange provided on the shaft, which flange acts as an abutment in both directions and may thereby limit possible axial movement of the first joint part relative to the second joint part when screwing the actuator head inwards or outwards, respectively. The flange can thereby also restrict possible movements of the first control part relative to the second control part, so that even when the actuator head has been screwed outwards so that the first and second locking members are no longer in the respective positions in which there is locking engagement, there is always contact between the first and second control parts to maintain the possibility of controlling the position adjustment of the two joint parts. Then, when moving between the recesses, the contact between the first control portion and the second control portion may be maintained by frictional contact between the elastic projecting member and the surface on which the recesses are provided, and may of course be maintained by contact of the elastic projecting member with the recesses themselves. According to an example, the surface is a second surface of the second locking member in which the protrusion/recess is also arranged outside the recess. The actuator may thus be referred to as being part of the position adjustment control means, since the actuator serves as a friction adjusting means for adjusting the friction between the first joint part and the second joint part. For this purpose, there may be a corresponding first abutment surface arranged in a space in the joint arrangement and another corresponding second abutment surface arranged as part of the actuator head.

It is apparent from the above description that the actuator may be regarded as part of the locking device, and the actuator may also be regarded as part of the position adjustment control device.

It should be mentioned that other types of actuators are also conceivable. Such as a clamp-type actuator that presses the locking members together.

Also described is a flash system comprising a flash generator comprising a flash forming element arranged to generate flash light, and a flash generator holding device as defined in any of the aspects of the invention defining such a device.

Other features and advantages will also become apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments and examples.

Drawings

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying schematic drawings that illustrate various aspects and examples, and in which:

figure 1 shows an example of a flash generator holding device in a perspective view,

figure 2 shows in cross-section the flash generator holding device of figure 1 partly in a first position,

figure 3 shows in cross-section partly the flash generator holding device of figure 1 in a second position,

figure 4 shows a first joint part which is,

figure 5 shows a second joint section that is,

fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of a flash system.

The same elements or elements representing corresponding or equivalent elements are given the same reference numerals in different drawings.

Detailed Description

An example of a flash generator holding device 1 is shown in fig. 1 and 2. The retaining means comprises a first retaining portion 5, a second retaining portion 10 and a joint means 20. The first holding part 5 or the second holding part 10 is connected or connectable to a flash generator. If the first holding part 5 or the second holding part 10 is connected to the flash generator, the first holding part 5 or the second holding part 10 will typically be an integral part of the flash generator. The joint means 20 is configured to rotatably connect the first holding portion 5 with the second holding portion 10. The holding part that is not connected/connectable to the flash generator may for example be connected to some kind of support, such as a rod, so that the holding device together with the flash generator may be manually held or attached to a bracket or other object.

The joint device 20 includes:

a first joint part 30 and a second joint part 40, the first joint part 30 being connected to the first holding part 5, the second joint part 40 being connected to the second holding part 10, and the first joint part 30 being rotatably connected to the second joint part 40 by means of a shaft 74, whereby the first holding part 5 is rotatably connected with the second holding part 10;

position adjustment control means 80, which position adjustment control means 80 are configured for controlling an adjustment of the rotational position of the first joint part 30 and the rotational position of the second joint part 50 relative to each other, which adjustment can be achieved by rotating the first joint part 30 relative to the second joint part 50 and/or by rotating the second joint part 50 relative to the first joint part 30;

an actuator 70 for changing the axial position of the first joint part 30 relative to the shaft 74 and/or the axial position of the second joint part 40 relative to the shaft 74 from a respective axial position at which an adjustment of the rotational position of the first joint part 30 relative to the second joint part 40 can be performed to a respective axial position at which the first joint part 30 and the second joint part 40 are locked relative to each other and/or from a respective axial position at which the first joint part 30 and the second joint part 40 are locked relative to each other to a respective axial position at which an adjustment of the rotational position of the first joint part 30 relative to the second joint part 40 can be performed;

a locking device 50, the locking device 50 being configured to lock the first joint part 5 and the second joint part 10 relative to each other, and

wherein,

the locking arrangement 50 comprises a first locking member 51 and a second locking member 52, wherein the first locking member 51 forms part of one of the first joint part 30 and the second joint part 40 and the second locking member 52 forms part of the other of the first joint part 30 and the second joint part 40, wherein the first locking member 51 comprises a first surface 53 and the second locking member 52 comprises a second surface 55, wherein the first surface and the second surface are arranged to face each other, and wherein the first locking member and the second locking member are configured to enter into locking engagement with each other when pressed together.

The position adjustment control device 80 may include at least one elastic member 84.

The position adjustment control means 80 may include friction adjustment means for adjusting the friction between the first joint part 30 and the second joint part 40. An example of this will be described later.

The position adjustment control means comprises at least one resilient protruding member 84 arranged in the first surface 53 of the first locking member 51 and wherein the control means comprises at least one recess 86 arranged in the second surface 55 of the second locking member 52. The resilient protruding member protrudes from the first surface in a direction towards the at least one recess in the second surface, as can be seen in the examples in fig. 2 to 5.

The position adjustment control device 80 may include a first control portion 81 and a second control portion 82. The first control portion 81 forms a part of one of the first joint part 30 and the second joint part 40, while the second control portion 82 forms a part of the other of the first joint part and the second joint part, see also fig. 3, 4 and 5. In the example shown in the figures, the first control portion 81 is illustrated as forming part of the first joint part 30 and the second control portion 82 is illustrated as forming part of the second joint part 40, but this could be reversed. The second control portion 82 may include at least one recess 86, while the first control portion 81 may include a plurality of resilient protruding members 84. The recess 86 can be seen to be disposed in the second surface 55 of the second locking member 52 and the resilient projection member 84 can be seen to be disposed in the first surface 53 of the first locking member 51. The resilient protruding members may be distributed in a ring shape. The resilient protruding member is configured to come into engagement with the at least one recess 86 during a relative rotational movement of the first and

second control portions

81, 82 by means of a relative rotation of the first and

second holding portions

5, 10. Preferably, the protruding members are evenly distributed, in particular evenly distributed with respect to said annular shape.

The resilient projecting members 84 and the at least one recess 86 may be configured such that when one of the joint sections is rotated relative to the other joint section, the projecting members sequentially come into engagement with the at least one recess. One protruding member may then slide into the recess during rotation and will then slide out of the recess during further rotation, while the other protruding member will slide into the recess. According to an example, the second control portion 82 comprises a plurality of recesses 86, see fig. 5. The plurality of recesses may be distributed in a ring shape. Preferably, the depressions are evenly distributed. For example, the recesses are evenly distributed in an annular shape corresponding to the annular shape according to which the resilient protruding members are distributed.

According to an alternative example, the position adjustment control device 80 includes a first control portion 81 and a second control portion 82, wherein the first control portion 81 forms a portion of one of the first joint portion 30 and the second joint portion 40, and the second control portion 82 forms a portion of the other of the first joint portion and the second joint portion, and the second control portion 82 may include a plurality of recesses 86, and the first control portion 81 may include at least one elastic protruding member 84. Then, the at least one resilient protruding member is configured to come into sequential engagement with the plurality of recesses during relative rotational movement of the first and

second control portions

81 and 82 by means of relative rotation of the first and

second holding portions

5 and 10. Also in this example, the recesses and/or the at least one resilient protruding member may be distributed in a ring shape, and the recesses and/or the at least one resilient protruding member are preferably evenly distributed.

The resilient projecting member 84 may be a spring-loaded projecting member. This can be achieved in different ways and examples will be given below.

The resilient projection member 84 may be located in a corresponding cavity 90 provided in the first control portion 81. The cavity as shown is provided in the first surface 53 of the first control portion 81.

The resilient projecting member may be, for example, a pin or dowel located in the cavity 90, and the pin has one end projecting from the cavity, as shown in the illustrated example. The pin may be spring loaded. This can be achieved by means of a compression spring 91 provided at the end of the pin 87 inserted into the cavity 90. Furthermore, other types of spring means are foreseen.

According to an alternative example, the resilient protruding member may be a spherical member. A compression spring may then be arranged between the bottom of the cavity and the spherical member, whereby resilience is achieved. Then, a portion of the spherical member should protrude from the cavity so that a portion of the spherical member can enter the provided recess. The recess preferably has a shape matching the spherical member, e.g. the recess may be cup-shaped.

Generally, the recess 86 preferably has a shape that matches the portion of the resilient projecting member 84 configured to come into engagement with the recess. When the resilient projecting member is shown as a pin in the illustrated example and has an end projecting from the cavity 90, the end may be rounded, such as a hemispherical shape or a part-spherical shape. When the end of the pin has this shape or the elastic projecting member is a spherical member, the recess may thus be cup-shaped, or have the mentioned hemispherical shape or part-spherical shape.

As a further alternative, the elastic protruding member may be made of a material that makes the protruding member itself elastic. For example, the resilient protruding member may be made of a plastic material or metal providing elasticity or a spring effect to the protruding member.

The mentioned variant of the recess may be arranged as a recess in the first surface of the first mentioned locking member and the mentioned variant of the protruding member may be arranged to protrude from the second surface of the second locking member, or the mentioned variant of the protruding member may be arranged to protrude from the first surface of the first locking member and the mentioned variant of the recess may be arranged as a recess in the second surface of the second mentioned locking member.

In the illustrated example, the first locking member 51 forms a portion of the first joint section 30, and the second locking member 52 forms a portion of the second joint section 40.

The first surface of the first locking member 51 may be configured as an annular surface. The second surface of the second locking member 52 may be configured as an annular surface.

The locking means may comprise a compression spring 60 arranged between the first locking member 51 and the second locking member 52. The function of such a spring is to urge the first and second locking members apart when they are in unlocked engagement with one another. Or rather, when the actuator no longer applies any pressure to one of the first and second locking members that presses the first and second locking members together into engagement, the first and second locking members are urged apart. There may be one or more springs that together perform this function. When the first joint part and the second joint part, which respectively include the first locking member and the second locking member, are in positions separated from each other, position adjustment can be performed by rotating one of the joint parts.

According to one example, at least one of the first and second locking members is movable towards the other locking member in an axial direction with respect to the shaft by means of an actuator 70. One of said first and

second surfaces

53, 55 comprises a plurality of protrusions 54 and the other surface comprises a plurality of recesses 56, the recesses 56 preferably having a shape corresponding to the shape of the protrusions, and wherein the protrusions 54 and recesses 56 are configured to be brought into locking engagement with each other when the first and second locking members are pressed together by means of the actuator 70. As previously described, the actuator may accomplish this when changing the axial position of the first joint part 30 and/or the axial position of the second joint part 40 from respective positions at which position adjustments may be performed to respective positions at which the first joint part 30 and the second joint part 40 are locked relative to each other.

There will also be recesses between the protrusions on the surface with the protrusions. Thus, both surfaces may be described as having protrusions and recesses between the protrusions. Thus, an alternative to describing the locking engagement between the locking members is that both surfaces include a protrusion, and the protrusion on one surface comes into locking engagement with a corresponding protrusion on the other surface, and the protrusion on the other surface comes into locking engagement with a corresponding protrusion on one surface. Then, the recess formed between two adjacent protrusions on one of the locking member surfaces has a shape corresponding to the shape of the protrusion on the other locking member surface.

According to one example, the protrusions 54 provided on one of the first and

second surfaces

53, 55 may be configured as radial ribs. This is illustrated in the examples shown in fig. 4 and 5. The recesses 56 provided on the other surface may then be configured as radial recesses or grooves. As previously described, the axial position of first joint section 30 relative to shaft 74 may be varied. The expression "radial" in the present and following context means a radial direction with respect to the axis 74. The first and

second surfaces

53, 55 facing each other can be seen in fig. 2-5 to extend perpendicular to the axis of the shaft 74 and can also be described as extending in a radial direction with respect to the shaft 74. Thus, the ribs and recesses may be described as radial ribs/recesses. The ribs preferably have a triangular or rectangular cross-section, while the grooves have a shape corresponding to the shape of the ribs. In the examples shown in fig. 4 and 5, it is shown that the mating first and

second surfaces

53, 55 may have the same pattern of ribs and grooves between the ribs, and these ribs and grooves may interact with each other when engaged to provide locking. When the ribs of the respective surfaces are pressed together by means of the actuator into engagement with each other, relative rotation of the first joint part and the second joint part can no longer be achieved.

It should also be mentioned that according to another example, the locking device may comprise a first locking member and a second locking member, one of which is movable in a direction towards the other locking member, and wherein the first surface of the first locking member is a friction surface and the second surface of the second locking member is a friction surface, and said surfaces are arranged to face each other. According to this example, the first and second friction surfaces are brought into locking engagement with each other when the first and second locking members are pressed together by means of the actuator. The surface may for example be an annular surface.

According to one example, the at least one resilient protruding member 84 may be arranged in the first surface 53 of the first locking member 51, and the at least one resilient protruding member 84 may be arranged outside or inside the protrusion 54 or the recess 56, depending on whether the first surface has a protrusion or a recess.

According to an example, the first locking member 51 may comprise a first disc-shaped member 64, the disc-shaped member 64 having a radial surface comprising the first surface 53 of the first locking member 51. A projection or recess may then be provided on the exterior of the at least one resilient projection member 84 as the case may be.

According to one example, the at least one recess 86 may be disposed in the second surface 55 of the second locking member 52, and the at least one recess 86 may be disposed outside or inside the protrusion 54 or the recess 56, depending on whether the second surface has a protrusion or a recess.

According to one example, the second locking member 52 may include a second disc member 66, the second disc member 66 having a radial surface including the second surface 55 of the second locking member 52. The projections and recesses may then be disposed outside of the at least one recess 86, as the case may be. This example is shown in fig. 5.

The shaft 74 may be centrally located in a space 90 in the joint arrangement 20, wherein the shaft has a first end 75 and a second end 76, the first end 75 being rigidly connected to the second joint portion, the actuator head 79 of the actuator being movably connected at the second end 76 by means of a threaded connection. Actuator head 79 includes a contact surface 76a configured to come into contact with a corresponding contact surface 88a provided on first joint component 30 as the actuator head is screwed inwardly, whereby the pressure applied as the actuator head is screwed inwardly will cause first joint component 30 to move toward and into locking engagement with second joint component 40. As will be described in more detail later.

Further details shown in the illustrated examples will now be described. In fig. 2, an example of the flash generator holder 1 is shown when the flash generator holder 1 is in its locked position. This can be seen in that the first locking member 51 engages with the second locking member 52, since there is no gap between the two locking members, see fig. 3. As mentioned before, the locking engagement is achieved by pressing the first and second locking members together by means of the actuator 70. The first locking member 51 has an annular first surface 53 on which a protrusion 54 is arranged, see fig. 4. The first surface 53 forms a part of the radial surface of the first disc-shaped member 64, which part is part of the first locking member 51. Thus, the radial surface comprises a projection 54 of the first locking member, said projection 54 being arranged in an annular shape outside the resilient projection member 84 of the first control portion. The resilient projecting member 84 is not shown in fig. 4, but the resilient projecting member 84 is shown in fig. 2. In fig. 4, only the holes in the first surface leading to the cavity 90 receiving the resilient protruding member are shown. Correspondingly, the second locking member 52 has an annular second surface 53 on which a protrusion 56 is arranged, see fig. 5. The second surface 53 forms a portion of the radial surface of the second disc member 66 that is part of the second locking member 52. Thus, the radial surface of the second disc member 66 comprises the projection 56 of the second locking member, said projection 56 being arranged in an annular shape outside the recess 86 of the second control portion.

The actuator 70 is constructed like a screw device which is mainly located in a central inner space 89 within the joint device. One purpose of the actuator is to provide a rigid connection with a joint part at one end of the device and there is a screw function at the other end of the device by means of which a variable force can be exerted on the other joint part to move it towards or away from the first-mentioned joint part. The shaft 74 of the actuator 70 extends through the centre of the two disc-shaped

members

64, 66, in which two disc-shaped

members

64, 66 holes are provided for this purpose. Typically, first surface 53 and second surface 55 are also centered on axis 74 and thus include corresponding apertures through which the axis extends to connect the first joint component with the second joint component. The first disc-shaped member 64 of the first locking member 51 is arranged to be rotatable relative to the shaft. The shaft also includes a first threaded end 75 and a second threaded end 76, the first threaded end 75 having external threads, and a head 79 attached to the shaft at the second threaded end 76. This head will be referred to as actuator head hereinafter. The first threaded end 75 is screwed into an internal thread 77 arranged in the portion of the second retaining portion 10 rigidly connected to the second disc member 66. Alternatively, the internal thread may be integral with the second disc member. Once the first threaded end is screwed into the internal thread of the second retaining portion, the shaft 74 should be rigidly coupled to the second retaining portion 10. At the other end of the shaft, an actuator head 79 with internal threads will engage with the external threads of the second threaded end 76. However, the actuator head 79 is configured to be movable in the axial direction of the shaft and also relative to the shaft. Thus, the threaded connection between the second end 76 and the actuator head 79 is not intended as a fixed connection, but should be able to turn the actuator head so that the actuator head can be screwed in a direction towards the second end 76 and can also be screwed in the opposite direction out of the second end of the shaft.

The actuator also includes a flange 78 disposed on the shaft 74. This function will be described later.

In the example shown, the first control portion 81 includes a housing portion 88 in addition to the first disc-shaped member 64. The housing portion 88 includes a centrally located space 89 through which the shaft 74 may be inserted. Thus, the space 89 has a circular cross-section, and the space 89 is coaxial with the holes in the two disc-shaped

members

64, 66. The housing portion 88 is illustrated as forming primarily a part of the first retaining portion 5, but the housing portion 88 may alternatively be integral with the first disc-shaped member 94. In any case, the housing portion 88 and the first disk-shaped member 94 are connected, and the housing portion 88 and the first disk-shaped member 94 are rotatable relative to the actuator shaft.

As mentioned previously, the actuator head 79 has internal threads. Outside the opening to the internal thread, there is a contact surface 76a on the actuator head and configured to come into contact with a corresponding contact surface 88a provided on the housing 88 when the actuator head is screwed inwards. Thereby exerting a pressure on the housing and the first disc-shaped member 94 comprising the first locking member 51 such that the first locking member is pressed into locking engagement towards the second locking member 52. First joint section 30 and second joint section 40 are thus in respective positions where first joint section 30 and second joint section 40 are fixed and locked relative to each other. When the actuator head is screwed in the outward direction, the pressure will stop. Thus, the locking engagement between the first and

second locking members

51, 52 will stop. Thus, first joint section 30 and second joint section 40 will be free to move relative to one another. In particular, first joint section 30 and second joint section 40 will be free to rotate relative to each other and the angle of the first joint section relative to the second joint section can be changed. These positions of the different components are shown in fig. 2 and 3.

In order to prevent the first and

second locking members

51, 52 from remaining engaged even if the actuator head has been relieved of pressure, a compression spring 60 is arranged between the second locking member 52 and the portion of the housing 88 connected to the first locking member 51. In the example shown, the compression spring is arranged in a recess 61 along the circumference of an axial space 89 in the housing 88. This compression spring will serve to force the first and

second locking members

51, 52 apart when the actuator is unscrewed. This is achieved by the first locking member being moved apart in the axial direction. The first joint part and the second joint part will thus be in a respective position in which the first joint part and the second joint part are not locked relative to each other, as has been described. The first joint part can now be rotated relative to the second joint part.

The flange 78 acts as an abutment in both directions and thereby limits possible axial movement of the first joint part 30 relative to the second joint part 40 when screwing the actuator head 79 inwardly or outwardly, respectively. The flange 78 thereby also limits the possible movement of the first control part 81 relative to the second control part 82, so that there is always a possibility of contact between the first and second control parts to maintain the positional adjustment of the two joint parts controlled, even when the actuator head has been screwed outwards so that the first and second locking members are no longer in the respective positions in which there is locking engagement. The contact between the first control portion and the second control portion is maintained by frictional contact between the resilient projecting member 84 and the surface on which the recess 86 is provided, and of course by contact of the resilient projecting member 84 with the recess itself. In the illustrated example, this surface is the second surface 55 of the second locking member 52, in which second surface 55 also the protrusions/recesses are arranged outside the recesses 86. The actuator may thus be referred to as being part of the position adjustment control means, since the actuator functions as a friction adjusting means for adjusting the friction between the first joint part and the second joint part. The flange of the actuator abuts against a corresponding first abutment surface 92 arranged on the housing 88 and another corresponding second abutment surface 93 arranged as part of the actuator head 79. A second abutment surface on the actuator head is provided between the opening for the internal thread and the contact surface 76 a.

With regard to the position adjustment control device, as also shown in the example illustrated in fig. 1, during the locked state, the resilient protruding members 84 of the first control portion 81 will be pressed into the corresponding recesses 86 of the second control portion 82. However, when the pressure applied by the actuator 70 has relaxed and the first and second locking members are no longer in locking engagement with each other, upon rotation of the first joint part, i.e. the first holding part, the protruding member 84, i.e. each spring-loaded pin or corresponding resilient protruding member 84, will be able to slide out of contact with its current recess 86 against the force of the spring 91. When the first joint part 30 and the first holding part 5 are rotated relative to the second joint part 40 and the second holding part 10, the spring-loaded pins will then move in a sliding, stepwise manner from one recess to the next. Thereby, the positions of the first joint part 30 and the second joint part 40 can be changed and adjusted in a controlled manner, and therefore, the angle between the first holding part 5 and the second holding part 10 can be adjusted in a controlled manner. The step size may be very small, depending on the selected distance between the recesses and/or the distance between the protruding members. As long as the actuator head is released only to a limited extent, the compression spring of the spring loaded pin will ensure that the pin does not become fully released and there will be at least a frictional contact, as was the case described above in relation to the provided abutment surfaces. Thus, the actuator 70 functions as a friction adjustment device that adjusts the friction between the resilient projecting member 84, e.g., the pin, and the recess 86, and thus also between the first joint part and the second joint part.

As mentioned, other types of actuators are also contemplated. Such as a clamp-type actuator that presses the locking members together. If this type of actuator is used, both the first joint part and the second joint part can move in the axial direction.

As mentioned above, the retaining means fulfill two functions. One function is to lock the first joint part and the second joint part in such a way that they cannot move relative to each other, and this function is achieved by axial movement of certain parts associated with the first joint part and the second joint part between a locking position and a non-locking position, which axial movement is achieved by means of an actuator. Another function is achieved as a combination thereof with a non-locking position, and wherein the positional adjustment of the relative position of the first joint part and the second joint part can be performed in a controlled manner by a rotational movement of one of the joint parts relative to the other.

In the illustrated example, a cavity 90 housing a compression spring 91 for the resilient projecting member 84 is illustrated as being formed substantially in the housing portion 88. In the illustrated example, four resilient projecting members are also shown, but the number may naturally vary. Of course, the number of depressions may also vary.

In fig. 6, a flash system is schematically illustrated, the flash system comprising a flash generator 100 and a flash generator holding device 1, the flash generator 100 comprising a flash forming element arranged to generate flash light. The flash generator holding device 1 of the system may be configured as described above.

The invention should not be regarded as being limited to the embodiments shown, but modifications and variations are possible in many ways, as those skilled in the art will recognize, without departing from the scope defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A flash generator holding device (1), the flash generator holding device (1) comprising:

-a first holding portion (5);

-a second holding portion (10);

-a joint arrangement (20), the joint arrangement (20) being configured to rotatably connect the first holding part with the second holding part,

wherein the first holding portion or the second holding portion is connectable to a flash generator,

wherein, the piecing devices include:

-a first joint part (30) and a second joint part (40), the first joint part (30) being connected to the first holding part (5), the second joint part (40) being connected to the second holding part (10) and the first joint part being rotatably connected to the second joint part by means of a shaft (74), whereby the first holding part and the second holding part are rotatably connected;

-position adjustment control means (80), said position adjustment control means (80) being configured for controlling an adjustment of the rotational position of the first joint part (30) and the rotational position of the second joint part (40) relative to each other, said adjustment being able to be achieved by rotating the first joint part relative to the second joint part or by rotating the second joint part relative to the first joint part;

-an actuator (70), the actuator (70) being adapted to change the axial position of the first joint part (30) relative to the shaft and/or the axial position of the second joint part (40) relative to the shaft from a respective axial position enabling a rotational position adjustment of the first joint part relative to the second joint part to a respective axial position at which the first joint part and the second joint part are locked relative to each other and/or from a respective axial position at which the first joint part and the second joint part are locked relative to each other to a respective axial position enabling a rotational position adjustment of the first joint part relative to the second joint part;

-locking means (50), said locking means (50) being configured to lock said first joint part and said second joint part with respect to each other, and

wherein,

-the locking device (50) comprises a first locking member (51) and a second locking member (52), wherein the first locking member (51) forms part of one of the first joint part (30) and the second joint part (40) and the second locking member (52) forms part of the other of the first joint part and the second joint part, wherein the first locking member (51) comprises a first surface (53), wherein the second locking member (52) comprises a second surface (55), wherein the first surface and the second surface are arranged to face each other, and wherein the first locking member and the second locking member are configured to enter into locking engagement with each other when pressed together.

2. The flash generator holding device according to claim 1, wherein the position adjustment control device (80) comprises at least one resilient member.

3. The flash generator holding device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the position adjustment control means (80) comprises friction adjustment means for adjusting the friction between the first joint part (30) and the second joint part (40).

4. The flash generator holding device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the position adjustment control device comprises at least one resilient protruding member (84) arranged in the first surface (53) of the first locking member (51), and wherein the position adjustment control device comprises at least one recess (86) arranged in the second surface (55) of the second locking member (52).

5. The flash generator holding device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the position adjustment control device (80) comprises a first control part (81) and a second control part (82), wherein the first control portion (81) forms a portion of one of the first joint portion (30) and the second joint portion (40), and the second control portion (82) forms a portion of the other of the first joint section and the second joint section, wherein the second control portion (82) comprises at least one recess (86), and the first control portion (81) comprises a plurality of resilient projecting members (84), the resilient protruding member (84) is configured to come into engagement with the at least one recess during relative rotational movement of the first and second control portions by means of relative rotation of the first and second retaining portions.

6. The flash generator holding device according to claim 5, wherein the second control portion (82) comprises a plurality of recesses (86).

7. The flash generator holding device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the position adjustment control device comprises a first control part (81) and a second control part (82), wherein the first control portion (81) forms a part of one of the first joint portion (30) and the second joint portion (40), and the second control portion (82) forms a portion of the other of the first joint section and the second joint section, wherein the second control portion (82) comprises a plurality of recesses (86) and the first control portion (81) comprises at least one resilient protruding member (84), the resilient projecting member (84) is configured to come into sequential engagement with the plurality of recesses during relative rotational movement of the first and second control portions by means of relative rotation of the first and second retaining portions.

8. The flash generator holding device according to claim 5, wherein the resilient protruding member (84) is located in a corresponding cavity (90) provided in the first control portion.

9. The flash generator holding device according to claim 5, wherein the resilient protruding member (84) is a spring loaded protruding member.

10. The flash generator holding device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first surface (53) of the first locking member is configured as an annular surface, and wherein the second surface (55) of the second locking member is configured as an annular surface.

11. The flash generator holding device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the locking device (50) comprises a compression spring (60) arranged between the first locking member (51) and the second locking member (52).

12. The flash generator holding device according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the first and second locking members is movable in an axial direction with respect to the shaft towards the other locking member by means of the actuator (70), wherein one of the first and second surfaces (53, 55) comprises a plurality of protrusions (54) and the other surface comprises a plurality of recesses (56), and wherein the protrusions (54) and recesses (56) are configured to enter into locking engagement with each other when the first and second locking members are pressed together by means of the actuator.

13. The flash generator holding device according to claim 12, wherein the protrusion (54) is configured as a radial rib and the recess (56) is configured as a radial recess.

14. The flash generator holding device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one resilient protruding member (84) is arranged in the first surface (53) of the first locking member (51) and outside or inside the protrusion (54) or the recess (56).

15. The flash generator holding device according to claim 14, wherein the first locking member comprises a first disc-shaped member (64), the first disc-shaped member (64) having a radial surface comprising the first surface (53) of the first locking member (51), and wherein the protrusion (54) or the recess (56) is provided outside the at least one resilient protrusion member (84).

16. The flash generator holding device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one recess (86) is arranged in the second surface (55) of the second locking member (52) and is arranged outside or inside the protrusion (54) or the recess (56).

17. The flash generator holding device according to claim 16, wherein the second locking member comprises a second disc member (66), the second disc member (66) having a radial surface comprising the second surface (55) of the second locking member (52), and wherein the protrusion (54) or the recess (56) is provided outside the at least one recess (86).

18. The flash generator holding device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the shaft (74) is centrally positioned in a space (89) in the joint device, wherein the shaft has a first end (75) and a second end (76), the first end (75) being rigidly connected to the second joint part (40), at which second end (76) an actuator head (79) of the actuator is movably connected by means of a threaded connection, wherein the actuator head comprises a contact surface (76a), the contact surface (76a) being configured to come into contact with a corresponding contact surface (88a) provided on the first joint part (30) when screwing the actuator head inwards, whereby the pressure exerted when screwing the actuator head inwards will move the first joint part (30) towards and to and with the second joint part (40) Locking engagement.

19. The flash generator holding device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flash generator holding device comprises means configured to limit the movement of the first joint part when changing the respective positions of the first joint part and the second joint part.

20. A flash system comprising a flash generator (100) and a flash generator holding device (1) as defined in any one of claims 1 to 19, the flash generator (100) comprising a flash forming element arranged to generate flash light.