GB1563675A - Photographic electronic flash appliance - Google Patents

Description

(54) PHOTOGRAPHIC ELECTRONIC FLASH APPLIANCE (71) We, FRANKE & HEIDECKE GMBH, a German Body Corporate, trading as Rollei-Werke Franke & Heidecke, of 196 Salzdahlumer Strasse, Braunschweig, Germany do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in any by the following statement: The invention relates to an electronic flash appliance for a photographic camera of flat construction, the flash appliance and the camera both having a separate housing.

What is meant here by a camera of flat construction is a camera whose smallest dimension is the height of the camera perpendicular to the optical axis, which is essentially determined by the width of the film. Such cameras of flat construction are on the market under the name of "pocket camera". In such cameras the camera housing height perpendicular to the optical axis and to the running direction of the film are essentially determined by the width of the film.

In the case of such cameras, the camera housing dimension in the direction of the optical axis is us8ually larger than the camera housing height. A flash shoe for accepting an electronic flash appliance on such cameras may be located on the top of the housing which extends parallel to the running direction of the film or on one of the side walls of the camera housing which are perpendicular to the running direction of the film.

In the case of one known camera with an electronic flash appliance of the type hereinbefore mentioned, there is provided on the top of the camera a flash shoe into which the electronic flash appliance can be inserted by means of a correspondingly constructed fixing bracket, so that the electronic flash appliance stands upright on the camera and the housing axes of camera and flash appliance form a right angle with each other. This unit of camera and flash appliance is very voluminous and has very unfavourable proportions in regard to its packability. In order to be able to carry the camera and flash appliance in the pocket in the usual way, these two appliances must be reseparated from each other and placed in the pocket separately. This necessity not only makes handling of the camera for flashlight exposures very intricate, but also considerably reduces the rapidity with which the camera is prepared for flashlight exposures, which considerably impairs the value of the camera as a rapid shot camera, which is what it has ultimately been conceived as.

Furthermore, one camera of flat construction is known, in which the electronic flash appliance is placed against the camera laterally, i.e. in the running direction of the film, and camera and flash appliance are enclosed by a single common housing. Such a housing unit, however, possesses very considerably extension from the point of view of the running direction of the film, particularly by comparison with its other dimensions. Such a shape is similarly very unfavourable from the standpoitn of handy and convenient placing of the camera in the jacket or trouser pocket, which is reallv the original aim of a so-called "pocket camera".

The problem on which the invention is based, therefore, is to combine a camera of flat construction and an electronic flash appliance in such a way that the latter, without having to be separated from one another, form a flat unit with proportions which are favourable for placing in a jacket or trouser pocket, at least in the not-in-use position.

This problem is solved, according to the invention, in that a surface of the flash appliance has a dimension substantially equal to the height of the camera housing and in that the flash appliance includes means enabling the flash appliance to be swivellably connected to the camera housing in such a way that the camera and the flash appliance can be transferred from their exposure position into a not-in-use postion in which the mentioned flash appliance housing surface lies against a housing wall of the camera, lying perpendicular to the optical axis.

In a first realization of the invention, the flash appliance has a fixing bracket located thereon for inserting into a flash shoe which is on the camera housing and the fixing bracket is flexibly fastened to the flash appliance housing with a swivelling axis which runs along one edge of the housing in such a way that when the fixing brcket is in the flash shoe, the flash appliance housing can be placed against a housing wall of the camera which lies perpendicular to the optical axis, and thereby at least two housing surfaces of the flash appliance lying parallel to each other are more or less flush with the housing surfaces of the camera lying parallel to the optical axis and the running direction of the film.

As a result of this measure, the flash appliance can be swivelled into two positions without its having to be released from the camera. In the exposure position, the flash appliance, as in the case of known flash appliances, stands either vertically on the top of the camera housing or laterally perpendicular to the opitcal axis, depending upon the arrangement of the flash shoe on the camera housing. In the other position, in the not-in-use position of camera and flash appliance, in which the latter have to be packed, the flash appliance, as a result of the fixing bracket which is flexibly located on the flash appliance housing, can be placed against the front wall or against the rear wall of the camera, in which case two housing surfaces of the flash appliance are flush with the top and underside of the camera housing. In this not-in-use position of camera and flash appliance, camera and flash appliance consequently form a compact flat unit which is of uniform height, that is corresponding to the height of the camera housing, and therefore has favourable proportions in order to make it possible to carry the camera merely in the jacket or trouser pocket, as previously. Because the flash appliance and camera also form one unit in the not-in-use state and are able to be put in the pocket together, the camera is rapidly "ready for shooting" with flash exposures also, as the flash appliance merely has to be swivelled forwards. A time-consuming fixing-together of the flash appliance and camera is unnecessary.

According to a first specific embodiment of theinvention, at least one housing surface of the flash appliance has roughly the same dimensions as at least one surface of the camera which is situated perpendicular to the optical axis. Such a housing surface is either the front wall or rear wall of the camera which releases the objective and viewfinder of the camera. As a result of this measure, the camera and flash appliance, in the not-in-use state in which the flash appliance rests either against the front or rear wall of the camera, form a compact shape with a closed contour line without any projections and corners, which is best suited for being carried on the body of the photographer. As practically all pocket cameras on the market have roughly the same dimensions in the running direction of the film, a flash appliance designed in this way can also be used in conjunction with nearly all cameras, exploiting all the advantages already described.

In a further specific embodiment of the invention, the swivelling axis is located along one surface edge of the flash appliance housing having a length of edge corresponding to the height of the camera housing. Such a design of the flash appliance is advantageous if the flash appliance is to be used on cameras in which the flash shoe is located on a lateral surface of the camera housing situated perpendicular to the running direction of the film. If, in addition, the front wall carrying a refelector and the rear wall of the flash appliance housing is constructed congruent to the front wall and the rear wall of the camera housing - as in the aforedescribed specific embodiment of the invention - the camera and flash appliance together in the exposure position have a long shape which promotes easy mangeability of the exposure unit when exposing, and in the not-in-use position of camera and flash appliance, have a stout compact shape with a closed contour line and a size ratio which is favourable for carrying in the jacket or trouser pocket. Here, it is advantageous if at least one housing surface of the flash appliance is constructed substantially congruent to at least one housing surface of the camera which is situated at right angles to the running direction of the film and parallel to the optical axis. The camera and flash appliance thereby form a closed shape without any projecting corners and edges in the exposure position also. This measure can be used to advantage if the dimension of the camera in the direction of the optical axis is not much larger than the height of the camera.

According to a further specific embodiment of the invention, effective locking between the fixing bracket and flash appliance housing is provided when the fixing bracket rests against the flash appliance housing. Thereby, not only can the flash appliance be fixed to the camera in the exposure position of camera and flash appliance for the purpose of better handling, so that the reflector is invariably aligned in the direction of the optical axis of the camera, but as a result of this measure, the fixing bracket, in particular, is fixed to the flash appliance housing so that the flash appliance can also be used in the usual way on cameras other than those of flat construction. In a second realization of the invention, the combination of the flash appliance with a camera of flat construction, each with a separate housing, is characterized in that at least one housing surface of the flash appliance has substantially the same dimensions as at least one housing surface of the camera lying perpendicular to the optical axis, and that both housings are swivellably connected together in such a way that camera and flash appliance can be converted from their exposure position into the not-in-use position in which in said one housing surface of camera and said one housing surface of the flash appliance rest against one another.

By this means there is produced a cameraelectronic flash appliance in which, when the camera and flash appliance are ready for exposure, the latter lie beside each other or on top of each other and their optical axes are therefore aligned parallel to each other as necessary, and they are located one behind the other in the not-in-use state, so that both appliances together produce a surface which is advantageous in regard to its length-breadth ratio, and which, by comparison with the unit which has been known to date, can always be carried in a more manageable and therefore less cumbersome manner by the photographer.

According to a specific embodiment of the invention, provision is made that the camera and flash appliance housing are connected together by a frame, that at least one housing is connected to the frame by at least one centre of rotation, and that the axes of the centres of rotation are located parallel to the roughly congruent housing surfaces of the camera and the flash appliance. The flash appliance or camera can thereby be swivelled out of its not-in-use position, in which it is suitable for putting away, into a position of readiness for exposure, in which the flash appliance is above the camera, without access to the operating elements which may be located on the top of the camera being prevented. Moreover, there also arises the further advantage that the flash appliance can also be swivelled in such a way that its optical axis is not aligned parallel to the optical axis of the camera. but forms an acute angle with the latter. With such a camera-flash appliance combination.

bounce-light exposures can be accomplished with a flash appliance which is firmly connected to the camera, without interference with the flash appliance and without any additional measures.

In a further specific embodiment of the invention, the two housings of camera and flash appliance are connected together flexibly with a swivelling axis which runs along one edge of the housing.

According to a further specific embodiment of the invention, the arrangement can be so contrived that the housing surface of the camera which lies against the flash appliance housing in the not-in-use position of camera and flash appliance is the front wall of the camera housing which releases the objective and viewfinder. By this measure, there is also brought about some protection of the front of the objective and viewfinder in the not-in-use position of the camera, without additional measures being necessary.

According to a further specific embodiment of the invention, provision is made that the housing surfaces of camera and flash appliance lying perpendicular to the optical axis have roughly the same dimensions and the swivelling axis is located in such a way that in the not-in-use position of camera and flash appliance, the two back walls of the housings are adjacent to each other. Here, the swivelling axis is advantageously located along one surface edge of the housing surfaces of the camera and flash appliance lying perpendicular to the optical axis.

According to one preferred specific embodiment of the invention, provision is made that on one narrow side wall of the camera housing which runs parallel to the optical axis, a flash shoe is provided for accepting a fixing bracket which is located on one narrow side wall of the flash appliance housing running parallel to the optical axis, and that the fixing bracket is fastened flexibly to the flash appliance housing with a swivelling axis which is located along one surface edge of this side wall which edge runs perpendicular to the optical axis.

By this means there is produced on the one hand, a camera-electronic flash appliance unit which, in the not-in-use state can be transformed into a handy shape whichis suitable for packing, without both appliances being detached from one another. and on the other hand, there is provided the possibility of separating the flash appliance from the camera in order to be able to carry the camera by itself for certain purposes in which a flash appliance is absolutely unnecessary. and also of being able to apply the flash appliance to any other type of camera. The camera-flash appliance unit composed of a camera and flash appliance fitting together and a fitting flash appliance can be used altogether more universally as a result of this measure, without the advantage which is desired with this combination of appliances being surrendered.

In another specific embodiment of the invention, the swivelling axis of the fixing bracket is located along the surface edge which is formed by the back wall and the side wall of the flash appliance housing which wall rests against the camera housing.

Thereby, there are short swivelling paths for the flash appliance or for the camera, as the flash show is usually so located on the camera that the flash appliance can be inserted from the rear wall of the camera.

According to a further specific embodiment of the invention, the camera and flash appliance can be locked and/or bolted together in their exposure and/or not-in-use position. This prevents the flash appliance and camera being able to be detached from one another in the not-in-use position and possibly preventing the insertion into the pocket or removal from the pocket of the appliance combination. In the exposurem position, better handling of the appliances which are locked or bolted together results.

Further specific embodiments and advantageous developments of the invention are contained in the subsidiary claims, to which reference is expressly made here in connection with the present invention, and explained in greater detail in the specification.

The invention is described hereafter by reference to some exemplified embodiments which are represented in the drawing. Here, Figure 1 shows a first exemplified embodiment of the camera-flash appliance combination in perspective representation, where in Figure la, the combination in rediness for exposure, and in Figure lb, the combination in the not-in-use position. are represented, Figure 2 shows a second exemplified embodiment of the camera-flash appliance combination in perspective representation, where once again Figure 2a shows the readiness position and Figure 2b shows the not-in-use position.

Figure 3 shows a third exemplified embodiment of the camera-flash appliance combination in perspective representation in the exposure readiness position (Figure 3a) and in the not-in-use position (Figure 3b).

Figure 4 shows a modification of the exemplified embodiment of the cameraflash appliance combination as per the exemplified embodiment in Figure 2. and Figure 5 shows a further exemplifed embodiment of an electronic flash appliance which is mounted on a camera. in which Figure 5a shows the camera and flash appliance in the exposure position. Figure 5b shows the camera and flash appliance in the not-in-use state, and Figure Sc shows the camera and flash appliance in the state in which they are separated from each other.

In the case of all the exemplified embodiments in Figure 1 to 4, camera and flash appliance are adapted to each other in such a way that at least one housing surface of the flash appliance has roughly the same dimensions as at least one housing surface of the camera lying vertical to the optical axis, and both housings are swivellably connected together with such a way that the camera and flash appliance can be transformed from their exposure position (readiness for exposure) into a not-in-use position, in which a roughly congruent housing surfazce of the camera rests against a roughly congruent housing surface of the flash appliance.

In the exemplified embodiment in Figure 1, the camera is marked with 101 and the flash appliance with 102. Each of these appliances has a separate housing 103 or 104. The camera housing 103 is of flat construction and rectangularly shaped, where th'e height of the camera is essentially determined by the width of the film. The front wall 105 of the camera housing 103, which faces the exposure subject when in readiness for exposure, contains an aperture 107 which releases the camera objective 106 and a further aperture 109 which releases the camera viewfinder 108. The back wall 110 of the camera housing 103 has the same dimensions as the front wall 105. On the top 111 of the camera housing is located the release 112 and a stop setter 113. The film-conveying and shutter-setting bar, which are not shown here, are usually located in the underside 114 of the camera housing 103.

The flash appliance housing 104 is likewise constructed rectangularly, in such a way that its lateral surface which is situated at the bottom in the position of readiness for exposure, the underside 120, and the top 121 which faces it, have the same dimensions as the front wall 105 or back wall 110 of the camera housing 103. The reflector 123. and in some cases with so-called computer flash appliances a photoelectric sensor 124, are located on the front 122. The flash appliance housing 104 is surrounded by a U-shaped frame 125 in such a way that the top 121 and the two lateral surfaces 126 of the flash appliance housing 104 are surrounded bdy the frame 125. The flash appliance housing 104 is firmly connected to the frame 125. The free arms of the frame which project over the flash appliance housing 104 pass over the camera housing 103 on both sides and are ech connected flexibly to the side walls 115 of the camera housing 103 by a rotatory connection 116. The axes of rotation of these rotatory connections 116 lie parallel to the front 105 of the camera housing 103 and parallel to the underside 120 of the flash appliance housing 104.

In order to transfer the flash appliance 102 or the camera 101 from their exposure position or exposure-readiness position (Figure la), into their not-in-use position (Figure lib), the flash appliance 102 or the camera 101 is swivelled about the two rotatory connections 116, until the underside 120 of the flash appliance housing 104 and the front wall 105 of the camera housing 103 lie immediately adjacent to each other.

As these two surfaces are constructed congruent, a compact shape having proportions which are suitable for placing it in a jacket or trouser pocket is therefore produced in the not-in-use position of camera 101 and flash appliance 102. At the same time, the flash appliance housing 104 which is swivelled in front of the front wall 105 of the camera housing 103 forms some protection for the exposed front surfaces of camera objective 106 and camera viewfinder 108 in the not-in-use position. If, at the same time, the release 112 is likewise located on the front wall 105 instead of on the top 111, the flash appliance housing 104 which is folded in front of the front wall 105 of the camera housing 103 prevents unintentional operation of the release in the not-in-use position.

The camera housing 103 and the flash appliance housing 104 are advantageously locked or bolted together in the not-in-use state, which has not been specially shown for the sake of clarity of the drawing.

In Figure 2 is shown a further exemplified embodiment of the invention. and Figure 2a shows the camera-flash appliance combination in readiness for exposure. and Figure 2b shows the same in the not-in-use position. Where the same components as in Figure 1 are indicated in Figure 2, their reference numbers are in conformity with the reference numbers of identical parts in Figure 1, but have been increased by 100.

Camera 201 and flash appliance 202 have a housing 203 and 204 respectively. which completely coincide in dimensions. Thus.

the front walls 205 or 222, the back walls 210 or 227, the tops 211 or 221, the undersides 214 or 220 and both side walls 215 or 226 of both housings correspond to each other.

The top 211 of the camera housing 203. as in the example in Figure 1, carries the camera release 212 and the stop setter 213. The Front wall 205 of the camera housing 203 once again has the apertures 207 and 209 which release the camera objective 206 or the camera viewfinder 208. On the underside 214 of the camera housing 203 can be seen the slide bar for conveving the film and setting the shutter. The front 222 of the flash appliance housing 204 carries the reflector in known 'per se manner.

The camera housing 203 and the flash appliance housing 204 are flexibly connected together by a hinge 218, which is fastened on the one hand to one side wall 215 of the camera housing 203, and on the other hand to one side wall 226 of the flash appliance housing 204. The hinge 218 is so arranged that it swivelling axis 219 runs along one surface edge of the side walls 215 or 226. In the example in Figure 2, the swivelling axis 219 of the hinge 218 is located along the surface edge of the camera housing 203 or flash appliance housing 204 which is formed by the back wall 210 or 227 and the side wall 215 or 226. This fixing of the hinge makes possible swivelling of camera 201 or flash appliance 202 in such a way that in the position of readiness for exposure (Figure 2a), the lateral walls 215 and 226 of camera housing 203 and flash appliance housing 204 are adjacent to each other, and in the not-in-use position, the two back walls 210 or 227 of both housings rest against each other congruently. A bolting or locking is advantageously provided in the exposure position of camera 201 and flash appliance 202, which facilitates handling of the camera-flash appliance combination. Such a locking is represented in Figure 2b. that is, by a stop nipple 228 located on the flash appliance side and a stop hole 229 located on the camera side. A similar locking can also be provided between the two back walls 210 and 227 of the two housings 203 and 204, which has not been specially shown for the sake of clarity of the drawing.

Such a construction of the camera-flash appliance combination as per Figure 2 is particularly advantageous if the camera housing 203 has a practically square crosssection, i.e. its dimensions in the direction of the optical axis are hardly larger than the height of the camera. Here. a shape with particularly advantageous proportions can be produced in the not-in-use position of camera and flash appliance. Moreover, the flash appliance placed laterally against the camera improves handling and manageabil ity of the camera when it is ready for exposure. as this flash appliance can be used simultaneouslv as a tvpe of camera handle.

This is therefore advantageous, as less advantageous handling during photographing usually has to be endured for the sake of reducing the volume of the camera in order to make it easilv transportable.

Such a disadvantage is compensated for by the camera-flash appliance cmbination as per Figure 2.

The exmplified embodiment in Figure 3 is completely in conformity with the exemplified embodiment in Figure 2, so that here also. the same reference numbers have against been used for identical components, but increased by another 100. The descrip tion of the exemplified embodiment of Figure 2 with additions also applies to the exemplified embodiment in Figure 3. The difference between the two exemplified embodiments lies in the fact that in the exemplified embodiment as per Figure 3, not all the dimensions of the flash appliance housing 304 are identical to the dimensions of the camera housing 303, and merely the front walls 305 or 322 and the back walls 310 or 327 of both housings are constructed congruent. The dimensions of the flash appliance housing 304 in the direction of the optical axis are selected so as to be smaller than the corresponding dimensions of the camera housing 303. To the underside 314 of the camera housing 303 and the top 321 of flash appliance housing 304 there is fastened a hinge 330 whose swivelling axis 331 runs along the longest bottom or longest top surface edges of the back wall 310 or 327 of camera or flash appliance housing. This hinge 330 can also be divided into shorter individual hinges. The underside 314 of the camera housing 303 and the top 321 of the flash appliance housing 304 are immediately adjacent to each other in the readiness for exposure position of camera 301 and flash appliance 302 as a result of this arrangement of the hinge 330. Because the dimensions of the flash appliance housing 304 in the direction of the optical axis are shorter than the corresponding dimension of the camera housing 303, actuation of the slide bar 317 for conveying the film and setting the shutter, which is located on the front edge of the underside 314 of the camera housing 303, is not prevented. In the position of readiness for exposure of camera 301 and flash appliance 302, camera housing 303 and flash appliance housing 304 are once again locked together. This locking is once again produced by one or two stop nipples 328 on the top 321 of the flash appliance housing 304. and stop holes 329 on the underside 314 of the camera housing 303 which correspond to these nipples. Such a locking can obviously also be provided between the two back walls 310 and 327 of the two housings, for the not-in-use position.

The camera 401 and flash appliance 402, in the exemplified embodiment as per Figure 4. are completely identical to camera and flash appliance in the exemplified embodiment in Figure 2. so that what is stated in Figure 2 regarding the construction of the camera housing and flash appliance housing, and regarding the arrangement of camera objective and viewfinder and the operating elements, also applies here. For this reason, identical components are provided with the same reference numbers, only increased by 200 as compared with the reference numbers in Figure 2.

In contrast to Figure 2, the camera 401 and flash appliance 402 in Figure 4 are not undetachably connected together, but can be detached from each other as a result of a special shaping, so that if necessary, the camera can also be carried without the flash appliance, without the advantage of the particularly manageable shape of the camera and flash appliance unit in the not-in-use position being surrendered.

On the side wall 415 of the camera housing 403 there is located a flash shoe 440.

The insertion aperture 441 of the flash shoe 440 points towards the back wall 410 of the camera housing 403. On the side wall 426 of the flash appliance housing 404 which (side wall) is congruent with this side wall 415 of the camera housing 403, there is provided a fixing bracket 442 which corresponds to the flashshoe 440. This fixing bracket 442 is flexibly fastened to the flash appliance housing 404, whereby the swivelling axis 443 of this hinge joint runs along the surface edge which is formed by the back wall 427 and side wall 426 and is vertical to the optical axis. In the exemplified embodiment in Figure 4. this hinge joint is represented as a hinge 444, where the fixing bracket 442 forms the free arm of the hinge 444. The other arm of the hinge 444 is fastened either to the back wall 427 - as shown - or to the side wall enlargement of the bayonet slot 446, and the locking of the fixing brcket 442 on the side wall 426 of the flash appliance housing 404 is thereby released. After the handle 448 is released, the locking is again produced automaticaly by the spring 450, as long as the fixing bracket 442 has not been swivelled away from the side wall 426 of the flash appliance housing 404.

In addition, there is provided between camera 401 and flash appliance 402, a locking which secures the two appliances in their not-in-use position, in which they rest against each other with their back walls 410 and 427, against undesired swivelling-away of one of the two appliances. This locking is composed of a stop nipple 451 which is located on the back wall 427 of the flash appliance housing 404, and a stop spring 452 corresponding to the stop nipple, which is located immediately behind an aperture 453 in the back wall 410 of the camera housing 403.

The exemplified embodiment of the invention as per Figure 4, which has been described in the foregoing, has besides the possibility of independent carrying of the camera, the advantage that the flash appliance 402 can also be used on other cameras with a flash shoe. For this purpose.

the fixing bracket 442 is folded against the side wall 426 of the flash appliance housing 404 and maintained in this position by means of the locking (bolting) 445. In this position there also occurs the necessary electrical circuit of the flash appliance, which is not shown specially in Figure 4. As the fixing bracket 442 is constructed as a standard bracket, the flash appliance can therefore be connected to any camera with a standard flash shoe.

In the case of the flash appliance 21 (Figure 5), one of the three dimensions of the flash appliance 22 is equal to the height of the housing 23 of the camera 24, and therefore to the dimension of the camera 24 vertically to the optical axis and to the running direction of the film. The height of the housing of the camera 24. in the case of cameras of flat construction, is essentially determined by the width of the film and is only negligibly larger than this width of film or the cassette which is vertical to the direction of the film and accepts the film, The camera 24 carries a flash shoe 25 for accepting a corresponding fixing bracket 26 on the flash appliance housing 22. The fixing base 26 in the flash appliance 21 is flexibly fastened with a swivelling axis 27 to the flash appliance housing 22, which axis runs along one edge of the housing in such a way that when the fixing bracket 26 is in the flash shoe 25. the flash appliance housing 22 can be placed against a housing wall of the camera 24 which lies vertically to the optical axis, and thereby at least two housing surfaces of the flash appliance 21 lying parallel to each other are roughly flush with the housing surfaces of the camera 24 which lie parallel to the optical axis and to the running direction of the film (see Figure 5b).

In the case of the camera represented in Figure 5, the flash shoe 25 is on the top 28 of the camera housing 23 which (top) lies parallel to the optical axis and parallel to the running direction of the film. The flash shoe is usually so constructed that the fixing bracket 26 can be inserted only from the rear wall 29 of the camera housing 23. When the camera 24 and flash appliance 21 are in readiness for exposure, the flash appliance 21 would be on the top 28 of the camera housing 23 because of the arrangement of the flash shoe 25. As the operating elements such as the release 30 and aperture setter 31 are usually located on the top of such a pocket camera 24, these would no longer be freely accessible. For this reason, the fixing brcket 26 is fastened to the free and very long-constructed arm 32 of a hinge 33, whose other arm 34 is connected to the rear wall 35 of the flash housing 22. The arrangement of the hinge 33 on the flash appliance housing 22 is such that the swivelling axis 27 of the hinge 33 runs along the surface edge which is formed by the rear wall 35 and the underside 36 of the flash appliance housing 22. The width of the underside 36 of the flash appliance housing 22 corresponds to the height dimension of the camera housing 23 which (dimension) extends vertically to the optical axis and vertically to the running direction of the film.

In order to insert the fixing bracket 26 into the flash shoe 25. the flash appliance 21 on the top 28 of the camera housing 23 must be put back to such an extent that the end of the fixing bracket 26 which points towards the flash appliance is situated in front of the fixing aperture of the flash shoe 25. The long arm 32 of the hinge 33 is so narrowly dimensioned in this area that the arm can pass through the slot remaining between the two jaws of the flash shoe 25. Thereafter, the fixing bracket 26 is inserted into the flash shoe 25. whereby, in the final position, the bottom edge formed by the rear wall 35 and underside 36 of the flash appliance housing 22 and the top edge formed by the front wall 37 and top 28 of the camera housing 23 lie against each other. The hinge 33 is constructed so as to move with difficulty or be self-jamming. so that the flash appliance 21 can adopt any desired angle position to the camera 24 within certain limits. In Figure Sa, the camera 24 and the flash appliance can be so aligned that the optical axes of both appliances run parallel to each other and point towards the subject of the exposure. For bounce-light exposures, the flash appliance can be swivelled in such a way that the rear wall 35 of the flash appliance housing 22 and the top 28 of the camera housing 23 form an acute angle with each other. In the not-in-use position, the flash appliance 21 with the underside 36 of the flash appliance housing 22 is swivelled in front of the front wall 37 of the camera housing 23, whereby the rear wall 35 of the flash appliance housing 22 is flush with the top 28 of the camera housing 23 and the front wall 39 of the flash appliance housing 22 carrying the reflector 38 is flush with the underside 40 of the camera housing 23.

Without releasing them from each other, the camera 24 and flash appliance 21 thereby form a flat unit which can be carried in the jacket or trouser pocket without any difficulty. At the same time, the front wall 37 of the camera housing 23 is covered in this not-in-use state of camera 24 and flash appliance 21, and the front surfaces of camera objective 41 and camera viewfinder 42, which are lying exposed in the front wall, and thereby protected against dust or damage.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. Electronic flash appliance for a camera whose camera housing height perpendicular to the optical axis and vertical to the running direction of the film is the smallest dimension of the camera housing and is essentially determined by the width of the film, characterized in that a surface (36, 120, 227, 327 and 427) of the flash appliance (21,102, 202, 302 and 402) has a dimension substantially equal to the height of the camera housing (23. 103, 203, 303 and 403) and in that the flash appliance includes means enabling the flash appliance to be swivellably connected to the camera housing in such a way that the camera and the flash appliance can be transferred from their exposure position into a not-in-use position in which the flash appliance housing surface (36, 120. 227, 327 and 427) lies against a housing wall (37 105, 210. 310 and 410) of the camera, lying perpendicular to the optical axis.

2. Flash appliance as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the flash appliance (21 and 402) is provided with a fixing bracket (26 and 442) located thereon for inserting into a flash shoe (25 and 440) which is on the camera housing, and in that the fixing bracket (26 and 442) on the flash appliance housing (22 and 404) is flexibly fastened with a swivelling axis (27 and 444) which runs along one edge of the housing in such a way that when the fixing bracket is in the flash shoe, the flash appliance housing can be placed against a housing wall of the camera lying perpendicular to the optical axis, and thereby at least two housing surfaces of the flash appliance lying parallel to each other are substantially flush with the housing surfaces of the camera which lie parallel to the optical axis and to the running direction of the film.

3. Flash appliance as claimed in Claim 2, characterized in that at least one housing surface (422 and 427) of the flash appliance (402) has substantially the same dimensions as at least one housing surface (410) of the camera (401) lying perpendicular to the optical axis.

4. Flash appliance as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, characterized in that the swivelling axis (444) is located along one surface edge of the flash appliance housing (404) with a length of edge corresponding to the height of the camera housing (403).

5. Flash appliance as claimed in one of the Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least one housing surface (426) of the flash appliance (402) is constructed congruent to at least one housing surface (415) of the camera (401) which (surface) lies at right angles to the running direction of the film and parallel to the optical axis.

6. Flash appliance as claimed in one of the Claims 1 to 5. characterized by a locking device (445) between the fixing bracket and flash appliance housing, which is effective when the fixing bracket (442) rests against the flash appliance housing (404).

7. Flash appliance as claimed in Claim 6. characterized in that a handle (448) is provided for releasing the locking device (445).

8. Flash appliance as claimed in Claim 1, in combination with a camera whose camera housing height perpendicular to the optical axis and to the running direction of the film is the smallest dimension of the camera housing and is essentially determined by the width of the film, each with a separate housing, characterized in that at least one housing surface (120. 227, 327 and 427) of the flash appliance (102, 202, 302 and 402) has substantially the same dimensions as at least one housing surface (105.

210, 310 and 410) of the camera (101, 202, 302 and 404) which (surface) lies perpendicular to the optical axis, and that both housings (103. 104, 203, 204. 303, 304, 403 and 404) are swivellably connected together in such a way that the camera and flash appliance can be transferred from their exposure position (Figure la, 2a and 3a) into the not-in-use position in which said one housing surface of the camera and said one housing surface of the flash appliance rest against one another.

9. The combination as claimed in Claim 8. characterized in that the camera and flash appliance housing (103 or 104) are connected together by a frame (125). that at least one housing (103) is linked to the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (24)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. of the exposure. For bounce-light exposures, the flash appliance can be swivelled in such a way that the rear wall 35 of the flash appliance housing 22 and the top 28 of the camera housing 23 form an acute angle with each other. In the not-in-use position, the flash appliance 21 with the underside 36 of the flash appliance housing 22 is swivelled in front of the front wall 37 of the camera housing 23, whereby the rear wall 35 of the flash appliance housing 22 is flush with the top 28 of the camera housing 23 and the front wall 39 of the flash appliance housing 22 carrying the reflector 38 is flush with the underside 40 of the camera housing 23. Without releasing them from each other, the camera 24 and flash appliance 21 thereby form a flat unit which can be carried in the jacket or trouser pocket without any difficulty. At the same time, the front wall 37 of the camera housing 23 is covered in this not-in-use state of camera 24 and flash appliance 21, and the front surfaces of camera objective 41 and camera viewfinder 42, which are lying exposed in the front wall, and thereby protected against dust or damage. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. Electronic flash appliance for a camera whose camera housing height perpendicular to the optical axis and vertical to the running direction of the film is the smallest dimension of the camera housing and is essentially determined by the width of the film, characterized in that a surface (36, 120, 227, 327 and 427) of the flash appliance (21,102, 202, 302 and 402) has a dimension substantially equal to the height of the camera housing (23. 103, 203, 303 and 403) and in that the flash appliance includes means enabling the flash appliance to be swivellably connected to the camera housing in such a way that the camera and the flash appliance can be transferred from their exposure position into a not-in-use position in which the flash appliance housing surface (36, 120. 227, 327 and 427) lies against a housing wall (37 105, 210. 310 and 410) of the camera, lying perpendicular to the optical axis.

2. Flash appliance as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the flash appliance (21 and 402) is provided with a fixing bracket (26 and 442) located thereon for inserting into a flash shoe (25 and 440) which is on the camera housing, and in that the fixing bracket (26 and 442) on the flash appliance housing (22 and 404) is flexibly fastened with a swivelling axis (27 and 444) which runs along one edge of the housing in such a way that when the fixing bracket is in the flash shoe, the flash appliance housing can be placed against a housing wall of the camera lying perpendicular to the optical axis, and thereby at least two housing surfaces of the flash appliance lying parallel to each other are substantially flush with the housing surfaces of the camera which lie parallel to the optical axis and to the running direction of the film.

3. Flash appliance as claimed in Claim 2, characterized in that at least one housing surface (422 and 427) of the flash appliance (402) has substantially the same dimensions as at least one housing surface (410) of the camera (401) lying perpendicular to the optical axis.

4. Flash appliance as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, characterized in that the swivelling axis (444) is located along one surface edge of the flash appliance housing (404) with a length of edge corresponding to the height of the camera housing (403).

5. Flash appliance as claimed in one of the Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least one housing surface (426) of the flash appliance (402) is constructed congruent to at least one housing surface (415) of the camera (401) which (surface) lies at right angles to the running direction of the film and parallel to the optical axis.

6. Flash appliance as claimed in one of the Claims 1 to 5. characterized by a locking device (445) between the fixing bracket and flash appliance housing, which is effective when the fixing bracket (442) rests against the flash appliance housing (404).

7. Flash appliance as claimed in Claim 6. characterized in that a handle (448) is provided for releasing the locking device (445).

8. Flash appliance as claimed in Claim 1, in combination with a camera whose camera housing height perpendicular to the optical axis and to the running direction of the film is the smallest dimension of the camera housing and is essentially determined by the width of the film, each with a separate housing, characterized in that at least one housing surface (120. 227, 327 and 427) of the flash appliance (102, 202, 302 and 402) has substantially the same dimensions as at least one housing surface (105.

210, 310 and 410) of the camera (101, 202, 302 and 404) which (surface) lies perpendicular to the optical axis, and that both housings (103. 104, 203, 204. 303, 304, 403 and 404) are swivellably connected together in such a way that the camera and flash appliance can be transferred from their exposure position (Figure la, 2a and 3a) into the not-in-use position in which said one housing surface of the camera and said one housing surface of the flash appliance rest against one another.

9. The combination as claimed in Claim 8. characterized in that the camera and flash appliance housing (103 or 104) are connected together by a frame (125). that at least one housing (103) is linked to the

frame by at least one centre of rotation, and that the axes of the centres of rotation are located parallel to the said one housing surfaces (105 and 120) of camera (101) and flash appliance (102).

10. The combination as claimed in Claim 8, characterized in that the two housings (203, 204, 303, 304, 403 and 404) are flexibly connected together with a swivelling axis (219, 331 and 443) which runs along one edge of the housing.

11. The combination as claimed in any one of the Claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the camera housing surface which rests against the flash appliance housing (104) in the not-in-use position (Figure lb) of camera (101) and flash appliance (102) is the front wall (105) of the camera housing (103) which (wall) releases the objective (106) and viewfinder (108).

12. The combination as claimed in Claim 10, characterized in that the housing surfaces (205, 210, 305, 310, 405 and 410) of the camera (201, 301 and 401) and the flash appliance (202, 302 and 402) which lie perpendicular to the optical axis have substantially the same dimensions and that the swivelling axis (219, 331 and 443) is located in such a way that in the not-in-use position (Figures 2b, 3b and 4) of camera and flash appliance, the two back walls (210, 227. 310, 327, 410 and 427) of the housings (203, 204, 303, 304, 403, and 404) rest against each other.

13. The combination as claimed in any one of the Claims 10 to 12, characterised in that the swivelling axis (219, 331 and 443) is located along one surface edge of the housing surfaces (205, 210, 305, 310, 405 and 410) of the camera (201, 301 and 401) and flash appliance (202, 302 and 402) which (surfaces) lie perpendicular to the optical axis.

14. The combination is claimed in Claim 12 or Claim 13, characterized in that the swivelling axis (219 and 443) is located along one short surface edge of the two housing back walls (210, 227. 410 and 427) which run perpendicular to the optical axis, that in the exposure position (Figure 2a) of camera (201 and 401) and flash appliance (202 and 402), two side walls (215, 226, 415 and 426) of the housings (203, 204.403 and 404) lying parallel to the optical axis are adjacent to each other.

15. The combination as claimed in Claim 12 or Claim 13. characterized in that the swivelling axis (331) is located along the longest bottom or longest top surface edge of the back wall (310 and 327) of the camera or flash appliance housing (303 and 304) in such a way that in the exposure position (Figure 3a) of camera (301) and flash appliance (302), the underside )314) of the camera housing (303) and the top (321) of the flash appliance housing (304) lie over each other.

16. The combination as claimed in any one of the Claims 10 to 14, characterized in that a flash shoe (440) is provided on one narrow side wall (415), running parallel to the optical axis, for accepting a fixing bracket (442) which is located or, one narrow side wall (426) of the flash appliance housing (404) running parallel to the optical axis, and that the fixing bracket is fastened flexibly to the flash appliance housing with a swivelling axis (443), which is located along one surface edge of this side wall running perpendicular to the optical axis.

17. The combination as claimed in Claim 16, characterized in that the swivelling axis (443) of the fixing bracket (442) is located along the surface edge which is formed by the back wall (427) and by the side wall (426) of the flash appliance housing (404) which (wall) can be placed against the camera housing (403).

18. The combination as claimed in any one of the Claims 8 to 17, characterized in that the camera (101. 201, 301 and 401) and flash appliance (102, 202, 302 and 402) can be locked and/or bolted together in their exposure and/or not-in-use position.

19. The combination as claimed in Claim 16 or Claim 17 and Claim 18. characterized by a releasable locking (bolting) (445) between the fixing bracket (442) and flash appliance housing (404) and by a locking (451 and 452) between a housing surface of the camera and flash appliance (401 and 402) each running perpendicular to the optical axis.

20. The combination as claimed in Claim 19. characterized in that the locking is composed of a nipple (451) projecting on the back wall (427) of the flash appliance housing (404) and a stop spring (452) which is located in the back wall (410) of the camera housing (403).

21. Flash appliance as claimed in Claim 1. substantially as hereinbefore described.

22. Flash appliance substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

23. The combination of a camera and flash appliance as claimed in Claim 8, substantially as hereinbefore described.

24. The combination of a camera and flash appliance, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.