GB1578234A - Photographic camera - Google Patents

Description

(54) PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA (71) We, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY, a Company organized under the Laws of the State of New Jersey, United States of America of 343 State Street, Rochester, New York 14650, United States of America 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 Iperformed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to a photographic camera which includes a flash unit.

Photographic cameras which include a flash uit are well known. The flash source may comprise an independent unit, e.g. electronic flash, or may comprise an integral part of the camera. However, there has been a recent trend towards the ".pocket" format camera and these cameras are normally provided with a flash socket located on the camera body to receive a flash unit. The flash socket is usually provided on a lateral end wall of the camera to provide sufficient distance between the flash source and the objective lens in order to prevent "red-eye" effects with flaslh exposures. Before a flash exposure is possible, an independent flash source must be provided.

To overcome the problem of providing an independent flash source, it has been proposed to include an electron flash unit within the housing of a pocket format camera.

However, the inclusion of the flash unit results in a considerable increase in the length of the camera, as the distance between the flash source and the object lens must be sufficient to prevent "red-eye" effects and hence, the compact character of such a camera is lost.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a photographic camera comprising a housing, an objective lens, a viewfinder assembly, and a flash unit movable from an initial position within the camera housing to a terminal position outside the camera housing, and wherein an optical component of the viewfinder aseembly is mounted so as to be moved to an inoperative position when the flash unit is located in the initial position within the camera housing and wherein the optical component is moved to an operative position when the flash unit is located in the terminal position outside the camera housing.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 'Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a photographic camera in accordance with the present invention, with the flash unit located in an initial position within the camera housing; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the camera shown in Figure 1, but showing the flash unit in a terminal position outside the camera housing.

As shown in Figure 1, the camera comprises a housing 2, for receiving a film cartridge 4, an objective lens 6 having an aperture 7 and a direct viewfinder assembly 8 having a front aperture 9. The direct viewfinder assembly 8 comprises optical components 10, 12 and 14, movable from an inoperative position shown in Figure 1, to an operative position shown in Figure 2. Springs 16 and 18, are provided to respectively move the optical componetns 10 and 14 from their inoperative to their operative positions. The optical component 10 is pivotably mounted about a pivot 22 whilst the optical component 14 is slidably mounted. The optical component 12 is pivotably and slidably mounted on a guide 20 and is biased towards its operative position, as shown in Figure 2, by a spring element (not shown).

A flash unit 24 is provided within a housing 26 which is mounted within the housing 2 when the camera is in the inoperative condition, as shown in Figure 1. When an exposure is to be made the flash device 24 is withdrawn from the initial position within the housing 2 to the terminal position outside the housing to render the camera in an operative condition, as shown in Figure 2.

The flash unit 24 comprises a reflector 28, a flash tube 30 a voltage source 32 and an ignition capacitor 34. The reflector 28 is rigidly connected to a slider 36 which covers the aperture 7 of the objective lens 6 and the front aperture 9 of the viewfinder assembly 8 when the flash device 24 is retracted into the housing 2.

When not in use, the camera will normally be in the inoperative condition as shown in Figure 1. In this condition the flash unit 24 is retracted into the housing 2. Due to the compact size of the housing 2, the optical element 10 is pivoted in a clockwise direction about the pivot 22 to an inoperative position, as sholvn in Figure 1 between the film cartridge 4 and the ignition capacitor 34. This pivotal movement of the optical component 10 tensions the spring 16.

The optical component 12 is moved pivotally and laterally in the guide 20 to an inoperative position between the film cartridge 4 and the voltage source 32.

The optical component 14 is moved in a lateral direction to an inoperative position, thereby compressing the spring 18. When the camera is in this inoperative condition, the slider 36 provides a protective shield for the objective lens 6 and the viewfinder assembly 8 and may, in this position, also act as an interlock for the shutter release mechanism (not shown), thereby preventing accidental release of the shutter mechanism.

When the housing 26 containing the flash unit 24 is withdrawn from the initial position within the housing 2 to make an exposure, the optical components 10, 12 and 14 return to their operative positions under the bias provided by their respective springs, as shown in Figure 2. The slider 36, being rigidly connected to the reflector 28 is moved laterally, exposing the objective lens 6 and the viewfinder assembly 8.

This lateral movement of the slider 36 may also serve to remove any interlock provided on the shutter release mechanism.

Withdrawal of the flash unit 24 from the housing 2 has the added advantage in that the distance between the objective lens 6 and the reflector 28 is sufficient to avoid the "red-eye" effect, which occurs with flash exposures when this distance is too small. In cameras having a fixedly mounted flash device, this distance may only be achieved by a considerable increase in the length of the camera housing.

Withdrawal of the flash unit 24 from the housing 2 may also serve to transport the film in the film cartridge 4 and also to cock the shutter mechanism (not shown).

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A photographic camera comprising a housing, an objective lens, a viewfinder assembly, and a flash unit movable from an initial position within the camera housing to a terminal position outside the camera housing, and wherein an optical component of the viewfinder assembly is mounted so as to be moved to an inoperative position when the flash unit is located in the initial position within the camera housing and wherein the optical component is moved to an operative position when the flash unit is located in the terminal position outside the camera housing.

2. A photographic camera according to Claim 1 wherein the optical component of the viewfinder assembly is slidably and/or pivotally mounted.

3. A photographic camera according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the flash unit is connected to a slider which covers the aperture of the objective lens and the front aperture of the viewfinder assembly when the flash unit is located in the initial position within the camera housing.

4. A photographic camera according to Claim 1, 2 or 3 including a film transport mechanism and a shutter cocking mechanism and wherein the movement of the flash unit from the initial position to the terminal position serves to drive the film transport and shutter cocking mechanisms.

5. A photographic camera comprising a viewfinder assembly and flash unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. is withdrawn from the initial position within the housing 2 to the terminal position outside the housing to render the camera in an operative condition, as shown in Figure 2. The flash unit 24 comprises a reflector 28, a flash tube 30 a voltage source 32 and an ignition capacitor 34. The reflector 28 is rigidly connected to a slider 36 which covers the aperture 7 of the objective lens 6 and the front aperture 9 of the viewfinder assembly 8 when the flash device 24 is retracted into the housing 2. When not in use, the camera will normally be in the inoperative condition as shown in Figure 1. In this condition the flash unit 24 is retracted into the housing 2. Due to the compact size of the housing 2, the optical element 10 is pivoted in a clockwise direction about the pivot 22 to an inoperative position, as sholvn in Figure 1 between the film cartridge 4 and the ignition capacitor 34. This pivotal movement of the optical component 10 tensions the spring 16. The optical component 12 is moved pivotally and laterally in the guide 20 to an inoperative position between the film cartridge 4 and the voltage source 32. The optical component 14 is moved in a lateral direction to an inoperative position, thereby compressing the spring 18. When the camera is in this inoperative condition, the slider 36 provides a protective shield for the objective lens 6 and the viewfinder assembly 8 and may, in this position, also act as an interlock for the shutter release mechanism (not shown), thereby preventing accidental release of the shutter mechanism. When the housing 26 containing the flash unit 24 is withdrawn from the initial position within the housing 2 to make an exposure, the optical components 10, 12 and 14 return to their operative positions under the bias provided by their respective springs, as shown in Figure 2. The slider 36, being rigidly connected to the reflector 28 is moved laterally, exposing the objective lens 6 and the viewfinder assembly 8. This lateral movement of the slider 36 may also serve to remove any interlock provided on the shutter release mechanism. Withdrawal of the flash unit 24 from the housing 2 has the added advantage in that the distance between the objective lens 6 and the reflector 28 is sufficient to avoid the "red-eye" effect, which occurs with flash exposures when this distance is too small. In cameras having a fixedly mounted flash device, this distance may only be achieved by a considerable increase in the length of the camera housing. Withdrawal of the flash unit 24 from the housing 2 may also serve to transport the film in the film cartridge 4 and also to cock the shutter mechanism (not shown). WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A photographic camera comprising a housing, an objective lens, a viewfinder assembly, and a flash unit movable from an initial position within the camera housing to a terminal position outside the camera housing, and wherein an optical component of the viewfinder assembly is mounted so as to be moved to an inoperative position when the flash unit is located in the initial position within the camera housing and wherein the optical component is moved to an operative position when the flash unit is located in the terminal position outside the camera housing.

2. A photographic camera according to Claim 1 wherein the optical component of the viewfinder assembly is slidably and/or pivotally mounted.

3. A photographic camera according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the flash unit is connected to a slider which covers the aperture of the objective lens and the front aperture of the viewfinder assembly when the flash unit is located in the initial position within the camera housing.

4. A photographic camera according to Claim 1, 2 or 3 including a film transport mechanism and a shutter cocking mechanism and wherein the movement of the flash unit from the initial position to the terminal position serves to drive the film transport and shutter cocking mechanisms.

5. A photographic camera comprising a viewfinder assembly and flash unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.