US2034482A - Flashlight apparatus - Google Patents

Description

March 17, 1936. P @LDS 2,@345482 FLASHLIGHT APPARATUS Filed March 31V,- 1934 INVENTOR g-n'nm gaaf/MW ATTORNEY;

Patented Mar.A 17, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLAsnuGnT APPARATUS rhelps olds, unie Neck, N. Y. Applicant Maren 31, 1934, sei-iai No., 718,313 '11 claims. (c1. svg-29) The invention relates to flashlight apparatus, and more particularly to a mechanism ensuring accuracy in the timing of the 'actuation of the camera shutter, and ofthe energizing of the ash bulb.

Irhave heretofore produced an apparatus of this type embodying two pivotally connected members carrying co-operating electrical contacts controlling the circuit to the ash bulb, one of these members being adapted to be connected with the sheathing of a shutter actuating cable, and the other of which is adapted to engage the movable wire of the cable.

With this construction, it was not only possible by the arrangement of the contacts and of the arrangement of the cable in relation thereto, to secure, by a quick action of the hand, a differential movement between the contacts and the cable slide, in a manner to secure the desired timing in the shutter movement and in the ignition of the tinsel in the bulb, but also a desired rapidity in the actuation of the control mechanism to permit the operator to catch a particular pose of the subject. The said device, in the hands of a skilled photographer, produces satisfactory results, but the adjustment and the manipulation of the device required, to get the best results, the acquired skill of an expert photographer.

With the above conditions in mind, I have produced improvements in the structure of the flashlight apparatus above referred to, which will adapt it for use by amateurs, and permit the adjustment of parts with anvaccuracy permitting the device to be used'with high speed shutters and still maintain a desired timed relation between the actuation of the shutter and the illumination of the bulb. Y With the structure of my present invention, the pivotal members, irrespective of the setting of the device, always have the same quantity of movement, thus controlling the operation of the device by adjustments therein instead of requiring the skill of the operator to compensate for those conditions influencing the operative effect of the control, such as varying temperature conditions which have a tendency to delay the ignition of the tinsel in the bulb following the closing of the circuit by the control device.

In the device of the invention, the relative movement of the two pivotal members in their action upon the contacts controlling the circuit always the same, any variation in the timing of the shutter action and the ignition of the bulb being controlled by the operative effect of these members upon the shutter cable.

In conjunction with the control mechanism 10 above referred to, I provide a bulb support which may be detachably connected with the camera box by means of the screw sockets provided for the purpose of securing'the camera to a tripod,

thus permitting the bulb carrier to be mounted 15 upon the camera. or to be held or located more or less remote from the camera, if desired.

In snapshot Work, it is frequently necessary for a photographer to take pictures in rapid succession. It is necessary after every actuation of the -iiashlighu to remove the bulb and replace it with a fresh bulb. I therefore-so construct the bulb carrier as to permit the rapid mounting of bulbs therein and their removal therefrom.

The invention consists primarily in a iiashlight apparatus embodying therein the combination with a camera having a shutter and a mechanical releasemechanism therefor having immovable and movable elements, of a support for a ash bulb, a control device embodying therein two 3 members pivctally connected adjacent one end thereof, means adjacent the free end of one of said members, whereby one of the elements of said release mechanism may be connected therewith, an adjustable member carried by the other of said members adapted to engage the lother element of said release mechanism, and co-operf ating fixed and movable electrical contacts intermediate said means and said adjustable member, 40 and the axis of movement of said pivotal members, whereby the timing of the engagement of said contacts and the actuation of said release mechanism, may be varied withoutwariation of the relative movement of said members, and an electrical circuit including said bulb and said coritacts; and in such other novel features of construction and combination of parts as are hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawing, c

Fig. 1 is a view of a camera having attached thereto a flashlight apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal view in section of the control mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of said control mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a detailed view of the means for attaching one of the cable elements to the control device;

Fig. 5 is a view, partly in elevation, of the.

bulb support upon a larger scale; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the mechanism used in attaching the bulb support to the camera box.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Flashlight bulbs of the type with which the apparatus of the invention is designed to be used, may vary as -to the lighting effects secured thereby, but all have'in common the' characteristics of a delay of approximately 1/l00th of a second following the'cl'osing of `the circuit thereto before the ignition of the bulb. This is followed by a rapid attainment of the maximum illuminating effect, a rapid decrease in this effect and a gradual fading out of the light. The period of approximate maximum illumination is about .0025 of a second, a lessened brilliant illuminating effect, however, continuing after the maximum has been reached for approximately .01 of a second after which the lighting effect is negligible.

In taking snapshots, if the camera is to be held by hand, the shutter speed must be at most 1/ 25th of a second, and with the ordinary camera with lashlight work,.the speed of the shutter should be about 1/50th of a second. Shutter mechanisms are used, however, .which attain a speed of 1/ 100th of a second.

The foregoing is mentioned in order to enable a better understanding of the invention.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing, an ordinary camera is shown at III, the camera box at I I and the shutter mechanism at I2. Secured to the shutter mechanism is an.

ordinary actuating cable consisting of a sheathing I3 and a. push wire I4 slidably mounted therein, the normal relative position of these parts being established by means of a spring I5. The sheathing I3 is provided with a. iianged end nipple I6 and the wire I4 is provided with an enlarged head or push button I1. In the cable most generally used, the sheathing I3 is xed and the wire I4 is movable in relation thereto. In adapting the mechanical actuating means of this type to cameras not equipped to have the sheathing I3 attached thereto, it is a common practice to clamp the wire I4 to the lens head and provide the sheathing with a loop engaging the release lever of the shutter mechanism. With this construction, the wire I4 is xed and the sheathing is movable. In most cameras, particularly those for use by amateurs, the box I I is provided upon oppoposite sides thereof and upon the support I8 for the lens head, with screw threaded sockets I9 by means of which the camera may be mounted upon a. tripod.

v The particular construction of the shutter mechanism is immaterial to the present invention so that a detailed description thereof is unnecessary, the parts described above being referred to merely because of the utilization of these parts in adapting the control device of the invention to the camera. `All the parts heretofore described, are old and well known, the control mechanism of the invention being so constructed as to be adapted to many variations of such old parts. a

'I'he control mechanism of the invention comprises two members 20 and 2| pivotally connected adjacent one end thereof by means of the pivot pin 22. The rear end of the member 20 and its opposite sides are closed and carry a guide shaft 23 in the side walls and the front wall is also closed except for a vertically extended slot 24 provided toward the bottom thereof with lateral enlargements 25 to facilitate the mounting of the anged nipple of the sheathing I3 within a tting 26 carried by the front of said lower member below said enlargements 25. The upper face of the fitting 26 has a depressed circular portion 21 toward the back thereof, and opening forwardly of this fitting is a channel 28, the rear walls of which converge at 29 meeting rearwardly of the axis of the circular depression 21. This construction of fitting is employed in order to adapt thecontrol device to cables having nipples of different sizes-the converging walls 29 serving to approximately center the nipple with relation to the actuating means for the cable carried by the upper pivotal member 2l. The forked fitting 26 is provided with a screw threaded opening 30 through one of the arms thereof adapted member 20 of the control device, thus avoiding any loss of accuracy in theI actuation of the cable due to movement of this nipple.

. In order to increase the facility with which the nipple may be mounted in relation to the tting 26, I provide a spring clamp plate 32 positioned above said fitting and provided with a slot 33 through which the wire I4 may pass, the forward end of this plate being upwardly ared as shown in Fig. 4.

Carried by the lower member 20 are a plurality of electrical contacts 34 and 35 adapted to cooperate with a plug 36. These contacts are mounted in the bottom of the lower pivotal member 20 by means of an insulating bushing 31 as shown in Fig. 2'of the drawing. Also mounted l upon, but insulated from the bottom of the memmaterial, said movable contact member 38 being engageable with the fixed contacts 34 and 35.

To prevent the end of the cable adjacent the control device from engaging the switch mechanism described, I preferably provide a barrier 40 between the fitting 26 and said switch mechanism.

The upper member 2I is provided with guide slots 4I receiving the guide shaft 23.l This member is provided with depending flanges except at the rear thereof and has a free sliding t within the lower member 23. Also carried by the member 2| is a striker member 42 so positioned as to engage the block 39 with relative movement of the members 23 and 2|. Toward the front of the member 2l is an adjusting screw 43 provided with a dished head 44 adapted to engage the push button of the wire I4 of the cable. This adjusting screw 43 may be adjusted to vary the position of the operative end of saidwire in rela.- tion to the shutter release mechanism, thus accurately timing the operative moment of said wire in relation to lsaid release mechanism. A

to normally raise said member to the uppermost position permitted by the slots 29.

For use by amateurs and by professionals in outdoor work, the electrical source usually employed is a dry cell battery. 'I'he dash tubes are so formed as to ignite when a current of approximately lyg volts is applied thereto. I have found, however, that the use of a higher voltage is desirable.

To meet the above conditions of use, I provide a bulb support 41 having a bulb socket 48 open at bothends and having an inwardly directed bottom flange 49. Seated upon said flange is a movable plate 59 of insulating material having centrally thereof, a contact member The closure 52 for the lower end of the support has mounted thereon, but insulated therefrom, a spring 53,'the insulating plate for said spring being shown at 54. The hash bulb itself is shown at 55 and is of the usual commercial construction having a screw threaded base. The floating plate `5l) is used to permit the rapid mounting or removal oithe bulb from the support.

With the construction described, the screw threads of the socket and the base of the bulb are use'd merely for locking the bulb in relation to the support by a partial rotation of the bulb,

, the socket being of a length to permit engagement of the contact member 5| with one terminal of the battery 56 before the screw threads upon the base of the bulb are in a position to mesh with the screw threads ofthe socket. As in ordinary ashlightlapparatus not usable for photographic purposes, the spring53 assures the desired continuous contact of the opposite poles of the battery with the contact 5| and the spring.

One terminal wire 5l leading to the plug 35 is electrically connected with the spring 53 and the other terminal wire 58 leading to said plug, is electrically connected with the socket 48, which is insulated from the support 41. At the top of the support 41 is a screw threaded ring 59 adapted to receive thebase of a reflector to enable the bulb support to be used by holding it in the hand instead of mounting it upon the camera box.

For indoor-work by amateurs, it is desirable to mount the bulb support upon the camera box by means of either of the screw threaded sockets I9 used in mounting the camera upon a tripod;v

for which purpose I provide said support with a tting 50 having an opening extending therethrough for the reception of an attaching screw 6|.

In some cameras, the finder is located at the right' of the lens head, and on other cameras, it is located at the left of the lens head. In order to adapt vthe bulb support to practically all makes `The fitting 59 is clamped against the support 41 by the engagement'of the knurled head of the screw 6i with said fitting 'so as to prevent accidental tilting of the support while the camera is in use.

The operation of the hereinv described iiashlight apparatus is substantially as follows:-

' In the use of exlble cables for tripping the shutter mechanism of a camera, the movable member of the cable may have to receive from one-eighth of an inch to an inch and a quarter of movement in effecting the shutter release, the quantity of this movement varying with different shutter mechanisms.

As heretofore set forth., there is an interval of approximately .01 of a second between the closing of the circuit to the iiash bulb and the initial ignition of the tinsel of the bulb, the maximum illumination of the bulb continues for onequarter of .01 of a second, and the effective illumination following the maximum illumination continues for approximately .01 of a second. With a shutter speed of 1/25th of a second, the exposure is sufficiently long to include substantially the full duration of the illumination from the bulb and the interval of approximately .0l of a second between the closing of the circuit and the initial ignition of the bulb.

With a shutter speed of 1/50th of a second, the duration of. the exposure before the bulb attains its maximum illumination is such as to make available only a small percentage of the light emanating from the bulb, since the shutter closes substantially simultaneously with the initial attainment of the maximum lighting eiects of the bulb. With the shutter operating at this speed, the lag of .01 of a second, above referred to, is a material factor, since it cuts down the efficiency of the bulb by practically 75%.

It is obvious that with a shutter speed of l/lOth of a second, the shutter will be closed before there is any illumination from the bulb. 'Ihe above conditions are those prevailing with the simultaneous closing of the circuit to the bulb and tripping of the shutter mechanism.

In the apparatus of the invention, it is pcssible to so control the timing of the release of the shutter and the closing of the circuit to the bulb by a positive constant relative movement of the members and 2| as to compensate for theA the shutter speed, since even with a shutter speed of 1/25th of a second, a delay of .0l of a second between the closing of the circuit to the bulb and the release of the shutter will result in the utilization of some of the light emanating from the bulb during substantially the entire exposure interval, although there will be a gradual dimnuton of the volume of light toward the end of the exposure.

at shutter speeds of i/sotn or i/iooth cfa sec- L ond, it is essential thatthe release of the shutter movement be timed in relation, not to the closing of the circuit to the bulb, but to the initial ignition of the tinsel in the bulb, or with the higher speed, for a slight interval after this initial ignition.

The time intervals involved are so short that the skill of the amateur cannot be relied upon to control any variation in the timing of the closing of the circuit to the bulb and the tripping of the shutter mechanism. V

A professional operator has a sense of timing which ordinarily enables him to control the movement of parts to secure such a variation, but when a picture is taken hurriedly, even a professional photographer may be unable to properly control the actuation of the shutter mechanism shots, since with a bunr' setting bf the shutter cov mechanism, the ashlight interval controls the duration of the exposure.

In the apparatus of the invention, the timing of the closing of the circuit to the bulb and of the tripping of the shutter release is controlled by a predetermined adjustment of the control device, it being merely required that the photographer press the members 20 and 2| together to the full extent and as rapidly as possible. Any variation in the speed of said members, insofar as its effect in the timing ofthe shutter movement and the ignition of the bulb is. concerned, is negligible, even with a high speed setting of the shutterv mechanism. This is due to the effective leverage at which the members 20 and 2| act upon the parts I3 and I4 of the cable andthe shortness of the last part of the movement of the pusher wire I4 required to trip the shutter mechanism following the closing of the circuit at the contacts 34, 35, and 38. While the full movement ordinarily required of the wire I5 may have to be as much as one and one-quarter inches, the operative movement, with the ordinary setting of the control device, will require only approximatey .0l of a second following the engagement of the contacts, which represents a very small fraction of the full movement of the wire.

If the full movement of the Wire ordinarily required be as little as one-eighth of an inch, the

ordinary setting of the control device must ment required of the wire Id, and with cables for` use with shutter mechanisms requiring alonger movement of the Wire, the scre w 33 is so set as to advance the end of the wire operation upon the shutter release to an extent to make the operative movement of the wire the same as that of a wire so constructed as to require normally a shorter movement.

Whatever the setting of the adjustment screw,

the relative movement of the members 23 and 2i is always the same, the timing oi the ignition of the bulb and of .the shutter movement being controlled by the setting of the screw 63. The contacts 34, 35, and 38 are always engaged at the same point of the movement of said members, and the tripping of the shutter mechanism occurs at a point of the movement of said members, determined by the setting of the screw 43 and may be varied by adiustment of the screw towards or from the fitting 26.

When the shutter mechanism is set for a speed of 1/25th of a second, no great nicety in the adjustment of the screw 43 is required. This is a shutter speed well suited for snap shot work by amateurs since, good pictures may be taken while the camera is held by hand. It is required that the screw 43 be so set as to ensure a.

4.animata ter speed of 1/100th of a second, great nicety of adjustment of the screw is necessary,since the lag should exceed .01 of a second by 50% or more.

Increase in the closing of the circuit to the bulb 55 is secured my moving the screw 43 away from the tting 26, and the converse by moving the screw towards said iitting.

In assembling the cable in relation to the control device, the flange of the nipple I6 is passed through the channel 28 of the tting 28, the enlargements 25 and slot 24, the wire I4 passing through said slot. The slot 28 guides the nipple into and centers it in relation to the depressed portion 2l, and positions the button Il below the head 44. VThe nipple passes below the clamp 32; and the wire I4 passes along the slot in said plate, thus holding the nipple upon the seat 2l. The set screw 3I is then engaged with thenipple I6 so as to rmly hold the sheathing I3 in relation to the member 20.

The screw 53 is then adjusted to secure the desired timing effects above referred to, and the lock nut 35 set to maintain this adjustment.

The `members 20 and 2i are normally separated or biased apart, by the spring 46.

When taking a snap shot, the operator merely forces the members 20 and 2i together against the tension o the spring 36. During this movement the striker member i2 engages the plate 39 and forces ,the movable contact 38 into engagement with the fixed contacts 34 and 35, thus closing the circuit from the source to the bulb 55. Following this, and by a rapid continuing I movement of the members 2G and 2l, the shutter mechanism i2 is tripped, the interval between the closing of the circuit and the tripping of the shutter mechanism being determined by the setting of the screw 43.

The speed at which the members 2@ and 2i are moved is immaterial. Their movement is by a mere closing of the hand, and will always be rapid and full. Any variation will be negligible in its effect upon the timing resulting from such movement.

When no bulb is in the socket Q8, the spring 53, through the dry cells, forces the movable plate 53 upwardly of the socket until it engages the lower screw thread thereof. 55 in the holder, it is merely necessary to insert its base in the socket with the contact button engaging the contact 5I and force the plate 5I) inwardly of the socket against the tension of the spring 53 until the lowermost thread of the bulb base may be engaged with the uppermost thread of the socket, so that by a short turning of the bu1b,.said screw threads may be engaged sumciently to hold the tension of said spring. In this manner, a bulb may be mounted in the holder by merely thrusting it into the socket and then givingit a quick short turn, and may be as rapidly removed by reversing these actions. This greatly facilitates a rapid replacement of bulbs inthe holder, which at times is very important.

The manner oi mounting the holder on a camera requires no further description.v

I have described the operation of the members 20 and EI and their appurtenances in connection with a cable in which the wire l acts upon the shutter mechanism trip. If the sheathing I3 l acts upon said trip, the result would be the same. In the former case, the shutter release is eiected by movement of the top member 2i, and in the lag of the shutter over the To mount a bulb` Cil latter case by movement of the bottom member lll.

While ordinarily, and particularly in outdoor photography, a dry battery is used as the only available source, it is obvious that an ordinary house lighting current may be used if proper plugs are provided.

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details of construction shown in the drawing, it being apparent that such may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.`

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to havey protected by Letters Patent, is:-

1. A flashlight apparatus embodying therein the combination with a camera having a shutter and a mechanical release mechanism therefor having immovable and movable elements, of a lsupport for afiash bulb, a control device embodylng therein two members pivotally connected adjacent one end thereof,A means adjacent the free end of one of said members, whereby one of the elements of said release mechanism may be connected therewith, an adjustable member carried by the other of said members adapted to engage the other element of said release mechanism, and co-operating fixed and movable electrical contacts intermediate said means and said adjustable member, and the axis of movement of said pivotal members, whereby the timing of the engagement of said contacts and the actuation of said release mechanism, mayfbe varied without variation of the relative movement of said members, and an electrical circuit including said bulb and said contacts.

2. A flashlight apparatus embodying therein the combination with a camera having a shutter and a mechanical release mechanism therefor having immovable and movable elements, one of said elements having at one end thereof a flanged nipple, of a support for a flash bulb, a control device embodying therein two members pivotally connected adjacent one end thereof, a iitting carried adjacent the free end of one of said pivotal members, said fitting having a circular depressed portion toward the rear thereof, and a channel leading forwardly therefrom, the rear walls of said channel converging rearwardly of the axis of said depressed portion, means carried by said tting and adapted to hold said. nipple engaged with the converging walls of said channel, whereby said nipple may be firmly connected with said pivotal member, an adjustable member carried by the other oi said members adapted to engage the other element of saldrelease mechanism, and co-operating fixed and movable Velectrical contacts Vintermediate said means and said adjustable member, and the axis of movement of said pivotal members, whereby the timing of the engagement of said contacts and the actuation of said release mechanism, may be varied without variation of the relative movement of said members, and an electrical circuit including said bulb and said contacts.

3. A flashlight apparatusembodyingthereinthe combination witha camera having a shutter and a mechanical release mechanism therefor having immovable and movable'elements, one oi said elements vhaving* at one end thereof a anged nipple. of a support for a flash bulb, a control device embodying therein two members pivotally connected adjacent one end thereof, a fitting carried adjacent the free end of one of said pivotal members, said fitting having a circular depressed portion toward the rear thereof, and a channel leading forwardly therefrom, the rear walls of said channel converging rearwardly of the axis of said depressed portion, a set screw mounted in said tting and extending radially oi said depressed portion adapted to hold said nipple engaged with the converging walls of said channel, whereby said nipple may be firmly con- 4. A flashlight apparatus embodying therein the combination with a camera having a shutter and a mechanical release mechanism therefor having immovable and movable elements, one of said elements having at one end thereof a flanged nipple, of a support for a iiash bulb, a control device embodying therein two members pivotally connected adjacent one end thereof, a fitting carried adjacent the free end, of one of said pivotal members, said fitting having a circular depressed portion toward the rear thereof, and a channel leading forwardly therefrom, the rear walls of said channel converging rearwardly of the axis of said depressed portion, a set screw mounted in said fitting and extending radially of said depressed portion adapted to hold said nipple engaged with the converging walls of said channel, whereby said nipple may be firmly connected with said pivotal member, a spring plate above and projecting over said fitting, said spring plate having a slot therein through which the other element of said release mechanism is adapted to pass, an adjustable member carried by the other of said members adapted to engage the other element of said release mechanism, and co-operating fixed and movable electrical contacts intermediate said means and said adjustable member, and the axis of movement of said pivotal members, whereby the timing of the engagement of said contacts and the actuation of said release mechanism, may be varied without variation of the relative movement of said members, and an electrical circuit including said bulb and said contacts.

5. A flashlight apparatus embodying therein the combination with a camera having a shutter and almechanical release mechanism therefor having immovable and movable elements, of a support for a flash bulb, a control device embodying therein two members pivotallv connected adjacent one end thereof, means adjacent the free end of one of said members, whereby one of the elements of said release mechanism may be connected therewith, an adjustable member carried bythe other of said members adapted to engage the other element of said release mechanism, spaced fixed contacts, and a movable spring contact carried by one of said members intermediate said .means and said adjustable member, and the axis of movement of said pivotal member, and a striker member carried by the other of said members and engageable with said spring contact, whereby the timing of the engagement of said contacts and the vactuation of said release mechanism, may be varied without variation of 6 the relative movement of said members, and an electrical circuit including said bulb and said contacts.

6. A fiashlightapparatus embodying therein the combination with a camera having a shutter and a mechanical release mechanism therefor having immovable and movable elements, one of said elements having at one end thereof a flanged nipple, of a support for a ilashbulb, a control device embodying therein two members pivotally connected adjacent one end thereof, a fitting carried adjacent the free end of one of said pivotal members, said tting having a circular depressed portion toward the rear thereof, and a channel leading forwardly therefrom, the rear walls of said channel converging rearwardly of the axis of said depressed portion, a set screw mounted in said fitting and extending radially of said depressed portion adapted to hold said nipple engaged with the converging walls of said channel, whereby said nipple may be irmly connected with said pivotal member, an adjustable member carried by the other of said members adapted to engage the other element of said release mechanism, spaced fixed contacts, and a movable spring contact carried by one of said members intermediate said means and said adjustable member, and the axis of movement of said pivotal member, and a. striker member carried by the other of said members and engageable with said spring contact, whereby the timing of the engagement of said contacts and the actuation of said release mechanism, may be varied without variation of the relative movement of said members, and an electrical circuit .including said bulb and said contacts.

7. A ashlight apparatus embodying therein the combination with a camera having a shutter and a mechanical release mechanism therefor having immovable and movable elements, of a support for a flash bulb, a control device embodying therein two members pivotally connected adjacent one end thereof, one of said pivotal members having the sides and the end thereof adjacent the pivotal connection closed, and the front thereof provided with a slot therethrough, means adjacent the free end of one of said members, whereby one of the elements of said release mechanism may be connected therewith, an adjustable member carried by the other of said members adapted to engage the other element of said release mechanism, spaced fixed contacts, and a movable spring contact carried by one of said members intermediate said means and said adjustable member, and the axis of movement of said pivotal member. a striker member carried by the other of said members and engageable with said spring contact whereby the timing of the engagement of said contacts and the actuation of said release mechanism maybe varied without variation of the relative movement of said members, and a barrier plate between said adjustable member and said electrical contacts and an electrical circuit including said bulb and said contacts.'

8. A ashlight apparatus embodying therein the combination with a camera having a shutter and a mechanical release mechanism therefor having immovable and movable elements, of a support for a ash bulb, a control device embodying therein two members pivotally connected adjacent one end thereof, means adjacent the free end of one of said members, whereby one of the elements of said release mechanism may be connected therewith, an adjustable mem tion to said spring contact, and the other endexposed outwardly of said member so as to be engageable with a contact plug, and a striker member carried by the other of said members' and engageable with said spring contact, whereby the timing of the engagement of said contacts and the actuation of said release mechanism, may be varied without variation of the relative movement of said members,l and an electrical circuit including said bulb and said contacts.

9. A ashlight apparatus embodying therein the combination with a camera having a shutter and a mechanical release mechanism therefor having immovable and movable elements, of a support for a flash bulb, a control device embodying therein two members pivotally connected adjacent one end thereof, one of said pivotal members having the sides and the end thereof adjacent the pivotal connection closed, and the front thereof provided with a slot therethrough, a stop pin extending from side wall to side wall thereof, and the other of said pivotal members having side flanges provided with arcuate openings co-operating with said stop pin, a spring carried by one of said members and acting upon the other to normally separate said members, means adjacent the free end of one of said members, whereby one of the elements of said release mechanism may be connected therewith, an adjustable member carried by the other of said members adapted to engage the other element of said release mechanism, spaced fixed contacts, and a movable spring contact carried by one of said members intermediate said means and said adjustable member, and the axis of movement of said pivotal member, a striker member carried by the other oi' said members adapted to receive a dry cell battery, means whereby said support may be detachably connected with a camera comprising a fitting hav--l ing an opening extending therethrough, an attaching screw rotatably mounted in the opening in said fitting, and having an elongated channel about and intermediate the ends thereof, a latch pin carried by said iltting and entering said channel, and a spring acting upon said latch pin, whereby said screw maybe quickly withdrawn from said opening and replaced therein.

l1. A iiashlight apparatus embodying therein the combination with a camera having a shutter and a mechanical release mechanism therefor having immovable and movable elements, of a support for a flash bulb, a control device embodying therein two members pivotally connected adjacent one end thereof, means adjacent the free end of one of said members, whereby one of the elements of said release mechanism may be connected therewith, an adjustable member carried by to engage the other element of said release mechanism, and co-operating fixed and movable electrical contacts intermediate said means'and said adjustable member, and the axis of move-A 'ment of said pivotal members, whereby the the other of said, members adapted timing of the engagement of said contacts and the actuation of said release mechanism, may be varied Without variation of the relative movement of said members, means whereby said support may be detachabiy connected with a camera,

A and an electrical circuit including said bulb and said contacts. PHELPS OLDS.

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