US2804537A - Photoflash lamp - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 27, 1957 P. GREGER PHOTOFLASH LAMP 5 Shee'ts-Sheet 1 Filed Dec 8, 1953 l .lill/Affli- /ERNEYJ Aug. 27, 1957 P. GREGER PHOTOFLASH LAMP 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 /NVF/VM Filed Dec. 8, 1953 Aug. 27, 1957 P. GREGER PHOTOF'LASH LAMP I5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 8, 1953 r N w. w

United States Patent PHoToFLAsrr LAMP i Paul Greger, Braunschweig, Germany, assignor to Voigtlander, A. G., Braunschweig, Germany, a corporation of Germany l This invention relates to photoash lamp devices and it has particular relation to photoash lamp devices in which ash bulbs of varying dimensions can be used.

Various types of photoash lamp devices provided with means for ejecting the flash bulb have been known previously and devices in which flash bulbs of varying sizes can be inserted in the same reflector, have also been known.

The main object of the present invention consists in providing a photollash lamp device which comprises means for ejecting the flash bulb and comprises only one socket, but nevertheless permits the use of flash bulbs of varying sizes.

According to the present invention, this object is at tained by providing the lamp socket with two or` more` detents, arranged one behind the other in suitable distances from the focal point of the reflector in such manner that, upon insertion of the various bulbs in the device, the individual bulbs are held by the socket in.

positions, in which their center of illumination coincides with the focal point of the reflector. Flash bulbs which case, detent teeth are provided on a spring biased ejector lever which, upon insertion of a bulb against the action of an ejecting spring, recedes from the socket and subsequently comes to rest with one of its teeth behind the retaining pins of the lamp base, said ejecting spring simultaneously and preferably forming the electrical bottom Contact.

After release of the ejector lever and the that the ash bulb can be inserted in the socket indeare provided with one or two holding or retaining pins Y pendently, or approximately independently, from the rotary position of its retaining pins.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide in the use of positively acting detents and of an ejector lever, means for permanently and automatically keeping the surface of the middle contact in polished condition.

VIt is also an object of the invention to use a particular current conducting arrangement over the joint of the ejector lever, whereby an elbow spring serves for conducting the current.

In the appended drawings, which illustrate by way of example some embodiments of the invention, to which the invention is not limited:

4Figurel illustrates a photoash lamp device showing the features of the present invention, in sectional view;

Figure 2 is the front view of the photoiiash lamp device, some parts of which are shown in section;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the device shown in Figure l, the section being taken along line III-Ill in Figure l;

Figure 4 illustrates an ejector socket with a unilaterally, longitudinally slotted sleeve and an ejector lever;

Figure 5,illustrates an ejector socket with a sleeve longitudinally divided at its front end and a detent acting in all directions;

Figure 6 illustrates, in longitudinal sectional View, a photoash lamp socket with an ejector spring and two detents acting by their design;

Figure 47 is a front view of the flash lamp socket shown in Figure 6;

vFigure 8 shows' the base of a iiash bulb in side View, said base being provided with two retaining pins;

Figure 9 illustrates an ejector socket having a unlaterallyk slotted sleeve and three locking positions, and Figure 10 illustrates, in longitudinal sectional View, a photoashlamp socket with an ejector spring and three detents acting by their design.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, in the embodiment shown in Figure 1, lamp socket 1 has a closed `form which is of substantially horseshoe-shaped crosssection in this case. Laterally arranged, bent out grooves 3 of lamp socket 1, which according to a preferred embodiment, extend in straight line and parallel to axis 2 of the lamp socket, allow the insertion of retaining pins resulting release of the retaining pins of the bulb base, Y

the bulb is ejected from the socket by the ejector spring.

In another advantageous ejector device suitable for the present invention, positively acting detents of the type shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,384,327 issued on September 4, 1945', are used.

Such positively acting detents are preferably formed by constricting or coil springs which are peripherally arranged around the lamp socket and enter the interior of the lamp socket through slots, which are located in the range of bent out grooves of the lamp socket. The eff feet of such springs consists in that the springs are first pressed outward by the retaining pins of the iiash lamp inserted in the device and subsequently are located in front of said retaining pins as positively acting detents.

4 of iiash bulb 5, which serve as guide means and for support. Lamp socket 1 is electrically conductive at least on its inner surface and is connected with one terminal of a current source.

v On the outside and around la-mp socket 1, constricting or coil springs 6 are arranged at two levels, which correspond to two different inserted positions of iiash bulbs andsaid springs prevent the inserted flash bulb from sliding out from the socket, by their lying in the ejection path of the ash bulb in front of its retaining pins. In order to attain this effect, lamp socket 1 is provided at the place of the before mentioned bent out grooves 3, with slots 7, so that springs 6 can enter the interior of the space enclosed by socket 1. In order to enable retaining pins 4 of a ash bulb to press backward springs 6 The ejecting means used in carrying out the present inthese detent recesses can have a ring shaped design,iso

upon insertion of the bulb into the socket, the diameter of the convolutions of springs 6 is of such dimension relative to the active length of the retaining pins that an operative wedge or key drive in the direction of insertion results, in which the key wedge is formed mainly by the rounding of the springs. For the same reason, in view of suitable dimensions of slots 7, springs 6 enter the space enclosed by the lamp socket only up to about the half of the diameter of the convolutions.

In lorder to obtain good electric contact between the Ibase of the ash bulb and lamp socket 1, the larnp socket Patented Aug. 27, 1957 is-providedwith slots8- which are staggered relative to slots 7y preferably 4by a right angle andsprings 6-enterthe space in the interior of the lamp socket through said slots 8 likewise only up to about the half of the spring diameter. -In order to prevent displacement of springs 6 at these places, the lamp socket is provided here too with an outwardly extending-.longitudinalcrease 9i Thus, upon insertion'V of a flash bulb into'the lamp'socket, for example edge 10 of the flash bulb base forces springs 6 which protrude through slotsS, inoutwarddirection. The tension of springs 6 resulting on this side, presses the base of the flash bulb in direction 11 toward the opposite interior side lof the lamp socketI andE produces there electrical contact 12' between the flash-bulb base andthe lamp socket. f -f -In carrying out the present invention', -springs 6' can be made of any suitable material,for example also of` electrically non-conductingmaterial. A

The lamp socket extends in downward-directionand1 is. in fixed connection with an electrically'noneconducting, fork-shaped supporting or bearing element' 133;, iny

-the forked part of whicha bolt 14` is iixedlyinserted perpendicularly to, andata latera-ldistance a, from, axis 2 of the flash bulb `(see Fig. 3).' Said distance a is, determined* byithe'possibility of conveniently operating the ejecting mechanism.. An 4ejector lever 15 ifsi arrangedl on Iand capable of swingingabout said'bolt 14. @ne leg of this lever 15, which is freely accessiblefrom theout` side, forms- 'a `key or' handle' 16 which ismovable in radial direction to'axis 2, while the other leg'lflf otsaidl lever is bent in such manner that its part 1 8,- which is designed asa contact member, remains in contact' with the middle contactofl the flaslibulb insertedfin the socket during the entire .path of its-swinging.

A secondposition of ejector lever'15fis^shown-inFig ure 1 in dotted line. In the forked recess of member 13, aftorsional spring 19 isapplied Avto` 'bolt-14; One end 21 of said spring 19frwhich isconnected with current4 supply cable 20, is supported byfedge 22v ofY member'13, While the other end 23 ofl'spring 19 bears against the electricallyconducting interior surfaceV 18l of leg 17 of lever and forms'anelectrical contact therewith. The

effect of torsional `spring 19 isdeterminedin such manner that this spring provides, on the one hand, for safe contact between part` 18`v of lever 15.and` the middle contact of the flash-'bulb inserted in the lamp socket, while,

on. the other hand, the effect of this spring by itself'isv of the sleeve in order to prevent the bulbs from being;

inserted too far. v

In inserting a flash bulb into a lamp holder, the flash ibulb is guided in such a manner that the retaining pins 4 (see Fig. 1)- 'arranged on the base party ofV the flash bulb, enter the wedge-shaped stamped portions 36. If,

tlie flash -bulb is then inserted in the lamp holder, the two flaps 32 and.33 of the `lamp-holder'y exert their spring effect. The lower frontal surface of the flash bulb comes in contact with yarm 3.0 of the ejector lever 29, which projects into the insertion path of the llash bulb, already |before the retaining pins 4A enter the first detent notches 34, and starts'to cause swinging of the ejector lever 29 about its pivot. Thereby, the free arm of ejector lever 29, whichY projects from the lamp holder, withdraws from insulating part 28; The swinging of the ejector lever 29 is more or less extensive, depending on at which of the detent notches 34 the inserting movement is terminated; In order to eject a flashV bulb from the lamp holder, the' swung-out -free arm of the ejector lever 29 is yactuated in such a manner that its arm 30, which extends `below the flash bulb, exerts pressure on the lamp base. Thereby, retaining pins 4 are removed from the vdetent notches34. When the ejector lever`29 has been moved upto the position shown in Fig. 4, arm 30`of ejector lever 29 will have caused removal of the flash bulb from tlielamp holder to' such `an extent that the retaining pins 4' arranged' on the lamp base will be locatedin the wedgeeshapedstarnped portions 36. The flash bulb will bethen in a position in' which it can be easily removed from the." lamp holder, or falls from it by itself if the not capa-bleef ejecting an inserted flash -bulb against the effect ofspring 6 located in -fr-ont of retainingpins 4;

Upon insertion of a flash bulb 5 in socket 1', the suitably bent contact part 18-of ejectorl lever 15A is-v displaced at a suitable position of lever V15, to-a small extent relative to the middle contacty of the bulb and'perpendicu;

larly to axis 2, whereby a certain polishingeffect and' bright condition of this contact automatically result. VTn order to increase this effect, contact part- 1,8l canbe made iile-like on itssurface turned toward themiddlev contact of the bulb. The same result can be obtained'v by a drilling movement ofthe middle contact of va flash bulb relative to said contact part, for example Iby formingbent out grooves 3 not in straight line, but entirely or partially 'as a helical groove. f

Ejection of the 'inserted flash bulb isbrought about by applying pressure to member 16 of leverl 15 in'thejdirec tion of arrow 24, in order to overcome the locking or arresting effect of springs 6.

The'. lamp socket proper is connected with reflector 25 tbyka common supporting member 26.

Figure 4i illustrates a lamp' socket 27, in which an' ejector lever- 29' is pivotally arranged in insulating mem'- ber 28. Arm 30` of lever 29 projectsr through opening 31 into the interior' of the lamp socket. The latter has the form of la sleeve, slit at one side, wherebythe two flaps 32 and 33 of the socket are rendered capable of a spring effect andof holding the retaining p inssofanin:

, can be elastically moved apart.

flashVV lamp device isr held in `a corresponding position.

IIn` the`device shown in Fig. 4'-in a manner similar to that described in connection with Figs. 1, 2, and'q'- lamp'socket 27 is electrically connectedby means of a cafble with one.- pole of the electric source. A second cableconnected with the other pole of the electric current'source, is connected in a manner similar to that described in the preceding. example, to theejector lever 2.9,",which` is electrically insulatedfrom the lamp socket 27 means'oaninsulating member 28. A flash bulb Sinserted' in the lamp socket lies lwith its lower bottom contact againstthev ejector lever 29. The retaining'pins 4 seated on the base of the Hash 'bulb are in contactl with the interior surfaces of the detent'notches 34. In this manner an' electrical connection between tliecurrentv source and the flash bulb 5 is brought about. Figure 5 showsv a sleeve 37, which likewise carries an ejector lever29 pivotally arranged on insulating member 28. One arm 30 of lever. 29 projects into the interior' 31 of sleeve `37 of the lamp socket Iand engages there the` insertedvflash bulb from below. Sleeve 37`is slotted' from 'above' on two opposite sides, so that its upper lportion is formed `by two halves 38 and 39, which In the range of its flaps, sleeve 37has' two creases 40 of sernicireular shape, arranged one above the other, into which retaining pins of' an insertedflashbulb can enter. An edge portion 41 of' the flaps, which extendsoutwardly conically over the' entire periphery, causes the flaps to move elastically apart, upon yinsertion of a' flash bulb. The structure of this device has the advantage that a flash bulb lever arm 30, whichprojectsinto the path of insertom,

Above or in front of saidy already before the retaining pins 4 (see Fig. 1) provided on the base of the flash bulb, enter the first crease 40V erated in such a manner that ejector lever arm 30, which extends under the flash bulb, exerts pressure on the bottom surface of lthe flash bulb and causes removal of the latter from the lamp holder. v

In Fig. 5, the Sleeve 38 is again connected with one pole fof the current source, while the other pole of the current source is in electrical contact with ejector lever.

29, which is insulated from sleeve 38 by an electrically insulating member 28. Thus, a flash bulb inserted in sleeve 38 `will be in electrical contact with the current source through the bottom contact of fla-sh bulb 5 which contacts ejector lever 29 and the retaining pins 4 of flash bulb S, which lie against the interior, wall of the semi-circular crease 46. Y

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate a lamp socket having two detent positions for flash bulbs of different sizes, in longitudinal section and in -front View, respectively, said socket being provided with detents and an ejector spring.

iln the embodiment 'shown in these figures, the bottom of socket 42 consists of an insulating member 43, in which an ejector pin 44 is displaceably arranged and urged to advanced position by spring 45. This spring is designed and dimensioned in such manner that it serves as Y an ejector spring, and, by electrical connection with one electrical terminal and in combination with ejector p'in 44, it serves simultaneously also as an electrical Vbottom contact. Sleeve 42 is provided at two oppositely arranged point-s with slots 46 for guiding the retaining pins 4 of flash bulb 5. An ejector lever '49 ispivotally arranged at 48 on sleeve 42. One arm 47 of lever 49 is provided with two saw teeth 50, which constitute detents acting by their design, :and project through one of said slots 46 into the interior of sleeve 42. Inward movement of said `arm 47 is limited by stop bolt 51, by which the ejector lever 49, which is under the effect `of spring 52. abuts at the outer Wall of the -sleeve when the socket is empty. Thereby, saw teeth 50 of lever armv 47 point with their inclined surface upward, while their other, inner edge is directed perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of sleeve 42.

Upon insertion of retaining pins 4 of a flash bulb 5 into longitudinal slots 46 of sleeve 42, one of the retaining pins 4 passes over the inclined sur-face of lirst saw tooth 50 `of ejector lever 49 and presses said tooth backward, whereupon said tooth comes to lie with its radially extending edge in 1front of `one of retaining pins 4. lt -is within the scope of the present invention to arrange a second, similar ejector lever on the other side of the sleeve.

A larger ash bulb is inserted in sleeve 42 further, i. e. until it reaches, and is locked by the second saw tooth, in a manner similar 4to that described above. After releasing members 50 by pressing ejector lever 49 in the direction of arrow 53, the inserted bulb is ejected by ejector pin 44 from the socket, under action of spring 45.

yIn connection with Figs. 6 and 7, it will be understood from the above that the ejector pin 44 arranged in insulating member 43 and thus also the bottom contact of a flash bulb S inserted in the device, is in electrical contact with one pole of the current source. The other pole of the current source is connected with sleeve 42. Thereby the locking lever is supplied with current and provides, over its saw teeth 50, electrical connection with the retaining pins 4 of the base of flash bulb 5. Simultaneously, locking lever 49 urges the base of flash bulb 5 against the interior wall opposite thereto, of' sleeve 42, so that here too electrical connection between ash bulb 5 'and sleeve 42 is brought about.

Figure 8 illustrates the base of a flash bulb, adaptedi to be used inv a lamp socket .according to the present invention. Said base is provided with two retaining elements 4, which consist, for example, of pins, but may also be studs which are stamped Vfrom the sleeve forming the base.

Figure -9 illustrates a lamp socket, the structure ofwhich is generally similar to that shown in Figure 4,

but differs from the latter by the presence of three detents 54, which enable the socket to be used for receiving and holding bulbs of three different sizes. The other reference symbols in Figure 9 have the same meaning as in Fig. 4;

f IInsertion and ejection of a flash bulb takes place substantially in the same manner as already described above in connection with Fig. 4. As in this case, in contrast`V to the lamp holder shown in Fig. 4, three detents 54, arranged one after the other, are provided, the free ejector lever arm, which projects from the lamp holder,

will continue swinging only when a flash bulb is inserted in the lamp holder to such an extent that its `retaining pins entei the lowest of the three detents 54.

`ln the vdevice lshown in Fig. 9, the electrical connection -between a flash bulb 5 inserted in the lamp socket and the current source corresponds to the arrangement described in connection with Fig. 4. One pole of the current, source is thereby connected to the ejector lever 29, while the lamp socket 27 is connected to the other pole ofthe current source.

The lamp socket illustrated in Fig. l0 is generally similar to the socket shown in Figure 6. However, in combination with the socket shown in Figure 10, two

ejector levers 55, 55 are arranged in diametrically op-V posite positions. `Each of these ejector levers is provided vwith three saw teeth 56, which lact as detents, so that the socket shown in Fig. l0 can be used for tlash bulbs of three different sizes. The two ejector levers 55 can be4 operatedgto release the saw teeth by pressure simultaneously applied in the direction of both arrows 57. The use of two ejector levers prevents canting of the flash bulb in its locked position. bols in Figure l0, have the same meaning las in Figure 6.

`In the device illustrated in Fig. l0, the electrical connection between a flash bulb 5 inserted in the lamp socket and thecurrent source, corresponds to the arrangement described above in connection with Figs. 6 and 7. Thereby, the ejector pin 44 is -connected with one pole of the current source while the other pole of the current source is electrically connected to sleeve 42, whereby the two locking levers 52, which are in contact with retaining pins 4 of ash bulb 5, likewise receive current. Between these two part-s there Will be electrical connection at any point, at which the lamp base and the sleeve 42 are in contact with each other.

IIt will be understood from the above that this invention is not limited to the specific designs, constructions, steps and other details specifically described above and can be carried out with various modifications without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A photographic photoflash device for receiving flash bulbs having a base member with a plain surface provided with retaining pins, and having two electric contacts, one of the contacts including the base member and the other contact being disposed at the bottom of the base member and insulated therefrom, said photoash device comprising 'a socket for the base member of a Hash bulb, a reflector forming a structural unit with Said socket, said socket having at least two detent means for retaining ash bulbs inserted into said socket, said detent means being arranged at varying depths, one below the other in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said socket, only one of said means being adapted at a time to engage the retaining pins provided ou the base of a,

The other reference sym-V ashfhulb inserted to corresponding depthsin theA socket,

conductbrsiadaptedztorbe connected to a. source of.7 electric energy, a 'spring Vbiased member electrically insu-Y` latedfrom said'. socket and electrically.'connectedtoonc ofi said; conductors,A said spring` biased member engaging' the: lower contact of` an inserted` flashbulb, means for` connecting: thefother of said conductors 'lwith f saidv socket' which is in electric contact with thebase of the inserted flash bulb IandI ther retaining pins; andimeans for ejecting anuinsertedlash bulb, said; springbiased memberI form-j ingtaipart 'of said,l ejectormeans.

2 The. combination in accordance with claim 1, fur

therfcomprising a pairi off longitudinallyextending. slots forslidably 'receiving theretaining pins offthevash bulb,

said'detent. meanscomprising a plurality'of furtherslots extending. circumferentially aboutsaidf socketand intersecting said pain of slots, and helicall spring means positionedfin` each of saidifurtherV slots and extending into said socketi a` sufficient distance to intercept the pins on aash bulb,

33 The combination inaccordance with-claim-Z; wherein said. helicall springV means extendY into' said socket a distance approximately. equalV totheir radii.

4. The combination in accordancewith claim 2; wherein'saidejector means comprises a-lever having a first-arm extendingintosaid socket and" asecond'v arm disposed' exteriorly ofi said socket, means for pivoting lsaid lever about' adams-.perpendicularto the longitudinal axis of said socket, means Vfor insulating said lever`- from said socket,'rsaid lever being spring biasedfso vthat saidist arm constitutesasaid'spring biasedmember. f

5'. The 4combination in accordance'with claim 1, where in said socketV constitutes twoV hollow-semi-cylindrical members, meansfor resiliently biasing said members one toward` the other, andY wherein said detent means each includes-'a radially enlarged, circumferentially extending exteriorly of said socket,rmeansfon pivoting.r said' lever aboutcarr axis;perpendicular to the-.longitudinallv axis of saidl'socket,. means for insulatingsaidT lever fromsaid` socken. .saidt lever. .being spring. biasedl so4 thatA said first-v armiconstitutes f said spring biased member..

7; Thecombination.inaccordance withiclaimv 1, where-- intsaid ,socketllrasf a longitudinal' slot extending at least tofthedepthv off' all fof' said detent means, said detent means: comprising. longitudinally extending corrugations aligned with the pins of the-base of a tl'ashv bulb to=be 9; rIlhecombinationdnaccordance with claim 8,- where in. said ejector means comprises` a' lever having, a first arm extending into: said socket and ay second arm dis-- posedlexteriorly. of said-r socket, means for' pivoting said lever about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinall axis of saidsocketg-means. forinsulatingsaid lever from said socket; said. lever being spring biasedl so thatv said firstv arm constitutes said springbiased member.

l0. 'Phe combination in accordance with claim l whereinl said. socket comprises longitudinally extending slotsalignedwith the pins on1a ash bulb to be-inserted therein,.at" least onelever aligned with one of the slots, springmeans'vrfor'urgingsaid lever into said slots, said' detentfmeans comprising asaw-tooth surface on said'lever', saidsawtoothsurf'ace extending into saidlsocketthrough saidf slots` and having at least twok outwardlyl and upwardly. extending portions terminating at their lower edges in radiallyextendingsurfaces.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED'STATES PATENTS 1,418,302 Guih June 6, 1922v 2,050,085.V Cherniak Aug. 4 1936 2,293,660V V'Nicholas: Aug. 18, 1942 2,384,327 Mendelsohn Sept. 4, 1945 2,578,296-y .Ernisse Dec. 11, 1951 2,703,869 Haraden Mar. 8, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 936,649 France July 26', 1948

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