Electronic flash unit having an adjustable mounting mechanism and movable electrical plug

Abstract

An electronic flash unit includes a housing having an elongate passage. An electrical plug having a pair of contacts electrically connected to the flashtube-firing circuitry is movably mounted in the passage to locate the contacts at varying positions relative to the housing. The flash unit further includes a camera mounting bracket that is adjustable relative to the base of the housing. A ratchet mechanism prevents a control button operatively associated with the bracket and an electrical control switch from closing the switch to energize the flashtube-firing circuitry when the bracket engages the housing base.

I claim: 
     
       1. In an electronic flash unit having a housing, a flashtube mounted within said housing, and electrical means for energizing said flashtube, the improvement comprising: a. electrical contacts adapted to be electrically connected to the output terminals of a flash-firing mechanism;   b. means associated with said housing for defining an operational path;   c. means electrically connecting said electrical contacts to said electrical means; and   d. means mounting said electrical contacts for moving said contacts along said path while said contacts remain electrically connected to said electrical means to position said contacts over a continuous range of flashfiring locations relative to said flashtube.   
     
     
       2. In an electronic flash unit having a housing, a flashtube mounted within said housing, and electrical means for energizing said flashtube, the improvement comprising: a. means for defining electrical contacts adapted to be operatively coupled to a flash-firing mechanism;   b. means associated with said housing for defining an operational path;   c. means electrically connecting said electrical contacts to said electrical means; and   d. a support member, mounting said electrical contacts, mounted for movement along said operational path to effect relative movement between said contacts and said flashtube to position said contacts over a range of flash-firing positions relative to said flashtube;   e. said electrically connecting means being adapted for maintaining said contacts electrically connected to said electrical means while said support member is moved along said operational path.   
     
     
       3. In an electronic flash unit having means for receiving a source of electrical energy, a flashtube, and an energizable electrical control circuit for flashing said flashtube, the improvement comprising: a. a flash mounting mechanism for detachably coupling said flash unit to a photographic camera, said mounting mechanism being mounted for movement between (1) an extended position in which said mounting mechanism is located to permit said flash unit to be mounted on the camera, and (2) a retracted position in which said mounting mechanism is ineffective to mount said flash unit on the camera;   b. an actuatable control switch having (1) a normal open position in which a received source of electrical potential is disconnected from said control circuit, and (2) a closed position in which the received electrical potential source is connected to said control circuit;   c. a ratchet mechanism for preventing said control switch from being closed while said mounting mechanism is in its retracted position; and   d. a manually actuatable control member operatively associated with said control switch and said ratchet mechanism and having (1) a first position in which said control switch is urged into its closed position, (2) a second position wherein said control switch automatically assumes its normal open position, and (3) a third position wherein said ratchet mechanism is effectively disabled to permit said mounting mechanism to assume its extended position.   
     
     
       4. In an electronic flash unit having a flashtube, a housing in which said flashtube is located, trigger circuit means for triggering said flashtube ON, and first and second electrical contacts electrically connected to said trigger circuit means and adapted to be electrically connected to the output terminals of .Iadd.a .Iaddend.flash-firing mechanism, the improvement comprising: a. means associated with said housing for defining an operational path having first and second terminal positions between which said first and second contacts are located; and   b. means for moving said first and second contacts relative to said flashtube over a continuous range of positions between said first and second terminal positions while maintaining said first and second contacts continuously connected to said trigger circuit means.   
     
     
       5. In an improved electronic flash unit having a flashtube and electrical means for energizing said flashtube, said electronic flash unit further including a plug having cooperating contacts electrically connected to said electrical means, the improvement comprising: a. a housing in which said flashtube is located, said housing defining a passage in which said plug is located; and   b. guide means for slidably moving said plug along said passage to enable said cooperating contacts to be positioned over a continuous range of flash-firing positions relative to said flashtube without disconnecting said cooperating contacts from said electrical means. .Iadd. 6. In an electronic flash device for mounting on any of a series of cameras having first electrical contact means, the location of the first electrical contact means on each camera varying from camera to camera, said electronic flash device including second electrical contact means for engaging such first electrical contact means, and circuit means electrically connected to said second electrical contact means for electrically operating said flash device, the improvement comprising:   a. means for mounting said flash device on any of such cameras in a position adjacent the first electrical contact means of the camera that is mounted; and   b. means providing for movement of said second electrical contact means while electrically connected to said circuit means over a plurality of positions corresponding to the varying locations of the first electrical contact means of the cameras on which said flash device is to be mounted. .Iaddend..Iadd. 7. In an electrically operated flash device for mounting on a variety of cameras, each of which cameras has first electrical contact means for cooperation with second electrical contact means of said flash device, the location of said first electrical contact means on each camera varying from camera to camera with respect to a corresponding surface of such cameras, the improvement comprising:   a. means electrically connected to said second electrical contact means for electrically operating said flash device;   b. means for detachably mounting said flash device on any of such cameras at substantially the same location on such corresponding surface of each of such cameras; and   c. a support member, mounting said second electrical contacts, and mounted to provide for movement of said second electrical contact means over a continuous range of positions corresponding to the varying locations of the first electrical contact means of the cameras on which said flash device is to be mounted. .Iaddend..Iadd. 8. In an electronic flash device for mounting on any of a variety of cameras, each of which cameras has signal transmitting means, the location of the signal transmitting means varying from camera to camera with reference to a flash locating surface on each camera, said flash device including signal receiving means for communicating with the signal transmitting means, circuit means electrically connected to said signal receiving means for electrically operating said flash device, and mounting means for attaching said flash device to the flash receiving surface of any of such cameras, the improvement comprising:   means providing for movement of said signal receiving means relative to said mounting means over a plurality of positions corresponding to the varying locations of the signal transmitting means of the cameras on which said flash device is to be attached, the movement of said signal receiving means being effectable while maintaining electrical connection between said signal receiving means and said circuit means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 9. In an electrically operated flash device for mounting on any of a series of cameras, each of which cameras has a first group of electrical contacts for engaging a second group of electrical contacts on said flash device, the location of the group of contacts on each camera varying from camera to camera with reference to a flash locating surface of the camera, the improvement comprising:   a. means electrically connected to said second group of electrical contacts for flashing said flash device;   b. mounting means for attaching said flash device to a camera in a position abutting the flash locating surface of the camera; and   c. means providing for movement of said second group of electrical contacts while maintaining electrical connection to said flash device flashing means over a range of positions corresponding to the varying locations of the first group of electrical contacts of the cameras on which said flash   
     
     
        device is to be attached. .Iaddend..Iadd. 10.  In an electronic flash unit for use with any of a variety of cameras of the type having a flash-firing electrical receptacle located on a flash receiving surface, the location of such receptacle varying from camera to camera within its associated flash receiving surface, the improvement comprising: a. an electrical plug adapted to be electrically connected to the flash-firing electrical receptacle of such cameras;   b. electrical means for flashing said flash unit;   c. means electrically connecting said electrical plug to said electrical means;   d. means for detachably mounting said flash unit on any of such cameras abutting their flash receiving surfaces; and   e. means providing for movement of said electrical plug over a continuous range of positions without disconnecting said electrical plug from said electrical means, said range of positions including the varying locations of the receptacle of the camera on which said flash unit is to be mounted. .Iaddend.