Compact camera with flip open flash unit
US5231436A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 16, 1992 |
| Grant date | Jul 27, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 16, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03B2215/0507
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A compact camera has a rectractable objective lens carrier that is associated with a flip open flash unit to move to an extended taking position as the flash unit is moved to an opened or unfolded position and to move to a retracted storage position as the flash unit is moved to a closed or folded position. A locking device is biased to engage the lens carrier substantially when the lens carrier is in its taking position to lock the lens carrier in that position, and can be disengaged from the lens carrier to permit the lens carrier to be moved to its storage position. A single cam is connected with the flash unit for disengaging the locking device from the lens carrier responsive to movement of the flash unit out of its opened position, for forcibly holding the locking device apart from the lens carrier substantially when the flash unit is in its closed position, and for releasing the locking device responsive to movement of the flash unit to its opened position to permit the locking device to engage with the lens carrier substantially when the lens carrier is in its taking position.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.