The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 12, 1999
Filed:
Sep. 30, 1997
Robert J Stanchus, Rochester, NY (US);
William F Dassero, Rochester, NY (US);
Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, NY (US);
Abstract
A combined fill-flash/flash-defeat switch of simple and inexpensive design does not require the use of mechanical fasteners. Specifically, a camera is provided that includes a camera body, a circuit board attached to the camera body, an electronic flash unit attached to the camera body; and a fill-flash/flash-defeat control switch assembly that is retained in position by the electronic flash unit. The fill-flash/flash-defeat control switch assembly includes an electrical contact mounted to a carrier assembly, and a fill-flash/flash-defeat switch element pivotally mounted to the camera body, wherein a top portion of the carrier assembly is retained by the electronic flash unit. Guide ribs are provided on the camera body that extend through guide openings in the carrier assembly. The carrier assembly includes a post that is captured by the fill-flash/flash-defeat switch, such that lateral movement of the fill-flash/flash-defeat switch applies a force to the post to cause a corresponding movement of the carrier assembly. The circuit board includes an electrical contact group, and the electric contact mounted to the carrier assembly selectively contacts left and right electrical contacts of the electrical contact group to provide a fill-flash signal and a flash-defeat signal to flash control circuitry of the camera. The flash unit is resiliently biased toward a front cover housing of the camera by an elastic band located between a reflector mounting structure of the electronic flash unit and the camera body. The elastic band is looped around both ends of the electronic flash unit's flash tube. The electronic flash unit also includes a transparent cover mechanically attached to the reflector mounting structure by L-shaped legs on a first side of the transparent cover and substantially straight legs on a second side of the transparent cover.