Apparatus for delayed firing of electronic flash units or the like

Apparatus for delayed completion of a circuit, particularly for delayed firing of an electronic flash unit which is used with a photographic camera to illuminate a subject or scene in response to actuation of the camera release, comprising a normally open switch;

• a weight movable from a first to a second end position to thereby close said switch;
• an elastic carrier for said weight;
• driving means operable to move said carrier from a starting position in which said carrier maintains said weight in said first end position to a second position in which said carrier maintains said weight in said second end position;
• and means for operating said driving means, the elasticity of said carrier and the mass of said weight being such that said weight temporarily remains in or close to said first end position due to inertia following the movement of a portion of said carrier from said starting position toward said second position, said operating means comprising an impeller which is movable from a retracted to an extended position to thereby operate said driving means and which forms part of a photographic camera having means for supporting holders for flash lamps which are fired in response to movement of said impeller to said extended position.

Apparatus for delayed completion of a circuit, particularly for delayed firing of an electronic flash unit which is used with a photographic camera to illuminate a subject or scene in response to actuation of the camera release, comprising a normally open switch;

• a weight movable from a first to a second end position to thereby close said switch;
• an elastic carrier for said weight in the form of an elongated spring having a portion rigid with said driving means, said weight being movable lengthwise of said spring toward and away from said portion;
• driving means operable to move said carrier from a starting position in which said carrier maintains said weight in said first end position to a second position in which said carrier maintains said weight in said second end position;
• and means for operating said driving means, the elasticity of said carrier and the mass of said weight being such that said weight temporarily remains in or close to said first end position due to inertia following the movement of a portion of said carrier from said starting position toward said second position.

Apparatus for delayed completion of a circuit, particularly for delayed firing of an electronic flash unit which is used with a photographic camera to illuminate a subject or scene in response to actuation of the camera release, comprising a normally open switch;

• a weight movable from a first to a second end position to thereby close said switch;
• an elastic carrier for said weight;
• driving means operable to move said carrier from a starting position in which said carrier maintains said weight in said first end position to a second position in which said carrier maintains said weight in said second end position;
• and means for operating said driving means, the elasticity of said carrier and the mass of said weight being such that said weight temporarily remains in or close to said first end position due to inertia following the movement of a portion of said carrier from said starting position toward said second position, said driving means comprising a member which supports said carrier and is rotatable by said operating means from a starting position corresponding to the starting position of said carrier to a second position corresponding to the second position of said carrier.

Apparatus for delayed completion of a circuit, particularly for delayed firing of an electronic flash unit which is used with a photographic camera to illuminate a subject or scene in response to actuation of the camera release, comprising a normally open switch having first and second contacts;

• a weight consisting at least in part of conductive material and being movable from a first to a second end position to thereby close said switch;
• an elastic carrier for said weight;
• driving means operable to move said carrier from a starting position in which said carrier maintains said weight in said first end position to a second position in which said carrier maintains said weight in said second end position;
• means for operating said driving means, the elasticity of said carrier and the mass of said weight being such that said weight temporarily remains in or close to said first end position due to inertia following the movement of a portion of said carrier from said starting position toward said second position;
• and conductor means connecting one of said contacts with said weight, said weight engaging the other of said contacts in said second end position thereof and said conductor means including said carrier and said driving means.