# US 4,391,501 A · Camera with attachable flash device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,391,501 A - Document ID: US4391501A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/299,455 - Filed: 1981-09-04 - Granted: 1983-07-05 - Earliest claimed: 1980-09-05 - Assignees: Balda-Werke Photographishe Gerate und Kunststoff GmbH & Co., KG - Inventors: Karl-Heinz Lange - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4391501A ## CPC - G03B 15/03: Combinations of cameras with lighting apparatus; Flash units - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) ## Abstract A camera adapted to receive an attachable flash device includes a transfer echanism to place the flash in an off position when the camera is placed in a non-operational position is provided. The transfer mechanism operatively sets the shutter assembly in the camera in response to displacement of the on-off switch of the flash device to an operational position. The transfer mechanism is operatively coupled to the on-off switch of the flash device and is displaced when a camera element is displaced to put the camera in a non-operational condition. This prevents accidental discharge of the flash which results in inadvertent discharging of the flash batteries. The camera element to be displaced to put the camera in a non-operational condition may be a closing lens cover, a lens slide or a retracting lens assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A camera and attachable flash device in combination, comprising: a camera body including a lens and shutter assembly; camera on-off means for placing the camera in an operational or non-operational condition; a flash device adapted to be mounted on the camera body and coupled to the lens and shutter assembly, the flash device including an on-off switch for placing the flash device in an operational or non-operational condition; and transfer means coupling said lens and shutter assembly to the on-off switch of the flash device for operatively setting the lens and shutter assembly at an appropriate flash setting and for placing the flash device into the off position in response to the camera on-off means being placed in a non-operational position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The camera and flash device combination of claim 1, wherein the flash device includes return means coupled to the on-off switch for placing the switch in an off position when the flash is removed from the camera body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The camera and flash combination of claim 1, wherein the camera on-off means is a pivotally mounted lens cap for covering the lens for placing the camera in a non-operational condition. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The camera and flash device combination of claim 1, wherein the camera on-off means is a lens cover slide which slides across the lens for placing the camera into a non-operational condition. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The camera and flash device combination of claim 1, wherein the camera on-off means is a lens and shutter assembly retractable into the camera body for placing the camera into a non-operational condition. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The camera and flash device combination of claim 1, wherein the transfer means is a flash slide oscillateably mounted for displacement in the camera body and coupled to the lens and shutter assembly and the camera on-off means, the camera on-off means including a pivotally mounted lever operatively coupled to the flash slide for displacing the flash slide in response to placement of the camera on-off means into a non-operational position, displacement of the flash slide placing the flash device in an off position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The camera and flash device combination of claim 1, wherein the camera body is formed with an opening adjacent to the flash device and the transfer means is a flash slide oscillateably mounted between the lens and shutter assembly and the opening, the flash device formed with an opening for cooperating with the opening in the camera body and a tappet coupled to the flash on-off switch for engaging the flash slide for displacing the flash slide towards the lens and shutter assembly when the flash on-off switch is displaced to an operational position towards the camera body. ### Claim 8 A camera and flash device in combination, comprising: a camera body including a lens and shutter assembly; camera on-off means for placing the camera in an operational or non-operational condition; a flash device adapted to be mounted on the camera body and coupled to the lens and shutter assembly, the flash device including an on-off switch for placing the flash device in an operational or non-operational condition; transfer means coupling said lens and shutter assembly to the on-off switch of the flash device for operatively setting the lens and shutter assembly at an appropriate flash setting and for placing the flash device into the off position in response to the camera on-off means being placed in the non-operational position; wherein the flash device includes return means coupled to the on-off switch for placing the switch in an off position when the flash is removed from the camera body; and wherein the flash device includes a wall having an opening adjacent to the camera body, and the return means is a pivotable lever coupled to the flash on-off switch projecting through the opening and biased to the off position of the flash switch, the pivotable lever abutting the camera body when the flash device is mounted on the camera body for pivoting the lever away from the flash off position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The camera and flash combination of claim 8, wherein the camera on-off means is a pivotally mounted lens cap for covering the lens for placing the camera in a non-operational condition. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The camera and flash device combination of claim 8, wherein the camera on-off means is a lens cover slide which slides across the lens for placing the camera into a non-operational condition. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The camera and flash device combination of claim 8, wherein the camera on-off means is a lens and shutter assembly retractable into the camera body for placing the camera into a non-operational condition. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The camera and flash device combination of claim 8, wherein the transfer means is a flash slide oscillateably mounted for displacement in the camera body and coupled to the lens and shutter assembly and the camera on-off means, the camera on-off means including a pivotally mounted lever operatively coupled to the flash slide for displacing the flash slide in response to displacement of the camera on-off means into a non-operational position, displacement of the flash slide placing the flash device in an off position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The camera and flash device combination of claim 8, wherein the camera body is formed with an opening adjacent to the flash device and the transfer means is a flash slide oscillateably mounted between the lens and shutter assembly and the opening, the flash device formed with an opening for cooperating with the opening in the camera body and a tappet coupled to the flash on-off switch for engaging the flash slide for displacing the flash slide towards the lens and shutter assembly when the flash on-off switch is displaced to an operational position towards the camera body. ### Claim 14 A camera adapted to receive a flash device comprising: a camera body including a lens and shutter assembly; camera on-off means for placing the camera in an operational or non-operational position; transfer means selectively operatively coupled to said lens and shutter assembly and adapted to be coupled to a flash device which is to be mounted on the camera body for operatively setting the lens and shutter assembly at an appropriate flash setting, the transfer means activated in response to placing the camera on-off into an off position and the transfer means placing the flash device in a non-operational condition in response to placing the camera in an off position. ### Claim 15 A camera and attachable flash device in combination, comprising: a camera body including a lens and shutter assembly; camera on-off means for placing the camera in an operational or non-operational condition; a flash device adapted to be mounted on the camera body and coupled to the lens and shutter assembly, the flash device including an on-off switch for placing the flash device in an operational or non-operational condition; transfer means coupling said lens and shutter assembly to the on-off switch of the flash device for placing the flash device into the off position in response to the camera on-off means being placed in a non-operational position; and wherein the transfer means is flash slide oscillateably mounted for displacement in the camera body and coupled to the lens and shutter assembly and the camera on-off means, the camera on-off means including a pivotally mounted lever operatively coupled to the flash slide for displacing the flash slide in response to placement of the camera on-off means into a non-operational position, displacement of the flash slide placing the flash device in an off position. ### Claim 16 A camera and attachable flash device in combination, comprising: a camera body including a lens and shutter assembly; camera on-off means for placing the camera in an operational or non-operational condition; a flash device adapted to be mounted on the camera body and coupled to the lens and shutter assembly, the flash device including an on-off switch for placing the flash device in an operational or non-operational condition; transfer means coupling said lens and shutter assembly to the on-off switch of the flash device for placing the flash device into the off position in response to the camera on-off means being placed in a non-operational position; wherein the camera body is formed with an opening adjacent to the flash device and the transfer means is a flash slide oscillateably mounted between the lens and shutter assembly and the opening, the flash device formed with an opening for cooperating with the opening in the camera body and a tappet coupled to the flash on-off switch for engaging the flash slide for displacing the flash slide towards the lens and shutter assembly when the flash on-off switch is displaced to an operational position towards the camera body.