Accessible lamp for a camera
AssigneeNikon Corporation
InventorTomohisa Ikeno
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
To simplify the replacement of an auxiliary lamp installed in a lamp case inside a camera lamp, such as a built-in strobe, a modular quick-release assembly is used. A lamp case holds the auxiliary lamp and is installed within a holder as a unit coupled to a camera body. On the front end of this holder, a removable protective panel positioned in front of the auxiliary lamp is removably attached by a screw or elastic fastener. The lamp case is secured within the lamp by being held between the front end of the holder and the protective panel. Thus, replacement or repair can be accomplished by simply removing the protective panel from the holder and pulling out the lamp case that holds the auxiliary lamp.
Claims28
A camera lamp comprising:
- a cover;
- a main lamp that illuminates a photographic subject during a photographic exposure disposed within the cover;
- an auxiliary lamp assembly that illuminates the photographic subject prior to illumination by the main lamp disposed within the cover adjacent to the main lamp, the auxiliary lamp assembly including a lamp case and an auxiliary light source held within the lamp case;
- a holder coupled to the cover that holds at least the auxiliary lamp, wherein the lamp case is freely held within the holder;
- and
- a light permeable protective panel removably coupled to the cover and the holder that covers at least the auxiliary lamp assembly, wherein the lamp case is secured in place by the protective panel and is removable from the holder when the protective panel is disassembled from the holder.
A lamp for use with a camera comprising:
- lamp means for illuminating a photographic subject comprising light means for generating illumination and lamp case means for supporting the light means;
- holder means for holding the lamp means including supporting means for freely supporting the lamp case means and coupling means for coupling the lamp to a camera;
- and
- protective means for covering and protecting the light means, the protective means being releasably secured to the holder means and preventing removal of the light means when secured to the holder means,
- wherein upon removal of the protective means from the holder means, the lamp case means and the light means are fully accessible for replacement and repair.
A method of disassembling a lamp for use with a camera for service, wherein the lamp comprises a lamp assembly, including a light source that illuminates a photographic subject in an illumination direction and a lamp case holding the light source, the lamp assembly being supported by a holder and covered by a protective panel, the method comprising the steps of:
- removing the protective panel from the lamp to expose and release the lamp assembly;
- grasping the lamp case and pulling the lamp case outward in the illumination direction to remove the lamp assembly from the holder;
- and
- servicing the lamp assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.