Convertible flash camera and method

A camera including a flash tube and reflector assembly selected alternatively from an extensible assembly and a fixed assembly;

• said camera comprising:
• a core;
• first flash mounting structure on said core and securing the selected flash assembly permanently to said core;
• second flash mounting structure on said core adapted to receive the non-selected flash assembly;
• and,
• a casing covering said core and said second mounting structure such that said camera cannot be used with the non-selected flash assembly.

A camera for exposing photographic film and comprising:

• a core including a film chamber and means defining an exposure plane for receiving and exposing the film;
• cobra flash mounting structure on said core adapted to receive and secure a cobra flash device to said core;
• fixed flash mounting structure on said core adapted to receive and secure a fixed flash device to said core;,
• a flash device permanently secured to a selected one of said cobra and fixed flash mounting structures;
• a casing covering said core, said casing accommodating said permanently secured flash device and enclosing said mounting structure not selected such that said camera can be used with only said permanently secured flash device.

A photographic camera having a permanent flash device selected alternatively from a first set of extendible flash devices each having a reflector housing pivoted on a base plate and a second set of fixed flash devices each having a reflector;

• said camera comprising:
• a core having mounting structure attaching and aligning the permanent flash device relative to said core, said mounting structure including first supporting surfaces adapted to receive a flash device from the extendible set and second surfaces distinct from said first surfaces adapted to receive a flash device from the fixed set;
• a casing covering said core, said casing defining a first opening providing access to said first surfaces for mounting the flash from the extendible set and a second opening adjacent said second surfaces for passing illumination through said casing from a flash device in the fixed set;
• a cover over a selected one of said first and second openings such that said photographic camera can be used with only said permanent flash device.

A method of assembling a photographic camera;

• said method comprising;
• forming an extensible flash tube and reflector assembly;
• forming a fixed flash tube and reflector assembly;
• forming a core including a first flash mounting structure adapted to receive said extensible assembly and a second flash mounting structure adapted to receive said fixed assembly;
• coupling a flash circuit board to said core, said circuit board including a flash capacitor;
• selecting an alternative one of said extensible and fixed flash assemblies;
• coupling said selected flash assembly to said flash circuit board and to the one of said first and second flash mounting structures adapted to receive the selected flash assembly;
• covering said core with a camera casing defining first and second apertures aligned with said first and second mounting structures, respectively, said first aperture providing access through said casing for mounting said extensible flash assembly on said first mounting structure and said second aperture permitting passage through said casing of illumination from said fixed flash assembly;
• and,
• covering said first aperture when said selected flash assembly is said fixed flash assembly such that said photographic camera cannot be used with said extensible flash assembly.