Lens-fitted photo film unit with flash device and protective cover

A lens-fitted photo film unit having a flash unit incorporated therein and a protective cover movable between a closed position covering a taking lens and an open position uncovering the taking lens, the film unit comprising:

• a switch operation member manually operable to move between an ON position for turning on a flash switch of the flash unit to start charging a main capacitor of the flash unit, and an OFF position for turning off the flash switch to terminate charging the main capacitor;
• and
• an interconnection device interconnecting between the protective cover and the switch operation member, the interconnection device causing the switch operation member to move from the OFF position to the ON position in cooperation with the protective cover moving to the open position, and from the ON position to the OFF position in cooperation with the protective cover moving to the closed position, and locking the switch operation member in the OFF position while the protective cover is in the closed position, the interconnection device disengaging the switch operation device from the protective cover and allowing the switch operation member to be moved between the ON position and the OFF position when the protective cover is in the open position;
• wherein the protective cover is slidable between the open position and the closed position, the switch operation member is slidable between the ON position and the OFF position in a direction perpendicular to a sliding direction of the protective cover, and the interconnection device comprises first and second cam portions formed integrally with the switch operation member and a cam follower member formed integrally with the protective cover, the first cam portion extending aslant to the sliding direction of the protective cover, the second cam portion extending in the sliding direction of the protective cover and being continued to the first cam portion, wherein the cam follower member slides along the first cam portion as the protective cover slides between the open position and the closed position, causing the switch operation member to move between the ON position and the OFF position, and is engaged in the second cam portion when the protective cover reaches the closed position, locking the switch operation member in the OFF position.

A lens-fitted photo film unit having a flash unit incorporated therein and a protective cover movable between a closed position covering a taking lens and an open position uncovering the taking lens, the film unit comprising:

• a switch operation member having an ON position and an OFF position, the switch operation member completing an electrical circuit so as to charge the flash unit and allow the flash unit to be triggered while in the ON position, the switch operation member opening the electrical circuit so as to prevent charging the flash unit and prevent the flash unit from being triggered while in the OFF position;
• and
• an interconnection device interconnecting the protective cover and the switch operation member;
• wherein the interconnection device causes the switch operation member to move from the OFF position to the ON position when the protective cover moves from the closed to the open position;
• wherein the interconnection device causes the switch operation member to move to the OFF position when the protective cover moves from the open to the closed position;
• wherein the interconnection device locks the switch operation member in the OFF position when the protective cover is in the closed position;
• and
• wherein the interconnection device allows the switch operation member to be moved between the ON position and the OFF position when the protective cover is in the open position.