Abstract: A multiple flash lamp array having a plastic housing provided with one or more openings through the housing wall adjacent to an electrical ground part of circuitry contained in the array, to provide a discharge path for an electrostatically charged person or object touching the array. This reduces the possibility of accidental flashing of lamps by electrostatic charges.

Abstract: An integral self-contained fluorescent lamp unit comprising an elongated lamp and an elongated ballast resistor adjacent to and alongside the lamp. Metal strip heat radiators are positioned adjacent to and alongside the ballast resistor for dissipating its heat when operating.

Abstract: A method of making beaded lead-in wires for a photoflash lamp comprising the steps of forming and sealing a glass bead around a pair of lead-in wires, positioning a surface of the bead against a die having openings through which the wires extend, and moving the wires a distance through the openings of the die while the bead is hot, said openings having larger diameters than the wires so that said moving of the wires causes glass sheaths to be formed around the wires adjacent to the bead. The technique can be used to sheath one or both wires, above and/or below the bead. A pair of lead-in wires sheathed below the bead is sealed through the base of a lamp bulb, the lower ends of the sheaths being adjacent to the base seal.

Abstract: A multiple photoflash lamp unit is connectable to a camera in different orientations, and the lamps and electrical circuit are arranged so that in the different orientations of the unit a different group of the lamps can be flashed. A connector circuit arrangement electrically shorts the circuitry of the remaining lamps so they cannot be accidentally flashed.

Abstract: A glass support bead through which inlead wires extend in a miniature type of flash lamp is shaped to have sloping sides and a narrow ridge at the top extending from one to the other of the inlead wires, so that any unburned metal foil in a flashed lamp is not likely to accumulate on the top of the bead so as to cause an electrical short between the inlead wires.

Abstract: A multiple flash lamp array contains a sequentially switching lamp flashing circuit in the form of a printed circuit on a surface of a circuit board. A metal shield is provided over the other surface of the circuit board to reduce the possibility of accidental flashing of lamps by electrostatic voltage, which flashing tends to occur particularly when high voltage types of lamps are used in the array. Preferably, the shield is connected electrically to a lead-in wire of each lamp in the array, and also is connected electrically to a conductive reflector member positioned near the other side of the circuit board from the shield.

Abstract: A multiple photoflash lamp unit is connectable to a camera in different orientations in each of which a different group of the lamps is relatively farthest from the camera lens axis. The lamps are arranged so that in any of the orientations of the unit with respect to the camera, only the group of lamps relatively farthest from the lens axis will be flashed. This reduces the "red-eye" effect that can occur when the flashing lamp is close to the lens axis, undesirably causing a red coloration of the pupils of eyes of people in the picture.

Abstract: A photoflash lamp array comprising a plurality of flash lamps having lead-in wires connected to a circuit board carrying switching circuitry for sequentially firing the flash lamps. An electrically conductive reflector unit is positioned between the lamps and the circuit board. A conductive clip is clipped to the reflector unit and touches against an electrical ground point on the circuit board, whereby the reflector unit functions as an electrical shield for the circuitry.

Abstract: Beads of glass or plastic are placed around the lead-in wires in the bottom part of a flash lamp. This prevents metal debris in a flashed lamp from electrically shorting across the lead-in wires at the bottom of the lamp.