Abstract: A foldable lighter that prevents inadvertent ignition by erroneously pressing on the operating button at time of folding the swing-arm to make the lighter compact. A foldable lighter 1 that comprises a lighter lighter body 2 that contains a fuel tank, a piezoelectric unit 102 and an operating button 8, and swing-arm 4 connected with free swinging to one end of lighter body 2 and that incorporates a locking mechanism that prevents accidental depression of the operating button 8. The locking mechanism consists of a projecting portions 74 formed in a predetermined range of the cylindrical walls 26a, 26c made integrally with a swing-arm 4 and a hook 8b that extends from the operating button along a portion of the cylindrical walls.

Abstract: Heating units, drug supply units and drug delivery articles capable of rapid heating are disclosed. Heating units comprising a substrate and a solid fuel capable of undergoing an exothermic metal oxidation reaction disposed within the substrate are disclosed. These heating units can be actuated by electrical resistance or by optical ignition. Drug supply units and drug delivery articles wherein a solid fuel is configured to heat a substrate to a temperature sufficient to rapidly thermally vaporize a drug disposed thereon are also disclosed.

Abstract: A photographic flash lamp having a closed, at least partially transparent capsule. A combustible material within an enclosed region of the capsule generates a flash upon ignition. Ignition is provided by a frictionally ignited composition within the enclosed region and an ignitor to frictionally engage with the composition. A frictional ignitor assembly extends between an interior and exterior of the enclosed region and carries one of the composition or ignitor. Movement of an exterior end of the ignitor assembly causes the frictional ignitor and frictionally ignited composition to frictionally engage one another resulting in flash generation. Particularly with a sliding piston arrangement for engaging the ignitor and frictionally ignited composition, ignition can be accomplished with very low cost components such as a spring while at the same time, combustion gases are trapped within the closed envelope.

Abstract: A photographic flash lamp having an envelope defining a chamber, at least a portion of the envelope being transparent. A support mesh is positioned within the chamber and has a first portion out of contact with the remainder of the lamp. Suitable combustible material to produce the flash, is adhered to the first portion of the mesh to generate a flash upon ignition. An ignitor ignites the combustible material.

Abstract: An electrically-activated, subminiature photoflash lamp including a glass envelope, a quantity of combustible shred material (e.g., zirconium or hafnium) for providing high intensity light output upon ignition thereof, and an ignition means for igniting the combustible upon application of a suitable pulse such as typically provided by a piezoelectric element utilized in many of today's pocket-type cameras. The ignition means includes a first quantity of primer material located within a buttom of the lamp's envelope, a pair of lead-in wires secured within the bottom end of the envelope and in electrical contact with the primer, and a thin member located at an opposite end of the envelope from the first primer and having thereon a second quantity of primer material. The first primer, when ignited, thus serves to ignite a first end portion of the combustible shred material while substantially simultaneously igniting the spaced, second primer.

Abstract: Combustion flashbulbs according to the invention have a light-pervious lamp envelope (1) filled with a tangled mass (5) of actinically combustible metal strips and an oxidizing gas. Current supply conductors (2, 3) are coated on parts situated within the lamp envelope with a dispersion (4) of metal powder in binder. This dispersion (4) adheres strips of the mass (5) to the current conductors (2, 3).The bulb can be ignited by a current pulse of approximately 25 V. Another method of igniting is to produce breakdown by applying a short-lasting voltage of approximately 25 V across the conductors (2, 3), afterwards succeeded by a filament current having a voltage of approximately 10 V. If the metal in the dispersion (4) is a nobler metal, the bulbs can be ignited with a current source of 10 V without preceding breakdown.The bulbs are simple of construction, rapid, and give a short-lasting lightflash.

Abstract: A subminiature photoflash lamp which includes a pair of pyrotechnic charges centrally disposed in a parallel, spaced relationship within the lamp's plastic, light-transmitting envelope. Each charge is supported on a respective one of the ends of the lamp's ignition wires and is of a disklike, planar configuration. The parallel spacing of the planar charges provides maximum light output from the lamp by permitting "cross-talking" between both charges during simultaneous ignition thereof. The ignition can be accomplished by the application of a firing pulse such as might be provided by a piezoelectric element.

Abstract: A range of borosilicate glass compositions which are capable of sealing effectively to nickel iron alloys containing up to approximately 52% nickel to form a hermetic seal resistant to thermal shock breakage. The glass is in the composition range percent by weight of:SiO.sub.2 : 55-66Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 : 4.5-10Na.sub.2 O: 0-4K.sub.2 O: 3.5-7B.sub.2 O.sub.3 : 19.0-26.0TiO.sub.

Abstract: A photoflash lamp array comprising a housing elongated vertically and containing elongated flash lamps lying horizontally and stacked vertically, the flash lamps having lead-in wires extending from ends thereof near the sides of the housing and connected to a circuit board located behind the lamps. A conductive sheet-like shield is positioned between the circuit board in the rear of the housing and is contoured to have side portions extending forwardly in between lamp ends and the sides of the housing. The front surface of the shield is both electrically conductive and reflects light with electrically insulated flash indicator material being positioned on said front surface but not extending to the side portions thereof. By increasing the light reflective surface of said shield member in this manner there is increased light output obtained from said lamp array.

Abstract: A flashbulb in which a filament and paste are not required. The flashbulb is not only cheaper but is faster in operation. This is primarily achieved by ensuring that the mass of finely-shredded combustible metal strips provided in such flashbulbs are in contact with the lead-in current conductors in the bulb. Due to the oxidizing atmosphere, the strips have an electrically-insulating skin. It has been found that this skin can readily be broken down by the momentary application of a voltage, whereupon the strips form a current-conducting path between the electrodes and ignition can then be affected with a voltage lower than the breakdown voltage.

Abstract: The reliability of a photoflash lamp which is fired by a high-voltage pulse is improved by fabricating the flash-ignition mount from a glass bead, a glass sleeve and a pair of lead-in wires that have inwardly-bent end portions which define a gap of precise length that is uniform from lamp to lamp. The sleeve and bead are fused together and around parts of the lead-in wires such that only the bent tips of the wires protrude beyond the end face of the bead. The gap is filled with primer material that is deposited on the end face of the bead and completely covers the lead wire tips. The fused glass sleeve encloses one of the lead-in wires below the bead and is embedded in the envelope seal, thus not only insuring that the mount assembly is properly positioned within the envelope but insulating one of the lead-in wires and preventing the filling of combustible metal strands from accidentally touching both lead-in wires and internally short-circuiting the unfired lamp.

Abstract: A multilamp photoflash unit which includes an elongated housing, a circuit board located within a longitudinal channel within the housing, and several (e.g. six) electrically-activated flashlamps. The flashlamps utilize preformed lead-in wires which are clamped to peripheral side walls of the circuit board's insulative strip members to both secure the lamps in a linear orientation and to electrically connect portions of the lead-in wires to selected areas of the board's lamp-firing circuitry.

Abstract: A multilamp photoflash unit including an elongated plastic housing having a longitudinal channel therein. Within the channel is positioned a thin, flat circuit board to which are connected several (e.g. six) flashlamps arranged in a linear array. The lamps are divided into two opposing pluralities such that those in the plurality being fired are inverted during firing.

Abstract: A photoflash unit comprising a linear array of flashlamps mounted on a printed circuit strip disposed within the longitudinal channel of an elongated housing member. A light-transmitting cover panel is attached to the housing member for enclosing the flashlamps. To provide structural rigidity, the cover has rectangular corner posts at each end and a transverse web at the center which engage slots in the housing and are secured by ultrasonic welding. The longitudinal edges are secured by a plurality of cylindrical posts along each side of the cover which fit into matching holes in the housing and have rivet heads formed on the ends as provided by ultrasonic heating and pressure.

Abstract: A photoflash unit comprising a linear array of flashlamps mounted on a printed circuit strip disposed within the longitudinal channel of an elongated housing member. A light-transmitting cover panel is attached to the housing member for enclosing the flashlamps. To prevent sympathetic ignition of adjacent lamps, the one-piece cover is molded to have integrally projecting transverse webs which function as light-attenuating partitions between respective pairs of lamps. In addition, the webs bridge the housing channel to provide structural rigidity.

Abstract: A flash lamp which is electrically activated using capacitive coupling between a pair of conductors located externally of the lamp's glass envelope and a respective pair of conductors located within the envelope. A quantity of primer material, also located within the envelope, serves to ignite the flash lamp's combustible material (e.g. shredded zirconium). The primer material is electrically joined to the internal conductors through either a pair of spring contacts or the shredded combustible material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing low peak time and pulse width actinic energy from a lamp by varying the input energy of a capacitive ignition circuit having relatively high voltage to the lamp. The lamp comprises a pair of electrodes disposed within a light transparent envelope in which a combustible and an oxidizing gas reaction combination is located. The combustible is preferably shredded zirconium which is in contact with and provides an electrical discharge path between the electrodes. The gas is preferably pressurized oxygen.