Hot shoe connecting structure and flash lamp

Abstract

The utility model discloses a hot shoe connecting structure and a flash lamp, and belongs to the technical field of camera accessories, a rotating shaft is rotatably arranged on a connecting part, a rotating shaft upper cover is arranged at the upper end of the rotating shaft, an angle limiting part is arranged on the rotating shaft upper cover, a thrust spring is arranged between the rotating shaft and the connecting part, and the angle limiting part is arranged on the rotating shaft upper cover. A rotation limiting part and a horizontal movement limiting part are arranged on the rotating shaft, and a plug board is arranged at the lower end of the rotating shaft. The connection structure is stable and reliable in connection, pre-compression is formed between the plug board and the connecting part through the jacking effect of the thrust spring on the rotating shaft, the plug board is tightly attached to the hot shoe, the problems of loosening, shaking and poor contact caused by matching tolerance are avoided, and the connection stability is improved. A second elastic piece of the rotation limiting part and a third elastic piece of the horizontal movement limiting part are matched with the hot shoe limiting groove, the support is further locked from the two dimensions of rotation and horizontal movement, and accidental slippage is prevented.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of camera accessory technology, and in particular to a hot shoe connection structure and a flash unit. Background Technology

[0002] The hot shoe is a standardized interface on the top of a camera used to connect external flash units, light meters, wireless flash triggers, and other accessories. It typically consists of metal contacts and a mechanical slot, providing both physical fixation for the accessory and enabling electrical signal transmission (such as triggering flashes and transmitting exposure parameters). Its name originates from the early mechanism where accessories used heated contacts to synchronize flashes; it has now become one of the core interfaces for expanding camera accessory functionality.

[0003] Currently, there are two main problems with flash units that are fixed via hot shoe on the market:

[0004] Firstly, fixed brackets, due to insufficient matching precision with the hot shoe, are prone to loose assembly, wobbling, and poor contact after insertion, affecting the stability and performance of the flash unit.

[0005] Secondly, the threaded knob type bracket requires a threaded structure for fixation, which has drawbacks such as large thread size, complex mold structure, and large space occupation. In addition, it is cumbersome to operate and has a poor user experience. Utility Model Content

[0006] Purpose of the utility model: To provide a hot shoe connection structure and a flash unit to solve the above-mentioned problems existing in the prior art.

[0007] Technical solution: A hot shoe connection structure includes: a connecting part, a rotating shaft rotatably mounted on the connecting part, a rotating shaft cover at the upper end of the rotating shaft, an angle limiting part on the rotating shaft cover, a thrust spring between the rotating shaft and the connecting part, a rotation limiting part and a horizontal movement limiting part on the rotating shaft, and a plug-in plate at the lower end of the rotating shaft.

[0008] Furthermore, the angle limiting part includes a first spring piece, which is mounted on the upper cover of the rotating shaft. The connecting part is provided with a plurality of angle limiting grooves, and the first spring piece cooperates with the angle limiting grooves to perform multi-angle limiting.

[0009] Furthermore, the thrust spring is mounted on the connecting part, and the thrust spring pushes the rotating shaft to move axially, thereby reducing the distance between the plug plate and the connecting part.

[0010] Furthermore, the connecting part is provided with a recessed part, and the plug plate is provided with a protrusion that matches the shape of the recessed part.

[0011] Furthermore, the rotation limiting part includes a second spring piece, the rotating shaft is provided with an installation cavity, the second spring piece is placed inside the installation cavity, the side wall of the rotating shaft is provided with at least one first through hole, the second spring piece partially passes through the first through hole and cooperates with the limiting groove on the hot shoe for limiting, and also includes a cover for sealing the installation cavity.

[0012] Furthermore, the horizontal movement limiting part includes a third spring piece, and the mounting cavity is also provided with a third spring piece. The cover is provided with a second through hole, and the third spring piece partially passes through the second through hole and cooperates with the limiting groove on the hot shoe for limiting.

[0013] Furthermore, the connecting portion is provided with a clearance groove for avoiding the portion of the second spring piece exposed outside the first through hole.

[0014] A flash unit includes a hot shoe connection structure, wherein the flash unit is mounted on the connection portion.

[0015] Furthermore, the housing of the flash lamp is detachably mounted on the connecting part.

[0016] Furthermore, the housing and connecting part of the flash lamp are integrally formed. Beneficial effects

[0017] This application provides a stable and reliable connection. The thrust spring applies pressure to the rotating shaft, creating pre-pressure between the connector plate and the connecting part. This ensures a tight fit between the connector plate and the hot shoe, preventing loosening, wobbling, and poor contact caused by mismatch tolerances, thus improving connection stability. The second spring of the rotation limit part and the third spring of the horizontal movement limit part cooperate with the hot shoe limit groove to further lock the bracket in both rotational and horizontal movement dimensions, preventing accidental slippage.

[0018] This application is convenient and efficient to operate. Installation and fixation can be completed with a simple "insert hot shoe + rotation" operation, eliminating the need for cumbersome threaded knobs and significantly reducing assembly time, making it suitable for fast-paced shooting scenarios. The first spring of the angle limiting part cooperates with the multi-angle limiting groove to support multi-angle rotation and limiting of the flash, meeting different shooting angle requirements, and the adjustment process is convenient and smooth.

[0019] This application features a simplified and compact structure, abandoning complex threaded structures and achieving fixation and positioning through modular designs such as springs, spring sheets, and limiting grooves. This reduces mold complexity, minimizes space occupation, and makes the bracket smaller and lighter. The connecting part and the housing of the flash lamp or other equipment can be either detachably installed or integrally molded, balancing flexibility and structural strength to adapt to different product form requirements. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is an exploded view of this utility model;

[0021] Figure 2 This is a structural schematic diagram of the angle limiting part of this utility model;

[0022] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the mounting cavity position of this utility model;

[0023] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram showing the location of the recessed part of this utility model;

[0024] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram showing the relative gap between the connecting part and the plug-in plate when the temperature is 0 degrees.

[0025] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram showing the relative gap between the connecting part and the plug plate when the two parts are at 90 degrees.

[0026] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram showing the relative positions of the connecting part and the plug-in plate when the temperature is 0 degrees.

[0027] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram showing the relative positions of the connecting part and the plug-in plate when the present invention is at a 90-degree angle.

[0028] The attached figures are labeled as follows: connecting part 1, rotating shaft 2, rotating shaft cover 3, angle limiting part 4, first spring 41, angle limiting groove 42, thrust spring 5, rotation limiting part 6, second spring 61, mounting cavity 62, first through hole 63, clearance groove 64, cover 65, horizontal movement limiting part 7, third spring 71, second through hole 72, plug-in plate 8, recessed part 11, and protruding part 12. Detailed Implementation

[0029] In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention can be practiced without one or more of these details. In other instances, certain technical features well-known in the art have not been described in order to avoid confusion with the present invention.

[0030] like Figures 1-8As shown, a hot shoe connection structure includes: a connecting part 1, a rotating shaft 2 rotatably mounted on the connecting part 1, a rotating shaft cover 3 at the upper end of the rotating shaft 2, an angle limiting part 4 on the rotating shaft cover 3, a thrust spring 5 between the rotating shaft 2 and the connecting part 1, a rotation limiting part 6 and a horizontal movement limiting part 7 on the rotating shaft 2, and a plug-in plate 8 at the lower end of the rotating shaft 2. The angle limiting part 4 includes a first spring piece 41 mounted on the rotating shaft cover 3. The connecting part 1 has multiple angle limiting grooves 42, and the first spring piece 41 cooperates with the angle limiting grooves 42 to perform multi-angle limiting. The thrust spring 5 is mounted on the connecting part 1, and the thrust spring 5 pushes the rotating shaft 2 axially, reducing the distance between the plug-in plate 8 and the connecting part 1. The connecting part 1 has a recessed part 11, and the plug-in plate 8 has a protrusion 12 matching the shape of the recessed part 11. The rotation limiting part 6 includes a second spring piece 61. A mounting cavity 62 is provided inside the rotating shaft 2, and the second spring piece 61 is placed inside the mounting cavity 62. At least one first through hole 63 is provided on the side wall of the rotating shaft 2. A portion of the second spring piece 61 passes through the first through hole 63 and engages with a limiting groove on the hot shoe for limitation. It also includes a cover 65 for sealing the mounting cavity 62. The horizontal movement limiting part 7 includes a third spring piece 71. A third spring piece 71 is also provided inside the mounting cavity 62. A second through hole 72 is provided on the cover 65, and a portion of the third spring piece 71 passes through the second through hole 72 and engages with a limiting groove on the hot shoe for limitation. The connecting part 1 is provided with a clearance groove 64 for avoiding the portion of the second spring piece 61 exposed outside the first through hole 63.

[0031] The connecting part 1 serves as the basic load-bearing component of the hot shoe connection structure, used to install core components such as the rotating shaft 2 and the thrust spring 5, and connected to the main body of the flash unit. Internally, it provides installation space for the thrust spring 5, which pushes the rotating shaft 2 axially through spring force. A recessed part 11 is provided on the surface, matching the shape of the protrusion 12 on the plug-in plate 8. When the recessed part 11 and the protrusion 12 are misaligned, it provides space for the plug-in plate 8 to insert into the hot shoe. After rotating 90 degrees, it clamps the hot shoe slot, enhancing the fit between the plug-in plate and the hot shoe. An angle limiting groove 42 is provided, which cooperates with the first spring piece 41 of the rotating shaft cover 3 to limit the rotation angle.

[0032] A clearance groove 64 is provided to avoid the second spring piece 61 exposed outside the first through hole 63, thus preventing contact interference between the spring piece and the connecting part 1 when the positions of the recessed part 11 and the protruding part 12 correspond. An overall framework for the hot shoe connection structure is constructed, and a stable connection between the flash and the hot shoe is ensured through a combination of mechanical engagement and spring preload.

[0033] The rotating shaft 2 serves as the transmission hub between the connecting part 1 and the plug-in plate 8. It can rotate and move axially within the connecting part, realizing the core operation of "inserting the hot shoe → rotating and locking". The upper end is fixedly connected to the upper cover 3 of the rotating shaft or detachably connected by bolts. The rotation angle is controlled by the angle limiting part 4 of the upper cover. The middle part is provided with a rotation limiting part 6 and a horizontal movement limiting part 7. Through the spring structure and the cooperation with the hot shoe limiting groove, the rotation and horizontal displacement of the rotating shaft are limited. The plug-in plate 8 is fixed at the lower end. After the hot shoe is inserted, the rotation of the rotating shaft and the spring thrust press the plug-in plate tightly into the hot shoe. Through the combined motion of rotation and axial movement, the flash lamp can be quickly installed and locked, and the operation process is simplified to two steps: "insertion + rotation". The limiting structure constrains the movement of the rotating shaft from multiple angles, preventing the bracket from loosening or slipping, and improving the reliability of the connection.

[0034] The top cover 3 of the rotating shaft is fixed to the upper end of the rotating shaft 2, sealing the top of the rotating shaft and protecting the internal components. An integrated angle limiting part 4, through the cooperation of the first spring piece 41 and the angle limiting groove 42 of the connecting part 1, achieves the positioning of the rotating shaft's rotation angle, such as the initial position of 0 degrees and the locked position of 90 degrees. It provides clear feedback on the rotation angle (such as a locking feel) to prevent excessive rotation that could damage the structure. It ensures that the rotating shaft is stably locked at a preset angle (such as 90 degrees), meeting the requirements for flash fixation.

[0035] A thrust spring 5 is installed between the connecting part 1 and the rotating shaft 2. Through elastic deformation, it generates axial thrust, pushing the rotating shaft 2 to move the plug-in plate 8 to cooperate with the connecting part 1, thereby shortening the distance and ensuring the overall stability of the plug-in plate 8 after it is inserted into the hot shoe. When the rotating shaft rotates to the locking angle (e.g., 90 degrees), the spring thrust is converted into preload between the plug-in plate 8 and the connecting part 1, pressing the flash lamp firmly onto the hot shoe. The spring preload compensates for the tolerance gap between the bracket and the hot shoe, avoiding the loosening problem of the fixed bracket and improving the connection tightness. No manual external force is required; the structure automatically achieves clamping, making operation more convenient.

[0036] The plug-in plate 8, as a component directly inserted into the hot shoe, has its lower end designed to match the hot shoe slot, ensuring physical insertion compatibility. Its upper end is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft 2, transmitting the rotational and axial movement power of the shaft. A protrusion 12 is provided on its surface, which mates with the recess 11 of the connecting part 1, enhancing the mechanical connection strength. A second through hole 72 is provided for the third spring piece 71 to pass through, achieving horizontal movement limitation. The second spring piece 61 within the mounting cavity 62 is fixed and limited, ensuring stable spring piece position. The standardized plug-in structure is compatible with mainstream hot shoe interfaces, improving product versatility.

[0037] A flash unit includes a hot shoe connection structure, on which the flash unit is mounted. The housing of the flash unit is detachably mounted on the connection portion 1. The housing of the flash unit and the connection portion 1 are integrally formed.

[0038] Work process:

[0039] 1. Initial state (0 degrees, unlocked)

[0040] The lower end of the connector plate 8 is aligned with the camera hot shoe slot and is in a vertical insertion position. At this time, the rotating shaft 2 is not rotating, and the thrust spring 5 is in a naturally extended state, without generating axial thrust.

[0041] The first spring piece 41 of the angle limiting part 4 is engaged with the initial angle limiting groove 42 of the connecting part 1 (such as the 0-degree position), restricting the rotation shaft 2 from rotating freely.

[0042] The second spring 61 of the rotation limiting part 6 and the third spring 71 of the horizontal movement limiting part 7 are not in contact with the hot shoe limiting groove. The plug plate 8 is only initially connected to the hot shoe by physical insertion and has not yet been locked.

[0043] 2. Installation process (rotate 90 degrees to lock)

[0044] Insert the hot shoe: Insert the connector plate 8 vertically into the hot shoe slot, ensuring that its protrusion 12 is initially aligned with the recess 11 of the connector 1.

[0045] Rotation Lock: Manually rotate the flash (or the upper cover 3 of the rotating shaft) to rotate the rotating shaft 2 90 degrees clockwise. At this time:

[0046] The first spring piece 41 rotates out of the initial limiting groove and slides into the next limiting groove, such as the 90-degree position. It provides a "click" tactile feedback through elastic engagement, indicating that it is in place.

[0047] The thrust spring 5 is compressed, generating axial thrust, which pushes the rotating shaft 2 to move the plug plate 8, reducing the distance between the plug plate 8 and the connecting part 1. The spring preload presses the flash lamp onto the hot shoe to compensate for the tolerance gap.

[0048] The second spring piece 61 rotates with the rotating shaft to the position of the limiting groove on the side wall of the hot shoe, and its exposed part is inserted into the limiting groove through the first through hole 63 to restrict the rotation of the rotating shaft; the third spring piece 71 is inserted into the limiting groove at the bottom of the hot shoe through the second through hole 72 to restrict horizontal movement, forming a two-dimensional lock.

[0049] 3. Stable working status

[0050] After locking, the thrust spring 5 continuously provides preload to ensure that the plug plate 8 is in tight contact with the hot shoe, avoiding loosening or poor contact.

[0051] The angle limiting part 4, the rotation limiting part 6, and the horizontal movement limiting part 7 work together to constrain the movement of the bracket from three dimensions: rotation angle, rotation direction, and horizontal displacement, ensuring that the flash maintains a fixed angle and position during shooting.

[0052] If the angle needs to be adjusted, the flash can be rotated in the opposite direction to disengage the first spring 41 from the current limiting groove, rotate it to other angle limiting grooves (such as 45 degrees, 135 degrees) and then lock it again to meet different shooting needs.

[0053] 4. Disassembly process

[0054] Manually rotate the flash in the opposite direction to rotate the rotating shaft 2 90 degrees counterclockwise, causing the first spring piece 41 to disengage from the 90-degree limit groove and return to the initial 0-degree position.

[0055] Once the thrust spring 5 returns to its natural state and the preload disappears, the plug plate 8 will loosen from the hot shoe, allowing the bracket to be pulled out vertically and disassembly completed.

[0056] The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the specific details of the above embodiments. Within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention, various equivalent transformations can be made to the technical solutions of the present invention, and all such equivalent transformations fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A hot shoe connection structure, characterized in that, include: A connecting part (1) is provided with a rotating shaft (2) rotatably mounted on the connecting part (1). A rotating shaft cover (3) is provided on the upper end of the rotating shaft (2). An angle limiting part (4) is provided on the rotating shaft cover (3). A thrust spring (5) is provided between the rotating shaft (2) and the connecting part (1). A rotation limiting part (6) and a horizontal movement limiting part (7) are provided on the rotating shaft (2). A plug-in plate (8) is provided at the lower end of the rotating shaft (2).

2. The hot shoe connection structure according to claim 1, characterized by The angle limiting part (4) includes a first spring piece (41), which is mounted on the upper cover (3) of the rotating shaft. The connecting part (1) is provided with a plurality of angle limiting grooves (42), and the first spring piece (41) cooperates with the angle limiting grooves (42) to perform multi-angle limiting.

3. The hot shoe connection structure according to claim 1, wherein The thrust spring (5) is mounted on the connecting part (1). The thrust spring (5) pushes the rotating shaft (2) to move axially, thereby reducing the distance between the plug plate (8) and the connecting part (1).

4. The hot shoe connection structure according to claim 3, wherein The connecting part (1) is provided with a recessed part (11), and the plug plate (8) is provided with a protrusion (12) that matches the shape of the recessed part (11).

5. The hot shoe connection structure according to claim 1, wherein The rotation limiting part (6) includes a second spring (61), and the rotating shaft (2) is provided with an installation cavity (62). The second spring (61) is placed inside the installation cavity (62). The side wall of the rotating shaft (2) is provided with at least one first through hole (63). The second spring (61) partially passes through the first through hole (63) and cooperates with the limiting groove on the hot shoe for limiting. It also includes a cover (65) for sealing the installation cavity (62).

6. The hot shoe connection structure according to claim 5, wherein The horizontal movement limiting part (7) includes a third spring (71), and the mounting cavity (62) is also provided with a third spring (71). The cover (65) is provided with a second through hole (72). The third spring (71) partially passes through the second through hole (72) and cooperates with the limiting groove on the hot shoe for limiting.

7. The hot shoe connection structure according to claim 5, wherein The connecting part (1) is provided with a relief groove (64) for avoiding the portion of the second spring piece (61) exposed outside the first through hole (63).

8. A flash lamp comprising the hot shoe connection structure according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that A flashlight is installed on the connecting part (1).

9. A flashlamp as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that The housing of the flash lamp is detachably mounted on the connecting part (1).

10. A flashlamp as defined in claim 8, wherein The housing and connecting part (1) of the flash lamp are integrally formed.

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