Abstract:
A light diffuser for use on a camera strobe/flash unit either on camera or off. The diffuser has a main body with a base and is composed of a non-transparent material. The diffuser splits the single light source into two directions sending light into a pair of wings/cowls that are removably mounted to the main body. Inside the diffuser main body is a light-splitting reflector with a reflective surface to add an amount of specular and focused light towards the two cowls. The wings/cowls create two soft light sources. Further, the wings/cowls may have other shapes, colors, features such as holes, outlets, etc., to create additional light sources of soft light. The wings/cowls may also be colored to adjust the projected diffused light therefrom. The base of the half-cylindrical main body may include a plurality of contact arms adapted to grip the photographic light source.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    NA 
       REFERENCE TO FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    NA 
       REFERENCE TO JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENTS 
       [0003]    NA 
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING 
       [0004]    NA 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0006]    The present invention relates generally to photographic light systems, and, in particular, relates to lights systems for use with strobes, and, in greater particularity, relates to a diffuser for use on strobes. 
         [0007]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0008]    The use of additional light sources in photography is well known. One such source of light is a strobe. Although the strobe does produce additional light, this light is direct and can produce high contrast scenes with sharp shadows. The use of diffusers attached to the strobe helps reduce the high contrast. 
         [0009]    Also, hot-spots on the subject are created by direct lighting, where some areas are too saturated with light. In instances where harsh shadows and hot-spots are not desirable, a light-diffusing accessory is used to provide a soft lighting effect. In other cases, even more indirect light is needed to create a balanced lighting effect. In these cases, light-diffusing accessories help in redirecting the light to bounce from the ceiling and walls to create more indirect light onto the subject. 
         [0010]    To create a softer light, direct light can be passed though a semi-transparent diffusion material that scatters the light in different directions. This effect may also be achieved by casting light onto a reflective material. Still photographers may choose to use multiple diffusers positioned at different angles around the subject to create more indirect light. This can be done with umbrellas, soft boxes and the like. 
         [0011]    There are many known small portable diffusers that attach onto photographic strobes and are portable enough for use outside of a studio setting. However, many of these known small portable diffusers rely upon ceiling bounces to create indirect light. In areas that lack ceilings, these known small portable diffusers do not provide enough indirect light to adequately reduce shadows and hotspots. 
         [0012]    For example, whether on-camera to the hot shoe or to a bracket, or off-camera, strobes typically have a variety of plastic diffusers for attachment to the strobe lens. These typically snap on to the strobe lens. Color correction or addition can be had with gel films cut to fit over the strobe lens. 
         [0013]    One type of stand-alone diffuser is the umbrella. The multiple reflective panels create multiple sources of light to create a soft lighting effect. 
         [0014]    Another diffuser for attachment to the strobe head is a soft box or a hard box device. The head of the strobe fits into an opening and may be held there by straps, an elastic band in the opening border or by a flexible opening. For example, U.S. Patent Application 2008/0310140 shows a light box being a hard box device. The flash head fits into a back opening. Reflectors, shields, and color filters can further be attached to the light box. See U.S. Pat. No. 7,810,941. U.S. Patent Application 2008/0259588 shows a cowl-shaped device with a removable front cover. A flexible opening is used to attach this to the light head of the strobe as shown in  FIG. 9 . U.S. Pat. No. 6,683,719 shows a soft box diffuser where it is an inflatable sack attached to the light head. U.S. Pat. No. 5,154,503 shows a frame covered with a flexible semi-transparent material attached to the light head. To create additional light sources, U.S. Pat. No. 4,441,141 shows a light reflector unit attached to a camera for use with a camera flash. The reflector unit divides the light into two beams that are parallel the lens. The outlets may have diffusers positioned thereon. 
         [0015]    Accordingly, there is an established need for a diffuser having the ability to produce multiple light sources that provides a softer light source from multiple directions. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    The present invention is directed at a portable diffuser that splits strobe light into two or more diffused light sources before lighting the subject providing a superior soft lighting effect. 
         [0017]    The invention is light diffuser for a camera strobe/flash unit either on camera or off. The diffuser has a main body with a base being composed of a non-transparent material that splits the single light source into two directions sending light into a pair of wings/cowls that are removably mounted to the main body. The main body may have the shape of a half cylindrical upper body in one embodiment. Inside the diffuser main body is a light-splitting reflector with a reflective surface to add an amount of specular and focused light towards the two cowls. The wings/cowls may be made of a semi-transparent material to produce two soft light sources. The wings/cowls are removably attached to the main body. Further, the wings/cowls may have other shapes, colors, features such as holes, outlets, etc., to create additional light sources of soft light. The wings/cowls may also be colored to adjust the projected diffused light therefrom. The base of the half-cylindrical main body may include a plurality of contact arms adapted to grip the photographic light source such as the top frame of a strobe. 
         [0018]    An object of the present invention is to provide a means for outputting soft light from a photographic light source. 
         [0019]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a means for outputting soft light from a plurality of outlets. 
         [0020]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a means for outputting both soft light and direct light from a plurality of outlets. 
         [0021]    It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a means for outputting light, diffuse light, from a strobe, flash unit, either on or off camera. 
         [0022]    It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a means for outputting light that is easily adaptable to a strobe unit flash output head. 
         [0023]    It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a means for outputting diffuse light from a strobe that substantially eliminates and/or removes shadows. 
         [0024]    It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a means for outputting light that is easily adaptable to a strobe unit flash output head, but has easily attached wings/cowls. 
         [0025]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a diffuser that eliminates the need to carry around lighting equipment such as brackets, umbrellas, soft boxes and the like. 
         [0026]    These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the attached drawings and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments, which follow. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0027]    The preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings provided to illustrate and not to limit the invention, where like designations denote like elements, and in which: 
           [0028]      FIG. 1  is front view of a strobe with a wing diffuser thereon of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the wing diffuser of the present invention without the strobe as shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the wing diffuser of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the wing diffuser of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the wing diffuser of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of a wing diffuser having wing diffuser elements or wings, before attachment, to a strobe wherein the flash head is turned perpendicular to the strobe main body so as to present the wings in a horizontal mode wherein the directed light is parallel the floor; 
           [0034]      FIG. 7  is a front perspective view of the wing diffuser of  FIG. 6  showing the wings after attachment to the flash head of the strobe; 
           [0035]      FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of the wing diffuser of  FIG. 6  showing the wings attached, but in a vertical position; and 
           [0036]      FIG. 9  is a front and side view of another embodiment of a wing of the present invention wherein an light outlet is provided by a specular back portion of the wing; 
           [0037]      FIG. 10  is a front view of a ring wing of the present invention wherein a circular light channel has a semi-transparent front wall and a reflective back wall; and 
           [0038]      FIG. 11  is an unfolded top view of the wing diffuser of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0039]    Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0040]    The present invention is directed at a flash unit diffuser that allows photographers to achieve studio-quality lighting using electronic photographic flashes without the need for separate lighting equipment. 
         [0041]    Turning to the drawings, wherein like components are designated by like reference numerals throughout the various figures, attention is initially directed to  FIG. 1  which illustrates a perspective view of a flash unit diffuser  100  constructed according to the present invention. 
         [0042]    As best shown in  FIG. 1 , the diffuser  100  has a main body  120  with an upper housing  125 . Attached to the upper housing  125  is a plurality of attachment fingers  140 , typically two (2), that can be attach to the flash unit  160  having a flash head  170  rotatably mounted to body  180  with a hot shoe connector  190  thereon that may be connected to a hot shoe that is commonly available on certain cameras. These fingers  140  provides means for removably attaching the diffuser  100  to the flash unit  160 , with light from the flash unit  160  passing into the upper housing  125  directly. 
         [0043]    Inside the main body  120  are two angled mirrors  200 ,  FIGS. 4 and 5 , that split the light from the flash head  170  into two branches  210 ,  FIG. 2 , of the main body  120  and upper housing  125 .  FIG. 2  also shows a bridge section  130  formed at the bottom of light outlets  240  that provides support to the strap  230  and further holds the upper housing  125  in the half cylindrical shape shown. As will be shown below, other attachments may be connected to the main body  120  by means of Velcro® straps  230  that are attached about light outlets  240 , two in the present embodiment. 
         [0044]    The present diffuser  100  is shown, wherein a half cylindrical upper housing  125  is generally symmetric with respect to an axis extending along the direction of the flash unit  160  on which the diffuser  100  is mounted. The upper housing may have other shapes, but these shapes must provide for holding mirrors  200  or the like and channeling light therefrom to light outlets  240 . The upper housing  125  may be composed of plastic or metal or a combination material known in the art. In this embodiment, the half cylindrical upper housing  125  of the diffuser  100  may be reflective with the two angled mirrors  200  flaring outwards from the center vertex  265 ,  FIG. 5 , which directs light outwards to the two light outlets  240  in the opposite ends of the upper housing  125 . Clearly, the light outlets  240  need not be opposite each other since the upper housing  125  guides the light to these outlets directly or by internal reflection. These angled mirrors  200  help to direct light which would otherwise cause the majority of the light to reflect backwards towards the photographic flash and thus reducing light output towards the two light outlets  240 . While some direct lighting effect is desired as discussed above, it can be provided more evenly and reliably by wings  280 ,  FIGS. 6 to 9 , and as such it is desirable in this embodiment shown to emphasize the diffuse lighting function of the wings  280  at the expense of the direct lighting function. With the present diffuser  100  and the two attached wings  280 , the softness of the lighting effect produced comes as much if not more so from the shape of the two wings  280  itself and especially the manner in which light is evenly refracted through the surface of the wings  280  as from the dispersal of light around the room, including light reflected by the walls and ceilings simultaneously. Although in the preferred embodiment wings  280  are shown attached to the diffuser  100 , the diffuser  100  also provides indirect lighting from the two light outlets  240  without the two wings  280 . 
         [0045]    Although this is a preferred embodiment, there are clearly other configurations and materials that would function equally well. For example, the attachment fingers  140  may fit directly over the flash head  170  without further support, or a Velcro® strap  220  may be used about the fingers  140 , or a threaded collar, or a bayonet style mount, or other appropriate devices known to those skilled in the art. As seen in  FIG. 1 , the strap  220  passes through an opening section  225  formed when the finger  140  is bent back and upwards as will be shown. The main body  120  and the fingers  140  may be integrally formed of plastic or metal or a combination, or may be separately formed and then glued together. These parts are typically made of non-transparent plastic or like materials. 
         [0046]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the diffuser  100 . As seen therein, a pair of hooks  250  protrudes through a top  260  of the main body  120 . The mirrors  200  are hinged at a vertex  265 ,  FIG. 5 , and  FIG. 4  shows by end view one hollow channel/branch  210  with a mirror  200  therein.  FIG. 5  shows by a bottom view, the pair of mirrors  200  in the upper housing  125  with a pair of fingers  140  and the pair of Velcro® straps  220  thereabout. Light from the flash unit enters into an opening  270  in the bottom. 
         [0047]    As seen in  FIG. 1 , diffuser  100  has the pair of branches  210  that extend beyond the flash head  170 . The light from the flash head  170  will thus be diverted in a direction substantially perpendicular to the flash head light forming two light sources. The extension of the channels  210  provides for a larger and more diffuse light source with the use of two “wings” or “cowls” attached to the branch ends as will be further shown. 
         [0048]    To provide for greater flexibility,  FIGS. 6 to 9  illustrate the wings  280  with different orientations and/or different features. These wings  280  are removably attached to the main body  120  by means of Velcro® tabs  290  as will be shown. Since the Velcro® strips  230  circumscribe the light outlets  240 , the wings  280  can be oriented in any direction by moving the tabs  290  to another position thereon. The wings  280  provide a light channel between a light inlet  305  and a wing outlet  310 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 6  illustrates two wings  280  before attachment to the main body  120  of the diffuser  100 . Velcro® tabs  290  on the inside of the wings  280  are used to attach the wings to the main body strips  230  being of an opposite type of attachment means than tabs  290  as is known in the art. The wings  280  may be open at both ends with outlet  310  or may be closed. The cowl or wing  280  is made of a semi-transparent material on at least a front face  300  thereof. The back wall  320  may have reflective coating thereon. Both the front wall/face  300  and back wall  320  can be made from a plastic material and when not in use on the main body  120  are flat and can be easily stored and transported in a camera bag. A photographer carrying many different diffusers can stack them for ease in storage and transport. In yet another embodiment, the diffuser  100  and two wings  280  are proportioned so that it is easy to pack and transport in that it may be placed in a photographic flash department when packed together with a camera in a standard camera/gadget bags, thus saving space. For example, two wings  280  of the diffuser  100  may be folded and slipped in along side of the photographic strobe compartment of a camera bag and the diffuser  100  may be placed directly in the photographic flash compartment next to the two folded wings  280 . In this way, the parts of the diffuser nest within each other in a compact arrangement. 
         [0050]    The light from the outlets  310  will normally bounce from nearby surfaces such as walls, floors, ceilings, and then onto the subject. As a result of the bounces, multiple sources of light are created and thus eliminate shadows on the subject which are especially noticeable when the subject is near a wall as provided by the general flash unit without the present invention. 
         [0051]    The lighting properties of the diffuser  100  can be varied by varying the relative proportions of its length and width. Specifically, the length and width of the channels through the generally wing  280  can be varied with respect to the size of the channel through the main body  120  that is fixed. A longer passage and a larger rectangular element  280  would cause the diffuser  100  to provide less of a direct and more of diffused lighting effect. The length is typically two or three times longer than the width. Fill light is desirable to provide an amount of specular light by bouncing off of nearby surfaces for an exposed image. The higher intensity gives more of a warp around effect and prevents the background of the subject from appearing excessively dark. The softness of the lighting effect produced comes as much if not more so from the shape of the wings  280  and especially the manner in which light is evenly refracted through the surface of the wings  280  as from the dispersal of the light around the room, including light reflected by the walls and the ceilings simultaneously. 
         [0052]    In one embodiment, the half cylindrical upper housing  125  of the diffuser  100  allows it to provide similar lighting effects when used in either the horizontal position,  FIGS. 6 and 7 , or vertical position,  FIG. 8 . Accordingly, unlike prior diffusers, no flash bracket is needed with the present diffuser  100  to keep the flash in position during both vertical and horizontal photography. In one embodiment, the height and width of the wing are about equal to one another. In another embodiment, the diffuser is generally square in shape, and in another embodiment is generally rectangular in shape. 
         [0053]    When shooting with the diffuser in a horizontal position in environments with ceilings and walls, the diffuser  100  and two attached wings  280  can shoot directly as shown in  FIG. 6 . Otherwise when shooting in a horizontal position in environments with ceilings, the diffuser  100  and two attached wings  280  can be aimed directly into the ceiling for a ceiling bounce and wall bounce effect. This gives a great lighting ratio for shots taken with the diffuser in the vertical position, reducing shadows on the subject and giving a diffuse, soft light all around the room as well as on the subject. For large group shots, the lighting quality is soft, beautiful and diffused. The open top allows a great deal of light to bounce off the ceiling onto the subject yielding a beautiful, natural lighting effect. 
         [0054]      FIG. 7  shows the wing diffuser elements  280  in the horizontal position with the wings  280  attached to the main body  120  by Velcro® means or similar devices or means. 
         [0055]      FIG. 8  shows the wings  280  in the vertical position with the wings  280  attached to the main body  120  by Velcro® means as in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0056]      FIG. 9  shows a wing  340  having a specular light outlet  350  at the end of the wing  340 . The top picture being a top view and the bottom picture being a side view. 
         [0057]      FIG. 10  illustrates a ring wing  400 . The ring wing  400  forms a light channel  402  of semi-circular shape as seen in  FIG. 9 . It has a semi-transparent front wall  404  and a reflective back wall  406 . The ring wing  400  is made of a flexible material and constructed similarly to the above wings  280  wherein the front wall  404  and the back wall  406  are attached together. It has a first light inlet  408  and a second light inlet  410  that are attached as above, respectively, to the light outlets  240  on the main body  120 . The ring light  400  wraps light around the subject in a circular fashion eliminating most shadows and leaving a halo effect as the subject&#39;s background shadow. 
         [0058]    On occasion, photographers will want the reflected light in their shots to have a particular color quality. This can be provided with alternative embodiments of the present diffuser&#39;s wing  280  wherein the material of the entire diffuser itself, or specific portions of the diffuser such as the wing or the base are formed having a particular hue. For example, the wing  280  can be made amber for inside shots to match the overall warming lighting effect in florescent lighting. The diffuser  100  and wing  280  can be tinted with amber or another color to vary the color and intensity of the light on the subjects of the photograph. 
         [0059]      FIG. 11  is an unfolded top view of the wing diffuser of the present invention. In this embodiment, the diffuser  100  is composed of sheet metal such as aluminum which is easily cut and folded. The upper housing  125  is rectangular in shape with the two hook openings  255  therein. Integrally attached to the center are two fingers  140  which are folded at the dotted line thereon to produce the opening  225  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Attached on one side are two bridges  130  that are folded at the dotted line thereon and attached to the opposing side to form and hold the half-rectangular shape of the upper housing  125  as seen in  FIG. 1  et seq. This is only one illustration of the making of the diffuser  100 . Other possible techniques, materials, and features are clearly possible when one is knowledgeable of the present invention and this example should not be limited in scope. The wing itself may be made of plastic-like materials having the features noted. It may be cut from one piece and then folded into the shapes shown and glued together. 
         [0060]    Since many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to the described embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.