Abstract:
A light fixture coupling bracket to connect to a light box. The light fixture coupling bracket connects to a light bar having at least one light socket. The light fixture coupling bracket connects to a removable and adjustable gripping device. The gripping device is rotationally adjustable around the light box.

Description:
This application is a continuation of U.S. application No. 10/261,723 filed on Sep. 30, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,814,467. 

   BACKGROUND 
   1. Field 
   This invention relates to light boxes, and more particularly to a versatile fire retardant light box. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   In the entertainment industry, which includes motion pictures, television, theatrical arts, etc., and in the photographic industry and other fields, it is necessary to light a set, stage or other area. For an indoor set in the motion picture and television industries, the key or primary lighting is provided opposite to where the camera and audience, if any, to avoid sound equipment (boom) shadows, etc. 
   On many sets, light box housings are made of disposable material, such as wood lined with foamcore. The wooden material is used to quickly form a box of desired dimensions. A diffusion film may be stapled or nailed to the front of the light box in order to modify the lighting effect. While these light boxes are made in the dimensions required for a certain light effect, these light boxes deteriorate due to the inexpensive construction. Also, due to the material used, these light boxes are flammable and are thus a fire hazard. Moreover, due to the excessive heat that the lights in the light box output, the light box deteriorates and sometimes must be discarded after use on a single set. 
   Moreover, the assembly and disassembling of a typical light box can be time consuming. The storage and handling of a wooden light box can lead to damage and failure of the light box. 
   SUMMARY 
   A light box is presented including a first frame and a second frame. The first and second frames each have many of attaching rods. At least one removable fire retardant cover is attached to many edges of the first and second frames. Also included are many expanding rods. The attaching rods are slidably attached to the expanding rods. Many light fixture attaching brackets suitable for attaching to the second frame is also included in the light box. The light fixture attaching brackets are adaptable to connect to a light bar having at least one light. The light bar is disposed between the first and second frames. 
   Also presented is a light box system. The light box system includes a front frame and a rear frame. The front and rear frames each have many attaching rods. At least one removable fire retardant cover is attached to many edges of the front and rear frames. Also included in the light box system are many expanding rods. The coupling rods are slidably connected to the expanding rods. Many light bar attaching brackets are removably connected to the rear frame. A light bar is attached to the light bar attaching brackets. The light bar has at least one light. 
   Further, presented is a device including many light fixture connecting brackets that are adapted to connect to a light box. The light fixture connecting brackets are adaptable to connect a light bar having at least one light within the light box. 
   Another device is presented that includes a light bar having at least one light. The light bar also includes at least one removable gripping pin. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references in the specification to “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “some embodiments,” or “other embodiments” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least some embodiments, but not necessarily all embodiments, of the invention. The various appearances “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” or “some embodiments,” are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiments. If the specification states a component, feature, structure, or characteristic “may”, “might”, or “could” be included, that particular component, feature, structure, or characteristic is not required to be included. If the specification or claim refers to “a” or “an” element, that does not mean there is only one of the element. If the specification or claims refer to “an additional” element, that does not preclude there being more than one of the additional element. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a rear view of an embodiment including a fire retardant light box. 
       FIG. 1A  illustrates a first frame of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  including a plurality of coupling rods. 
       FIG. 1B  illustrates a second frame of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  including a plurality of coupling rods. 
       FIG. 1C  illustrates a coupling rod of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a front side view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a front view of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a rear side view of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1  showing removable fire retardant cover. 
       FIG. 5A  illustrates a rear side view of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1  showing removable fire retardant cover with an attaching pin coupled to the rear frame. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1  including a removable light diffuser. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a rear view of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1  showing a removable adjustable gripping device and removable light bar bracket removed. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a rear view of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1  including a light bar fixture coupled to a removable light bar bracket. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates another rear view of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a light bar bracket including a removable light set attaching pin and also showing a removable light set attaching pin removed. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  including a light bar fixture having a gripping pin and also showing a removable light bar bracket removed. 
       FIG. 12  illustrates an embodiment including a light set with three lights. 
       FIG. 13  illustrates an embodiment including a light set with seven lights. 
       FIGS. 14A–B  illustrate an embodiment showing light box sockets. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The invention generally relates to a fire retardant light box. Referring to the figures, exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described. The exemplary embodiments are provided to illustrate the invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. 
     FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment including a fire retardant light box. Light box  100  includes first frame  120  and second frame  110 . In this embodiment, first frame  120  is the front frame of light box  100  and second frame  110  is the rear frame of light box  100 . First frame  120  and second frame  110  each has a plurality of coupling rods  130 . First frame  120 , second frame  110  and coupling rods  130  are made of a metal or metal alloy, such as aluminum, or aluminum alloy. One should note, however, that other non-flammable metals and metal alloys can also be used for first frame  120 , second frame  120  and coupling rods  130 . Light box  100  can be formed from cut pieces of metal or metal alloys, formed from a mold, pressed or bent into shape, etc. In the case where light box  100  is formed from separate pieces, the pieces can be coupled to one another by nuts and bolts, welding, etc. 
   Light box  100  also includes at least one removable fire retardant cover  170 , which is removably coupled to the edges of first frame  120  and second frame  110 . Fire retardant cover  170  can be coupled to light box  100  by treated/untreated VELCRO® (e.g., hook-and-loop fastening means) or attached fastening means (such as snaps, locking pins, nuts and bolts, etc.). In one embodiment, removable fire retardant cover  170  includes a plurality of separate portions that are coupled to the various sides of light box  100 . Fire retardant cover  100  can be made of fire retardant material such as fiberglass impregnated with silicon, treated canvas, material coated with fire retardant paint, etc. Light bar coupling device  190  includes a star-shaped handle to ease turning by hand. Light bar coupling device  190  is threaded and is screwed into second frame  110  through light fixture coupling brackets  150 . 
     FIG. 1A  illustrates second frame  110  including a plurality of coupling rods  130 .  FIG. 1B  illustrates first frame  120  including a plurality of coupling rods  130 . Coupling rods  130  include expansion through holes enabling light box  100  to be expanded in depth.  FIG. 1C  illustrates coupling rods  130  from first frame  120  and second frame  110 . Coupling rods  130  are slidably coupled to expanding rods  193  via a plurality of removable locking pins  195 . Expanding rods  193  have a plurality of through holes where locking pins  195  can be entered in order to engage coupling rods  130  via the expansion through holes. First frame  110  and second frame  120  can be variably spaced apart by removing removable locking pins  195 , which allows coupling rods  130  to slide/move within expanding rod  193 . 
     FIG. 2  illustrates a front side view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , light box  100  includes a plurality of light fixture coupling brackets  150  that are removably coupled to second frame  110 . Light fixture coupling brackets  150  are adaptable to couple to a light bar that includes at least one light disposed within light box  100 . Light box  100  includes light bar coupling device  190  that attach light bar bracket  160  to frame  110 . Light bar coupling device  190  is coupled through a through-hole in light fixture coupling bracket  150 . 
   Light fixture coupling brackets  150  can be removably coupled to adjustable gripping device  180 . Adjustable gripping device  180  includes gripping pin  185 , which is coupled to a rear portion of said gripping device. In one embodiment, first and second tightening handles  145  are used to couple adjustable gripping device  180  to light fixture coupling bracket  150 . First and said second tightening handles  145  adjust an angle of adjustable gripping device  180  in relation to light fixture coupling brackets  150 . By adjusting adjustable gripping device  180 , light box  100  can attach to a device (or be held by a person) for holding light box  100  by gripping pin  185 , where light box  100  can face varying angles dependent upon the adjustment of adjustable gripping device  180 . 
     FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . Coupled to second frame  110  is a plurality of hanging couplers  140 . Hanging couplers  140  allow light box  100  to be supported by a plurality of supports, such as independent ropes or wires. In one embodiment, second frame  110  includes four hanging couplers  140  (one at each corner of rear frame  110 ). It should be noted that other embodiments can include more or less hanging couplers  140 . 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , first frame  120  is coupled with light filter/diffuser bracket  210 . Light filter bracket  210  can hold a plurality of light filter/diffuser frames (referenced as  610  in  FIG. 6 ). By including a plurality of light filter frames  610  held by light filter bracket  210 , varying shades or intensities of light can be achieved when light box  100  has a light fixture coupled to second frame  110 . 
     FIG. 4  illustrates a front view of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Light fixture coupling brackets  150  can be coupled to light bar bracket  160  having at least one light set attaching pin  165 . In one embodiment, light attaching pin  165  couples to a removable light set including at least one light bulb. In this embodiments, the removable light set includes sockets  166  (illustrated in  FIGS. 14A–B ) where attaching pin  165  is inserted. When attaching pin  165  is inserted to the socket  166  in the removable light set becomes fixed to light bar bracket  160 . 
     FIG. 5  illustrates a rear side view of light box  100  showing removable fire retardant cover  170  partially removed from a plurality of sides of first frame  120  and second frame  110 . By partially (or fully) removing fire retardant cover  170  from first frame  120  and second frame  110 , different lighting effects can be achieved when a light fixture is disposed within light box  100 . Also, different fire retardant covers can easily be replaced with one another. This feature allows for fire retardant covers with different markings to be replaced due to differing user needs. Also, a damaged fire retardant cover can be easily replaced with a non-damaged fire retardant cover. As illustrated light bar coupling device  190  is inserted through light bar bracket  160  through light fixture coupling brackets  150  and secured into second frame  110 . Light bar coupling device  190  secures light fixture coupling brackets  150  to second frame  110 , and also secures light bar bracket  160 . Light bar coupling device  190  eases replacement of light bar bracket  160 . Light fixture coupling brackets  150  are adapted to attach to a light box frame (such as second frame  110  of light box  100 ). Light fixture coupling brackets  150  allow a light bar, such as light bars  810  and  910 , to attach to light bar bracket  160 . Light bar coupling devices  190  secure light bar bracket  160  through light bar coupling brackets  150  and into second frame  110 . Therefore, light bar bracket  160  is secured to second frame  110 . 
     FIG. 5A  illustrates a rear side view of light box  100  showing removable fire retardant cover with at least one attaching pin  165  coupled to second frame  110 . In this embodiment, attaching pin  165  has a threaded end suitable for threading into second frame  110 . It should be noted that other attaching pin  165  can be coupled to second frame  110  by having through-holes in second frame  110  and using a nut, which is coupled by threading on attaching pin  165 . Of course, other known attachment means can be used to coupled attaching pin  165  to second frame  110 , such as sockets, pins, etc. It should also be noted that more than one attaching pin  165  can be coupled to second frame  110 , such as two, three, four, etc. For example, the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 13  can have three attaching pins  165  coupled to second frame  110 . 
     FIG. 6  illustrates light box  100  including at least one light filter/diffuser frame  610  disposed between light filter/diffuser bracket  210  and first frame  120 . Light filter bracket  210  is made of either a metal or metal alloy, such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy. Light filter frame  610  is adapted to hold a light filter (not shown). Light filters are made to adjust light either in shade, color, or contrast. 
     FIG. 7  illustrates light box  100  with light bar bracket  160  and adjustable gripping device  180  removed. The varying elements of light box  100  (e.g., light bar bracket  160 , adjustable gripping device  180 , etc.) are made to be easily removed (and thus replaced/attached) for shipping and maintenance. By having parts that are easily interchanged, maintenance/replacement costs are reduced. Moreover, since light box  100  is made from fire retardant materials and components, light box  100  is safer to use than light boxes made from flammable materials, such as wood. 
     FIG. 8  illustrates light box  100  including light fixture (light bar)  810  including a plurality of lights/light bulbs  820 . Lights/light bulbs  820  can have power ratings dependent upon the desired need, e.g., 100 Watts (W), 300 W, 500 W, etc.). In this embodiment, three lights  820  are coupled to light bar  810 . It should be noted, however, that less than three lights  820  can be coupled to light bar  810 . Moreover, other embodiments can be sized to have more than three lights  820  coupled to light bar  810  (e.g., see  FIG. 13 ). Light bar  810  can have different sized light sockets depending upon the size of light(s)/light bulb(s) desired. Light bar  810  is made with lights  820  wired in parallel. Therefore, if one of lights  820  becomes inoperable, the remaining lights  820  will still function. Light bar  810  can be electrically connected via electrical cord  830  to a supply source, such as 110/120 Volts, 210/220 Volts, etc. Also, since light bar  810  is easily replaceable, light bar  810  can be made with non United States electrical plugs, depending upon the available electrical connectors available in the geographic location (e.g., European round electrical plug connectors). 
     FIG. 9  illustrates the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8  with adjustable gripping device  180  removed and alternate light bar bracket  960  coupled to second frame  110 . In this embodiment, light bar bracket  960  includes at least one gripping pin  985 . Light bar bracket  960  is directly coupled to light bar  910 . In this embodiment, light bar bracket  960  does not include attaching pins  165 . Light bar  910  can be coupled to light bar bracket  960  by connecting means, such as fasteners (e.g., nuts and bolts, screws, etc.), welding, or by gripping pin  985 . Gripping pin  985  can be gripped (i.e., held or attached to a gripping device) by a device suitable for attachment to pin  985  (such as ???), or held by an individuals hand. 
     FIG. 10  illustrates light bar bracket  160 . Light bar bracket  160  (as mentioned above) can be coupled with at least one attaching pin  165 . In this embodiment, attaching pin  165  has a threaded end suitable for threading into bracket coupler  1010 . In other embodiments, attaching pin  165 , instead of directly threading into bracket coupler  1010 , can be coupled to bracket coupler  1010  by using a nut. In one embodiment, bracket coupler  1010  is placed in groove  1020  at a desired location in order to couple with a light bar, such as light bar  810 . That is, bracket coupler(s)  1010  is moved to a spacing allowing for coupling to a socket(s) in the light bar. In another embodiment, bracket coupler(s)  1010  are fixed or made part of light bar bracket  160  (i.e., for a specific light bar having a set spacing of a socket(s) for coupling to attaching pin  165 (s). 
     FIG. 11  illustrates a light box system. Light box system  1100  includes (as options or altogether as a kit) light box  100  including a light bar coupled to light bar coupling brackets  150 . It should be noted that while light box system  1100  is illustrated with light bar bracket  960  coupled to light bar coupling brackets  150 , light bar bracket  160  (part of light box system  1100  illustrated in  FIG. 11 ) is interchangeable, depending upon the light bar desired (it should be noted that light bars  810  and  910  are part of light box system  1100 ). By including light bar bracket  160 , light bar bracket  960 , light filter bracket  210 , light filter frame(s)  610 , and adjustable gripping device  180 , many different configurations of light system  1100  are possible, depending upon the desired lighting effect. Also, other mentioned embodiments and elements can be included in light box system  1100  as well, depending upon the customer&#39;s needs. 
   In order to illustrate examples of light bar configurations for different embodiments,  FIGS. 12 and 13  are included.  FIG. 12  illustrates a light box embodiment (e.g., light box  100 , light box system  1100 ) including three-bulb light bar  1210 .  FIG. 13  illustrates a light box embodiment (e.g., light box  100 , light box system  1100 ) including seven-bulb light bar  1310 . Other light/light bulb arrangements can be made similar to the above-mentioned embodiments depending upon the desired lighting effect. Thus, the above embodiments can vary in size to accommodate various sized light bars. The thickness of component material can also vary according to the size of light bar (i.e., size of light set). Thus, frames, couplers, gripping pins, gripping devices, etc. can vary in size and thickness to allow for more load support. 
   While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not restrictive on the broad invention, and that this invention not be limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other modifications may occur to those ordinarily skilled in the art.