Abstract:
A portable photographic studio that is relatively lightweight, easily assembled and disassembled, easily carried and is easily transported in even a compact automobile is provided by the present invention.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     I. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to backdrops used in photography. More specifically, the present invention relates to a collapsible, portable backlit studio that can be readily transported to a variety of locations, such as schools, for use by photographers. 
     II. Description of the Prior Art 
     For many years photographers have used natural and artificial backdrops in their photographic work. In the case of natural backdrops, the photographer brought the subject to be photographed, the camera, supplemental lighting and other ancillary equipment to the location to be used as a backdrop. In the case of artificial backdrops, the photographer would typically set up a permanent studio which incorporated one or more permanent artificial backdrops and the other photographic equipment. The photographer would then invite the subjects to be photographed to come to the studio. This generally works well when only one or a small number or subjects are involved in the photography session. However, it presents an unworkable situation when large groups of people are to be photographed. This is particularly true in the realm of school photography where each student in the school is photographed and then grouped by class for a class picture. 
     Generally, efforts to use school equipment or facilities have proven to be either unsatisfactory or inefficient. Lighting is always an issue. Also, there is often no entirely suitable backdrop that can be used due to color, state of repair, or the need to use it for instruction of students. Thus, it can be seen that a need exists for an improved backdrop apparatus which overcomes above-identified shortcomings of the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a portable, backlit studio that can be easily transported from place to place, and used by photographers to capture high quality, aesthetically pleasing photographs of large numbers of individual subjects. The present invention is ideally suited for use in the school, church, or team sport photography industries. Key aspects of the present invention are its transportability and ease of setup. 
     In view of the foregoing, a first object of the present invention is to provide a portable studio for use by photographers. 
     A second object of the present invention is to provide a portable studio that is light, easy to carry and can be collapsed to fit into a convenient protective carrying case. 
     A third object of the present invention is to provide a portable studio that can be easily transported in even the smallest of compact cars. 
     A fourth object of the invention is to provide a portable studio that is quick and easy to set up. 
     A fifth object of the invention is to provide such a studio which is made entirely out of captured hardware so parts do not get lost during assembly, disassembly or transport. 
     A sixth object of the present invention is to provide such a studio that can only be set up one way so that potential errors in assembly are eliminated. 
     A seventh object of the present invention is to provide a photographic studio which is safe, reliable and can be assembled in relatively small areas such as at the end of a hallway of a school. 
     An eighth object of the present invention is to provide a portable photographic studio that not only is useful in taking quality pictures, but also helps the photographer convey an image of professionalism, efficiency and skill. 
     These and other objects of the invention are achieved by providing a portable studio that includes a setup mat, a collapsible frame, a backdrop, a softbox, a kneeler, a prop stand, a table and lighting. The setup mat is, in essence, a map showing where to place each of the other items of the portable studio as well as the auxiliary lighting and the camera itself. The frame is compact, lightweight and can be set up in about a minute. No tools are required for assembly. The backdrop attaches to the frame and includes is a high quality foldable (rollable) image that becomes the background for the photographs. The softbox is used to backlight the entire background image. The softbox applies a uniform distribution of light across the entire background image so that high quality portraits can consistently be made. The kneeler, prop stand and table locate the subject within the tolerance of ±3 inches of a desired location on the mat in front of the background image and within the depth of field for the camera. All of these components work together to achieve the objects of the present invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the various components of the present invention assembled for use in taking photographs. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the frame, softbox and background of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the frame of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is another perspective view showing the frame. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the frame and background of the present invention along with a carrying case. 
     FIG. 6 is a close-up perspective view showing the hinge and lock arrangement of the frame in detail. 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the manner in which the backdrop and frame are to be assembled. 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the light mount softbox of the softbox of the present invention. 
     FIG. 9 is a top view of the set-up mat of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In FIG. 1, one preferred embodiment of the portable backlit studio of the present invention is shown to include a setup mat  1 , a collapsible frame  2 , a backdrop  3 , a softbox  4 , a kneeler  5  and a prop stand  6 . A table, various auxiliary lights and a camera (not shown) are also positionable on the mat. As will be discussed more fully later with respect to FIG. 9, the mat  1  has various markings imprinted thereon to show where the other components are to be positioned on the mat  1 . Thus, no measuring device, such as a ruler or yardstick, is required to set up the portable backlit studio. 
     The collapsible frame  2  of the present invention includes four rails, a top rail  10 , a bottom rail  12 , a first side rail  14  and a second side rail  16 . The first and second side rails  14  and  16  each have the same construction. Each includes a triangular-shaped base  18  comprising a base member  20 , a support member  22 , and a lower leg  23 . Each side rail also includes an upper leg  24 . The side rails  14  and  16  each also include two hinges  26  and  28 . Hinge  26  is used to couple one end of the support member  22  to the base member  20 . Hinge  28  is a double hinge and is used to couple the lower leg  23  to the upper leg  24  and the other end of the support member  22  to the upper leg  24  and lower leg  23 . 
     The top rail  10  has L-shaped connectors  30  associated with each of its ends. See FIG.  4 . The L-shaped connectors  30  are fixed to the top rail  10  designed to slide into and out of the free ends of the two upper legs  24  for assembly and disassembly. The bottom rail  12  has connectors  32  associated with each of its ends. These connectors  32  include a first member  34  which is inserted into the bottom end of the lower leg  23  to secure the lower leg  23  to the bottom rail  12  and a second member  36  which is inserted into the free end of the base member  20  to secure the base member  20  to the bottom rail  12 . Once the top rail  10  and bottom rail  12  have been attached to the side rails  14  and  16  as described, the upper legs  24  and top rail  10  can be rotated into position and locked in place so that the upper legs  24  and lower legs  23  are aligned with each other. 
     Another significant aspect of the frame is the manner in which the upper legs  24  and lower legs  23  are locked in place when the frame is assembled. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, both the upper legs  24  and the lower legs  23  are hollow channels. Located within the channel of each upper leg  24  is a slidable guide  40 . The slidable guide  40  is coupled to a knob  42  that extends out of the channel through an elongated slot  44  cut in the wall of upper leg  24 . Coupled to and projecting downwardly from the slidable guide  40  is a tapered locking pin  46 . The tapered locking pin  46  is designed to mate with a hole  50  in a lock block  48 . The lock block  48  is fixed in place in the channel of the lower leg  23 . The knob  42  is used to slide the tapered locking pin  46  into and out of engagement with the hole  50  in the lock block  48 . When the tapered locking pin  46  is engaged with the hole  50  in the lock block  48 , the upper leg  24  and lower leg  23  are locked in their assembled position. See FIG.  3 . When the tapered locking pin  46  is retracted, the upper leg  24  and lower leg  23  are free to pivot with respect to each other about the hinge that joins them together. See FIG.  5 . 
     It should be noted that when the side rails  14  and  16  are folded up for storage and transport, the knob  42  fits in a hole  52  cut in support member  22 . See FIG.  1 . 
     Another feature of the lock feature is related to the way the shaft  43  of the knob  42  cooperates with the slidable guide and the upper leg  24 . Specifically, the rail has a small hole  60  through its back side through which the shaft can penetrate to hold the locking pin  46  in the retracted unlocked position. Note that there is no similar hole for holding the locking pin  46  in the extended, locked position. Gravity and friction are sufficient to prevent inadvertent unlocking of the device. If the pin did extend through such a hole when in the locked position, it might prevent the backdrop  3  from lying flat against the frame  2 . 
     Turning then to the backdrop  3 , it includes a length of material of either a desired color or upon which a background image is imprinted. This length of material is referred to herein as the background  62 . Ideally, the background  62  is translucent so light can penetrate the background  62  from the rear. The top of the background  62  is joined to an angled bracket  64 . There are two holes  65  and  66  in the bracket which mate with pins  67  and  68  on the top rail  10  of the frame  2  to hold the backdrop  3  to the frame  2 . The bottom of the background  62  is joined to a roller  70  which is sufficient weight to maintain the background  62  in a straight, wrinkle-free manner when the backdrop is positioned on the frame  2 . When not in use, the background  62  is rolled up over the roller  70  for storage. Given the fact that the upper and lower legs of the side rails  14  and  16  of the frame  2  are not perpendicular to the ground and tilt toward the camera, the roller  70  and bracket  64  are sufficient to retain the background  62  in the desired orientation. 
     The softbox  4  used in the system of the present invention is designed to be positioned behind the frame  2  and completely surround the back of the background  62 . The softbox  4  is designed to backlight the background  62  in a consistent manner so that the intensity of light hitting the back of the background  62  is generally consistent from point to point. The softbox  4  has a frame  80  made of a central light mounting  82  and four elongate flexible rods  84  projecting therefrom. A lightweight reflective covering  86  is mounted to the frame  80 . A light source  88  is coupled to the mounting  82 . The softbox also includes reflecting baffles such as  90  which serve to diffuse the light so that the light hits all portions of the background  62  with approximately equal intensity. To ensure the softbox  4  stays in the proper position, hook and loop type closures  94  are used to releasably couple the top of the softbox  4  to the bracket  64  of the backdrop  3  when that bracket  64  is coupled to the top rail  10  of the frame  2 . 
     Several other features are provided to ensure good lighting of the subjects to be photographed in front of the background. Specifically, a mounting hole is provided in the top rail so that a light which shines down on the head of the subject can be mounted to the frame. This light helps the camera create the appearance of a separation between the background and the subject. The mat  1  also includes markings which indicate where the various components are to be positioned relative to each other. 
     As shown in FIG. 9, the mat  1  includes a line  100  which is used to identify the position of the bottom rail  12  of the frame  2 . Markings  102  are used to position the softbox  4  behind the frame. Markings  104  are used to position a kneeler  5  and markings  106  are used to place a prop stand  6 . Arrows  108  and  110  can be used to position auxiliary lighting. Finally, mark  112  is used to properly position the camera. 
     The foregoing discussion is intended to describe the preferred embodiment. Changes can be made without deviating from the concept of providing a compact, readily portable photographic studio. Thus, the scope of the invention is intended to be limited only by the claims.