Abstract:
The present invention discloses and teaches a new and improved photographic flash attachment, light reflecting apparatus that is lightweight, flexible, easily attached and/or detached from a camera flash and conveniently stored in a rolled or folded configuration. The disclosed flash reflector is configured from a thin, flexible, planar preform of polyurethane foam material, or any other suitable material, into an adjustable, generally concave configuration whereby adjusting the reflectors shape adjusts the power of the light it reflects to balance with the existing natural light or bounce off a ceiling thereby eliminating and/or reducing shadows about the photographic subject.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention generally relates to an artificial light reflector typically used with photographic equipment. More particularly the present invention discloses and teaches an improved light reflector for use with camera flash accessories. 
   A typical camera flash accessory includes attaching a flash directly to the camera, a flash bracket or a light stand containing the flash, or a hand-held flash held away from the camera. The flash of the flash accessory, produces a harsh light and undesirable shadows. However, reflecting the light with a reflector softens the light but typically reduces the amount of light reaching the subject being photographed. Thus the effective photographic distance between the camera and the subject is reduced to approximately 10 to 15 feet maximum. Photographers therefore need a flash reflector that can be quickly attached to the flash attachment for close up shots, and removed for distance photographs. Further such a flash attachment reflector should be easily stored and/or retrieved between uses. 
   2. Prior Art 
   A light reflector for use on a hand held camera flash-attachment is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,006 issued to A. E Beckerman on Nov. 17, 1998 titled, “Apparatus And Method For Directing Light From a Swivel Flash Head.” Beckerman teaches a seated light reflector for attachment to the flash apparatus of a hand held camera that is formed from a rigid material, such as molded plastic or pressed metal. As such the Beckerman light reflector is cumbersome, non-adjustable, and lacks convenient portability. 
   The Beckerman light reflector is commercially marketed under the trademark SHELL™ comprising a rigid plastic material weighing approximately two ounces. 
   The Beckerman flash attachment reflector does not attach and/or detach quickly nor easily. Beckerman&#39;s hard rigid material is not collapsible making it difficult to quickly store and retrieve. Thus the Beckerman reflector is cumbersome and requires a large volumetric area for storage. It is asymmetrical, works on the long side of the flash and cannot be easily printed on because of it rigid round shape. Beckerman&#39;s SHELL&#39;S hard rigid material creates its structure but it is not collapsible making it difficult to quickly store and retrieve. The Beckerman reflector attaches to the top of a flash attachment by two, relatively long, VELCRO® strips extending along opposing sides of the length of the flash attachment. Because of the inherent rigidity of the Beckerman reflector, the VELCRO® strips, on the reflector, are difficult to engage and/or disengage from the flash attachment and generally requires two hands for attachment and/or removal and may result in damage to the flash attachment foot and camera hot shoe. 
   Further the Beckerman reflector has no provisions for adjusting, or controlling, the angle, or power of its reflector&#39;s light. Still further, the Beckerman reflector does not accommodate a tilt flash head, and is only useful with a flash attachment, having a swivel head of which there are fewer models. 
   What is needed is a lightweight, flexible flash reflector that is quick to attach and/or detach, store, retrieve and shape adjustable. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
   The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the above referenced prior art by teaching a photographic light reflector, suitable for use on a camera&#39;s flash accessory, that is very light in weight, flexible, easily adjustable and that may be conveniently rolled or folded for storage in the user&#39;s pocket or camera bag. A flash attachment light reflector embodying the herein invention weighs approximately one half of an ounce. Thus a flash attachment embodying the present invention is approximately seventy-five percent lighter in weight than the prior art Beckerman flash attachment light reflector. 
   A preform of a flash attachment light reflector embodying the present invention is preferably die cut from a thin planar sheet of polyurethane foam material having a thickness within the range of 1/32 inch to ¼ inch and preferably 1/16 inch. A suitable polyurethane foam sheet is marketed as sheets by RAM Technologies, Inc. of Mukilteo, Wash. 
   VELCRO® J-hook strips and loop patches are selectively placed upon the preform such that the otherwise flat preform may be shaped into a desired concave configuration thereby forming a quasi parabolic light reflector. Additional VELCRO® J-hook patches are placed about the base of the pseudo parabolic light reflector whereby the configured polyurethane foam reflector may be easily attached to and/or removed from the camera&#39;s flash attachment apparatus. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  presents a pictorial view of my new improved light reflector in its operational configuration. 
       FIG. 2  presents a top plan view of the light reflector illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  presents a bottom view of the light reflector illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  presents a right side elevational view of the light reflector illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 5  presents a front side, planar view of the light reflector preform, illustrated in  FIG. 1 , in its open, flat, configuration prior to being reconfigured into the operational configuration as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 6  presents a back side, planar view of the light reflector preform, illustrated in  FIG. 1 , in its open, flat, configuration prior to being reconfigured into the operational configuration as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 7  presents a crossectional view taken along line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 8  presents a crossectional taken along line  8 - 8  in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 9  presents a crossectional view taken along line  9 - 9  in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIGS. 10A through 10C  presents a pictorial sequence illustrating a configured light reflector, embodying the present invention, being attached to a photographic flash assembly. 
       FIGS. 11 and 11A  presents a pictorial view of a light reflector, embodying the present invention, as it is attached to a photographic flash attachment. 
       FIGS. 12A through 12C  illustrate side elevational views of the light reflector, illustrated in  FIG. 1 , illustrating various configurations of which the light reflector of  FIG. 1  may configured. 
       FIG. 13  presents a front side, planar view of a first alternate embodiment preform of my improved photographic light reflector prior to being reconfigured into its operational configuration. 
       FIG. 14  presents a front side, planar view of a second alternate embodiment preform of my improved photographic light reflector prior to being reconfigured into its operational configuration. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIGS. 1 through 4  presents a pictorial, top and bottom, and right side elevational view of the preferred embodiment of my new, improved, foldable, light-reflecting reflector  10 , particularly useful for use with camera flash accessories. 
   Flash accessories include flash attachments that may be attached directly to a camera, or to a flash bracket or light stand. Alternatively, the flash accessory can be a stand-alone accessory that is held away from the camera. The camera may be on a tripod or hand held. Types of flashes that are suitable for my invention include a bounce flash that has a head that tilts up and down or a swivel/bounce flash that has a head that tilts up and down as well as swivels left and right. 
   Turning now to  FIGS. 5 through 6 , reflector  10  is formed from a flat, planar preform  15  basically configured as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . Preform  15  is preferably die cut from a flat planar sheet of flexible, polyurethane foam material having a thickness within the range of 1/32 inch to ¼ inch and preferably 1/16 inch. As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , preform  15  basically comprises four quadrants, I, II, III, and IV. 
   In general, the reflector  10  can be manufactured by cutting out its rounded shape from a flat piece of the flexible material. The cut material can then be folded and wrapped around the flash accessory. Optionally reflector  10  may be partially heat-shaped to produce a concave shape instead of being folded. 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , the bottom peripheral edge of quadrant I, of preform  15 , comprises a slopped edge  22  and  32  combined with a generally horizontal edge  24 . The preferred angle “A” is approximately 15 degrees. Extending from the bottom peripheral edge  22  is vertical peripheral edge  26 , generally comprising an outwardly turning concave curve extending upward from slopped bottom edge  22  as illustrated in  FIG. 5  whereby edge  26  joins outer peripheral edge  28  of quadrant II. 
   Outer peripheral edge  28 , of quadrant II, forms a inwardly sweeping, convex curve, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , whereupon peripheral edge  28  joins peripheral edge  38  of quadrant III in a cusp  30  as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . The outer peripheral edges  38 ,  36 ,  32 , and  34  are mirror images of peripheral edges  28 ,  26 ,  22  and  24  respectively. Thus preform  15  is symmetrical about its vertical centerline. 
   Two cut lines, or slits, are placed upon the vertical centerline of preform  15 . Die cut  42 , at the top of preform  15 , and die cut  44  at the bottom of preform as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . Additionally two horizontal cut lines  46  and  48  are positioned upon preform  15  as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . Cut lines  42 ,  44 ,  46 , and  48  extend completely through the material of preform  15 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , illustrating the front planar surface of preform  15 , patches of VELCRO® loop material  52  and  54 ,  56 , and  58 , are affixed to the front surface of preform  15 , in quadrants I, II and IV, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . VELCRO® loop patch  52  is positioned to the left of and immediately adjacent to die cut  42 . VELCRO® loop patch  54  is positioned below and immediately adjacent die cut  40 . VELCRO® loop patch  56  is positioned below and immediately adjacent to die cut  46 . VELCRO® loop patch  58  is positioned left of and immediately adjacent die cut  44 . 
   Further patches of VELCRO® J hooks  67  and  64  are affixed to quadrants I and IV, of the front surface of preform  15  as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . VELCRO® J hook patch  67  is positioned in the lower left corner of quadrant I and VELCRO® J hook patch  64  is positioned in the lower right corner of quadrant IV as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Optionally, in one of my preferred embodiments, I use only two VELCRO® tabs on the short sides of the flash. The light comes from the broad side of the flash and is distributed evenly into the reflector. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 6 , illustrating the back or reverse surface of preform  15 , quadrant II has an elongated VELCRO® loop strip  62 , preferably at an angle to the lower right peripheral edge of quadrant II and adjacent to die cut  46  as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . Within quadrant III two angled VELCRO® loop strips  64  and  66  are affixed the outer peripheral edge of quadrant III; VELCRO® loop strip  66  being placed adjacent die cut  48  and VELCRO® loop strip  64  juxtaposed die cut  42  as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . A small VELCRO® loop patch  68 , similar in size to VELCRO® J hook patch  58 , is affixed within quadrant IV, as illustrated, adjacent to cut  44 . 
   Preform  15  is formed into the concave, light reflector configuration  10 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , by slightly overlapping quadrant III over quadrant II, at cut line  42 , whereby VELCRO® J hook strip  64  engages VELCRO® loop patch  52  thereby attaching quadrant III to quadrant II as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , and forming a first shallow bowl like configuration. Next quadrant IV, at cut line  48 , is overlapped by quadrant III, see  FIG. 9 , whereby VELCRO® J hook strip  66  engages VELCRO® loop patch  56  and quadrant II, at cut line  46 , is overlapped by quadrant I, see  FIG. 8 , whereby VELCRO® J hook strip  62  overlaps VELCRO® loop patch  54  thereby forming a deeper bowl like configuration. The bottom of the reflector is closed off by overlapping VELCRO® J hook patch  68 , adjacent cut line  44 , upon VELCRO® loop patch  58 . Alternatively VELCRO® J hook patch  68  and loop patch  58  may be replaced by a permanent adhesive attachment. 
   The concavity of photographic flash reflector  10  may be conveniently varied by adjusting the amount of overlap of quadrants II and III. Further the vertical angle of light reflection may be conveniently varied by adjusting the overlap of quadrants II and III over quadrants I and IV respectively as illustrated in  FIGS. 12A through 12C . 
     FIG. 12A  illustrates reflector  10  configured such that all of the light  16 , emanating from the light source  14 , is directed vertically.  FIG. 12B  illustrates reflector  10  configured such that the greater portion of light  18 , emanating from light source  14 , is angularly directed upward with a lesser amount  18 A directed horizontally.  FIG. 12C  illustrates reflector  10  configured such that all of the light from light source  14  is directed horizontally. 
     FIGS. 10A through 10C  progressively illustrate the ease by which photographic flash reflector  10  may be attached to a typical photographic flash attachment. As illustrated, VELCRO® J hook patch,  64  is attached to a first VELCRO® loop patch on one side of the flash attachment  80  as shown in  FIG. 10A . The base of reflector  10  is then wrapped around flash attachment  80 ,  FIG. 10B , and VELCRO® J hook patch  67  is then attached to the VELCRO® loop patch on the opposite side of flash attachment  80  as shown in  FIG. 10C  thereby simply attaching flash reflector  10  to flash attachment  80 . Reflector  10  may be easily removed by reversing the process.  FIGS. 11 and 11A  further illustrate attachment of reflector  10  to flash attachment  80 . 
     FIG. 13  presents a front, planar view of preform  110  as a first alternate embodiment of my improved photographic light reflector. Quadrant II and II, of preform  110 , basically comprises an upper peripheral shape similar to that of preform  15  except that cusp  30  and cut-lines  42  and  44  are absent. Further base line  112  is horizontally straight and narrow V-groove slots  112  and  114  are cut into the opposing peripheral sides. VELCRO® J hook patches  116  and  118  are positioned below and adjacent slots  112  and  114 , as illustrated in  FIG. 13 , with opposing VELCRO® loop strips  126  and  128  located on the reverse surface of preform  110 , as illustrated in  FIG. 13 , whereby slots  112  and  114  may be overlappingly fastened to one another as taught above, thereby forming a concave light reflecting structure. Similarly VELCRO® J-hook patches  120  and  122  are provided at the base  112  of preform  110 , as illustrated in  FIG. 13 , for attachment of the resulting, concave, photographic light reflector to an acceptable photographic flash attachment as illustrated in  FIGS. 10 through 11 . 
     FIG. 14  presents a front, planar view of preform  130  as a second alternate embodiment of my improved photographic light reflector. Preform  130  basically comprises a circular peripheral shape  132  joining horizontal base line  138  through concave curved side edges  134  and  136 , as illustrated in  FIG. 14 . VELCRO® J-hook patches  137  and  139  are provided at the base  138  of preform  130 , as illustrated in  FIG. 14 , for attachment of the photographic light reflector to an acceptable photographic flash attachment as illustrated in  FIGS. 10 through 11 . Preform  130  will assume a fixed concave configuration when VELCRO® J-hook patches  137  and  139  are attached to the VELCRO® J-loop patches  82  on photographic flash attachment  80 . The concave shape of preform  130 , when attached to a camera flash attachment  80 , may be controlled by the peripheral shape  132  of the preform. 
   Because of the flexible material from which the preforms are manufactured and their flat planar configuration when not applied to the flash attachment of a camera, the preforms may be conveniently rolled up or folded in half and in half again and placed in the users pocket or camera bag. It recovers its shape after folding. 
   It has been found that a decorative fabric may be adhesively applied the back surface of the thin polyurethane foam sheet prior to die cutting the reflector preforms. Thus a mat-black fabric may be applied to the reverse side of the preforms upon which a brand name, trademark and/or logo may be conveniently applied. Preferably the foam is printed while it is flat, before it is folded or shaped. Another option is to provide a colored fabric material to the back side of the polyurethane foam material such as gold whereby the preform may be configured to function as a white or gold light reflector when reversed. 
   Although the preferred embodiment, as described above, teaches fabricating the photographic light reflector preforms from a thin polyurethane foam material, any thin, pliable material may be used. And it can be made reversible so that two separate reflecting surfaces can be utilized on one reflector. 
   My invention provides many advantages, some of which include: (a) reducing the adhering area so that there is less resistance and stress on the flash foot and camera hot shoe, and allowing a photographer to quickly attach it for close shots, and then to quickly remove it for distance photos; (b) its wrap-around design allows the photographer to attach and detach it using only one hand; (c) its flexible material creates both the reflector&#39;s shape and structure when wrapped around the flash head without needing a supporting framework, allowing it to collapse for ease of storage and retrieval; (d) the reflector is adjustable, allowing a photographer to optimize light and power to bounce, balance with existing light or match a particular photo setting; and (e) its unique light-weight, low profile design minimizes the reflector&#39;s cost of manufacture and shipping by using less material and reducing the amount of necessary machine tooling and dies. 
   It is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing teachings. Accordingly, the invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as may fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.