Abstract:
A portable lighting apparatus includes a storage case section, and a lid section connected to the storage case section such that the lid section can be opened and closed. The storage case section includes a power supply, a plurality of lighting units connected to the power supply, and a photographing stage. The lid section includes a back screen arranged in front thereof. When fashioned as a desk-type lighting apparatus, a storage desk section is used in place of the storage case section, and the lid is attached thereto in a manner permitting opening and closing thereof.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to portable and desk-type lighting apparatuses. 
     2. Background of the Invention 
     In Japanese Patent No. 2918820, the present inventor discloses box-shaped mini-studio equipment which can be used as a transportable lighting or studio apparatus. 
     The mini-studio equipment is composed of an upper box, a middle box, and a lower box. An upper light source is attached to the ceiling of the upper box; and the bottom wall of the upper box is formed of a light diffusion plate for diffusing light emitted from the upper light source. The ceiling portion of the middle box is covered with the diffusion plate of the upper box; and the bottom wall of the middle box is formed of a photographing stage. The photographing stage diffuses light emitted from a lower light source and has a curved portion and a backdrop portion covering a side wall of the middle box. The ceiling portion of the lower box is covered with the photographing stage of the middle box; and the lower light source is attached to the bottom wall of the lower box. 
     A digital camera or the like is fixed to a side wall portion of the middle box; and an object placed on the photographing stage is lighted optimally through adjustment of the outputs of the upper and lower light sources. The mini-studio equipment enables even a person who does not have expert knowledge of lighting to easily take a digital picture or silver-salt picture of high quality comparable to that of a picture taken by a professional photographer. 
     However, since the above-mentioned conventional mini-studio equipment assumes a box-like shape and is composed of an upper box, a middle box, and a lower box, the overall size of the equipment is as large as a small-sized refrigerator. Therefore, although the mini-studio equipment is transportable, casters must be attached to the bottom of the lower box when the mini-studio equipment is to be moved within the same building. Further, when the mini-studio equipment is moved to another location, the mini-studio equipment must be loaded onto a vehicle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a portable lighting apparatus which solves the above-described problems involved in conventional techniques, which can be carried as hand luggage, and which enables an ordinary amateur photographer to utilize the lighting techniques of professional photographers and to take high-quality digital or silver-salt pictures. Another object of the present invention is to provide a desk-type lighting apparatus which facilitates teaching of lighting techniques at an education site. 
     In order to achieve the above object, a portable lighting apparatus of the present invention comprises a storage case section, and a lid section connected to the storage case section such that the lid section can be opened and closed, wherein the storage case section includes a power supply, a plurality of lighting units connected to the power supply, and a photographing stage; and the lid section includes a back screen. 
     In another portable lighting apparatus of the present invention, the storage case section has a storage space for storing the lighting units. 
     In still another portable lighting apparatus of the present invention, the power supply is fixedly disposed at the left-hand end and right-hand end, respectively, of the storage space; the lighting units include lower lighting units connected directly to the power supplies, and upper lighting units connected to the power supplies via arm portions; and the photographing stage is attached to the power supplies such that the photographing stage covers the lower lighting units and extends between the left-hand and right-hand power supplies, wherein when the lighting units are stored, the photographing stage is removed and stored within the lid section. 
     A desk-type lighting apparatus of the present invention comprises a storage desk section, and a lid section connected to the storage desk section such that the lid section can be opened and closed, wherein the storage desk section includes a power supply, a plurality of lighting units connected to the power supply, and a photographing stage; and the lid section includes a back screen. 
     In another desk-type lighting apparatus of the present invention, the storage desk section has a storage space for storing the lighting units. 
     In still another desk-type lighting apparatus of the present invention, the power supply is fixedly disposed at the left-hand end and right-hand end, respectively, of the storage space; the lighting units include lower lighting units connected directly to the power supplies, and upper lighting units connected to the power supplies via arm portions; and the photographing stage is attached to the power supplies such that the photographing stage covers the lower lighting units and extends between the left-hand and right-hand power supplies, wherein when the lighting units are stored, the photographing stage is removed and stored within the lid section. 
     In still another portable or desk-type lighting apparatus of the present invention, the photographing stage is a transparent acrylic plate. 
     In still another portable or desk-type lighting apparatus of the present invention, the back screen is hung from the upper end of the lid section. 
     In still another portable or desk-type lighting apparatus of the present invention, the back screen is formed of resin film, paper, or cloth. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a portable lighting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention during use; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the portable lighting apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention when not being used (in a state in which lighting units are stored); 
     FIG. 3 is a view showing a desk-type lighting apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention during use; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the desk-type lighting apparatus of FIG. 3 when not being used (in a state in which lighting units are stored); 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the state in which the lid section of the desk-type lighting apparatus of FIG. 4 has been closed; 
     FIG. 6 is a view showing a desk-type lighting apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present invention during use; and 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the state in which the lid section of the desk-type lighting apparatus of FIG. 6 has been closed. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a portable lighting apparatus includes a storage case section  1 , and a lid section  2 , which is connected (hinged in the illustrated case) to the storage case section  1  such that the lid section  2  can be opened and closed relative to the storage case section  1 . When the portable lighting apparatus is constructed to have the shape of an attaché case as in the present embodiment, the portable lighting apparatus can have excellent portability. As shown in FIG. 2, a handle  11  is attached to the center of the front face of the storage case section  1 , and lock receiving members  12  are attached to the front face on the right-hand and left-hand sides, respectively, of the handle  11 . After storage of lighting units, the lid section  2  is closed, and paired locks  22  attached to the front face of the lid section  2  on the right-hand and left-hand sides, respectively, are engaged with the lock receiving members  12  in order to lock the portable lighting apparatus. A user carries the portable lighting apparatus while holding the handle  11 . 
     In order to achieve a good balance of light weight and durability, the outer frames of the storage case section  1  and the lid section  2  are preferably formed of duralumin, hard plastic, or a material used in attaché cases. 
     The storage case section  1  includes power supplies  3 , a plurality of lighting units  40  to  49  connected to the power supplies  3 , and a photographing stage  5 . The lid section  2  has a back screen  6 . The storage case section  1  has a storage space S. When the lighting units  40  to  43  are not used, the lighting units  40  to  43  are stored within the storage space S in the vicinity of the bottom thereof (in the vicinity of the location where the storage case section is hinged to the lid section). 
     One of the power supplies  3  is fixedly disposed at the left-hand end of the storage space S, and the other power supply  3  is fixedly disposed at the right-hand end of the storage space S. The power supplies  3  each assume a generally rectangular parallelepipedic shape. The lighting units  40  to  49  include lower lighting units  45  to  49  connected directly to the power supplies  3 , and upper lighting units  40  to  43  connected to the power supplies  3  via respective arm portions  70  to  73 . 
     Button switches  30 ,  31 , and  34  to  36  for turning on and off the five lighting units  40 ,  41 , and  44  to  46  located on the left-hand side are provided on the top face of the left-hand power supply  3 . Further, a power switch  3 L for turning on and off the left-hand power supply  3  itself is provided on the top face of the left-hand power supply  3 . 
     Similarly, button switches  32 ,  33 , and  37  to  39  for turning on and off the five lighting units  42 ,  43 , and  47  to  49  located on the right-hand side are provided on the top face of the right-hand power supply  3 . Further, a power switch  3 R for turning on and off the right-hand power supply  3  itself is provided on the top face of the right-hand power supply  3 . 
     Sockets for the lower lighting units  44  to  49  are fixed to the side faces of the power supplies  3  such that the three lower, left-hand lighting units  44  to  46  are opposed to the three lower, right-hand lighting units  47  to  49  (see FIG.  2 ). Preferably, each of the lower lighting units  44  to  49  is a removable fluorescent light. However, each of the lower lighting units  44  to  49  may be a lighting unit of another type, such as a flash unit, a strobe unit, or an incandescent lamp, which is used in photographing. 
     The upper lighting units  40  to  43  are disposed via the arm portions  70  to  73 , which are removably attached to attachment blocks  80  to  83  provided at four corners of the storage case section  1 . Male screws  80   a  to  83   a  are projected from the attachment blocks  80  to  83 , respectively; and the lower ends of the arm portions  70  to  73  are screw-engaged with the male screws  80   a  to  83   a,  respectively. The upper lighting units  40  to  43  are fixed to the upper end portions of the arm portions  70  to  73  at predetermined positions, by means of clip portions  40   a  to  43   a  thereof, which nip the arm portions  70  to  73 , respectively. 
     In order to increase the number of variations of lighting, a panhead may be fitted onto each male screw through screw-engagement, and the lower end of the arm portion may be fixed to the panhead. Further, an attachment portion(s) for attachment of an upper lighting unit(s) may be provided on the outside surface of the storage case section  1  to which the handle  11  is attached, or on any other outside surface. This arrangement is employed in order to cope with lighting of a relatively large object. 
     Preferably, each of the upper lighting units  40  to  43  is a removable fluorescent light. However, each of the upper lighting units  40  to  43  may be a lighting unit of another type, such as a flash unit, a strobe unit, or an incandescent lamp, which is used in photographing. Preferably, the arm portions  70  to  73  are each formed of a flexible grip shaft or the like, which enables fine adjustment of position and angle of the corresponding upper lighting unit. Moreover, each of the upper lighting units is preferably designed to be tiltable relative to the clip portion. 
     The photographing stage  5  is attached to the right-hand and left-hand power supplies  3  such that the photographing stage  5  covers the lower lighting units  44  to  49  and extends between the right-hand and left-hand power supplies  3 . When an object H (a cup and saucer in FIG. 1) is to be photographed, the object H is placed on the photographing stage  5 . When the lower lighting units  44  to  49  are to be stored within the storage case section  1 , the photographing stage  5  is removed and stored, while being nipped by paired clips  21  fixed to the upper end of the lid section  2 . The photographing stage  5  is preferably formed of a transparent acrylic plate. However, other transparent plates such as glass plate may be used. 
     During photographing, the back screen  6  is hung from the paired clips  21  fixed to the upper end of the lid section  2 , and the lower portion of the back screen  6  is extended over the photographing stage  5 . When the back screen  6  is to be stored, the back screen  6  is removed from the paired clips  21 . The thus-removed back screen  6  is rolled into a cylindrical shape, and is stored within the storage space S. Alternatively, the lower end portion of the back screen  6  is partially rolled or folded, while the state of the back screen  6  being hung from the paired clips  21  is maintained. In this state, the back screen  6  is stored. 
     The back screen  6  is preferably formed of resin film, paper, or cloth. The color of the back screen  6  is selected freely from among opaline, black, and other colors, in accordance with the color of the object H. Example methods of hanging the back screen  6  include a method in which magnetic pieces bonded to the upper end of the back screen are caused to adhere to iron pieces bonded to the upper end of the lid section  2  by means of magnetic force, and a method utilizing hooks or magic tape (Trademark). 
     In the above-described embodiment, two separate power supplies (i.e., left-hand and right-hand power supplies) are used. In another embodiment, a single power supply may be disposed within the storage case section. In this case, the photographing stage is attached to the right-hand and left-hand ends of the storage case section such that the photographing stage covers the lower lighting units connected to the power supply and extends between the right-hand and left-hand ends. The upper lighting units are attached to attachment portions provided on the outside surface of the storage case section. 
     Next, other embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to  7 . 
     A desk-type lighting apparatus shown in FIGS. 3 to  5  includes a storage desk section  101 , and a lid section  102 , which is connected to the storage desk section  101  such that the lid section  102  can be opened and closed relative to the storage desk section  101 . Use of a desk-type lighting apparatus as in the present embodiment facilitates teaching lighting techniques for photographing in, for example, a classroom of a school. As shown in FIG. 3, the storage desk section  101  has legs  111 , and is connected to the lid portion  102  by means of left-hand and right-hand hinge members  112 . After storage of lighting units, the lid section  102  is closed, and the lighting apparatus is used as a desk, as shown in FIG.  5 . 
     The storage desk section  101  and the lid section  102  are preferably formed of wood, steel, or a material used in conventional desks. 
     The storage desk section  101  includes power supplies  103 , a plurality of lighting units  140  to  149  connected to the power supplies  103 , and a photographing stage  105 . The lid section  102  has a back screen  106 . The storage desk section  101  has a storage space S′. When the lighting units  140  to  143  are not used, the lighting units  140  to  143  are stored within the storage space S′ in the vicinity of the bottom thereof (in the vicinity of the location where the storage desk section is connected to the lid section). 
     One of the power supplies  103  is fixedly disposed at the left-hand end of the storage space S′, and the other power supply  103  is fixedly disposed at the right-hand end of the storage space S′. The power supplies  103  each assume a generally rectangular parallelepipedic shape. The lighting units  140  to  149  include lower lighting units  145  to  149  connected directly to the power supplies  103 , and upper lighting units  140  to  143  connected to the power supplies  103  via respective arm portions  170  to  173 . 
     Button switches for turning on and off the five lighting units  140 ,  141 , and  144  to  146  located on the left-hand side are provided on the top face of the left-hand power supply  103 . Further, a power switch for turning on and off the left-hand power supply  103  itself is provided on the top face of the left-hand power supply  103 . 
     Similarly, button switches for turning on and off the five lighting units  142 ,  143 , and  147  to  149  located on the right-hand side are provided on the top face of the right-hand power supply  103 . Further, a power switch for turning on and off the right-hand power supply  103  itself is provided on the top face of the right-hand power supply  103 . 
     Sockets for the lower lighting units  144  to  149  are fixed to the side faces of the power supplies  103  such that the three lower, left-hand lighting units  144  to  146  are opposed to the three lower, right-hand lighting units  147  to  149  (see FIG.  4 ). Preferably, each of the lower lighting units  144  to  149  is a removable fluorescent light. However, each of the lower lighting units  144  to  149  may be a lighting unit of another type, such as a flash unit, a strobe unit, or an incandescent lamp, which is used in photographing. 
     The upper lighting units  140  to  143  are disposed via the arm portions  170  to  173 , which are removably attached to attachment blocks provided at four corners of the storage desk section  101 . An attachment portion(s) for attachment of an upper lighting unit(s) may be provided on the front outside surface or any other outside surface of the storage desk section  101 . This arrangement is employed in order to cope with lighting of a relatively large object. 
     Preferably, each of the upper lighting units  140  to  143  is a removable fluorescent light. However, each of the upper lighting units  140  to  143  may be a lighting unit of another type, such as a flash unit, a strobe unit, or an incandescent lamp, which is used in photographing. Preferably, the arm portions  170  to  173  are each formed of a flexible grip shaft or the like, which enables fine adjustment of position and angle of the corresponding upper lighting unit. Moreover, each of the upper lighting units is preferably designed to be tiltable relative to the clip portion. 
     The photographing stage  105  is attached to the right-hand and left-hand power supplies  103  such that the photographing stage  105  covers the lower lighting units  144  to  149  and extends between the right-hand and left-hand power supplies  103 . When an object H′ (a flower vase in FIG. 3) is to be photographed, the object H′ is placed on the photographing stage  105 . When the lower lighting units  144  to  149  are to be stored within the storage desk section  101 , the photographing stage  105  is removed and stored, while being nipped by paired clips  121  fixed to the upper end of the lid section  102 . The photographing stage  105  is preferably formed of a transparent acrylic plate. However, other transparent plates such as glass plate may be used. 
     During photographing, the back screen  106  is hung from the paired clips  121  fixed to the upper end of the lid section  102 , and the lower portion of the back screen  106  is extended over the photographing stage  105 . When the back screen  106  is to be stored, the back screen  106  is removed from the paired clips  121 . The thus-removed back screen  106  is rolled into a cylindrical shape, and is stored within the storage space S′. Alternatively, the lower end portion of the back screen  106  is partially rolled or folded, while the state of the back screen  106  being hung from the paired clips  121  is maintained. In this state, the back screen  106  is stored. 
     In the above-described embodiment, two separate power supplies (i.e., left-hand and right-hand power supplies) are used. In another embodiment, a single power supply may be disposed within the storage desk section. In this case, the photographing stage is attached to the right-hand and left-hand ends of the storage desk section such that the photographing stage covers the lower lighting units connected to the power supply and extends between the right-hand and left-hand ends. The upper lighting units are attached to attachment portions provided on the outside surface of the storage desk section. 
     Finally, another embodiment of the desk-type lighting apparatus will be described briefly with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. 
     The desk-type lighting apparatus shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 has the same basic configuration as that of the desk-type lighting apparatus of FIG.  3 . The difference lies in that the width of the lid portion  102 ′ is smaller than that of the storage desk section  101 ′, because left-hand and right-hand power supplies  103 ′ are not fixedly disposed at the left-hand end and right-hand end of the storage desk section  101 ′ but are fixedly disposed at left-hand and right-hand positions which are shifted slightly inward from the left-hand and right-hand ends. In the desk-type lighting apparatus of FIG. 3, the width of the lid portion is the same as that of the storage desk section. 
     As described above in detail, the portable lighting apparatus of the present invention comprises a storage case section, and a lid section connected to the storage case section such that the lid section can be opened and closed, wherein the storage case section includes a power supply, a plurality of lighting units connected to the power supply, and a photographing stage; and the lid section includes a back screen. 
     Therefore, a user can carry the lighting apparatus as hand luggage. Further, an amateur photographer can utilize the lighting techniques of professional photographers and can take high-quality digital or silver-salt pictures. 
     In another portable lighting apparatus of the present invention, the storage case section has a storage space for storing the lighting units when they are not used. Therefore, lighting units, which are relatively bulky units of the lighting apparatus, can be stored within a small space, thus enhancing portability. 
     In still another portable lighting apparatus of the present invention, the power supply is fixedly disposed at the left-hand end and right-hand end, respectively, of the storage case section; the lighting units include lower lighting units connected directly to the power supplies, and upper lighting units connected to the power supplies via arm portions; and the photographing stage is attached to the power supplies such that the photographing stage covers the lower lighting units and extends between the left-hand and right-hand power supplies, wherein when the lighting units are stored, the photographing stage is removed and stored within the lid section. 
     This arrangement reduces the thickness of the portable lighting apparatus to thereby enhance portability. 
     In still another portable lighting apparatus of the present invention, the photographing stage is an opaline, transparent acrylic plate. Since a portion of light emitted from the lower lighting units can be caused to pass through the photographing stage, there can be realized various modes of lighting which cannot be obtained by use of direct light from the upper lighting units. 
     In still another portable lighting apparatus of the present invention, the back screen is hung from the upper end of the lid section. This eliminates the necessity of preparing a screen or hooks for hanging the back screen at a photographing site. 
     In still another portable lighting apparatus of the present invention, the back screen is formed of resin film, paper, or cloth. In this case, since the back screen can be rolled in a cylindrical shape or folded before being stored within the storage case section, excellent portability is attained. 
     The desk-type lighting apparatus of the present invention comprises a storage desk section, and a lid section connected to the storage desk section such that the lid section can be opened and closed, wherein the storage desk section includes a power supply, a plurality of lighting units connected to the power supply, and a photographing stage; and the lid section includes a back screen. This arrangement facilitates introduction of a lighting apparatus to education sites.