Abstract:
An assemble-free fast deployable light modifier with a back side light source mount is an umbrella shaped light modifier providing an extremely soft diffusive light; with attached light diffusers, it uniquely easily and quickly opens from the vertex of its hemisphere to the inside of it, and folds in hands promptly; having optical fibers increases a number of light source sensor triggering. Any assembling or disassembling operations are not required. With the features mentioned above it is the fastest deployable light modifier.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Pat. No. 
                 Issue date 
                 Original Assignee 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 685968 
                 Nov. 5, 1901 
                 Brown 
               
               
                   
                 739437 
                 Sep. 22, 1903 
                 McComb 
               
               
                   
                 923542 
                 Jun. 1, 1909 
                 Losey 
               
               
                   
                 2105225 
                 Jan. 11, 1938 
                 Pollock 
               
               
                   
                 2190403 
                 Feb. 13, 1940 
                 Foute 
               
               
                   
                 2205860 
                 Jun. 25, 1940 
                 Phelps Olds 
               
               
                   
                 3294962 
                 Dec. 27, 1966 
                 Hilzen 
               
               
                   
                 3781535 
                 1973 
                 Raymond George Larson 
               
               
                   
                 3821542 
                 Jun. 2, 1974 
                 Masaharu Kitamura 
               
               
                   
                 3851164 
                 1974 
                 Charles Intrator 
               
               
                   
                 3873821 
                 Mar. 2, 1975  
                 Raymond George Larson 
               
               
                   
                 4052607 
                 Oct. 4, 1977 
                 Raymond George Larson 
               
               
                   
                 4075472 
                 Feb. 21, 1978 
                 Masaru Higuchi 
               
               
                   
                 4210952 
                 Jul. 1, 1980 
                 Roger H. Ressmeyer 
               
               
                   
                 4446506 
                 May. 1, 1984  
                 Raymond G. Larson 
               
               
                   
                 4594645 
                 Jun. 10, 1986 
                 Yutake Terashita 
               
               
                   
                 4633374 
                 Dec. 30, 1986 
                 Thomas A. Waltz 
               
               
                   
                 4757425 
                 Jul. 12, 1988 
                 Thomas A. Waltz 
               
               
                   
                 5023757 
                 Jun. 11, 1991 
                 John Shirilla 
               
               
                   
                 5331524 
                 Jul. 19, 1994 
                 Chuen-Jong Tseng 
               
               
                   
                 4693553 
                 Sep. 15, 1987 
                 Isao Sasaki, Kozi Nishida, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Masaru Morimoto, Takashi Yamamoto 
               
               
                   
                 3778132 
                 1973 
                 Douglas Arthur Pinnow, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Douglas Arthur Pinno 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     “Not Applicable” 
     REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX 
     “Not Applicable” 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This application relates to photographic foldable light modifiers, specifically to an improved method of operating of a foldable light modifier. 
     The photographic foldable light modifiers of umbrella type as well as soft boxes are widely used by photographers to control the quality of light. 
     There are two major types of photographic umbrellas: reflective umbrella and shoot-through umbrella. Though both types of photographic umbrellas are easy to open, there are two major disadvantages:
         1. In a reflective umbrella a light source has to be mounted at the front side of umbrella, which limits convenience of a manual control of a light source, and in many cases, wherein photo camera is located behind of reflective umbrella, triggering from camera&#39;s flash could be missed.   2. In a shoot-through umbrella direct light diffusing through a hemispherical white fabric spreads around more widely, which is not acceptable in many light scenarios.   Soft boxes solve the disadvantages of photographic umbrellas listed above and having two diffusers, produce much softer light, but require time-consuming assembling and disassembling operations, including attaching and detaching of light diffusers. Also, when using soft boxes in outdoor photography, assembling and disassembling processes may become problematic in outdoor conditions, as often it is done on the ground, which may result scratches and damages of soft box.       

     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An assemble-free fast deployable light modifier solves the functional disadvantages listed above. With attached light diffusers it easily opens and folds in hands promptly, and it produces the ultimately soft quality light, and it provides good convenient control of the light source, mounted on the back side, and it increases reliability of light source triggering from a camera&#39;s flash. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a back side view of the assemble-free fast deployable light modifier in its operational state; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an inner view of the assemble-free fast deployable light modifier in its operational state, with a partial view of layers of interweaving threads; 
         FIG. 2A  illustrates a close view of a pyramidal shaped supportive frame comprising supportive ribs joined in a pyramidal form and a base ring; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a sectional material wrapped around a cord, and a method of clamping sectional material between the base ring and a speed ring; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a close view of the pyramidal shaped supportive frame with rigidly attached a second member of a bayonet locker, the base ring and a first member of the bayonet locker; 
         FIG. 4A  illustrates a close view of a second variation of the base ring, soft pads in open stage with light diffusor; 
         FIG. 4B  illustrates a method of mounting a camera flash; 
         FIG. 4C  illustrates a partial view of an optical fiber and an outer rib; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a detailed view of the first member of the bayonet locker and the second member of the bayonet locker, and a sectional view of the first member of the bayonet locker; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an inner view of the assemble-free fast deployable light modifier in a semi-collapsed stage; layers of interweaving threads are not shown; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a side view of the assemble-free fast deployable light modifier in the semi-collapsed stage. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The assemble-free fast deployable light modifier comprising a structure of pivotably connected ribs means for collapsing, stretched over by sewed together fabric sections, or sectional material ( 2 ) having a dark side means for light absorbing,  FIG. 1 , and a bright side means for light reflection, and a front white material, or fabric, or layer of interweaving threads ( 1 ) means for light diffusing,  FIG. 2 . 
     The sectional material ( 2 ) has a sectional pattern with trapezoid shaped pieces sawn together. The sectional material ( 2 ) attached to outer ribs ( 8 ) along seams. Hereby sawn pieces of said sectional material form dome shape,  FIG. 2 , said sectional material comprising a front edge ( 12 ) and a back edge ( 28 ),  FIG. 7 . At said back edge the sectional material ( 2 ) is wrapped around a cord or wire ( 4 ), secured with a seam, and clamped between a base ring ( 5 ) and a speed ring ( 3 ) with bolts ( 6 ),  FIG. 3 . 
     The structure comprises a plurality of outer ribs ( 8 ), pivotably connected means for hinging, to the base ring ( 5 ) and to inner ribs ( 9 ),  FIG. 2 . 
     First end of each outer rib ( 8 ) is inserted into equally spaced slots ( 11 ) of the base ring ( 5 ) and secured by a wire (not shown). The wire passes through holes (not shown) disposed at the first end of outer ribs ( 8 ) and inside of a gutter ( 7 ), and wraps around the base ring ( 5 ),  FIG. 2A . 
     Second ends of outer ribs ( 8 ) spaced with a predetermined distance and attached to the front edge ( 12 ) of the sectional material ( 2 ), and are holding the layer of interweaving threads ( 1 ) tightly,  FIG. 2 . 
     First ends of inner ribs ( 9 ), with a predetermined backlash, are pivotably attached to outer ribs ( 8 ) at about the middle of them,  FIG. 2 . A first member ( 10 ) comprises equally spaced slots ( 26 ) and a gutter ( 23 ),  FIG. 5 . Second ends of inner ribs ( 9 ),  FIG. 2A , are inserted into equally spaced slots ( 26 ),  FIG. 5 , of a first member ( 10 ) and secured with backlash by a wire (not shown),  FIG. 2A . Inside of a gutter ( 23 ),  FIG. 5 , a wire passes through holes (not shown) disposed at the second ends of inner ribs ( 9 ) and wraps around the first member ( 10 ),  FIG. 2A . 
     An inner white fabric or layer of interweaving threads ( 14 ) means for rough light diffusing is attached to the outer ribs ( 8 ) at the points near the second ends of inner ribs ( 9 ),  FIG. 2 . 
     A bayonet locker or fastening mechanism, comprising a first member ( 10 ) and a second member ( 27 ), wherein said members are means for interlocking. The second member ( 27 ) comprises L-slots ( 24 ) which match extruded pins ( 25 ) of the first member ( 10 ) to keep said members interlocked. An inner thread ( 29 ) is optional and intended for attaching of an extension handle (not shown),  FIG. 5 . 
     Another variation of the second member of the fastening mechanism can be an umbrella type locker which should be implemented onto the second member. In this case the L-slots are not required for the second member, and the first member of the fastening mechanism, instead of pins, may have an open slot which matches with the locker, means for interlocking of said members. 
     A pyramidal shaped supportive frame comprises supportive ribs ( 13 ) and the base ring ( 5 ), wherein the supportive ribs ( 13 ) disposed between slots ( 11 ) and rigidly connected by bolts ( 15 ),  FIG. 2A . The shown supportive ribs are bent by twos in triangular shapes. However each supportive rib may be bent separately and screwed into the base ring by a thread or may be rigidly connected with the base ring by another suitable method. 
     At a vertex of the pyramidal shaped supportive frame the end of each supportive rib ( 13 ) is roundly bent inward of the pyramidal shaped supportive frame,  FIG. 4 . Under the vertex of the pyramidal shaped supportive frame, the second member ( 27 ) is rigidly connected with the bent ends of each supportive rib ( 13 ),  FIG. 4 . 
     Another variation of the base ring ( 5   a ) is intended to fit various light sources. The base ring ( 5   a ) comprises a T-shaped mounting portion ( 18 ) means for attaching to a holder, or a light stand, or a handle,  FIG. 4A . Bayonet mounting portions ( 17 ) are disposed around the base ring ( 5   a ) and are intended for attaching a light source. Foldable soft pads ( 19 ) with a light diffusor ( 30 ) are inserted into the base ring ( 5   a ), and are intended to hold a camera flash ( 22 ),  FIGS. 4A ,  4 B. 
     In some lighting scenarios when optical signal is used for triggering camera flash or another light source, and a triggering light is invisible for optical sensor of the light source, an optical fiber is a solution to conduct the triggering light in such situations. Each optical fiber ( 31 ) has two open ends and is disposed along the outer rib ( 8 ) and one of groves ( 16 ),  FIGS. 4C ,  4 A. For mentioned purpose, a first end of the optical fiber is disposed at the front edge of the light modifier, and a second end ( 20 ) of the optical fiber is disposed at the back of the base ring,  FIG. 4B . The camera flash is inserted between the soft pads ( 19 ), wherein a camera flash sensor ( 21 ) is closely disposed to the second end ( 20 ) of the optical fiber means for increasing the amount of triggering light picked up by the camera flash sensor ( 21 ),  FIG. 4B . 
     To open the light modifier move the first member ( 10 ), with pivotably attached second ends of inner ribs ( 9 ), toward the second member ( 27 ). Herewith said inner ribs ( 9 ) move forward between supportive ribs ( 13 ) of pyramidal shaped supportive frame, deploying the structure, and shaping the light modifier to its operational stage; whereby providing a stretching of the sectional material ( 2 ) and bending of the outer ribs ( 8 ). Once the extruded pins ( 25 ) reach the bottom of the L-slots ( 24 ), turn the first member ( 10 ) to guide the extruded pins ( 25 ) across the bottom of the L-slots ( 24 ), means for interlocking both bayonet members. Whereby said backlash connections of both ends of inner ribs ( 9 ) are intended to provide turning the first member ( 10 ). Then the spring pressure of bent outer ribs ( 8 ) through the inner ribs ( 9 ) prevents the first member ( 10 ) from backing out. 
     To collapse the light modifier, turn back the first member ( 10 ) and move toward the base ring ( 5 ). Herewith said inner ribs ( 9 ) move backward between supportive ribs ( 13 ) of pyramidal shaped supportive frame, collapsing the structure,  FIGS. 6 ,  7  (shown semi-collapsed stage), and shaping the light modifier to its storage or transportable stage.