Flexible light control grid with collapsible frame
OwnerStephen Pilbyinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A light control grid has a collapsible frame having an outer flexible band with straight sides supported by flexible strips, where each side is sewn to an adjacent side to form an enclosed polygonal perimeter, and the sewn junctions of the adjacent sides form pockets. Intersecting sets of flexible light control strips are sewn by the ends to the inner side of the flexible band to form light channels. A tape spring is inserted into a flexible sheath assembly for each side of the outer band, with each end inserted into the two pockets for that side, where slits near the end of each light control strip provide clearance for the sheath assembly to be inserted therethrough. Optionally a central flexible light control strip is replaced with a bracing cross member extending across the polygonal perimeter.
Claims15
A collapsible light control grid for attachment to an opening of a light source, the collapsible light control grid comprising:
- an outer band made of a flexible material and having a plurality of sides connected end-to-end to define a polygonal opening with a first corner and a second corner adjacent to the first corner, the outer band having an inner side;
- a first pocket being formed at the first corner and a second pocket being formed at the second corner;
- a frame member held to the outer band due to the frame member spanning between the first pocket and the second pocket, the frame member being at least partially inserted within each of the first pocket and the second pocket;
- and
- a plurality of flexible strips intersecting to define a multiplicity of light channels within the polygonal opening, wherein each of the plurality of flexible strips comprises a slit formed in at least one terminus thereof, wherein the plurality of flexible strips are connected to the inner side of the outer band between the first corner and the second corner by the at least one terminus;
- wherein the frame member is inserted through each slit of the plurality of flexible strips between the first pocket and the second pocket.
A collapsible light control grid for attachment to an opening of a light source, the collapsible light control grid comprising:
- an outer band comprising a plurality of flexible outer strips connected end-to-end to define a polygonal opening, the outer band having an inner side;
- a first pocket and a second pocket being formed on each flexible outer strip of the plurality of outer strips, the first pocket being separated from the second pocket, the first pocket and the second pocket opening towards one another;
- a frame member inserted within both of the first pocket and the second pocket of each outer strip of the plurality of outer strips for providing greater rigidity to each of the outer strips;
- and
- a plurality of flexible strips intersecting to define a multiplicity of light channels within the polygonal opening, wherein each of the plurality of flexible strips comprises a slit formed in at least one terminus thereof, wherein the plurality of flexible strips are connected to the inner side of the outer band between the first corner and the second corner by the at least one terminus;
- wherein the frame member is inserted through each slit of the plurality of flexible strips between the first pocket and the second pocket.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.