Obstruction free softbox
AssigneeMGMD BrainPower LLC
InventorSpencer Boerup
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A softbox for use with a light source has structures to collapse the softbox. These structures include a ring-support assembly. The ring support assembly includes a support ring and a light ring, both of which couple to frame arm assembly. The frame arm assembly supports the material of the softbox. When the support ring and light ring are separated, the frame collapses. The structures of the light box may be entirely disposed outside of the direct path of the light source to the target, facilitating, in part, the softbox being integrated with other light manipulating devices proximal to the light source.
Claims20
A softbox comprising:
- a support ring having an outer annular surface and an inner annular surface defining a support-ring opening;
- a light ring disposed on a front side of the support ring, the light ring having an outer annular surface and an inner annular surface defining a light-ring opening, wherein the light-ring opening aligns with the support-ring opening such that the light from a light source may pass through both the support-ring opening and the light-opening;
- a plurality of frame-arm assemblies, the plurality of frame-arm assemblies including a first frame-arm assembly and a second frame-arm assembly;
- wherein the first-frame arm assembly comprises:
- a first frame-arm having a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end of the first frame-arm being pivotally coupled to the outer annular surface of the support ring;
- a first pivot-arm having a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end of the first pivot-arm being pivotally coupled to the outer annular surface of the light ring, and the distal end of the first pivot-arm being pivotally coupled to the first frame arm;
- and
- wherein the second-frame arm assembly comprises:
- a second frame-arm having a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end of the second frame-arm being pivotally coupled to the outer annular surface of the support ring;
- a second pivot-arm having a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end of the second pivot-arm being pivotally coupled to the outer annular surface of the light ring, and the distal end of the second pivot-arm being pivotally coupled to the second frame arm.
A system comprising:
- a softbox comprising:
- a ring assembly defining an opening and comprising a support ring and a light ring axially movable relative to one another along a center axis;
- a plurality of frame-arm assemblies, each frame-arm assembly comprising a frame-arm pivotally coupled to the support ring at a proximal end and a pivot-arm pivotally coupled to the light ring at a proximal end and pivotally coupled to the frame arm at a distal end, wherein when the support ring and the light ring move away from each other, a distal end of each of the frame-arms collapse towards the center axis;
- and
- a body supported by the plurality of frame-arm assemblies;
- and
- a light manipulating device removably coupled to the light ring.
A method for collapsing a softbox comprising:
- providing the softbox having a ring assembly with a support ring and a light ring, a plurality of frame-arm assemblies, each frame-arm assembly having a frame-arm pivotally coupled to the support ring at a proximal end and a pivot-arm pivotally coupled to the light ring at a proximate end and pivotally coupled to the frame-arm at a distal end, and a body supported by the plurality of frame-arm assemblies;
- separating the light ring from the support ring;
- and
- substantially simultaneously with separating the light ring from the support ring, collapsing a distal end of each of the frame-arms towards a center axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.