Variable beamwidth stage light

A variable beamwidth light comprising,

• a plurality of leaves axially symmetrically arranged in side-by-side relation to form an elliptically-shaped reflector having a base which defines a central aperture and having a first focal point, each of said leaves being made of a resilient material and having an interior surface and an exterior surface,
• flange means fixedly disposed and having a shaping aperture for receiving and frictionally contacting the exterior surfaces of the leaves for defining the ellipticity of said reflector and thereby prescribing the reflector focal length to a second focal point axially outward of said first focal point,
• a light source mounted fixedly with respect to said central aperture so as to radiate light from said first focal point,
• drive means for repositioning said light source and the base of the reflector together relative to said fixedly disposed flange means, thereby varying the beamwidth of light reflecting from said reflector, and
• feedback means for controlling said drive means to precisely position said reflector.

A stage light comprising,

• a frame structure having opposed closed lateral ends, a closed back end, and an open face front end,
• a plurality of elongated leaves mounted within said frame structure, said leaves being disposed in a radially symmetric pattern extending axially forwardly and outwardly to define a generally bowl-shaped reflector having a focal point defined by the shape of the reflector, said leaves being made of a resilient material and having inward portions joined to form a reflector base defining a central aperture closely proximate said inward portions, said leaves each having an interior surface and an exterior surface and being bent at multiple predetermined incremental positions,
• mounting means for securing said reflector base, said mounting means including a base member in frictional contact with the exterior surfaces of said leaves and including a ring member in frictional contact with the interior surfaces of said leaves to sandwich said reflector base between said base member and said ring member,
• a light source affixed to said base member, said light source having a light filament with a longitudinal extension through the focal point,
• flange means defining the front end of the frame structure and in frictional contact with said exterior surfaces of the leaves for restricting the diameter of the reflector at its points of contact with said flange means, and
• drive means for axially moving said base member and reflector relative to the flange means to cause said reflector to be elastically deformed at said incremental positions to curve through shapes belonging to a selected common family of ellipses as said reflector is moved axially relative to said flange means, thereby varying the bowl-shaped dimensions of said reflector and causing displacement of said focal point along the longitudinal extension of the light filament.