Title: Light stand
Abstract: The light stand is a tripod for supporting photographic lighting accessories, the light stand being adapted for receiving a replaceable battery power source. A telescoping vertical support post having plurality of extendable, downwardly extending collapsible legs has a battery-mounting fixture, for receiving a conventional rechargeable battery power source, mounted at the bottom of the telescoping vertical support post. An attached battery pack functions as a stabilizing ballast. An accessory-mounting fixture for receiving a photographic lighting accessory, camera, or other device, is disposed at the top of the light stand. A wiring harness extends from the battery-mounting fixture at the bottom to the accessory-mounting fixture at the top, and includes a voltmeter to indicate the voltage or remaining charge of an attached battery pack.
Patent Number: 6,902,294 Issued on 06/07/2005 to Wright
| Inventors:
|
Wright; Michael N. (1380 E. Hyde Park Blvd., Chicago, IL 60615)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
639619 |
| Filed:
|
August 13, 2003 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
362/191; 362/432 |
| Intern'l Class: |
F21L 004/00 |
| Field of Search: |
362/190,191,285,382,418,432
248/125.8,130,161,176.1,177.1
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Quach-Lee; Y. My
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Litman; Richard C.
Claims
1. A light stand, comprising:
a teescoping vertical support post having top and bottom ends;
a plurality of collapsible legs disposed near the bottom end of said telescoping
vertical support post,
the legs being extendable below the bottom end of said telescoping vertical support
post;
an accessory mounting fixture disposed on the top end of said telescoping vertical
support post; and
a battery mounting fixture disposed on the bottom end of said telescoping vertical
support post, said battery mounting fixture comprising a bracket assembly having
a bottom portion and mounted to the bottom end of said telescoping vertical support
post and a battery adapter and mounted to the bottom portion of said bracket assembly.
2. The light stand according to claim 1, further comprising a wiring harness
disposed on said telescoping vertical support post, the wiring harness comprising
at least one length of wire for electrically connecting a battery mounted on said
battery mounting fixture to an electrical accessory mounted on said accessory mounting fixture.
3. The light stand according to claim 2, wherein said wiring harness is coiled
around said telescoping vertical support post.
4. The light stand according to claim 2, wherein said wiring harness further comprising:
a voltmeter;
a first length of wire having a first end connected to said voltmeter and a second
end adapted for connection to a battery mounted on said battery mounting fixture;
and
a second length of wire having a first end connected to said voltmeter and a
second end adapted for connection to an electrical accessory mounted on said accessory
mounting fixture.
5. The light stand according to claim 1, wherein said bracket assembly comprises:
an upper bracket member; and
a lower bracket member hingeably and removably mounted to said upper bracket
member.
6. The light stand according to claim 5, further comprising a collapsible accessory
mounting fixture disposed on said lower bracket member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to photographic accessory equipment, and more specifically
to a light stand for supporting photographic lighting equipment.
2. Description of the Related Art
Portable light stands and tripods are well known and widely used for a variety
of purposes, and in particular for photographic purposes. Most photographers have
used a tripod to support a camera for added stability, and many use tripods as
lighting stands, mounting strobes and other lighting accessories atop the tripod.
Professional photographers rely on durable and heavy-duty equipment to do their jobs.
Video and cinema photographers in particular require powerful lighting that,
unlike the strobe lights used for still photography, must light a scene continuously
during filming. Lamps for video and cinematic lighting are generally relatively
heavy and require substantial electrical power for continuous operation. Outside
of a studio, the availability of lighting can become a limiting factor in successfully
filming a scene.
Television news video crews exemplify the need for a portable lighting
source, and especially for a portable source of power for the lighting. Television
news video crews often rely on a truck to carry video equipment, including lighting,
to the site of a remote news story or live interview. While the truck can be outfitted
with a generator or other power source to power lights, the video crew is often
limited by the length of power cords in their ability to reach a remote site.
Portable battery packs can be employed, but become additional and separate
pieces of equipment to be carried. Additionally, lighting equipment must be adapted
for use with such batteries. Most battery packs used in the video and cinematographic
industry are intended for use with video cameras, adapted for use with quick-mount
battery adapters found on cameras and not for the connectors used by most lighting accessories.
Various portable photographic lighting stands and fixtures have been attempted
and employed, but none heretofore have provided an adequate solution for remote
video and cinematographic situations.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,454,228, issued on Sep. 24, 2002 to F. Bosnakovic, discloses
a portable vertical support having a self-contained battery. Used for supporting
photographic equipment, and in particular a photographic light, the portable vertical
support has batteries contained within a hollow center of a center, upright post.
This arrangement limits the ability to quickly change batteries once the batteries
in use lose their charge. Additionally, the arrangement lacks the convenience of
compatibility with rechargeable battery packs that are already in common use in
the video and cinematography industry. Finally, no provision is made for an indication
of the remaining battery life or charge.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,187,170, issued on Jun. 1, 1965 to L. Kille, discloses an electronic
flash apparatus. The apparatus includes a housing containing batteries and other
electronics, and a telescoping mast supporting a photographic flash or strobe type
light source. Wiring connecting the batteries to the light source is coiled around
the mast. The electronic flash apparatus, however, has no provision for a quick-mount
battery pack. Additionally, the arrangement lacks the convenience of compatibility
with rechargeable battery packs that are already in common use in the video and
cinematography industry. Finally, no provision is made for an indication of the
remaining battery life or charge.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination,
is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus a light stand solving
the aforementioned problems is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The light stand of the present invention is a tripod for supporting photographic
lighting accessories, the light stand being adapted for receiving a replaceable
battery power source.
The light stand has a telescoping vertical support post, and a plurality of extendable,
downwardly extending collapsible legs. At the bottom end of the center post is
a battery-mounting fixture for receiving a conventional rechargeable battery power
source. Because the battery power supply is located at the bottom of the center
post, it provides a stabilizing ballast, reducing the tendency of the light stand
to be tipped or knocked over.
At the top of the light stand is an accessory-mounting fixture for receiving a
photographic lighting accessory, camera, or other device. The light stand includes
a wiring harness extending from the battery-mounting fixture at the bottom to the
accessory-mounting fixture at the top. A voltmeter is included in the wiring harness
to indicate the voltage of a battery that is attached, or to indicate the state
of charge of the battery. Connectors on each end of the wiring harness allow for
quick and easy replacement of a battery power supply, and of a photographic lighting
accessory, camera, or other device.
The battery-mounting fixture itself may be removed entirely from the lighting
stand, and includes an accessory-mounting fixture. This allows the battery-mounting
fixture to be used as an accessory support and power supply, which is useful, for
example, to place a video lighting accessory on a shelf or in another location
where a tripod is not suitable.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a
lighting stand with a self-contained, removable battery power supply.
It is another object of the invention to provide a lighting stand with a self-contained,
removable battery power supply that is resistant to tipping or being knocked over.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a lighting stand with a self-contained,
removable battery power supply that is easily interchangeable.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a lighting stand with a
self-contained, removable battery power supply that can be used separately from
the lighting stand to support a lighting or other accessory.
It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements
thereof for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective
in accomplishing its intended purposes.
These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent
upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a light stand according to the
present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the top of a light stand according to
the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a battery-mounting fixture of the present invention.
FIG. 4A is a top view of the lower bracket member of the light stand according
to the present invention.
FIG. 4B is a front view of the lower bracket member of the light stand according
to the present invention.
FIG. 5A is a bottom view of the upper bracket member of the light stand according
to the present invention.
FIG. 5B is a front view of the upper bracket member of the light stand according
to the present invention, shown upside-down.
FIG. 6A is a perspective view of the lower bracket member of the light stand
according to the present invention having a collapsible accessory adapter.
FIG. 6B is a perspective view of the lower bracket member of the light stand
according to the present invention having a collapsible accessory adapter, shown
in the extended position.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing connection of a battery pack to the wiring
harness of the light stand according to the present invention.
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout
the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention is a light stand, designated generally as 10 in
the drawings.
The light stand 10 is generally a conventional tripod structure having
a telescoping vertical support post 12 with a plurality of collapsible legs
14 that can be extended and retracted. The collapsible legs 14, and
leg supports 16, are disposed on the telescoping vertical support post 12
in a well-known configuration. A handle 70 is disposed along the telescoping
vertical support post 12, and may be fixed or slidable in position for good
balance when carrying the light stand 10. An accessory-mounting fixture
77, such as a post or "spud" commonly used for mounting photographic lighting
accessories, is disposed on the top end of the telescoping vertical support post
12 as seen in FIG. 2.
Turning now to FIG. 3, a battery-mounting fixture 30 is disposed on
the bottom end of the telescoping vertical support post 12. The battery-mounting
fixture 30 is comprised generally of a bracket assembly having an upper
bracket member 36 and a lower bracket member 38. The upper bracket
member 36 is attached to the bottom of the telescoping vertical support
post 12. A stabilizing plate 32 is disposed between the upper bracket
member 36 and the telescoping vertical support post 12, and an insulating
piece 34 of plastic, rubber, or another insulating material, is disposed
between the stabilizing plate 32 and the upper bracket member 36.
The lower bracket member 38, seen in FIGS. 4A and 4B, comprises a generally
flat, rectangular plate 44. A hinge body 50, having a hinge pin 52
extending therefrom, is disposed on the top surface 45 of the rectangular
plate 44, along an edge of the rectangular plate 44. A vertical edge
46 is disposed on an edge of the rectangular plate 44 opposite the
hinge body 50, extending perpendicularly from the top surface 45
of the rectangular plate 44.
The upper bracket member 36, seen in FIGS. 5A and 5B, comprises a generally
flat, rectangular plate 40. A hinge body 54, having a hinge bore
56 formed therein for receiving hinge pin 52, is disposed on the
bottom surface 41 of the rectangular plate 40, along an edge of the
rectangular plate 40. A vertical edge 42 is disposed on an edge of
the rectangular plate 40 opposite the hinge body 54, extending perpendicularly
from the bottom surface 41 of the rectangular plate 40. An aperture
58 is formed generally in the center of the rectangular plate 40
to facilitate mounting the upper bracket member 36 to the bottom end of
the telescoping vertical support post 12.
The upper bracket member 36 and the lower bracket member 38 are
hingeably joined together, with the hinge pin 52 engaged within the hinge
bore 56, having the top surface 45 of the lower bracket member 38
facing the bottom surface 41 of the upper bracket member. In a closed position,
as seen in FIG. 3, the vertical edge 42 of the upper bracket member 36
comes into alignment with the vertical edge 46 of the lower bracket member
38. A fastener 74, disposed through apertures 43 and 47,
holds the bracket members 36, 38 closed.
It can now be seen that, by removing the fastener 74 and disengaging the
hinge pin 52 from the hinge bore 56, the lower bracket member 38
can be readily removed from the upper bracket member 36, disengaging the
lower bracket member 38 entirely from the light stand 10.
As seen in FIG. 3, a battery adapter 39 is mounted on a bottom surface
of the lower bracket member 44. The battery adapter 39 is any commercially
available battery adapter or mounting plate suitable for mating with a matching
commercially available rechargeable battery pack. Such conventional battery adapters
are typically adapted both for quickly releasable mechanical connection and electrical
connection, allowing a battery pack to be quickly installed or removed. The "QR-GOLD"
Gold Mount Battery Plate Universal Mounting Plate, manufactured by Anton/Bauer,
is exemplary. Also see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,218,107 and 4,550,968, incorporated herein
by reference. A battery wire 28 is connected to the battery adapter 39.
It can now be appreciated that, because the lower bracket member 38 with
the attached battery adapter 39 can be readily removed from the light stand
10 and replaced with another lower bracket member 38 bearing a battery
adapter 39 of a different kind, standard, brand, or style, the light stand
10 can be quickly adapted to receive a battery pack of a different "universal"
mounting standard.
The lower bracket member 38 is additionally fitted with a collapsible
accessory mounting fixture 60, seen in FIGS. 6A and 6B. The
collapsible accessory mounting fixture 60 is extendable to receive a photographic
lighting or other accessory directly on the lower bracket member 38, apart
from the light stand 10. Thus, lower bracket member 38 may be removed
from the light stand along with the battery adapter 39 and any battery pack
attached thereto, and used along with a photographic lighting accessory, mounted
on the collapsible accessory mounting fixture 60, as a remote or separate
lighting source.
The collapsible accessory mounting fixture 60 illustrated in FIGS. 6A
and 6B comprises an outer sleeve 62 and an "U" shaped post or "spud" adapter
64 having one end slidably disposed in the outer sleeve 62. A slot
66 is formed in the outer sleeve 62 that allows the "L" shaped post
64 to be laid flat, or stood upright. When the "L" shaped post 64
is stood upright in a vertical position, the "L" shaped post 64 is slidable
within the outer sleeve 62 to a position where an upright portion of the
"L" shaped post 64 is engaged with the slot 66 so that the slot 66
holds the "L" shaped post 64 in the upright position. A spring 68
biases the "L" shaped post 64 to retain the "L" shaped post 64 once
put into the upright position.
As shown in FIG. 7, the light stand 10 includes a wiring harness 20
that connects from the battery wire 28 to the lighting or other accessory
atop the light stand 10. A battery connector 22 is provided for connection
to the battery wiring 28. An accessory connector 24 is provided for
connection to any lighting or other accessory mounted atop the light stand 10.
The wiring harness 20 includes a voltmeter 26. The voltmeter 26
provides an indication of the charge state of the battery pack. The wiring harness
is disposed in a coiled fashion around the telescoping vertical support post 12.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments
described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the
following claims.
*
