US1813102A - Foldable and adjustable reflector - Google Patents

Description

July 7, 1931. w. VOGEL, 1,813,102

FOLDABLE AND ADJUSTABLE REFLECTOR Filed Jan. 24, 1'951 INVENTOR LIVIFAITTORNEYS Patented July 7, 1931 PATENT oluuce WILLIAM VOGEL, or mew YORK, N. Y.

j ronnmn AND Amusmnm nnrrncron Application .flled January 24,

This invention relates to a foldable reflector convenient for many purposes, but particularly adapted for use in photographm work together with flashlight bulbs.

The reflector folds into an extremel portable, compact mass of overlapping at, radial segments loosely mounted upon a central member preferably in the form of a ring which latter is so shaped, that it will screw over or fit around a socket which holds a flashlight bulb. The segments are formed referably of thin sheet aluminum, but an Eexiblematerial of similar qualities provi ed with a reflective surface will suffice. Connective means'are provided between successive segments in such manner that the latter may be folded together compactly or spread out so as to slightly overlap around the ring to form a flat circle of metal, except for a space equal to one or two missing segments.

- The segments on either side of this space are provided with attachment means to Join them under tension, and b utilizing the flexibility of all segments and y placing each under a communicated equal tension, a basin-shaped metal reflector-approachin the parabolicis formed. After use, the re ector is collapsed by releasing the attachment means and sliding the segments one above theother.

My invention can be readily understood from the accompanying drawings which are set forth merely for the purposes of illustration and are not to be deemed as limiting the scope of my invention.

Fig. 1 is a front view of a structure embodying my invention with the segments spread out, but without being joined together to form a reflector; Fig. 2 is a back view similar to Fig. 1 but with all the seg- .ments connected together under tension; Fig.

3 is a side elevation taken at 3-3 of Fig. 2, to-

gether with a socket and flashlight bulb positioned within the reflector; Fig. 4 is a plan view of a collapsed reflector; Fig. 5 is a front view of a collapsed reflector; Fig. 6 represents a stamping for a sheet metal piece which may befshaped fqreither a stop or a loop for the connective means between segments; Fig. 7 7 shows a stop mounted upon t e edge of a 1931. Serial N0. 510,949.

partially shown segment and Fig. 8 shows a loop mounted upon a segment.

In these figures, 10 represents a plurality of similar radial aluminum segments preferably loosely successively mounted one above the other upon a flanged ring 12 by peening. The segments. 10 when s read out slightly overlapping in a fan-like ashion around the ring do not complete a circle but leave a gap between the end segments vdenoted 10a and 106 (Fig. 1). a

Segments 10,- 10a and 10?) are connected by the interaction of stops 14 and loops 16, so that the segments may be overlapped Fig. 4) substantially completely but so t at when spread out under tension a loop 16 mounted upon one edge of each segment will strike a stop 14upon an immediately adjoining segment in the succession mounted upon the ring 12. The loop of any segment closely conforms to and slides along the outer circumference of such adjoining segment and so is restricted in its movement only by the corresponding stop and 100 of such adjoining se ent. To facilitate olding, each stop may e ,bent slightly outwardly from the a loops, so as to ride over the 100 s of the other adjoining segments (shown in ig. 4).

Although the segment may be stamped from sheet aluminum with proper pro ections to form loops and stops, the aluminum does not wear well, and I prefer to stamp from more durable sheet metal, a stampin 18 formed with a wide center portion 20 an two projections, one longer than the other, 22 and 24 respectively. \Portion 20 is bent along its center longitudinally and piece 18 V is then pinch-pressed in place preferably at either circumferential corner of each segment; with the long portion 22 projecting at one side beyond the circumference tube bent into a loop and the short portion at the other to form a stop respectively. By placing the stops and loops at the circumference, the tension' between segments is communicated at their outer edge when the circumference is' narrowed and as a result the segments curve from edge to center.

'As shown, each segment is formed with a circular opening 26 upon its ilmer end suitable for loose mounting upon the ring 12. The radial se ents run from a narrow ortion close to t e ring to a wide portion the circumference, and as indicated overlapped edge 28 is substantiall straight whereas the overlappinged is ormed with a curved bulge or curvi inear projection 30. The sha and amount of this projection, together wit the shape of the segments, determine the distribution of the curve of each segment when 10a and 10b are 'oined by positioning hook 32 into slot 34. 1 f the segments were more narrow and the overlap less, there would be more curvature close to the ring. An additional slot or slots such as indicated at 34a may be used to adjust the curvature of the cone-shaped reflector by further dropping one or more of the se ments.

In the structure disclose of the proportions shown, I have found 11 segments of a 12 segmented circle, the segments formed of 28 gauge aluminum, to tension into a reflector which approaches the parabolic and yet which when folded can be conveniently slipped into a pocket.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description has been made simply for the purpose of disclosing an operative structure which embodies my invention, and that my invention should not be deemed limited thereby, but that it may be employed in a variety of forms.

What I claim is:

1. A foldable reflector comprisinga plurality of flexible radial segments loosely mounted successively one above the other u on a center axis and adapted to slide one a ove the other compactly together, or to spread out successively flatly fan-wise, connective means mounted approximately upon the circumferential edge of said segments adapted to restrict their spreading sliding movement so that one edge of each segment slightly overlaps the adjacent edge of the segment next in succession when all are spread out, said segments when substantially flatly spread out adapted to form a complete circle except for a substantial space be tween the first and last segment of the succession, and attachment means adapted to join the first and last segment of the succession when they are closed together b flexing all the se ents under tension, to orm a dishshape basin of substantially parabolic shape.

2. A structure I as described in claim 1 wherein each segment is formed with a curvilinear rojection upon the edge which overlaps aml wherein the overlapped edge is straight.

3. A foldable reflector comprising a lurality of substantially equal radial flex1ble segments loosely mounted similarly with reference to a center axis one above the other, means to connect the successive segments at their outer circumference so that they may be folded into 'a compact layered mass or spread out connectedly fan-wise with one edge of each segment slightly overlapping the edge of the adjacent one in the succession, said se ents when substantially flatly spread out an-wise adapted to leave a substantial space between the first and the last segment, and attachment means for the first and last segment so that they may be joined together under tension, whereby a substantially parabolic shaped reflector may be formed of all the flexible segments.

4. A cone-sha ed foldable reflector comrising a flange ring mounting adapted to e slipped over a bulb socket, a plurality of flexible, radial segments provided with spaces in their inner ends loosely mounted upon said ring, with the ring in said spaces, connective means mounted substantially upon the circumferential ends of the successive segments so that they may be folded in a compact, layeredmass or spread out circularly with a slight overlap, said segments when spread out circularly in substantiallythe same plane adapted to form a segmented disk except for a substantial space between the first and last segment of the succession, and attachment means mounted upon said first and last segments so that the space may be closed by flexing the flat segmented disc into a substantially parabolic form and locking the first and last segment together.

5. A foldable reflector comprising a plurality of radial segments loosely mounted successively one above the other upon a center axis and adapted to slide one above the other compactly together or to spread out fan-wise circularly, a stop positioned approximately upon the corner formed by the edge and circumference of each segment and a loop positioned approximately upon the other corner, each of said loops adapted to loop over the circumferential edge of the next successive segment, and to slide along said edge between the stop and loop of that segment, the segments when connected adapted to be spread out into a slightly overlapped circular form and attachment means to join the first and last segments whereby a, dish-shaped reflector may be formed.

6. A structure as defined in claim 5 wherein the stops are formed with their edges bent slightly outwardly so that they may easily ride over the loops when the segments are folded one above the other.

7. A foldable reflector comprising a plurality of radial segmental sections pivoted together to open and close like a fan and of v a number to form when flatly spread out a full circle except for a substantial space, means for attaching the two segments adjacent the space, Qmeans for connecting the other segments in slightly overlapping position, said means for connecting adapted to transmit a tension around the circumferential edge of the connected segments so that the segments may be flexed to form acurve running from the pivot to the segmental circumference, and means whereby the space may be closed and the two segments adjacent thereto attached together.

8. A foldable reflector comprising a plurality of radial flexible segments pivoted together to open or close like a. fan and adapt-.

ed when opened to slightly overlap successively and to form a full circle except for a substantial space, connective means adapted to hold all the segments when spread out in slightly overlapped position exce t for the ones adjacent said space, and a. 00k provided upon a segment adjacent to one side of said space and a slot provided in the other segment adjacent the other side of said space and slots available in the successive segments to said slotted segment, whereby when the segments are flexed to form substantially a cone shape and the space is closed, the hook may be inserted into an desired slot so that adjustability is obtains In testing that I claim the foregoing, I

have hereunto set my hand this 23rd day of January, 1931.

' WILLIAM VOGELA

Images