Portable illumination source for photographers

Claim 2

Portable apparatus for use by a photographer for illuminating a photographic subject in front of the photographer comprising a frame, a light source secured to the frame for producing light rays along a path, diffusing means mounted on said frame within and substantially perpendicular to said path for diffusing light rays produced by said source, said diffusing means having a generally planar surface and being oriented approximately parallel to the photographer's face, and means for securing the frame to the photographer's head, said means including a chin strap for engaging the chin of the photographer, said frame, light source and diffusing means having a combined center of gravity rearward of the midpoint of the photographer's head and said chin strap being fastened to said frame forward of the midpoint to tension the chin strap.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said frame includes a generally horizontal rigid bar having a forward end and a rear end, said light source being mounted on the rear end and being directed forward, said diffusing means being mounted on the forward end and including a rigid frame fixed to the bar and a diffusing sheet supported within the frame and in the path of light emanating from the light source, said diffusing sheet affording transmission and diffusion of light therethrough to a site forward of the photographer's face.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said frame includes a rigid shell circumscribing the photographer's head, wherein said light source is mounted to the rear of said rigid shell so as to direct light rays produced thereby in an upward direction and wherein said diffusing means includes a frame mounted on the forward portion of said rigid shell, said frame supporting a diffusing sheet therein and a light reflector and means for supporting said light reflector above said light source and behind said diffusing sheet so that light emanating from said light source is reflected by said reflector along a path through said diffusing sheet.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said securing means includes a hard hat including a rigid shell and a suspension system for supporting the shell on the photographer's head, and wherein said chin strap is secured to said rigid shell.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said light source is mounted adjacent the forward portion of said frame and is directed rearward and wherein said diffusing means includes a reflector secured to the frame rearward of said light source in light receiving relation thereto for reflecting and diffusing light incident thereon forwardly off the photographer's face.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said frame includes a rigid bar having a substantially vertically extending portion fixed to the front of said rigid shell and extending upward therefrom and a substantially horizontal portion extending rearward of said vertical portion, spacer means secured substantially centrally of said rigid shell and fixed to said horizontal bar portion and means intermediate said vertical portion and said spacer means for removably mounting said light source to said horizontal bar portion.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said horizontal bar portion terminates at a site rearward of the midpoint of the photographer's head, a rigid rod mounted to said bar at said site, said rod extending rearward of said site and supporting said reflector in light receiving relation to said light source, said reflector being substantially symmetrical to said rod so that the majority of the surface thereof is above and behind the photographer's head.

Claim 9

Portable apparatus for affording illumination of a subject in front of a photographer comprising a frame, means for securing the frame on the photographer's head so that said frame extends upward and rearward thereof, a light source mounted on the frame and directed rearward, and a reflector secured to the frame in light receiving relation to the light source for reflecting and diffusing light incident thereon toward the subject, the center of gravity of said frame, light source and reflector being rearward of the midpoint of the photographer's head so as to produce a moment thereon in a direction upwardly away from the photographer's face, said securing means including tension resisting means engagable with photographer's chin for counteracting said moment, said reflector being mounted so that the majority of the reflective surface thereof is above the top of the photographer's head.

Claim 10

Portable apparatus for affording illumination of a subject in front of a photographer comprising a frame, means for securing the frame on the photographer's head so that said frame extends upward and rearward thereof, a light source mounted on the frame and directed rearward, and a reflector secured to the frame in light receiving relation to the light source for reflecting and diffusing light incident thereon toward the subject, the center of gravity of said frame, light source and reflector being rearward of the midpoint of the photographer's head so as to produce a moment thereon in a direction upwardly away from the photographer's face, said securing means including tension resisting means engagable with photographer's chin for counteracting said moment, said reflector being mounted so that the majority of the reflective surface thereof is above the top of the photographer's head.