Patent Application
20110299841
The present invention relates to photographic backdrops for use with photographs, video productions or other instances where a backdrop may be desired. More particularly, the invention relates to internal power driven control systems, devices and methods of displaying and storing backdrops.
Photography or video production studios use backdrops containing various scenery pictures or color patterns as backgrounds for the portraits they create or for the use of chroma key in video production. As there are different occasions for having portraits taken and as people's tastes vary widely, portrait studios usually offer a variety of backdrop scenes. In particular, for wedding photographers and videographers, there are great needs for an easy operated and portable backdrop system to be carried for on-site services.
Therefore it would be advantageous to provide a method and a device for quickly changing a backdrop, easily controlling the moves of a backdrop roll and providing mobility for backdrop storage and travel.
Some photographers have resorted to using a backdrop attached in a makeshift manner to a wall or thrown over a simple rope, wire or framework. When a change of backdrop is needed, the first backdrop is pulled down and the new backdrops is taped up or thrown over the wire or framework. This can result in damage to the backdrops which frequently cost hundreds to thousands of dollars. Moreover, it leads to a less than professional atmosphere at a photographic studio where image is paramount. When backdrops are used without a proper storage system, they are frequently stored in piles in the corner of the studio, or on storage shelves, where they may suffer additional damage.
There are a couple of solutions in the past to solve the problems as described below.
In the nineties, one of the inventions provides a changeable photographic backdrop apparatus comprising a scroll with two rotatable shafts as indicated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,389,993. A web is attached at its opposite ends to the shafts and is then at least partially wound upon one or both of the shafts. The shafts and detection apparatus allow the backdrop to be quickly changed from one backdrop to another, and automatic selection from among a large number of different scenes is possible without the need to manually rotate the shafts or position the scenes.
Another solution for background support system as indicated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,799,213 or WIPO patent No. 98/57231 is to include a single-roller assembly upon which a number of backgrounds are mounted and from which any specific background is rapidly selected for display.
In the 21st century, there is a couple of improvement from the 20th century. One of them relates to a driving mechanism for a backdrop as indicated in WIPO patent No. 20924, in which the board roll is attached to two brackets supported by rollers. The brackets are suspended from a rope system which passes along the vertical guides and their inter-connecting cross-bar and through the rolls, and which has been adapted to lift and lower the board roll remaining in horizontal position. By pulling at the ropes, the brackets will rise, causing the drive roll of the board roll to roll out of frictional contact with the vertical guide along the guide and board is to be unwound from the roll. The board roll is lowered by releasing the rope system, so that the rotation of the drive roll in the opposite direction along the guide causes the board roll to be rewound.
A photographic backdrop with stand includes a photographic backdrop and a support structure as indicated in U.S. Pat. No. 7,236,695. The photographic backdrop includes a backdrop screen and four pockets attached to the four corners of the backdrop screen. The support structure includes a photographic light stand, a base connector and four support rods. Each support rod includes a substantially triangular end. The photographic light stand includes a vertical mounting tube. The vertical mounting tube is inserted into a bottom of the base connector. The four support rods are also inserted into pre-existing holes in the base connector. The backdrop screen is stretched over the four support rods, such that the four substantially triangular ends are inserted into the four pockets. Four extension rods may be used to extend the length of the four support rods for larger backdrop screens.
Another invention relates to the use of suspended materials as a backdrop for photography or stage productions as indicated in WIPO patent No. 131208. The suspended materials may be stored on a spool device. Such spool devices may include tubes or spindles constructed of metal, of cardboard, of plastic or of other lightweight and inexpensive materials. The spool device may also include means for attaching the tube or spindle to a lifting device. Such attachment means may include a pair of inter-connectable coupling devices, one fixed to the spool and the second attached to the lifting device.
There is a product, Manfrotto EXPAN Background Paper Drive Set With Plastic Drive Chain, selling on the market and a pair of the drive set is used for one paper roll including plastic chain and weight. The Manfrotto background support system is based on the expansion, a fast and efficient background drive set. Insert the EXPAN into the background roll, block and use the chain to roll the paper up and down as desired. A system of hooks is available in pairs and can support 1, 3 or 6 backgrounds when used in conjunction with the EXPAN. B/P Hooks can be attached to Autopole by using the Super Clamp code 035 or screwed directly onto a wall or ceiling.
It has been no internal power driven control mechanism in all of the above devices to easily manipulate the display and storage of a backdrop. Some devices are taking extra space in support system and are not portable for storage or travel. Some devices are vulnerable to maintain the backdrop not being wrinkled or damaged over a period of time.
Present invention has been made by providing hardware and software solutions to solve the above problems. It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus with internal power driven mechanism for the ease of displaying and storing backdrops, and to provide energy saving solution for the battery that is used to drive the backdrop system of present invention via embedded software in its control unit.
The foregoing and other advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of an apparatus for display, storage and transportation of the backdrops, comprising a microcontroller for controlling the apparatus into sleep mode when it is not in use, at least one wireless remote control to transmit signals to the receivers inside the active drive rollers, one or more receivers to receive signals from the wireless remote control.
Preferably, the control mechanism of the internal power drive unit is made by using a microcontroller.
Preferably, the wireless remote control is powered by a battery, use learning code method to transmit signals to the receiver.
Preferably, a microcontroller is used to decode received signal and to control the bi-directional drive means.
Preferably, the wireless receiver uses rechargeable battery as power supply and uses learning code for receiving signals from the wireless remote control.
Preferably, the roller shaft connected to the internal power drive unit is made of metal material.
One aspect of the present invention is a backdrop system that can be used for photography, video productions or other instances where a backdrop may be desired. A backdrop system of one embodiment of present invention as shown in
One embodiment of the backdrop system according to the present invention as shown in
The end connector 16 of the bracket 4 connects to the rod 12 at one side of the backdrop system and the end connector 18 of the bracket 6 connects to the rod 14 at the opposite side of the backdrop system. It may have multiple rolling systems suspended on the bracket 4 and bracket 6.
A rolling system 2 according to one embodiment of the present invention as shown in
The active drive roller 20 can be inserted into one end of the backdrop core 70 while another roller 22, either passive or active, can be inserted into the opposite end of the core 70. The attachment of the core 70 with the rollers 20 and 22 can be adhesives, screws, or frictional contact. The rolling system 2 can be configured with either internal bi-directional drive means 40 in one roller only or in both rollers depending on the weight or dimension of a backdrop.
One embodiment of a suspension system according the present invention is comprised of mounting brackets 4, 6 which connected via end base connectors 16, 18 to supporting rods 12, 14 as shown in
A bi-directional drive means such as a gear motor 40 inside an active drive roller 20 as shown in
One embodiment of a roller according to the present invention as shown in
The shaft 30 of a roller according to the present invention is actually the ONLY is fix part that is NOT turning while all other parts of the roller are the turning parts once the internal bi-directional drive means 40 being activated. This unique design makes the backdrop rollers both the active drive roller 20 and the passive roller 22 act with the backdrop core 70 in an integrated manner. Most parts of the active drive roller and the passive roller are placed inside of the backdrop core. The advantage of being easily to install and store a backdrop is obvious.
Unlike other invention, in the present invention, even from the power switch to the internal power drive unit will be rolling with the rollers when the internal bi-directional drive means is active. Therefore using remote control to activate or deactivate this system is needed.
The slot 32 is used for the locking position on the roller shaft, and the lock 34 according to one embodiment of the present invention is for locking the roller shaft of the rolling system on the bracket of a suspension system. The end socket 36 (optional) of a roller shaft is used for plugging in a cable connector of a battery charger to charge the battery inside an active drive roller. The control system can be configured to rotate the rolling system 2 in two directions, either clock-wise or counter clock-wise. The rolling system 2 is easily removable from the brackets 4,6 of a suspension system, and the backdrop 10 can be removed from the rolling system 2 when it is no longer in use. The rollers 20, 22 can be easily attached to and removed from various backdrop rolls that come with a core 70, such as a backdrop paper roll with a cardboard core, while the core may be constructed using suitable materials such as cardboard, aluminum, plastic, metal or the like when there is no core supplied with a backdrop such as a muslin backdrop.
The attachment of a rolling system 2 and a mounting bracket 4 or 6 can be made by inserting the roller shaft 30 of a roller 20 or 22 referred as a male mating member into the track of a mounting bracket 4 or 6 referred as a female mating member to the locked position. When the rolling system 2 is in the attached and rotated position, optionally, a lock may be engaged to secure the rolling system 2 to the mounting bracket 4 or 6.
A control system according to one embodiment of present invention as shown in
A control unit 46 as shown in
Referring to
Pushing a button on the wireless command module 60 (not shown) in one direction energizes a relay in control module 46a, which directs gear motor 40 to rotate in a given direction. Release of pressure on the control button allows it to return to its spring-loaded off position, and the relay mentioned above is de-energized, thus causing gear motor 40 to stop. Alternately, pushing a button (not shown) in an opposite direction energizes a second relay in control module 46a, directing gear motor 40 to rotate in the opposite direction.
As discussed earlier, bi-directional drive control of an active drive roller 20 will be provided by an electric motor operating system which must provide the drive roller 20 with the following five operational control functions: rotation starts up, rotation stop, forward rotation, reverse rotation, and rotation lock up. The configuration and operational characteristics of the systems have been discussed previously at length, and need no restatement.
While the invention has been described with reference to at least one preferred embodiment, it is to be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited thereto. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims.
A bearing block 28 of one embodiment according to the present invention as shown in
For many uses of a backdrop system, it may be desirable to have more than one backdrop. In such instances, the system may have a plurality of backdrops. The plurality of backdrops may each be secured on a separate backdrop core or stored by other means and fastened, each in turn of use, to the same or separate rolling system. The plurality of backdrop rolls may be stored, for example, on a storage rack. Additionally, the backdrop rolls may be configured to receive a storage stopper in an end and be propped against a wall for storage. The backdrop system may be configured to form various rolling systems in order to accommodate and adjust for backdrop rolls of varying lengths.
The backdrop core has an elongated tube portion with a first end and a second end. Adjacent both the first end and the second end of the core, a roller is presented. The roller may comprise attachment points for receiving mating members of the core. Further the roller may have a lock for securing the backdrop core to the roller. Such locks may be a locking pin. Further the locks may be friction, a hook and latch, a snap, a rivet, a screw, adhesive, or the like.
One embodiment of a backdrop system according to present invention as shown in
A control system according to one embodiment of the present invention may be configured to wind one or more backdrops upward or downward from corresponding rolling systems. For example, to wind one of the backdrops downward for display and the other backdrops upward for temporary or permanent storage.
One embodiment of a multi-roll-configured backdrop system according to the present invention as shown in
Once the rolling system is removed from the suspension system, the backdrop roll may be removed from the rolling system by detaching all the rollers from the backdrop core. A second backdrop roll may then be obtained and attached to the rolling system by re-attaching the rollers to both ends of the backdrop core, and the rolling system is re-attached to the suspension system and raised to the first height.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of skill in the art through consideration of the ensuing description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.
Although the foregoing description contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention, but merely as providing illustrations of some exemplary embodiments. Similarly, other embodiments of the invention may be devised that do not depart from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Features from different embodiments may be employed in combination. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated and limited only by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the foregoing description. All additions, deletions, and modifications to the invention, as disclosed herein, which fall within the meaning and scope of the claims are to be embraced thereby.
Referring to
A rolling system 2 can be suspended on a suspension system as shown in
The rolling system 2 may be turned by an electric motor 40 in
Referring now to
The rolling system 2 can also have two rollers 20, 22 as shown in
Two particular embodiments of roller 20 or 22 are shown in more detail in
The outer bearing block 28 has an inner bearing 64 and a hole 66 at the top for protruding the roller shaft to the outside of the roller. As will be discussed below, the roller shaft 30 serves as a male mounting shaft for the attachment of the roller 20 or 22 to the female mounting bracket 4 or 6 of the suspension system.
One embodiment of a roller 20 is shown in
The cylinder core 70 can be an integrated part of one embodiment of the rolling system 2. Alternatively, a short fixture 38 for the bi-directional drive means and the bearing block for the cylinder core 70 can be secured by friction, adhesive, snaps, rivets, screws, hook and latch, or the like. The roller shaft 30 extends outwardly from the cylinder core 70.
Referring to
A lock hole 34 as shown in
Referring to
Other locks can be used to lock the connected rollers 20, 22 on the mounting brackets 4, 6 together. For example, a locking segment (not shown) can be attached to a spring steel strip fastened to the opposite side of track 42 from the brackets 4 and 6, taking the place of lock pin assembly 34. When rollers 20, 22 are at their extreme rotated position, the spring strip moves a lock block into a space in both mating roller shaft of rollers 20, 22 and prevents further roller shaft 30 rotation with relation to the bracket 4, 6.
In certain embodiments the roller 20 or 22 has a short tube section (not shown) that is fastened permanently into, and extents inwardly to the bottom of the roller and fit snuggly within the inner diameter of the corresponding roller. This tube section provides shear strength to the combined roller shaft 30 and inner fixture 38 assembly.
Referring now to
Alternative embodiment of a suspension system (not shown) may be consist of a pair of rods or poles secured from ceiling to floor or from wall to wall using auto locking mechanism and one or more sets of clamps to secure the rolling system. While another alternative embodiment of a suspension system may be comprised of a pair of mounting brackets to be mounted on the ceiling or on a wall or onto stands/tripods and can be used to hook up plurality of rolling systems. Other embodiment of the suspension system or the backdrop system according to the present invention may vary greatly depending on the engineering or product design.
Following completion of the photo session, all backdrops will be wound upwardly on the rolling systems in preparation for storage either temporarily on the suspension system or permanently taking to a storage room. When the backdrop is stored on the suspension system, the control system can be configured to rotate the rolling system upward periodically in an angle clockwise or anti-clockwise to keep the backdrop rolls in straight shape horizontally and to prevent the deformation of the roll, especially in the case of a long roll. When a backdrop is going to be sent to a storage room, upward motion of the rolling system will be ceased, the rolling system is removed from the suspension system, the rollers are removed from the backdrop core and the backdrop can be stored permanently in a storage room.
The backdrop system as shown in
Once the rolling system 2 is removed from the suspension system, a user may detach the rolling system 2 from mounting brackets 4, 6 of the suspension system. In the illustrated embodiment, the removal of the rolling system is accomplished by sliding the locking pin (not shown) from a locked position of the lock hole 34 to an unlocked position. Once the rolling system 2 is unlocked, the rollers 20, 22 may then be removed from the backdrop core 70 and the backdrop or backdrop roll is detached from the rolling system 2.
A second backdrop or backdrop roll may then be obtained and attached to the rolling system 2. The attachment is done by reversing the detachment steps, namely, inserting the rollers 20, 22 into the core 70 until the ribs are covered completely by both ends of core 70. The lock for securing the rolling system 2 is in place on suspension system. The second backdrop roll may then be raised back up to a position at or near the first position.
It will be appreciated that at certain times it may be advantageous not to have any backdrop 10 or backdrop core 70 on the suspension system.
As is apparent from the above description, in accordance with the present invention, when a backdrop is attached to the rolling system, an active drive roller with internal bi-directional drive means and a passive roller or a second drive roller are attached at both ends of the backdrop core and are mounted on the suspension system, the wound or unwound of the backdrop is achieved via a wireless control system, so that the hassle of setting up and wiring an external bi-directional drive means is eliminated, thereby provide a feasible solution to a production line.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61351887 | Jun 2010 | US |
