Multi-cam hub apparatus and systems

摘要

A multiple cam hub apparatus for use with an umbrella that allows for deploying and collapsing a light reflecting umbrella rapidly to facilitate its use for stage, studio, motion picture and still photography. A multiple cam floating hail bearing locking hub and interlocking spacer tube are provided for opening and collapsing an umbrella using the internal compression or resilient forces in the umbrella construction. Utilizing a push and clockwise rotation of the locking hub, the umbrella is locked in the opened position. When it is time to breakdown or close the umbrella, a counterclockwise rotation of the locking hub unlocks the hub and the umbrella collapses.

主权项

1. A light reflecting apparatus comprising:
an umbrella operably attached about a central mounting hub to hold a support for a photographic light source, the umbrella having expanding joints so that the umbrella is adapted to open into a light reflecting configuration about the light source; a spacer tube adjacent to the central mounting hub; a locking hub operably connected to the umbrella expanding joints through toggle joints and spokes connected to the locking hub, the locking, hub is always positioned in front of the plane of the expanding joints, so that displacement of the locking hub toward the spacer tube to contact the spacer tube opens the umbrella into the light reflecting configuration, the spacer tube dimensioned so that the locking hub is always positioned in front of the plane of the umbrella expanding joints upon contact with the spacer tube so that the resilient forces in the umbrella are transmitted to the locking hub through the operable connection of the umbrella expanding joints to the locking hub through the spokes and the toggle joints to force the locking hub away from the spacer tube to collapse the umbrella.