TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a light source positioning device for positioning light sources for photographic purposes according to the appended claims.

BACKGROUND ART

Incoming light is of uttermost importance during photographing as said incoming light aimed at the motive greatly affects the end result of the photo being taken. Such incoming light affects the motive with regards to several characteristics of said light, such as incoming direction, the size of the light source, the amount of light shining on the motive and other additional light sources affecting the motive as some examples. It is therefore often desirable for professional photographers to use light controlling devices such as light flashes, reflectors and other light controlling devices to achieve proper light conditions when taking

photographs. This is especially important and useful in a photographic studio where natural light is absent and all incoming light is in one way or the other provided and controlled by the indoors environment and the photographer.

Light sources used for photography may be of various designs and types, such as flashes, spotlights, light bulbs or other. More often than not, a plurality of different type of light sources are needed in a photographic studio so as to be able to provide a correct lighting for various types of photographs and motives, wherein such a plurality of light sources may be used in a wide range of various combinations. Positioning of light sources may be of utmost importance as the position of a specific light source may greatly affect the end result of photographs being taken. This is variable to take into consideration both for light sources used on their own, and for light sources used in combination with and/or coupled to additional photographic equipment, such as reflectors, light boxes or similar. For an accurate positioning of a specific light source, both a spatial positioning, and an orientation of the aperture of the light source, may be of importance. It is therefore desirable to position light sources with respect to factors such as height, position in a horizontal plane, and angle of orientation. There is, as should be obvious, beneficial if such positioning may be performed as fast and easy as possible, wherein repeatability if also sought after so as to be able to reproduce previously successful positioning of a light source.

Considering the many factors involved in positioning a light source correctly, there are also many sources of potential trial and error with regards to such positioning. As the factors mention above may all relate to their own fastening means and adjustment mechanisms depending on how a light source is set within, as an example, a studio, such set up and installation work may become cumbersome and time consuming. Furthermore, if a certain positioning is shown to provide an excellent desired light, the same exact positioning may be difficult to replicate if the installed light source is dependent on a plurality of fasteners such as clamps, screws or other.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Despite prior art there is a need to develop a light source positioning device which is fast and easy to use while providing precise positioning of a light source in a reliable manner. There is also a need to develop a light source positioning device which is fast and easy to setup for repeated usage with specific setup variables. An object of the invention is thus to provide a light source positioning device which is fast and easy to use while providing precise positioning of a light source in a reliable manner. Another object of the invention is to provide a light source positioning device which is fast and easy to setup for repeated usage with specific setup variables.

According to an embodiment a positioning device for positioning of at least one light source for photographic purpose is provided. The positioning device may comprise a base element, through which a hole extends between a front portion and a back portion of said base element, wherein a shaft is glidingly arranged in said hole. The shaft may comprise docking means arranged at a first end of said shaft for docking of the at least one light source. The base element may further comprise coupling means arranged to receive a stand. The positioning device may further comprise a locking device arranged at the back portion, adjacent to the shaft, which locking device is movable between an open state and a closed state, which open state allows relative movement between the shaft and the base element, and which closed state locks said relative movement. The locking device may further comprise an inner sleeve element, an outer sleeve element and at least one locking element. The outer sleeve element may be arranged partly circumferentially around the inner sleeve element, wherein relative movement of the outer sleeve element and the inner sleeve element shifts a positioning of the at least one locking element so as to move the locking device between the closed state and the open state.

Thereby a multifunctional light positioning device is provided which may be used to position at least one light source in a very precise and reliable manner. By means of arranging a plurality of features and functionality utilizing the base elements as a central hub for said features, installation and setup is made fast and efficient and sources of positioning errors may be minimized. The shaft being glidingly arranged through the hole of the base element may provide a lateral positioning of the at least one light source, relative the base element. As should be obvious, the at least one light source is arranged to be coupled to the docking means of the docking means of said shaft. As precision often is required for positioning, especially for relative lateral movement of the shaft, the locking device arranged to allow or restrict such movement is of uttermost importance, both with regards to restricting /allowing such movement with high accuracy and that wear of the device must not lead to degeneration of the functionality and precision of said functionality. By means of providing the at least one locking element to the locking device, wherein the state of the locking device is achieved by means of said at least one locking element, but controlled by means of relative movement of the inner and outer sleeve elements, a reliable high precision functionality is provided which may funnel potential wear to the at least one locking element. This is beneficial as the design of the locking device may take such wear into consideration with respect to its inherent functionality, and also that only the at least one locking element may be replaced if wear is detected, instead of replacing or discarding the entirety of the locking device.

According to an embodiment the at least one locking element and the inner sleeve element may comprise corresponding angled planes, wherein said angled planes may engage each other when the sleeve elements move closer to each other, wherein such engagement may push the at least one locking element towards a circumferential surface of the shaft.

Thereby a smooth step less displacement of movement is provided to the locking device. By means of utilizing such angled planes the transition of a lateral force, provided by moving the sleeve elements closer together, into a radial force, of the at least one locking element moving towards the circumferential surface of the shaft, may be achieved with different translation depending on the value of the angles. For a low angle, said transition of force will naturally be slower due to more lateral movement being required to move the at least one locking element a certain radial distance, compared to a higher angle which will require lesser lateral movement to achieve the same radial movement. This is beneficial as the construction of the device may be modified so as to provide a certain and desired sensitivity of operation depending on the angle. The angled planes may further provide the advantage that none of the sleeve elements require radially moving parts, which prevent distortion of said sleeve elements which could occur if at least one of said sleeve elements itself was pushed towards the surface of the shaft.

According to an embodiment the at least one locking element comprises a projection, extending from an outer surface away from the circumferential surface of the shaft, wherein said projection is arranged in a corresponding recess arranged in the outer sleeve element.

This has the advantage that the at least one locking element is laterally fixed to the outer sleeve element. This in turn prevents the at least one locking element to get stuck in a locked state, as movement from a locked state towards an open state of the locking device will pull the at least one locking element away from its locked position. This is very beneficial for such a locking device as an opening operation of such a locking device will be direct and precise, as the at least one locking element is prevented from getting stuck in its locking position. According to an embodiment the locking device is biased towards the locked state by means of a resilient element arranged between the inner and outer sleeve elements.

Such an embodiment provides a very fast operation of the locking device as the bias provided results in a self-locking mechanism when no force is applied to the sleeve elements. This may further provide an additionally reliable locking feature for the device, wherein a user of the device may be assured of fixed position after initial setup is performed.

According to an embodiment the inner and outer sleeve elements are threaded to each other by means of outer and inner threads respectively. By means of providing the inner and outer sleeve elements with threads a highly accurate, common and easy to use coupling of the two sleeve elements is provided. The at least one locking element is not moved to its locked position by means of the threaded motion in itself but rather the relative lateral movement of the two sleeve elements which is the result of the threaded parts being rotated relative each other. The locking device may thus function with small tolerances and precisely manufactured interlocking elements. As a rotation of a threaded coupling provides a slow but constant lateral movement when the respective threads interact, said lateral movement is easy to control with high precision. Such a translation of a rotational force to a lateral one further makes opening and locking of the locking device easy to use without the need to apply a large amount of force for a user of the device.

According to an embodiment the base element may comprise circumferentially arranged form fitting attachment means for receiving a reflector having corresponding form fitting attachment means.

Thereby a light positioning device with high accuracy and reliability may easily be used as a connecting hub for both at least one light source and a reflector, wherein a reflector arrangement is provided. It may be highly desired to utilize such a solution for a, for example, photographer whom desires accurate and reliable position of a light source, combined with a reflector so as to provide a wide variety of light and shadow in a studio. Furthermore, by means of utilizing the light positioning device according to the disclosure as a connecting hub for auxiliary devices and equipment used for photography, a very cost effective light providing system may be attained.

According to an embodiment the coupling means arranged to receive the stand may be arranged at a distance from the base element by means of a pivoting arm arrangement. The pivoting arm arrangement may comprise a first arm member arranged at the base element and a second arm member, comprising the coupling means, wherein the first and second arm members may be pivotally coupled to each other.

This has the advantage of providing a selective tilting function between the base element and a stand arranged to the light positioning device. As should be obvious this further provides a corresponding tilting function related to the positioning of a light source arranged to the light positioning device, which tilting may also be combined with the lateral positioning of said light source by means of the glidingly arranged shaft. Most commonly used shaft also comprises some sort of height adjustment mechanism, wherein positioning of the at least one light source may be performed with regards to height, laterally, and tilting, due to the combination of the relative movement of the shaft relative the base element and the possible pivoting of the first and second arm members relative each other.

According to an embodiment the base element and the first arm member may be coupled to each other by means of an intermediate hinge mechanism, which hinge mechanism may provide selective pivoting between said base element and first arm member. This may provide the benefit of having an additional way of folding the light positioning device for movement and storage. This may be highly advantageous as the settings of the pivoting arm arrangement comprising the two arm members may be tuned to a specific relative position, and then be maintained if the hinge mechanism is used to fold the light positioning device. Thus, if a certain positioning of a light source has proved to be especially demanding and time consuming to set up, and it is then necessary to move the entirety of the setup, the settings may more easily be preserved as the hinge mechanism provides the possibility of folding the device without changing any other setting.

According to an embodiment the hinge mechanism may comprise a locking pin for selectively locking said selective pivoting. Thereby the hinge mechanism may be locked and opened in a fast and easy manner. The functionality of the hinge mechanism may thus also be completely neglected if not needed, wherein the locking pin may keep the first arm member and the base element fixedly coupled to each other. Furthermore, the hinge mechanism may be reliable in the regard that a user know that pivoting by means of said hinge mechanism may not occur unless desired, wherein the locking pin may be used to control the function in a safe and easy way.

According to an embodiment the shaft may comprise a longitudinally arranged scale for measuring positioning of the said shaft relative the base element. This may be advantageous in that a certain setting is easy to control and/or remember as such a scale makes it easier to observe and maintain a specific positioning of the shaft relative the base element.

According to an embodiment a light source arrangement is provided. The light source arrangement may comprise a reflector, a stand and a light source. The light source

arrangement may further comprise a positioning device with a base element comprising circumferentially arranged form fitting attachment means for receiving a reflector. The reflector may be arranged at the circumferentially arranged form fitting means of the positioning device, the stand may be arranged at the coupling means arranged to receive a stand, and the light source may be arranged at the docking means of the shaft. Thereby a light source arrangement is provided which may be installed and set up with high accuracy, wherein the light source and reflector may function in combination with likewise high accuracy and excellent precision. As the shaft is arranged to move laterally at a centre line of the base element, a light source arranged at said shaft by means of the docking means may also be positioned along said centre line with high accuracy. Furthermore, as the centre line of the base element may be designed to be aligned with a similar centre line of a reflector attached to the base element, a light source such as a light bulb, a light flash or another type of light source may be moved along said centre line of the reflector so as to modify the light reflected by said reflector. If the reflector for example would be a parabolic reflector, the precise and reliable features of the positioning device may be used to, with high precision position such a light source at a focal point of such a parabolic reflector.

Additional objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art from the following details, and through exercising the invention. While the invention is described herein, it should be apparent that the invention may be not limited to the specifically described details. One skilled in the art, having access to the teachings herein, will recognize additional applications, modifications and incorporations in other areas, which are within the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 shows a light source positioning device in a perspective view according to an

embodiment,

Fig. 2 shows a light source positioning device in a side view according to an embodiment,

Fig. 3a shows a locking device in a cross sectional view according to an embodiment,

Fig. 3b shows a locking device in a cross sectional view according to an embodiment Fig. 4a shows a base element having a pivoting arm arrangement and a hinge mechanism in a perspective view,

Fig. 4b shows a base element having a pivoting arm arrangement and a hinge mechanism in a perspective view, and

Fig. 5 shows a light source arrangement in a perspective view according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Fig. 1 shows a light source positioning device 1 in a perspective view according to an embodiment. The positioning device 1 may be used for positioning of at least one light source for photographic purposes. Such a light source may be a flash device, a constant light source like a light bulb, or any other light source providing a desired light when taking photographs. The positioning device 1 may comprise a base element 3, through which base element 3 a hole 5 extends between a front portion 7 and a back portion 9 of said base element 3. A shaft 11 may be glidingly arranged in said hole 5, wherein the shaft 11 may comprise docking means 13 arranged at a first end 15 of said shaft 11 for docking of the at least one light source. The positioning of the light source relative the base element 3 may thus be controlled by means of the glidingly arranged shaft 11 when such a light source is arranged to the docking means 13. The shaft 11 maybe made of aluminium so as to provide mechanical strength but also a light weight construction to the device 1. However, other construction material may of course also be possible to use. The docking means 13 may exhibit different designs and be modified in various ways according to known art in the technical field. The base element 3 may further comprise coupling means 17 arranged to receive a stand. Such a stand may be a movable stand like for example a tripod or similar, but the stand may also be a fixed rod or shaft or similar having a fixed mounting in a studio or similar. The coupling means 17 arranged to receive the stand may be arranged at a distance from the base element 3 by means of a pivoting arm arrangement 19, as depicted in fig. 1. Such a pivoting arm arrangement 19 may comprise a first arm member 21 arranged at the base element 3 and a second arm member 23, comprising the coupling means 17, where the first and second arm members 21, 23 may be pivotally coupled to each other. The coupling means 17 may however also be arranged to the base element 3 in a more direct manner wherein a pivoting arm arrangement 19 may be excluded from the design. Such a pivoting arm arrangement 19 may also be provided comprising a larger number of arm members being pivotally coupled to each other. If for example three or more arm members are pivotally coupled to each other, such an

arrangement may provide the light positioning device with height adjustment means, as the same tilt provided by said pivoting arm arrangement may be provided by a plurality of relative positions of the arm members. Furthermore, such a pivoting arm arrangement may also comprise pivoting movement in various directions if even more free variables with regards to positioning are desired. The positioning device 1 may further comprise a locking device 25 arranged at the back portion 9, adjacent to the shaft 11, which locking device 25 is movable between an open state and a closed state, which open state allows relative movement between the shaft 11 and the base element 3, and which closed state locks said relative movement. The locking device 25 is arranged so as to provide a precisely tuned control of the selective movement of the shaft 11 and thus a light source arranged at the docking means 13. The design of the locking device 25 provides high accuracy when used, wherein the locking device 25 moves between the open state and the locked state with high precision, which provides a reliable and trusted mechanism for a user. While being accurate and precise, the locking device 25 is still easy to move between the two states, wherein a user of the positioning device 1 may operate said device in a fast and efficient manner. The locking device 25 may comprise an inner sleeve element 27, an outer sleeve element 29 and at least one locking element 31 (not seen in fig. 1). The outer sleeve element 29 may be arranged partly circumferentially around the inner sleeve element 27. Relative movement of the outer sleeve element 29 and the inner sleeve element 27 may shift a positioning of the at least one locking element 31 so as to move the locking device 25 between the closed state and the open state. The at least one locking element 31 may be positioned within the arrangement of the outer and inner sleeve elements 29, 27, wherein the at least one locking element 31 thus is protected from harm due to its positioning. The interior design and functionality of the locking device 25 and its parts will be explained in more detail with reference to fig. 3a and fig. 3b.

The base element 3 of the positioning device 1 may further comprise circumferentially arranged form fitting attachment means 33 for receiving a reflector having corresponding form fitting attachment means. As different types of reflector devices are often used in combination with a light source in a photographic studio or similar, the positioning device 1 according to the disclosure in turn provides a similarly precise and reliable light source arrangement comprising a reflector. Thereby a precise and adjustable light source positioning device 1 comprising a reflector may be provided to such a photographic studio, which may comprise the features and corresponding benefits of the positioning device 1 according to the disclosure. The form fitting attachment means 33 may of course be designed in various shapes and sizes, wherein a reflector which is to be arranged thereto is provided with a corresponding fitting shape and size. It is thereby modifiable within the disclosure if a distinctly shaped form fitting attachment means 33 or a general such is provided to the positioning device 1, depending on if it is desirable to provide a fitting meant for a specific type of reflector or a wide range of reflectors.

Fig. 2 shows a light source positioning device 1 in a side view according to an embodiment.

The embodiment depicted in fig. 2 may be perceived as similar to the one depicted in fig. 1 with regards to a number of features. However, the shaft 11 of the positioning device 1 may, as shown in fig. 2, further comprise a longitudinally arranged scale 35 for measuring positioning of said shaft 11 relative the base element 2. Such a scale 35 may of course be beneficial for both tuning of the positioning of the shaft 11 (and thus in return an arranged light source), and also as a means to re-apply the same positioning at a later time. The scale 35 as depicted is shown in a simplistic form comprising a plurality of markings and corresponding numbers. The scale 35 may however comprise a larger numbers of markings and numbers, and/or sub-markings positioned in-between a plurality of main markings. The embodiment of fig. 2 comprises a pivoting arm arrangement 19 for arrangement of the coupling means 17 for receiving a stand, similar to the embodiment depicted in fig. 1. As may be more clearly seen in fig. 2, such a pivoting arm arrangement 17 may comprise an adjustment lever 37, arranged to restrict and allow for pivoting of the two arm members 21,

23 of said pivoting arm arrangement 19. The adjustment lever 37 is arranged to apply or release pressure to at least one friction disc or similar of a friction locking mechanism 39, which is arranged intermediate the two arm members 21, 23. Thereby friction applied to the pivoting movement may be utilized for controlling such pivoting movement in a step-less manner between fully locked and fully movable, wherein an intermediate state may allow for a somewhat restricted movement which may be beneficial for fine tuning of the positioning of the positioning device 1.

Fig. 3a and fig. 3b shows two different embodiments of the locking device 25 of the positioning device 1 according to the disclosure. The two embodiments exhibit differences in features and usage, however they share some features which will described herein. Both the embodiments of fig. 3a and fig. 3b comprise an outer sleeve element 29 and an inner sleeve element 27 wherein the outer sleeve element 29 may be partly circumferentially arranged about the inner sleeve element 27. Both embodiments shown further comprises at least one locking element 31, arranged adjacent the shaft 11 which is glidingly arranged within the inner sleeve element 27. Even further, both embodiments comprise angled planes, wherein a first such angled plane 41 is a part of the at least one locking element 31 and a second angled plane 43 is part of an inner surface of the inner sleeve element 27. The corresponding two angled planes 41, 43 may be arranged to engage each other when the sleeve elements 27, 29 move closer to each other, wherein such engagement pushes the at least one locking element 31 towards a circumferential surface 45 of the shaft 11. When such engagement occurs, the shaft 11 will thus be locked from movement due to the at least one locking element 31 applying a force to said shaft 11.

The at least one locking element 31 of both embodiments also comprises a projection 47, extending from an outer surface 49 of the locking element 31 away from the circumferential surface 45 of the shaft 11, wherein said projection 47 may be arranged in a corresponding recess 51 arranged in the outer sleeve element 29. A fitting of the projection 47 and the corresponding recess 51 assists in moving the angled planes 41, 43 away from each other when the outer sleeve element 29 is moved substantially away from the inner sleeve element 27, which in fig 3a and fig. 3b corresponds to the outer sleeve element 29 being moved towards the left. Thus the at least one locking element 31 is moved away from its locking position when the angled planes 41, 43 are separated from each other, wherein a situation where the locking device 25 gets stuck in its locked state is prevented. An arrangement comprising two angled planes 41, 43 as described herein provides the advantage of moving the locking device 25 to a locked state without affecting the two sleeve elements 27, 29 with regards to an increase in mechanical stress, which would be the case if the inner sleeve element 27 would be arranged to be pushed towards the shaft 11 instead. The at least one locking element 31 may thus also be precisely manufactured for its intended purpose and comprise a fine surface finish which may glide towards the shaft 11 when the locking device 25 is in its open state and provide a reliable abutment and thus locking force towards the shaft 11 when the locking device 25 is in its locked state. The total number of locking elements 31 comprised within the locking device 25 may vary, and may be arranged all around the circumference of the shaft 11 as long as one locking element 31 is not in contact with a radially adjacent locking element 31 when the locking device 25 is in its locked state. Thereby undesired mechanical interaction which could relate to an increase in mechanical stress or the locking device 25 getting stuck in its locked state may be avoided. The at least one locking element 31 may be manufactured in a material suitable for a gliding arrangement, wherein relative movement of the shaft 11 and the at least one locking element 31 is allowed at least to some extent until the at least one locking element 31 is sufficiently pressed towards the shaft 11 wherein such movement instead is prevented. Thereby a finely tuned locking device 25 may be provided, which may operate with precision and small interacting tolerances.

Fig. 3a shows a locking device 25 in a cross sectional view according to an embodiment. The locking device 25 according to this embodiment comprises the above described at least partly overlapping sleeve elements 27, 29, wherein a relative movement of the two where the outer sleeve element 29 is moved so as to overlap the inner sleeve element 27 even further (which corresponds to right in fig. 3a) will result in a locking of the shaft 11 due to the at least one locking element 31 being pushed towards the adjacent shaft 11. Such relative movement of the inner and outer sleeve elements 27, 29 may be controlled due to the inner and outer sleeve elements 27, 29 being threaded to each other by means of outer threads 53 arranged at the inner sleeve element 27and inner threads 55 arranged at the outer sleeve element 29. Thereby the outer sleeve element 29 is moved laterally by means of a rotational movement of the outer sleeve element 29, wherein the outer and inner threads 53, 55 interact and results in such relative lateral movement. As should be understood, the inner sleeve element 27 may be fixedly attached to the adjacent base element 3, or even be a protruding part of said base element 3. By means of utilizing threads 53, 55 in this manner a finely tuned positioning of the outer sleeve element 29 and thus in turn the at least one locking element 31 is provided to the locking device 25. The thread pitch may be modified so as to also modify the amount of rotation needed for a certain amount of lateral movement and thus also locking movement when operating the device 25, wherein such modifications may be made to provide specific desired operational conditions for the locking device 25. The embodiment of the locking device 25 as depicted in fig. 3a is shown in its open state, wherein the two angled planes 41,

43 are not in abutment with each other. It should thus be understood that movement of the shaft 11 may be possible in this state, as little to no force is applied to the shaft 11 from the at least one locking element 31. The angled planes 41, 43 may have corresponding

predetermined values with regards to the angles of said planes, wherein said values directly correlates to how much the at least one locking element 31 is pushed downwards when said angled planes 41, 43 interact due to a lateral movement. The locking device 25 according to this embodiment may thus be easy to modify in that regards by means of altering said angles so as to provide a steeper or a lower angle for different locking characteristics of the locking device 25. As should be understood, a steeper angle results in a faster more direct locking as a result of lesser lateral movement and vice versa. Furthermore, the combination of the at least one locking element 31 having a projection 47 which is arranged in a corresponding recess 51 in the outer sleeve element 29, and the threaded connection of the two sleeve elements 27,

29 provides an easy transition from the locked state to the open state. This is due to the rotational movement being translated to lateral movement in a manner which requires a low amount of applied rotational force, and that said lateral movement pulls the at least one locking element 31 out of the locking engagement of the two angled planes 41, 43. This thus provides a locking device 25 which is easy to operate and which may give a direct and precise locking and opening of the locking device 25 in a comfortable manner. Fig. 3b shows a locking device 25 in a cross sectional view according to an embodiment. The locking device 25 according to this embodiment may be biased towards the locked state by means of a resilient element 57 arranged between the inner and outer sleeve elements 27, 29. Such a resilient element 57 may be a regular mechanical spring or similar, which may be arranged to the inner and outer sleeve elements 27, 29 so as to pull said two sleeve elements 27, 29 towards each other as a default state. Such pulling of the two sleeve elements 27, 29 may thus result in the two angled planes 41, 43 engaging and pushing the at least one locking element 31 towards the shaft 11 as a result. Thus, such a resilient element 57 may provide an auto-locking feature to the locking device 25, wherein a transition to an open state is achieved by pulling the outer sleeve element 29 away from the inner sleeve element 27 and the adjacent base element 3. A correct relative positioning of the shaft 11 and the base element 3 may then be found, wherein a user of the locking device 25 may simple hold the shaft 11 in its correct position and let go of the outer sleeve element 29 to shift the locking device 25 back to its locked state. The amount of force needed to shift the locking device 25 to its open state is thus directly correlated to the spring force of the spring if a regular mechanical spring is used, or the total number of such springs if a plurality of said such springs are used and distributed along the circumference of the locking device 25. Such a locking device 25 may thus be easily modified with regards to the amount of force needed to shift the locking device to its open state, wherein a different amount of force may be desired for different embodiments of the positioning device 1 as a whole.

As should be understood, both embodiments as described with reference to fig. 3a and fig. 3b respectively are possible variations within the scope of protection according to the disclosure. One may be preferable over the other or vice versa depending on factors such as size and overall design of the positioning device 1 and additional components and devices or similar coupled thereto. The embodiment according to fig. 3a may provide a more precise and easily adjustable locking device 25, wherein the embodiment according to fig. 3b may provide a locking device 25 having a more secure and reliable locking as it may auto-lock if control of such a locking device 25 is lost.

Fig. 4a shows a base element 3 having a pivoting arm arrangement 19 and a hinge mechanism 59 in a perspective view. Said pivoting arm arrangement 19 and a hinge mechanism 59 may, as should be obvious, be part of a positioning device 1 according to the disclosure. The coupling means 17 arranged to receive a stand may be arranged at a distance from the base element 3 by means of the pivoting arm arrangement 19, comprising a first arm member 21 arranged at the base element 3 and a second arm member 23, comprising the coupling means 17, the first and second arm members 21, 23 being pivotally coupled to each other. The base element 3 and the first arm member 21 may further be coupled to each other by means of the intermediate hinge mechanism59, which hinge mechanism 59 may provide a selective pivoting between said base element 3 and first arm member 21. The hinge mechanism 59 may further comprise a locking pin 61 for selectively locking of said selective pivoting. Thus, the positioning device 1 according to this embodiment may be tilted to a desired tilt by means of the pivoting arm arrangement 19, which tilt may be achieved by means of careful tuning of the pivoting arm arrangement 19 until said desired tilt is achieved. If such a variable of the total positioning of a light source is known to be desired to be used at a later occasion, the tilt may be kept in its position even if the positioning device 1 needs to be de-assembled and moved and/or stored for an amount of time at some sort of storage. Thereby, if attention is turned to fig. 4b, wherein fig. 4b shows the same embodiment of the positioning device 1, but where the locking pin 61 has been pulled out so as to allow for pivoting of the first arm member 21 relative the base element 3, the relative pivoting of the first and second arm members 21, 23 may be kept unchanged as the device 1 as a whole may be folded together by means of the auxiliary pivoting between the first arm member 21 and the base element 3. Thereby the positioning device 1 is provided with a very beneficial feature wherein a specific positioning of a light source, which may be achieved in an accurate and precise manner by means of the functions of the positioning device 1, further may also be faster and easier to reproduce at a later point in time with a specific set of variables, due to the auxiliary tilt of the device 1 which allows for folding of the positioning device 1 to a state suitable for moving and/or storing.

Fig. 5 shows a light source arrangement 63 in a perspective view according to an embodiment. The light source arrangement 63 may comprise a reflector 65, a stand 67 and a light source 69. Such a light source arrangement 63 may further comprise any embodiment of a positioning device 1 according to the disclosure; the only required feature being that the base element 3 of the positioning device 1 comprises circumferentially arranged form fitting attachment means 33 arranged to receive the reflector 65. The reflector 65 may thus be arranged at the circumferentially arranged form fitting attachment means 33 of the positioning device 1, the stand 67 may be arranged at the coupling means 17 arranged to receive a stand 67, and the light source 69 may be arranged at the docking means 13 of the shaft 11. As depicted in fig. 5, the stand 67 mentioned may be a tripod, and the light source 69 may be a flash device. The light source 69 in general and the flash device in particular may be moved along a centre line of the reflector 65 in a very precise manner, be locked to a certain position by means of the glidingly arranged shaft 11 and the locking device 25 of the positioning device 1 respectively. Thereby a light source arrangement 63 is provided, which arrangement 63 may be provided with the several technical effects and advantages disclosed herein with reference to the inventive concept of the positioning device 1. Such a light source arrangement 63 may thus be provided with a positioning device 1 which may be used to position at least one light source 69 in a very precise and reliable manner within a reflector 65.

The foregoing description of the embodiments has been furnished for illustrative and descriptive purposes. It is not intended to be exhaustive, or to limit the embodiments to the variants described. Many modifications and variations will obviously be apparent to one skilled in the art. The embodiments have been chosen and described in order to best explicate principles and practical applications, and to thereby enable one skilled in the art to understand the invention in terms of its various embodiments and with the various modifications that are applicable to its intended use. The components and features specified above may, within the framework of the embodiments, be combined between different embodiments specified.