Supports – Stand and bracket – Having adjustable bracket
Patent
1995-01-26
1997-05-27
Berger, Derek J.
Supports
Stand and bracket
Having adjustable bracket
248168, 2481763, 2481771, 2482861, G03B 1700
Patent
active
056324596
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to tripods, and particularly to tripods for photographic use. It is particularly, although not exclusively applicable to tripods of the kind having a mounting head with an arcuate bolt carrying an article supporting bracket for mounting, and a plurality of wedge shaped spaces between the pivots at the top ends of the tripod legs. A tripod of this kind is described in our International Patent Application No. PCT/GB 91/01404, which relates to a tripod having a head with a slidable, article supporting pillar or centre column mounted on the head in a pillar guide which includes a pivotal bracket for attachment to the arcuate bolt, so that the pillar can be pivoted from a vertical to a horizontal position.
In normal use, a camera will be mounted on a tripod bush at one end of the centre column, by means of a ball and socket head, and thus, if the column is pivoted to a horizontal position, and the tripod legs are opened to a wide angle, it is possible to arrange the camera to be positioned close to the ground for "low angle" shoots. However, manipulation of the ball and socket head becomes very difficult in such positions, because in general, when the axis of ball and socket head is horizontal and its mounting is turned through 90.degree., i.e., so that the tripod bush is vertical, there is almost no further adjustability of position available from the ball and socket head.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention seeks to provide a stand for a camera comprising a ground engageable support structure capable of supporting a pivotally mounted camera mounting pillar, a camera mounting member capable of being mounted on an end of said camera mounting pillar to mount a camera, characterised in that the camera mounting pillar is formed of two elongate members joined by a lockable pivoting joint.
Because the mounting pillar is jointed near the or each end upon which the camera is to be mounted, the end portion can be turned to a position in which it is at right angles to the axis of the other portion of the mounting pillar. In one embodiment, the or each end of the mounting pillar is provided with two mounting attachments, such as tripod screws of a known type, one of which projects axially from the end of the mounting pillar, whilst the other projects at right angles to it.
Preferably the portions of the mounting pillar are separable and the tripod is provided with at least one detachable leg which is adapted to be attached to one of the separable portions of the mounting pillar so as to form a monopod. For this purpose, the joint may include connection means which enable one part of the pillar to be removed and to be replaced by the tripod leg.
The invention also extends to a jointing device for a tubular tripod leg or mounting pillar of a tripod, comprising a spigot adapted to be fitted into the end of a tubular leg or pillar member, and a pivot disc having a pivot axis which is at right angles to the spigot axis and is offset therefrom, the pivot disc having one face which is adapted to mate with the corresponding face of the pivot disc of a second jointing member, whereby two such jointing members can be pivotally connected together by their pivot discs, in such a way that the two spigots are pivotable, relative to one another, through 180.degree.; between a co-axial position, and a side-by-side, parallel position.
Preferably, the mating faces of the pivot discs are toothed so that they can be locked into a desired angular relationship.
Preferably, the or each jointing member is provided with attachment means for a carrying strap, and one or both ends of the mounting pillar may also be provided with such attachment means, as described in our above mentioned co-pending International Patent Application, so as to enable a carrying strap to be connected, either between the two ends of the central pillar, or between one end of the pillar and one of the jointing members, when the apparatus is configured as a monopod.
Accordingly, the invention al
REFERENCES:
patent: 1429443 (1922-09-01), McFaddin
patent: 2844345 (1958-07-01), Sherman
patent: 3114529 (1963-12-01), Mills
patent: 4671478 (1987-06-01), Schoenig et al.
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