Photography – Camera support – Adjustable support
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-04
2001-04-17
Gray, David M. (Department: 2851)
Photography
Camera support
Adjustable support
C248S187100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06217236
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Camera cranes are often used in the motion picture and television industries to position and maneuver cameras. Camera cranes typically have a crane arm supported on a base, with a camera platform at one end of the arm, and a counterweight at the other end. The crane arm can be pivoted by hand to raise and lower the camera, and also to pan to the left or right side. A leveling system is often included to maintain the camera platform in a level orientation.
With the advent of remote controlled television and motion picture cameras, filming can be achieved without a camera operator sitting behind the camera. Rather, the camera operator can remain on the ground while the remotely controlled camera is suspended on a crane arm. This allows for more versatile camera positioning. For example, the remotely controlled camera can be positioned at locations where it would be too time consuming, difficult or dangerous to place a traditional camera and operator. Accordingly, there is a need for camera crane arms to match the versatility of remote camera systems.
Due to the variety, and occasionally difficult accessibility of filming locations, the camera crane arm should advantageously be portable and lightweight. On the other hand, the arm must be rigid enough, when assembled, to resist bending and sagging, and to avoid excessive whipping motion on the camera during movement. While various camera crane arms have been used successfully in the past, there remains a need for an improved camera crane arm to meet the needs of the television and motion picture industries.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To these ends, in a first aspect, a camera crane arm preferably includes a frame pivotally supporting a central box section. A plurality of outer beams are attached to and spaced apart from the central box section. A leveling system is advantageously fixed to the box section in between outer beams, and pivotally linked to a camera platform, to maintain the platform in a level orientation.
In a second aspect, the crane arm is most desirably formed of sections having substantially flat ends, with a first end having one or more tapered pin and the second end having a like number of mating tapered holes, with the pins and holes of adjacent sections configured to engage each other when the flat ends of adjacent sections are brought together, thereby forming a secure and rigid attachment between sections.
In a third aspect, the beam sections have inclined end faces, to reduce sagging of the arm.
In a fourth aspect, the The camera platform is attached to the crane arm at a preset incline angle, to compensate for deflections when loaded.
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Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment
Gray David M.
Lyon & Lyon LLP
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