1994-06-23
1996-04-09
Foss, J. Franklin
Supports
Stand
Plural leg
2481811, 24828851, F16M 1138
Patent
active
055054153
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to tripods, and particularly though not exclusively, to a tripod of the kind having a mounting head with an arcuate bolt carrying an article supporting bracket or mounting and a plurality of wedge-shaped spacers between the pivots at the top ends of the tripod legs. A tripod of this kind is shown in British Patent No. 916607, and is referred to generally herein below as "a tripod of the type described".
Tripods of this type have a number of significant advantages compared with tripods of the conventional kind having an ordinary platform to which the legs are pivotally connected. Notably, they are considerably more rigid in use and are also much more robust generally because of the "single bolt" head construction.
However, conventional tripods of this kind still suffer from a number of other drawbacks, such as a tendency to be somewhat bulky when folded.
Also, because of the necessity to construct the tripod with considerable rigidity, it is generally quite heavy even in relatively small versions, and consequently awkward to carry about.
The present invention seeks to improve on these and other aspects of the construction of a tripod of the type described.
According to the present invention there is provided a tripod having a head with a slidable, article supporting pillar mounted on the head, the pillar having carrying strap attachment-means at each end, whereby the relative positions of the pillar and the body of the tripod can be adjusted to shift the centre of gravity and thus balance the assembly for carrying purposes.
Preferably, the connectors comprise "D-ring" members, each of which is formed as part of a corresponding "camera platform" at the end of the pillar.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tripod of the type described and having telescopic legs with fixing clamps, in which the pivot point of the upper ends of each leg is offset, relative to the axis of the leg, whereby the three legs of the tripod can be brought into parallel alignment, even in the completely "telescoped" condition, and even when the leg clamps are adjacent to each other.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a tripod of the type described having a head incorporating a tubular pillar guide for a slidable pillar, the guide having a a pivotable bracket for attachment to the arcuate bolt, the pillar guide being formed from two symmetrical "half shells", and terminating in a tubular extension at each end, which is threaded on its outside surface, so as to receive a threaded collar, whereby the two end collars hold the half shells in the assembled condition.
According to a further feature of the invention, there is provided a ball and socket head for a tripod, comprising a ball carrying a camera mounting platform, and a retaining housing for the ball, having an aperture through which the camera platform projects, and a seat for the ball which is supported by means of a wedging device which is slidable laterally, relative to the axis of the head, and cooperates with a complementary sloping surface on the underside of the ball seat, means being provided for moving the wedging device, and consequently the seat, by a small distance in the said lateral direction, so as to grip or release the ball.
Preferably, the wedging device incorporates two diametrically offset parallel sloping formations on its surface, and the ball seat is provided with complementary formations.
Some embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1a is an "side-elevation" of a tripod, in accordance with the invention, in the folded condition;
FIG. 1b shows the tripod in an erected condition;
FIG. 1c is a diagrammatic top plan view of the tripod head;
FIG. 1d is a side elevation of a tripod leghead;
FIG. 1e is a side elevation taken at right angles to the view of FIG. 1d;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a "half shell" of a pillar guide;
FIG. 3 is an end view of the pillar guide of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a cross-section view o
REFERENCES:
patent: 911544 (1909-02-01), Roehlk
patent: 1715668 (1929-06-01), Mooney
patent: 2195391 (1940-03-01), Hunter
patent: 2282285 (1942-05-01), Olson
patent: 3114529 (1963-12-01), Mills
patent: 4974802 (1990-12-01), Hendren
patent: 5249766 (1993-10-01), Vogt
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