Multi-legged equipment support for cameras, spotting telescopes and the like and jam-plate lock for same
US7178767B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 9, 2002 |
| Grant date | Feb 20, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 21, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16M2200/027
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A multi-leg equipment stand has a unitary user interface. All legs can be adjusted simultaneously, or, an individual leg can be adjusted, by distinct motions of the interface. A collar is near to an equipment support shoulder. Rotation around a vertical axis releases all legs. For a tripod, tilting the collar in one direction releases only one of three legs. The tilt may be toward the leg to be moved. The legs have adjacent, telescoping components. A control rod extends from the collar, through the hollow interior of the upper component, to a jam-plate, at the lower end of the upper component. The plate jams between an inside of the lower component, and an inside of the upper component. The rod passes through the jam-plate. Pushing the rod tilts the jam-plate, freeing it from jamming. A spring returns it to jamming if released. For each leg, the collar underside has a two level cam recess. The rods each have a cam follower surface at their shoulder end. Rotating the collar pushes each of the rods, releasing all jam-plates. Returning the collar allows the rods to move back, under influence of springs. Tilting the collar in any one of the leg directions pushes only one of the rods, t…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.