Apparatus for camera mount on tripod platform

• US 20010017339A1
• Filed: 12/26/2000
• Published: 08/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Engineered Plastics
• Original Assignee: Engineered Plastics
• Inventors: Brotz, Ralph T., Brotz, John G., Brotz, Roman G., Brotz, Michael R., Brotz, Ralph R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,439,518 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/187.1
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/14 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06 ; adjustable mountings employing universal joints for lighting devices F21V21/26 - F21V21/30
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025

Abstract

This present invention discloses apparatus and a method for mounting a camera on a tripod platform for taking pictures and this mounting apparatus includes a cradle cup mounted on a tripod platform and an 0 ring mounted in a groove on the inside diameter of the cradle cup, and a pear shaped or oblate spheroid shaped ball attached to the bottom of a camera and the ball attached to the camera is set into the cradle cup and the ball sets on O ring in the groove on the inside diameter of the cradle cup. The inside diameter of the 0 ring is less than the diameter of the pear shaped ball attached to the camera.

Claims

1. Apparatus for camera mount on tripod platform wherein the improvement comprises:

a—

an assembly of a camera and a ball having a pear or oblate spheroid shape attached to said camera;

b—

said pear shaped ball having a conical section;

c—

a cradle cup fastened to a tripod platform;

d—

a groove inside of and concentric to circumference of said cradle cup

e—

an O ring mounted in said groove of said cradle cup, said cup having an inside diameter greater than outside diameter of said ball of said assembly of a camera and a ball,

f—

inside diameter of said O ring less than the diameter of said ball of said assembly of camera and a ball

g—

said assembly of a camera pear shaped or oblate spheroid shaped ball setting in said cradle cup and said ball resting on said O ring mounted in said groove in said cradle cup.

2. Apparatus for camera mount on tripod platform of

claim 1

further comprising:

a—

said cradle cup of cylindrical shape;

b—

said cradle cup having a diameter greater than diameter of said ball of said assembly of said camera and ball,

c—

said O ring mounted in said groove in said cradle cup and,

d—

inside diameter of said O ring less than diameter of said ball attached to said camera.

3. Apparatus for camera mount on tripod platform of

claim 1

, further comprising:

a—

said ball of said assembly of camera and ball and said cradle cup formed of plastic material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic and thermoset compounds and,

b—

said O ring formed of elastomer selected from the group consisting of rubber, nitrile rubber, silicon rubber or fluorocarbon.

4. Apparatus for camera mount on tripod platform of

claim 2

, further comprising:

a—

said ball of said assembly of camera and ball and said cradle cup formed of thermoset plastic compound selected from the group consisting of phenolic, melamine, melamine/phenolic, polyester. polyurethane and urea,

b—

open end of said cradle cup flared outward, and said groove in said cradle cup located below said open end flared outward.

5. Apparatus for camera mount on tripod platform of

claim 2

, further comprising:

a—

said ball of said assembly of camera and ball and said cradle cup formed of plastic material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic material selected from the group consisting of nylon, polyester, polyethylene and polypropylene, or thermoset material consisting of phenolic, melamine, melamine-phenolic, polyester, polyurethane and urea.