Systems and methods for adjusting a stand

• US 20060175484A1
• Filed: 05/12/2005
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Meade Instruments Corporation
• Original Assignee: Meade Instruments Corporation
• Inventors: Wood, Robert A. III, Valbuena, Rene F.
• Application Number:
  US11/127,541
• Publication Number:
  US 20060175484A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/177.100
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/32 Undercarriages for supports with three or more telescoping legs
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/024 by positive interaction, e.g. male-female connections

Abstract

Embodiments of the disclosure include a stand, such as a tripod, including a deployment assembly for adjusting a height of the stand by, for example, adjusting a length of a telescoping tripod leg. In an embodiment, the deployment assembly adjusts the length of the tripod leg when the user actuates a control device, such as a trigger or a button. The control device may advantageously be located near the top of a tripod leg, which may facilitate leveling and/or heightening of the tripod. In addition, the deployment assembly may include a rack and gear assembly that controls relative movement of a lower leg segment with respect to an upper leg segment.

Claims

1. A tripod for facilitating height adjustments, the tripod comprising:

a platform capable of supporting a piece of equipment;

a plurality of telescoping legs, wherein at least one of the telescoping legs further comprises;

an outer leg section configured to couple to the platform,

an inner leg section slidable with respect to the outer leg section to adjust the length of the at least one telescoping leg, and

a deployment assembly selectively movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the deployment assembly in a first position is capable of substantially preventing sliding movement between the inner leg section and the outer leg section, and wherein the deployment assembly in a second position is configured to allow for sliding movement between the inner leg section and the outer leg section; and

a control device located closer to the platform than an opposite end of the outer leg section and coupled to the deployment assembly, wherein the control device is configured to switch the deployment assembly between the first position and the second position.

2. The tripod of claim 1, wherein the platform comprises a plurality of leg receivers and the outer leg section is configured to couple to one of the plurality of leg receivers.

3. The tripod of claim 2, wherein the control device is located on at least one of the plurality of leg receivers.

4. The tripod of claim 1, wherein the platform is sized to hold at least one of a telescope, survey equipment, a camera, a movie camera, a sighting device, an optical device, an electronic device, and an audio device.

5. The tripod of claim 1, wherein the deployment assembly is coupled to the outer leg section.

6. The tripod of claim 1, further comprising a spring-loaded handle assembly capable of securing the piece of equipment to the platform.

7. The tripod of claim 1, wherein the control device comprises a trigger.

8. The tripod of claim 1, wherein the control device comprises a button.

9. The tripod of claim 1, wherein the telescoping legs comprise aluminum.

10. A stand having an assembly for adjusting the length of a leg, the stand comprising:

an attachment portion capable of securing a piece of equipment;

a plurality of adjustable legs, each of the adjustable legs comprising an upper leg portion and a lower leg portion, each upper leg portion having a first end connected to the attachment portion and a second end, each lower leg portion being movable with respect to the upper leg portion to lengthen the adjustable leg; and

an assembly connected to at least one adjustable leg and capable of regulating the movement between the lower leg portion and the upper leg portion, the assembly further comprising;

a locking mechanism capable of substantially preventing relative movement between the lower leg portion and the upper leg portion, and

a control device operationally coupled to the locking mechanism and configured to cause the locking mechanism to alternatively allow and substantially prevent relative movement between the lower leg portion and the upper leg portion, wherein the control device is located proximate the first end of the upper leg portion.

11. The stand of claim 10, wherein the attachment portion comprises a spring-loaded handle assembly capable of securing the piece of equipment to the stand.

12. The stand of claim 10, wherein the upper leg portion is removably connected to the attachment portion.

13. The stand of claim 10, further comprising linkage coupling the control device to the locking mechanism.

14. The stand of claim 10, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a ratchet lever capable of selectively engaging a rack gear on the lower leg portion.

15. The stand of claim 10, wherein the plurality of adjustable legs comprises three legs and the stand comprises a tripod.

16. A method for adjusting a leg of a tripod, the method comprising:

tiling a tripod such that a first leg of the tripod is elevated off a surface and such that a second leg and a third leg of the tripod are in contact with the surface and bear at least a portion of the weight of the tripod; and

actuating a control device located near a top of the tripod, wherein actuating the control device allows for relative movement between an upper portion and a lower portion of the first leg to adjust a length of the first leg.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said relative movement comprises telescoping movement.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said relative movement is caused at least in part by the weight of the lower portion such that the lower portion partially extends from within the upper portion.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein actuating the control device comprises releasing a locking mechanism.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein releasing the locking mechanism comprises disengaging a lever from a rack gear.

21. The method of claim 16, additionally comprising releasing the control device to cause the locking mechanism to re-engage and prevent substantial movement between the upper portion and the lower portion.

22. A stand having an assembly for adjusting the length of at least one of a plurality of legs, the stand comprising:

means for securing a piece of equipment;

a plurality of means for supporting the means for securing, each of the plurality of means for supporting having an upper portion and a corresponding lower portion; and

means for regulating relative movement between at least one upper portion and the corresponding lower portion, the means for regulating further comprising actuating means for controlling the relative movement, wherein the actuating means is located proximate the means for securing.