Flexible lens mount system for rapid tilt photography

• US 20070024740A1
• Filed: 10/07/2004
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lensbaby, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lensbaby, Inc.
• Inventors: Strong, Craig
• Granted Patent: US 7,800,680 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/360
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/02 for lenses supports for magnifying lenses G02B25/002
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/04 collapsible, foldable or extensible, e.g. book type
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/045 Bellows
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 5/06 Swinging lens about normal to the optical axis
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to photography, including both still photography and video photography. One aspect of the invention is directed toward a lens system that includes a lens, a fitting mountable to a camera, and a flexible body extending between the lens and the fitting. The fitting can be the sole support for the body relative to the camera. The body can be configured to position the lens among at least two operative positions relative to the camera when the fitting is mounted to the camera. Another aspect of the invention is directed toward a method for adjusting focus of a camera using a lens assembly including manually moving a portion of a flexible body of the lens assembly to place a lens in one of at least two operative positions relative to the camera.

Claims

1. A lens system comprising:

a lens;

a fitting mountable to a camera; and

a resiliently flexible body extending between the lens and the fitting, the fitting being the sole support for the body relative to the camera, the body being configured to position the lens among at least two operative positions relative to the camera when the fitting is mounted to the camera, and wherein the body has a rest position to which it at least approximately returns after being moved away from the rest position and released.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a lens support, the lens being coupled to the body via the lens support.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising an f-stop carried by the body.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a focusing collar coupled to the body.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the fitting is mounted to a camera.

6. A lens system comprising:

a lens;

a fitting mountable to a camera; and

a flexible body extending between the lens and the fitting, the fitting being the sole support for the body relative to the camera, the body being configured to selectively retain any one of a plurality of discrete configurations, each one of which positions the lens differently relative to the fitting.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a lens support, the lens being coupled to the body via the lens support.

8. The system of claim 6, further comprising an f-stop carried by the body.

9. The system of claim 6, further comprising a focusing collar coupled to the body.

10. The system of claim 6 wherein the fitting is mounted to a camera.

11. A lens system comprising:

a lens;

a fitting mountable to a camera;

a flexible body extending between the lens and the fitting, the fitting being the sole support for the body relative to the camera, the body being configured to position the lens among at least two operative positions relative to the camera when the fitting is mounted to the camera, wherein the body includes a tubular segment; and

a lens support, the lens being coupled to the body by the lens support, at least one portion of the lens support being received by the tubular segment of the body and being movable relative to at least a portion of the tubular segment of the body.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the lens support includes a tubular frustoconical lens support having a first part and second part, the first part being coupled to the body and at least one portion of the second part being received by the at least one portion of the body that is tubular, the lens being coupled to the second portion of the lens support.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the lens support includes a tubular frustoconical lens support having a first part and second part, at least one portion of the second part of the tubular frustoconical lens support having a smaller cross-sectional area than at least one portion of the first part of the tubular frustoconical lens support, the first part of the tubular frustoconical lens support being coupled to the body and at least one portion of the second part of the tubular frustoconical lens support being received by the at least one portion of the body that is tubular, the lens being coupled to the second portion of the of the tubular frustoconical lens support.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the fitting is mounted to a camera.

15. A lens system comprising:

a lens;

a fitting mountable to a camera; and

a flexible body extending between the lens and the fitting, the fitting being the sole support for the body relative to the camera, the body being configured to position the lens among at least two operative positions relative to the camera when the fitting is mounted to the camera.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a lens support, the lens being coupled to the body via the lens support.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising an f-stop carried by the body.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a lens support, the lens being coupled to the body via the lens support; and

an f-stop being coupled to the body via the lens support.

19. The system of claim 15, further comprising an f-stop carried by the body, the f-stop being at least one of a fixed f-stop, a replaceable f-stop, and an adjustable f-stop.

20. The system of claim 15, further comprising a focusing collar coupled to the body.

21. The system of claim 15 wherein the lens includes a first lens, and wherein the system further comprises at least one second lens coupled to the body.

22. The system of claim 15 wherein at least one portion of the body is tubular.

23. The system of claim 15 wherein the body includes a tubular segment, and wherein the system further comprises a lens support, the lens being coupled to the body by the lens support, at least one portion of the lens support being received by the tubular segment of the body and being movable relative to at least a portion of the tubular segment.

24. The system of claim 15 wherein at least one portion of the body is tubular, and wherein the system further comprises a tubular frustoconical lens support having a first part and second part, the first part being coupled to the body and at least one portion of the second part being received by the at least one portion of the body that is tubular, the lens being coupled to the second portion of the lens support.

25. The system of claim 15 wherein the body is couplable to at least one optical device.

26. The system of claim 15 wherein the fitting is mounted to a camera.

27. The system of claim 15 wherein the body has a rest position to which it tends to return after the body has been moved away from the rest position and released.

28. The system of claim 15 wherein when the lens is moved by a force to one of the at least two operative position, the body tends to retain the lens at least approximately in the one position after the force has been released.

29. A method for adjusting focus of a camera using a lens system, comprising:

attaching the lens system to the camera with a fitting that serves as a sole support for a body of the lens assembly relative to the camera; and

reconfiguring the lens assembly from a first configuration to a second configuration by manually flexing the body of the lens assembly, wherein a lens of the lens assembly has a first operative position relative to the camera in the first configuration and a different second operative position relative to the camera in the second configuration.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the lens is coupled to the body by a lens support.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising manually restraining the body to retain the lens assembly in the second configuration for taking a photograph.

32. The method of claim 29 wherein the body is in a rest position in the first configuration and reconfiguring the lens assembly includes manually flexing the body away from the rest position, and wherein the method further comprises reconfiguring the assembly from the second configuration to the first configuration by allowing the body to resiliently substantially return to the rest position.

33. The method of claim 29 wherein the lens system substantially retains the second configuration after the body is manually flexed and released.

34. The method of claim 29 wherein manually flexing the body includes moving at least one portion of the lens closer to the camera.

35. The method of claim 29 wherein manually flexing the body includes moving at least one portion of the lens away from the camera.

36. The method of claim 29 wherein manually flexing the body includes moving a first lateral edge of the lens away from the camera and an opposite second lateral edge of the lens towards the camera.

37. A lens system comprising:

a lens;

a fitting mountable to a camera; and

a flexible body means extending between the lens and the fitting, the fitting being the sole support for the body means relative to the camera, the body means being configured to position the lens among at least two operative positions relative to the camera when the fitting is mounted to the camera.

38. The lens system of claim 37, further comprising a lens support means for coupling the lens to the body means.

39. The lens system of claim 37, further comprising an f-stop means for controlling an area of an aperture through which light passes, the f-stop means being carried by the body means.

40. A method of photographing a subject, comprising:

orienting a camera with respect to the subject, the camera having a lens system that includes a fitting, a lens, and a tubular, resiliently flexible body extending between the fitting and the lens;

manually adjusting a length of at least a portion of the body by acting against a restoring force of the resiliently flexible body, thereby adjusting focus; and

taking at least one photograph.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein manually adjusting a length of at least a portion of the body includes compressing a first side of the body and extending a second side of the body.

42. The method of claim 40 wherein manually adjusting a length of at least a portion of the body includes at least one of compressing a first portion of the body to move a first portion of the lens toward the camera and extending a second portion of the body to move a second portion of the lens away from the camera.

43. The method of maim 40 wherein taking at least one photograph includes at least one of taking multiple photographs and taking video photography.