APPARATUSES AND SYSTEMS FOR SUPPORTING AND POSITIONING CAMERAS AND OTHER EQUIPMENT

• US 20080267613A1
• Filed: 04/27/2007
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tocad America, Inc. (ToCAD Co Ltd)
• Original Assignee: Tocad America, Inc. (ToCAD Co Ltd)
• Inventors: Darrow, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 8,197,149 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/428
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/00 Stands or trestles as supports for apparatus or articles placed thereon ; Stands for scientific apparatus such as gravitational force meters without heads F16M13/00; easels or stands for blackboards or the like A47B97/04; show-stands A47F7/00; for workmen E04G1/32; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; supporting or suspending for lighting devices F21V21/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• 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 11/36 Members preventing slipping of the feet
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/40 by means of coilable or bendable legs or spiral shaped legs
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/022 by friction
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/561 Support related camera accessories

Abstract

Apparatuses and systems for supporting and positioning cameras and other equipment are disclosed herein. An apparatus for supporting a camera in accordance with one embodiment of the invention can include one or more bendable support members extending from a camera holding portion. In this embodiment, each of the bendable support members includes a plurality of shaped outer portions arranged on an elongate, bendable core. In one embodiment, the bendable core can include a plastically deformable material that retains its shape after being bent with little or no spring-back, and each of the shaped outer portions can include spherical portions formed from a resilient, elastomeric material.

Claims

1. An apparatus for supporting a camera, the apparatus comprising:

an adjustable camera holding portion having a camera engagement feature configured to releasably engage a camera; and

a plurality of formable legs, wherein each of the formable legs includes;

a first end portion operably coupled to the cameral holding portion and a second end portion spaced apart from the first end portion to define a space therebetween;

an elongate bendable member extending between the first and second end portions; and

a plurality of spherical portions consecutively arranged on the elongate bendable member in the space between the first and second end portions.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the elongate bendable member includes a material that retains its shape after forming with little or no spring-back.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the spherical portions includes a resilient material.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the elongate bendable member includes a plastically deformable material, and wherein each of the spherical portions includes an elastomeric material.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the elongate bendable member extends through the center of each of the spherical portions.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of spherical portions include at least first and second spherical portions, wherein the first spherical portion has a first convex surface and the second spherical portion has a second convex surface, and wherein the first convex surface contacts the second convex surface.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of spherical portions include at least first, second, and third spherical portions, wherein the second spherical portion contacts the first and third spherical portions, and wherein the second spherical portion is angularly movable relative to the first and third spherical portions.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of spherical portions include a first spherical portion that is pivotally coupled to the camera holding portion.

9. A portable apparatus for supporting a piece of equipment, the apparatus comprising:

an equipment holding portion; and

plurality of bendable support members, wherein each of the bendable support members includes a proximal end portion operably coupled to the equipment holding portion and a distal end portion extending away from the equipment holding portion, and wherein each of the bendable support members further includes a plurality of shaped outer portions arranged on an elongate, bendable core.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the plurality of shaped outer portions are contiguously arranged on the bendable core, and wherein each of the shaped outer portions defines a geometric shape.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the plurality of shaped outer portions are contiguously arranged on the bendable core, and wherein each of the shaped outer portions defines at least a portion of a sphere.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the cross-sectional thickness of each of the shaped outer portions varies in the direction of the bendable core.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein each of the shaped outer portions is an individual piece of material.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the equipment holding portion includes a camera holding portion.

15. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the equipment holding portion includes and adjustable camera mounting head having an engagement feature configured to releasably engage a camera.

16. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the shaped outer portions include at least first and second shaped outer portions, wherein the first shaped outer portion includes a first outer surface and the second shaped outer portion includes a second outer surface, and wherein the first outer surface contacts the second outer surface.

17. An apparatus for supporting a camera, the apparatus comprising:

a camera holding portion;

at least one bendable support member, wherein the bendable support member includes a proximal end portion operably coupled to the camera holding portion and a distal end portion extending away from the camera holding portion, and wherein the bendable support member further includes a plurality of shaped outer portions arranged on an elongate, bendable core; and

a base portion operably coupled to the distal end portion of the bendable support member, wherein the base portion includes attachment means for releasably securing the apparatus to a surface.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the attachment means include a suction cup configured to releasably secure the apparatus to a generally smooth surface.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the plurality of shaped outer portions include at least first and second shaped outer portions, wherein the first shaped outer portion has a first convex surface and the second shaped outer portion has a second convex surface, and wherein the first convex surface contacts the second convex surface.

20. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the elongate, bendable core includes a plastically deformable metal.