Folding Camera Support with Rotational Inertia Adjustment

• US 20100266272A1
• Filed: 04/19/2010
• Published: 10/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garrett W. Brown
• Original Assignee: Tiffen Company LLC
• Inventors: Orf, H. Robert, Holway, Jerry, Brown, Garrett W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,016,494 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/428
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/00 Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor lens hoods or caps G03B11/04

Abstract

A folding, adjustable camera support having a central post secured in one or more central post holders. A first camera equipment support component having a distal end and a proximate end is adjustably attached at its proximate end to one of the one or more central post holders, and is configured to adjust between an operative position and a folded position via an adjustment mechanism. The distance of the camera equipment is adjustable radially from the central post. A second camera equipment support component is similarly configured and adjustable with respect to the central post, and can balance the first camera equipment component.

Claims

1. A folding, adjustable camera support comprising:

a central post secured in one or more central post holders;

a first support component having a distal end and a proximate end;

the first support component adjustably attached at its proximate end to one of the one or more central post holders, configured to adjust between an operative position and a folded position via an adjustment mechanism;

a first camera equipment attachment device attached to the first support component at the first support component distal end, wherein the distance of the first camera equipment attachment device is adjustable radially from the central post;

a second support component having a distal end and a proximate end;

the second support component adjustably attached at its proximate end to one of the one or more central post holders, and configured to adjust between an operative position and a folded position via an adjustment mechanism;

a second camera equipment attachment device attached to the second support component at the second support component distal end, wherein the distance of the second camera equipment attachment device is adjustable radially from the central post.

2. The folding, adjustable camera support of claim 1 wherein the first support component comprises one or more first support rods adjustably attached to the central post between an operative position and a folded position via an adjustment mechanism comprising:

one or more first support rod operative orienting features having cross-sectional profiles complimentary to the cross-sectional profiles of the first support rods and disposed to accommodate the first support rod(s) in an operative position; and

one or more first support rod folded orienting features having cross-sectional profiles complimentary to the cross-sectional profiles of the first support rods and disposed to accommodate the first support rod(s) in a folded position.

3. The folding, adjustable camera support of claim 2 wherein the second support component comprises one or more second support rods adjustably attached to the central post between an operative position and a folded position via an adjustment mechanism comprising:

one or more second support rod operative orienting features having cross-sectional profiles complimentary to the cross-sectional profiles of the second support rods and disposed to accommodate the second support rod(s) in an operative position; and

one or more second support rod folded orienting features having cross-sectional profiles complimentary to the cross-sectional profiles of the second support rods and disposed to accommodate the second support rod(s) in a folded position.

4. The folding, adjustable camera support of claim 1 wherein the first camera equipment attachment device is configured to allow attached equipment to pivot toward the central post, thereby reducing the width of the camera support containing the first camera equipment.

5. The folding, adjustable camera support of claim 1 wherein the second camera equipment attachment device is configured to allow attached equipment to pivot toward the central post, thereby reducing the width of the camera support containing the second camera equipment.

6. The folding, adjustable camera support of claim 1 wherein the support component adjustment mechanism comprises a turnbuckle mechanism.

7. The folding, adjustable camera support of claim 6 wherein the turnbuckle mechanism comprises:

a turnbuckle assembly having;

a turnbuckle shaft disposed through at least one internal clamp nut insertable into a support component, the internal clamp nut having a varied diameter such that when the clamp nut is moved radially toward the perpendicular center line of the turnbuckle shaft, the support component is locked into a folder or operative orientation, and when the clamp nut is moved radially away from the perpendicular center line of the turnbuckle shaft, the support component is unlocked and can transition between folded and operative orientations.

8. The folding, adjustable camera support of claim 7 wherein the internal clamp nut has a plurality of bevels to vary the internal clamp nut diameter.

9. The folding, adjustable camera support of claim 1 further comprising;

a mounting stage on which to secure a camera; and

a gimbal assembly attached to the central post below the camera mounting stage, the gimbal apparatus having a handle.

10. A method of supporting a camera comprising:

providing a support system according to claim 9;

attaching a camera to the mounting stage;

attaching camera equipment other than the camera to the first camera equipment attachment device;

attaching camera equipment other than the camera to the second camera equipment attachment device;

radially adjusting the position of the first and second camera equipment with respect to the central post to balance the support apparatus when held at the handle of the gimbal apparatus.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

adjusting the camera support system between an operative configuration and a folded configuration via the adjustment mechanism.