Insulated Foot Pad for a Tripod

• US 20110147558A1
• Filed: 12/23/2010
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gary Byers, Sherman Marquardt
• Original Assignee: Gary Byers, Sherman Marquardt
• Inventors: Byers, Gary, Marquardt, Sherman
• Granted Patent: US 8,998,164 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/346.2
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 91/06 Gliders or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/36 Members preventing slipping of the feet

Abstract

An insulated foot pad for a tripod has an insulated block sandwiched between two plates. The plates are made of a material that is a poor conductor of heat. Tripod legs placed on the foot pads will not sink into the snow on sunny days nor into warm asphalt on hot days.

Claims

1. An insulated foot pad for supporting an instrument on a surface comprising:

a first plate of a poor heat conducting material to contact a foot of the instrument;

a second plate of a poor heat conducting material to contact the surface; and

an insulating material between the first plate and the second plate;

wherein the pad reduces the transfer of heat from the foot of the instrument to the surface.

2. The insulating foot pad of claim 1, wherein said first plate is connected to said second plate through said insulating material.

3. The insulating foot pad of claim 2, wherein said first plate is adhered to said insulating material and said second plate is adhered to said insulating material.

4. The insulating foot pad of claim 2, wherein said first plate is connected to said second plate by hollow conduits.

5. The insulating foot pad of claim 2, wherein at least one pin of at least one of said first plate and said second plate snap into at least one hollow conduit on at least one of said first plate and said second plate.

6. The insulating foot pad of claim 5, wherein said at least on pin snaps through an aperture in at least one of said first plate and said second plate to contact said at least one hollow conduit.

7. The insulating foot pad of claim 1, wherein said insulating material is closed cell foam.

8. The insulating foot pad of claim 1, further comprising a recess in said first plate to capture the foot for the instrument.

9. The insulating foot pad of claim 1, further comprising at least one spike on a side of said bottom plate contacting the surface.

10. The insulating foot pad of claim 1, further comprising a rubberized facing on a side of said bottom plate contacting the surface.

11. The insulating foot pad of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first plate and said second plate are molded plastic.

12. The insulating foot pad of claim 11, wherein said at least one molded plastic plates has reinforcing ribs.

13. The insulating foot pad of claim 1, further comprising a handle.

14. An insulated foot pad for supporting an instrument on a surface comprising:

a first plate of a poor heat conducting material to contact a foot of the instrument;

a second plate of a poor heat conducting material to contact the surface;

an insulating material between the first plate and the second plate; and

means connecting the first plate to the second plate, the means comprising at least one hollow conduit and means to secure the at least one hollow conduit to the top plate and the bottom plate;

wherein the pad reduces the transfer of heat from the foot of the instrument to the surface.