Quick attachment system

• US 5,222,826 A
• Filed: 03/08/1991
• Issued: 06/29/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HAMA Hamaphot KG Hanke & Thomas
• Original Assignee: HAMA Hamaphot KG Hanke & Thomas
• Inventors: Hanke, Rudolph
• Primary Examiner(s): Reese, Randolph A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIM, HARRY CHONG HYUN
• Application Number:
  US07/666,863
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 248/187, 248/177, 403/381, 403/322, 403/324, 354/293
• US Class Current: 403/381
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/30 Dovetail-like connections
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• 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: Y10T 403/595 Lever

Abstract

Quick attachment system for an appliance or instrument, e.g. a camera, with a mounting support and an insert connected to the appliance, which carries on its upper boundary surface the appliance to be fixed and is so insertable in the mounting support that, in the inserted state, the upper boundary surface of the insert is located substantially below the upper boundary surface of the mounting support, accompanied by the bracing of the appliance bottom against the upper boundary surface of the mounting support, characterized in that the insert has a square ground plan and trapezoidal cross-section, that the insert can be connected by a separate fastening screw and a twisting-preventing pin to the appliance or is constructed in one piece therewith, that an eccentric lever acting directly on the insert is provided for securing purposes, that the upper boundary surface of the insert is 0.5 to 1 mm below the upper boundary surface of the mounting support in the inserted state and that the outer portions of the underside of the appliance facing the insert in the inserted state engages on a much broader contour compared with the upper boundary surface of the insert, on the upper boundary surface of the mounting support.

Claims

1. Quick attachment system for an appliance or instrument, e.g. a camera, having a relatively broad appliance bottom, comprising a mounting support having an opening, an insert disposed in said opening, securing means for securing said insert to the appliance or instrument, said insert having a substantially flat uppermost surface and being trapezoidal in cross-section, an eccentric lever (7) attached to said mounting support and acting directly on said insert for securing said insert in said opening, said mounting support having an uppermost boundary surface (8) and said uppermost surface (4) of said insert (1) being located 0.5 to 1 mm below said boundary surface (8) of said mounting support (6), said uppermost surface of said insert and said boundary surface (8) of said mounting support (6) having a smaller contour than said relatively broad appliance bottom, said uppermost boundary surface (8) being engageable with said appliance bottom and said securing means (2) extending upwardly from said uppermost boundary surface (8).

2. Quick attachment system according to claim 1, wherein said insert (1) is disposed in said opening (9) in the mounting support (6) from a side of said opening, and said opening corresponds to the contour of said insert 1.