Camera stabilizer

• US 5,243,370 A
• Filed: 08/30/1988
• Issued: 09/07/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Slater, Dan
• Original Assignee: Slater, Dan
• Inventors: Slater, Dan
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes, Monroe H.
• Application Number:
  US07/238,834
• Time in Patent Office: 1,834 Days
• Field of Search: 352/243, 354/81, 354/82, 354/293, 248/123.1
• US Class Current: 352/243
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/045 adapted to left-right translation movement
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2092 comprising means allowing depth adjustment, i.e. forward-backward translation of the head relatively to the undercarriage
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/24 changeable in height or length of legs, also for transport only, e.g. by means of tubes screwed into each otherF16M11/42 takes precedence
• 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 13/04 for supporting on, or holding steady relative to, a person, e.g. by chains , e.g. rifle butt or pistol grip supports, supports attached to the chest or head apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs or for projecting or viewing them G03B
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/041 for balancing rotational movement of the head

Abstract

A camera stabilizer which can be carried by the camera operator having three masses, one of which is a camera, maintained in positions separate from one another by a frame. Because the three masses are separated, the stabilizer has a high angular moment of inertia making the camera stabilizer less susceptible to unwanted movement. A handle is attached to the frame at approximately the center of gravity of the camera stabilizer and has a gripping axis parallel to the plane of a camera mount.

Claims

1. A camera stabilizer adapted for carrying in one hand, comprising:

a frame section having a handle defining a holding axis and at least first, second and third peripheral mass support locations, wherein at least the second and third mass locations are spaced away from the holding axis and wherein the first mass location is distanced from a straight line drawn through the second and third mass locations;

a first mass supported at the first mass location;

a second mass supported at the second mass location; and

a camera mount located at the third mass location, said camera mount having a mounting surface substantially parallel to the holding axis, the camera mount for supporting a camera in a location in which the entire camera is spaced apart from the holding axis, said handle being positioned to include the center of gravity of the camera stabilizer when a camera is supported by the camera mount.

2. A camera stabilizer adapted for carrying in one hand, comprising:

comprising;

a first strut;

a camera mount, attached to a first end of said first strut and having a mounting plane, for receiving a camera;

a first mass attached to a second end of said first strut;

a second strut, a first end of said second strut being connected to the first strut between the camera mount and the first mass;

a second mass attached to a second end of the second strut; and

a handle located on the second strut and including the center of gravity of the stabilizer when a camera is mounted on the camera mount, said handle having a holding axis substantially parallel to the mounting plane of the camera mount.

3. A stabilizer as in claim 2 wherein the handle is comprised of a portion of the second strut.

4. A stabilizer as in claim 2 wherein the handle is comprised of a handle attached to the second strut and including the center of gravity of the stabilizer when a camera is mounted on the camera mount, the handle having at least one leg attached to the second strut and a top grasping portion.

5. A stabilizer as in claim 4 wherein the handle is T-shaped.

6. A stabilizer as in claim 4 wherein the top portion of the handle is substantially parallel to the second strut.

7. A stabilizer as in claim 5 wherein the top portion of the T-shaped handle has a lower surface facing the strut, wherein said lower surface is substantially flat.

8. A hand held camera stabilizer, comprising:

a frame including a handle portion which is gripped by an operator during use of the stabilizer, said handle portion having a gripping axis;

first and second stabilizing weights located on the frame and spaced from the handle; and

a camera mount located on the frame for securing a camera having a lens axis thereto, the camera mount being configured such that a camera is securable with its lens axis being substantially parallel to the gripping axis;

the camera and stabilizing weights defining three spaced masses, wherein the frame is configured such that one of the masses is located on the gripping axis and the other masses are spaced away from the gripping axis to provide moments of inertia in pitch, yaw and roll that are of substantially similar magnitude, wherein the frame has a first leg and a second leg, wherein one end of the first leg is attached to a mid-point of the second leg and the other end is free wherein the first weight is attached to the free end of the first leg, the second weight is attached to one end of the second leg and the camera mount is attached to the other end of the second leg, the camera mount securing a camera so that its lens axis is substantially parallel to the first leg, wherein the handle is located on the first leg;

wherein the handle portion is located so as to include the center of gravity of the combined frame, weight and camera assembly.

9. A stabilizer for an optical device such as a camera comprising:

a frame section having at least first, second and third separated peripheral mass locations and a support area located between the mass locations wherein the frame section is comprised of first and second substantially orthogonal struts, a first end of the first strut being connected to a mid-point of the second strut;

a mounting element having a substantially planar mounting surface located at the first mass location;

mass mounting means for supporting masses at the second and third mass locations, wherein when an optical device is secured to the mounting surface and masses are secured to the second and third mass locations, the stabilizer will have a center of gravity at the support area; and

an elongated handle element attached to the first strut at the support area of the frame section thereby to include the center of gravity and having a grasping axis which is substantially parallel to the plane of the mounting surface.

10. A portable camera stabilizer comprising

a plurality of masses, at least one of said masses being a camera;

a frame maintaining said masses in separated positions to provide a high angular moment of inertia of the camera stabilizer, said frame and masses including a support point at a location near the center of gravity thereof;

a sensor for sensing changes in the location of the center of gravity of the camera stabilizer with respect to the support point;

adjusting means for automatically adjusting the location of at least one of the support point or the center of gravity of the stabilizer in response to the sensor output to cause the center of gravity of the camera stabilizer to coincide with the support point.

11. The stabilizer of claim 10 wherein the sensor for at least one axis is a level sensor.

12. The stabilizer of claim 10 wherein the sensor for at least one axis detects torques applied to the handle.

13. A hand holdable, single support point stabilizer for an optical device such as a camera comprising:

a frame;

three masses attached to the frame at locations spaced from one another, at least one of said masses being a camera;

a handle attached to the frame near the center of gravity of the stabilizer;

a sensor for sensing when the handle and the center of gravity of the stabilizer do not coincide;

moving means for automatically moving the position of the handle toward the center of gravity in response to the output from the sensor.

14. A portable camera stabilizer comprising:

a plurality of masses, at least one of said masses being a camera;

a frame maintaining said masses in separated positions to provide a high angular moment of inertia of the camera stabilizer, said frame and masses including a support point at a location near the center of gravity thereof;

a sensor for sensing the orientation of the camera;

adjusting means for automatically adjusting the location of at least one of the support point or the center of gravity of the stabilizer in response to the sensor output to obtain a desired camera orientation.