Portable self-contained telescoping camera tower system for high angelimaging

• US 5,786,854 A
• Filed: 11/21/1995
• Issued: 07/28/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sky Technologies Incorporated (Albireo Energy LLC)
• Original Assignee: Tree Top Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Brogan, Torence P., Slade, Veronia V., Slade, Mark W., Nettik, Steven M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Faile, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu, Ngoc-Yen, VU, NGOC YEN T
• Application Number:
  US08/561,371
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• Field of Search: 348/373, 348/375, 348/376, 396/419, 396/427, 396/428, 352/243
• US Class Current: 348/373
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/18 with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2014 around a vertical axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/245 Members limiting spreading of legs, e.g. "umbrella legs" for supports with three or more telescoping legs F16M11/34
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/28 Undercarriages for supports with one single telescoping pillar

Abstract

A portable, self-contained telescoping camera tower system permits high angle imaging and rapid and smooth change of perspective. The camera tower is a stand-alone unit capable of being transported, set up and operated by a single individual and which provides steady advance and retreat of the tower over its full range of up and down movement. An arrangement of pulleys, bearing surfaces, and drive means, preferably with two power-up drives and a separate power-down drive, assures smooth operation though its full operating range

Claims

1. A portable, self-contained telescoping camera tower system for high angle imaging, comprising:

(a) a multi-segment, vertical mast including

(i) a base tubular segment having an interior surface on which bearing means are supported, an uppermost end, a lowermost end, and a pulley mounted at the uppermost end having an axis of rotation perpendicular to a first wall of the interior surface of the base tubular segment,

(ii) at least one intermediate tubular segment having a smaller cross sectional dimension than the base tubular segment, an interior surface on which bearing means are supported, an uppermost end, a lowermost end, and an exterior surface in contact with the bearing means on the base tubular segment;

the intermediate tubular segment having pulleys mounted at both the uppermost end and the lowermost end, the pulley mounted at the uppermost end having an axis of rotation perpendicular to a first wall of the interior surface of the intermediate tubular segment, and the pulley mounted at the lowermost end having an axis of rotation parallel to the first wall and having a line carrying groove extending at least partially through the first wall;

(iii) a terminal tubular segment of smaller cross sectional dimension than an adjacent intermediate tubular segment and having an uppermost end, a lowermost end, a first wall of an interior surface of the terminal tubular segment and an exterior surface in contact with bearing means on the adjacent intermediate tubular segment;

(iv) wherein the base tubular segment, the intermediate tubular segment and the terminal tubular segment form nested elements;

(b) a drive mechanism including

(i) a power unit located outside of the base tubular segment for driving at least one drum inside the base tubular segment,

(ii) at least one power-up drum engaged with the power unit to enable the drum to be rotated by it,

(iii) at least one line affixed at one end to the power-up drum and the other to the terminal tubular segment, the line being threaded though the pulley at the uppermost end of the base tubular segment, to the pulley at the lowermost end of an intermediate tubular segment, and to the pulley at the uppermost end of the intermediate tubular segment; and

(c) a control unit to control the operation of the power unit.

2. A portable, self-contained telescoping camera tower system for high angle imaging according to claim 1, wherein the tower system contains from 2 to 5 intermediate tubular segments telescoped together between the base tubular segment and the terminal tubular segment.

3. A portable, self-contained telescoping camera tower system for high angle imaging according to claim 1, wherein the tower extends to a height of from 20 to 60 feet.

4. A portable, self-contained telescoping camera tower system for high angle imaging according to claim 1, wherein pulleys are located at the lowermost ends of each intermediate and terminal tubular segment and each such pulley is paired with a parallel pulley mounted above it.

5. A portable, self-contained telescoping camera tower system for high angle imaging according to claim 1, which further includes shock absorber elements on each of the lowermost ends of the intermediate and the terminal tubular segments, and stops attached to the uppermost ends of the nested elements to cushion movement to a fully extended position.

6. A portable, self-contained telescoping camera tower system for high angle imaging according to claim 1, which further includes a power-down drum engaged with the power unit and a line attached to the power-down drum and the uppermost end of the terminal tubular segment whereby the powerdown drum can be rotated to withdraw the line and move the tower from an extended position to a less-extended position.

7. A portable, self-contained telescoping camera tower system for high angle imaging according to claim 1, which further includes a second power-up drum and associated pulleys and line that mirror the first power-up drum with its associated pulleys and line, wherein the pulleys associated with the second power-up drum are a side opposite the first wall of the nested elements.

8. A portable, self-contained telescoping camera tower system for high angle imaging according to claim 1, wherein the bearing means comprise L-shaped blocks positioned in the corners between adjacent sides of the tubular segments.

9. A portable, self-contained telescoping camera tower system for high angle imaging according to claim 8, wherein the L-shaped blocks extend substantially the full length of mating contact between any two segments.

10. A portable, self-contained telescoping camera tower system for high angle imaging according to claim 1, which further includes:

a power-down drum engaged with the power unit and a line attached to the power-down drum and the uppermost end of the terminal tubular segment whereby the power-down drum can be rotated to withdraw the line and move the tower from an extended position to a less-extended position; and

a second power-up drum and associated pulleys and line that mirror the first power-up drum with its associated pulleys and line, wherein the pulleys associated with the second power-up drum are a side opposite the first wall of the nested elements.