Dual-stage quick release leg and tripod
First Claim
1. A telescoping leg assembly for supporting a head comprising, in combination,an elongated upper leg portion adapted to be secured to the head at its upper end, an elongated middle leg portion having an upper end and a lower end, the upper and middle leg portions being slidably coupled for telescoping relative movement over a middle leg adjustment range, an elongated lower leg portion, the middle and lower leg portions being slidably coupled for telescoping relative movement, a lower lock assembly for releasably securing the middle leg portion and the lower leg portion, an actuation mechanism for actuating the lower lock assembly from the upper end of the upper leg portion, said actuation mechanism including an elongated torque shaft having an upper end and a lower end and having an axis disposed substantially parallel the upper leg portion, said torque shaft having a uniform cross section over the middle leg adjustment range, said shaft cross section having an actuation key, a crank for selectively rotating the torque shaft about its axis, said crank being disposed substantially adjacent the upper end of the upper leg portion, a transfer support secured to the upper end of the middle leg portion, said transfer support having a passage therethrough for slidably receiving the torque shaft as the middle leg portion and the transfer support move relative to the upper leg portion, a slide crank disposed within the transfer support engaging the actuation key of the torque shaft such that rotation of the torque shaft about its axis pivots the slide crank, said slide crank being coupled to the lower lock assembly whereby pivotal movement of the slide crank actuates said lower lock assembly.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A leg for a dual stage tripod including a mechanism for actuating the lower lock assembly from the upper end of the leg. The leg includes telescoping upper (46), middle (48), and lower (50) leg portions, and upper and lower lock assemblies for coupling the upper and middle leg portions together, and the middle and lower leg portions together, respectively. An elongated torque shaft (270) extends substantially parallel the upper leg portion, downward from the upper end of the leg to a transfer assembly coupled to the upper end of the middle leg portion. The transfer assembly is coupled to the lower lock assembly disposed at the lower end of the middle leg portion such that rotation of the torque shaft about its longitudinal axis results in an actuating force which actuates the lower lock assembly.
49 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A telescoping leg assembly for supporting a head comprising, in combination,
an elongated upper leg portion adapted to be secured to the head at its upper end, an elongated middle leg portion having an upper end and a lower end, the upper and middle leg portions being slidably coupled for telescoping relative movement over a middle leg adjustment range, an elongated lower leg portion, the middle and lower leg portions being slidably coupled for telescoping relative movement, a lower lock assembly for releasably securing the middle leg portion and the lower leg portion, an actuation mechanism for actuating the lower lock assembly from the upper end of the upper leg portion, said actuation mechanism including an elongated torque shaft having an upper end and a lower end and having an axis disposed substantially parallel the upper leg portion, said torque shaft having a uniform cross section over the middle leg adjustment range, said shaft cross section having an actuation key, a crank for selectively rotating the torque shaft about its axis, said crank being disposed substantially adjacent the upper end of the upper leg portion, a transfer support secured to the upper end of the middle leg portion, said transfer support having a passage therethrough for slidably receiving the torque shaft as the middle leg portion and the transfer support move relative to the upper leg portion, a slide crank disposed within the transfer support engaging the actuation key of the torque shaft such that rotation of the torque shaft about its axis pivots the slide crank, said slide crank being coupled to the lower lock assembly whereby pivotal movement of the slide crank actuates said lower lock assembly.
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13. A leg for a tripod comprising, in combination,
an elongated upper leg portion having an upper end and a lower end and being adapted to be secured to a tripod head at its upper end, an upper housing guide secured to the lower end of said upper leg portion and having an upper housing guide passage, a middle leg portion having a uniform cross section through a middle leg adjustment range, said upper housing guide passage closely receiving said middle leg uniform cross section in sliding relationship so that said upper and middle leg portions can slide longitudinally and adjust the total leg length, an upper lock assembly for releasably securing the upper and middle leg portions together to prevent relative sliding movement, a lower housing guide secured to the lower end of said middle leg portion and having a lower housing guide passage, a lower leg portion having a uniform cross section through a lower leg adjustment range, said lower housing guide passage closely receiving said lower leg uniform cross section in sliding relationship so that said middle and lower leg portions can slide longitudinally and adjust the total leg length, a lower lock assembly for releasably securing the middle and lower leg portions together to prevent relative sliding movement, an actuation mechanism for actuating the lower lock assembly from the upper end of the upper leg portion, said actuation mechanism including an elongated torque shaft having an upper end and a lower end and having an axis disposed substantially parallel the upper leg portion, said torque shaft having a uniform cross section over a middle leg portion adjustment range, said shaft cross section having an actuation key, a crank for rotating the torque shaft about its axis, said crank being disposed substantially adjacent the upper end of the torque shaft, a transfer housing secured to the upper end of the middle leg portion, said transfer housing having a passage therethrough for slidably receiving the torque shaft as the middle leg portion and the transfer housing move relative to the upper leg portion, a slide crank disposed within the transfer housing engaging the actuation key of the torque shaft such that rotation of the torque shaft about its axis pivots the slide crank, said slide crank being coupled to the lower lock assembly whereby pivotal movement of the slide crank actuates said lower lock assembly.
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22. A tripod comprising, in combination,
a tripod head, three elongated leg assemblies coupled at their upper ends to said head, each said leg assembly having an upper leg portion, a middle leg portion slidably coupled to the upper leg portion for selectively extending the length of the leg assembly over a middle leg adjustment range, a lower leg portion slidably coupled to the middle leg portion for selectively extending the length of the leg assembly over a lower leg adjustment range, an upper lock assembly for releasably securing the associated middle and upper leg portions together to prevent relative movement therebetween, a lower lock assembly for releasably securing the associated lower and middle leg portions together to prevent relative movement therebetween, an actuation mechanism for actuating the lower lock assembly in at least one of the leg assemblies from the upper end of said leg assembly, said actuation mechanism including an elongated torque shaft having an upper end and a lower end and having an axis disposed substantially parallel the upper leg portion of said leg, said torque shaft having a uniform cross section over the middle leg adjustment range, said shaft cross section having an actuation key, a crank for rotating the torque shaft about its axis, said crank being disposed substantially adjacent the upper end of the upper leg portion of said leg such that pivoting the crank rotates the torque shaft about its axis, a transfer support secured to the upper end of the middle leg portion, said transfer support having a passage therethrough for slidably receiving the torque shaft as the middle leg portion and the transfer support move relative to the upper leg portion, a slide crank disposed within the transfer housing engaging the actuation key of the torque shaft such that rotation of the torque shaft about its axis pivots the slide crank, said slide crank being coupled to the lower lock assembly whereby pivotal movement of the slide crank actuates said lower lock assembly.
Specification