Sectional camera platform

• US 6,375,368 B1
• Filed: 10/16/2000
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Charles S. Salvato, Nicholas C. Salvato
• Original Assignee: Charles S. Salvato, Nicholas C. Salvato
• Inventors: Salvato, Charles S., Salvato, Nicholas C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gray, David M.
• Application Number:
  US09/688,589
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 396/1, 396/419, 248/187.1
• US Class Current: 396/419
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/00 Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor lens hoods or caps G03B11/04

Abstract

A sectional camera platform (1) is generally circular with a platform floor (2) that is preferably grated for vertical visibility and surrounded by a kick plate (3) about ankle height. A back portion of the platform is a worker cage (17) surrounded by guard railing (18). At a center of the platform is a detachable camera post (14) on which a camera (15) can swivel with unobstructed view over front and side portions. A worker seat can be positioned proximate the camera post. The platform is attachable adaptively to a wide selection of lifting, handling and mobile equipment that includes aerial booms (20), lift forks, cranes, truck beds, swivel beds, levelers and surface cinematographic equipment. The platform is made in sections which are assembled for its use and disassembled for its storage and transport. A desired selection of electrical power and peripheral scene-shooting equipment can be provided for use on or in proximity to the platform.

Claims

1. A sectional camera platform comprising:

a platform floor surrounded by a kick plate extended upwardly to about ankle height above a top side of outside edges of the platform floor;

the platform floor having floor sections that are sized, shaped and structured predeterminedly for being joined for on-site cinematography and disjoined for storage and transport;

platform attachments on the platform floor for attachment of predetermined equipment fasteners with which platform-maneuvering equipment is fastened to the camera platform;

a camera-post attachment predeterminedly proximate a center of the platform floor;

guard railing positioned at predetermined outside edges of a cage for workers on the platform floor;

the guard railing having railing sections extended upwardly to about waist height above the top side of the outside edges of the floor; and

the cage being oppositely disposed from a view extension of the platform floor.

2. The sectional camera platform of claim 1 wherein:

the platform is generally round with the cage generally aft of the view extension.

3. The sectional camera platform of claim 1 wherein:

the platform floor is grating with predetermined spacing for vertical visibility between orthogonally disposed grate members.

4. The sectional camera platform of claim 1 wherein:

the floor sections include joining edges having attachment rods adjacent to attachment rods of joining edges of adjacent floor sections.

5. The sectional camera platform of claim 4 wherein:

the floor sections have support rods intermediate the attachment rods, said attachment rods being connected to the kick plate.

6. The sectional camera platform of claim 4 wherein:

the attachment rods of the joining edges of the adjacent floor sections are joinable with predetermined fasteners for which the attachment rods have mating fastener construction.

7. The sectional camera platform of claim 6 wherein:

the platform attachments are proximate joined portions of the attachment rods that are adjacent.

8. The sectional camera platform of claim 7 wherein:

the platform attachments include fastener housings with fastener-shaft receptacles on predetermined attachment portions of the sectional camera platform.

20. The sectional camera platform of claim 1 and further comprising:

a pivot axle intermediate a pivot base on a platform attachment and a pivot attachment on the platform floor;

the platform attachment being in rotational reaction to a pivot gear on a pivot motor that is attached to the pivot base for selective-direction rotation of gear teeth on the pivot attachment; and

the pivot gear being matched to the gear teeth.

9. A sectional camera platform comprising:

a generally round platform floor surrounded by a kick plate extended upwardly a predetermined distance above a top side of outside edges of the platform floor;

the platform floor having floor sections that are sized, shaped and structured predeterminedly for being joined for assembly and disjoined for disassembly;

platform attachments on the platform floor for attachment of predetermined platform-maneuvering equipment to the camera platform;

a camera-post attachment predeterminedly proximate a center of the platform floor;

guard railing positioned at predetermined outside edges of a cage for workers on the platform floor;

the guard railing having railing sections extended upwardly to about waist height above the top side of the outside edges of the floor;

the cage being oppositely disposed from a view extension of the platform floor;

the floor sections include joining edges having attachment rods adjacent to attachment rods of joining edges of adjacent floor sections; and

the attachment rods of the joining edges of the adjacent floor sections are joinable with predetermined fasteners for which the attachment rods have mating fastener construction.

10. The sectional camera platform of claim 9 wherein:

the platform floor is a grate with predetermined spacing between orthogonally disposed grate members.

11. The sectional camera platform of claim 9 wherein:

the platform attachments include fastener housings with fastener-shaft receptacles on predetermined attachment portions of the sectional camera platform.

12. A sectional camera platform comprising:

a cage for workers juxtaposed to a view extension for photographic view from a camera;

a platform floor of the cage;

a platform floor of the view extension;

cage railing surrounding the cage;

platform sections with which the sectional camera platform is constructed to be assembled for cinematographic use and disassembled for storage and transport;

platform attachments on the sectional camera platform for attachment of predetermined platform-maneuvering equipment to the sectional camera platform; and

a camera-post attachment predeterminedly intermediate the cage and view extension.

13. The sectional camera platform of claim 12 wherein:

the platform is generally round with the cage and the view extension having platform-floor areas that are oppositely disposed.

14. The sectional camera platform of claim 12 wherein:

the platform floor is a grate with predetermined spacing between orthogonally disposed grate members.

15. The sectional camera platform of claim 12 wherein:

the platform sections include joining edges having attachment rods adjacent to attachment rods of joining edges of adjacent platform sections.

16. The sectional camera platform of claim 15 wherein:

the floor sections have support rods intermediate the attachment rods, said attachment rods being connected to the kick plate.

17. The sectional camera platform of claim 15 wherein:

the attachment rods of the joining edges of the adjacent platform sections are joinable with predetermined fasteners for which the attachment rods have mating fastener construction.

18. The sectional camera platform of claim 15 wherein:

the attachments are proximate joined portions of the attachment rods that are adjacent.

19. The sectional camera platform of claim 17 wherein:

the platform attachments include fastener housings with fastener-shaft orifices on predetermined attachment portions of the sectional camera platform.

21. The sectional camera platform of claim 12 and further comprising:

a pivot axle intermediate a pivot base on a platform attachment and a pivot attachment on the platform floor;

the platform attachment being in rotational reaction to a pivot gear on a pivot motor that is attached to the pivot base for selective-direction rotation of gear teeth on the pivot attachment; and

the pivot gear being matched to the gear teeth.