Gimbal mechanism

• US 7,124,656 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2004
• Issued: 10/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jerry J. Miller
• Original Assignee: Jerry J. Miller
• Inventors: Miller, Jerry J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, Tisha
• Application Number:
  US10/942,541
• Publication Number:
  US 20060053912A1
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 74/5.R, 74/51, 74/52.2, 74/53.4, 74/58, 74/59, 74/5.F
• US Class Current: 74/5.1
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/08 around a vertical axis , e.g. panoramic heads F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2021 around a horizontal axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1204 with caging or parking means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1214 with gimbal lock preventing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1286 Vertical gyroscopes

Abstract

Provided is a gimbal mechanism comprising a support stand, an outer frame and an inner frame. The support stand includes a spaced pair of L-shaped legs comprising a first member having at least one first slot formed therethrough. The outer frame is nested within the support stand and comprises outer frame sides joined to outer frame ends. Each one of the outer frame sides is pivotally engagable to the first slot of an adjacent one of the first members such that the outer frame is selectively angularly and laterally positionable relative to the support stand. The inner frame is nested within the outer frame and comprises inner frame ends joined to inner frame sides. Each one of the inner frame ends is pivotally engagable to an adjacent one of the outer frame ends such that the inner frame is selectively angularly adjusted relative to the outer frame about an inner frame axis.

Claims

1. A gimbal mechanism, comprising:

a support stand having a pair of legs disposed in spaced parallel relation to one another, each one of the legs including an elongate first member joined to an elongate second member extending laterally outwardly therefrom, each one of the first members having a first slot formed therethrough;

a square-shaped outer frame nested within the support stand and having a spaced pair of outer frame sides joined to a spaced pair of outer frame ends, each one of the outer frame sides being pivotally engagable to the first slot of an adjacent one of the first members such that the outer frame may be selectively angularly positioned relative to the support stand about an outer frame axis, the outer frame being slidable within and laterally positionable along a length of the first slots; and

a square-shaped inner frame nested within the outer frame and having a spaced pair of inner frame ends joined to a spaced pair of inner frame sides, each one of the inner frame ends being pivotally engagable to an adjacent one of the outer frame ends such that the inner frame may be selectively angularly adjusted relative to the outer frame about an inner frame axis.

2. The gimbal mechanism of claim 1 wherein each one of the second members is oriented perpendicularly relative to the first member from which it extends.

3. The gimbal mechanism of claim 1 wherein the first slot extends at least partially along a length of the first member.

4. The gimbal mechanism of claim 1 wherein each one of the first members has a plurality of the first slots formed therethrough.

5. The gimbal mechanism of claim 1 further comprising a pair of mechanical fasteners, each one of the mechanical fasteners passing through the first slot and engaging an adjacent one of the first members.

6. The gimbal mechanism of claim 5 wherein the mechanical fastener is operative to cause slight relative axial motion between and frictional engagement of at least one of the first members to the adjacent one of the outer frame sides for locking the angular and lateral position of the outer frame relative to the support stand.

7. The gimbal mechanism of claim 6 wherein:

each one of the outer frame sides includes a threaded hole disposed approximately midway therealong;

each one of the mechanical fasteners being configured as a screw passing through the first slot and engaging the threaded hole of an adjacent one of the first members.

8. The gimbal mechanism of claim 1 further comprising a substrate mounted on the inner frame.

9. The gimbal mechanism of claim 8 wherein the substrate is configured as a circuit board.

10. The gimbal mechanism of claim 9 further comprising a camera lens mounted on the circuit board.

11. The gimbal mechanism of claim 1 further comprising an elongate base member extending between and joining the second members.

12. The gimbal mechanism of claim 11 wherein the base member includes a pair of elongate base slots extending along a length thereof and disposed in end-to-end relationship with one another for laterally positioning the support stand relative to a mounting surface.

13. The gimbal mechanism of claim 1 further comprising a pair of pivot mechanisms, each one of the pivot mechanisms being operative to engage at least one of the inner frame ends with an adjacent one of the outer frame ends such that the pivot mechanisms maintain an angular position of the inner frame relative to the outer frame.

14. The gimbal mechanism of claim 1 wherein a spacing between the first members is substantially equivalent to a width of the outer frame as measured across the outer frame sides.

15. The gimbal mechanism of claim 1 wherein a spacing between the outer frame ends is substantially equivalent to a width of the inner frame as measured across the inner frame ends.

16. A gimbal mechanism, consisting of:

a support stand having a pair of legs disposed in spaced parallel relation to one another, each one of the legs including an elongate first member joined to an elongate second member extending perpendicularly outwardly therefrom, each one of the first members having three first slots disposed in spaced relation to one another, the support stand further including an elongate base member extending between and joining the second members, the first and second members and base member being integrally formed as a unitary structure;

a square-shaped outer frame nested within the support stand and having a spaced pair of outer frame sides integrally formed with a spaced pair of outer frame ends, each one of the outer frame sides being pivotally engagable to one of the first slots of an adjacent one of the first members such that the outer frame may be selectively angularly positioned relative to the support stand about an outer frame axis, the outer frame being slidable within and laterally positionable along a length of the first slots; and

a square-shaped inner frame nested within the outer frame and having a spaced pair of inner frame ends integrally formed with a spaced pair of inner frame sides, each one of the inner frame ends being pivotally engagable to an adjacent one of the outer frame ends such that the inner frame may be selectively angularly adjusted relative to the outer frame about an inner frame axis.

17. The gimbal mechanism of claim 16 wherein the first slots extends at least partially along a length of the first member.

18. The gimbal mechanism of claim 16 wherein:

the support stand includes a pair of mechanical fasteners;

each one of the outer frame sides includes a threaded hole disposed approximately midway therealong;

each one of the mechanical fasteners passing through one of the first slots and engaging the threaded hole of an adjacent one of the first members;

each one of the mechanical fasteners being operative to cause slight relative axial motion between and frictional engagement of the first members to the outer frame sides for locking the angular and lateral position of the outer frame relative to the support stand.

19. The gimbal mechanism of claim 16 wherein:

the inner frame includes a circuit board mounted thereon;

the circuit board having a camera lens mounted thereon.

20. The gimbal mechanism of claim 16 wherein the base member includes a pair of elongate base slots extending along a length thereof and disposed in end-to-end relationship with one another for laterally positioning the support stand relative to a mounting surface.

21. The gimbal mechanism of claim 16 wherein the inner frame includes a pair of pivot mechanisms, each one of the pivot mechanisms being operative to engage at least one of the inner frame ends with an adjacent one of the outer frame ends such that the pivot mechanisms maintain an angular position of the inner frame relative to the outer frame.