Miniature mounting apparatus

• US 8,087,836 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2009
• Issued: 01/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vitec Holdings Italia Srl (Vitec Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Joby Photo Incorporated
• Inventors: Bevirt, JoeBen
• Primary Examiner(s): FULLER, RODNEY EVAN
• Application Number:
  US12/638,962
• Publication Number:
  US 20100220992A1
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: 396/428
• US Class Current: 396/428
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/32 Undercarriages for supports with three or more telescoping legs
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/40 by means of coilable or bendable legs or spiral shaped legs
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable

Abstract

A miniature tripod assembly adapted to mount to the bottom of a camera, or other device, and to be small enough to fit within the profile of the device. The miniature tripod assembly may use ball and socket joint connectors which, when interconnected, form a flexible assembly. In some embodiments, the ball and socket joint connectors utilize an over-molded strip around the outside of the connector to facilitate in their use for gripping. In some embodiments, device may use flexible and extendable legs.

Claims

1. A miniature tripod comprising:

an interconnect portion;

a plurality of flexible legs, said flexible legs comprising a first end and a second end, said first end connected to said interconnect portion said plurality of flexible legs connected to said interconnect portion such that said legs are coplanar in a first stowed position; and

a clip removably attached to said interconnect portion, said clip having a mounting plane adapted to face an item being mounted to,

wherein said plurality of flexible legs connected to said interconnect portion with a pivotable connection, wherein said pivotable connection can pivot said legs from a first stowed position in a direction parallel to the mounting plane of the clip to one or more deployed positions.

2. The miniature tripod of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of flexible legs comprises a plurality of connectors, said connectors comprising:

a connector body, said connector body comprising;

a first end portion;

a second end portion; and

a longitudinal axis extending from said first end portion to said second end portion;

a socket engaging end surface at said first end portion, said socket engaging end surface being the external surface at said first end portion; and

an internal receiving cavity at said second end portion.

3. The miniature tripod of claim 2 wherein said connector body further comprises a gripping portion, said gripping portion co-molded to said connector.

4. The miniature tripod of claim 3 wherein said gripping portion comprises a rubberized compound.

5. The miniature tripod of claim 4 wherein said gripping portion comprises a circumferential ring co-molded into the outer surface of said second end portion of said connector body.

6. The miniature tripod of claim 2 wherein said interconnect portion comprises a clip release.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said plurality of flexible legs consists of three legs.

8. The miniature tripod of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of flexible legs comprises a plurality of connectors, said connectors comprising:

a connector body, said connector body comprising;

a first end portion;

a second end portion; and

a longitudinal axis extending from said first end portion to said second end portion;

a socket engaging end surface at said first end portion, said socket engaging end surface being the external surface at said first end portion; and

an internal receiving cavity at said second end portion.

9. The miniature tripod of claim 8 wherein said connector body further comprises a gripping portion, said gripping portion co-molded to said connector.

10. The miniature tripod of claim 9 wherein said gripping portion comprises a rubberized compound.

11. A camera and tripod assembly comprising:

a camera, said camera having a bottom; and

a tripod, said tripod comprising;

an interconnect portion;

a plurality of flexible legs, said flexible legs comprising a first end and a second end, said first end connected to said interconnect portion, said plurality of flexible legs connected to said interconnect portion by one or more pivots such that said legs are coplanar in a first stowed position; and

a clip removably attached to said interconnect portion,

wherein said clip is attached to the bottom of said camera.

12. The camera and tripod assembly of claim 11 wherein the legs of said tripod are pivotable from a stowed position along the bottom of the camera to a deployed position away from the bottom of the camera.

13. The camera and tripod assembly of claim 12 wherein said plurality of flexible legs stow align aligned in a stowed position in a direction parallel to the mounting plane of the clip.

14. The camera and tripod assembly of claim 12 wherein said legs comprise extendable portions.