Attachment to a long lens support device which functions as both a ball head and a gimble head

• US 8,267,361 B1
• Filed: 10/18/2007
• Issued: 09/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acratech, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Acratech, Inc.
• Inventors: Dordick, Scott D.
• Primary Examiner(s): McKinnon, Terrell
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCDUFFIE, MICHAEL D
• Application Number:
  US11/975,304
• Time in Patent Office: 1,797 Days
• Field of Search: 248/181.1, 248/181.2, 248/178.1, 248/179.1, 248/288.31, 248/288.51, 396419-428, 348/373, 348/376
• US Class Current: 248/181.1
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/14 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06 ; adjustable mountings employing universal joints for lighting devices F21V21/26 - F21V21/30
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/022 by friction

Abstract

An attachment for a photographic instrument including a camera, comprising a transverse rotatable member having a top arcuate vertical support. A first top arcuate member is comprised of a gap and a second top arcuate member has an arcuate recess, wherein the top arcuate vertical support is connected to the respective first and second top arcuate member, which forms a seat as a housing of a universal joint. The universal joint is affixed to a shaft having a concentric bearing, which is further affixed to the camera mount, so that the camera mount can be rotated. A pin is affixed to the universal joint opposite to where the shaft is affixed. When the shaft having the bearing is downwardly and rotatably positioned inside of the recess, the pin is also upwardly positioned inside of the gap.

Claims

1. An attachment for a photographic instrument including a camera, comprising:

a. a bottom round base which is concentrically and rotatably connected to a transverse rotatable round member having a top vertical arcuate support, wherein the top vertical arcuate support is an arcuate shaped structure comprising an upper end and a lower end, the top arcuate vertical support at the lower end is connected to the transverse rotatable round member, wherein a projection of the upper end and lower end is aligned with a diameter of the transverse rotatable round member;

b. a first top arcuate member which is attached with a friction reduction member having a gap at its bottom side and an opening, a second top arcuate member, wherein the top arcuate vertical support of the transverse rotatable round member is connected to the respective transverse first and second top arcuate member, which forms a seat which functions as a housing of a universal joint, the second top arcuate member having an upper end and a lower end which are bridged by an arcuate recess;

c. a universal joint having a central channel, said universal joint is positioned inside of the seat and is connected to a restriction pin aligned with a diameter of the universal joint, and is further connected to one end of a shaft at an opposite side of the universal joint aligned with the diameter, wherein another end of the shaft is connected to a camera mount, a concentric bearing located on the shaft between the universal joint and the camera mount;

d. a removable pin; and

e. the shaft having the bearing is downwardly and rotatably positioned inside of the arcuate recess, accordingly the restriction pin is upwardly positioned inside of the gap of the friction reduction member, wherein the gap prevents the restriction pin from having a further upward movement, the restriction pin, the universal joint, the shaft having the bearing and the camera mount constructing a leverage wherein the bearing functions as a rotational support to provide a smooth rotation of the camera mount, the restriction pin functions as one end of the leverage which is positioned inside of the gap so as to apply a force to balance a weight of the camera which is attached to the camera mount, wherein the weight of the camera is applied to the camera mount to function as an opposite end of the leverage.

2. The attachment in accordance with claim 1 wherein structural components of the attachment are made with metals or metal alloys.

3. The attachment in accordance with claim 1 wherein structural components of the attachment are chemically and electrochemically coated.

4. The attachment in accordance with claim 1, wherein structural components of the attachment are made of non-metal materials.

5. The attachment in accordance with claim 1, wherein said removable pin is inserted into said opening of said first top arcuate member and said central channel of said universal joint so that said camera mount is rotatable relative to said removable pin which is positioned transverse to rotating directions of said camera mount.

6. An attachment for a photographic instrument including a camera, comprising:

a. a transverse rotatable round member having a top vertical support, wherein the top vertical support is comprised of an upper end and a lower end, the top vertical support is connected to the transverse rotatable round member, wherein a projection of the upper end and lower end is aligned with a diameter of the transverse rotatable round member;

b. a first top member which is attached with a friction reduction member having a gap at its bottom side and an opening, a second top member having an arcuate recess, wherein the top vertical support of the transverse rotatable round member is connected to the respective first and second top member, which forms a seat as a housing of a universal joint;

c. a universal joint is positioned inside of the seat and is connected to a restriction pin at one side of the universal joint, and is further connected to one end of a shaft at an opposite side of the universal joint, the opposite end of the shaft connected to a camera mount, a concentric bearing located on the shaft at a location between the ends of the shaft respectively connected to the universal joint and the camera mount; and

d. the shaft having the bearing is downwardly and rotatably positioned inside of the arcuate recess, accordingly the restriction pin is upwardly positioned inside of the gap of the friction reduction member attached to the first top member, wherein the gap prevents the pin from having a further upward movement, which thereby balances a weight of the camera which is attached to the camera mount.

7. The attachment in accordance with claim 6 wherein the attachment is further comprised of a bottom round base which is concentrically and rotatably connected to the transverse rotatable round member.

8. The attachment in accordance with claim 6 wherein structural components of the attachment are made with metals or metal alloys.

9. The attachment in accordance with claim 6 wherein structural components of the attachment are chemically and electrochemically coated.

10. The attachment in accordance with claim 6, wherein structural components of the attachment are made of non-metal materials.

11. The attachment in accordance with claim 6, wherein said removable pin is inserted into said opening of said first top member and said central channel of said universal joint so that said camera mount is rotatable relative to said pin which is positioned transverse to rotating directions of said camera mount.

12. The attachment in accordance with claim 8 further comprising:

a. a universal joint having a central channel; and

b. a removable pin extending through the central channel of the universal joint.

13. The attachment in accordance with claim 8 wherein said removable pin is inserted into said opening of said first top member and said central channel of said universal joint so that said camera mount is rotatable relative to said pin which is positioned transverse to rotating directions of said camera mount.