Gimbaled handle stabilizing controller assembly

• US 8,714,744 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2010
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garrett W. Brown, Nigel J. Greaves
• Original Assignee: Garrett W. Brown, Nigel J. Greaves
• Inventors: Greaves, Nigel J., Brown, Garrett W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dowling, William C
• Application Number:
  US12/899,084
• Publication Number:
  US 20110080563A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,308 Days
• Field of Search: 353/243, 248/274.1, 248/660, 248/585, 248/542, 318/649, 318/648, 318/638, 89/410.5, 89/410.2, 396/55, 396/421, 396/428, 348/373, 348/376, 352/243
• US Class Current: 352/243
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/123 the axis of rotation intersecting in a single point, e.g. by using gimbals
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/04 for supporting on, or holding steady relative to, a person, e.g. by chains , e.g. rifle butt or pistol grip supports, supports attached to the chest or head apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs or for projecting or viewing them G03B
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/041 for balancing rotational movement of the head
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/00 Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor lens hoods or caps G03B11/04
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/561 Support related camera accessories

Abstract

A stabilizing controller to balance, support and orient a device. The stabilizing controller includes a gimbal assembly positioned at the center of balance of the stabilizing controller with the device attached, A handle is disposed around the gimbal assembly. A center post is coincident with at least a portion of the centerline of the gimbal apparatus and has a longitudinal balancing axis Z. Motion about at least one of the mutually perpendicular X-axis, Y-axis, and the Z-axis is isolated from the motion of the other axes via one or more assemblies comprising resilient components.

Claims

1. A stabilizing controller to balance, support and orient a device, the stabilizing controller comprising:

a gimbal assembly positioned at the center of balance of the stabilizing controller with the device attached;

a handle disposed around the gimbal assembly;

the gimbal assembly comprising an outer gimbal ring;

a center post coincident with the centerline balancing axis of the gimbal apparatus and having a longitudinal balancing axis Z, the center post attached such that motion about each of an X-axis, Y-axis, and the Z-axis, the three of which are mutually perpendicular to one another, is isolated from the motion of the other axes;

one or more assemblies to control rotational motion about at least one of the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis; and

wherein motion about the Z-axis about the center post is controlled by an assembly having one or more springs wherein a first end of each spring is connected to the handle and the second end of each spring is connected to the outer gimbal ring.

2. The stabilizing controller of claim 1 wherein the gimbal assembly comprises:

a post mounting sleeve;

an inner gimbal ring; and

an outer gimbal ring;

wherein the post mounting sleeve is disposed around the center post and within the inner gimbal ring and is rotationally connected to the inner gimbal ring; and

the inner gimbal ring is disposed within and rotationally connected to the outer gimbal ring; and

wherein the handle is disposed around and is rotational connected to the gimbal assembly.

3. The stabilizing controller of claim 1:

wherein the gimbal assembly has an inner gimbal ring and the stabilizing controller comprises;

a pan bearing assembly having an inner race component and an outer race component, the pan bearing assembly disposed around the outer gimbal ring and within the handle;

wherein the pan bearing assembly inner race component is attached to the outer gimbal ring; and

the pan bearing assembly outer race component is attached to the handle.

4. The stabilizing controller of claim 1 wherein:

the gimbal assembly has an inner gimbal ring connected to the outer gimbal ring;

the outer gimbal ring extends at least partially downward through the handle;

the handle has a device by which an operator can impede or stop the relative rotation of the handle with respect to the outer gimbal ring; and

wherein the device is a button, which when depressed engages the inner gimbal ring.

5. The stabilizing controller of claim 1 wherein motion about the Z-axis about the center post is controlled by an assembly having:

a pan shaft disposed coincident with at least a portion of the longitudinal centerline of the handle;

a gimbal shaft disposed coincident with at least a portion of the longitudinal centerline of the handle;

a resilient strip having a first end and a second end, the first end attached to the pan shaft; and

the second end attached the gimbal shaft.

6. A method of balancing and stabilizing a device comprising:

attaching a device to a stabilizing controller according to claim 1.

7. The stabilizing controller of claim 1 configured for use with an image-capture device weighing in the range of about 0.2 lbs to about 1.5 lbs.

8. A stabilizing controller to balance, support and orient a device, the stabilizing controller comprising:

a gimbal assembly positioned at the center of balance of the stabilizing controller with the device attached;

a handle disposed around the gimbal assembly;

a center post coincident with the centerline balancing axis of the gimbal apparatus and having a longitudinal balancing axis Z, the center post attached such that motion about each of an X-axis, Y-axis, and the Z-axis, the three of which are mutually perpendicular to one another, is isolated from the motion of the other axes; and

one or more assemblies to control rotational motion about at least one of the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis; and

wherein the assembly to control rotational motion about the Z-axis includes;

a resilient component having a first end and a second end;

the resilient component first end attached to a pan shaft and the resilient component second end attached to a gimbal shaft.

9. A stabilizing controller to balance, support and orient a device, the stabilizing controller comprising:

a gimbal assembly positioned at the center of balance of the stabilizing controller with the device attached, the gimbal assembly comprising an outer gimbal ring;

a handle disposed around the gimbal assembly;

a center post coincident with the centerline balancing axis of the gimbal apparatus and having a longitudinal balancing axis Z, the center post attached such that motion about each of an X-axis, Y-axis, and the Z-axis, the three of which are mutually perpendicular to one another, is isolated from the motion of the other axes;

one or more assemblies to control rotational motion about at least one of the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis;

wherein the gimbal assembly has an inner gimbal ring connected to the outer gimbal ring;

the outer gimbal ring extends at least partially downward through the handle;

the handle has a device by which an operator can impede or stop the relative rotation of the handle with respect to the outer gimbal ring; and

wherein the device is a button, which when depressed engages the inner gimbal ring.