Panoramic camera mount

• US 8,827,576 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2012
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Really Right Stuff, LLC
• Original Assignee: Joseph Johnson
• Inventors: Johnson, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): FULLER, RODNEY EVAN
• Application Number:
  US13/569,055
• Publication Number:
  US 20120301131A1
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 396/428
• US Class Current: 396/428
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/065 using screw-thread elements F16B2/08 - F16B2/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/02 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/04 Means for attachment of apparatus; Means allowing adjustment of the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/08 around a vertical axis , e.g. panoramic heads F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/16 Details concerning attachment of head-supporting legs, with or without actuation of locking members thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2078 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/027 by friction
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/56 Accessories carrying-cases A45C11/38
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/561 Support related camera accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/566 Accessory clips, holders, shoes to attach accessories to camera if integral part of camera body G03B17/02
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 37/00 Panoramic or wide-screen photography; Photographing extended surfaces, e.g. for surveying; Photographing internal surfaces, e.g. of pipe

Abstract

A panoramic device includes a base member and a clamp member rotatably interconnected within a single plane of rotation with the base that includes a first rotatable knob to selectively inhibit the rotation of the clamp member with respect to the base. The upper surface includes a central region that is at a different elevation than another portion of the upper surface. The clamp includes a pair of opposed surfaces suitable to detachably secure a camera thereto. The one of the opposed surfaces is maintained in a fixed relationship with respect to the clamp member. The other one of the opposed surfaces is in a movable relationship with respect to the clamp member using a second rotatable knob. The first knob and the second knob are rotatably connected with respect to one another.

Claims

1. A panoramic device comprising:

(a) a base having a lower surface suitable for supporting said base;

(b) a first clamp member secured for rotation to said base and comprising a first clamp surface rotatable about a single axis substantially normal to said lower surface, said panoramic device being free from and incapable of said first clamp surface being said rotatable about an axis other than said single axis substantially normal to said lower surface;

(c) a second clamp member comprising a second clamp surface slidably secured to said first clamp member and movable by rotation of a first screw to approach said first clamp surface to clamp an article therebetween and movable by reversing rotation of said first screw to separate from said first clamp surface to release an article clamped between said first clamp surface and said second clamp member; and

(d) a second screw movable by rotation to selectively impede relative rotation of said first clamp member and said base, said first clamp member and said second clamp member not releasable from said base by movement of said second screw.

2. The panoramic device of claim 1 further comprising a bias mechanism that biases said second clamp member away from said first clamp surface.

3. The panoramic device of claim 2 wherein said bias mechanism includes at least one spring.

4. The panoramic device of claim 2 wherein said bias mechanism includes at least two springs.

5. The panoramic device of claim 1 wherein said first screw is in threaded engagement with said first clamp member.

6. The panoramic device of claim 5 wherein said first screw passes through a portion of said second clamp member.

7. The panoramic device of claim 6 further comprising a sleeve surrounding a portion of said first screw.

8. The panoramic device of claim 1 further comprising a knob attached to said first screw.

9. The panoramic device of claim 1 further comprising a level bubble visible at an upper surface of said panoramic device.

10. The panoramic device of claim 9 wherein said level bubble is approximately flush with the upper surface of said panoramic device.

11. The panoramic device of claim 1 wherein said second screw is in threaded engagement with said base.

12. The panoramic device of claim 11 wherein said second screw includes a knob attached thereto.

13. The panoramic device of claim 1 wherein said clamp surface includes a plurality of different elevations.

14. A panoramic device comprising:

(a) a base having a lower first surface suitable for supporting said base;

(b) a first clamp member secured for rotation to said base and comprising a first clamp surface rotatable about a single axis substantially normal to said lower first surface, said panoramic device being free from and incapable of said first clamp surface being said rotatable about an axis other than said single axis substantially normal to said lower surface;

(c) a second clamp member slidably secured to said first clamp member and movable by rotation of a first screw to approach said first clamp surface and clamp an article therebetween and movable by reversing rotation of said first screw to separate from said first clamp surface to release an article clamped between said first clamp surface and said second clamp member; and

(d) a movable member located within an outer periphery of said panoramic device to selectively impede relative rotation of said base and said first clamp member, and said movable member movable by rotation of a second screw in a first rotational direction to increasingly impede relative rotation of said first clamp member and said base, and said movable member movable by rotation of said second screw in a second rotational direction to decreasingly impede relative rotation of said first clamp member and said base.

15. The panoramic device of claim 14 further comprising a bias mechanism that biases said second clamp member away from said first clamp surface.

16. The panoramic device of claim 15 wherein said bias mechanism includes at least one spring.

17. The panoramic device of claim 16 wherein said bias mechanism includes at least two springs.

18. The panoramic device of claim 17 wherein said first screw passes through a portion of said second clamp member.

19. The panoramic device of claim 18 further comprising a sleeve surrounding a portion of said first screw.

20. The panoramic device of claim 19 further comprising a knob attached to said first screw.

21. The panoramic device of claim 14 wherein said first screw is in threaded engagement with said first clamp member.

22. The panoramic device of claim 14 further comprising a level bubble visible at an upper surface of said panoramic device.

23. The panoramic device of claim 22 wherein said level bubble is approximately flush with the upper surface of said panoramic device.

24. The panoramic device of claim 14 wherein said first clamp member and said second clamp member not releasable from said base by movement of said second screw.

25. A panoramic device comprising:

(a) a base having a lower first surface and an upper second surface;

(b) a first clamp member having an upper clamp surface and secured to said base for rotation within a single plane of rotation with respect to said upper second surface of said base, said upper clamp surface including a central region at a different elevation than another substantially parallel portion of said upper surface, said first clamp member including a first opposing surface, said panoramic device being free from and incapable of said upper clamp surface being said rotatable within a plane of rotation other than said single plane of rotation with respect to said upper second surface of said base;

(c) a second clamp member including a second opposing surface and movably engaged with said first clamp member;

(d) a first knob rotatably engaged with said first clamp member, said first knob rotatable to selectively move said second opposing surface farther from said first opposing surface and rotatable to selectively move said second opposing surface nearer said first opposing surface to secure an object between said first opposing surface and said second opposing surface; and

(e) a second knob rotatable to selectively inhibit rotation of said first clamp member with respect to said base, said first clamp member and said second clamp member not releasable from said base by movement of said second knob.

26. The panoramic device of claim 25 further including a bias mechanism that biases said second opposing surface to move further from said first opposing surface.

27. The panoramic device of claim 26 wherein said bias mechanism includes at least one spring.

28. The panoramic device of claim 26 wherein said bias mechanism includes at least two springs.

29. The panoramic device of claim 25 wherein said first knob comprises a screw in engagement with one of said first clamp member and said second clamp member.

30. The panoramic device of claim 29 wherein said screw passes through a portion of said second clamp member.

31. The panoramic device of claim 30 further comprising a sleeve surrounding a portion of said screw.

32. The panoramic device of claim 31 including a clamp knob attached to said screw.

33. The panoramic device of claim 25 further comprising a level bubble visible from a point spaced apart and substantially normal to said upper clamp surface of said first clamp member.

34. The panoramic device of claim 33 wherein said level bubble is approximately flush with the said upper surface of said first clamp member.

35. The clamp of claim 25 further including a movable member located within an outer periphery of said panoramic device to selectively impede relative rotation of said base and said first clamp member, and said movable member movable by rotation of said second knob in a first rotational direction to increasingly impede relative rotation of said first clamp member and said base, and said movable member movable by rotation of said second knob in a second rotational direction to decreasingly impede relative rotation of said first clamp member and said base.

36. A panoramic device comprising:

(a) a base member having a lower surface suitable to support said base;

(b) a clamp member having an upper surface rotatably within a single plane of rotation with said base, said panoramic device being free from and incapable of said upper surface being said rotatable with a plane different than said single plane of said rotation with said base;

(c) a first rotatable knob that selectively inhibits the rotation of said clamp member with respect to said base,

(d) said upper surface of said clamp member includes a central region that is at a different elevation than another portion of said upper surface;

(e) said clamp member including a pair of opposed surfaces suitable to detachably secure a camera thereto, wherein one of said opposed surfaces is maintained in a fixed relationship with respect to said clamp member, wherein the other one of said opposed surfaces is in a movable relationship with respect to said clamp member using a second rotatable knob;

(f) said clamp member not releasable from said base by movement of said second knob; and

(g) said clamp member includes an externally visible level bubble.

37. The clamp of claim 36 including a bias mechanism that biases said clamp in an unsecured position.

38. The clamp of claim 37 including a screw in engagement with one of said opposed surfaces.

39. The clamp of claim 38 wherein said screw passes through a portion of said clamp.

40. The clamp of claim 39 including a sleeve surrounding a portion of said screw.

41. The clamp of claim 40 including a knob attached to said screw.

42. The clamp of claim 36 wherein said bias mechanism includes at least one spring.

43. The clamp of claim 36 wherein said bias mechanism includes at least two springs.

44. The clamp of claim 36 further including a movable member located within an outer periphery of said panoramic device to selectively impede relative rotation of said base and said clamp member, and said movable member movable by rotation of said first rotatable knob in a first rotational direction to increasingly impede relative rotation of said clamp member and said base, and said movable member movable by rotation of said first rotatable knob in a second rotational direction to decreasingly impede relative rotation of said clamp member and said base.