Camera support systems

• US 4,849,778 A
• Filed: 09/23/1987
• Issued: 07/18/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panavision International LP (Panavision Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Panavision Incorporated
• Inventors: Samuelson, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): MATHEWS, ALAN A
• Application Number:
  US07/100,095
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 354/81, 354/293, 352/243, 248/364, 248/292.1, 248/123.1, 248/159, 248/281.1, 248/188.8, 248/188.4, 248/176, 248/648
• US Class Current: 396/428
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/18 with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2064 for tilting and panning F16M11/2078 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/24 changeable in height or length of legs, also for transport only, e.g. by means of tubes screwed into each otherF16M11/42 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/425 along guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/041 for balancing rotational movement of the head
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/044 for balancing rotational movement of the undercarriage

Abstract

The camera support system includes a support column and a boom arm mounted for pivotal movement on the support column by means of a fulcrum unit. The boom arm includes extension members which are detachably interconnectable thereto for selectively changing the length of the boom arm. The extension members when not used in the boom arm being optionally interconnected in the support column to increase the height of the column. The fulcrum unit is interchangeable with an interface unit for directly mounting a camera to the top of the support column for monopod type operation. A base assembly for the support column of the system includes interchangeable feet, rollers or casters whose heights can be individually adjusted.

Claims

1. A camera support system comprising a vertical support column and a boom arm mounted for pivotal movement on the support column, the boom arm having a free end for carrying a camera, the boom arm including at least one extension member detachably interconnectable thereto to extend the length of the boom arm, said extension member also being detachably interconnectable with the support column for selectively increasing the total height of such column, and two interchangeable central sections of different lengths are provided for the boom arm, said central sections being of stronger construction than the extension members and being selectively interchangeable in the support column.

2. The system of claim 1 comprising a plurality of extension members each adapted for selective interconnection with the boom arm or support column.

3. The system of claim 2 comprising extension members of differing lengths.

4. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 further comprising means for mounting weight lifters type weights to the end of the boom arm as a counter-balance assembly therefor.

5. The system of claim 1,2 or 3 comprising a generally "L"shaped camera support platform which is invertably mounted to the end of the boom arm.

6. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 further comprising a slewing ring interchangeable with the support column.

7. The camera support system of claim 1,2 or 3 including a fulcrum unit for pivotally mounting a boom arm to the support column and a camera interface unit for directly coupling the support column to a camera, said fulcrum and interface units being interchangeable with the upper end of the support column whereby the system may be used either in a crane type or in a monopod type configuration.

8. The camera support system of claim 7 wherein a main column member forming part of the support column is of adjustable length enabling fine adjustment of camera height.

11. The system of claim 1, 2, 3, 9 or 10 further comprising a camera interface unit for directly coupling the camera to the support column, such interface unit being interchangeable with a fulcrum unit for pivotally mounting the boom arm to the column, whereby the system may be used either in a crane type or monopod type configuration.

14. The camera support system of claim 1, 2, 3, 9, 10 or 12 including a base assembly for mounting the support column, said base assembly comprising means for interchangeably mounting thereon ground engaging feet or ground engaging multi-directional castors or track following rollers, said means being arranged so that the height of at least one said foot, castor, or roller with respect to the base assembly may be individually adjusted.

15. The camera support system of claim 14 wherein said track following rollers are of a bogey type and include pairs of rollers orientated with respect to one another so as to define an inverted "V" shape.

16. The camera support system of claim 14 wherein said base assembly includes legs extending outwardly from a central support member to which the column base is secured, the legs being pivotally mounted at their inner ends about substantially vertical axes for selectively extending for use and folding into a more compact configuration for storage.

9. A camera support system comprising a vertical support column and a boom arm mounted for pivotal movement on the support column, the boom arm having a free end for carrying a camera, the boom arm including at least one extension member detachably interconnectable thereto to extend the length of the boom arm, said member also being detachably interconnectable with the support column for selectively increasing the total height of such column, and a generally "L" shaped camera support platform which is invertably mounted to the end of the boom arm, wherein the camera support platform is pivotal about a horizontal axis with respect to the boom arm and is coupled to a fulcrum unit mounting the boom arm to the support column by means of a plurality of interengaged link members arranged so that the platform is pivoted in an equal and opposite sense to the boom arm so as to remain horizontal, the lengths of said link members matching the lengths of the extension members of the boom arm.

10. A camera support comprising a vertical support column, and a boom arm mounted for pivotal movement on the support column, the boom arm having a free end for carrying a camera, the boom arm including at least one extension member detachably interconnectable thereto to extend the length of the boom arm, and said member also being detachably interconnectable with the support column for selectively increasing the total height of such column, coupling means for interconnecting each extension member to the support column or boom arm or with other components of the system, said coupling means having matingly engaging male and female parts which are clamped together by means of a threaded locking ring, and a ratchet locking mechanism for cooperating with the ring in tis tightened condition to prevent loosening thereof, the ratchet mechanism being manually releasable when it is desired to disengage the ring to permit separation of the parts.

12. A camera support system comprising a vertical support column, a fulcrum unit for pivotally mounting a boom arm to the support column, a camera interface unit for directly coupling the support column to a camera, said fulcrum and interface units being interchangeably interconnectable with the upper end of the support column whereby the system may be used either in a crane type or in a monopod type configuration, coupling means for interconnecting the support column to the fulcrum or interface units, said coupling means having matingly engaging male and female parts which are clamped together by means of a threaded locking ring, and a ratchet locking mechanism which co-operating with the ring in tis tightened condition to prevent loosening thereof, the ratchet mechanism being manually releasable when it is desired to disengage the ring to permit separation of the parts.

13. The camera support system of claim 12 wherein a main column member forming part of the support column is of adjustable length enabling fine adjustment of camera height.