U.S. patent application number 13/487068 was filed with the patent office on 2013-05-09 for apparatuses and systems for supporting and positioning cameras and other equipment.
This patent application is currently assigned to Tocad America, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Richard Darrow. Invention is credited to Richard Darrow.
Application Number | 20130114951 13/487068 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39887103 |
Filed Date | 2013-05-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130114951 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Darrow; Richard |
May 9, 2013 |
APPARATUSES AND SYSTEMS FOR SUPPORTING AND POSITIONING CAMERAS AND
OTHER EQUIPMENT
Abstract
Apparatuses and systems for supporting and positioning cameras
and other equipment are disclosed herein. An apparatus for
supporting a camera in accordance with one embodiment of the
invention can include one or more bendable support members
extending from a camera holding portion. In this embodiment, each
of the bendable support members includes a plurality of shaped
outer portions arranged on an elongate, bendable core. In one
embodiment, the bendable core can include a plastically deformable
material that retains its shape after being bent with little or no
spring-back, and each of the shaped outer portions can include
spherical portions formed from a resilient, elastomeric
material.
Inventors: |
Darrow; Richard; (Denville,
NJ) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Darrow; Richard |
Denville |
NJ |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Tocad America, Inc.
Rockaway
NJ
|
Family ID: |
39887103 |
Appl. No.: |
13/487068 |
Filed: |
June 1, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11741545 |
Apr 27, 2007 |
8197149 |
|
|
13487068 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
396/428 ;
248/176.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16M 11/36 20130101;
F16M 11/40 20130101; F16M 11/14 20130101; F16M 13/00 20130101; G03B
17/561 20130101; F16M 11/041 20130101; F16M 13/022 20130101; F16M
11/00 20130101; F16M 2200/022 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
396/428 ;
248/176.3 |
International
Class: |
G03B 17/56 20060101
G03B017/56; F16M 11/00 20060101 F16M011/00 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for supporting a camera, the apparatus comprising:
an adjustable camera holding portion having a camera engagement
feature configured to releasably engage a camera; and a plurality
of formable legs, wherein each of the formable legs includes: a
first end portion operably coupled to the cameral holding portion
and a second end portion spaced apart from the first end portion to
define a space therebetween; an elongate bendable member extending
between the first and second end portions; and a plurality of
spherical portions consecutively arranged on the elongate bendable
member in the space between the first and second end portions.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the elongate bendable member
includes a material that retains its shape after forming with
little or no spring-back.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the spherical portions
includes a resilient material.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the elongate bendable member
includes a plastically deformable material, and wherein each of the
spherical portions includes an elastomeric material.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the elongate bendable member
extends through the center of each of the spherical portions.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of spherical
portions include at least first and second spherical portions,
wherein the first spherical portion has a first convex surface and
the second spherical portion has a second convex surface, and
wherein the first convex surface contacts the second convex
surface.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of spherical
portions include at least first, second, and third spherical
portions, wherein the second spherical portion contacts the first
and third spherical portions, and wherein the second spherical
portion is angularly movable relative to the first and third
spherical portions.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of spherical
portions include a first spherical portion that is pivotally
coupled to the camera holding portion.
9. A portable apparatus for supporting a piece of equipment, the
apparatus comprising: an equipment holding portion; and plurality
of bendable support members, wherein each of the bendable support
members includes a proximal end portion operably coupled to the
equipment holding portion and a distal end portion extending away
from the equipment holding portion, and wherein each of the
bendable support members further includes a plurality of shaped
outer portions arranged on an elongate, bendable core.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the plurality of shaped outer
portions are contiguously arranged on the bendable core, and
wherein each of the shaped outer portions defines a geometric
shape.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the plurality of shaped outer
portions are contiguously arranged on the bendable core, and
wherein each of the shaped outer portions defines at least a
portion of a sphere.
12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the cross-sectional thickness
of each of the shaped outer portions varies in the direction of the
bendable core.
13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein each of the shaped outer
portions is an individual piece of material.
14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the equipment holding portion
includes a camera holding portion.
15. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the equipment holding portion
includes and adjustable camera mounting head having an engagement
feature configured to releasably engage a camera.
16. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the shaped outer portions
include at least first and second shaped outer portions, wherein
the first shaped outer portion includes a first outer surface and
the second shaped outer portion includes a second outer surface,
and wherein the first outer surface contacts the second outer
surface.
17. An apparatus for supporting a camera, the apparatus comprising:
a camera holding portion; at least one bendable support member,
wherein the bendable support member includes a proximal end portion
operably coupled to the camera holding portion and a distal end
portion extending away from the camera holding portion, and wherein
the bendable support member further includes a plurality of shaped
outer portions arranged on an elongate, bendable core; and a base
portion operably coupled to the distal end portion of the bendable
support member, wherein the base portion includes attachment means
for releasably securing the apparatus to a surface.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the attachment means include
a suction cup configured to releasably secure the apparatus to a
generally smooth surface.
19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the plurality of shaped outer
portions include at least first and second shaped outer portions,
wherein the first shaped outer portion has a first convex surface
and the second shaped outer portion has a second convex surface,
and wherein the first convex surface contacts the second convex
surface.
20. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the elongate, bendable core
includes a plastically deformable metal.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The following disclosure relates generally to tripods and
other portable apparatuses for supporting cameras and other
equipment in desired positions and orientations.
BACKGROUND
[0002] There are a number of advantages to using a tripod when
taking pictures. For example, a tripod can hold a camera almost
perfectly still to enhance picture clarity. Tripods can also
support lenses that are too large or unwieldy to be held steadily
by hand. In addition, tripods can allow the photographer to get
into the picture when used with a timer. Another advantage is that
most high quality tripods include interchangeable heads that the
photographer to attach a variety of devices, including compact
digital cameras, camcorders, DVD recorders, etc.
[0003] One shortcoming of conventional tripods, however, is that
they typically require a substantially level and stable support
surface. As a result, it is often difficult to use conventional
tripods on irregular terrain, moving vehicles, etc.
[0004] The Joby Gorillapod.TM., provided by the Joby Corporation of
1535 Mission Street, San Francisco, Calif. 94103, was designed to
overcome the shortcomings of conventional tripods. The
Gorillapod.TM. has one to three legs which can be bent and rotated
as needed to accommodate an inclined surface or attach to an
upstanding structure (see, for example, http://www.ioby.com).
[0005] FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a tripod
leg 100. The tripod leg 100 is similar to that found on the
Gorillapod.TM., and is composed of a series of interconnecting
members 102 (identified individually as interconnecting members
102a-c). Each of the interconnecting members 102 includes a male
ball portion 104 and a female socket portion 106. As shown in FIG.
1A, each ball portion 104 is rotatably received in an adjacent
socket portion 106. The ball/socket arrangement allows the tripod
leg 100 to flex, and the friction between the interlocking balls
and sockets holds the leg 100 in a desired position after
forming.
[0006] One shortcoming of the prior art tripod leg illustrated in
FIG. 1A is that if the leg 100 is over-flexed, the ball portions
104 can pull out of the mating socket portions 106, as shown in
FIG. 1 B. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have a camera
tripod that could be bent to accommodate irregular mounting
surfaces without breaking if overflexed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a tripod
leg configured in accordance with the prior art, and FIG. 1B is an
exploded view of the tripod leg of FIG. 1A.
[0008] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of an adjustable camera support
configured in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the adjustable
camera support of FIG. 2.
[0010] FIG. 4 is an isometric view of an adjustable camera support
configured in accordance with another embodiment of the
invention.
[0011] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the adjustable camera
support of FIG. 4.
[0012] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a camera holding portion
usable with an adjustable camera support configured in accordance
with an embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] The following disclosure describes various embodiments of
apparatuses and systems for supporting and positioning cameras and
other equipment in desired locations and/or orientations. In one
embodiment, for example, an apparatus for supporting a camera
includes an adjustable camera holding portion and a plurality of
formable legs. In this embodiment, each of the formable legs
includes a first end portion operably coupled to the camera holding
portion, and a second end portion spaced apart from the camera
holding portion. Each of the formable legs further includes an
elongate bendable member extending between the first and second end
portions, and a plurality of spherical portions consecutively
arranged on the elongated bendable member in the space between the
first and second end portions. As described in greater detail
below, in one embodiment, the elongate bendable member can include
a plastically deformable material and each of the spherical
portions can include an elastomeric material.
[0014] Certain details are set forth in the following description
and in FIGS. 2-6 to provide a thorough understanding of various
embodiments so the invention. Other details describing well-known
structures and systems often associated with camera tripods and
other equipment mounting apparatuses, however, are not set forth in
the following disclosure to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the
description of the various embodiments of the invention.
[0015] Many of the details, dimensions, and other features shown in
the Figures are merely illustrative of particular embodiments of
the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments can have other
details, dimensions, and features without departing from the spirit
or scope of the present invention. In addition, further embodiments
of the invention can be practiced without several of the details
described below.
[0016] In the Figures, identical reference numbers identify
identical, or at least generally similar, elements. To facilitate
the discussion of any particular element, the most significant
digit or digits of any reference number refer to the Figure in
which that element is first introduced. For example, element 210 is
first introduced and discussed with reference to FIG. 2.
[0017] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of an adjustable camera support
apparatus 200 ("support apparatus 200") configured in accordance
with an embodiment of the invention. In one aspect of this
embodiment, the apparatus 200 includes a plurality of formable
support members or legs 210 (identified individually as a first leg
210a, a second leg 210b, and a third leg 210c) which are pivotally
connected to an equipment or camera holding portion 220. The camera
holding portion 220 can include an adjustable mounting head 226.
The mounting head 226 includes a removable clip 224 which carries a
camera engagement feature, such as a threaded stud 122, for
releasably engaging a camera 250. The user can disengage the camera
250 from the support apparatus 200 by depressing a button 228 to
release the clip 224 from the mounting head 226. The camera holding
portion 220 of the illustrated embodiment can further include one
or more adjustable joints 230. The joints 230 can accommodate
virtually any orientation of the camera 250, and can be releasably
locked into a particular position by a first clamping feature 231
(e.g., a rotatable lock-ring) and/or a second clamping feature 232
(e.g., a pinch-bolt).
[0018] FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the camera
support apparatus 200 of FIG. 2. As this view illustrates, each of
the legs 210 includes a plurality of shaped outer portions 312
(identified individually as shaped outer portions 312a-k) arranged
on an elongate, bendable member or core 314. The core 314 can
include a plastically deformable material that can be formed or
bent into a given shape and remain in that shape without
appreciable spring-back. Such materials can include, for example,
various types of metals such as aluminum (e.g., 1070 aluminum),
copper, steel and other known metals of suitable composition,
ductility, heat treat, etc. In other embodiments, the core 314 can
be made from other known metal and non-metal materials that can be
formed or bent into a given shape and remain in that shape without
appreciable spring-back.
[0019] In the illustrated embodiment, each of the shaped outer
portions 312 has a generally spherical shape and can be made from a
suitably compressible and resilient material. For example, in one
embodiment, the shaped outer portions 312 can be made from a
thermoplastic elastomer ("TPE"). In other embodiments, the shaped
outer portions 312 can have other shapes (e.g., ellipsoids,
ovaloids, etc.), and can be made from other suitable materials.
Such materials can include, for example, other elastomeric
materials, such as rubber, some foams, etc., and/or other
non-elastomeric materials such as some plastics, wood, etc. In one
embodiment, the plurality of shaped outer portions 312 can be
integrally formed (e.g., molded) and interconnected, as illustrated
by the first leg 210a. In another embodiment, the shaped outer
portions 312 can be separately formed as individual pieces and then
assembled on the core 314, as illustrated by the third leg
210c.
[0020] In the illustrated embodiment, the shaped outer portions 312
are contiguously arranged on the core 314, and each of the shaped
outer portions 312 includes an outer surface (e.g. a convex outer
surface) that contacts the adjacent outer surface(s) of the
adjacent outer portion(s) 312. In other embodiments, however,
various types of spacers (not shown) can be positioned between one
or more of the shaped outer portions 312 if desired for cost,
functional, or other considerations.
[0021] In another aspect of this embodiment, the first shaped outer
portion 312a is pivotally received in a socket 340 to operably
couple the leg 210 to the camera holding portion 220. The last
shaped outer portion 312k can be at least partially covered by a
cap 341, which in turn can be covered by a non-slip boot 342. The
cap 341 can be made from a plastic, such as acrylonitrile butadiene
styrene ("ABS"), and the boot 342 can be made from TPE, rubber, or
another suitable material.
[0022] The bendable core 314 has relatively little or no memory,
such that when it is bent into a particular shape it tends to
remain in that shape. As a result, the legs 210 can easily be bent
or formed into a desired shape to position the camera 250 on
irregular terrain, or to attach the camera 250 to a particular
object or structure (e.g., a tree limb, a person's body, a vehicle,
etc.). Although each of the shaped outer portions 312 is angularly
movable relative to the other shaped outer portions, the adjacent
shaped outer portions 312 bear against each other at extreme angles
to keep the core 114 from being over-bent or kinked. The shaped
outer portions 312 can provide a comfortable gripping surface for
the user to grasp when bending the leg 210s. In addition, the
elastomeric and/or compressible properties of the shaped outer
portions 312 of the illustrated embodiment can help the apparatus
200 hold on to a structure when wrapped around the structure.
[0023] In contrast to conventional tripods having bendable legs,
the elongate core 314 of the present invention prevents the leg 210
from coming apart when bent to extreme angles. A further advantage
of this embodiment is that shaped outer portions 312 prevent the
user from inadvertently over-bending the leg 210 during use.
[0024] FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a camera support apparatus
400 ("support apparatus 400") configured in accordance with another
embodiment of the invention. Many features of the support apparatus
400 can be at least generally similar in structure and function to
the corresponding features of the support apparatus 200 described
above with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. In this particular
embodiment, however, the support apparatus 400 includes a camera
holding portion 420 supported by a single formable support member
or leg 410 in a "monopod" configuration. As described in greater
detail below with reference to FIG. 5, the leg 410 extends from a
base 450 that includes an attachment feature 452 for releasably
attaching the support apparatus 400 to a mounting surface (not
shown).
[0025] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional isometric view of the support
apparatus 400 of FIG. 4. As this view illustrates, the support leg
410 can be at least generally similar in structure and function to
the support legs 210 described above with reference to FIGS. 2 and
3. More specifically, the support leg 410 can include a plurality
of shaped outer portions 512 (identified individually as shaped
outer portions 512a-k), which are arranged on an elongate, bendable
member or core 514. The shaped outer portions 512 and the core 514
can be at least generally similar in structure and function to the
shaped outer portions 312 and the core 314, respectively, described
above.
[0026] In the illustrated embodiment, the base attachment feature
452 includes a suction cup 556 that is operably coupled to an
actuator or ratchet 544. The ratchet 544 can be moved in a first
direction to attach the suction cup 556 to a suitable surface for
use of the apparatus 400. The ratchet 544 can be moved in a second
direction to release the suction cup 556 from the surface. In other
embodiments, the base 450 can include other means, e.g., magnets,
adhesives, etc. for releasably attaching the support apparatus 400
to a desired surface.
[0027] In the illustrated embodiment, the camera holding portion
420 includes an adjustable mounting head 526 that can tilt in
virtually any direction. In other embodiments, however, the support
apparatus 400 can include other types of mounting heads known in
the art.
[0028] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a camera holding portion
620 of a camera support apparatus 600 ("support apparatus 600")
configured in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.
In the illustrated embodiment, the camera holding portion 620
includes a camera attachment feature, such as a threaded stud 622,
which extends upwardly from a camera mounting clip 624 to engage a
camera (not shown). As described above with reference to FIG. 2,
the camera mounting clip 624 can be released from the camera
mounting portion 620 by depressing an associated release button
628. This enables the camera to be easily engaged and disengaged
from the support apparatus 600 during use. The camera holding
portion 620 of this embodiment also includes a socket 640 that
pivotally receives a first shaped outer portion 612a of a bendable
leg 610. The camera holding portion 620 is able to gimbal about the
shaped outer portion 612a, until locked in a desired position with
a clamping feature 631 (e.g., a rotating lock ring).
[0029] From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific
embodiments of the invention have been described herein for
purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be
made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the various
embodiments of the invention. For example, while various
embodiments of the present invention have been described above in
the context of a camera support, those of ordinary skill in the art
will appreciate that various features of the present invention are
equally well suited for use in supporting and positioning other
types of equipment, such as sound equipment, video display
equipment, lighting equipment, etc. Further, while various
advantages associated with certain embodiments of the invention
have been described above in the context of those embodiments,
other embodiments may also exhibit such advantages, and not all
embodiments need necessarily exhibit such advantages to fall within
the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not
limited, except as by the appended claims.
* * * * *
References