GB2100459A

GB2100459A - Two-piece quadripod for cameras

Info

Publication number: GB2100459A
Application number: GB8115363A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-05-19
Filing date: 1981-05-19
Publication date: 1982-12-22

Abstract

A camera quadripod comprises: two identical bipods, each having two arms 18, 20 one of which 22 is resilient and longer than the other; and a crossbar interconnecting said arms so that a camera body 40 can be placed on the crossbars of the two bipods and resiliently detachably embraced within said arms for support. Each resilient arm 22 has the shape of an inverted u. Each bipod has two support legs 36, 38, at least one of which is adjustable for supporting the camera 40 in a selected position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Two-piece quadripod for cameras This invention relates to a two-piece quadripod for cameras.

The camera quadripod is formed of a pair of bipods, each having a pair of adjustable legs with feet and each having a pair of arms which can embrace a camera body directly. The pair of bipods co-operate together in conjunction with the camera body so that they become a quadripod and serve to support the camera. The adjustment of the legs and feet controls the orientation of the camera. The bipods are small enough to be carried in the photographer's pocket when not in use, and are quickly and easily engaged on and removed from the camera body.

The present invention may be understood best by reference to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIGURE lisa perspective view of the camera quadripod ofthis invention, showing a camera in dashed lines to illustrate the manner of support of the camera body in the horizontal orientation and to show the co-operation between the two bipods which form the two-piece quadripod for cameras.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view, showing one of the bipods of the quadripod embracing the camera bodyfortaking a photograph in the upright orientation, the other bipod being behind and hidden by the bipod shown.

FIGURE 3 is a full scale elevational view of one of the bipods.

The preferred embodiment of the two-piece quadripod for cameras ofthis invention is generally indicated at 10 in FIGURE 1. It is comprised of two identical bipods 12 and 14 which are described in more detail below. Each of the bipods has a crossbar 16 on which are secured a pair of arms indicated generally at 18 and 20. Rear arm 18 is an upwardly directed single short arm. Front arm 20 is a long arm, i.e.

slightly longer than arm 18, having an upwardly directed portion 22 extending upwardly from the crossbar 16, a short connecting bar portion 24 extending from the upper end of portion 22 back toward rear arm 18, and a downwardly directed end portion 26 extending from the rear of the connecting bar portion 24. Portion 26 is slanted rearwardly, in its unstressed unflexed condition prior to attachment to the camera, in a direction to close the space defined between arms 18 and 20.

Bosses 28 and 30 are located at opposite ends of the crossbar 16 at the respective bases of arms 18 and 20 and are each provided with a threaded hole therethrough generally parallel to the direction of arm 18. Legs 32 and 34 are respectively threaded through the upright holes in the bosses. The lower ends of the legs terminate in feet 36 and 38, respectively, which are preferably in the form of rubber feet moulded on or otherwise positioned on the lower ends of the legs.

The overall dimensions of each bipod are such that the bipods are small enough to fit into the photographer's pocket for portability and ready availability when needed. Thus, the crossbar 16 is only slightly longer than the width of a conventional camera body, arms 18 and 20 are shorter than the height of such body, and legs 32 and 34 are conveniently about the same length as arms 18 and 20 to allow for sufficient angular adjustments without significantly raising the camera body.

Each of the bipods 12 and 14, with the exception of their legs and feet, are preferably made of synthetic polymer composition material for lightness and strength, and preferably in the rectangular or square cross-section configuration shown. The spacing between arms 18 and 20 is such that the quadripod properly fits most present-day 35 millimeter, single lens reflex cameras. The proper fit is one where the camera body 40 can rest on crossbar 16, engage against the rear arm 18 and press against the inwardly slanted end portion 26 of the front arm 20 with just sufficient compressive force to cause the slanted portion 26 to resiliently bend slightly from its juncture with connection bar portion 24, such resilient joint being indicated at 42. In those cases where the camera body size is such as to exceed the bending capacity of joint 42, portion 22 can bend to accommodate.Thus, the bipod is maintained in engagement with the camera body and the camera is properly supported.

The threaded securement of legs 32 and 34 into the corresponding bosses permit the rotation of the legs to adjust the extension thereof below crossbar 16. The legs are rotated into the desired position, preferably a position wherein all four of the feet engage a supporting surface. In this way, proper camera support is achieved, and orientation is adjusted.

1. Acamera quadripod comprising: a pair of substantially identical bipods, each of said bipods having first and second spaced arms one of said arms being resilient and longer than the other of said arms; A crossbar interconnecting said arms so that a camera body can be engaged on said crossbar and resiliently detachably embraced within said arms for support of the camera body; said resilient arm including an upwardly directed portion extending upwardly from said crossbar and having an upper end, a connecting bar portion extending from said upper end toward said other arm, and a slanted portion extending downwardly from said connecting bar portion toward said other arm; and each of said bipods having first and second spaced support legs, at least one of said legs on each of said bipods being adjustable for supporting said quadripod in a selected position and for supporting a camera engaged within the arms of and supported by said quadripod in a selected position.

2. A camera quadripod as claimed in claim 1,

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Two-piece quadripod for cameras This invention relates to a two-piece quadripod for cameras. The camera quadripod is formed of a pair of bipods, each having a pair of adjustable legs with feet and each having a pair of arms which can embrace a camera body directly. The pair of bipods co-operate together in conjunction with the camera body so that they become a quadripod and serve to support the camera. The adjustment of the legs and feet controls the orientation of the camera. The bipods are small enough to be carried in the photographer's pocket when not in use, and are quickly and easily engaged on and removed from the camera body. The present invention may be understood best by reference to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. FIGURE lisa perspective view of the camera quadripod ofthis invention, showing a camera in dashed lines to illustrate the manner of support of the camera body in the horizontal orientation and to show the co-operation between the two bipods which form the two-piece quadripod for cameras. FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view, showing one of the bipods of the quadripod embracing the camera bodyfortaking a photograph in the upright orientation, the other bipod being behind and hidden by the bipod shown. FIGURE 3 is a full scale elevational view of one of the bipods. The preferred embodiment of the two-piece quadripod for cameras ofthis invention is generally indicated at 10 in FIGURE 1. It is comprised of two identical bipods 12 and 14 which are described in more detail below. Each of the bipods has a crossbar 16 on which are secured a pair of arms indicated generally at 18 and 20. Rear arm 18 is an upwardly directed single short arm. Front arm 20 is a long arm, i.e. slightly longer than arm 18, having an upwardly directed portion 22 extending upwardly from the crossbar 16, a short connecting bar portion 24 extending from the upper end of portion 22 back toward rear arm 18, and a downwardly directed end portion 26 extending from the rear of the connecting bar portion 24. Portion 26 is slanted rearwardly, in its unstressed unflexed condition prior to attachment to the camera, in a direction to close the space defined between arms 18 and 20. Bosses 28 and 30 are located at opposite ends of the crossbar 16 at the respective bases of arms 18 and 20 and are each provided with a threaded hole therethrough generally parallel to the direction of arm 18. Legs 32 and 34 are respectively threaded through the upright holes in the bosses. The lower ends of the legs terminate in feet 36 and 38, respectively, which are preferably in the form of rubber feet moulded on or otherwise positioned on the lower ends of the legs. The overall dimensions of each bipod are such that the bipods are small enough to fit into the photographer's pocket for portability and ready availability when needed. Thus, the crossbar 16 is only slightly longer than the width of a conventional camera body, arms 18 and 20 are shorter than the height of such body, and legs 32 and 34 are conveniently about the same length as arms 18 and 20 to allow for sufficient angular adjustments without significantly raising the camera body. Each of the bipods 12 and 14, with the exception of their legs and feet, are preferably made of synthetic polymer composition material for lightness and strength, and preferably in the rectangular or square cross-section configuration shown. The spacing between arms 18 and 20 is such that the quadripod properly fits most present-day 35 millimeter, single lens reflex cameras. The proper fit is one where the camera body 40 can rest on crossbar 16, engage against the rear arm 18 and press against the inwardly slanted end portion 26 of the front arm 20 with just sufficient compressive force to cause the slanted portion 26 to resiliently bend slightly from its juncture with connection bar portion 24, such resilient joint being indicated at 42. In those cases where the camera body size is such as to exceed the bending capacity of joint 42, portion 22 can bend to accommodate.Thus, the bipod is maintained in engagement with the camera body and the camera is properly supported. The threaded securement of legs 32 and 34 into the corresponding bosses permit the rotation of the legs to adjust the extension thereof below crossbar 16. The legs are rotated into the desired position, preferably a position wherein all four of the feet engage a supporting surface. In this way, proper camera support is achieved, and orientation is adjusted. CLAIMS

2. A camera quadripod as claimed in claim 1, wherein both of said arms have rounded entrant surfaces for receiving said camera body.

3. A camera quadripod as claimed in claim or claim 2, wherein said resilient arm is longer than the other of said arms.

4. A camera quadripod as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said support legs are each individually adjustable with respect to the bipod on which they are mounted.

5. A camera quadripod as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein there is a pair of screwthreaded openings in each of said bipods, and said legs are screwthreaded into said openings for adjustment of said legs with respect to said arms, said legs lying substantially parallel to at least one of said arms.

6. Acamera quadripod substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.