GB2100460A

GB2100460A - Camera mount

Info

Publication number: GB2100460A
Application number: GB8115831A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Reid & Co Uxbridge Ltd
Current assignee: Reid & Co Uxbridge Ltd
Priority date: 1981-05-22
Filing date: 1981-05-22
Publication date: 1982-12-22
Also published as: GB2100460B

Abstract

The mount comprises a movable camera support (31), a movable part (21), and means (25, 35) which enable the support and the part to be independently angularly movable each about one of two axes intersecting each other at right angles. The mount is designed for the mounting of the camera (41) in such a way that its lens centre is approximately at the point of intersection of the two axes. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION -Camera mount The invention relates to a camera mount suitable For use with a still camera, a cine camera, and TV amera or another optical apparatus having a lens hereinafter: camera).

Known mounts for cameras, e.g. tripod heads, and also cameras, are so designed, that the camera carried by the mount pans, i.e. swings horizontally, about a vertical axis passing through or near the centre of gravity of the camera, so that the outer surface of the camera lens is some distance in front of said vertical axis, and tilts about a horizontal axis intersecting said vertical axis at a point below the optical axis ofthe camera.

The result ofthis mounting is that e.g. when a cine or TV camera, taking pictures through a telephoto lens, pans, the picture obtained is blurred. Also, for instance, if the camera is positioned closely behind an obstacle, e.g. the posts of a railing, its view may be partly or completely obscured when, due to the camera movement, the lens gets behind the obstacle.

The aim of the present invention is to avoid said disadvantages.

The invention provides a camera mount comprising a part and means which enable the part to angularly move about a single axis, the mount being designed for the mounting of a camera in such a way that the centre of the front surface of the camera lens (hereinafter: "lens centre") is approximately in said axis.

The invention also provides a camera mount comprising two parts and means which enable the two parts to be independently angularly movable each about one of two axes intersecting each other at right angles, the mount being designed for the mounting of a camera in such a way that its "lens centre" is approximately at the point of intersection of the two axes.

As in the two immediately preceding paragraphs the term "approximately" means that the "lens centre" may be several millimetres in front or several centimetres behind said axis or point of intersection.

In a preferred embodiment the means which enable said angular movement are pivot means situated as closely as practicable to the front end of the mount.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diag rammatic drawings, in which: Figure lisa plan of a preferred embodiment of a camera mount according to the invention, Figure 2 is a side elevation of the mount, and Figure 3 is a front elevation of the mount.

The illustrated mount comprises a base 11, a pan bracket 21 and a tilt bracket 31.

The pan bracket 21 rests on the base 11 by means of bearings 22, e.g. nylon buttons, and is connected to the base 11 pivotally about a vertical axis Y by means of a vertical pivot 27 situated at a front wall 23 of the pan bracket 21. The front wall 23 is in its upper part provided with a substantially part-circular recess 24.

The tilt bracket 31, which is substantially in the form of a fat tray, has a front wall 33 provided with a substantially part-circular recess 34, and is connected to the pan bracket 21 pivotally about a horizontal axis X by means of two horizontal pivots 37, 38 each situated on one side of the recesses 24 and 34.

The pan bracket 21 is further connected to the base 11 by means of a first crank mechanism 25 driven selectively by a first electric motor 26, whereby the pan bracket 21 may be angularly displaced or panned about the vertical pivot Y relative to the base 11.

The tilt bracket 31 is connected to the pan bracket 21 by means of a second crank mechanism 35 driven selectively by a second electric motor 36, whereby the tilt bracket 31 may be angularly displaced or tilted about the horizontal pivot X relative to the pan bracket 21. As can be seen from the drawings the axes X and Y intersect each other approximately in the central part of the recess 24 and 34.

In operation a camera 41 is positioned in the tilt bracket 31 and fixed in it by non-illustrated means such that the centre of the front surface of the camera lens is either in or near the point of intersection of the axes X and Y. As is apparent from the draw inns the optical axis ofthe lens and the axes X and Y intersect each other.

1. A mount for a camera (as hereinbefore defined), the mount comprising a movable camera support and means which enable the support to angularly move about a single axis, the mount being designed for the mounting ofthe camera in such a way that its lens centre (as hereinbefore defined) is approximately (as herein before defined) in said axis.

2. A mount for a camera (as hereinbefore defined) the mount comprising a movable camera support, a movable part, and means which enable the support and the part to be independently angularly movable each about one of two axes intersecting each other at right angles, the mount being designed for the mounting ofthe camera in such a way that its lens centre (as hereinbefore defined) is approximately (as hereinbefore defined) at the point of intersection of the two axes.

3. A mount according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the means which enable said angular movement are pivot means situated as closely as practicable to the front end ofthe mount.

4. A mount according to any one of the preceding claims including means for performing said angular movement.

5. A mount according to Claim 4 wherein the means includes a crank mechanism.

6. A mount according to Claim 4 or 5 wherein the means or crank mechanism is controllably driven by an electric motor.

7. A mount for a camera (as hereinbefore

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION -Camera mount The invention relates to a camera mount suitable For use with a still camera, a cine camera, and TV amera or another optical apparatus having a lens hereinafter: camera). Known mounts for cameras, e.g. tripod heads, and also cameras, are so designed, that the camera carried by the mount pans, i.e. swings horizontally, about a vertical axis passing through or near the centre of gravity of the camera, so that the outer surface of the camera lens is some distance in front of said vertical axis, and tilts about a horizontal axis intersecting said vertical axis at a point below the optical axis ofthe camera. The result ofthis mounting is that e.g. when a cine or TV camera, taking pictures through a telephoto lens, pans, the picture obtained is blurred. Also, for instance, if the camera is positioned closely behind an obstacle, e.g. the posts of a railing, its view may be partly or completely obscured when, due to the camera movement, the lens gets behind the obstacle. The aim of the present invention is to avoid said disadvantages. The invention provides a camera mount comprising a part and means which enable the part to angularly move about a single axis, the mount being designed for the mounting of a camera in such a way that the centre of the front surface of the camera lens (hereinafter: "lens centre") is approximately in said axis. The invention also provides a camera mount comprising two parts and means which enable the two parts to be independently angularly movable each about one of two axes intersecting each other at right angles, the mount being designed for the mounting of a camera in such a way that its "lens centre" is approximately at the point of intersection of the two axes. As in the two immediately preceding paragraphs the term "approximately" means that the "lens centre" may be several millimetres in front or several centimetres behind said axis or point of intersection. In a preferred embodiment the means which enable said angular movement are pivot means situated as closely as practicable to the front end of the mount. The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diag rammatic drawings, in which: Figure lisa plan of a preferred embodiment of a camera mount according to the invention, Figure 2 is a side elevation of the mount, and Figure 3 is a front elevation of the mount. The illustrated mount comprises a base 11, a pan bracket 21 and a tilt bracket 31. The pan bracket 21 rests on the base 11 by means of bearings 22, e.g. nylon buttons, and is connected to the base 11 pivotally about a vertical axis Y by means of a vertical pivot 27 situated at a front wall 23 of the pan bracket 21. The front wall 23 is in its upper part provided with a substantially part-circular recess 24. The tilt bracket 31, which is substantially in the form of a fat tray, has a front wall 33 provided with a substantially part-circular recess 34, and is connected to the pan bracket 21 pivotally about a horizontal axis X by means of two horizontal pivots 37, 38 each situated on one side of the recesses 24 and 34. The pan bracket 21 is further connected to the base 11 by means of a first crank mechanism 25 driven selectively by a first electric motor 26, whereby the pan bracket 21 may be angularly displaced or panned about the vertical pivot Y relative to the base 11. The tilt bracket 31 is connected to the pan bracket 21 by means of a second crank mechanism 35 driven selectively by a second electric motor 36, whereby the tilt bracket 31 may be angularly displaced or tilted about the horizontal pivot X relative to the pan bracket 21. As can be seen from the drawings the axes X and Y intersect each other approximately in the central part of the recess 24 and 34. In operation a camera 41 is positioned in the tilt bracket 31 and fixed in it by non-illustrated means such that the centre of the front surface of the camera lens is either in or near the point of intersection of the axes X and Y. As is apparent from the draw inns the optical axis ofthe lens and the axes X and Y intersect each other. CLAIMS

5. A mount according to Claim 4 wherein the means includes a crank mechanism.

7. A mount for a camera (as hereinbefore defined) constructed, arranged, and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

8. An assembly including a mount according to any one of Claims 1 to 7 and a camera (as hereinbefore defined).

9. A photograph, film, video recording, or other record, made with the use of a camera (as hereinbefore defined) mounted on a mount according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, or made with the use of an assembly according to Claim 8.