GB2128363A

GB2128363A - Support for a camera or the like equipment

Info

Publication number: GB2128363A
Application number: GB08326471A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jurgen Hartmann
Original assignee: Kuerbi & Niggeloh
Current assignee: Kuerbi & Niggeloh
Priority date: 1982-10-05
Filing date: 1983-10-04
Publication date: 1984-04-26
Also published as: GB8326471D0; DE8227912U1

Abstract

A support for a camera or the like equipment comprises a housing (1) having a centre post (2) extending therethrough, which post is adjustable in height relative to the housing and carries a support disc (10) at one end. The housing carries a mounting device (15 to 22) which may enable the support to be clamped onto or be secured on a supporting surface. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improved support for a camera or the like equipment The invention relates to an improved support for a camera or the like equipment comprising a housing containing a centre post adjustable in height relative thereto and carrying a support disc at one end thereof.

Three-leg structured camera supports, known as tripods, having a height-adjustable centre post are known. Their advantages are relative ease of transport and set-up in most places and locations desired. It is a drawback, however, that the extended tripod legs occupy a relatively large amount of floor or ground space, making it difficult to use them in rooms containing furniture, as for instance, rooms with sales fixtures. I However, it is in just such surroundings that the cameras, e.g.

video cameras, frequently need to be demonstrated to customers standing in front of sales tables or counters. It is the object of the present invention to provide a suitable support for such purpose.

This object is achieved, according to the present invention, by providing a mounting device on the housing which facilitates securement of the support to a table, as for instance, a sales table or a counter.

According to a further feature of the invention, the mounting device has at least one protruding arm secured to the housing, and comprises a clamping element which is displaceable towards and away from the arm. Preferably, this fastening element is provided with a screw thread which cooperates with a complementary thread formed on a second protruding arm spaced from the first such arm. The clamping element may have a hand grip at its lower end and the mounting device is provided with a securing element adapted to be screwed to a supporting surface. The protruding arm or arms may have a layer of resilient material arranged to contact and protect a supporting surface.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the mounting device may comprise a protruding arm extending from the housing and having at least one bore vertically disposed therein. The protruding arm, and accordingly the support, can be fastened to a surface, e.g. a table top. The protruding arm may be disposed vertically or in a parallel relationship to the centre post.

The invention will now be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a support according to the invention, and Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the support of Fig. 1 taken along line Il-Il of that Fig., a crank handle of the device being shown as rotated through 900 for the sake of clarity.

The support depicted shows a housing 1 having a centre post 2 slidably disposed therein, and comprising, in conventional manner, a rack 3 on one side. A horizontally disposed gear 4 engages the rack, and preferably is formed as a one-piece member with a shaft 5. Gear 4 and shaft 5 are preferably formed from synthetic material. Shaft 5 is positioned on axle 6 having a crank handle 7 secured thereto.

Centre post 2 can be locked into desired position after adjustment by a screw 9, which is connected with lever 8. At the upper end, the centre post carries a support disc 10, which in the drawing is secured in the internal bores of post 2 by pins 11. A camera support plate 13 having threaded bolt 14 for mounting of a camera thereon, may be bolted to disc 10 by a threaded bolt 12.

An arm 1 5 protrudes from housing 1 and carries a layer 1 6 of resilient material on its underside. Spaced therefrom is second protruding arm 1 7 having a threaded passage therethrough adapted to the screw thread of a clamping element 1 8. Clamping element 18 has hand grip 19 at its lower end and a support plate 20 at its upper end, the upper surface of which plate also has a layer 21 of resilient material thereon.

The support of the invention can be fastened to any surface, e.g. the top of a table or sales counter, by adjusting the clamping element 1 8 by means of hand grip 19. To this end, a camera, e.g.

a video camera, can be attached to the camera support plate with bolt 14 and the height of the plate and camera can then be adjusted by crank handle 7. Any support or tripod head desired may be bolted to camera support plate 1 3.

According to a readily constructed embodiment of the invention, protruding arm 1 5 may have one or several bores 22 vertically disposed thereto, being depicted in Fig. 1 by dashed lines. Screws can be inserted into these bores, which would secure the support to a surface, either in addition or as an alternative to the fastening elements described above. in the latter instance, arm 1 7 and clamping element 18 need not be provided.

Protruding arm 1 5 can extend in ways other than depicted, for example, in a parallel alignment to centre post 2 and housing 1, in which case the support may alternatively be mounted on vertically disposed surfaces.

1. A support for a camera or the like equipment comprising a housing containing a centre post adjustable in height, relative thereto, and carrying a support disc at one end thereof, characterized in that a mounting device is provided on the housing.

2. A support as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the mounting device has at least one protruding arm secured to the housing and comprises a clamping element which is displaceable towards and away from the arm.

3. A support as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the clamping element is provided with a screw thread which co-operates with a complementary thread formed in a second protruding arm spaced from the first such arm.

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improved support for a camera or the like equipment The invention relates to an improved support for a camera or the like equipment comprising a housing containing a centre post adjustable in height relative thereto and carrying a support disc at one end thereof. Three-leg structured camera supports, known as tripods, having a height-adjustable centre post are known. Their advantages are relative ease of transport and set-up in most places and locations desired. It is a drawback, however, that the extended tripod legs occupy a relatively large amount of floor or ground space, making it difficult to use them in rooms containing furniture, as for instance, rooms with sales fixtures. I However, it is in just such surroundings that the cameras, e.g. video cameras, frequently need to be demonstrated to customers standing in front of sales tables or counters. It is the object of the present invention to provide a suitable support for such purpose. This object is achieved, according to the present invention, by providing a mounting device on the housing which facilitates securement of the support to a table, as for instance, a sales table or a counter. According to a further feature of the invention, the mounting device has at least one protruding arm secured to the housing, and comprises a clamping element which is displaceable towards and away from the arm. Preferably, this fastening element is provided with a screw thread which cooperates with a complementary thread formed on a second protruding arm spaced from the first such arm. The clamping element may have a hand grip at its lower end and the mounting device is provided with a securing element adapted to be screwed to a supporting surface. The protruding arm or arms may have a layer of resilient material arranged to contact and protect a supporting surface. According to another embodiment of the invention, the mounting device may comprise a protruding arm extending from the housing and having at least one bore vertically disposed therein. The protruding arm, and accordingly the support, can be fastened to a surface, e.g. a table top. The protruding arm may be disposed vertically or in a parallel relationship to the centre post. The invention will now be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a support according to the invention, and Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the support of Fig. 1 taken along line Il-Il of that Fig., a crank handle of the device being shown as rotated through 900 for the sake of clarity. The support depicted shows a housing 1 having a centre post 2 slidably disposed therein, and comprising, in conventional manner, a rack 3 on one side. A horizontally disposed gear 4 engages the rack, and preferably is formed as a one-piece member with a shaft 5. Gear 4 and shaft 5 are preferably formed from synthetic material. Shaft 5 is positioned on axle 6 having a crank handle 7 secured thereto. Centre post 2 can be locked into desired position after adjustment by a screw 9, which is connected with lever 8. At the upper end, the centre post carries a support disc 10, which in the drawing is secured in the internal bores of post 2 by pins 11. A camera support plate 13 having threaded bolt 14 for mounting of a camera thereon, may be bolted to disc 10 by a threaded bolt 12. An arm 1 5 protrudes from housing 1 and carries a layer 1 6 of resilient material on its underside. Spaced therefrom is second protruding arm 1 7 having a threaded passage therethrough adapted to the screw thread of a clamping element 1 8. Clamping element 18 has hand grip 19 at its lower end and a support plate 20 at its upper end, the upper surface of which plate also has a layer 21 of resilient material thereon. The support of the invention can be fastened to any surface, e.g. the top of a table or sales counter, by adjusting the clamping element 1 8 by means of hand grip 19. To this end, a camera, e.g. a video camera, can be attached to the camera support plate with bolt 14 and the height of the plate and camera can then be adjusted by crank handle 7. Any support or tripod head desired may be bolted to camera support plate 1 3. According to a readily constructed embodiment of the invention, protruding arm 1 5 may have one or several bores 22 vertically disposed thereto, being depicted in Fig. 1 by dashed lines. Screws can be inserted into these bores, which would secure the support to a surface, either in addition or as an alternative to the fastening elements described above. in the latter instance, arm 1 7 and clamping element 18 need not be provided. Protruding arm 1 5 can extend in ways other than depicted, for example, in a parallel alignment to centre post 2 and housing 1, in which case the support may alternatively be mounted on vertically disposed surfaces. CLAIMS

4. A support as claimed in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the clamping element has a hand grip at its lower end.

5. A support as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the mounting device is provided with a securing element adapted to be screwed to a supporting surface.

6. A support as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the mounting device is provided with at least one layer of resilient material arranged to contact and protect a supporting surface.

7. A support as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the mounting device comprises a protruding arm extending from the housing and having at least one bore vertically disposed therein.

8. A support for a camera or the like equipment, substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.