GB2159705A

GB2159705A - Monopods

Info

Publication number: GB2159705A
Application number: GB08413462A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Raymond John Gilbert Phillips
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-05-25
Filing date: 1984-05-25
Publication date: 1985-12-11
Also published as: GB8413462D0

Abstract

A combined monopod and walking stick includes a handle 1 mounted on a tubular stick member 6, a support member 4 telescopically mounted within the tubular stick member 6 and adapted at its free end for supporting equipment e.g. a camera or rifle, and a clamping screw 2 for releasably clamping the support member 4 relative to the handle 1 in an extended position of the support member. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Monopods This invention relates to monopodsfor use in supporting equipment such as, for example, cameras or firearms.

Monopods and other devices such as tripods have long been known and used in both the field of photography and rifle shooting. In each instance they are employed to facilitate correct positioning of a camera or rifle and in particularto minimize or avoid tremor resulting from manual support. However, such monopods and tripods have the disadvantage of being awkward and cumbersome to transport manually.

According to the present invention there is provided a combined monopod and walking stick including a handle mounted on a tubular stick member, a support membertelescopically mounted within said tubular stick member and adapted at its free end for supporting equipment e.g. a camera or rifle, and clamping means for releasablyclamping said support member relative to said handle in an extended position of said support member.

Thus according to this invention the disadvantage of having to carry a monopod separately is avoided by its combination with a useful and readily carriable walking stick.

The support member may be adapted to support equipment in various ways. Asimple construction is to provide the support member at its free end with a fixed or universally mounted threaded stud or recess which may mountthe equipment directly. Thus, for example, a camera is often provided with a threaded recess by which it may be directly mounted on a threaded stud. Alternatively the support member may be used to mount an intermediate adaptor to be used in conjunction with the equipment, as, for example, a ball and socket head or, for rifle shooting, a Y-shaped orforked support. Such an adaptor, if provided, may conveniently be carried separately from the combined walking stick monopod. Various forms of clamping means may be used.A simple and preferred form of clamping means is a clamping screwthreadedly mounted in the handle orstick memberforfrictional engagement with the support member.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa side elevation ofthe combined monopod and walking stick; Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevation partially in section ofthe handle end ofthe combined monopod and walking stick showing details of construction; and Figure 3 is a detail sideviewshowing the support member mounting an adaptor.

Referring first to Figure 1 ,this shows the handle 1 mounting the clamping means 2. The handle 1 is mounted on a tubular stick member 6. Telescopically mounted within the handle and stick member is a tubularsupportmember4,thefreeend of which is closed buy a mounting block 3 carrying a threaded equipment mounting stud 5.

Referring to Figure 2 itwili be seen thatthe handle 1 is provided with an open ended tubular socket 7 comprising an upper socket portion 8 and a lower socket portion 9 of slightly greater internal diameter.

The socket 7 tapers towards its lower end. Ashoulder 10 defines the transition between the portions 8 and 9.

Tubular stick member 6 is received within lower socket portion 9 and abuts the shoulder 10. The inner diameter of member 6 corresponds to that of upper socket portion 8. Member 6 may be in a mechanical interference fit with socket 9 or it may be welded or glued in place. The upper end ofthe upper socket portion 8 is enlarged to form a recess 11 to house the mounting block 3 in the retracted position ofthe support member 4.

Support member 4 is a sliding fit within upper socket portion 8 and tubular stick member 6.

The clamping means is in the form of a clamping screw 2 and is threadedly mounted in the wall of the upper socket portion 8 ofthe handle to engage the support member4andthus clamp it relativeto the stick member 6 in any desired position of the support member. When not in usethesupportmember4is housed within tubular stick member6with the mounting block 3 within the recess 11. A protective screw cap 12 preferably made of plastic is provided for the threaded stud 5 ofthe mounting block 3. As can be seen in Figure 2, this cap is contoured to provide a rounded end closure for the upper socket portion 8.

Referring finallyto Figure 3, this shows an adaptor 13 in the form of a Y-shaped or forked support threadedly mounted upon the stud 5. Such an adaptor is suitable for providing steadying support for a rifle.

1. A combined monopod and walking stick including a handle mounted on a tubular stick member, a support membertelescopically mounted within said tubular stick member and adapted at its free end for supporting eqiupment, and clamping means for releasably clamping said support member relativeto said handle in an extended position of said support member.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clamping means is a clamping screwthreadedly mounted in the handle or stick memberforfrictional engagement with the support member.

3. Apparatusascaimed in claim 1 or2,wherein the support member is provided at its free end with a threaded stud.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein a removable protective screw cap is provided for the threaded stud when the support member is not supporting equipment.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, further including an intermediate adaptor mounted on the free end ofthe support member, said adaptor being for use in conjunction with the equipment.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said intermediate adaptor comprises a forked support.

7. A combined monopod and walking sticksub

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Monopods This invention relates to monopodsfor use in supporting equipment such as, for example, cameras or firearms. Monopods and other devices such as tripods have long been known and used in both the field of photography and rifle shooting. In each instance they are employed to facilitate correct positioning of a camera or rifle and in particularto minimize or avoid tremor resulting from manual support. However, such monopods and tripods have the disadvantage of being awkward and cumbersome to transport manually. According to the present invention there is provided a combined monopod and walking stick including a handle mounted on a tubular stick member, a support membertelescopically mounted within said tubular stick member and adapted at its free end for supporting equipment e.g. a camera or rifle, and clamping means for releasablyclamping said support member relative to said handle in an extended position of said support member. Thus according to this invention the disadvantage of having to carry a monopod separately is avoided by its combination with a useful and readily carriable walking stick. The support member may be adapted to support equipment in various ways. Asimple construction is to provide the support member at its free end with a fixed or universally mounted threaded stud or recess which may mountthe equipment directly. Thus, for example, a camera is often provided with a threaded recess by which it may be directly mounted on a threaded stud. Alternatively the support member may be used to mount an intermediate adaptor to be used in conjunction with the equipment, as, for example, a ball and socket head or, for rifle shooting, a Y-shaped orforked support. Such an adaptor, if provided, may conveniently be carried separately from the combined walking stick monopod. Various forms of clamping means may be used.A simple and preferred form of clamping means is a clamping screwthreadedly mounted in the handle orstick memberforfrictional engagement with the support member. A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa side elevation ofthe combined monopod and walking stick; Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevation partially in section ofthe handle end ofthe combined monopod and walking stick showing details of construction; and Figure 3 is a detail sideviewshowing the support member mounting an adaptor. Referring first to Figure 1 ,this shows the handle 1 mounting the clamping means 2. The handle 1 is mounted on a tubular stick member 6. Telescopically mounted within the handle and stick member is a tubularsupportmember4,thefreeend of which is closed buy a mounting block 3 carrying a threaded equipment mounting stud 5. Referring to Figure 2 itwili be seen thatthe handle 1 is provided with an open ended tubular socket 7 comprising an upper socket portion 8 and a lower socket portion 9 of slightly greater internal diameter. The socket 7 tapers towards its lower end. Ashoulder 10 defines the transition between the portions 8 and 9. Tubular stick member 6 is received within lower socket portion 9 and abuts the shoulder 10. The inner diameter of member 6 corresponds to that of upper socket portion 8. Member 6 may be in a mechanical interference fit with socket 9 or it may be welded or glued in place. The upper end ofthe upper socket portion 8 is enlarged to form a recess 11 to house the mounting block 3 in the retracted position ofthe support member 4. Support member 4 is a sliding fit within upper socket portion 8 and tubular stick member 6. The clamping means is in the form of a clamping screw 2 and is threadedly mounted in the wall of the upper socket portion 8 ofthe handle to engage the support member4andthus clamp it relativeto the stick member 6 in any desired position of the support member. When not in usethesupportmember4is housed within tubular stick member6with the mounting block 3 within the recess 11. A protective screw cap 12 preferably made of plastic is provided for the threaded stud 5 ofthe mounting block 3. As can be seen in Figure 2, this cap is contoured to provide a rounded end closure for the upper socket portion 8. Referring finallyto Figure 3, this shows an adaptor 13 in the form of a Y-shaped or forked support threadedly mounted upon the stud 5. Such an adaptor is suitable for providing steadying support for a rifle. CLAIMS

7. A combined monopod and walking sticksub stantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or Figures 1,2 and 3 ofthe accompanying drawings.