GB2286009A - Suspension device - Google Patents

Abstract

A suspension device (1) for holding a curved photographic backdrop (7) to an upright (5) comprises an elongate tube split along its length to form two portions (2, 3) which are hinged together to move between open and closed positions, whereby a supporting bar (17) of a backdrop (8) may be held between the tube portions (2, 3), and includes means for attaching or securing one of the portions to the upright. <IMAGE>

Description

CLAMP The present invention relates to a clamp for holding a supporting bar from which photographic back drops are suspended.

Known devices for supporting photographic back drops exist in the form of a rod which spans across a wall and is fixed by screws at both ends to the wall. Another known device comprises telescopic tubular sections, composed of two or three straight sub-sections, which span a straight length between two uprights.

According to the present invention, there is provided a clamp for holding a curved cyclorama to an upright, the clamp comprising an elongate tube split along its length to form two portions which are hinged together to move between open and closed positions, whereby a supporting bar of a cyclorama may be clamped in place between the tube portions, and including means for attaching or securing one of the portions to the upright.

Other, preferred, features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying claims.

The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a clamp forming an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a cyclorama within the clamp; Figure 3 is a perspective view of two clamps being used to support tubular sections according to the present invention, and Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the clamp with an L-shaped plate.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of an attachment device to enable the connection of a curved tubular section to a partially constructed cyclorama.

A cyclorama 7 comprises a backdrop 8 suspended from an arcuate bar 17. The photographic back drop 8 has a hem as shown in Figure 2. The supporting bar 17 of the cyclorama 7 is passed through an opening 9 formed by the hem so as to suspend the photographic back drop 8 when the bar 17 is held above the ground.

Figure 1 illustrates a clamp 1, forming an embodiment of the invention, for holding horizontal the curved cyclorama 7. The clamp 1 comprises two generally U' -shaped cross-section members which are held together by a hinge 4 to form a tube when the members are closed together.

The first elongate member 2 is fixed at right angles to an upright post 5 to extend horizontally. The member 2 may be welded direct to the post 5 or held on the post by a collar.

A space 11 is formed between the closed members opposite the hinge 4 to allow the photographic back drop 8, held by the supporting bar of the curved cyclorama 7, to pass through the clamp 1 and hang freely without creasing the material of the back drop 8. The supporting bar 17 is formed in sections and screwed together.

The photographic back drop 8, with the supporting bar of the curved cyclorama 7 within the hem, is inserted into and released from the enclosure 6 of the clamp 1 by opening the second member 3 on the hinge 4.

Figure 3 shows the clamp 1 in use. The posts 5 are attached to stands 10 known in the art. The clamp 1 is held above the ground by the stand 10. The post 5 extends within the tubular upright of the stand 10 and is clamped in place by tightening a split-collar (not shown) at the top of the upright.

As shown in Figure 4, an L-shaped plate 12 holds the first and second members together. The plate 12 has an aperture 14 and a collar 13 around the edge of the aperture. A pin 15 is fixed to the top of the post 5 and passes through the hole 14 and the collar 13 to hold the L-shaped plate 12 in position.

Figure 5 illustrates an attachment device for connecting a single curved tubular member to a partially constructed cyclorama without having to rotate the curved tubular section or the partially constructed cyclorama. The attachment device comprises a knurled main body 18, an internal bolt 19 and an internal thread 20. The bolt 19 turns freely in the main body 18. The bolt is screwed into an internal thread of the curved tubular section by turning the bolt with a screwdriver inserted through an opening 21. The external thread at one end of the partially constructed cyclorama is then engaged with the internal thread of the attachment device by rotating the knurled main body 18 which has the effect of rotating the internal thread 20.

Claims (6)

CLAIMS:

1. A clamp for holding a curved cyclorama to an upright, the clamp comprising an elongate tube split along its length to form two portions which are hinged together to move between open and closed positions, whereby a supporting bar of a cyclorama may be clamped in place between the tube portions, and including means for attaching or securing one of the portions to the upright.

2. A clamp according to claim 1, wherein the attaching means is a post.

3. A clamp according to claim 1, wherein means are provided to hold the two portions of said clamp together.

4. A clamp according to claim 3, wherein the means for holding the first and second portions together is an L-shaped plate.

5. A clamp according to claim 4, wherein a pin is provided on an upper end of the post, and wherein the L-shaped plate comprises an aperture which receives the pin for fixing the plate in position on the post.

6. A cyclorama, comprising at least two uprights, a clamp as defined in claim 1 on each upright, and an arcuate bar supporting a backdrop, the bar being held, in use, in clamps to suspend the backdrop.