GB2343758A

GB2343758A - Mount for telescopes

Info

Publication number: GB2343758A
Application number: GB9925933A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nigel Patrick Mitchell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-11-04
Filing date: 1999-11-03
Publication date: 2000-05-17
Anticipated expiration: 2019-11-03
Also published as: GB9925933D0; GB9824080D0; GB2343758B

Abstract

A mounting arrangement for use with a telescope has a main body 10 provided with internal threads and external threads 11 and an extension shaft 14 projecting therefrom and threaded onto internal threads. By relatively adjusting the main body 10 and shaft 14, the overall length of the main body and shaft together may be adjusted to permit clamping of the arrangement between upper and lower rails 40 and 41 of (for example) a bird watching hide. A saddle 25 is rotatably supported on external threads 11 of the main body 10 and has a telescope carrier 27 which itself may be rotated about horizontal and vertical axes, with respect to the saddle 25. Alternatively, the main body 10 may be externally threaded with nut 50 which has annular grooves 52 in which saddle 27 is releasably engaged by spring loaded peg 54 and button 55.

Description

MOUNTING ARRANGEMENTS This invention relates to a mounting arrangement suitable for supporting an optical device such as a telescope, a pair of binoculars or a camera. The invention is particularly applicable to the mounting of an optical device in a hide for use by bird watchers, though the invention may be used in a wide range of other circumstances.

A typical hide for bird watchers comprises a wooden structure having a wall facing the area to be watched, that wall having a relatively narrow but long opening through which a number of people behind the wall may observe birds on the specified area. Typically, a bench seat is disposed behind the wall and a shelf along the lower edge of the opening, that opening being at a suitable height so that persons seated at the bench may comfortably look through the opening.

Birds being observed from a hide as described above may be at some distance from the wall. Consequently, most watchers use binoculars or a telescope, but with such optical devices having relatively high magnifications, it is very important that the device is held still, once focused on a particular target.

To achieve this, most watchers employ a tripod of a conventional design, but with the legs collapsed to their minimum height, so that the tripod may be stood upon the shelf. In the alternative, special purpose-made tripods may be purchased for use on hide selves. Unfortunately, experience shows that this is far from a satisfactory solution. The shelf usually is simply mounted on brackets screwed to the wall and deflects significantly as other watchers lean on or move away from the shelf. Moreover, there tends to be conflict between adjacent watchers, having telescopes focused on objects in different parts of the viewing area.

The present invention aims at overcoming the disadvantages discussed above, of using a conventional tripod in a typical hide for observing birds in a watching area, though it will be appreciated that the invention may find utility in other circumstances, as well.

According to this invention, there is provided a mounting arrangement for an optical device, comprising : a support leg having an internally-threaded tubular main body and an externally-threaded shaft engaged with the interna threads of the main body whereby relative rotation therebetween increases or decreases the overall length of the support leg ; and a saddle mounted on the support leg which the saddle projects laterally of the support leg and is provided with a carrier for said optical device which carrier is rotatable about two mutually orthogonal axes with respect to the saddle; whereby the support leg may be clamped between two spaced apart members by increasing the length of the support leg on relatively rotating the main body and shaft, and the targeting of an optical device mounted on the carrier may thereafter be adjusted by relative movement of the carrier with respect to the saddle and of the saddle with respect to the support leg.

The mounting arrangement of this invention may be used in a typical hide as has been described above, by camping the support leg between upper and lower members extending along the length of the opening through the wall of a hide. For a hide constructed of wood (as most are, so as to be environmentally unobtrusive), relatively strong wooden rails are provided along the long edges of the viewing opening, and to which boards to each side of the opening are nailed. Such rails are much less susceptible to movement than a relatively weak shelf simply secured to the wall of the hide for example by means of wooden or metal rackets. The support leg is secured to those two rails merely by reducing the overall length of the support leg to be slightly less than the spacing between the rails, and then relatively turning the main body and shaft of the support leg, until the opposed ends of the leg tightly engage the two rails. A telescope, pair of binoculars or a camera then mounted on the carrier will be relatively securely supported and held against vibration or other movement, as compared to a similar optical device carried by a tripod freestanding on the shelf of a hide. Moreover, adjustment of the optical device to be focused on an object somewhere in the viewing area is facilitated, with a lower likelihood of interference between adjacent watchers, as the effective axis of pivoting of the optical device will be more or less in the plane of the wall of the hide, rather than spaced back from that plane, as is the case with a conventional tripod.

Further to enhance the ease with which the carried optical device may be moved to be directe at a required target, the saddle is preferably mounted on the main body for rotation about the axis thereof. This may be achieved by providing external threads on the main body, the saddle having a bore which is internally threaded and engaged with the external threads of the main body, whereby rotation of the saddle about the main body threads the saddle along the length thereof. Thus, prior to mounting the optical device on the carrier, the saddle may be threaded along the length of the main body such that the mounted optical device is at a suitable height for use by a watcher, sitting comfortably at a bench behind the wall. A clamp mechanism may be provided to secure the saddle at a pre-set position on the support leg, for example using a screw-threaded peg which may be turned to engage the main body.

In an alternative arrangement, the main body has a cylindrical outer surface and the saddle is rotatably mounted on but held at a desired axial position on that outer surface. For example, the cylindrical outer surface may have a plurality of annular grooves spaced apart along the length of the surface, the saddle having a peg which is selectively engageable with any one of the grooves so as to permit the positioning of the saddle at a chosen position along the length of the main body. Conveniently, the main body may have a first part with external threads thereon and a nut defining said cylindrical surface, which nut is engaged with the external threads on the first part.

Most preferably, the carrier has a first component which is mounted on the saddle for rotation about a first axis which extends radially with respect to the support leg, and a second component which is mounted on the first component, for rotation about a second axis which extends perpendicularly with respect to the first axis. In this way, a universal mounting arrangement may be achieved, giving optimum adjustability for the proper targeting of an object by a carried optical device.

Conveniently, the second component is configured to receive a conventional mounting shoe as is provided on many optical devices such as cameras, telescopes and so on. Typically, therefore, the second component has a dove-tail shaped slot, into which a mounting shoe may be pressed.

Securely to retain a mounted device on that carrier, spring-loaded balls may be provided adjacent the entrance to the slot, which balls engage the shoe of a mounted device, when pushed fully home.

The two ends of the support leg may be configured to enhance the grip of the leg to the two members between which the leg is clamped. For example, the free end of the main body may be provided with a pad of friction material, which may be replaceable in the event that it does become worn. By contrast, the free end of the shaft may be provided with a rotatable washer, mounted on the axis of the shaft and which engages the adjacent member as the leg is clamped in position. The washer, by rotating with respect to the shaft, may reduce friction and so also facilitate tightening of the leg, in the required position.

The free ends of both the main body and the shaft may be threaded, so as to permit the connection thereto of extension pieces. In this way, by selecting a suitable number or length of extension pieces, the overall length of the support leg may be pre-set so as to be suitable for a hide having a particular observation opening width. The free end of any such extension piece may be provided with a rotatable washer, in much the same manner as the free end of the shaft.

The threads on the free end of the main body may be used to permit the mounting of the support leg on a conventional tripod, using a suitable adapter.

Thus, the mounting arrangement may be employed away from a hide, whilst still giving significant adjustability and ease of use for a mounted device. In this case, the shaft may be removed from the main body, along with any extension pieces.

By way of example only, one specific embodiment of mounting arrangement constructed and arrange in accordance with this invention will now be described in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which :- Figure 1 is a side view, partly cut away, of the embodiment of mounting arrangement; Figure 2 is a horizontal cross-section through the arrangement of Figure 1, taken just above the saddle ; Figure 3 is a partial view of the mounting arrangement, taken on the end of the carrier ; Figures 4 and 5 show both a side view and a detail view on an enlarged scale of an extension piece also shown in Figure 1 ; Figures 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D diagrammatically illustrate use of the mounting arrangement in the viewing opening of a hide ; Figure 7 shows use of the mounting arrangement with a conventional tripod ; and Figure 8 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 but of an alternate design.

Referring initially to Figure 1, the mounting arrangement of this invention comprises a main body 10 of tubular form and having square threads formed both externally at 11 and internally. The lower end of the main body 10 has a threaded stub 12 of a smaller diameter, to which is connected a replaceable friction pad 13. A shaft 14 has external square threads engaged with the internal threads of the main body, whereby relative rotation of the shaft 14 and main body 10 increases or decreases, as appropriate, the overall length of the combined main body and shaft. The free end of the shaft 14 has a fluted head 15 by means of which the shaft 14 may be turned with respect to the main body 10, an externally threaded boss 16 projecting from the head 15 and having a rotatable washer secured thereto as will be described in further detail below.

An extension piece 17 (shown in Figure 4) is threaded to the boss 16 at the free end of the shaft 14, the extension piece 17 also having a corresponding boss 18 to which, in turn and if required, yet another extension piece may be connected. The upper surface of the head 15 is provided with a land 19 of conical form, typically at about 15 to the true radial plane, and the end of the extension piece 17 engaged with boss 16 has a similar form.

Equally, a corresponding land 20 is formed between the main part of the extension piece 17 and its threaded boss 18. On tightening the extension piece to the head 15, the lands 19 and 20 engage each other, securely to hold these two components together in a fixed position and eliminating all movement therebetween.

Both the free end of the boss 16 and of the corresponding boss 18 of extension piece 17 are provided with respective rotatable washers 21, secured in a counter bore in the associated boss by means of a screw 23. The screw is shouldered so as to permit rotation of the washer 21, when the screw has been tightened home fully. The depth of the threaded bore in the extension piece is such that the respective lands on the head 15 and extension piece 17 interengage, before the threaded boss 16 bottoms out in the bore in extension piece 17.

A saddle 25 having a threaded bore is engaged with the external threads 11 on the main body 10, the saddle having a laterally-projecting arm 26 which supports a carrier 27. The carrier has a first component 28 mounted by horizontal screw 29 to the arm 26 for rotation about a horizontal axis, and a second component 30 mounted for rotation with respect to the first component 28 by means of screw 31 (Figure 2). The position of the saddle 25 on the main body 10 may be adjusted by rotating the saddle, as a whole, until the required vertical position is achieved; once there, it may be locked in position by means of screw 32. For ease of use, screw 32 may be provided with a knurled head, or a pair of wings.

The second component 30 has a slot 33 formed therein, which stot is of a pre-defined configuration, able to accept a mounting shoe as provided on many telescopes, cameras, binoculars and the like. Thus, the slot 33 has a dove-tail cross-section defined by side walls 34 and a flat base 35, three springloaded balls 36 being provided in the base to project upwardly therefrom, adjacent the entrance to the slot 33. An optical device shoe may thus be pressed into the slot 33 and when fully home, is retained there by the balls 36.

Figures 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D show the use of the mounting arrangement described above, in an opening which may typically be the viewing opening of a hide. Rails 40 and 41 (see also Figure 1) extend along the lower and upper edges of the opening and the mounting is clamped between the rails by selecting a suitable length of extension piece, securing the extension piece either to the shaft 14 or to the stub 12 of the main body 10, and then rotating the shaft 14 using the head 15, relative to the main body 10, until the main body and shaft are clamped securely in position between the rails. In the case of Figure 6A, a single extension piece 17 is provided on the shaft 14, above the head 15, whereas in the case of Figure 6B, a single, longer extension piece is provided on stub 12 of the main body 10, so as to lift the main body higher above the lower rail 40. In Figure 6C, no extension pieces are employed and the camping is achieved merely by relatively separating the shaft 14 and main body 10 to a sufficient extent.

Also shown in Figures 6A to 6D is a typical telescope 42, mounted on the carrier 27 by means of a foot (not shown) provided on the telescope and engaged in slot 33 of the second component 30. The telescope may be positioned conveniently for viewing a particular object, by initially adjusting the vertical position of the saddle 25 (before the telescope is mounted on the carrier 27) and then camping the saddle 25 using the screw 32. Thereafter, the precise position of the telescope may be adjusted by rotating the first component 28 about a horizontal axis (as shown in Figure 3) and rotating the second component 30 about a generally vertical axis, depending upon the setting of the first component 28.

In Figures 6A to 6C, the telescope is shown mounted on one side of the body 10 and shaft 14, whereas in Figure 6D the telescope is shown on the other side. This is achieved by rotating the arm 26 round to the other side of the body and shaft, and then rotating the second component 30 through 180 , to permit mounting of the telescope (or other item) in the same directionusually from the front. By having the capability for mounting the telescope on either side, the user has a wide range of viewing possibilities, with the ability to minimise the conflit with others in the hide.

Figure 7 shows the use of the above-described mounting arrangement with a conventional tripod 45. Here, the shaft 14 has been removed from the main body 10, along with any extension pieces, though there is no need to remove the shaft and it could be left in place. The threads on the stub 12 are used to connect the main body to a suitable adapter 46, in turn mounted on the top component of the tripod 45. This gives a secure and easily adjusted mounting for a telescope, when it is to be employed other than in the opening of a hide, as described above.

Figure 8 shows a modified form of the mounting arrangement of Figure 1 and like parts are given like reference numerals ; those parts will not be described again here. As with the previous embodiment, the main body 10 is externally threaded and also has an internally threaded bore into which the shaft 14 is screwed. The external threads 11 of the main body are threaded into a nut 50 having a cylindrical outer surface 51 and formed with four annular grooves 52 spaced along the length thereof.

The arm 26 of the saddle 25 has a cylindrical bore 53 which is a close rotating fit about the surface 51, a peg 54 being slideably mounted in the arm 26 for engagement with a selected groove 52. The peg 54 is spring loaded to a groove-engaging position but may be freed from a groove by means of a pushbutton 55 projecting from the upper surface of the arm 26. When the peg is engaged in a groove, the saddle 25 is held at a selected axial position but may be rotated freely around the main body, but movement of the peg against its spring loading permits the saddle to be located at a different position along the length of the surface 51.

The nut 50 has the threaded stub 12 formed integrally therewith. At the upper end of the threaded part of the main body there is formed a collar 56 to facilitate gripping of the main body when adjusting the length of the supporting arrangement for camping between two rails 40 and 41. Similarly, a collar 57 is formed on the shaft 14. In other respects, this alternative embodiment generally corresponds to the embodiment described above and is used in much the same way.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A mounting arrangement for an optical device, comprising: a support leg having an internally-threaded tubular main body and an external-threaded shaft engaged with the interna threads of the main body whereby relative rotation therebetween increases or decreases the overall length of the support leg ; and a saddle mounted on the support leg which saddle projects laterally of the support leg and is provided with a carrier for said optical device which carrier is rotatable about two mutually orthogonal axes with respect to the saddle ; whereby the support leg may be clamped between two spaced apart members by increasing the length of the support leg on relatively rotating the main body and shaft, and the targeting of an optical device mounted on the carrier may thereafter be adjusted by relative movement of the carrier with respect to the saddle and of the saddle with respect to the support leg.
2 : A mounting arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the saddle is rotatably mounted on the main body, for rotation about the axis thereof.
3. A mounting arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the main body is externally-threaded and the saddle has an internally-threaded bore engaged with the external threads of the main body, whereby rotation of the saddle about the main body threads the saddle along the length of the main body.
4. A mounting arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the main body has a cylindrical outer surface and the saddle is rotatably mounted on that outer surface.
5. A mounting arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein the cylindrical outer surface has a plurality of annular grooves spaced apart along the length of the surface, the saddle having a peg which is selectively engageable with any one of the grooves so as to permit the positioning of the saddle at a chosen position along the length of the main body.
6. A mounting arrangement as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the main body has a first part with external threads thereon and a nut defining said cylindrical surface, which nut is engaged with the external threads on the first part.
7. A mounting arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein a clamp mechanism is provided to secure the saddle at a pre-set position on the support leg.
8. A mounting arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier has a first component which is mounted on the saddle for rotation about a first axis which extends radially with respect to the support leg, and a second component which is mounted on the first component for rotation about a second axis which extends perpendicularly with respect to said first axis.
9. A mounting arrangement as claimed in claim 8, wherein the second component is configured to receive a mounting shoe provided on the optical device.
10. A mounting arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the end of the shaft remote from the main body is provided with a rotatable pad which pad engages one of the members between which the support leg is clamped.
11. A mounting arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the end of the main body remote from the shaft is provided with a replaceable pad of friction material.
12. A mounting arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the end of the shaft remote from the main body is threaded, for engagement by an extension piece to increase the effective length of the shaft.
13. A mounting arrangement as claimed in claim 12, wherein there are interengageable conical lands provided respectively on the shaft and on the extension piece, which lands interengage on tightening the extension piece to the shaft so as to hold the extension piece against relative movement with respect to the shaft.
14. A mounting arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the end of the main body remote from the shaft is threaded for engagement by an extension piece to increase the effective length of the main body.
15. A mounting arrangement as claimed in claim 1, and substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as shown illustrated in the accompanying drawings.