GB2586947A - Camera support bracket - Google Patents

Abstract

A support bracket comprises a pair of cross members 301, 302 with a fixing point 310 at the intersection of the cross members (such that they form an X shape, which may be varied by changing the angle between the pair of cross members). The members are rotatable around a common axis 310 and are placed substantially parallel, and above, a rigid surface (i.e. fence or rail). Protrusions 303, 304, 305, 306 from the cross members are placed on either side of the rail and are held in place by a flexible member (i.e. elasticated string) so as to grip the rail. A threaded rod 309 may be placed through the intersection, with a thumb wheel 308. The threaded rod may support a camera or a smartphone with an adapter.

Description

Camera Support Bracket This invention provides a compact means of rapidly and easily attaching a camera to a post, rail or bar such that it is held firmly in a fixed position.

Background

Smartphones typically include both still and video camera capabilities. However, unlike most cameras, they will not stand upright with the axis of the camera lens horizontal as most dedicated cameras will. This makes it more difficult to video oneself with them. You cannot simply place the phone on a nearby horizontal surface, start it recording and move into its field of view as you can with most cameras.

Instead, one needs either a friend to hold it; a tripod; a photographer's clamp or to wedge it upright somehow.

Tripods and existing camera clamps are not ideal. Most allow the camera to be oriented in three dimensions (pan, tilt and yaw) -and often provide three separate locking mechanisms. There are many cases where only one degree of freedom is needed. Consider, for example, horse-riding. Much of this -especially the sort of practising that a rider might want to record themselves doing -is performed in a sand-school or arena. This has two important characteristics.

Firstly, the activity of interest is constrained to a substantially horizontal plane. Hence a camera -or, more commonly, a smartphone containing one or more cameras-can be held vertically and only needs one degree of freedom -to be pointed in the right direction to cover the optimum field of view.

Secondly, the arena is typically fenced off -meaning that there is usually a horizontal rail and/or posts surrounding it. These are typically around 120cm off the ground and hence are useful rigid fixing points on which to mount a smartphone or other camera.

However, existing camera clamps that could be used in this case tend to be designed with maximum flexibility rather than ease of use. They were not designed to allow, for example, single-handed use (the other hand often holding a horse). Nor are they the quickest devices to use. 6-clamps, for example, are typically tightened and released by turning a threaded rod -that may require dozens of turns to move from maximum to minimum spread.

Many of the options are also too large, or too awkwardly shaped to fit easily in a pocket. Or, as with a 6-clamp, need to be spun laboriously to one extreme in order to minimise their size for storage.

Being aimed at the photography market, where the customer will have spent a significant amount on their camera, these accessories can also be too expensive for occasional users such as those who sometimes want to video themselves with their smartphone.

Furthermore, most such clamps are not intended to be left outdoors permanently. Sand-schools are often used by many people so one or more permanently attached smartphone mounts may be provided to allow anyone using them to easily video themselves. Thus an optional means for permanently affixing such a smartphone mounting device, made entirely of weatherproof materials would be beneficial.

Statement of Invention

This invention provides a low cost, simple clamp that allows a user to mount their smartphone on a post, rail or horizontal surface. A pair of bars pivoted at their centre can rotate from almost parallel to right-angles. Posts affixed at right angles to each end of these bars can grip the outer edges of a post or rail on which the device is placed. By applying tension to the ends of the bars, these posts grip the post, holding the mount in place.

Introduction to the Drawings

Figure 1 shows an exemplary cross-bar.

Figure 2 shows an exemplary corner post.

Figure 3 shows the overall clamp assembly.

Figure 4 shows the assembly in position on a fence rail.

Detail of the Invention Figure 1 shows an exemplary cross-bar -of which two are required. A rod or bar (101), typically of around 140mm length, 10mm width and 3mm thick has a centre hole (104) and end holes (102, 103).

The length of the rod (101) determines the maximum width of post or rail that the device can be used on. The centre hole (104) allows for an axis of rotation.

The rod itself could be of any cross-section and made of a wide variety of materials. Aluminium is a good choice -being light yet corrosion resistant. Steel, wood or plastic could also be used. The exemplary dimensions quoted above are suitable for an aluminium bar. Those for other materials would differ.

The end holes (102, 103) are used to affix the corner posts of Figure 2 with threaded bolts. Alternative means of affixing these could be used -such as slots in the corner posts into which the cross-bar fits. The cross-bar and corner posts could also be constructed as a single, shallow U-shaped item -for example, by injection moulding plastic.

Figure 2 shows a corner post. The main body of the post, (201) comes into contact with the fence post or rail which the device straddles in use. As this occurs at various angles, the body (201) is substantially circular in cross section. To improve grip on the post or rail, the body (201) may be roughened -such as by surface treatment (knurling or splines for example) and/or covered in a sheath which itself may be textured to improve grip. For example, a PVC, silicone, foam or rubber sheath may be slid over an aluminium core.

A recessed collar section (202) is preferably present. The height of this section is determined by the diameter of the elastic shock cord, rubber band or other tensioning member that is used to apply tension to the device. The cord is sized so as to always be under some tension even when the adjacent corner posts are in contact -so is held in the notch thus provided rather than being free to slip down the post.

The shape of this notch (202) may be, as shown, cut in at right angles to body (201) or, particularly if the means of tensioning is of circular cross section, cut in an arc of similar radius to that of the tensioning cord.

The upper section (203) is preferably the full width of the main body (201) so as to provide maximum rigidity to the joint between its upper surface and the cross-bar (101) to which it is attached.

A threaded hole (204) extends part way down the centre of the post allowing a bolt to be inserted through a hole in the cross-bar (102, 103) and into the post.

Figure 3 shows the completed assembly. Crossbars (301, 302) are held together by a standard camera tripod attachment screw (309). This typically consists of a rod, the top section of which has a 1/4 or 3/8 inch thread -to which a wide range of camera attachments can be attached. These include a wide range of smartphone adapters that grip a smartphone and present a threaded hole into which screw (309) can be inserted.

The lower section of the rod (309) where it passes through cross-bars (301, 302) (and hence not visible in this figure) is slightly narrower than the threaded section, allowing the two cross-bars to rotate easily about this axis. An F-clip or circlip (310) is affixed around the top of this narrower, unthreaded section to prevent the threaded rod (309) from falling through the hole (104) which is sized to allow the threaded section of rod (309) to just pass through it.

A thumbwheel (308) of typically around 25mm diameter rigidly affixed to the rod (309) allows the user to tighten or release the screw without the need for tools. Optionally, nylon washer (311) lets the user tighten the thumbscrew (308) more easily.

At each end of the cross-bars (301, 302), a corner post (303, 304, 305, 306) is firmly attached -in this example by means of bolts (307) through the holes (102, 103) in the ends of the cross-bars (301, 302) and down into the threaded hole (204). Optionally (not shown), a compressible washer may be used between the cross-bar (301, 302) and the corner post to provide a firm joint even if the mating surfaces are not completely flat.

Note that the upper section (203) of the corner posts (305, 306) on the upper of the two cross-bars (302) is longer than that on the corner posts (303, 304) attached to the lower cross-bar (301). The difference is equal to the height of the cross-bar and hence the lower surface of the four corner posts are at the same height. This allows the device to stand level on all four corner posts when placed on a horizontal surface.

The length of the corner posts is a trade-off between wanting the device to be as compact as possible yet usable on fence rails or posts that do not have a horizontal top surface.

Posts, in particular are often sloped to as to avoid water sitting on their top surface. Similarly, metal farm gates are often constructed of circular, tubular rails. The corner posts need to be long enough to reach down and grip the vertical sides of the fence post or rail when the cross-bars are held horizontally above the highest point of the post.

Figure 4 shows the apparatus in position on the top of a horizontal fence rail (401) such as is typically found around sand-schools. The cross-bars pivot about the central axis allowing the corner posts (303, 304, 305, 306) to be brought into contact with the sides of the rail.

To hold the apparatus in place -and thus allow whatever camera or phone equipment is attached to the central screw thread to be held firmly, it is merely necessary to apply a force between one or both pairs of legs i.e. pulling legs 303 and 306 together and/or pulling legs 304 and 305 together.

There are many ways this can be done.

For example, an elastic band pulled up over legs 303 & 306 so as to sit around the recessed collars at the top of these two legs. The force may be doubled by the application of a second rubber band similarly placed around legs 304 and 305.

Alternative methods could include but are not limited to: an elastic (for example, rubber) strap with multiple holes aligning with lugs on the top surface of each cross-bar (301, 302). This allows said strap to be stretched between the bars and pushed down over the lugs to maintain this tension. Said lugs could be fashioned by spacers on the bolts 307, holding their heads above the plane of the cross-bars (301, 302).

An further approach is to use elastic shock cord (also known as "bungee cord") formed into a loop -typically via a crimp tube, hog-ties or the use of a plastic ball with a hole in. In the latter case, the ends of the cord are passed through the hole in the ball and tied, melted or joined with a connector that prevents them being pulled back through the ball.

Alternatively, holes drilled through one or more of the corner posts allow said cord to be threaded through these holes and a crimp or knot applied to the end of the cord, stopping it from pulling back through said hole. Similarly, holes added to the cross members (301, 302) and/or additional protrusions thereon could be used as such anchor points for the cord(s).

The thickness of this cord can be matched to the height of the recess at the top of the corner posts -allowing it to be held in position at the tops of the legs. The length and elastic characteristics of the cord are selected so as to provide a small amount of tension when the device is collapsed -with bars (301, 302) almost parallel with corner posts (303 and 306) in contact and corner posts (304 and 305) in contact -and sufficient tension to hold the device firmly when the bars (301, 302) are at close to 90 degrees to each other.

The presence of such cords above the rail, yet held at a controlled distance below the crossbars (301, 302) thanks to the notches (202) in each corner post ensures that the lower edge of the thumbwheel (308) can be kept above the surface of the rail (401). This allows it to be turned without friction between the thumbwheel (308) and rail (401) as would occur if the assembly were pushed further down onto the rail (401).

S

By running an elastic cord (or rubber band) all the way around the outside of the four corner posts and sizing it so it is under slight tension even when the cross-bars are fully closed (almost parallel), the pairs of legs are pulled together even when separated only by a very thin rail (401). This is in contrast to the use of cord or rubber bands simply spanning adjacent pairs of corner posts (304, 305 and 303,306) -as there will be no tension until those posts are separated by more than the relaxed length of the rubber band. Using a band small enough that it is under tension even when the posts are in contact means that it will have to expand to several times its natural length on larger rails -either snapping or exerting too much tension for easy removal.

Also note that by running the elastic cord around the outside of all four corner posts, when the cross-bars (301, 302) are at precisely ninety degrees to each other, the legs are not pulled in either direction -though this is an unstable equilibrium position. This allows the apparatus to be used as a simple stand, with no clamping action, when placed on a horizontal surface wider than the maximum separation of the corner posts.

However, the apparatus is not stable in this configuration as any slight movement away from ninety degrees will cause the tension in the legs to increase and the "scissors" will snap shut. In practice, the friction caused by threaded rod (309) being finger-tightened into the camera or smartphone mount is sufficient to make this configuration stable. Tightening knurled thumbwheel (308) further locks the devices in any given position.

Alternatively, a locking or retaining mechanism may be provided to give some resistance to the device leaving the fully extended (ninety degrees between cross-bars) position. This may be as simple as a recess in one or both bars that engage together when the bars are at ninety degrees; a pin and hole forming a bolt mechanism; a sprung ball bearing and corresponding recess; hook and eye or other easily operated latching mechanism.

Further variants on the path of the elastic cord allow for different profiles of force versus angle of cross-bar. They can also resolve the problem of the cord being able to be separated from the apparatus and hence potentially lost.

For example, the cord may be attached in a "figure of eight" format (via a crimp tube with a circular eye hole in each end). Thus the central screw is inserted into the eye in one end and the elastic run from the centre, around corner post 303, then around corner post 306 then around the opposite corner post 305, around corner post 304 and back to the centre where the central screw passes through the eye on the other end of the cord.

An alternative approach is to use a single length of cord rather than a loop. The notches (202) on two of the corner posts (say, 304 and 306) can be replaced with a hole through the post, into which the ends of the elastic cord are inserted. The cord is prevented from pulling back through said holes by the protruding end being knotted, crimped or melted and/or the bolt (307) screwing down onto the cord so as to trap it in place. This approach allows the cord to extend around three rather than all four sides and remove the (often bulky) ball used to hold ends of the cord forming a loop.

With these cord layouts, the ninety-degree position is not an equilibrium point and will snap shut firmly. Therefore a more rigid latching mechanism may be needed to hold the apparatus at this, fully extended position.

Note that the device can also be used on a vertical post or rail -though the weight that can be supported without it sliding down the rail or pivoting forwards is a function of the friction between the corner posts and the rail. This depends on the material and condition of the rail as well as that of the corner posts and the tension pulling the corner posts onto the rail.

If the apparatus is to be permanently affixed to a rail or post, this can be achieved by the provision or one or more additional holes in the cross-bar(s) through which one or more screws can be driven down in the post or rail (401).

Alternatively, the corner posts may be removed, the angle between the cross-bars reduced slightly so as to position holes (102, 103) above the rail (401) and screws driven through these holes into the rail.

Note that the screw (309) allows a camera or any other item with an appropriately threaded hole -such as a smartphone clip -to be mounted directly onto it. This allows the camera or smartphone to be mounted in a vertical plane and the thumbwheel tightened so as to grip it with the camera pointing in any direction.

Should "tilt" and/or "yaw" be required in addition to this flexible "pan" angle, a tripod head with additional degrees of freedom can be mounted onto the thread (309) and the camera or smartphone holder then attached to that.

Note that a reduced cost and lighter weight version of the device can be achieved by using cross bars that do not extend significantly beyond the axis hole (104). This forms a rather than an "X". The elastic cord need therefore only form a triangle from the centre, around the two corner posts and back to the centre.

In this format, it is preferable to have the two corner posts of slightly different lengths. This makes it easier to affix the device with one hand. The longer post catches on the rail first; the user pushes the jaws of the "V" open before pushing it down further allowing the shorter post to push down over the rail too.

Claims (12)

1. CLAIMS1. An apparatus for supporting an object in a fixed position above the surface of a rigid member characterised in that said apparatus is formed of a fixing point at the intersection of two cross members which are placed substantially parallel to said surface and rotatable about a common axis perpendicular to said surface through said fixing point and having one or more pairs of protrusions from said cross members that are substantially perpendicular to said cross members and said surface wherein a force is applied by means of a flexible member in tension pulling said pair of protrusions together so as to grip said sides of said member.
2. 2. An apparatus of Claim 1 in which said shared axis is near the ends of said cross-members which thus form a variable "V" shape with one pair of said protrusions at the open end of the V.
3. 3. An apparatus of Claim 1 in which said shared axis is near the centre of said cross-members which thus form a variable "X" shape with two pairs of said protrusions.
4. 4. An apparatus of Claim 1 in which said force is applied by means of one or more elastic cords.
5. 5. An apparatus of Claim 3 and 4 in which said elastic cord passes around the outside of all of said protrusions.
6. 6. An apparatus of Claim 3 and 4 in which said elastic cord passes in a figure of eight around the said axis and one or more pairs of said protrusions.
7. 7. An apparatus of Claim 4 in which one or both ends of said elastic cord(s) pass through hole(s) in said apparatus and prevented from pulling back through said hole(s) by mean of a knot or attachment applied to the end of said cord(s).
8. 8. An apparatus of Claim 1 in which the means of applying said force further serves to maintain a minimum separation between said cross members and said surface.
9. 9. An apparatus of Claim 4 in which said protrusions provide a recess to hold said elastic cord in position.
10. 10. An apparatus of Claim 1 in which said protrusions are removable.
11. 11. An apparatus of Claim 1 further characterised in that it may be semi-permanently affixed to said surface by means of one or more holes in said cross members through which a screw, bolt or connecting rod may be used to hold said apparatus in place on said member.
12. 12. An apparatus of claim 3 in which said cross-members may be held at a predetermined angle by means of one or more interlocking recesses and/or projections.