JP2003097791A - Tripod for camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem that it requires time and effort to adjust total length of a tripod since each cramp mechanism need to be manually loosened and fastened. SOLUTION: When this tripod 1 is installed, an upper part is held and pulled upward. When the tripod gets a target height, the tripod is fixed at the height by operation of a reverse flow preventing mechanism 5 with releasing the hand. When the tripod need to be shortened in height, or shortened to the minimum length for withdrawal, the upper part is held and is pushed downward while operating a simultaneous operation bar 7 and the tripod lowers with operation of a reverse flow prevention releasing mechanism 8. The tripod is installed easily, quickly and safely. Also withdrawal is done easily, quickly and safely.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a tripod mainly used for a camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally known camera tripods have a structure such as a pipe screw type or a lock lever type connecting mechanism between leg elements.

[0003]

The conventional camera tripod has the following problems to be solved. First, the total length of the tripod is adjusted by manually loosening or tightening each clamp. Therefore, there is a problem that adjustment requires time and labor. Secondly, in the midway adjustment, since the tripod wants to use the thickest part as much as possible, the tripod is adjusted to shorten the thin part. For this reason, it is necessary to adjust the tip portion, but there is a problem that the handling is unstable and the product falls down.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and makes tripod setting work quicker.
The purpose is to do it easily and safely. The inventions realized by the embodiments described in the following paragraphs have the following configurations, respectively. <Structure 1> Attached so as to extend below the camera,
A leg that is divided into two or more leg elements in the longitudinal direction and is connected so that each leg element slides smoothly in the longitudinal direction and expands and contracts the entire length, and the extension distance when extending this leg is maintained. In order to shrink the leg and the backflow prevention mechanism provided between the leg elements as described above, if the backflow prevention state of the uppermost backflow prevention mechanism is released, the backflow prevention state of the backflow prevention mechanism of the lower leg element is sequentially released. A backflow prevention release mechanism is provided. However, it is better to have a simultaneous operation bar for simultaneously operating the three uppermost backflow prevention mechanisms. <Structure 2> The leg elements form a hollow cross section having triangular, quadrangular or circular inner protrusions, and some of the adjacent leg elements come into contact with each other in a three-point supporting state to receive a holding force between the leg elements,
It has a structure that reduces the rattling of the entire tripod when the camera is set.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the conventional manual clamping method between the leg elements is a backflow prevention mechanism that automatically operates at an arbitrary position, and in the case of contracting, the backflow prevention of each uppermost part of the three legs is prevented. By operating the mechanism to release backflow with the simultaneous operation bar and lowering the camera part, the backflow prevention of the lower part is released in sequence, and it was possible to shorten to the shortest, so it is possible to set the height at a stretch at the time of installation, It has the effect that it can be done in a short time at a stretch, and that installation and removal work is fast, easy, and safe.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the conventional manual clamping method between the leg elements is replaced with a mechanism for automatically performing a backflow preventing operation or an automatic backflow releasing operation at an arbitrary position. When I raised the tripod, it was in a slightly loose fit. In order to eliminate this rattling at the time of shooting, when the tripod is lowered on the ground, the connection part is in a three-point supporting state, practical rattling can be prevented, and it is effective for stable shooting.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to specific examples.

Each configuration will be described with reference to the drawings. <FIG. 1> shows the entire structure of a tripod for a camera of the present invention. Tripod (1)
Comprises three legs (3), three wires (9) and a simultaneous operation bar (7). Each leg (3) comprises a leg element (4), a backflow prevention mechanism (5), a sliding part (6),
The backflow prevention release mechanism (8) and the recovery lever (94) are provided. <FIG. 2> is a front view of a conventional camera tripod and shows the overall configuration. The outline of the configuration includes a manual clamp mechanism (21) as a connecting mechanism that controls expansion and contraction. FIG. 3 is an explanatory side sectional view showing the configuration of the backflow prevention mechanism according to the first embodiment. An eccentric lever (33) (backflow prevention mechanism) is provided below each leg element except the lowermost leg element (44). Eccentric lever (3
3) is supported by the shaft (34) of the upper leg element (31). The eccentric lever (33) is in contact with the lower leg element (32) by the weak force of the spring or weight. FIG. 4 is an explanatory side view showing the configuration of the backflow prevention canceling mechanism according to the first embodiment. The lower leg of the upper leg element (31) is provided with a backflow prevention release mechanism (8). The backflow prevention release mechanism (8) may not be provided in the lowermost leg element (44) and the second leg element from the lowermost portion. FIG. 5 is an explanatory side view showing the configuration of the backflow prevention mechanism according to the second embodiment. At the bottom of each leg element except the bottom leg element (44), a stop lever (5
1) (Backflow prevention mechanism). Stop lever (5
1) is supported by the shaft (34) of the upper leg element (31). Each leg element except the top leg element (42) is provided with a serration (52). Stop lever (5
1) is the lower leg element (3
It is in contact with the back of the serrated cut (52) in 2). <FIG. 6> is an explanatory side view showing the configuration of the backflow prevention releasing mechanism according to the second embodiment. The lower leg of the upper leg element (31) is provided with a backflow prevention release mechanism (8). The backflow prevention release mechanism (8) may not be provided in the lowermost leg element (44) and the second leg element from the lowermost portion. FIG. 7 is a sectional view for explaining a stability-related operation between the round pipe leg elements when the legs are opened. Two protrusions (75) are provided on the lower portion of the adjacent upper leg element (73). The adjacent lower leg element (74) supports two protrusions (75) and the lower end of the adjacent upper leg element (73) at three points. The two protrusions (75) are arranged symmetrically with respect to the radiation from the center point of the tripod. <Figure 8>
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a stability-related operation between the square pipe leg elements when the legs are opened. The adjacent upper leg element (73) and the adjacent lower leg element (74) are arranged so that the diagonal line of the leg element cross section matches the radiation from the center point of the tripod.
FIG. 9 is a side view for explaining the operation of the backflow prevention canceling mechanism at the start of operation. Axis B (9 provided on the uppermost leg element (42)
5) is provided with a recovery lever (94). Recovery lever (9
4) has a wire (9) attached through a tube (94). Each wire (9) is connected to the simultaneous operation lever (7) at the upper part, and the eccentric lever (33) and the stop lever (51) are operated by operating the simultaneous operation lever (7).
Are designed to operate in the recovery direction.

Use and operation <FIG. 1> Tripod (1) of the present invention
When installing, hold the upper part and pull it up. When the target height is reached, if the hand is released, the backflow prevention mechanism (5) operates to fix the height as it is. If you want to shorten the height, or if you want to shorten it to the shortest and withdraw it to the shortest, operating the simultaneous operation bar (7) and lowering it while holding the upper part lowers by the function of the backflow prevention release mechanism (8). <FIG. 2> When the conventional tripod is extended or shortened, the clamp mechanism (21) at the joint portion of each leg element is loosened by hand to adjust the length and then the height is adjusted. <FIG. 3> Operation of the first embodiment of the backflow prevention mechanism. When installing the tripod, if the upper part of the tripod is pulled up, the upper leg element (31) in the right figure moves upward as indicated by arrow A (35). The lower leg element (32) remains in its position under its own weight. For this reason, the eccentric lever (33) tries to rotate as shown by arrow C (37), but is eccentric so that the movement amount (39) in the contact direction is reduced, so that the eccentric lever (3)
The friction between the lower leg element (3) and the lower leg element (32) is small, and the upper leg element (31) moves upward as it is. At the target height, when you lift up your hand, the upper leg element (3
1) is descended by its own weight as shown by arrow B (36). Therefore, the eccentric lever (33) rotates as indicated by arrow D (38) and the movement amount (39) increases, the friction between the eccentric lever (33) and the lower leg element (32) increases, and the upper leg element (3).
The descent in 1) stops. <FIG. 4> Operation of Embodiment 1 of the backflow prevention canceling mechanism. When shortening the leg length from a high position, the upper leg element (31) descends as shown by arrow E (41) by the operation of FIG. 9 (described later). The inclined portion of the backflow prevention release mechanism (8) attached to the lower part of the upper leg element (31) pushes back the operating eccentric lever (33) attached to the intermediate leg element (43) to form the intermediate leg element (43). The friction holding of the lowermost leg element (44) is released, and the upper leg element (31) and the middle leg element (43) are lowered. <FIG. 5> Operation of Embodiment 2 of the backflow prevention mechanism section. The purpose of the operation is the same as that of FIG. 3, but the structure is partially different, so the operation will be described. When installing the tripod, if the upper part of the tripod is pulled up, the upper leg element (31) in the right figure moves upward as indicated by arrow A (35). The lower leg element (32) remains in its position under its own weight. Therefore, the stop lever (5
1) rotates in the direction of arrow C (37) and has a sawtooth cut (5
Since the mountain of 2) is overcome, friction between the stop lever (51) and the lower leg element (32) is small, and the upper leg element (31) is small.
Moves upward as it is. At the target height, when the lifting hand is released, the upper leg element (31) begins to descend as shown by an arrow B (36) by its own weight as shown in the left figure. At this time, the tip of the stop lever (51) hits the valley of the saw-tooth cut (52) and the lowering of the upper leg element (31) is stopped. <FIG. 6> Operation of the backflow prevention canceling mechanism according to the second embodiment. The purpose of the operation is the same as that in FIG. 4 described above, but the operation will be described because the structure is partially different. When shortening the leg length from a higher position, see Fig. 9.
The upper leg element (31) descends as shown by an arrow E (41) by the operation (described later) as shown in the left figure. The upper leg element (3
The inclined portion of the backflow prevention release mechanism (8) attached to the lower part of 1) pushes back the operating stop lever (51) attached to the intermediate leg element (43) and returns the intermediate leg element (43) and the lowermost leg element. The hook holding of (44) is released, and the upper leg element (31) and the intermediate leg element (43) are lowered. <FIG. 7> Example 1 of stability-related operation between the round pipe leg elements when the legs are opened. The tripod of the present invention is provided with a backlash so that the connecting portions can be slid easily so that the leg elements can be lowered by their own weights when the leg elements are extended and shortened. However, in order to stabilize the shooting state, the coupling between the leg elements is provided with a structure for holding three points in the opened state. Therefore, when the legs are opened and the height is determined, the state automatically becomes stable. <FIG. 8> Stability-related operation example 2 between the square pipe type leg elements when the leg is opened. The purpose of the operation is the same as that in FIG. 7 described above, and the operation is almost the same although the structure is partially different. In the tripod of the present invention, the extension and contraction operations between the leg elements are provided with play so that the connecting portions can slide easily so that the leg elements can descend by their own weight. However, in order to stabilize the shooting state, the coupling between the leg elements is such that the inner surface of the adjacent upper leg element (73) and the outer surface of the adjacent lower leg element (74) are engaged with each other in an open state.
Alternatively, it has a structure for holding three points. Therefore, when the legs are opened and the height is determined, the state automatically becomes stable. <FIG. 9> Operation of the embodiment of the backflow prevention release mechanism. If you want to shorten the height, or if you want to withdraw it with the shortest length, operating the simultaneous operation bar (7) will cause that movement displacement to pull the cable displacement, pulling up the connection part with the recovery lever (94), Eccentric lever (3
3) or the stop lever (51) is operated in the recovery direction to bring the connection between the leg elements into a sliding state. In this state, hold the upper part and lower it to the lower part to shorten and lower the leg length.

The backflow prevention mechanism of claim 1 is as shown in FIG. This is means for automatically stopping the descent when the distance between the leg elements changes from ascending to descending as in the embodiment described in FIG. The backflow prevention release mechanism of claim 1 is as shown in FIG. As in the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 6, the lower lock is unlocked by the action from the upper part, and this is the means for unlocking the lower lock, which functions in a chain. Claim 2
5. Some of the adjacent leg elements of FIG. Although it is the same as the embodiment described in FIG. 7, it can be firmly tightened automatically even if it is not in the three-point supporting state (Fig. 3. Left figure, eccentric lever operated), and the tightening is released by the backflow prevention release mechanism on the top. If you can, that's fine.

The above-described tripod for a camera of the present invention can be used not only for attaching a camera product such as a camera, a reflector, and a flash, but also for temporary lighting fixtures, speakers, hangers, and the like.

[0007]

As described above, each of the inventions according to the present invention has the following effects. First, there is an effect that the tripod can be installed easily, quickly and safely. In addition, there is an effect that the removal can be performed easily, quickly and safely. Secondly, the first effect becomes particularly noticeable in the case where images are taken from multiple angles on a daily basis for business use.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a conventional camera tripod.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view for explaining the first embodiment of the backflow prevention mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view for explaining the backflow prevention releasing mechanism according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view for explaining the second embodiment of the backflow prevention mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view for explaining a backflow prevention canceling mechanism according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view for explaining a stability-related operation between the round pipe leg elements of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view for explaining a stability-related operation between the square pipe leg elements of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a side view for explaining the operation of the backflow prevention releasing mechanism of the present invention at the start of operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 tripod 2 camera 3 legs 4-leg element 5 Backflow prevention mechanism 6 Sliding part 7 Simultaneous operation bar 8 Backflow prevention release mechanism 9 wires 10 ground 21 Clamp mechanism 31 Upper leg element 32 Lower leg element 33 Eccentric lever (backflow prevention mechanism) 34 axes 35 Arrow A 36 Arrow B 37 Arrow C 38 Arrow D 39 amount of movement 41 Arrow E 42 Top element 43 Middle leg element 44 Bottom element 51 Stop lever (backflow prevention mechanism) 52 Saw notch 71 Sectional view when opening a round pipe 72 Side sectional view of a round pipe when the leg is opened 73 Adjacent upper leg element 74 Adjacent lower leg element 75 Protrusion 76 Support points 81 Sectional view when opening a square pipe 82 Side sectional view when opening a square pipe 91 Arrow F 92 Arrow G 93 Arrow H 94 Recovery lever 95 axis B 96 tubes

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A camera which extends downward from a camera, is divided into two or more leg elements in the longitudinal direction, and the leg elements are connected so as to smoothly slide in the longitudinal direction to extend and contract the entire length. A leg and a backflow prevention mechanism provided between the leg elements so as to maintain the extension distance when the leg is extended,
In the case of shortening this leg, the camera is provided with a backflow prevention canceling mechanism that sequentially releases the backflow prevention state of the backflow prevention mechanism of the lower leg element by releasing the backflow prevention state of the uppermost backflow prevention mechanism. For tripod. 2. The leg element forms (provides) a triangle, a quadrangle, or a section equivalent thereto, and some of the leg elements adjacent to each other are in contact with each other in a three-point supporting state, and the holding force between the leg elements is received, whereby the camera The tripod for a camera according to claim 1, wherein the tripod for the camera has a structure that reduces play in the tripod as a whole.