JP2010007766A - Ball joint structure of arms and arm system for underwater photographing equipment with ball joint structure - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an arm system for underwater photographing equipment excellent in resistance to weight of ball joint structure and excellent in supporting performance of physical object. <P>SOLUTION: The arm system 1 for the underwater photographing equipment connected with fixable ball joint structure 20 has both ball arm 4 and the head arm 5. One end of both ball arms 4 is turnably connected to a slide-fixed bracket 3 by a fixable ball joint structure 20 and one end of a head arm 5 for the underwater photographing auxiliary equipment is turnably connected to the other end of both ball arms and by the fixable ball joint structure 20. The ball joint structure 20 includes: a pair of pressing bodies 6b to pinch a pair of ball-like materials to connect in opposite positions from outside, keeping a fixed interval; a pair of packings each interposed between these inner surfaces and outer surfaces of each ball like end member; and a thread fastening tool composed of combination of an operation knob 8 for pressing a pair of packings outside of the ball like members through a pressing body or releasing the pressure, and a screwing body. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a ball joint structure between arms and an arm system for an underwater photographing apparatus including the ball joint structure.

  Conventionally, underwater photography devices such as underwater cameras and camera built-in housings are used for underwater photography devices to compensate for less light when photographing fish and underwater plants underwater. An arm system for attaching a photographing auxiliary device such as a target light, a video light, and an external strobe is often used.

  A conventional example of such an arm system will be described with reference to FIGS.

  A conventional arm system 51 shown in FIG. 4 has a base plate 52 fixedly attached to the bottom of an underwater photographing device such as an underwater camera or a camera built-in housing, and is slidably fastened to the end of the base plate 52 and is ball-shaped from one end. Both ball arms are provided with a slide fixing bracket 53 projecting an end member 53a and ball-like end members 54a and 54b at both ends, and connected to the slide fixing bracket 53 by a ball joint structure 60 whose one end can be rotated and fixed. 54, a ball-shaped end member 55a at one end and a lighting fixture connecting portion 55b at the other end, and connected to the other end of the both ball arms 54 by a ball joint structure 60 capable of rotating and fixing one end side. And a head arm 55 for attaching a photographing auxiliary device such as a target light.

  A specific example of the ball joint structure 60 for connecting the both ball arms 54 and the head arm 55 is shown in an enlarged manner in FIGS.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the ball joint structure 60 includes a pair of ball-shaped end members 54b and 55a to be connected to each other while being spaced apart from each other in an opposing arrangement, and the ball-shaped end members 54b, For example, a pair of square plate-like pressing bodies 61a and 61b that are brought into contact with the outer periphery of 55a, and a hole provided in a corresponding arrangement at the center of the pair of pressing bodies 61a and 61b, the head is one pressing body. A threaded part 62a is brought into contact with the outer surface of the threaded part 61a, the threaded part 62a is protruded outward from the other pressing body 61b, and the threaded part 62a of the threading threaded body 62 is screwed together. Fastening the body 61b to the one pressing body 61a side to fix the pair of ball-shaped end members 54b, 55a to the pair of pressing bodies 61a, 61b, and the pair of pressing bodies 61a, 61b It is disposed, and a spring body 64 to provide a biasing force in a direction away a pair of pushing members 61a, to 61b, a.

  The ball joint structure 60 between the slide fixing bracket 53 and both ball arms 54 has the same configuration as described above.

  In the conventional ball joint structure 60, the contact area between the end surfaces of the pair of pressing bodies 61a and 61b facing the outer periphery of the ball-shaped end members 54b and 55a and the outer periphery of the ball-shaped end members 54b and 55a is shown in FIG. As shown, an O-ring 65 having a circular cross section is interposed.

  When the other pressing body 61b is fastened to the one pressing body 61a by the fastening tool 63, between the end face of the pressing body 61a and the O-ring 65, and between the end face of the pressing body 61b and the O-ring 65. These frictional forces are used to fix each other and to support the photographing auxiliary device attached to the head arm 55 so as to be in a fixed position.

  However, in the case of the above-described conventional arm system 51, as described above, the frictional force generated by the O-ring 65 that does not have a sufficient contact area with the end surface of the pressing body 61a in the ball joint structure 60 is used. Therefore, the fixing forces between the slide fixing bracket 53 and one end of both ball arms 54 and between the other end of both ball arms 54 and one end of the head arm 55 are not necessarily sufficient.

  As a result, when a photographing auxiliary device having a large weight is attached to the arm system 51, the fixing force of the ball joint structure 60 cannot withstand the weight, and the photographing auxiliary device can be held and fixed at a fixed position. The inconvenience arises that underwater photography cannot be performed smoothly.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a support arm system for supplementarily attaching a lighting fixture or the like to an underwater camera, for example.

  The support arm system of Patent Document 1 connects a base plate and an arm using a universal joint. However, it is not easy to hold and fix a photographing auxiliary device having a large weight in a fixed position.

  In Patent Document 2, arms having metal sphere cores are sandwiched between a pair of metal plates such that the metal sphere cores are positioned at both ends, and the pair of metal plates are tightened using a screw fastener with a rotating handle. A camera strobe arm system configured as described above is disclosed.

Also in the case of the arm system of Patent Document 2, since the metal sphere core is sandwiched between both ends of the pair of metal plates, it is not easy to hold and fix a photographing auxiliary device having a large weight in a fixed position. .
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-237689 JP 08-69033 A

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is that the ball joint structure has a high weight resistance and a ball joint that can stably hold the photographing auxiliary device at a fixed position even when a large amount of the photographing auxiliary device is attached. There is no arm system for underwater photography equipment having a structure.

  The present invention relates to a base plate that is fixedly attached to the bottom of an underwater photographing device such as an underwater camera or a camera built-in housing, and a slide fixing bracket that is slidably attached to an end of the base plate and has a ball-shaped end member protruding from one end. And both ball arms that have ball-shaped end members at both ends and are connected to a slide fixing bracket with a ball joint structure that allows one end to be rotated and fixed, and a ball-shaped end member at one end and a lighting fixture at the other end And a head arm for attaching a photographing auxiliary device connected to the other end of each of the ball arms by a ball joint structure capable of rotating and fixing at one end. In the arm system, the ball joint structure includes a pair of ball-shaped end members to be connected. A pair of pressing bodies sandwiched in an opposing arrangement from the outside while being spaced apart, a pair of packings made of a polymer material interposed between the inner surface of the pair of pressing bodies and the outer surface of each ball-shaped end member, and And a fastening tool composed of a combination of a knob and an operation knob for pressing or releasing the pair of packings against the outer surface of each of the ball-shaped end members via a pair of pressing bodies. Features.

  According to invention of Claim 1, 2, it consists of a polymeric material between the inner surface of said pair of press bodies and the outer surface of each said ball-shaped end member, that is, it selects from rubber | gum or a thermoplastic elastomer. By interposing a pair of plate-like packings, when the knob is tightened, the contact area between each ball-shaped end member and each packing is increased, and the frictional force between them is increased, resulting in weight resistance. Therefore, it is possible to provide a ball joint structure capable of stably supporting an object such as a heavy imaging assisting device supported by an arm system at a fixed position.

  In particular, at the time of tightening the knob, the pair of packings are configured to be brought into press contact with the outer surfaces of the pair of ball-shaped end members and bulge toward the ball-shaped end member receiving holes. Provides a ball joint structure that can increase the frictional force between a pair of ball-shaped end members and further increase the weight resistance, and can stably support an object such as a photographing auxiliary device in a fixed position. can do.

  According to the third and fourth aspects of the invention, since the arm system for an underwater photographing apparatus having the ball joint structure according to the first and second aspects of the invention is used, the ball joint structure itself has high weight resistance. It is possible to provide an arm system for an underwater photographing device having a ball joint structure that can stably hold the photographing auxiliary device at a fixed position even when a photographing auxiliary device having a large weight is attached.

  The present invention is for an underwater photographing apparatus having a ball joint structure that can stably hold a photographing auxiliary device in a fixed position even when a photographing auxiliary device having a high weight resistance and a large weight is attached. It has the purpose of providing an arm system.

  The present invention relates to a base plate that is fixedly attached to the bottom of an underwater photographing device such as an underwater camera or a camera built-in housing, and a slide fixing bracket that is slidably attached to an end of the base plate so that a ball-shaped end member protrudes from one end. And both ball arms that have ball-shaped end members at both ends and are connected to a slide fixing bracket with a ball joint structure that allows one end to be rotated and fixed, and a ball-shaped end member at one end and a lighting fixture at the other end And a head arm for attaching a photographing auxiliary device connected to the other end of each of the ball arms by a ball joint structure capable of rotating and fixing at one end. In the arm system, the ball joint structure includes a pair of ball-shaped end members to be connected. A pair of pressing bodies each having a plate-shaped ball-shaped end member receiving hole sandwiched in an opposing arrangement from the outside while being spaced apart, and an inner surface of the pair of pressing bodies and an outer surface of each of the ball-shaped end members A pair of plate-like packings made of a polymer material selected from rubber or thermoplastic elastomer interposed between them, and an operation knob disposed on the outer side of one of the pair of pressing bodies. And a screw body that protrudes from the knob and is screwed to the receiving screw provided on the other pressing body through the other packing, between the one pressing body, the one packing, and each of the ball-shaped end members. A clamping tool, and by tightening or loosening the knob, the pair of packings are pressed into contact with the outer surfaces of the pair of ball-shaped end members and bulged toward the ball-shaped end member receiving hole side. Ah to be connected To each other is fixed, or, to achieve the above object by constituting with a ball joint structure, characterized in that the rotatable to each other.

  Hereinafter, a ball joint structure and an arm system for an underwater photographing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an arm system 1 for an underwater photographing device including a ball joint structure 20 according to the present embodiment is a metal base plate 2 that is fixedly attached to the bottom of an underwater photographing device 30 such as an underwater camera or a camera built-in housing. And a metal slide fixing bracket 3 in which a ball-like end member 3a is projected from one end and ball-like end members 4a and 4b at both ends. Both metal ball arms 4 connected to a slide fixing bracket 3 by a ball joint structure 20 whose one end can be rotated and fixed, a ball-shaped end member 5a at one end, and a lighting fixture connecting portion 5b at the other end. , An external strobe connected to the other end of the both ball arms 4 by a ball joint structure 20 whose one end can be rotated and fixed. Get light, yet has a metallic head arm 5 is a mounting member of the imaging assist device 31 such as a video light, a.

  A specific example of the ball joint structure 20 for connecting the other end of the both ball arms 4 and one end of the head arm 5 is shown enlarged in FIGS.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ball joint structure 20 sandwiches a pair of ball-shaped end members 4b, 5a to be connected in an opposing arrangement from the outside with a predetermined interval therebetween, and the ball-shaped end members 4b, For example, a pair of substantially square plate-like metal pressing bodies 6a and 6b that are semicircular at both ends, the inner surfaces of the pair of pressing bodies 6a and 6b, and the ball-shaped end members 4b. A pair of plate-like packings 7a and 7b made of a polymer material selected from rubber (for example, high-quality rubber such as acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR)) or thermoplastic elastomer interposed between the outer surfaces of 5a. A knob 8 having a substantially circular outer periphery for operation disposed on the outer side of one of the pair of pressing bodies 6a and 6b, and protruding from a central portion of the knob 8 so that the one pressing body 6a A hole 6c provided in the center of the body 6a, a hole 7c provided in one packing 7a, a hole 7d provided in the other packing 7b between each of the ball-shaped end members 4b and 5a, and the other pressing body A metal fastening tool 10 having a screw body 9 screwed to a receiving screw 6d provided at the center of 6b.

  The pair of packings 7a and 7b are formed to have substantially the same planar shape as the pair of pressing bodies 6a and 6b.

  The pair of pressing bodies 6a and 6b are provided with ball-shaped end member receiving holes 11 located on both ends.

  The ball joint structure 20 provided between the slide fixing bracket 3 and one end of both ball arms 4 has the same configuration as described above.

  Next, the function and effect of the ball joint structure 20 and the arm system 1 for underwater photographing equipment of the present embodiment will be described mainly with respect to the weight resistance of the ball joint structure 20.

  According to the underwater photographing apparatus arm system 1 having the ball joint structure 20 of the present embodiment, after each element of the underwater photographing apparatus arm system 1 is attached to the underwater photographing apparatus 30, the underwater photographing apparatus arm system 1 is used. Attaching and supporting the photographing auxiliary device 31 is supported.

  In this case, between the inner surfaces of the pressing bodies 6a and 6b in the ball joint structures 20 and 20 in two places in total, and the outer surfaces of the ball-shaped end members 4b and 5a and the ball-shaped end members 3a and 4a, respectively. Since a pair of plate-like packings 7a and 7b, each selected from rubber or thermoplastic elastomer, is interposed between the screw body 9 and the receiving screw 6d, the knobs 8 and 8 are tightened. As shown in FIG. 3, the packings 7a and 7b are respectively formed on the bases of the ball-shaped end member receiving holes 11 so that the ball-shaped end members 4b and 5a (and the ball-shaped end members are bulged). 3a and 4a) are pressed and contacted with a large contact area.

  As a result, compared to the case without the packings 7a and 7b, the frictional force between these elements is much larger and the weight resistance is increased. The arm system 1 for an underwater photographing apparatus including the ball joint structure 20 that can stably and firmly support an object such as the apparatus 31 in a fixed position can be provided.

  As a result, the underwater photographing apparatus arm system 1 having the ball joint structure 20 is attached to an underwater photographing apparatus 30 such as an underwater camera or a camera built-in housing, and an external strobe having a large weight with respect to the head arm 5; When underwater shooting is performed with a target light or the like and two ball joint structures 20 with the ball arm 4 and the head arm 5 at a desired angle, the external strobe, target light, etc. 30 can be stably held at a fixed position.

  That is, it is possible to smoothly perform underwater photographing on a subject such as fish while stably holding an external strobe, target light, etc. at a fixed position with respect to the underwater photographing device 30.

  In addition, although not shown in figure in the outer periphery of the said screw body 9 between a pair of press body 6a, 6b in the said ball joint structure 20, the structure which applies the urging | biasing force of the direction separated from a pair of press body 6a, 6b is given. Can be used to make the knob 8 easy to relax and to simplify and simplify the operation of the photographer when changing the position of the external strobe, target light, etc. relative to the underwater photographing device 30. It is.

  In the above-described embodiment, the single configuration in which the both ball arms 4 and the head arm 5 are disposed on one side of the underwater photographing apparatus 30 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and both the ball arms 4 and the head arm are disposed on both sides of the underwater photographing apparatus 30. Of course, it is also possible to provide an arm system having a double configuration in which 5 are arranged.

  In the above-described embodiment, the arm system including two ball joint structures has been described. However, it is of course possible to provide a simpler arm system including a single (one) ball joint structure. .

  The arm system having the ball joint structure according to the present invention can be widely applied not only to an underwater photographing apparatus but also to a still camera, a video camera and the like for performing land photographing. Furthermore, the present invention can also be applied as a ball joint structure in a mechanism element that connects arms so as to be rotatable and fixed.

It is the schematic which shows the whole arm system provided with the ball joint structure which concerns on the Example of this invention. It is the elements on larger scale of the ball joint structure concerning a present Example. It is the sectional view on the AA line of FIG. It is the schematic which shows the whole arm system provided with the conventional ball joint structure. It is the elements on larger scale of the conventional ball joint structure. FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 5.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Arm system for underwater photography equipment 2 Base plate 3 Slide fixing bracket 3a Ball-shaped end member 4 Both ball arms 4a Ball-shaped end member 4b Ball-shaped end member 5 Head arm 5a Ball-shaped end member 5b Lighting fixture connection part 6a Press body 6b Press Body 6c Hole 6d Receiving screw 7a Packing 7b Packing 7c Hole 7d Hole 8 Pick 9 Screw body 10 Fastening tool 11 Ball-shaped end member receiving hole 20 Ball joint structure 30 Underwater photographing device 31 Imaging auxiliary device

Claims (4)

A ball joint structure for connecting ball-shaped end members provided at each end of arms to be connected,
A pair of pressing bodies that sandwich a pair of ball-shaped end members to be connected from the outside in an opposing arrangement while being spaced apart from each other;
A pair of packings made of a polymer material interposed between the inner surfaces of the pair of pressing bodies and the outer surfaces of the respective ball-shaped end members;
A fastening tool composed of a combination of a knob and an operation knob for pressing or releasing the pressing of the pair of packings to the outer surface of each ball-shaped end member via the pair of pressing bodies;
Have
By tightening or loosening the knob, the pair of packings are brought into pressure contact with the outer surfaces of the pair of ball-shaped end members to fix the arms to be connected to each other or to be able to rotate with each other. Ball joint structure. A ball joint structure for connecting ball-shaped end members provided at each end of arms to be connected,
A pair of pressing bodies each having a ball-shaped end member receiving hole on both ends in a plate-like shape that sandwiches a pair of ball-shaped end members to be coupled with each other while being spaced apart from each other;
A pair of plate-like packings made of a polymer material selected from rubber or thermoplastic elastomer respectively interposed between the inner surfaces of the pair of pressing bodies and the outer surfaces of the ball-shaped end members;
An operation knob disposed outside one of the pair of pressing bodies, and protruding from the knob, between the one pressing body, one packing, and each ball-shaped end member, the other A fastening tool comprising a screw body that is screwed onto a receiving screw provided on the other pressing body through the packing of
Have
By tightening or loosening the knob, the pair of packings are brought into press contact with the outer surfaces of the pair of ball-shaped end members, and the arms to be connected are fixed by bulging toward the ball-shaped end member receiving hole side. Or the ball joint structure of the arms characterized by enabling mutual rotation. A base plate that is fixedly attached to the bottom of an underwater camera such as an underwater camera or a camera built-in housing;
A slide fixing bracket that is slidably attached to an end of the base plate and has a ball-shaped end member protruding from one end;
Both ball arms having ball-shaped end members on both ends and connected to a slide fixing bracket by a ball joint structure in which one end can be rotated and fixed;
A head for attaching a photographing auxiliary device having a ball-shaped end member at one end and a lighting fixture connecting portion at the other end and connected to the other end of the both ball arms by a ball joint structure in which one end can be rotated and fixed. Arm,
An arm system for an underwater photographing apparatus comprising a ball joint structure having
The ball joint structure is
A pair of pressing bodies that sandwich a pair of ball-shaped end members to be connected from the outside in an opposing arrangement while being spaced apart from each other;
A pair of packings made of a polymer material interposed between the inner surfaces of the pair of pressing bodies and the outer surfaces of the respective ball-shaped end members;
A fastening tool composed of a combination of a knob and an operation knob for pressing or releasing the pressing of the pair of packings to the outer surface of each ball-shaped end member via the pair of pressing bodies;
An arm system for underwater photographing equipment comprising a ball joint structure characterized by comprising: A base plate that is fixedly attached to the bottom of an underwater camera such as an underwater camera or a camera built-in housing;
A slide fixing bracket that is slidably attached to an end of the base plate and has a ball-shaped end member protruding from one end;
Both ball arms having ball-shaped end members on both ends and connected to a slide fixing bracket by a ball joint structure in which one end can be rotated and fixed;
A head for attaching a photographing auxiliary device having a ball-shaped end member at one end and a lighting fixture connecting portion at the other end and connected to the other end of the both ball arms by a ball joint structure in which one end can be rotated and fixed. Arm,
An arm system for an underwater photographing apparatus comprising a ball joint structure having
The ball joint structure is
A pair of pressing bodies each having a ball-shaped end member receiving hole on both ends in a plate-like shape that sandwiches a pair of ball-shaped end members to be coupled with each other while being spaced apart from each other;
A pair of plate-like packings made of a polymer material selected from rubber or thermoplastic elastomer respectively interposed between the inner surfaces of the pair of pressing bodies and the outer surfaces of the ball-shaped end members;
An operation knob disposed on the outer side of one of the pair of pressing bodies, and a protrusion protruding from the knob, between the one pressing body, one packing, and each ball-shaped end member, the other A fastening tool comprising a screw body screwed onto a receiving screw provided on the other pressing body through the packing of
By tightening or loosening the knob, the pair of packings are brought into press contact with the outer surfaces of the pair of ball-shaped end members, and the arms to be connected are fixed by bulging toward the ball-shaped end member receiving hole side. An arm system for an underwater photographing apparatus comprising a ball joint structure characterized by being capable of rotating relative to each other.

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