JP2673343B2 - Supporting device such as tripod - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a support device for a tripod, such as that found in surveying tripods.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a tripod, three leg members are pivotally attached to a support base so that the leg members can be expanded and converged in a radial direction, and the leg members can be expanded and contracted and fixed. It is known.

Therefore, in use, each leg member is extended and fixed in the extended state, and the three leg members are expanded to be stably installed on the ground or the like. On the other hand, when not in use, for example, during transportation or storage, each leg member is contracted and fixed in the contracted state, and the three leg members are bundled so as to be compact.

[0004]

It is necessary to bind the three leg members so that the leg members do not spread freely when not in use when the leg members are contracted and focused. For example, in the case of a tripod for surveying, since the tip of each leg member is provided with a claw capable of piercing the ground, it is extremely dangerous when the leg member is open and portable, when it is carried.

For this reason, conventionally, the bundled leg members are bundled with a binding band, but the binding work after the use of the tripod and the unbinding work of the band prior to the use of the tripod are complicated. is there.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a support device for a tripod or the like which has solved the above problems.
As a means for this, a tripod or the like is constructed such that at least three leg members are pivotally attached to a support base so that they can be expanded and converged in the radial direction, and each leg member is expandable and contractible. In the support device, in a state where the leg members are bundled, adjacent leg members are mutually provided with an engaging portion provided on one leg member and facing the other leg member, and the engaging portion provided on the other leg member. An engaged portion that faces the joining portion,
In the contracted state of each of the leg members, the engaging portion engages with the engaged portion to constitute a focusing and fixing means for preventing the leg member from expanding.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

Although FIG. 1 shows a tripod for surveying as an embodiment of the present invention, the present invention can be applied not only to surveying, but also to other tripods for photography. Further, in the present invention, at least three leg members are provided, but it is free to use four legs, five legs or the like provided with three or more leg members.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the supporting device 1 illustrated as a tripod has a support base 2 and three leg members 3.
A, 3b, and 3c are pivotally attached so as to be able to expand and converge in the radial direction, and each leg member 3a, 3b, and 3c is configured to be expandable and contractable.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each leg member 3a, 3b, 3c has a child leg portion 5 connected to a parent leg portion 4 so as to be capable of advancing and retracting in the longitudinal direction, so that it can be expanded and contracted. It is configured.

The main leg 4 has a pair of frames 4a and 4b made of a light metal such as an aluminum alloy and having an annular cross section, arranged in parallel with each other.
A pivoting member 6 is fixed to the base end portion of 4b, and a telescopic fixing guide 7 is provided at the tip end portion.

The pivot member 6 includes a pair of frames 4a,
It has a cup portion 8 into which the base end portion of 4b is inserted under a predetermined interval, and by fastening the cup portion 8 with a bolt 9, the base end portions of the frames 4a and 4b are held and fixed. For this reason, slits 10 are formed on both sides of the cup portion 8 so that the cup portion 8 can be deformed through the slits 10 when the bolt 9 is fastened, whereby the frames 4a, 4
Hold and fasten the base end of b. The pivot member 6 is pivotally attached to the support base 2 by inserting the shaft member into the shaft hole 11, and thereby the leg members 3a, 3b, 3c are connected to the support base 2 so that they can be expanded and converged. doing.

The expansion / contraction fixed guide 7 includes a frame 4a,
It is composed of an annular member surrounding the tip of 4b, and is fixed to the tip of one frame 4a with screws 12. The other end of the frame 4b has a telescopic fixing guide 7
Is inserted in a free state with respect to the other side, and the other frame 4b is directed toward the one frame 4a by the fixable means 13 formed of a bolt with a knob, which is screwed in from the side of the guide 7 so as to move forward and backward. It can be pressed freely.

The child leg portion 5 is made of a pipe having an oval or elliptical cross section formed of a light metal such as an aluminum alloy.
A slide shoe 14 is provided at the base end portion, and a grounding seat member 15 is provided at the tip end portion, and the slide shoe 14 is slidably inserted between the pair of frames 4a, 4b in the main leg portion 4.

The slide shoe 14 constitutes a cap fixed to the base end portion of the child leg portion 5 with a screw 16, and grooves on both sides of the cap are formed to substantially match the peripheral surfaces of the pair of frames 4a and 4b. The ear piece 17 is provided. Therefore, when the child leg portion 5 is expanded and contracted with respect to the parent leg portion 4,
The ear pieces 17, 17 slide along the peripheral surfaces of the frames 4a, 4b.

The seat member 15 is made of a hollow body which is tapered toward the front end, and is fixed by a bolt 18 in a state where the front end of the child leg portion 5 is inserted from the base end opening of the seat member 15. . The seat member 15 has a claw 19 fixed to the tip by welding or the like, and a step piece 20 fixed to the outer side by welding or the like.

The child leg member 5 is extendable and retractable with respect to the parent leg member 4, and is fixable with respect to the parent leg member 4 by the fixing means 13 through the expansion and contraction fixing guide 7. For this reason, the pads 21 and 21 are disposed inside the telescopic fixing guide 7 and between the both side surfaces of the child leg member 5 and the opposite side surfaces of the pair of frames 4a and 4b. , 21
Is fixed to the tip caps 22, 22 of the frames 4a, 4b.

Then, when the fixing means 13 is screwed, the other frame 4 inside the telescopic fixing guide 7 is moved.
b is pressed toward one frame 4a, and as a result,
Since the pair of frames 4a and 4b sandwich and fasten the child leg member 5 via the pads 21 and 21, the child leg member 5 is fixed to the parent leg member 4 in a non-expandable manner. On the other hand, the fixing means 13
When the screw is retracted, the pair of frames 4a and 4b are loosened, so that the child leg member 5 can extend and contract with respect to the parent leg member 4. The seat member 15 contacts the telescopic fixing guide 7 in a state where the child leg member 5 is contracted with respect to the parent leg member 4.

In the supporting device 1 as described above, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the present invention is based on the leg members 3a and 3a.
In the state where b and 3c are converged, the adjacent leg members are mutually engaged with each other, the engaging portion 23 provided on one leg member and facing the other leg member, and the engaging portion 2 provided on the other leg member.
3 to be engaged with each other, and the leg member 3a,
In the state where 3b and 3c are contracted, the engaging portion 23
Constitutes a focusing and fixing means which engages with the engaged portion 24 and prevents the leg member from expanding.

In the case of a tripod as in the illustrated embodiment, the leg members 3a, 3b, 3c have engaging portions 23a, 23, respectively.
b, 23c and engaged parts 24a, 24b, 24c, and in a state where the leg members 3a, 3b, 3c are converged and contracted, as shown in FIG. The joint portion 23a is the engaged portion 24b of the second leg member 3b, the engaging portion 23b of the second leg member 3b is the engaged portion 24c of the third leg member 3c, and the third leg member 3c. Engaging portions 23c of the first leg member 3a is engaged with the engaged portion 24a of the first leg member 3a,
It prevents the leg members 3a, 3b, 3c from expanding.

As shown in FIG. 3, the engaging portion 23 constitutes a pawl 25 which is provided on one side of the seat member 15 in a biased manner and which projects toward the telescopic fixed guide 7. The engaged portion 24 constitutes a positioning member 26 of a substantially equilateral triangle, which is provided so as to be offset to the other side of the telescopic fixing guide 7 (the side opposite to the claw 25 with respect to the axial center of the child leg member 5). , Seat member 1
A concave portion 27 that opens toward 5 is provided. In addition, although the recess 27 is a bottomed recess in the illustrated example, it should be understood in a broad sense including a bottomless through hole.

The operation of the focusing and fixing means of the present invention will be described below based on the above embodiment.

When the support device 1 is not used, the leg member 3
The a, 3b, and 3c are converged, and in that state, the child leg portions 5 are contracted with respect to the parent leg portion 4 and fixed by the fixing means 13 in the contracted position. Then, the engaging portion 23 automatically engages with the engaged portion 24.

That is, when the leg members 3a, 3b, and 3c are bundled, as shown in FIG.
The positioning members 26 of b and 3c are brought into contact with the expansion and contraction fixing guides 7 of the adjacent leg members, and the three leg members 3a and 3c are attached.
b and 3c are positioned so as to be located close to each other on each side of the equilateral triangle. Therefore, for example, when the child leg portion 5 of the first leg member 3a is contracted, the first leg member 3a
The engaging portion 23a (claw 25) of the second engaging portion 24b engages with the engaged portion 24b (recess 27) of the second leg member 3b, so that the leg member 3a does not expand in the engaged state. Fixed by. Further, when the child leg portion 5 of the second leg member 3b is contracted, the engaging portion 23b (the pawl 2) of the second leg member 3b is contracted.
5) is the engaged portion 24c (recess 27) of the third leg member 3c
The second leg member 3b is fixed by the fixing means 13 so that the second leg member 3b does not extend in the engaged state. Further, when the child leg portion 5 of the third leg member 3c is contracted, the engaging portion 23c of the third leg member 3c engages with the engaged portion 24a (recess 27) of the first leg member 3a. Therefore, the third leg member 3c is fixed by the fixing means 13 so as not to expand in the engaged state.

The contraction work of the leg members 3a, 3b, 3c may be carried out sequentially or simultaneously, and in any case, the contraction operation causes the adjacent leg members 3a, 3b,
3c, the engaging portion 23 is automatically engaged with the engaged portion 2
4, the leg members 3a, 3b, 3c are then fixed by the fixing means 13 so as not to extend, and the leg members 3a, 3b, 3c are prevented from expanding and are fixed in a focused state. To be done.

Incidentally, when the supporting device 1 is used, if the leg members 3a, 3b, 3c are extended by releasing the fixing by the fixing means 13, the engaging portion 23 and the engaged member 23 are engaged. Since the focusing and fixing means by the joining portion 24 is automatically released, the leg members 3a, 3b,
3c can be expanded. Therefore, thereafter, the same method as the conventional method may be used.

The present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment, but various design changes are possible. For example, the drawings show an embodiment in which the claw 25 is provided on the side of the child leg portion 5 and the concave portion 27 is provided on the side of the parent leg portion 4. However, such a claw 25 and the concave portion 27 are provided on opposite sides of each other. It may be provided in.

Also, in the illustrated embodiment, each leg member 3
Although a two-stage elastic structure in which a, 3b, and 3c are composed of the main leg portion 4 and the child leg portion 5 is shown, an elastic structure having three or more stages may be adopted.

Further, in the above embodiment, the engaged portion 24 (recessed portion 27) is provided in the telescopic fixing guide 7 on the side of the main leg portion 4; however, such engaged portion 24 (recessed portion) 27) may be provided on the child leg 5 side together with the engaging portion 23 (claw 25). In this case, when the child leg portions 5 of the three leg member leg members 3a, 3b, 3c are simultaneously contracted, the engaging portion 23 is engaged with the engaged portion 24 between the adjacent leg members. It becomes difficult, but three leg members leg members 3a,
By sequentially contracting 3b and 3c, the engaging portion 23 can be engaged with the engaged portion 24 between the leg members.

[0030]

According to the present invention, the leg members 3a, 3b, 3 are provided.
Since the engaging portion 23 constitutes the focusing and fixing means that engages with the engaged portion 24 when the c is contracted in a converged state, the conventional bundling work with a binding band is not required, and the operation is simple. It is possible to achieve a focused state in which expansion of the leg members 3a, 3b, 3c is prevented by various operations.

In particular, according to the present invention, when the supporting device 1 is not used, if the conventional tripod of concentrating and contracting the leg members 3a, 3b, 3c is performed as it is, the engagement is performed by itself. The focusing and fixing means composed of the portion 23 and the engaged portion 24 can be automatically actuated to immediately obtain the focused state without expanding. On the other hand, when the support device 1 is used, the leg member 3a, If the conventional work of tripods for extending 3b and 3c is performed as it is, the focusing and fixing means can be automatically released only by that and the leg members 3a, 3b and 3c can be immediately expanded. , It has an extremely excellent effect on workability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the whole one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view showing a leg member according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a focusing and fixing means in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an engaged state of the focusing and fixing means in one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Support device 2 Support base 3 Leg member 3a First leg member 3b Second leg member 3c Third leg member 4 Parent leg portion 5 Child leg portion 7 Expansion / contraction fixing guide 13 Fixable means 15 Seat member 23 Engaging portion 24 Engaged Part 25 Claw 26 Positioning Member 27 Recess

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A support device such as a tripod in which at least three leg members are pivotally attached to a support base so as to be capable of expanding and converging in the radial direction, and each leg member is expandable and contractable. In the state where the leg members are converged, adjacent leg members are mutually adjacent to each other, an engaging portion provided on one leg member and facing the other leg member, and an engaging portion provided on the other leg member to the engaging portion. And an engaging portion facing each other, and in the state where the leg members are contracted, the engaging portion engages with the engaged portion to constitute a focusing and fixing means for preventing expansion of the leg member. Supporting device for a tripod, etc.