US 4,787,613 A · Camera repair and support device

Abstract

The present invention in its preferred embodiment comprises a camera repair and support device having a conventional clamp which is adaptable to be secured to any appropriate surface, such as a work table or any suitable horizontal or vertical surface. Integrally formed with the clamp is a first member that is usually tubular in design and extends out from the surface of one end of the clamp and even further by its telescoping feature. Fixed to one end of the first member is a second columnar shaped member that is rotatably connected to the first member and adapted to swivel 360.degree. relative to the first member about the horizontal axis that lays between the two members. A third member is connected to the second member by a ball and socket joint which allows the third member to rotate 360.degree. relative to the second member about the horizontal axis that lays between the two. A locking bolt is inserted into the side wall of the second member. A turn of the knob affixed to one end of the bolt in the clockwise direction will lock the second and third members firmly in place. Angular displacement of the third member relative to the second member is achieved by directing the third member vertically downward into the slot formed within the sidewall of the second member.

Drawings

Drawings are temporarily unavailable. Open the PDF at USPTO

Drawings

Claims1

Dependent claims

A portable device suitable for use in repairing and supporting cameras, comprising:

a. a gripping member adapted to be secured to a fixed surface;
b. a longitudinally adjustable telescoping first member, said first member being fixedly secured at its bottom end to the top section of said gripping member and including a plurality of cooperating rigid sleeve members adapted to slidably expand and retract along the longitudinal axis of said first member and means to fix said sleeve members in place along said axis consisting of the incremental engagement of the outer wall of one or more of said sleeve members with the respective inner wall of said sleeve member next in succession along said access;
c. a second member rotatably connected to said first member and adapted to swivel 360 degrees relative thereto about a first axis;
d. a third member connected to said second member by a ball and socket joint that includes a rod member secured to and extending between said ball and said third member, said joint allowing said third member to swivel relative to said second member about a second axis and permitting angular displacement of said second axis relative to said first axis along a third axis located between a position that is parallel with said first axis and a position that is perpendicular thereto;
e. a means formed within said second member to receive said rod member when the angular displacement of said second axis is generally normal to said first axis;
and,
f. a means adapted to simultaneously lock said second and third members from rotating about said first, second and third axes, respectively.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description1,757 words

Summary778 words

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates generally to the field of camera repair and photography and more particularly to a portable device that is suitable for use as a means to mount and manipulate the positions of a camera during the repair process and as a means to mount a camera in a fixed position in lieu of utilizing a conventional tripod.

#2. Description of the Prior Art

Brief description of the drawings2 figures

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device of the present invention.

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device of the present invention illustrating the mounted camera in a 90.degree. angular displacement along axis Y--Y.

Detailed description941 words

#Referring now in greater detail to the portable camera repair and support device of the present invention, and with particular reference to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, clamp 6 may be constructed of any conventional material suitable for a device of this type, such as a metal alloy or fiberglass casting. Clamp 6, which serves as a means for tightly affixing the present invention to any suitable surface, such as a work table, work bench, or the like, is comprised of several component parts, including a U-shaped frame comprising lower arm 10, upper arm 14, which are spaced apart and positioned parallel to each other, and a member 11 that connects the two. A bolt 8 is threaded through the lower arm 10 and includes a rotatable cap 12 affixed to one of its ends. Rotatable cap 12 is adapted to engage the surface of a work table or the like and cooperate with upper arm 14 to secure clamp 6 firmly to the table surface. Rotatable cap 12 may also be designed to incorporate a pair of opposing notched out sections along its outer skirt to enable the cap to securely engage a rounded surface, such as a section of pipe. Inserted through a hole located at the opposite or lower end of bolt 8 is lever 16, which serves as the means for turning bolt 8 in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction to respectively tighten or loosen the grip of clamp 6. Affixed to the top surface of upper arm 14 is a first shaft 18 which is adapted to telescope out within a prescribed range of distance. Connected to the opposite end of first shaft 18 is a second shaft 20 which is capable of rotating 360 degrees abaouot the axis X--X. Second shaft 20 may be locked firmly into place and restrained from rotation about axis X--X by turning knob 30 in a clockwise direction. By reversing the direction of knob 30, second shaft 20 may again be allowed to rotate about that same axis. Formed within the sidewall of second shaft 20 and having a length of approximately one-half the length of shaft 20 is a U-shaped channel 22. Seated inside a hollowed out section formed within the interior of the upper portion of shaft 20 is a ball and socket joint 24, including a rotatable ball 25 and a bolt 26 having a threaded end 32. Threaded end 32 is caused to penetrate the central portion of support member 28 to which the bottom of a camera may be mounted and firmly secured. Support member 28 is adapted to ball and socket joint 24 to allow it to rotate 360.degree. about axis X.sub.1 --X.sub.1. Support member 28 is also rotatable along axis Y--Y as shown in FIG. 2 wherein bolt 26 is rotated vertically downward and received within channel 22. Support member 28 may be locked firmly in place at any point along either axis X.sub.1 --X.sub.1 or Y--Y by turning knob 30 in a clockwise direction. Support member 28 may again be allowed to rotate freely about these axes by turning knob 30 in a counterclockwise direction.

#The device of the present invention is not only useful as an efficient and practical means for examining and repairing cameras, particularly the usually heavier and more cumbersome video kind, but may also be used in place of themore conventional tripod to secure virtually any type of camera from undesirable movements during a picture taking session. Its versatility also allows it to maneuver the camera in almost any direction.

#In practice, clamp 6 is mounted to any suitable surface, such as a work table, work bench or the like, and secured in place by turning lever 16 in a clockwise direction to rotate bolt 8 until the surface is tightly secured between upper arm 14 and rotatable cap 12.

Facts

Application

07/039,119Filed 13 Apr 1987

Granted

29 Nov 1988

Term ended

13 Apr 2007

Estimated · how

Pre-1995 term; greater of 17 years from grant or 20 years from filing when eligible. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification9 codes

B25B 5/006
Clamps: supporting devices for clamps
B25B 1/22
Vices: arrangements for turning or tilting vices
F16M 11/14
In more than one direction: with ball-joint
F16M 11/28
By telescoping, with or without folding: undercarriages for supports with one single telescoping pillar

Camera repair and support device

Life of this patent

Camera repair and support device

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims1

Description1,757 words

Drawings

Classification9 codes

Life of this patent

Description1,757 words