Manually operated handle for panoramic cameras

A manually operated handle for panoramic cameras comprising:

• a handle body having a central opening, said handle body having a vertical axis;
• a rotatable central shaft held by said handle body, said central shaft having a central axis parallel with the vertical axis of said handle body, said central shaft having an upper portion affixable to a panoramic camera and said central shaft having a lower portion;
• gear means affixed to the lower portion of said central shaft, said gear means having an axis of rotation at said central axis of said central shaft;
• a first one-way clutch means contacting the lower portion of said central shaft, said first one-way clutch means being located between said gear means and the upper portion of said central shaft, said one-way clutch means permitting said gear means to turn in a first direction to turn the upper portion of said central shaft and to turn in a direction opposite to said first direction freely without turning the upper portion of said central shaft;
• rack means slidably held by said handle body, said rack means having teeth which mesh with said gear means and said rack means being mounted at a right angle with respect to the central axis of said central shaft;
• a second one-way clutch held by said handle body, said second one-way clutch contacting the upper portion of said central shaft and permitting it to turn only in a first direction, whereby when said rack means is moved in a first direction, said gear means turns said central shaft in a first direction and said second one-way clutch permits such turning, but when said rack means is moved in a direction opposite to said first direction, said first one-way clutch means permits the gear means to turn freely with respect to the upper portion of said central shaft and said second one-way clutch prevents any turning of the upper portion of said central shaft in a direction opposite to said first direction.