Camera support including extendable post

An integral variably-adjustable camera support apparatus adaptable to be adjustably secured to a distal end of a primary support member for the fixedly angular maneuvering and securing of an adjustable and removably secured camera, having a center of rotation at a point that is congruent to the center of gravity of an element, that is supported on a support plate, and is distanced from a vertical-centerline of the primary support member, whereby an approximate dynamic balance is maintained during operation of the apparatus and the camera, comprising

• an inner plate having an inner connection means for receiving and removably securing the inner plate to the distal end of the primary support member, an inner mounting means for removably securing the inner plate to a support plate,
• the support plate having a plate connection means for receiving and removably securing the support plate to the distal end of the primary support member, a plate receiving means for receiving and removably securing the inner plate, a camera element receiving means for adaptably receiving and removably securing the camera element, an adjustably releaseable and removably securable tilting means comprising a plurality of sets of paired laterally symmetrical openings for selectively tilting and adjustably positioning the support plate and removably secured camera element to a predetermined position, wherein an opening comprises a slot or other angular registration positioning means for enabling adjustment
• an adjustable apparatus securing means for adjustably securing the apparatus in a predetermined angular position in relation to the distal end of the primary support member.

A portable camera support system comprising:

• a plurality of nesting, telescopic, elongated posts;
• wherein said plurality of posts comprises:
• a base post within which each successive post can nest when retracted, and to which a plurality of elements are attached, at least one of which is radially and laterally adjustably securable to the base post for counterbalancing and maintaining dynamic balance of the camera support system, and within which each successive post can nest when retracted;
• a viewing element support post which is longer and more narrow than said base post for telescopic retraction therein and supports a viewing element which is longitudinally, radially, and laterally adjustably securable to the viewing element support post;
• a gimbal support post which is longer and more narrow than said viewing element post for telescopic retraction therein, and supporting a longitudinally and radially adjustable gimbal means, wherein said gimbal means is adjusted and secured at the center of gravity for the camera support system;
• and
• a camera support post which is longer and more narrow than said gimbal support post, which is adapted at the end opposite said gimbal support post for adjustably mounting a camera element;
• wherein each successive post is independently, selectively and telescopically extendable and retractable anywhere from a fully retracted position to a fully extended position.

A portable camera support system comprising:

• a. a central support system comprising a plurality of nesting, telescopic, elongated posts;
• wherein said plurality of posts comprises:
• 1) a base post within which each successive post can nest when retracted and to which a plurality of elements at least one of which is longitudinally, radially, and laterally adjustably securable to the base post for counterbalancing and maintaining dynamic balance of the camera support system;
• 2) a viewing element support post which is longer and more narrow than said base post for telescopic retraction therein and supports a viewing element which is longitudinally, radially, and laterally adjustably securable to the viewing element support post;
• 3) a gimbal support post which is longer and more narrow than said viewing element post for telescopic retraction therein, and supporting a longitudinally and radially adjustable gimbal means, wherein said gimbal means is adjusted and secured at the center of gravity for the system;
• and
• 4) a camera support post which is longer and more narrow than said gimbal support post, which is adapted at the end opposite said gimbal support post for adjustably mounting a camera element;
• wherein each successive post is independently, selectively and telescopically extendable and retractable anywhere from a fully retracted position to a fully extended position;
• b. a tiltable camera mount comprising:
• 1) a plate member affixed to the camera mounting post at said end opposite sad gimbal support post;
• wherein said plate defines two parallel, hollow sleeves which flank said plate and are perpendicular to the camera direction;
• 2) a camera support plate to which a camera element is removably securable, wherein said support plate defines a plurality of opposed, mated pairs of rigid arcuate slots;
• wherein said support plate is adjustably secured to said plate member via a bolt for each mated pair of arcuate slots and corresponding hollow sleeve;
• wherein each said bolt passes through a first of the mated, opposed arcuate slots, through one of said hollow sleeves, and through the other of said mated, opposed arcuate slots;
• such that tilt angle is established by selectively rotating said support plate along said arcuate slots;
• c. a stiffening and stabilizing system which comprises:
• 1) shroud means;
• 2) spreader means displaced laterally from the centerline of said support system posts, for accepting and routing said shroud means;
• wherein said shroud means is removably secured at the camera mounting end of said camera support system and at the base of said camera support system, and routed through said spreader means therebetween;
• said shroud being affixed under tension to provide stress to said support system thereby resisting vibration;
• and
• d. an internally retracting electrical wire housed within said posts of said camera support system for operatively connecting the various elements, wherein said wire defines a plurality of coils, wherein each of said coils is attached to an elongated elastic member such that said wire is extendable from a relaxed, compressed condition to a stretched length corresponding at least to the maximum extended length of the entire system.

A stabilizing support system for receiving and dynamically balancing a plurality of elements during use, the support system comprising:

• an elongated main support member, having a distal end adapted to adjustably receive and removably secure a primary support system, a proximal end adapted to adjustably receive and removably secure the main support member to a secondary support system, and a gimbal means adjustably positioned at the stabilizing support system's center of gravity wherein;
• the primary support system is telescopically extendable and retractable from within the main support member, having a distal end and a proximal end, comprising at least one telescoping primary support member slidably moveable to a predetermined distance from within the main support member between a retracted position and a extended position, and an element support means removably secured on the distal end of the primary support member furthest remote from the main support member to adjustably receive and removably secure an element in a predetermined position;
• the secondary support system, having a distal end and a proximal end, comprising at least one telescoping secondary support member associated with the main support member for telescopic extension and retraction therewith;
• and having a base at the secondary support system's proximal end removably secured for movably and fixedly positioning a plurality of elements, wherein each element is adjustably and removably securable thereto and wherein at least one element is adjustably moveable along at least one of the main support system and the secondary support system, for counterbalancing and maintaining dynamic balance of the support system;
• and
• whereby rotational inertia of the stabilizing support system can be increased in a pan axis as the adjustably secured elements are oriented in relation to the telescopically extendable and retractable support members to maintain the support system balance.

A portable camera support system comprising:

• a plurality of nesting, telescopic, elongated posts;
• wherein said plurality of posts comprises:
• a main support post supporting a longitudinally and radially adjustable gimbal means, wherein said gimbal means is adjusted and secured at the center of gravity for the camera support system;
• a primary support post which is telescopically extendable and retractable within said main support post, and is adapted at the end opposite said main support post for adjustably mounting a camera element;
• a secondary support post associated at one end thereof for telescopic extension and retraction with said main support post, and having a plurality of attached elements, at least one of which is radially and laterally adjustable securable for counterbalancing and maintaining dynamic balance of the camera support system;
• wherein a viewing element which is longitudinally, radially, and laterally adjustably securable to the secondary support post;
• and each post is independently, selectively and telescopically extendable and retractable anywhere from a fully retracted position to a fully extended position with respect to adjacent posts.

A portable camera support system comprising:

• a plurality of nesting, telescopic, elongated posts;
• wherein said plurality of posts comprises:
• a gimbal support post supporting a longitudinally and radially adjustable gimbal means, wherein said gimbal means is adjusted and secured at the center of gravity for the camera support system;
• a camera support post which is telescopically extendable and retractable within said gimbal support post, and is adapted at the end opposite said gimbal support post for adjustably mounting a camera element;
• a viewing element support post, associated at one end thereof for telescopic extension and retraction with said gimbal support post, for supporting a viewing element which is longitudinally, radially, and laterally adjustably securable to the viewing element support post;
• and
• a base post, to which plurality of elements are attached, at least one of which is longitudinaly, radially, and laterally adjustably securable for counterbalancing and maintaining dynamic balance of the camera support system, and being telescopically associated, at one end, with said viewing element support post;
• wherein each successive post is independently, selectively and telescopically extendable and retractable anywhere from a fully retracted position to a fully extended position with respect to adjacent posts.
• b. a tiltable camera mount comprising:
• 1) a plate member affixed to the camera mounting post at said end opposite sad gimbal support post;
• wherein said plate defines two parallel, hollow sleeves which flank said plate and are perpendicular to the camera direction;
• 2) a camera support plate to which a camera element is removably securable, wherein said support plate defines a plurality of opposed, mated pairs of rigid arcuate slots;
• wherein said support plate is adjustably secured to said plate member via a bolt for each mated pair of arcuate slots and corresponding hollow sleeve;
• wherein each said bolt passed through a first of the mated, opposed arcuate slots, through one of said hollow sleeves, and through the other of said mated, opposed arcuate slots;
• such that tilt angle is established by selectively rotating said support plate along said arcuate slots;
• c. a stiffening and stabilizing system which comprises:
• 1) shroud means;
• 2) spreader means displaced laterally from the centerline of said support system post, for accepting and routing said shroud means;
• wherein said shroud means is removably secured at the camera mounting end of said camera support system and at the base of said camera support system, and routed through said spreader means therebetween;
• said shroud being affixed under tension to provide stress to said support system thereby resisting vibration;
• and
• d. an internally retracting electrical wire housed within said posts of said camera support system for operatively connecting the various elements, wherein said wire defines a plurality of coils, wherein each of said coils is attached to an elongated elastic member such that said wire is extendable from relaxed, compressed condition to a stretched length corresponding at least to the maximum extended length of the entire system.

A stabilizing support system comprising:

• a main support post to which a gimbal is attached at the center of gravity for the stabilizing support system, said main support having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a primary support system which is telescopically extendable and retractable within said distal end of main support post;
• a secondary support system which is telescopically associated with the proximal end of main support post for extension and retraction therefrom;
• wherein a plurality of elements are adjustably securable to each of said primary support system and said secondary support system, for increasing rotational inertia in a pan axis to maintain stabilizing support system balance.