Camera crane
AssigneeChapman/Leonard Studio Equipment, Inc.
InventorLeonard T. Chapman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A camera crane has a boom arm pivotably connected to a post assembly. A track section is pivotably attached to the front end of the boom arm, and is leveled via leveling rods. A camera frame carrying a camera is linearly moveable along the track section. Pivot joints provide for adjustable drag on pivoting movement, without backlash or slip/stick movement. A remote control accessory is attached to the crane to provide remote movement of the camera platform using joystick controllers.
Claims24
A remote control system for controlling movement of a camera platform on a camera crane, comprising:
- a platform shaft attached to the camera platform and pivotably supported on a frame of the camera crane;
- a clutch associated with the platform shaft;
- a shaft gear attached to the shaft by the clutch;
- a drive accessory including a motor shaft driven by a motor, and a worm gear on the motor shaft, with the worm gear engaging the shaft gear, with the drive accessory attached to the frame at a pivot joint;
- and
- spring acting between the drive accessory and the frame, to keep the worm gear engaged into the shaft gear.
A remote control accessory for use on a camera crane to move and position a camera platform supported on a frame of the camera crane, comprising:
- an accessory housing attachable to the frame of the camera crane;
- a shaft gear rotatably supported on the housing and connectable to the camera platform;
- a drive motor having a drive motor gear engageable with the shaft gear;
- and
- a spring on the housing acting to urge the drive motor gear into engagement with the shaft gear, when the accessory housing is attached to the frame of the camera crane.
A remote control accessory for use on a camera crane to move and position a camera platform, comprising:
- a drive motor attachable to the camera crane and having a drive shaft connectable directly or indirectly to the camera platform;
- a controller linked to the drive motor, and including:
- a control stick pivotally attached to a shaft with the control stick having a first end in at least indirect contact with a first cam;
- a first converter linked to the first cam;
- a second cam in at least indirect contact with the shaft;
- and
- a second converter linked to the second cam.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.