# US 8,770,866 B2 · Camera swing head > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,770,866 B2 - Document ID: US8770866B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/540,907 - Filed: 2012-07-03 - Published: 2014-01-09 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2012-07-03 - Assignees: Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment, Inc. - Applicants: Leonard T. Chapman - Inventors: Leonard T. Chapman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8770866B2 ## CPC - F16M 11/2057: {for tilting and rolling (F16M11/2078 takes precedence)} - F16M 11/08: around a vertical axis {, e.g. panoramic heads (F16M11/12 takes precedence)} - F16M 11/18: with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand - G03B 17/561: {Support related camera accessories} - F16M 2200/024: by positive interaction, e.g. male-female connections - F16M: FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) ## Abstract A camera swing head includes a hub having a hole ring including a plurality of radially spaced apart holes. A swing plate is rotatably attached to the hub. An indexing and locking assembly allows the swing to be quickly and easily rotated to a desired position and then locked into place. The indexing and locking assembly may include a lever pivotally attached to the swing plate, and a plunger pivotally attached to a front end of the lever. Pivoting movement of the lever may move the plunger linearly on a radial axis intersecting a center of the hub. A release pin is movable from, a first position, wherein the release pin causes the plunger to be held out from engagement with one of the radially spaced apart holes, to a second position, wherein the plunger is movable into engagement with one of the radially spaced apart holes. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A camera swing head, comprising: a hub having a swing axis and a hole ring including a plurality of radially spaced apart holes; a swing plate rotatably attached to the hub and rotatable only about the swing axis; a lever pivotally attached to the swing plate; a plunger pivotally attached to the lever, with pivoting movement of the lever moving the plunger linearly on a radial axis intersecting a center of the hub; a plunger spring urging the plunger radially inwardly to engage an inner end of the plunger into one of the radially spaced apart holes in the hub; a release pin movable from a first position, wherein the release pin causes the plunger to be held out from engagement with one of the radially spaced apart holes, to a second position, wherein the plunger is movable into engagement with one of the radially spaced apart holes; a release pin spring biasing the release pin in a first direction; and a spring tube threaded into the swing plate and enclosing the release pin spring. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The camera swing head of claim 1 with the swing plate rotatably attached to the hub via an inner bearing and an outer bearing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The camera swing head of claim 2 further comprising a raised hole ring on the hub, and with the radially spaced apart holes extending horizontally through the raised hole ring. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The camera swing head of claim 1 with the hub further comprising a threaded stud for attaching to the camera swing head to a supporting structure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The camera swing head of claim 1 with the lever pivotally attached to a side of the swing plate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The camera swing head of claim 1 with the hub having a height less than 3 inches. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The camera swing head of claim 1 with the swing plate having a first end having a radius R, and with the swing plate having a second end also having a radius R, and with the swing plate having a length less than 4R. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The camera swing head of claim 1 further comprising a cam on the swing head, with the release pin engaged with the cam when the release pin is in the first position, and with the release pin disengaged from the cam when in the second position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The camera swing head of claim 3 with the outer bearing having an inner diameter fit around the raised hole ring. ### Claim 10 A camera swing head, comprising: a hub having a hole ring including a plurality of radially spaced apart holes; a swing plate rotatably attached to the hub; a lever pivotally attached to the swing plate; a plunger pivotally attached to the lever, with pivoting movement of the lever moving the plunger linearly on a radial axis intersecting a center of the hub; a plunger spring urging the plunger radially inwardly to engage an inner end of the plunger into one of the radially spaced apart holes in the hub; a release pin movable from a first position, wherein the release pin causes the plunger to be held out from engagement with one of the radially spaced apart holes, to a second position, wherein the plunger is movable into engagement with one of the radially spaced apart holes; a release pin spring biasing the release pin in a first direction; and a spring tube threaded into the swing plate and enclosing the release pin spring. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The camera swing head of claim 10 with the swing plate rotatably attached to the hub via an inner bearing and an outer bearing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The camera swing head of claim 11 further comprising a raised hole ring on the hub, and with the radially spaced apart holes extending horizontally through the raised hole ring. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The camera swing head of claim 10 with the hub further comprising a threaded stud for attaching to the camera swing head to a supporting structure. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The camera swing head of claim 10 with the lever pivotally attached to a side of the swing plate. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The camera swing head of claim 10 with the hub having a height less than 3 inches.