US3552699A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mounting heads for cameras or like devices
Assignee: RONFORD Ltd
•
Filing: 1969-07-10
•
Granted: 1971-01-05
•
Expires: 1989-07-10
Abstract
Abstract The disclosure of this specification relates to a mounting head (particularly for cameras) comprising a rotor assembly rotatably mounted in a body part of which the body can be coupled to a stand and a rotor of the rotor assembly can be coupled to a camera. The rotor assembly includes at least two ring members located in separate chambers in the rotor, containing viscous fluid to be capable of rotary movement relative to the rotor through both the chambers and the viscous fluid. Ring-engaging means is provided by which one or more of the ring members can be secured relative to the body so that the degree of feel during relative rotation between the rotor and body can be selectively adjusted by varying the ring members which are held stationary relative to the body part.
Inventors
- 👤 Harry J Baker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 22:21
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16M; F16M11/00; F16M11/02; F16M11/04; F16M11/06; F16M11/10; F16M11/20; F16M11/2007; F16M11/2014
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
In a mounting head for a camera or like device, a rotor assembly mounted to be capable of axial rotation relative to a body part adapted to be coupled to a first member, the rotor assembly comprising a rotor adapted to be coupled to a second member which is intended to be axially rotated relative to the first member and having at least two chambers containing a viscous liquid medium and ring members located one in each of the chambers to be coaxial with the axis of rotation and capable of axial rotation therein relative to the rotor through the viscous liquid medium; and ring-engaging means associated with the ring members whereby the ring members can be selectively engaged and held stationary relative to the body part so that the degree of feel during relative rotation between the rotor and body part can be selectively adjusted by adjustment of the ring engaging means to vary the ring members which are held stationary relative to the body part.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
In a mounting head for a camera or like device, a rotor assembly mounted to be capable of axial rotation relative to a body part adapted to be coupled to a first member, the rotor assembly comprising a rotor adapted to be coupled to a second member which is intended to be axially rotated relative to the first member and having at least two chambers containing a viscous liquid medium and ring members located one in each of the chambers to be coaxial with the axis of rotation and capable of axial rotation therein relative to the rotor through the viscous liquid medium; and ring-engaging means associated with the ring members whereby the ring members can be selectively engaged and held stationary relative to the body part so that the degree of feel during relative rotation between the rotor and body part can be selectively adjusted by adjustment of the ring engaging means to vary the ring members which are held stationary relative to the body part.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
In a mounting head according to claim 1 in which the coaxial ring members are located axially, at least part, one within the other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
In a mounting head according to claim 1 in which the chambers are coaxial and located axially, at least part, one within the other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
In a mounting head according to claim 1 in which the chambers and ring members are annular.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
In a mounting head according to claim 4 in which the annular chambers are of cylindrical shape and are formed between adjacent and opposed cYlindrical surfaces of an array of axially extending and radially spaced annular flanges of the rotor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
In a mounting head according to claim 4 in which the annular ring members are a sliding and push fit in their respective annular chambers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
In a mounting head according to claim 1 in which the chambers communicate through apertures in the rotor to permit flow of the viscous liquid medium between chambers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
In a mounting head according to claim 1 in which the ring members define apertures through which the viscous liquid medium can flow between the inner and outer peripheral surfaces of the ring members.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
In a mounting head according to claim 1 in which the rotor assembly is mounted in an enclosed housing of the body part which contains a reservoir of the viscous liquid medium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
In a mounting head according to claim 9 in which the chambers and housing communicate through apertures in the rotor to permit flow of the viscous liquid medium between the housing and chambers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
In a mounting head according to claim 9 in which the rotor and body part are shaped in the housing to provide a pumping effect on the viscous liquid medium to circulate the viscous liquid medium through the housing and into the chambers during relative rotation between the rotor and body part.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
In a mounting head according to claim 11 in which an outer and axially extending peripheral sidewall and an adjacent axially overlying inner peripheral sidewall of the body part which partly defines the housing are convergent towards each other in an axial direction and said sidewalls provide the pumping effect during relative rotation therebetween.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
In a mounting head according to claim 12 in which the inner peripheral sidewall of the body part is frustoconical and the outer peripheral sidewall of the rotor is cylindrical and coaxial with the frustoconical sidewall of the body part.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
In a mounting head according to claim 1 in which the ring-engaging means is carried by the body part and is adjustable thereon to selectively engage and disengage with the ring members.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
In a mounting head according to claim 14 in which the ring-engaging means comprises at least two pegs operatively associated one with each ring member and selectively adjustable to engage and disengage with their respective ring members.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
57 words
In a mounting head according to claim 15 in which each peg is biased to normally engage with its respective ring member and a mechanical control system is provided for each peg by which the pegs can be selectively moved and retained against their biasing at positions in which they are disengaged from their respective ring members.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
79 words
In a mounting head according to claim 15 in which each peg is carried by a slide block mounted in a slideway of the body part, each slide block being spring loaded with respect to the body part to bias its peg into engagement with its respective ring member and movement of the slide block against its spring loading to disengage its peg from its respective ring member being controlled by a lever system carried by the body part.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
75 words
In a mounting head according to claim 17 in which the lever system comprises a rocker arm pivotally mounted on the body part to react against the slide block and a cam lever pivotally mounted on the body part to react against the rocker arm so that pivotal movement of the cam lever causes the rocker arm to displace the slide block against its spring loading to disengage the peg from its respective ring member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
In a mounting head according to claim 15 in which each ring member is castellated and the pegs are adapted to engage with a castellation in their respective ring members.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
In a mounting head according to claim 14 in which the ring-engaging means comprises at least two clamping devices operatively associated one with each ring member and selectively adjustable to clamp their respective ring members to the body part.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
45 words
In a mounting head according to claim 20 in which each Clamping device comprises a pair of jaws mounted on the body part to straddle its respective ring member and controlled by rotation of a screw-threaded bolt to clamp and release its respective ring member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
In a mounting head according to claim 1 in which the viscous liquid medium is a dimethyl silicone fluid.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
In a mounting head according to claim 1 in which the viscous liquid medium has a viscosity of substantially 1 million centistokes.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
51 words
In a mounting head according to claim 1 in which the rotor or body part is coupled to a frame for rotation therewith and which frame is adapted to carry the camera or like device to permit panning movement of the camera or like device about the axis of the rotor.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
140 words
In an assembly for pivotally carrying a camera or like device and having a mounting head according to claim 24 in which the frame carries a mounting plate for the camera or like device which is pivotally carried on the frame to exhibit rotational movement about a second axis which is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the rotor and wherein the mounting plate is rotatably mounted with respect to the frame through a second mounting head to permit the mounting plate to be tilted about the axis of the rotor of the second mounting head and the degree of feel during such tilting movement to be selectively adjusted by adjustment of the ring engaging means of the second mounting head to vary the ring members which are held stationary relative to the body part of the second mounting head.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
39 words
In an assembly according to claim 25 in which the rotor of the second mounting head is fixedly secured to the frame and the mounting plate is secured for rotation with the body part of the second mounting head.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1238447A
Cited
US2272566A
Cited
US2727594A
Cited
US2905421A
Cited
DE1167545B
Cited
US2955472A
Cited
US3091309A
Cited
US3167966A
Cited
US3295639A
Cited
US3353776A
Cited
US3424406A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-04 | 1974-07-06 | 1975-01-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-04 | 1978-07-06 | 1979-01-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-04 | 1982-07-06 | 1983-01-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |