US3575098A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adjustable camera bracket
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1968-08-15
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Granted: 1971-04-13
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Expires: 1988-08-15
Abstract
Abstract A flat normally horizontal, rectangular camera mounting base is supported manually by a single handle connected at its lower end to the outer end of a leftward extension of the base near the front end of the left edge of said base, said handle normally extending upright but being pivotally adjustable forwardly relative to said extension about a transverse horizontal axis. A flash unit supporting arm extends upwardly from the upper end of the handle at a slight inclination relative thereto to within a short distance of a vertical plane containing the optical axis of a camera mounted on said base. A short horizontal extension extends inwardly from the upper end of said arm, said extension being normal to said vertical plane and bisected thereby. A flash unit mounting screw is provided in said plane on said arm extension and secures to said extension a flasher unit support which is rockable about a horizontal axis normal to said plane. A right-angled adapter bracket is optionally mountable on the base and pivotally supports an elevated right-angled auxiliary camera supporting platform whereby the latter with the camera fixed thereto may be rotated about the focal axis of the camera to any desired angle while taking a picture. To facilitate rapid assembly or disassembly on the camera mounting base of a camera or of the angular adapter bracket, an adapter slug is screwable onto each of the latter and is quickly engageable or disengageable by a novel spring biased clamp on the mounting base. The base of the device has downwardly extending edgewalls which, together with the lateral extension from the base for supporting the handle of the device, engage a flat surface on which the device is placed so as to support the device with the handle in upright position when placed on a table.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard B Jones
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 20:17
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16M; F16M11/00; F16M11/02; F16M11/04; F16M11/041; F16M11/06; F16M11/10; F16M11/20; F16M11/2007; F16M11/2021
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
A single-hand-supported camera and flashlight bracket comprising: a rectangular normally horizontal camera mounting base having a side edge; means for readily mounting a camera on said base with its optical axis in a vertical plane parallel with said side edge; a handle-mounting extension formed integrally with said base and extending laterally from said side edge of said base near the front end of said edge; a relatively bulky handle shaped for gripping with a single hand, said handle extending upwardly from the outer end of said extension so that the hand gripping said handle is located just above said extension and said handle terminates just above said hand; a relatively light straight arm formed integrally with the upper end of said handle and extending upwardly and inwardly at a slight inclination relative to said handle to a point close to said vertical plane; a short inward extension formed from the upper end of said arm, said extension being normal to said plane and bisected thereby; and means for readily mounting a flash unit on said arm extension with said unit symmetrical with said vertical plane.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
A single-hand-supported camera and flashlight bracket comprising: a rectangular normally horizontal camera mounting base having a side edge; means for readily mounting a camera on said base with its optical axis in a vertical plane parallel with said side edge; a handle-mounting extension formed integrally with said base and extending laterally from said side edge of said base near the front end of said edge; a relatively bulky handle shaped for gripping with a single hand, said handle extending upwardly from the outer end of said extension so that the hand gripping said handle is located just above said extension and said handle terminates just above said hand; a relatively light straight arm formed integrally with the upper end of said handle and extending upwardly and inwardly at a slight inclination relative to said handle to a point close to said vertical plane; a short inward extension formed from the upper end of said arm, said extension being normal to said plane and bisected thereby; and means for readily mounting a flash unit on said arm extension with said unit symmetrical with said vertical plane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
A bracket as recited in claim 1 wherein the bottom surfaces of said base and said lateral base extension lie in a common plane below said camera mounting means provided on said base whereby said surfaces provide a balanced support for said bracket with said handle and arm extending uprightly and without any camera being attached to said base.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A bracket as recited in claim 1 wherein said handle is adjustably rotatable on said base extension about an axis normal to said plane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A bracket as recited in claim 3 wherein said flash unit mounting means is adjustably rotatable about an axis normal to said plane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
A bracket as recited in claim 3 wherein: a tapered plug is provided on said base extension; a taper-bored hub fitting said plug is provided on the lower end of said handle; and a screw is provided on said first mentioned pivotal axis which is adapted, when tightened, to adjustably lock said hub in any desired rotational position on said plug.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
A bracket as recited in claim 5 wherein: notch means is provided on said base extension; and lug means is provided on said hub which is engageable selectively with said notch means to positively lock said handle in one or the other of certain generally used angular positions of said handle relative to said base.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
A bracket as recited in claim 1 wherein: said base is provided with parallel pairs of ribs symmetrically spaced from and parallel with said vertical plane for positioning a camera resting on said base and having means extending between said pairs of ribs so that the optical axis of said camera lies in said vertical plane; and means for securing said camera to said base when so positioned.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
109 words
A bracket as recited in claim 7 wherein: an approximately circular slug is provided having central screw means for attaching to a camera or adapter bracket, said slug having tapered cam sides and a lug extending radially in a given direction from said slug; converging portions of the innermost of said ribs having curved undercut edges terminating in a slot for receiving said lug when said slug is slid horizontally over said base to trap said sides under said curved undercut rib edges; and locking means on said base for engaging the tapered side of said slug from behind to trap said slug positioned as aforesaid on said base.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
146 words
A bracket as recited in claim 8 wherein said locking means comprise: a lever pivotally mounted on the bottom of said base forwardly of the center of said slug when the latter is so positioned on said base and spring biased toward one side of said base; an arcuate slot in said base concentric with the pivot of said lever and located near the end of the latter; and a notched locking finger extending upwardly from the end of said lever through said slot so that when said lever is swung away from the direction in which it is biased to admit said slug into its position in locked relation with said curved undercut rib edges, and said lever is released, said notched finger will be biased into locking relation with the tapered side of said slug from behind to trap said slug in said position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
128 words
A bracket as recited in claim 1 including an auxiliary camera mount including a bottom plate which is ribbed on its lower surface for interengagement with the ribs provided on said bracket base, said plate having a vertical backplate on which is pivotally mounted a right-angled camera support including a vertical element and a horizontal element, the latter including means for readily mounting a camera thereon with the optical axis of the camera approximately concentric with the pivotal connection between said support and said backplate and with said optical axis approximately lying in said aforementioned vertical plane, whereby said camera may be supported by said support in any selected rotational position about its pivotal axis and without removing said optical axis of said camera from said vertical plane.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-04-12 | 1974-10-12 | 1975-04-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-04-12 | 1978-10-12 | 1979-04-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-04-12 | 1982-10-12 | 1983-04-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |