Mounting brackets for cameras and other optical instruments

Claim 1

An adjustable mounting bracket for a camera comprising a base having suction pad attachment means for attaching it by suction to a supporting surface, a mounting for a camera, the mounting being pivotally mounted on the base and being angularly adjustable by tilting about a transverse pivotal axis relatively to the base, and clamping means for clamping the mounting platform in a desired attitude relatively to the base, said base having three suction pads pivotally attached to its periphery in a triangulated disposition for attaching the base by suction to a supporting surface, said base including a bracket structure rigidly secured thereto and projecting from the opposite side thereof, said camera mounting being pivotally mounted on the bracket structure, said camera mounting having rigidly secured thereto a clamping plate formed with an arcuate slot centered on the pivotal axis of the camera mounting, there being a screw clamp carried by the bracket structure engaged in the slot, said screw clamp, when tightened, gripping the edge of the slot to clamp the clamping plate to the bracket structure and hence to clamp the camera mounting to the base in a given attitude, said camera mounting comprising a bowl, there being a pair of parallel quadrant-shaped mounting plates attached to opposite sides of said bowl, said mounting plates being journaled in the bracket structure in bearings whose pivotal axis is perpendicular to the mounting plates, one or each of the said mounting plates constituting one of said slotted clamping plates and being provided with a screw clamp mounted on the bracket structure in engagement with its arcuate slot.