Collapsible camera assembly

Claim 2

The combination comprising a base constructed to rest on the ground or another surface and extend essentially about an area within which a photographic subject is to be located, a structure projecting upwardly from and supported by said base, and a camera carried by said structure at a location spaced above the ground and directed downwardly to take a picture of a photographic subject in said area, said base including a first member extending along a first side of said area, leg units mounted for pivotal movement relative to said first member between first active positions in which they project downwardly to rest on the ground and second inactive positions in which they extend more horizontally, fastener means adapted to extend through registering apertures in said member and said structure in either an upwardly projecting active position or a generally horizontally extending inactive position of said structure, and pin and recess means on said member and said structure interfitting to coact with said fastener means in locating said structure in either of said positions thereof.

Claim 3

The combination comprising a base constructed to rest on the ground or another surface adjacent an area within which a photographic subject is to be located, a structure projecting upwardly from and supported by said base, a camera carried by said structure at a location spaced above the ground and directed downwardly to take a picture of a photographic subject in said area, an arm movable between an active position in which it projects outwardly from said base and a retracted position closer to the base, a flash gun, and means for mounting said flash gun to said arm at a location spaced outwardly from said base when said arm is in said active position and in an orientation to direct light onto said photographic subject, said mounting means including a fastener extending through registering apertures in said arm and said base to retain said arm to said base in either of said positions, and interfitting pin and recess means on said arm and base interfitting to locate and retain said arm in both of said relative positions.

Claim 4

The combination comprising a base constructed to rest on the ground or another surface adjacent an area within which a photographic subject is to be located, a structure projecting upwardly from and supported by said base, a camera carried by said structure at a location spaced above the ground and directed downwardly to take a picture of a photographic subject in said area, an arm movable between an active position in which it projects outwardly from said base and a retracted position closer to the base, a flash gun, and means for mounting said flash gun to said arm at a location spaced outwardly from said base when said arm is in said active position and in an orientation to direct light onto said photographic subject, said mounting means including a fastener extending through registering apertures in said arm and said base to retain said arm to said base in either of said positions, and interfitting pin and recess means on said arm and base interfitting to locate and retain said arm in both of said relative positions.

Claim 5

The combination comprising a base constructed to rest on the ground or another surface adjacent an area within which a photographic subject is to be located, a structure which in an active position projects upwardly from said base, a camera carried by said structure in said active position at a location spaced above the ground and directed downwardly to take a picture of a photographic subject in said area, and means for connecting a lower end of said structure to said base at a first location with said structure projecting upwardly in said active position, and for alternatively connecting said lower end of the structure to said base at a second location with said structure extending more horizontally in a retracted position, said last mentioned means including a fastener for extending through registering apertures in said structure and base in said active position and in said retracted position, and interfitting pin and recess means coacting with said fastener to locate and retain said structure in said positions.

Claim 6

The combination comprising a base constructed to rest on the ground or another surface adjacent an area within which a photographic subject is to be located, a structure which in an active position projects upwardly from said base, a camera carried by said structure in said active position at a location spaced above the ground and directed downwardly to take a picture of a photographic subject in said area, and means for connecting a lower end of said structure to said base at a first location with said structure projecting upwardly in said active position, and for alternatively connecting said lower end of the structure to said base at a second location with said structure extending more horizontally in a retracted position, said last mentioned means including a fastener for extending through registering apertures in said structure and base in said active position and in said retracted position, and interfitting pin and recess means coacting with said fastener to locate and retain said structure in said positions.

Claim 7

The combination comprising a base constructed to rest on the ground or another surface adjacent an area within which a photographic subject is to be located, a structure which in an acitve position projects upwardly from said base, a camera carried by said structure in said active position at a location spaced above the ground and directed downwardly to take a picture of a photographic subject in said area, and means for connecting a lower end of said structure to said base at a first location with said structure projecting upwardly in said active position, and for alternatively connecting said lower end of the structure to said base at a second location with said structure extending more horizontally in a retracted position, said last mentioned means including two differently oriented pairs of spaced apertures in said base, a fastener which extends through an opening in said structure and through one of said apertures of said first pair in said active position, and which extends through said opening in said structure and through one of said apertures in the second pair in said retracted position, and a pin on said structure which is received in the second aperture of said first pair in said active position and iN the second aperture of said second pair in said retracted position.

Claim 8

The combination comprising a base constructed to rest on the ground or another surface adjacent an area within which a photographic subject is to be located, a structure which in an acitve position projects upwardly from said base, a camera carried by said structure in said active position at a location spaced above the ground and directed downwardly to take a picture of a photographic subject in said area, and means for connecting a lower end of said structure to said base at a first location with said structure projecting upwardly in said active position, and for alternatively connecting said lower end of the structure to said base at a second location with said structure extending more horizontally in a retracted position, said last mentioned means including two differently oriented pairs of spaced apertures in said base, a fastener which extends through an opening in said structure and through one of said apertures of said first pair in said active position, and which extends through said opening in said structure and through one of said apertures in the second pair in said retracted position, and a pin on said structure which is received in the second aperture of said first pair in said active position and iN the second aperture of said second pair in said retracted position.

Claim 9

The combination comprising a camera structure and a stand structure for supporting said camera structure, said camera structure having a handle and having a socket recess formed in the camera structure near said handle, said stand structure having a projection removably receivable in said socket recess to interconnect said structures, a screw extending transversely through and carried by said projection, said socket recess having side walls at opposite sides of said projection containing notches for receiving opposite ends of said screw when the structures are interconnected, said screw having a head at one end and a nut at its opposite end tightenable against said two side walls respectively to retain the camera structure against detachment from said stand structure.

Claim 10

The combination comprising a camera structure and a stand structure for supporting said camera structure, said camera structure having a handle and having a socket recess formed in the camera structure near said handle, said stand structure having a projection removably receivable in said socket recess to interconnect said structures, a screw extending transversely through and carried by said projection, said socket recess having side walls at opposite sides of said projection containing notches for receiving opposite ends of said screw when the structures are interconnected, said screw having a head at one end and a nut at its opposite end tightenable against said two side walls respectively to retain the camera structure against detachment from said stand structure.

Claim 11

The combination comprising a base constructed to rest on the ground or another surface and extend essentially about an area within which a photographic subject is to be located, a structure projecting upwardly from and supported by said base, and a camera carried by said structure at a location spaced above the ground and directed downwardly to take a picture of a photographic subject in said area, said base including a first member extending along a first side of said area, leg units mounted for pivotal movement relative to said first member between first active positions in which they project downwardly to rest on the ground and second inactive positions in which they extend more horizontally, each of said leg units being essentially an inverted U-shaped member having two legs which in said active position project downwardly, and having a crosspiece extending generally horizontally between said legs at a location spaced above the ground, a pivotal connection between said first member and an upper portion of one leg of each unit, and a fastener carried by said first member and received within a slot in said one leg in its active position and tightenable to retain said one leg in active position.

Claim 12

The combination comprising a base constructed to rest on the ground or another surface and extend essentially about an area within which a photographic subject is to be located, a structure projecting upwardly from and supported by said base, and a camera carried by said structure at a location spaced above the ground and directed downwardly to take a picture of a photographic subject in said area, said base including a first member extending along a first side of said area, leg units mounted for pivotal movement relative to said first member between first active positions in which they project downwardly to rest on the ground and second inactive positions in which they extend more horizontally, each of said leg units being essentially an inverted U-shaped member having two legs which in said active position project downwardly, and having a crosspiece extending generally horizontally between said legs at a location spaced above the ground, a pivotal connection between said first member and an upper portion of one leg of each unit, and a fastener carried by said first member and received within a slot in said one leg in its active position and tightenable to retain said one leg in active position.

Claim 13

The combination comprising a base constructed to rest on the ground or another surface and extend essentially about an area within which a photographic subject is to be located, a structure projecting upwardly from and supported by said base, and a camera carried by said structure at a location spaced above the ground and directed downwardly to take a picture of a photographic subject in said area, said base including a first member extending along a first side of said area, leg units mounted for pivotal movement relative to said first member between first active positions in which they project downwardly to rest on the ground and second inactive positions in which they extend more horizontally, each of said leg units being essentially an inverted U-shaped member having two legs which in said active position project downwardly, and having a crosspiece extending generally horizontally between said legs at a location spaced above the ground, and a pivotal connection between said member and each of said leg units at a location adjacent one of said legs of the unit, there being an arm mounted to one of said leg units at a location spaced from said member and near an outer leg thereof and movable between an outwardly projecting active position and a retracted position of extension alongside the crosspiece of said one unit, and means near an outer end of said arm for detachably holding a flash gun.

Claim 14

The combination comprising a base constructed to rest on the ground or another surface and extend essentially about an area within which a photographic subject is to be located, a structure projecting upwardly from and supported by said base, and a camera carried by said structure at a location spaced above the ground and directed downwardly to take a picture of a photographic subject in said area, said base including a first member extending along a first side of said area, leg units mounted for pivotal movement relative to said first member between first active positions in which they project downwardly to rest on the ground and second inactive positions in which they extend more horizontally, each of said leg units being essentially an inverted U-shaped member having two legs which in said active position project downwardly, and having a crosspiece extending generally horizontally between said legs at a location spaced above the ground, and a pivotal connection between said member and each of said leg units at a location adjacent one of said legs of the unit, there being an arm mounted to one of said leg units at a location spaced from said member and near an outer leg thereof and movable between an outwardly projecting active position and a retracted position of extension alongside the crosspiece of said one unit, and means near an outer end of said arm for detachably holding a flash gun.

Claim 15

The combination comprising a base constructed to rest on the ground or another surface and extend essentially about an area within which a photographic subject is to be located, a structure projecting upwardly from and supported by said base, and a camera carried by said structure at a location spaced above the ground and directed downwardly to take a picture of a photographic subject in said area, said base including a first member extending along a first side of said area, leg units mounted for pivotal movement relative to said first membeR between first active positions in which they project downwardly to rest on the ground and second inactive positions in which they extend more horizontally, and means for mounting a flash gun to one of said leg units at a location to illuminate said area, said flash gun mounting means including an arm mounted to one of said leg units for movement between an outwardly projecting position and a retracted position closer to the leg unit, and means carried by said arm for holding a flash gun at a location to illuminate said area.

Claim 16

The combination comprising a base constructed to rest on the ground or another surface and extend essentially about an area within which a photographic subject is to be located, a structure projecting upwardly from and supported by said base, and a camera carried by said structure at a location spaced above the ground and directed downwardly to take a picture of a photographic subject in said area, said base including a first member extending along a first side of said area, leg units mounted for pivotal movement relative to said first membeR between first active positions in which they project downwardly to rest on the ground and second inactive positions in which they extend more horizontally, and means for mounting a flash gun to one of said leg units at a location to illuminate said area, said flash gun mounting means including an arm mounted to one of said leg units for movement between an outwardly projecting position and a retracted position closer to the leg unit, and means carried by said arm for holding a flash gun at a location to illuminate said area.

Claim 17

The combination comprising a base constructed to rest on the ground or another surface and extend essentially about an area within which a photographic subject is to be located, said base including a first member extending generally horizontally along a first side of said area, two leg units projecting generally horizontally from said member at spaced locations near opposite ends thereof and extending along two opposite sides respectively of said area, each of said leg units being of essentially an inverted U-shaped configuration having two legs and a crosspiece extending generally horizontally therebetween, two pivotal connections attaching said leg units to said member near said opposite ends thereof for pivotal movement between first active positions in which said legs project downwardly to rest on the ground and second inactive positions in which said legs extend more horizontally, each of said pivotal connections being attached to the corresponding leg unit at approximately the location of one of said legs thereof, with the major portion of each leg unit projecting outwardly from and beyond said member as a cantilever not directly attached to said member beyond said pivotal connection which attaches that leg unit to said member, a camera mounting structure projecting from and supported by said member, and a camera carried by said mounting structure at a location spaced above the ground and directed downwardly to take a picture of a photographic subject in said area.

Claim 18

The combination comprising a base constructed to rest on the ground or another surface and extend essentially about an area within which a photographic subject is to be located, said base including a first member extending generally horizontally along a first side of said area, two leg units projecting generally horizontally from said member at spaced locations near opposite ends thereof and extending along two opposite sides respectively of said area, each of said leg units being of essentially an inverted U-shaped configuration having two legs and a crosspiece extending generally horizontally therebetween, two pivotal connections attaching said leg units to said member near said opposite ends thereof for pivotal movement between first active positions in which said legs project downwardly to rest on the ground and second inactive positions in which said legs extend more horizontally, each of said pivotal connections being attached to the corresponding leg unit at approximately the location of one of said legs thereof, with the major portion of each leg unit projecting outwardly from and beyond said member as a cantilever not directly attached to said member beyond said pivotal connection which attaches that leg unit to said member, a camera mounting structure projecting from and supported by said member, and a camera carried by said mounting structure at a location spaced above the ground and directed downwardly to take a picture of a photographic subject in said area.

Claim 19

The combination as recited in claim 9, including means for mounting a flash gun to one of said leg units at a location to illuminate said area.

Claim 20

The combination as recited in claim 9, including means engageable by said leg units to limit the pivotal movement of said units at said active positions.

Claim 21

The combination as recited in claim 9, in which said legs of each leg unit diverge away from the legs of the other leg unit in said active positions thereof.

Claim 22

The combination as recited in claim 9, including fastener means for limiting pivotal movement of said leg units at said active positions thereof and tightenable to releasably retain said units in said active positions.

Claim 23

The combination as recited in claim 9, in which said camera mounting structure projects upwardly from said first member at a location between said leg units and said pivotal connections.

Claim 24

The combination as recited in claim 9, including means for securing said mounting structure to said first member in either an upwardly projecting camera mounting position or a generally horizontally extending retracted position near said first member.

Claim 25

The combination comprising a base constructed to rest on the ground or another surface and extend essentially about an area within which a photographic subject is to be located, said base including a first member extending generally horizontally along a first side of said area, two leg units projecting generally horizontally from said member at spaced locations near opposite ends thereof and extending along two opposite sides respectively of said area, each of said leg units being of essentially an inverted U-shaped configuration having two legs and a crosspiece extending generally horizontally therebetween, two pivotal connections attaching said leg units to said member for pivotal movement between first active positions in which said legs project downwardly to rest on the ground and second inactive positions in which said legs extenD more horizontally, each of said pivotal connections being attached to the corresponding leg unit at approximately the location of one of said legs thereof, a camera mounting structure projecting upwardly from and supported by said member, a camera carried by said mounting structure at a location spaced above the ground and directed downwardly to take a picture of a photographic subject in said area, an arm mounted to one of said leg units for movement between an active position in which it projects outwardly from said leg unit and a retracted position closer to the leg unit, a flash gun, and means for mounting said flash gun to said arm at a location spaced outwardly from said leg units when said arm is in said active position thereof and in an orientation to direct light onto said photographic subject.

Claim 26

The combination comprising a base constructed to rest on the ground or another surface and extend essentially about an area within which a photographic subject is to be located, said base including a first member extending generally horizontally along a first side of said area, two leg units projecting generally horizontally from said member at spaced locations near opposite ends thereof and extending along two opposite sides respectively of said area, each of said leg units being of essentially an inverted U-shaped configuration having two legs and a crosspiece extending generally horizontally therebetween, two pivotal connections attaching said leg units to said member for pivotal movement between first active positions in which said legs project downwardly to rest on the ground and second inactive positions in which said legs extenD more horizontally, each of said pivotal connections being attached to the corresponding leg unit at approximately the location of one of said legs thereof, a camera mounting structure projecting upwardly from and supported by said member, a camera carried by said mounting structure at a location spaced above the ground and directed downwardly to take a picture of a photographic subject in said area, an arm mounted to one of said leg units for movement between an active position in which it projects outwardly from said leg unit and a retracted position closer to the leg unit, a flash gun, and means for mounting said flash gun to said arm at a location spaced outwardly from said leg units when said arm is in said active position thereof and in an orientation to direct light onto said photographic subject.

Claim 27

The combination as recited in claim 16, in which said arm in retracted position is located to extend essentially along and adjacent said crosspiece of one of the leg units.