US3893145A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flash extender and camera support
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-04-19
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Granted: 1975-07-01
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Expires: 1994-04-19
Abstract
Abstract An adjustable portable hand held strobe extender and camera support unit made of detachable and extensible sections in combination with a camera support platform and handle grip means with a top land or plane surface connected at the lower end of the extender in one socket of a two-way pan connector. The strobe extender and camera support may be detached from each other and the extender is angularly adjustable. The strobe or electronic flash is universably mounted on the upper end of the extender by a ball joint for easy angular adjustment to provide comfortable flash illumination of a subject to be photographed with minimum flash reflection, to thereby minimize the importance of special films and filters and careful shutter speed settings of a camera mounted on the support platform secured to the end of the handle grip means of the support unit. Also, a support extender bar from the camera support is provided to accommodate additional strobe extender means, if desired.
Inventors
- 👤 Dwayne L King
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 15:18
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B15/00; G03B15/02; G03B15/03; G03B15/05; G03B15/06; G03B15/07; G03B2215/00; G03B2215/05; G03B2215/0514; G03B2215/056
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
347 words
A photographic apparatus including in combination a camera, a support plate releasably coupled to said camera, said support plate having a land portion, said land portion having releasable coupling means thereon, a telescopic extender means having a first end coupled to said land portion at said releasable coupling means and a second end connected to a flash illumination means, the improvement comprising: trunion joint means connecting said releasable coupling on said land means to said first end of said telescopic extender for providing pivotal movement of said telescopic extender about a first axis and about a second axis perpendicular to said first axis, said trunion joint means including a trunion joint portion having a pair of spaced ears with aligned sockets, a trunion shafted mounted at opposite ends in said ear sockets, one of said ears providing a split socket for one end of said shaft, said trunion shaft having an opening through a medial portion thereof, and a second shaft mounted in said trunion shaft opening, said second shaft being connected to said land portion of said hand grip by said releasable coupling in said ear with the said split socket having bifurcated portions formed with aligned threaded and unthreaded bore portions on respective sides of the split portion of said ear, a locking bolt with a reduced end in said bore portions, and handle means to rotate said bifurcated portions of said ear together, to thereby frictionally grip one end of said trunion shaft in said split ear socket and lock said trunion shaft to set angular positions, said trunion shaft being longitudinally bifurcated at an end to provide lateral resiliency for optimum adjustment efficiency in said split socket and wherein said bolt is formed with a threaded reduced end with a shoulder portion, said shoulder mating with a countersunk surface in said unthreaded bore to impart thrust to said surface; and ball joint means coupling said second end of said telescopic extender to said flash illumination means to provide angular movement of said flash illumination means about said second end of said telescopic extender.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
347 words
A photographic apparatus including in combination a camera, a support plate releasably coupled to said camera, said support plate having a land portion, said land portion having releasable coupling means thereon, a telescopic extender means having a first end coupled to said land portion at said releasable coupling means and a second end connected to a flash illumination means, the improvement comprising: trunion joint means connecting said releasable coupling on said land means to said first end of said telescopic extender for providing pivotal movement of said telescopic extender about a first axis and about a second axis perpendicular to said first axis, said trunion joint means including a trunion joint portion having a pair of spaced ears with aligned sockets, a trunion shafted mounted at opposite ends in said ear sockets, one of said ears providing a split socket for one end of said shaft, said trunion shaft having an opening through a medial portion thereof, and a second shaft mounted in said trunion shaft opening, said second shaft being connected to said land portion of said hand grip by said releasable coupling in said ear with the said split socket having bifurcated portions formed with aligned threaded and unthreaded bore portions on respective sides of the split portion of said ear, a locking bolt with a reduced end in said bore portions, and handle means to rotate said bifurcated portions of said ear together, to thereby frictionally grip one end of said trunion shaft in said split ear socket and lock said trunion shaft to set angular positions, said trunion shaft being longitudinally bifurcated at an end to provide lateral resiliency for optimum adjustment efficiency in said split socket and wherein said bolt is formed with a threaded reduced end with a shoulder portion, said shoulder mating with a countersunk surface in said unthreaded bore to impart thrust to said surface; and ball joint means coupling said second end of said telescopic extender to said flash illumination means to provide angular movement of said flash illumination means about said second end of said telescopic extender.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
73 words
Strobe extender and camera support means as described in claim 1, wherein said telescopic extender consists of a plurality of telescopic sections with locking detent pins and formed with U-shaped elongated grooves stemming down opposite sides, said detent pins being perpendicular to said grooves and staggered in opposite directions in every other section, to thereby create and maintain an even balance and provide for a smooth torque free collapse of the telescopic sections.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
Strobe extender support means as described in claim 2, wherein stop means are formed in each of said sections, to thereby prevent each next adjacent preceding section from shearing off the locking detent pint of a trailing section and to initiate the disengagement of the detent pin in said next adjacent preceding section during extension or retraction of said extender sections.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
124 words
The photographic apparatus of claim 1, wheRein said support plate includes a camera support bar and an extensible bar connectable to said camera support bar for supporting at least one additional strobe extender, said extensible bar at one end being formed with spaced inturned flange means and being slidably connected with an end of said camera support bar, said camera support bar being centrally formed with an elongated longitudinal slot and an internally threaded socket, a threaded bolt with a shoulder and a reduced threadless shank extending from said shoulder, said shank being extensible into said slot and an adjustment knob on said bolt to engage the face of said shoulder with the underside of said extensible bar on each side of said slot.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-30 | 1978-12-30 | 1979-07-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-30 | 1982-12-30 | 1983-07-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-30 | 1986-12-30 | 1987-07-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |