US4037763A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Instrument support
Assignee: VIDEO COMPONENTS Inc
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Filing: 1975-04-03
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Granted: 1977-07-26
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Expires: 1995-04-03
Abstract
Abstract A portable body support for holding a camera and equipment accessory thereto, comprising a frame having a first portion adapted to be positioned adjacent the back of a user, said frame having a vertical length extending from the hip region of the user up to a level above the shoulders of the user, and a second portion comprising a pair of arms adaptable to extend forwardly from the upper end of said first frame portion at opposite sides, respectively, of the user's head. The support further comprises means for hingedly connecting the rear portions of said arms to the upper end of said first frame portion, a camera pod attached to the forward portions of said arms in the region in front of the user for supporting a camera in cantilevered relation to said first frame portion, a pair of shoulder straps for restraining said first frame portion adjacent the user's back, a belt adapted to wrap around the hip region of the user, whereby substantially all of the weight of the camera and its accessory equipment is transmitted to and supported by the hip region of the user, and means on said first frame portion for attachment thereto of the accessory equipment in a position adjacent the back of the user.
Inventors
- 👤 Dick Turchen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 01:36
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16M; F16M13/00; F16M13/04; F16M11/00; F16M11/02; F16M11/04; F16M11/043; F16M11/048; F16M11/06; F16M11/08; F16M11/20; F16M11/2007; F16M11/2014; F16M11/2021; F16M11/42; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S224/00; Y10S224/908; Y10S224/929; Y10S224/93
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
234 words
A portable support frame for holding a camera and equipment accessory thereto, comprising: a frame having a first portion adapted to be positioned adjacent the back of a user, said first portion having a vertical length extending from the hip region of the user up to a level above the shoulders of the user, and a second portion having a pair of arms adaptable to extend forwardly from the upper end of said first frame portion at opposite sides, respectively, of the user's head above the level of the user's shoulders, a cross-bar connecting the pair of arms; means for hingedly connecting the rear portions of said arms to the upper end of said first frame portion for pivotal movement of said arms in only a vertical plane between a first position in which said arms are generally horizontal and a second position in which said arms are generally vertical; pod means attached to the cross-bar in the region in front of the user for supporting a camera, whereby said camera is cantilevered from said first frame portion; a belt adapted to wrap around the hip region of the user for supporting substantially all of the weight of the camera and its accessory equipment on the hip region of the user; and means on said first frame portion for attachment thereto of the accessory equipment in a position adjacent the back of the user.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
234 words
A portable support frame for holding a camera and equipment accessory thereto, comprising: a frame having a first portion adapted to be positioned adjacent the back of a user, said first portion having a vertical length extending from the hip region of the user up to a level above the shoulders of the user, and a second portion having a pair of arms adaptable to extend forwardly from the upper end of said first frame portion at opposite sides, respectively, of the user's head above the level of the user's shoulders, a cross-bar connecting the pair of arms; means for hingedly connecting the rear portions of said arms to the upper end of said first frame portion for pivotal movement of said arms in only a vertical plane between a first position in which said arms are generally horizontal and a second position in which said arms are generally vertical; pod means attached to the cross-bar in the region in front of the user for supporting a camera, whereby said camera is cantilevered from said first frame portion; a belt adapted to wrap around the hip region of the user for supporting substantially all of the weight of the camera and its accessory equipment on the hip region of the user; and means on said first frame portion for attachment thereto of the accessory equipment in a position adjacent the back of the user.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The support of claim 1, wherein the forward portions of said pair of arms extend downwardly when the remaining portions of the arms are in a horizontal plane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
83 words
The support of claim 2, wherein the pod means includes adjustment means for positioning the camera horizontally, means for lowering and raising the camera vertically and means for locating the camera closer to or further away from the user's head, said positioning means being located below the level of the chin of the user such that positioning means can be adjusted to move the camera to a position in which the camera viewer will be located at about eye level of the user.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The support of claim 3, wherein said pair of arms are pivotable with respect to said first frame portion to a position in which they comprise a substantially straight extension of said first frame portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The support of claim 4 further comprising at least one wheel attached to the bottom of the first frame portion, whereby the camera support may be rolled about as a cart, said downwardly extending forward arm portions functioning as handles.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The support of claim 4, further comprising a pair of wheels attached to the bottom of the first frame portion, whereby the camera support may be rolled about as a cart, said downwardly extending forward arm portions functioning as handles.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The support of claim 6, wherein the first frame portion is substantially rectangular.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The support of claim 7, wherein the belt is connected to the lower part of said rectangular frame.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The support of claim 8, further comprising a pair of shoulder straps, each having one end connected to the upper part of the rectangular frame and the other end connected to the lower part of the rectangular frame.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The support of claim 9, wherein the accessory equipment is heavier than the camera and is positioned in closer proximity to the user's body in back than the camera is in front, whereby improved balancing is achieved.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
242 words
A portable support frame for holding a device requiring alignment with the eye of a user and equipment accessory thereto, comprising: a frame having a first portion adapted to be positioned adjacent the back of a user, said first portion having a vertical length extending from the hip region of the user up to a level above the shoulders of the user, and a second portion having a pair of arms adaptable to extend forwardly from the upper end of said first frame portion at opposite sides, respectively, of the user's head above the level of the user's shoulders; a cross-bar connecting the pair or arms; means for hingedly connecting the rear portions of said arms to the upper end of said first frame portion for pivotal movement of said arms in only a vertical plane between a first position in which said arms are generally horizontal and a second position in which said arms are generally vertical; pod means attached to the cross-bar in the region in front of the user for supporting said device, whereby said device is cantilevered from said first frame portion; a belt adapted to wrap around the hip region of the user for supporting substantially all of the weight of the device and its accessory equipment on the hip region of the user; and means on said first frame portion for attachment thereto of the accessory equipment in a position adjacent the back of the user.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
242 words
A portable support frame for holding a device requiring alignment with the eye of a user and equipment accessory thereto, comprising: a frame having a first portion adapted to be positioned adjacent the back of a user, said first portion having a vertical length extending from the hip region of the user up to a level above the shoulders of the user, and a second portion having a pair of arms adaptable to extend forwardly from the upper end of said first frame portion at opposite sides, respectively, of the user's head above the level of the user's shoulders; a cross-bar connecting the pair or arms; means for hingedly connecting the rear portions of said arms to the upper end of said first frame portion for pivotal movement of said arms in only a vertical plane between a first position in which said arms are generally horizontal and a second position in which said arms are generally vertical; pod means attached to the cross-bar in the region in front of the user for supporting said device, whereby said device is cantilevered from said first frame portion; a belt adapted to wrap around the hip region of the user for supporting substantially all of the weight of the device and its accessory equipment on the hip region of the user; and means on said first frame portion for attachment thereto of the accessory equipment in a position adjacent the back of the user.
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) | 1980-07-25 | 1981-01-24 | 1981-07-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-07-25 | 1985-01-24 | 1985-07-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-07-25 | 1989-01-24 | 1989-07-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |