Tripod for a Camera

This invention relates to a tripod for a camera, and more particularly concerns a self-opening tripod in which its legs can be automatically pushed out of a casing, opened, and operated with push button control, and the legs can be held within the casing only by being closed together and thrust into the casing.

A conventional tripod for a camera is a three-legged support, usually adjustable for height. When setting a conventional tripod, at first, length-adjustable legs are first extended to an appropriate length, and then these legs are opened to an appropriate inclined angle and, thereafter the conventional tripod is put on the floor. Therefore, its operation is not easy and cannot be done quickly.

Furthermore a conventional tripod is not suitable for locating a camera at an appropriate level above a table.

It is an object of the invention to provide a tripod for a camera which can be set up easily and quickly.

It is another object of the invention to provide a tripod for a camera which is suitable for locating a camera above a table.

It is another object of the invention to provide a tripod for a camera whose has safety device for preventing the legs from undesirably expanding.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent in the detailed description and example which follow.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1(a) is an elevational view partly in section of an embodiment of a tripod for a camera according to the invention;

FIG. 1(b) is a perspective view of a leg control device;

FIG. 2 is a cross section at A -- A line in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross section at B -- B line in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a cross section at C -- C line in FIG. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, numeral 1 designates a cylindrical casing which comprises an upper section 1a and an under section 1b, the two being joined with each other by means of screw 1'. The upper section 1a has a member on which a camera can be mounted and the under section 1b is longer than the upper section 1a, which houses legs described here-inafter. The member 2 for mounting a camera comprises a screw for 2a which is screwed into a tapped hole of a camera for mounting the camera, a ball joint 2b by which the direction of the camera can be optionally shifted, and a screw 2c for holding a set direction of the camera. Numeral 3 designates a Y-shaped slider which is slidably provided within the under section 1b. Numeral 4 designates a spring for pushing out the Y-shaped slider, which is interposed between the slider 3 and a fixed frame 5 in the upper section 1a. Numeral 6 designates a rod-shaped lockable member, which extends above the slider 3 and a tip of the locked member 6 has the shape of a cone 6a, and under the cone-shaped part, an annular concave part is made. Numerals 7a to 7c designate legs which are respectively hinged to three-forked parts of the slider 3, the legs being respectively spring-loaded with springs for opening legs 8a to 8c, so as to open when the legs are pushed out from within the casing 1. Numerals 9a to 9c designate three openings which are made in the under part of the under section 1b, for holding the legs 7a to 7c when being opened. Numeral 10 designates a U-shaped locking member which is hinged to the frame through a pin 11, and which faces a through-hole 5' made at the center of the frame. When the legs 7a to 7c are closed and thrust into the under section 1b against the spring 4' , an annular concave part 6' of the top part of the locked member 6 will pass the through-hole 5', and engage the U-shaped locking member by a spring 12 which pushes the locking member against the locked member, whereby the legs 7a to 7c are held within the under section 1b. Numeral 13 designates a leg-opening control element comprising a push rod one end of which is in contact with the locking member 10 and the other end projecting from within the upper section 1a. By pushing the leg-opening control element, the locking element 10 is shifted against the force of the spring 12, so that the locking member 10 will be released from the annular concave part 6' of the top part of the locked member 6.

Further, desirably the leg-opening control element 13 is rotatably inserted into a round hole in the upper portion 1a, and the push rod has a turning arm 13a, at its outer end, which protrudes from the outer end of the push rod at a right angle to the axis shaftline of the push rod. An inner part of the push rod is made thicker than an outer part of that and under the inner part of the push rod, U-shaped notch 5a of the frame 5 is made, and the lower part of the inner part of the push rod is situated in the U-shaped notch 5a as shown in FIG. 1.

As a tripod for a camera according this invention is constructed as stated above, when the leg-opening control element is pushed, the locking member 10 will be transferred from one position which is shown by the full line in FIG. 2 to another position which is shown by the dotted line in FIG. 2 against the spring 12, and the locking member 10 will be released from the annular concave part 6' of the top part of the locked member 6. As a result, the slider 3 will be pushed out by the spring 4, and then the legs 7a to 7c hinged to a three-forked part of the slider 3 will be opened by the springs 8a to 8c and held by the openings 9a to 9c as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 1. On the other hand, in the case of putting the legs 7a to 7c in the casings 1, the legs 7a to 7c are closed against the spring 8a to 8c, then the slider is thrusted in the under section 1 b against the spring 4, so that the top part of the locked member 6 which extends above the slider 3 passes the through-hole 5' of the frame 5. And the locking member 10 is moved by the tip of the locked member 6 against the spring 12, engaging the annular concave part 6' of the top part of the locked member 6. Consequently, the legs 7a to 7c will be held within the under section 1b to the casing 1.

Under this condition, when the leg-opening control element 13 is turned with the arm 13b at an angle of 180.degree. , the semi-annular convex part 13b faces the inner edge of the notch 5a, and the semi-annular convex part is hindered from moving inwards by the inner edge of the notch 5. Therefore, as the semi-annular convex part hinders the leg-opening control element 13 from coming in contact with the locking member, the legs 7a to 7c will be prevented from pushing out unexpectedly.

As stated above, in the tripod for a camera according this invention an operater can, with pushing the leg-opening control element, automatically, push out the legs from within the casing and open that. Therefore, its operation is simple. Further it is safe as the legs are hindered from pushing out unexpectedly.

As many apparently widely different embodiment of this invention may be without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments thereof excepts as defined in the appended claim.