Travel tripod

Abstract

A tripod having a first side leg, a second side leg, and a hollow leg. The three legs are connected to a center member which use swivels for the first side leg and the second side leg. The hollow leg engages a hollow circular receiver which allows an extension member to extend from the interior of the hollow leg, through center member. An attachment mechanism, such as for a camera, is secured to the distal end of the extension. The attachment mechanism permits the camera secured thereto to be rotated and directed to the operator's desires.

Claims

1. A tripod comprising: a) a first side leg and a second side leg; b) a center member having a first swivel and a second swivel, the first side leg being connected at a first end thereof to the first swivel, the second side leg being connected at a first end thereof to the second swivel, said center member further having a circular receiver positioned between the first swivel and the second swivel; c) a hollow center leg connected at a first end thereof to the circular receiver at a non-vertical angle; d) an elongated extension member partially contained within the hollow center leg and being extendable from the hollow center leg through the circular receiver of the center member; and, e) an attachment mechanism secured to a distal end of the elongated extension member.

2. The tripod according to claim 1, wherein the first side leg and the second slide leg are extendable in length, and the hollow center leg is extendable in length.

3. The tripod according to claim 2, a) wherein the center member includes a hook; and, b) further including an accessory bag securable to the hook.

4. The tripod according to claim 3, wherein the attachment mechanism selectively rotates.

5. The tripod according to claim 3, wherein first swivel allows the first side leg to be folded against the hollow center leg; and the second swivel allows the second side leg to be folded against the hollow center leg.

6. The tripod according to claim 5, further including an articulated mount secured to the center member, said articulated mount adapted to receive a viewing screen.

7. A tripod comprising: a) a center member having a first swivel and a second swivel and a circular receiver positioned between the first swivel and the second swivel; b) a first extendable side leg having a first end thereof connected to the first swivel; c) a second extendable side leg having a first end thereof connected to the second swivel; and, d) a hollow extendable center leg having a first end connected to the circular receiver not in vertical alignment.

8. The tripod according to claim 7, wherein first swivel allows the first side leg to be folded against the hollow center leg; and the second swivel allows the second side leg to be folded against the hollow center leg.

9. The tripod according to claim 7, further including an elongated extension member partially contained within the hollow center leg and being extendable from the hollow center leg through the circular receiver of the center member.

10. The tripod according to claim 9, further including a rotatable attachment mechanism secured to a distal end of the elongated extension member.

11. The tripod according to claim 10, further including an articulated mount secured to the center member, said articulated mount adapted to receive a viewing screen.

12. The tripod according to claim 7, a) wherein the center member includes a hook; and, b) further including an accessory bag securable to the hook.

13. A tripod comprising: a) a center member having a first swivel and a second swivel and a circular receiver positioned between the first swivel and the second swivel such that the circular receiver is not vertically aligned, said receiver being moveable in a single plane; b) a first extendable side leg having a first end connected to the first swivel; c) a second extendable side leg having a first end connected to the second swivel; and, d) a hollow extendable center leg having a first end connected to the circular receiver.

14. The tripod according to claim 13, wherein the first swivel moves in three dimensions, and the second swivel moves in three dimensions.

15. The tripod according to claim 14, wherein the first swivel is configured to allow the first side leg to be moved against the hollow center leg; and the second swivel is configured to allow the second side leg to be moved against the hollow center leg.

16. The tripod according to claim 14, further including an elongated extension member partially contained within the hollow center leg and being extendable from the hollow center leg through the circular receiver of the center member.

17. The tripod according to claim 16, further including: a) an attachment mechanism secured to a distal end of the elongated extension member; and, b) an articulated mount secured to the center member, said articulated mount adapted to receive a viewing screen.

18. The tripod according to claim 17, a) wherein the center member includes a hook; and, b) further including an accessory bag securable to the hook.

Description

DRAWINGS IN BRIEF

[0038] FIG. 1 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0039] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a side and frontal view of the invention holding a camera.

[0040] FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrates the relative positions of the legs of the invention as compared to the prior art (FIG. 3B).

[0041] FIG. 4 illustrates the positions of the legs together with the extension member.

[0042] FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrates the tripod positioned for a close to ground shot.

[0043] FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of the center hollow leg that maintains the hollow nature when collapsed

[0044] FIG. 7 illustrates the tripod of this invention being used as monopod.

[0045] FIG. 8 illustrates the legs and platform of the preferred embodiment.

[0046] FIG. 9 illustrates the tripod collapsed for transportation.

[0047] FIG. 10 illustrates the deployment of a screen from the platform.

DRAWINGS IN DETAIL

[0048] FIG. 1 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0049] A user 10 operates the tripod from between the two side legs 11A and 11B. The hollow center leg 12 and column/extension 16 be pointing towards the subject. The two side legs 11A and 11B and hollow center leg 12 are connected to a center member 16. The center member 16 uses swivels for the first side leg and the second side leg allowing a great deal of freedom of movement.

[0050] The hollow center leg 12 engages a circular receiver (not visible in this illustration) on the center member 16 and allows an extension member 15 to extend from the interior of the hollow center leg 12, through the center member 15. An attachment mechanism 18, such as for a camera 14, is secured to the distal end of the extension member 15. The attachment mechanism 18 permits the camera secured thereto to be rotated and directed to the operator's desires.

[0051] This arrangement permits the entire structure to stand in a “splayed” relationship. That is the first and second legs 11A and 11B are positioned as would be found in a traditional tripod, but, the third leg, the hollow center leg 12, is extendable from the center platform at another angle.

[0052] A hook (not visible) is positioned below the platform 16 and allows a backpack 13 to hang unobstructed between the two side legs 11A and 11B. In this manner, user 10 has easy access to the bag's 13 contents.

[0053] The lengths of the two legs 11A and 11B, as well as the hollow center leg 12, are extendable/collapsible allowing the tripod to be easily transported. The preferred embodiment locks through the use of cinching nut mechanisms (17A, 17B, and 17C). These cinching nut mechanisms are tightened or loosen using the user's fingers.

[0054] In one embodiment of the invention, the hollow center leg 12, is “opposite” of a traditional leg in that the bottom section is wider than the section above it, allowing the bottom section to “slide” over the upper section. This frees up the center of the hollow center leg during transportation so that the extension 15 may remain within the leg.

[0055] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a side and frontal view of the invention holding a camera.

[0056] To deploy the tripod, the two side legs 11A and 11B are extended the center hollow leg 12 is also extended. Note in FIG. 2A, the hollow center leg 12 is extended into a “splay” type of arrangement relative to legs 11A and 11B. Movement of hollow center leg 12 occurs as indicated by arrows 20B.

[0057] The center offset of camera 14, now extending between legs 11A and 11B, allows the user to be closer to operating the camera 14 without the legs 11A, 11B, nor hollow center leg 12 being in the way.

[0058] Hollow center leg is secured to center member 16 in such a manner that extension 15 is allowed to slide within hollow center leg 12.

[0059] At the top of the hollow center leg 15, is extension 15 which is moveable within the hollow center leg 12 as indicated by arrow 20A. This movement allows the camera 14, secured to attachment 18, to be moved to the height desired by the user or “spun” into a desired orientation.

[0060] FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrates the relative positions of the legs of the invention as compared to the prior art (FIG. 3B).

[0061] Referencing FIG. 3B, the prior art, the legs are all positioned equal distance (120 degrees) for each other, 30A, 30B, and 30C. The extension 31 is positioned between the three leg swivels/hinges.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 3A, the present invention positions the two legs 32A and 32B having the extension (provided by the hollow third leg) 33 substantially in line or substantially between the other two swivels. This generates a more compact arrangement permitting the use of thicker legs while still keeping a compact transportation size.

[0063] Further, since there are only two hinge points (32A an 32B), instead of three for the prior art, the twisting potential is minimized which creates a more stable platform. This arrangement also provides for a wider distance between the hinges 32A and 32B which avoids the “twisting” potential of the prior art when doing a video panning (movement of the camera).

[0064] The tripod of FIG. 3A has the center column extending from the inside of the center hollow leg instead of in the middle of three encircling legs. This frees up more space for the legs of the present invention (FIG. 3A) to be thicker while still staying compact when folded for transportation. In the preferred embodiment, the leg diameters are 46 mm whereas the traditional tripod legs are approximately 32 mm.

[0065] FIG. 4 illustrates the positions of the legs together with the extension member.

[0066] Center member 16 has two receivers 42A and 42B which are securable to legs 11A and 11B respectively. The center hollow leg 12 is recured to center member 16 via an opening with locking nut 41 which secure extension 15 at the desired length.

[0067] Foldable hook is used to fasten a backpack or other hanging accessory to platform 16, thereby providing both easy access to the backpack and an anchoring weight.

[0068] FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrates the tripod positioned for a close to ground shot.

[0069] The present invention allows the switch from upright (as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B) to close to the ground shots very quickly and without need to disassemble the tripod.

[0070] Without the need to remove the center hollow leg of the present invention, there isn't a need for the center column to be removed or reconfigured. One simply has to angle the two side legs 11A and 11B at a more spread angle arrangement (as indicated by arrow 50A). This lowers the tripod allowing camera 14 to be positioned for a close to earth show as shown in FIG. 5A.

[0071] As shown in FIG. 5B, by rotating extension 15 to “flip” the camera 14 upside down, an extremely close picture can be obtained, all without having to disassembly the tripod as required in the prior art. This arrangement provides a faster and more convenient way when switching between upright and low-to-ground shots.

[0072] FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of the center hollow leg that maintains the hollow nature when collapsed.

[0073] In this embodiment, the hollow center leg 12, is “opposite” of a traditional leg in that the bottom section 61A is wider than the section above it 61B, allowing the bottom section 61A to “slide”, as illustrated by arrow 63, over the upper section 61B, which is also allowed to slide over the next section 61C. Each leg section is secured via locking nuts such as 62A and 62B.

[0074] This arrangement frees up the center of the hollow center leg 12 during transportation so that the extension 15 may remain contained within the leg.

[0075] FIG. 7 illustrates the tripod of this invention being used as monopod.

[0076] The tripod of the present invention can also be used as a monopod. To accomplish this, legs 11A and 11B are collapsed and the hollow center leg 12 is kept at its lengthened state. This allows operator 10 to stand with the tripod, now a monopod, and utilize camera 14.

[0077] This capability is facilitated by the extension and the hollow center leg being linear in relationship to each other, providing for a perfect centering which would not be available for a traditional tripod. In this invention the weight of the camera is centered directly over the leg.

[0078] FIG. 8 illustrates the legs and center member of the preferred embodiment.

[0079] In this illustration, the hinging members 80A and 80B are configured to allow maximum freedom of movement while maintaining stability. Hinge 80A is secured to leg 11A and hinge 80B is secured to leg 11B.

[0080] FIG. 9 illustrates the tripod collapsed for transportation.

[0081] Once collapsed, the legs 11A and 11B, are closer to the hollow center leg (not visible in this angle) and fold up compactly allowing for easy transportation. Note that the extension does not have to be removed and merely is contained within the hollow center leg. This compact result is due to the invention placement of the legs being substantially in line with each other.

[0082] FIG. 10 illustrates the deployment of a screen from the platform.

[0083] Armature 101 extends from center member 18 and holds screen 100 so that the user is able to monitor screen 100. This arrangement, allows screen 100 to display what is being viewed by the camera and is particularly useful for situations where the camera is extended well above the operator's head and line of sight.

[0084] It is clear that the present invention is more ergonomical and its use is greatly enhanced (e.g. setup speed, user position when operating camera). The tripod is more stable and can fold into a smaller package.

[0085] It is clear that the present invention creates a highly improved portable tripod.