SUPPORT DEVICE FOR VIDEO-PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS

Abstract

A support device (1; 100) for video-photographic apparatus, includes at least one telescopic leg (2; 100) having a first tubular section (10), a second tubular section (11) and a third tubular section (12) which are connected in telescopic engagement one after the other, a locking mechanism (20), configured to lock and to allow the relative sliding between the first tubular section (10), the second tubular section (11) and the third tubular section (12). Both the first tubular section (10) and the third tubular section (12) are partially housed inside the second tubular section (11) and are configured to slide axially away from and towards the inside of the second tubular section (11) through the longitudinally opposite ends of the second tubular section (11).

Claims

1. A support device (1; 200) for video-photographic apparatus, comprising at least one telescopic leg (2; 100) displaceable between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration, said telescopic leg comprising: a first tubular section (10), a second tubular section (11) and a third tubular section (12) which are connected in telescopic engagement one after another, a locking mechanism (20), configured to lock and to allow the relative sliding between said first tubular section (10), said second tubular section (11) and said third tubular section (12), wherein: said first tubular section (10) is partially housed inside said second tubular section (11) and is engaged with said second tubular section (11) so as to slide axially away from and towards an inside of said second tubular section (11) through a first end of said second tubular section (11); and said third tubular section (12) is partially housed inside said second tubular section (11) and is engaged with said second tubular section (11) so as to slide axially away from and towards the inside of said second tubular section (11) through a second end of said second tubular section (11), said second end being located longitudinally opposite to said first end (11).

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein, when said telescopic leg (2; 100) is in the retracted configuration, said third tubular section (12) is housed inside the first tubular section (10).

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said first tubular section (10), said second tubular section (11) and said third tubular section (12) have a non-circular cross-section.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said locking mechanism comprises: a first brake (21), displaceable between a locking position in which the first brake locks the axial sliding of said first tubular section (10) with respect to said second tubular section (11) and a release position in which the first brake does not prevent the axial sliding of said first tubular section (10) with respect to said second tubular section (11), a second brake (22), displaceable between a locking position in which the second brake locks the axial sliding of said third tubular section (12) with respect to said second tubular section (11) and a release position in which the second brake does not prevent the axial sliding of said third tubular section (12) with respect to said second tubular section (11); and an operating member (23) connected to said first brake (21) and to said second brake (22) so as to displace simultaneously said first brake (21) and said second brake (22) into the respective locking positions or into the respective release positions.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein said operating member (23) is pivotable about an axis of rotation (Y) between an opening position and a closing position and is connected to said first brake (21) and to said second brake (22) by an eccentric system (27, 28a, 29a; 30) such that a pivoting movement of said operating member (23) between said opening position and said closing position corresponds to a displacement of said first brake (21) and said second brake (22) between said respective release positions and said respective locking positions.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein said operating member (23) is connected to said first brake (21) and said second brake (22) such that, when said operating member (23) is pivoted from said opening position toward said closing position: said first brake (21) transmits to said operating member (23) a first reaction force, said second brake (22) transmits to said operating member (23) a second reaction force, at least one component of said second reaction force has a direction parallel to and opposite to that of a component of said first reaction force, and wherein said operating member (23) is mounted on said telescopic leg (2; 100) so that said axis of rotation (Y) is displaceable along said direction parallel to said components of said first reaction force and said second reaction force.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein said first reaction force and said second reaction force are substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis (X) of said telescopic leg.

8. The device according to claim 5, wherein said operating member (23) is mounted on said telescopic leg so that said axis of rotation (Y) is displaceable along a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis (X) of said telescopic leg (2; 100).

9. The device according to claim 4, wherein said operating member (23) is mounted on said second tubular section (11).

10. The device according to claim 5, wherein said first brake (21) or said second brake (22) are connected to said eccentric system by a first transmission element (28) or, respectively, a second transmission element (29).

11. The device according to claim 5, wherein said first brake (21) and said second brake (22) are connected to said eccentric system by a first transmission element (28) and, respectively, a second transmission element (29) and wherein said first transmission element (28) and said second transmission element (29) are constrained to said eccentric system on opposite sides (28a, 29a) with respect to said axis of rotation (Y).

12. The device according to claim 5, wherein said operating member (23) comprises a lever (26) pivotable about a pin (27) rotatable about said axis of rotation (Y) and housed for sliding in a seat (27a) formed in said second tubular section (11) or in a component rigidly fixed to said second tubular section (11).

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein said eccentric system comprises a cam profile (30) of said pin (27).

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein said telescopic leg comprises a fourth tubular section partially housed inside said third tubular section (12) and engaged with said third tubular section (12) so as to slide axially away from and towards an inside of said third tubular section (12) on an opposite side to said second tubular section (11).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0102] The characteristics and advantages of the invention will best result from the detailed description of some preferred embodiments thereof, illustrated by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0103] FIG. 1 is a schematic front elevational view of a first example of support device for video-photographic apparatus realised according to the present invention, comprising a telescopic leg in extended configuration and with the locking mechanism in the release position;

[0104] FIG. 2 is a schematic view on an enlarged scale of a detail of the telescopic leg of the support device of FIG. 1, in which a first terminal of the telescopic leg is illustrated;

[0105] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the detail of FIG. 2 with the first terminal removed and with some components in transparency;

[0106] FIGS. 4 and 5 are views similar to FIGS. 2 and 3 with the locking mechanism in the locking position;

[0107] FIG. 6 is a sectional schematic view along the plane III-III of FIG. 4;

[0108] FIG. 7 is a schematic view on an enlarged scale of a further detail of the telescopic leg of the support device of FIG. 1, at a second terminal of the telescopic leg, in which the second terminal is removed;

[0109] FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view, similar to that of FIG. 6, of the detail of FIG. 7 in the presence of the second terminal;

[0110] FIG. 9 is a schematic view on an enlarged scale of an embodiment variant of a detail of the telescopic leg of the previous Figures, with the locking mechanism in the release position;

[0111] FIG. 10 is a sectional view along the plane X-X of FIG. 9;

[0112] FIG. 11 is a schematic view in longitudinal section of a further detail of the telescopic leg of FIG. 9, at the second terminal,

[0113] FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view of a second example of support device for video-photographic apparatus realised according to the present invention, comprising a plurality of telescopic legs in extended configuration and with the locking mechanism in the locking position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0114] With initial reference to FIGS. 1 to 8, a first example of a support device for video-photographic apparatus realised in accordance with the present invention is indicated with 1.

[0115] The support device 1 is a monopod and comprises a single telescopic leg 2 at the top of which a plate 3 is placed which is provided with an attachment element 4, for example a screw, arranged to fix to the monopod 1 a video-photographic apparatus, in itself conventional and not illustrated in the attached Figures.

[0116] The telescopic leg 2 comprises a first tubular section 10, a second tubular section 11 and a third tubular section 12 which are connected in telescopic engagement one after another.

[0117] In particular, the first tubular section 10 is partially housed with the possibility of axial sliding inside the second tubular section 11 through a first end 11a of the second tubular section 11 and the third tubular section 12 is partially housed with the possibility of axial sliding inside the second tubular section 11 through a second end 11b of the second tubular section 11, longitudinally opposite to the first end 11a.

[0118] Preferably, the plate 3 is fixed to a first, free end 10a of the first tubular section 10, while to a free end 12b of the third tubular section 12 a foot 13 is fixed, for example in rubber, useful to allow a firm support on the ground of the monopod 1.

[0119] The three tubular sections 10, 11 and 12 are coaxial with each other, with a prevalent longitudinal dimension extending along their common X-axis and a cross-section having a polygonal, in particular octagonal shape elongated along a prevalent dimension.

[0120] The dimensions of the cross-sections of the tubular sections 10, 11 and 12 are such as to allow the sliding engagement inside the second tubular section 11 of both the first tubular section 10 and the third tubular section 12. Furthermore, the third tubular section 12 has a transverse dimension such as to allow the sliding engagement also inside the first tubular section 10.

[0121] It follows that the third tubular section 12 has the cross-section of smaller dimensions, that the second tubular section 11 has the cross-section of larger dimensions while the first tubular section 10 has the cross-section with intermediate dimensions.

[0122] At the first longitudinal end 11a and the second longitudinal end 11b of the second tubular section 11, a first terminal 14 and a second terminal 15, tubular, respectively, are rigidly fixed and configured to guide the axial sliding of the first tubular section 10 and, respectively, of the third tubular section 12 from and towards the inside of the second tubular section 11.

[0123] In particular, the first terminal 14 comprises a first portion 14a with a narrow internal section, substantially corresponding to the first tubular section 10, as well as a second portion 14b with an enlarged internal section defining an internal shoulder 14c abutted on the first end 11a of the second tubular section 11, so that the first portion 14a protrudes axially from the second tubular section 11 and the second portion 14b is instead superimposed on the second tubular section 11.

[0124] Similarly, the second terminal 15 comprises a first portion 15a with a narrow internal section, substantially corresponding to the third tubular section 12, and a second portion 15b with an enlarged internal section defining an internal shoulder 15c abutted on the second end 11b of the second tubular section 11, such that the first portion 15a protrudes axially from the second tubular section 11 and the second portion 15b is instead superimposed on the second tubular section 11.

[0125] A stop element 12c is engaged to close the third tubular section 12 at an end 12a thereof axially opposite to the foot 13. The stop element 12c locks the stroke of the third tubular section 12 by abutting against the shoulder 15c, so as to prevent the escape of the third tubular section 12 from the second tubular section 11.

[0126] The telescopic leg 2 comprises a locking mechanism 20, configured to lock and, alternatively, to allow the relative sliding between the first tubular section 10, the second tubular section 11 and the third tubular section 12.

[0127] The locking mechanism 20 comprises a first brake 21, configured to selectively lock the axial sliding of the first tubular section 10 inside the second tubular section 11, a second brake 22, configured to selectively block the axial sliding of the third tubular section 12 inside the second tubular section 11, as well as an operating member 23 connected to the first brake 21 and to the second brake 22 to simultaneously operate, in locking or in release, both the first brake 21 and the second brake 22.

[0128] In particular, the first brake 21 is displaceable along a direction substantially parallel to the axis X between a locking position, in which it prevents the axial sliding of the first tubular section 10 with respect to the second tubular section 11, and a release position, in which it allows the axial sliding of the first tubular section 10 with respect to the second tubular section 11.

[0129] The first brake 21 is housed in a chamber 24 formed inside the first portion 14a of the first terminal 14 and comprises a surface 21a which is inclined with respect to the axis X, resting on a corresponding surface 24a of the first terminal 14, so that the axial displacement of the first brake 21 also entails a corresponding radial displacement of the first brake 21 so as to press against the first tubular section 10 or to move away therefrom.

[0130] In a completely similar manner, the second brake 22 is displaceable along a direction substantially parallel to the axis X between a locking position, in which it prevents the axial sliding of the third tubular section 12 with respect to the second tubular section 11, and a release position, in which it allows the axial sliding of the third tubular section 12 with respect to the second tubular section 11.

[0131] The second brake 22 is housed in a chamber 25 formed inside the first portion 15a of the second terminal 15 and comprises a surface 22a which is inclined with respect to the axis X, resting on a corresponding surface 25a of the second terminal 14, so that the axial displacement of the second brake 22 also entails a corresponding radial displacement of the second brake 22 so as to press against the first tubular section 12 or to move away therefrom.

[0132] The operating member 23 comprises a lever 26, pivotable between an opening position (represented in FIGS. 1 to 3) and a closing position (represented in FIGS. 4 and 5) about an axis of rotation Y, substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X of the telescopic leg 2.

[0133] The axis of rotation Y is defined by a pin 27 mounted on the first terminal 14 and housed in a seat 27a, which is suitably elongated along the axial direction X, so as to allow the pin 27 to displace freely along this direction.

[0134] The first brake 21 is connected to the operating member 23 by means of a first transmission element 28, which is constrained to the pin 27 in a constraint point 28a, spaced from the axis of rotation Y.

[0135] Similarly, the second brake 22 is connected to the operating member 23 by means of a second transmission element 29, which is constrained to the pin 27 in a constraint point 29a, positioned symmetrically to the constraint point 28a with respect to the axis of rotation Y.

[0136] The connection of the first and second brake 21, 22 with the pin 27 forms an eccentric system that allows the pivoting movement of the lever 26 to be transformed into a displacement of the first brake 21 and of the second brake 22 along the axis X.

[0137] When the lever 26 is pivoted between the opening position and the closing position, the pin 27 displaces the constraint points 28a and 29a so as to pull the transmission elements 28 and 29 and move the first brake 21 and the second brake 22 closer to the operating member 23.

[0138] The axial displacement of the first and second brake 21, 22 entails their simultaneous displacement towards the locking positions respectively against the first tubular section 10 and the third tubular section 12.

[0139] In this first embodiment, therefore, the transmission elements 28, 29 act as tie rods that transmit on the first and second brake 21 and 22 respectively a first tensile force and a second tensile force.

[0140] These tensile forces correspond to a first and a second equal and opposite reaction force exerted by the first brake 21 and by the second brake 21, 22 on the pin 27.

[0141] Any imbalance of these reaction forces entails the automatic displacement of the pin 27 along the seat 27a, until a balance position is found.

[0142] For example, if during the closing pivoting movement of the lever 26 the first brake 21 reaches the locking position against the first tubular section 10 while the second brake 22 has not yet reached its locking position against the third tubular section 12, then a further pivoting movement of the pin 26 will result in the displacement of the pin 26 along the seat 27 towards the first brake 21 and away from the second brake 22, so as to increase the traction exerted on the second brake 22 until it is balanced with that exerted on the first brake 21.

[0143] In this way, in the closing position of the lever 26, the first and second brake 21 and 22 will be in their respective locking positions exerting a substantially homogeneous tightening load on the respective tubular sections 10, 12.

[0144] When the lever 26 is pivoted in the opening position, the first brake 21 and the second brake 22 are displaced into the release position, suitably aided in this movement by the provision of one or more springs interposed between the first brake 21 and the second brake 22 and, respectively, the first terminal 14 and the second terminal 15.

[0145] FIGS. 9 to 11 illustrate a second embodiment of the telescopic leg obtained according to the present solution, overall indicated with 100.

[0146] Components of the telescopic leg 100 equal or similar to those of the telescopic leg 2 of the previous example are identified with the same numerical references.

[0147] The telescopic leg 100 differs from the telescopic leg 2 of the previous example substantially in a different configuration of the eccentric system connecting the lever 26 with the first and second brake 21, 22.

[0148] In this case, in fact, the pivoting movement of the lever 26 from the opening position to the closing position causes the two brakes 21, 22 to be pushed away from the pin 27 along the axis X.

[0149] Of course, in this case, the surfaces in mutual contact 21a and 24a of the first brake 21 and of the first terminal 14, as well as the surfaces 22a and 25a of the second brake and of the second terminal 15 are inclined in a manner opposite to the corresponding surfaces of the telescopic leg 2, so that the first and second brake 21, 22 are pushed against the respective first and third tubular sections 10, 12 when axially moved away from the operating member 23.

[0150] Furthermore, in this case, the eccentric system is formed by the same surface of the pin 27 which has a cam profile 30, better visible in FIG. 10, which abuts, on one side, directly the first brake 21 and, on the opposite side, the second transmission element 29, formed by a sheet that crosses the second tubular section 11, which, in this case, acts as a strut to displace the second brake 22 towards the locking position.

[0151] A further difference is given by the different conformation of the first terminal 14, which comprises, in the second portion 14b thereof, a projection 31 extended towards the inside of the second tubular section 11 and housed in a through slot 32 formed on the second tubular section 11.

[0152] In this way, the first terminal 14 engages the first tubular section 10 in two distinct and axially spaced regions and, in addition, it allows to better abut the thrust action exerted on the first terminal 14 by the first brake 21.

[0153] The same solution is similarly provided in the coupling of the second terminal 15 on the second end 11b of the second tubular section 11, with a projection 34 extending radially from the second portion 15a towards the inside of the second tubular section 11.

[0154] The operating mode of actuation of the telescopic leg 100 is completely similar to that of the telescopic leg 2 described above with reference to the previous example.

[0155] In a further embodiment variant not illustrated in the attached Figures, which applies to both the telescopic leg 2 and the telescopic leg 100, it is provided that the telescopic leg comprises a fourth tubular section partially housed inside the third tubular section 12 to slide axially from and towards the inside of the third tubular section 12 through the second end 12b, which in this case is without the foot 13.

[0156] The relative sliding between the fourth tubular section and the third tubular section 12 may be locked selectively or allowed by a further locking mechanism which may be of conventional type.

[0157] FIG. 12 depicts a tripod, indicated overall with 200, depicting a second embodiment of support device according to the present invention.

[0158] The tripod 200 comprises a crosspiece 201, in which a column 202 carrying at the top thereof an attachment plate 203 for a video-photographic apparatus is housed with the possibility of sliding.

[0159] In addition, three telescopic legs 204 are articulated to the crosspiece 201, each of which is substantially identical to the telescopic leg 2 or to the telescopic leg 100 described above, unless the plate 3 and the attachment element 4 are provided and the foot 13 is shaped differently.

[0160] Therefore, each telescopic leg 204 comprises three tubular sections 210, 211 and 212 and a unique, self-adjusting locking mechanism that can be actuated in locking and in release by means of a lever 226.

[0161] Thanks to the ergonomics and simplicity of the locking and release operations of the telescopic legs 204, the lever 226 is mounted so as to pivot outside the tripod 200, about an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the axis of articulation of the respective telescopic leg 204 with respect to the crosspiece 201.

[0162] The present invention thus solves the problem complained of above with reference to the cited prior art, while offering numerous other advantages.

[0163] Naturally, in order to satisfy specific and contingent application needs, a person skilled in the art will be able to make further modifications and variants to the invention described above, in any case falling within the scope of protection as defined by the claims that follow.