Tripod for video-photographic equipment

Abstract

A tripod for video-photographic equipment, includes: at least one leg having a first, a second and a third section that engage so as to axially slide in a telescopic manner one after the other; a first clamping device that is provided between the first and the second section and a second clamping device that is provided between the second and the third section, an actuating element that is connected to the first clamping device, a transmission element that connects the first and the second clamping device such that the movement of the first clamping device causes the second clamping device to move in a similar manner so that said first and second clamping devices simultaneously clamp and release, and an adjustment member that is provided at the first clamping device in order to adjust the second clamping device via the transmission element.

Claims

1. Tripod (1; 100) for video-photographic equipment, comprising: at least one leg (3) that can be telescopically extended between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration and comprises a first section (4), a second section (5) that engages with said first section so as to slide axially, and a third section (6) that engages with said second section so as to slide axially; a first clamping device (10) that is provided between said first section (4) and said second section (5) for clamping or releasing the relative axial sliding motion of said first section with respect to said second section, a second clamping device (20) that is provided between said second section (5) and said third section (6) for clamping or releasing the relative axial sliding motion of said second section with respect to said third section, a control element (7) that is connected to said first clamping device (10) in order to control the clamping or the releasing of said first clamping device, a transmission element (31) that connects said first and said second clamping device in such a manner that the movement of said first clamping device (10) causes said second clamping device (20) to move in a similar manner such that the first and second clamping devices are simultaneously clamped and released, and an adjustment member (30) for said second clamping device (20), which is provided at said first clamping device (10) in order to adjust the clamp load of said second clamping device (20) by means of said transmission element (31).

2. The tripod according to claim 1, wherein said first clamping device (10) is mounted on said second section (5) and comprises a first runner (12) that is movable away from and towards said first section (4) in order to clamp or release the relative sliding motion thereof, and a first actuator (15; 115) that is connected to said control element (7) and to said first runner (12) such that said first runner (12) is moved away from and towards said first section (4) when said first actuator (15; 115) is moved away from said control element (7).

3. The tripod according to claim 1, wherein said second clamping device (20) is mounted on said second section (5) and comprises: a second runner (22) that is movable away from and towards said third section (6) in order to clamp or release the relative sliding motion thereof, and a second actuator (23) that is connected to said second runner (22) and to said transmission element (31) such that said second runner is moved away from and towards said third section when said second actuator (23) is moved by said transmission element (31).

4. The tripod according to claim 3, wherein said second runner (22) is moved away from and towards said third section following an oscillatory movement of said second actuator (23) that is brought about by the movement of said transmission element (31).

5. The tripod according to claim 2, wherein said transmission element (31) is connected to said first actuator such that an oscillatory movement of said first actuator (15; 115) causes said transmission element (31) to move and said second actuator (23) to consequently oscillate.

6. The tripod according to claim 1, wherein said adjustment member (30) is provided to move said first clamping device (10) with respect to said second section (5).

7. The tripod according to claim 2, wherein said first clamping device (10) comprises a first housing (11) that is fixed to said second section (5), and said adjustment member (30) comprises a slider (18) that is slidable inside the first housing and on which said first actuator (15; 115) is supported.

8. The tripod according to claim 7, wherein said adjustment member (30) comprises a wedge (19) that is arranged between said slider (18) and said first housing (11) and is movable so as to move said slider (18) with respect to said first housing (11).

9. The tripod according to claim 2, wherein said first actuator (15) comprises a cam-type element (16) that can be oscillated about an axis of rotation (Y) by means of said actuating element (7), said cam-type element (16) being connected to said first runner (12) by means of a tie-rod (14), said transmission element (31) being connected to said cam-type element (16) in an eccentric position with respect to said axis of rotation (Y).

10. The tripod according to claim 2, wherein said first actuator (115) comprises: a first lever (101), which can be oscillated by means of said actuating element (7) about a first movable axis of rotation (Y′) and is connected to said transmission element (31) at a spacing from said first axis of rotation (Y′), and a second lever (102), which can be oscillated about a second axis of rotation (Y″), is connected to said first runner (12) and is hinged to said first lever (101) at said first movable axis of rotation (Y′) at a spacing from said second axis of rotation (Y″).

11. The tripod according to claim 1, wherein said second section (5) comprises at least one tube (5a, 5b) and said transmission element (31) extends inside said at least one tube between said first clamping device (10) and said second clamping device (20).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The features and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the detailed description of a few preferred embodiments thereof, which are illustrated by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tripod for video-photographic equipment in an extended and open configuration, said tripod being formed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a leg of the tripod in FIG. 1 in a compact configuration and in which the clamping devices are open;

(4) FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial and axially sectional view of a first clamping device of the leg in FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 is a lateral view of the first clamping device in FIG. 3, in which a few components have been removed for the sake of clarity;

(6) FIG. 5 is a lateral view of a second clamping device of the leg in FIG. 2, in which a few components have been removed for the sake of clarity;

(7) FIGS. 6 and 7 are similar views to FIGS. 4 and 5, respectively, in which the clamping devices are closed;

(8) FIG. 8 is a perspective view from above of a first clamping device of a tripod that represents a second embodiment of the invention, in which a few components have been removed for the sake of clarity and in which the clamping device is in the open position;

(9) FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the first clamping device in FIG. 8, in which additional components have been removed for the sake of clarity; and

(10) FIG. 10 is a similar view to FIG. 9, in which the first clamping device is in the closed position.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(11) With reference to FIGS. 1 to 7 first of all, 1 indicates a tripod as a whole, which is formed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

(12) The tripod 1 comprises a spider 2 on which a plurality of legs are hinged, which are all indicated by 3 and a first end 3a of each of which is hinged to the spider 2, while a second opposite end is provided with a foot 3b that forms the support base for the leg 3.

(13) A head 2a for supporting video-photographic equipment can be suitably mounted on the spider 2 in ways known in the industry.

(14) Each leg 3 is hinged to the spider 2 so that it can oscillate between an open configuration, in which the legs 3 are moved away from one another in order to increase the bearing plane of the tripod 1 on the ground (shown in FIG. 1), and a closed configuration, in which the legs 3 are moved towards one another.

(15) Each leg 3 can telescopically extend along a longitudinal axis X and comprises a first section 4 that is hinged to the spider 2, a second section 5 that engages with the first section 4 so as to slide axially, and a third section 6 that engages with the second section 5 so as to slide axially and on which the foot 3b is mounted.

(16) In the preferred embodiment described here, the first section 4 comprises a pair of parallel tubes 4a and 4b, the second section 5 comprises a pair of parallel tubes 5a and 5b that are slidingly arranged between the tubes 4a and 4b, and the third section 6 comprises just one tube 6a that is slidingly arranged between the tubes 5a and 5b.

(17) Each leg 3 also comprises a first clamping device 10 that is arranged between the first section 4 and the second section 5 in order to clamp and release the relative sliding motion between the two sections, and a second clamping device 20 that is provided between the second section 5 and the third section 6 for the same purpose.

(18) In this way, the three telescopic sections of the leg 3 can be fixed in any desired relative position.

(19) The first clamping device 10 comprises a box-shaped first housing 11, which is fixed to a first end 5c of the second section 5 that faces the spider 2, and in which housing sliding seats are made for the tubes 4a and 4b of the first section 4.

(20) The first clamping device 10 also comprises a first runner 12 that can be moved inside the first housing 11 towards the tubes 4a and 4b in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X so as to push them against the respective seats of the first housing 11 and the stop them from sliding. In particular, the first runner 12 acts on the tubes 4a and 4b by pushing respective pairs of braking elements 12a against them, which braking elements are moved by the first runner 12 in a direction that has both a component that is perpendicular to the axis X so as to contact the tube 4a or 4b, and a component that is parallel to the axis X so as to stop against the first housing 11 and to limit possible oscillatory movements of the tube inside the first housing 11.

(21) A spring 13 is arranged between the first housing 11 and the first runner 12 in order to push said first runner to move away from the tubes 4a, 4b.

(22) The first runner 12 is also connected to a first actuator 15 by means of a tie-rod 14, which actuator is provided inside the first housing 11 on the opposite side to the first runner 12 with respect to the tubes 4a and 4b.

(23) The first actuator 15 comprises a cam-type element 16, which can oscillate about a pin 17 having an axis Y to which the tie-rod 14 is fixed. The outer surface of the cam-type element 16 has an entirely eccentric profile that has a substantially cylindrical portion 16a and a flattened portion 16b.

(24) The tie-rod 14 is a threaded pin that passes through the pin 17 and the first runner 12 and is provided with a head 14a that comes into contact with the pin 17 and can be driven by a user, and screwed onto a nut 14b arranged outside the first runner 12 on the opposite side to the pin 17.

(25) On the side of the first runner 12, the cam-type element 16 faces a wall 11a of the first housing 11.

(26) The cam-type element 16 is also supported on a slider 18, which can move to a limited extent inside the first housing 11 in a direction that is parallel to the axis X so as to move the first actuator 15 in said direction.

(27) For this purpose, the slider 18 is in turn supported on a wedge 19 that can move in a direction that is perpendicular to the axis X as a result of the action of a threaded pin 19a, which can be actuated by the user by means of a spanner.

(28) The wedge 19 and/or the slider 18 are in contact with one another in the region of an inclined surface such that the movement of the wedge 19 in a direction that is perpendicular to the axis X causes the slider 18 to move in a direction that is parallel to the axis X.

(29) Together, the slider 18, the wedge and the threaded pin 19a form an adjustment member 30 of the second clamping device 20, as explained more clearly in the following.

(30) The first actuator 15 is also connected to a control element 7 that extends from the cam-type element 16 on the opposite side to the first runner 12.

(31) The control element 7 is formed by a handle that can be actuated by a user and controls the cam-type element 16 such that it oscillates about the axis Y.

(32) The first actuator 15 is also connected to the second clamping device 20 by means of a transmission element 31 comprising a pair of rods 32 that are fixed to the cam-type element 16 in an eccentric position with respect to the axis of rotation Y.

(33) The rods 32 extend through the tubes 5a and 5b from the cam-type element 16 up to the second clamping device 20.

(34) The second clamping device 20 comprises a second housing 21, which is fixed to a second end 5d of the second section 5 that is opposite the first end 5c, and in the centre of which housing a seat is made in which the tube 6a of the third section 6 is slidingly held.

(35) The second clamping device 20 comprises a second runner 22 that can be moved away from and towards the tube 6a, and a second actuator 23 that is connected to the second runner 22 for controlling the movement thereof.

(36) The second actuator 23 comprises a lever 24 that can oscillate about a pin 25 having an axis Z, which pin is rotatably supported on the second housing 21. The lever 24 comprises two parallel arms 26 that extend from the pin 25 on sides opposite the tube 6a and are connected to the rods 32 of the transmission element 31 and contact the second runner 22 in the region of a limb 27 such that, when the lever 24 is oscillated about the axis Z, the limb 27 pushes the second runner 22 against the tube 6a.

(37) When the control element 7 is in the raised position, the clamping devices 10 and 20 are open such that the sections 4, 5 and 6 can slide freely relative to one another.

(38) In this position (FIGS. 3 and 4), the first runner 12 and the second runner 22 are spaced apart from the tubes 4a, 4b and from the tube 6a, respectively, and the cam-type element 16 has its flattened portion 16b facing the wall 11a.

(39) When the control element 7 is lowered into the closed position (see FIG. 6), the cam-type element 16 is oscillated about the axis of rotation Y and comes into contact with the wall 11a with its cylindrical portion 16a, thereby moving the pin 17 away from the wall 11a. This brings about a tractive force of the tie-rod 14 and the consequent movement of the first runner 12 towards the tubes 4a and 4b.

(40) At the same time, the oscillation of the cam-type element 16 causes the rods 32 to move, which are in particular raised towards the spider 2. This consequently causes the arms 26 of the lever 24 to be raised, said lever to oscillate about the axis Z, and the second runner 22 to move against the tube 6a as a result of being pushed by the limb 27 (see FIG. 7).

(41) In this way, the movement of the single control element 7 therefore brings about the simultaneous actuation of the first and the second clamping devices 10 and 20.

(42) The clamp load of the first clamping device 10 is adjusted by screwing the tie-rod 14 onto the nut 14b by using a spanner on the head 14a thereof. The screwing or unscrewing action of the tie-rod 14 onto the particular nut 14b in fact changes the distance between the first runner 12 and the cam-type element 16.

(43) The clamp load of the second clamping device 20 is instead adjusted by moving the wedge 19, and therefore the slider 18, by means of the threaded pin 19a. The movement of the slider 18 causes the cam-type element 16 to move in a similar manner along the axis X and consequently also the rods 32 connected to it, which rods in turn oscillate the lever 24 by moving the second runner 22 closer to or further away from the tube 6a.

(44) FIGS. 8 to 10 show a second embodiment of the tripod according to the invention, indicated as a whole by 100.

(45) Components of the tripod 100 that are similar to those of the tripod 1 are indicated by the same reference numerals.

(46) The tripod 100 differs from the tripod 1 in that the first clamping device 10 has a different structure.

(47) In particular, the first clamping device of the tripod 100 comprises a first actuator 115 that has a different design to the first actuator 15 of the tripod 1, which advantageously makes it possible to balance out the clamp loads of the first and the second clamping devices 10 and 20, and therefore also makes it possible to provide just one adjustment member for both clamping devices.

(48) The first actuator 115 therefore comprises a first lever 101, which is fixed to the control element 7, and a second lever 102, which is hinged on the first lever 101 and connected to the first runner 12.

(49) The first lever 101 comprises a pair of parallel arms 103 that are fixed to the control element 7 and are joined by a transverse pin 104 that is held in a seat 105 in the second lever 102.

(50) Similarly to the embodiment described previously, the rods 32 that connect the first actuator 115 to the second actuator 23 are also fixed on the arms 103 at a spacing from the pin 104 and on the opposite side to the control element 7.

(51) The pin 104 defines a first axis of rotation Y′ of the first lever 101, which can move with respect to the first housing 11.

(52) The second lever 102 can in turn oscillate about a second axis of rotation Y″, which is defined by a cylindrical portion 106 of the second lever 102.

(53) The second lever 102 is fixed to the first runner 12 at a spacing from the second axis of rotation Y″ and on the opposite side to the pin 104 by means of a pin 107 that connects it, thereby allowing the lever 102 to oscillate with respect to the first runner 12.

(54) The second lever 102 is supported on the adjustment member 30 by the cylindrical portion 106, which adjustment member, similarly to in the previous example, comprises the slider 18 that can be moved in a direction that is parallel to the axis X by means of a wedge 19 that can be moved in a direction that is perpendicular to the axis X by means of the threaded pin 19a.

(55) In this second embodiment, by lowering the control element 7, the first lever 101 oscillates about its axis of rotation Y′ and therefore the rods 32 positioned on the opposite side to the pin 104 are raised. The resultant force exerted on the arms 103 by the control element 7 and by the rods 32 is transmitted from the pin 104 to the second lever 102 which, as a result, is also oscillated about the second axis of rotation Y″ (see FIG. 10). The oscillation of the second lever 102 causes the first runner 12 to be moved towards the tubes 4a and 4b by means of the pin 107, while the second runner 22 is pushed against the tube 6a as a result of the rods 32 being raised, as in the tripod 1.

(56) It is noted that the force with which the first runner 12 is moved is directly dependent on the force with which the rods 32 cause the second runner 22 to move, and therefore the clamp loads of the two clamping devices are always proportional to one another.

(57) Therefore, by adjusting the position of the second lever 102 by means of the adjustment member 30 in exactly the same way as in the previous example, the clamp load of both the first and the second tightening device is varied.

(58) The present invention therefore solves the problem outlined above with reference to the cited prior art.

(59) Of course, in order to meet specific and contingent needs of the application, a person skilled in the art can add additional modifications and variants to the invention described above, provided that these are covered by the scope of protection defined by the following claims.