Panoramic camera support

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10365544-B2
Application number	US-201815897664-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 15, 2018
Priority date	Apr 29, 2016
Publication date	Jul 30, 2019
Grant date	Jul 30, 2019

Abstract

A support for an imaging device includes a first rotatable assembly supportable by a support that rotates in a generally horizontal plane and a horizontal locking member. The imaging device includes a second rotatable assembly that rotates in a generally vertical plane imaging device includes an interconnection structure that interconnects the first rotatable assembly to the second rotatable assembly such that the second rotatable assembly is rotatable around the first rotatable assembly at an elevation higher than the first rotatable assembly and offset laterally from the first rotatable assembly. imaging device includes the first rotatable assembly including a panning structure that rotates the support in the generally horizontal plane and a leveling base that is rotatable in a non-coplanar manner relative to the panning structure.

First claim

We claim:

1. An imaging device assembly comprising:
(a) a first rotatable assembly supportable by a support that rotates in a generally horizontal plane and a horizontal locking member suitable to selectively impede said rotation of said first rotatable assembly;
(b) a second rotatable assembly that rotates in a generally vertical plane;
(c) an interconnection structure that interconnects said first rotatable assembly to said second rotatable assembly such that said second rotatable assembly is rotatable around said first rotatable assembly at an elevation higher than said first rotatable assembly and offset laterally from said first rotatable assembly;
(d) said first rotatable assembly including a panning structure that rotates said support in said generally horizontal plane and a leveling base that is rotatable in a non-coplanar manner relative to said panning structure.

2. The imaging device assembly of claim 1 wherein said first rotatable assembly includes a pair of opposed inclined edges suitable to be secured to jaws of a clamp.

3. The imaging device assembly of claim 1 wherein said first rotatable assembly includes a threaded opening therein in a vertical orientation suitable to be secured to a threaded member supported by a tripod.

4. The imaging device assembly of claim 3 wherein said first rotatable assembly includes pair of opposed openings therein in a horizontal direction suitable to receive an elongate member there through to rotate said first rotatable assembly to selectively secure to said threaded member and selectively unsecure from said threaded member.

5. The imaging device assembly of claim 1 wherein said leveling base includes an upper cone shaped base member.

6. The imaging device assembly of claim 5 wherein said panning structure includes an upper cone shaped panning member.

7. The imaging device assembly of claim 6 wherein said upper cone shaped base member and said upper cone shaped panning member are suitable to being engaged with one another.

8. The imaging device assembly of claim 1 wherein said upper cone shaped base member and said upper cone shaped panning member are engaged with one another in a manner that varies the force required to modify the orientation of said panning base with respect to said leveling base in a non-coplanar manner.

9. The imaging device assembly of claim 8 wherein said varies the force is as a result of selectively rotating a knob.

10. The imaging device assembly of claim 9 wherein said knob includes an opposing pair of openings therein.

11. The imaging device assembly of claim 1 wherein said horizontal locking member encircles said first rotatable assembly.

12. The imaging device assembly of claim 11 wherein said horizontal locking member engaged with a compressible O-ring.

13. The imaging device assembly of claim 7 wherein said leveling base includes an upper cone shaped base member having a tapered angle.

Assignees

• Really Right Stuff Llc

Inventors

• Johnson Joseph M
• Chan Verent

Classifications

• F16M11/10

  around a horizontal axis {(F16M11/12 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• F16M13/00

  Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles (heads thereof F16M11/02 {; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20} ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 {; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22}); Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles {(supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025)} · CPC title

• G03B17/561 Primary

  Support related camera accessories · CPC title

• G03B37/02

  with scanning movement of lens or cameras · CPC title

• F16M11/2092

  comprising means allowing depth adjustment, i.e. forward-backward translation of the head relatively to the undercarriage · CPC title