Tripod system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12288889-B2
Application number	US-202117446108-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 26, 2021
Priority date	Aug 31, 2020
Publication date	Apr 29, 2025
Grant date	Apr 29, 2025

Abstract

A tripod for use with an accessory device and a battery pack includes a main body, a battery receptacle, and a head. The main body includes a center column having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a longitudinal axis extending through the first end and the second end. The main body also includes a plurality of legs coupled to the center column. The battery receptacle is supported on the main body. The battery receptacle has a first interface configured to mechanically and electrically couple to the battery pack. The head is supported at the second end of the center column. The head has a second interface configured to mechanically and electrically couple to the accessory device. The first interface has a complementary configuration to the second interface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tripod for use with an accessory device and a battery pack, the tripod comprising:
a main body including
a center column having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a longitudinal axis extending through the first end and the second end, and
a plurality of legs coupled to the center column;

a battery receptacle supported on the main body, the battery receptacle having a first interface configured to mechanically and electrically couple to the battery pack; and
a head supported at the second end of the center column, the head having a second interface configured to concurrently mechanically and electrically couple to the accessory device,
wherein the first interface has a complementary configuration to the second interface, and
wherein the head is pivotally coupled to the second end of the center column.

2. The tripod of claim 1 , wherein the battery receptacle is positioned adjacent the first end of the center column.

3. The tripod of claim 1 , wherein the first interface includes a recess and electrical contacts positioned within the recess, wherein the recess is configured to receive at least a portion of the battery pack, and wherein the electrical contacts are configured to electrically couple to the battery pack.

4. The tripod of claim 1 , wherein the battery pack is a first battery pack, and wherein the first interface is configured to alternately mechanically and electrically couple to a second battery pack having a different configuration than the first battery pack.

5. The tripod of claim 1 , wherein the second interface includes a base and a stem extending from the base, and wherein the stem is configured to be inserted into the accessory device.

6. The tripod of claim 5 , wherein the second interface includes electrical contacts positioned on the stem and a latch positioned on the base, wherein the electrical contacts are configured to electrically couple to the accessory device, and wherein the latch is configured to releasably secure the accessory device to the head.

7. The tripod of claim 1 , further comprising an electrical system electrically connecting the first interface with the second interface.

8. The tripod of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of legs is pivotally coupled to the center column.

9. A tripod system comprising:
a tripod having a center column, a plurality of legs coupled to the center column, a battery receptacle supported by the center column or one of the plurality of legs, and a head supported by the center column,
a battery pack removably coupled to the battery receptacle; and
an accessory device removably coupled to the head such that the accessory device is electrically powered by the battery pack through the tripod,
wherein the accessory device is removable from the head and couplable mechanically and electrically directly to the battery pack,
wherein the battery pack includes a first latch operable to releasably secure the battery pack to the battery receptacle and to releasably secure the battery pack to the accessory device.

10. The tripod system of claim 9 , wherein the head includes a head interface, the battery pack includes a battery interface that has a similar configuration as the head interface, and the accessory device includes an accessory interface that has a complementary configuration with both the head interface and the battery interface.

11. The tripod system of claim 9 , wherein the head includes a second latch operable to releasably secure the accessory device to the head.

12. A tripod system comprising:
a tripod including
a center column,
a plurality of legs coupled to the center column, and
a battery receptacle having a first receptacle interface and a second receptacle interface, the first receptacle interface configured to removably couple to a first battery pack having a first voltage, the second receptacle interface configured to removably couple to a second battery pack having a second voltage that is different than the first voltage, the battery receptacle configured to alternately receive the first battery pack and the second battery pack; and

an accessory device supported by the center column, the accessory device configured to be powered by the first battery pack when the first battery pack is coupled to the battery receptacle and configured to be powered by the second battery pack when the second battery pack is coupled to the battery receptacle;
wherein when the first receptacle interface receives the first battery pack, the second receptacle interface is at least partially blocked, and wherein when the second receptacle interface receives the second battery pack, the first receptacle interface is at least partially blocked.

13. The tripod system of claim 12 , wherein the tripod includes an electrical system having a voltage converter, wherein the first receptacle bypasses the voltage converter to directly electrically connect the accessory device to the first battery pack, and wherein the second receptacle electrically connects the accessory device to the second battery pack through the voltage converter.

14. The tripod system of claim 12 , wherein the battery receptacle further includes an AC interface configured to receive power from an AC power source, and wherein the accessory device is configured to be powered by the AC power source when the AC power source is coupled to the AC interface.

15. The tripod system of claim 12 , wherein the first voltage is 18 volts, and wherein the second voltage is 40 volts.

16. The tripod system of claim 12 , wherein the accessory device is removably coupled to the center column.

17. The tripod system of claim 16 , wherein the accessory device is removable from the center column and configured to be directly coupled to the first battery pack.

18. A tripod for use with an accessory device and a battery pack, the tripod comprising:
a main body including
a center column having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a longitudinal axis extending through the first end and the second end, and
a plurality of legs coupled to the center column;

a battery receptacle supported on the main body, the battery receptacle having a first interface configured to mechanically and electrically couple to the battery pack; and
a head supported at the second end of the center column, the head having a second interface configured to concurrently mechanically and electrically couple to the accessory device,
wherein the first interface has a complementary configuration to the second interface,
wherein the battery pack is a first battery pack, and wherein the first interface is configured to alternately mechanically and electrically couple to a second battery pack having a different configuration than the first battery pack.

19. A tripod for use with an accessory device and a battery pack, the tripod comprising:
a main body including
a center column having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a longitudinal axis extending through the first end and the second end, and
a plurality of legs coupled to the center column;

a battery receptacle supported on the main body, the battery receptacle having a first interface configured to mechanically and electrically couple to the battery pack; and
a head supported at the second end of the center column, the head having a second interface configured to concurrently mechanically and electrically couple to the accessory device,
wherein the first interface has a complementary configuration to the second i

Assignees

• Techtronic Cordless Gp

Inventors

• Williams Brianna E
• Jenkins J Luke
• Patrick Robert Andrew
• Clark Austin
• Schaalje John D

Classifications

• F16M11/041

  Allowing quick release of the apparatus · CPC title

• F16M11/242

  by spreading of the legs (F16M11/32 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01M2220/30

  Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop · CPC title

• F16M11/08

  around a vertical axis {, e.g. panoramic heads (F16M11/12 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• F04D29/601

  specially adapted for elastic fluid pumps · CPC title