Removable tripod foot with securement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9494276-B2
Application number	US-201213366080-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 3, 2012
Priority date	May 23, 2011
Publication date	Nov 15, 2016
Grant date	Nov 15, 2016

Abstract

Installation of a removable tripod foot is facilitated by a cross-axis aperture in the foot and loosening of the threaded connection of the foot and the tripod's leg is resisted by a resilient element engaging interfacing surfaces of the foot and the leg.

First claim

We claim:

1. A foot for a tripod comprising:
(a) a body including an interface surface including a portion arranged to engage a terminal portion of a leg of a tripod and an elongate threaded portion arranged substantially normal to the portion of the interface surface arranged to engage a leg of a tripod;
(b) a resilient element engaging the interface surface;
(c) wherein said resilient element includes a portion extending proud of the portion of said interface surface arranged to engage the leg of a tripod;
(d) wherein said interface includes an outer peripheral edge and said resilient element is sized such that it is completely within said outer peripheral edge of said interface surface;
(e) wherein said resilient element is resilient and has an outer diameter, and further said body includes a body outer peripheral surface with an outer diameter, where the resilient element outer diameter is smaller than the body outer peripheral surface outer diameter;
(f) wherein said body includes a crenated wall defining a plurality of facets arranged to engage a surface supporting said tripod, wherein each of said facets has an elongate portion perpendicular to the axis of said elongate threaded portion, wherein a respective arc is defined in said crenated wail extending the entire distance between each of said plurality of facets, where each of said respective arc does not define a discontinuity therein between each of said plurality of facets;
(g) wherein said body defines a first opening in said body at a location directly above a first said facet at an elevation above the upper portion of each of said arc defined on either side of said first facet;
(h) wherein said body defines a second opening in said body at a location directly above a second said facet at an elevation above the upper portion of each of said arc defined on either side of said second facet;
(i) wherein said first opening is aligned with said second opening, said first opening and said second opening are aligned with said elongate threaded portion;
(j) wherein said body defines an upper exterior surface at an elevation above said upper portion of each of said arc defined on either side of said first facet, and at an elevation above said upper portion of each of said arc defined on either side of said second facet;
(k) wherein said body defines a lower exterior surface at an elevation below said upper exterior surface and adjacent thereto;
(i) wherein said first opening is defined in a part of said upper exterior surface and in a part of said lower exterior surface, said second opening is defined in part of said upper exterior surface and in part of said lower exterior surface, and wherein said upper exterior surface and said lower exterior surface define a discontinuity therein around said body.

2. The foot of claim 1 further comprising an aperture defined by said first opening and said second opening and extending substantially normal to a longitudinal axis of said threaded portion.

3. The foot of claim 1 wherein the interface surface includes a portion defining a circular groove and the resilient element comprises an elastomeric toroid retained in the groove with a portion of a surface of the resilient element projecting proud of the portion of the interface surface arranged to engage the leg of a tripod.

4. The foot of claim 3 wherein the portion of the interface surface defining the circular groove defines a circular inner wall having a first diameter greater than an inner diameter of the toroidal resilient element at the inner wall's intersection with the portion of the interface surface arranged to engage the leg of a tripod and a second diameter, smaller than said first diameter, at a point distal of the inner wall's intersection with the portion of the interface surface arranged to engage the leg of a tripod.

5. The foot of claim 3 wherein said resilient element comprises an o-ring.

6. The foot of claim 1 wherein said elongate threaded portion of said body comprises a stud projecting from said surface.

7. The foot of claim 1 wherein said elongate threaded portion of said body comprises a portion defining a threaded aperture.

8. A tripod comprising:
(a) a leg having an end portion including a foot engaging terminal surface and defining a threaded leg portion including a surface defining a first gender thread;
(b) a removable foot comprising a leg engaging surface and defining a threaded foot portion including a surface defining a second gender thread, said threaded foot portion arranged for threaded engagement with said threaded leg portion;
(c) a resilient element arranged to engage said foot engaging surface and said leg engaging surface when said threaded foot portion is engaged with said threaded leg portion;
(d) wherein said resilient element includes a portion extending proud of the portion of said foot engaging surface;
(e) wherein said foot engaging surface includes an outer peripheral edge and said resilient element is sized such that it is completely within said outer peripheral edge of said foot engaging surface;
(f) wherein said resilient element is resilient such that when said removable foot with said resilient element engaged with said terminal surface of said leg of said tripod that said resilient element is not visible from the periphery of said removable foot and said leg of said tripod and further said leg includes a leg outer peripheral surface and said foot includes a foot outer peripheral surface that when fully engaged with one another come into pressing engagement with one another in a manner such that said resilient element is not visible from the periphery of said leg and said foot;
(g) wherein said foot includes a crenated wall defining a plurality of facets arranged to engage a surface supporting said tripod, wherein each of said facets has an elongate portion perpendicular to the axis of said elongate threaded portion, wherein a respective arc is defined in said crenated wail extending the entire distance between each of said plurality of facets, where each of said respective arc does not define a discontinuity therein between each of said plurality of facets;
(h) wherein said foot defines a first opening in said foot at a location directly above a first said facet at an elevation above the upper portion of each of said arc defined on either side of said first facet;
(i) wherein said foot defines a second opening in said foot at a location directly above a second said facet at an elevation above the upper portion of each of said arc defined on either side of said second facet;
(j) wherein said first opening is aligned with said second opening, said first opening and said second opening are aligned with said elongate threaded portion;
(k) wherein said foot defines an upper exterior surface at an elevation above said upper portion of each of said arc defined on either side of said first facet, and at an elevation above said upper portion of each of said arc defined on either side of said second facet;
(l) wherein said foot defines a lower exterior surface at an elevation below said upper exterior surface and adjacent thereto;
(m) wherein said first opening is defined in a part of said upper exterior surface and in a part of said lower exterior surface, said second opening is defined in part of said upper exterior surface and in part of said lower exterior surface, and wherein said upper exterior surface and said lower exterior surface define a discontinuity therein around said foot.

9. The tripod of claim 8 wherein said resilient element is compressed when said foot engaging surface and said leg engaging surface are proximate.

10. The tripod of claim 8 wherein said resilient element comprises an e

Assignees

• Johnson Joseph M
• Burk Matthew
• Really Right Stuff Llc

Inventors

• Johnson Joseph M
• Burk Matthew

Classifications

• F16B7/182

  for coaxial connections of two rods or tubes · CPC title

• F16M11/36 Primary

  Members preventing slipping of the feet · CPC title

• F16M2200/08

  Foot or support base · CPC title

• G03B17/561

  Support related camera accessories · CPC title