WO1995001531A1

WO1995001531A1 - Improved support for optical devices and the like

Info

Publication number: WO1995001531A1
Application number: PCT/GB1994/001423
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ellis Fitzroy Petersen Whitcomb
Original assignee: Whitcomb Ellis Fitzroy Peterse
Priority date: 1993-06-30
Filing date: 1994-06-30
Publication date: 1995-01-12
Also published as: AU7006994A

Abstract

Apparatus for supporting devices such as cameras, telescopes, binnoculars and the like includes support means, conveniently a monopod, which includes a convex supporting surface (1). The device to be supported is attached to a foot (2) which is adapted to be placed on the convex supporting surface (1) so as to support the device, whilst enabling the orientation of the device to be changed in a controlled manner to facilitate, for example, the panning movement of a camera. The apparatus can include means, for example a suction cup or hood, for releasably retaining the foot on the convex supporting surface.

Description

Title: Improved Support for optical devices and the like

Field of the invention

This invention relates to apparatus for supporting a device so as to facilitate control of the position and/or orientation of the device. The invention is particularly applicable to the supporting of devices, for example rifles, which are normally hand held and more particularly to the supporting of optical devices such as cameras, video cameras, binoculars, monoculars, telescopes and the like.

Background to the invention

In certain types of photography speed is important. The ability to set up and operate a camera quickly, reliably and without camera-shake can be essential. In the case of certain types of photography, for example video photography, and sports still¹ photography, the ability to be able to pan the camera without shake is also important. The same considerations can apply to the use of other optical devices, for example the use of binoculars or telescopes for bird watching..

US Patent Number 4,016,583 shows a camera steadying device in which a ball, attached to the base of a camera, is supported in an underlying socket that is attached to a tripod. However, this arrangement is rather cumbersome, and makes the camera difficult to use or store unless the ball is removed in which case considerable delay in setting up the equipment stand can occur the next time the support is required.

Summary of the invention

The features of the invention are set out in the claims forming part of this specifiation. According to one aspect of the invention a convex supporting surface is provided at the upper end of a support, and a foot is provided for attachment to the underside of an optical device to be rested on the support the size of the foot being small in relation to the area of the convex surface.

Consequently the foot need only be a relatively compact component which can therefore be left in place on the underside of the optical device and thereby enables the device to be planted quickly, and easily onto the support and be aimed and/or panned. The foot may be attached by a screw threaded connector to the conventional 'tripod bush¹ normally provided on the underside of optical devices, although other types of anchoring or attaching means, for example pressure sensitive fasteners (such as are marketed under the Trade Mark VELCRO) may be employed.

The foot preferably includes a concave surface through which, in use, the foot is supported on the convex surface.

The concave surface may be permanently shaped as such or may be produced by forcing a resiliently deformable material forming part of the foot against the convex surface.

The concave surface may to advantage be axially displaced from the axis of the screw threaded connector and hence the axis of the tripod bush mount, so that, when the apparatus is used with an optical device having a mounting bush the axis of which does not intersect the centre of balance of the device, the centre of the concave surface is near to or aligned with a vertical axis through the point of balance of the optical device.

The convex supporting surface may be integrally formed with the upper end of the support or may comprise a member which is separable from the support.

The support may be any known form of optical device support such as a tripod, monopod or bracket which may or may not include telescoping members to assist in storage and/or transportation. A preferred support is a telescoping monopod in which the convex surface is provided by a ball-like head at one end thereof.

The apparatus preferably includes retaining means for releasably retaining the foot on the convex supporting surface.

The retaining means preferably comprise at lease one component which can fold or flex into a position such that horizontal plane of maximum circumference or width of the convex supporting surface is interposed between device and a surface engaged by said component so that the foot can only be removed by folding of flexing the component. Said component of the retaining means may be held, fixed or clamped in such a position by locking means on the support means. In the event that the components of the retaining means are not held, fixed or clamped to contain the support surface the construction of the component may be such that the removal of the attachment device requires an acceptable degree of force to suit the device to be supported, and the conditions in which the device is to operate.

Where the supporting surface is part spherical, and substends an angle of more than two pi steradions the retaining means may comprise two or more components which may be held together by clamp means at a distance apart that is smaller than the diameter of the supporting surface such that the supporting surface is embraced by the components, the clamp means and foot.

The movability of the components, which enables anchoring and removal of the foot to the convex supporting surface, may be provided by the material characteristics of the components or by the method of attachment of the components to the device or foot, such as a sprung hinge, allowing the components to be folded or flexed apart to a greater dimension that the diameter of the supporting surface. Additionally, the retaining means device may be able to hold or flex to a flat condition or in a compact form against the optical device or foot, when not in use.

The retaining means may to advantage comprise two hoops on rings, each of a smaller diameter than the circumference of the convex support surface, attachable to the optical device or foot at a point on their circumference such that they embrace the convex supporting surface.

The rings may be moveable so that the foot and the device may be released from the support by moving the rings away from each other and the convex support surface such that the distance between them is greater than the diameter of the supporting surface.

When the retaining means is not employed the rings may be collapsed, folding flat or in a compact condition against the optical device.

The rings may each be formed of a flexible or elastometic material.

The rings are preferably also so arranged as to provide adjustable clamping of panning movement of the device, said clamping being achieved by the application of a clamping force acting on the rings against the convex support surface.

The rings or may extend through constraining means on the convex support surface or support structure such that the optical device is constrained to a tilting movement in one plane.

The rings are preferably so arranged that the clamping can be achieved by applying a clamping force to one or both of the rings at the constraining means or at the point of attachment of the rings to the optical device or foot or at any point at which the rings are in contact with the convex supporting surface or structure. The constraning means may be moveable relative to the support means to enable movement of said plane for example rotation about a vertical axis so as to enable a panning movement of the device.

Alternatively the retaining means may comprise a flexible annular hood, the peripheral diameter of which is less than that of the convex supporting surface. The optical device is anchored to the support by the hood which does not readily slide over the plane of maximum circumference on the convex supporting surface.

Preferably, the hood is expandable to enable the hood, and hence optical device, to be detached from the support without the removal of the hood or foot from the optical device.

The periphery of the hood may be locked to a dimension smaller than the diameter of the convex supporting surface by a releasable clip mechanism.

The hood may be of a flexible or elastmeric material such that when not in use the hood may be collapsed against the optical device. The foot may be formed integrally with the hood. The hood may be constructed such that it has a collapsed state in which it acts as the foot (when not employed to retain the optical device on the support) .

The retention of the hood on the supporting surface may be enhanced by the expulsion of air from between the hood and supporting surface, thereby creating a partial vacuum if the device is pulled away from the supporting surface without breaking the seal created by the hood. A valve may be provided in order to facilitate the expulsion of air and/or the breaking the seal. Alternatively, the seal may be broken by lifing the edge of the hood.

The hood preferably is so configured so as to permit a panned movement of the optical device. A damping effect, or resistance to the panning movement, may be determined by appropriate selection of the materials of the hood and the convex supporting surface and also by application of a suitable load to the foot and the hood in contact with the support surface. The load may be such that the optical device can be held in a fixed position relative to the support structure. The damping effect may be adjusted by the operator clamping the foot and hood together to obtain the desired resistance to movement. Alternatively the claming effect can be adjusted by applying a load directly by hand or other means to the flexible surface of the hood against the convex supporting surface. The hood or foot may be contructed of composite materials providing variable damping charateristic according to the load applied by the operator.

The hood may be separable from the foot.

The hood may be so constructed that it automatically extends to cover the convex supporting surface when the optical device is rested on the support and returns to the collapsed state when the optical device is removed from the support.

The hood may be formed of an unapertured material or it may be apertured, split or it may comprise a lattice of material.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show support apparatus having a foot and a convex supporting member, and in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded side view of the supporting member and foot, the foot being shown in cross section;

Figure 1A shows an alternative type of foot to the foot shown in Figure 1; Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the foot and supporting member shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side view of the components of the apparatus for supporting the foot;

Figure 3A shows the components of Figure 3 in an alternative configuration;

Figures 4 and 4A are respectively side and sectional views of the components shown in Figures 3 and 3A;

Figure 5 shows part of the apparatus with a camera supported thereon;

Figure 6 is a view corresponding to Figure 1 of part of a second embodiment of apparatus according to the invention;

Figure 7 shows the foot of the second embodiment (in cross section) , when placed on the supporting member;

Figures 8A and 8B show a modified version of foot shown in Figures 6 and 7;

Figures 11 and 12 show the foot and supporting surface of the third embodiment when supporting a camera with different downward forces being applied to the camera;

Figures 13 and 14 are diagramatic illustrations of the area of the foot in contact with the supporting surface when said loads are applied;

Figures 15 and 16 show in section, a foot (and part of the supporting member) of a fourth embodiment of apparatus according to the invention;

Figures 17 and 18 are diagrammatic views, corresponding to Figure 13 and 14, in respect of the fourth embodiment;

Figures 19 and 20 are respectively a sectional side views and an underside view of a foot of a fifth embodiment of apparatus according to the invention;

Figures 21-24 are further views of part of the fifth embodiment and correspond to Figures 11-14 respectively;

Figure 25 shows in sectional side elevation, the foot of a sixth embodiment of apparatus in accordance with the invention;

Figure 26 shows an alternative type of foot to the foot shown in Figure 25;

Figure 27 is a perspective view of the underside of the foot shown in Figures 25 and 26;

Figure 28 is a diagrammatic view corresponding to Figure 13 of the foot of the sixth embodiment;

Figures 29 and 30 are respective sectional views of feet of a seventh and an eighth embodiment of apparatus in accordance with the invention;

Figures 31 and 32 show part of the supporting member and, in section, a foot of a ninth embodiment of apparatus in accordance with the invention, when applied to the convex supporting surface with differing forces;

Figures 33 and 34 are side views of part of the convex supporting member and, in section, the foot of a tenth embodiment of apparatus in accordance with the invention;

Figures 35 and 35A, 36 and 36A, 37 and 37A and 38 and 38A are partially sectional views of feet and part of the supporting member of eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth embodiments respectively apparatus in accordance with the invention, in which the feet are incorportated into cameras;

Figure 39 shows, a foot in sectional side elevation, in relation to a camera adapted to receive the foot at a position laterally displaced from a vertical axis intersecting the centre of balance of the camera;

Figure 40 is a plan view of foot of a sixteenth embodiment of apparatus in accordance with the invention;

Figure 41 is a sectional side view of the foot shown in Figure 40;

Figure 42 shows a foot of a seventeenth embodiment;

Figure 42A is a sectional view, partly broken away, along the line A-A of Figure 42;

Figure 43 is a plan view of a foot of an eighteenth embodiment of apparatus in accordance with the invention;

Figure 44 and 45 are plan views of a foot of a nineteenth embodiment of apparatus in accordance with the invention;

Figure 46 shows, in sectional side elevation, a foot of a twentieth embodiment of apparatus in accordance with the invention;

Figures 47 and 48 shows the foot shown in Figure 46 when applied with differing forces to a convex supporting surface;

Figure 49 and 50 correspond to Figures 48 and 49 respectively, and show a foot and convex support of a twenty first embodiment of apparatus according to the invention;

Figure 51 to 56 are corresponding views the feet and part of the supporting members of twenty second, twenty third and twenty fourth embodiments;

Figures 57 to 59 each shows part of a convex supporting member and a foot in accordance with a twenty fifth embodiment;

Figure 60 is a view, corresponding to Figure 57, of a foot and part of a supporting surface of a twenty sixth embodiment;

Figures 62 and 63 show how the foot shown in Figure 61 can be used on a flat surface;

Figure 63 shows a modification to the foot shown in Figures 57- 59;

Figure 64 shows a further modification to the foot . (as viewed from underneath) ;

Figures 65 and 66 show a convex supporting surface and, in section, a foot of a twenty seventh embodiment;

Figure 67 is an exploded perspective view of a foot and supporting member of a twenty eighth embodiment of apparatus in accordance with the invention;

Figure 68 shows, in partial section, the foot in place on the supporting surface;

Figure 69 shows a modification to the foot shown in Figures 67 and 68;

Figure 70 is an exploded perspective view of a foot for a twenty ninth embodiment;

Figure 71 shows the foot, in cross section, in place on the supporting member; Figures 72, 73 and 75 show a foot for a thirtieth embodiment of apparatus in accordance with the invention;

Figure 74 shows that foot in place on a convex supporting surface;

Figures 76 to 84 show various modifications to one of the components of the foot shown in Figures 72 to 75, each modified component being shown in plan and in perspective;

Figure 85 shows a further modification to the foot;

Figures 86A-C show different possible positions of the foot shown in Figures 72 to 75 on its support surface;

Figure 87 shows part of a thirty first embodiment of apparatus in accordance with the invention;

Figure 88 shows, from beneath, are of the components of the portion shown in Figure 86;

Figure 89 illustrates the way in which a foot of the thirty first embodiment can be attached to its supporting surface;

Figure 90 is a perspective view of the foot shown in Figure 89;

Figure 91 shows the upper portion of a thirty second embodiment of apparatus in accordance with the invention;

Figure 92 shows the upper portion of a thirty second embodiment;

Figure 93 shows the foot assembly of the thirty second embodiment;

Figure 94A-D each shows the foot and support of a third embodiment of the apparatus at different stages in the process of attaching the foot to the supporting surface; Figure 95 shows a modification to the thirty third embodiment;

Figure 96 shows a portion (including the supporting surface) of a thirty fourth embodiment of apparatus in accordance with the invention;

Figure 97 shows the way in which the foot of the thirty fourth embodiment is attached to its supporting surface;

Figures 98 and 99 show a foot and supporting surface of a thirty fifth embodiment respectively with the foot separated from and attached to its convex supporting surface;

Figures 100 and 101 show a modification to the foot of the thirty fifth embodiment;

Figures 103 to 105 show various modifications to the embodiment shown in Figures 94A-D;

Figures 106 and 107 show further possible modifications to part of the foot shown in Figures 94A-D;

Figure 108 shows the supporting surface and foot of a thirty sixth embodiment; and

Figure 109 shows a possible modification to the thirty sixth embodiment.

Figure 110 is a perspective side view of the foot assembly shown in Figures 94 and 95 in place on the supporting surface;

Figure 111 shows that foot in an alternative operating condition;

Figures 112 and 113 respectively correspond to Figures 110 and 111, and show the foot in section;

Figures 114 and 116 illustrate a modification to the foot shown in Figures 110 to 113;

Figures 117 to 119 show how the foot of Figures 114 and 116 can move on its supporting member;

Figures 120 to 124 illustrate further modifications to the foot shown in Figures 114 and 116; and

Figures 125 and 126 show the foot and supporting surface of a further embodiment and a modification thereto.

Detailed Description

With reference of Figures 1 to 3, apparatus for supporting a camera comprises a monopod having inner and outer telescoping sections, respectively referenced 7 and 8. The inner section 7 includes a male screw threaded connector which matingly engages corresponding female screw threaded connector 6 in a collar 9 of a head piece 10 which includes a part spherical supporting surface 1.

In use, the surface, supports a foot 2 comprising a circular top plate 2a from which by a cylindrical peripheral wall 2b extends downwardly to define a lower recess in the foot 2. A disc 3 is contained within the recess and has a concave underside which in use is rested upon the surface 1.

The foot or attachment component 2 may be attached by a conventional screw-threaded 4 to the tripod bush of the optical device (in this case camera c in Figure 5) . A number of the other embodiments have the same components as those described above, and for the sake of convenience are denoted by the same reference numbers in Figures .

Figure 1A shows an alternative arrangement of a foot 5 which has circular upper plate 5a which can be directly attached to the optical device by an adhesive or which may bear one part of a touch and close fastener (such as a 'velcro' surface) the other part of which is on the optical device.

This enables, for example, the foot to be attached to the centre of balance of the optical device on its base, or to any other selected position on the optical device body, lens, or, for example, to the outside of an 'ever-ready¹ case should this be desired. A foot attachable by adhesive or other means enables this invention to be used with optical equipment without conventional tripod-bush mounts. In a further modification plate 5a may be sufficiently flexible to be capable of being moulded by the operator to the contour of the optical device at the desired point of attachment.

The disc 3 of the feet 2 and 5 may be of metal, plastic, elastomer or any other material giving desirable characteristics between the feet and the convex supporting surface 1.

The telescoping sections 7 and 8 of the monopod can be retained in a selected partially extended position by the mechanism shown in Figure 4a, in which a spring loaded locking pin P mounted on the interior of the section 8 can extend through registering apertures A and A¹ in the sections 7 and 8 respectively so as to retain the sections in position. Section 8 has a plurality of such apertures to enable a plurality of positions to be selected.

When the inner section 7 is fully retracted, the monopod can be used as a walking stick (a handle for which is provided by the head piece 10) .

In the arrangement shown in Figures 6 to 8, the disc 3 is replaced by an elastomeric disc 12 having a planar underside. In this case, a concave surface is formed in the disc 12 by pressing the disc 12 or part thereof into contact with the convex surface 1, illustrated in Figures 3A & B.

Another arrangement is a single deformable component adhered directly to the optical device body or case; an example of such a component 13 is shown in Figure 8A. Figure 8B shows the shape assumed by the component 13 when placed against the surface 1. The method of adhesion of the component 13 to the optical device may be permanent or temporary allowing repeated attachment and removal .

In Figure 9, an arrangment is shown in which the foot 2 includes a deformable disc 15, the upper surface 14 of which is concaved and the lower the surface 16 of which is generally flat. When pressed into contact with the convex surface as shown in Figure 10 the centre of the disc 15 has less resilience and so deforms to form a cooperating concave surface 18 in contact with the convex surface 1.

Variable Damping for Camera Panning

According to the resilience of the inverted, concave, deformable member 15 and the frictional characteristics between this member and the supporting convex surface 1, variations in the 'damping¹ effect when moving the optical device while supported can be achieved by varying the pressure applied through the optical equipment to the attachment component 19. Figures 11 to 14 illustrate an example of this effect in which the load 20 applied to the foot 2 by the operator via the optical equipment C in Figure 11 is lower than in Figure 12. The contact area 21 and (Figures 13) between the foot 2 and the supporting surface 1 under the reduced load is less than the contact area 23 under increased load (Figure 14) .

In the type of foot shown in Figures 15 and 16 a similar effect is achieved by having the area of reduced resilience at the periphery of the disc 24 (the underside of which is a pre-formed concave surface) , in which case the contact area 25 is annular under light load (Figure 17) and will enlarge 26 under increased load (Figure 18) . In cases where air may be trapped in the cavity between the disc 24 and the supporting surface 12 provision may be made to release the air allowing the contact area to increase with load in a controllable manner.

In certain cases, however, the trapped air may be beneficial to the desired characteristics.

Composite Surface

The cooperating surface of the foot may comprise more than one member, each member contributing a different characteristic for relative movement between the cooperating surfaces of the foot 2 and the support surface 1. A preferred embodiment of such a composite surface is shown in Figures 19 and 20 in which the foot 2 includes a ring 29 of deformable material which surrounds a central disc of deformable material having a higher co efficient of friction with the surface 1 than the ring 29.

When a light load is applied only the ring 29 engages the surface 1 and when a panned movement is required provides a desirable damping.

Figure 23 shows the contact surface area 30a of the ring 29 in the surface 1. When no relative movement is required between the cooperating surfaces extra downward pressure is exerted on the camera which compresses the ring 29 and brings the disc 31 into contact with the support surface 1, resulting in a composite contact surface area 30b (Figure 24) .

The arrangement shown in Figures 19 to 24 allows improved panning characteristics under reduced load exerted by the operator on the camera and higher friction when no relative movement is required between the cooperating surfaces by increasing the load.

Annular Contact Area

The contact area between the foot and the convex supporting surface may be an annular area irrespective of load. In a simple arrangement shown in Figure 25, a single rigid cylindrical wall 32 is provided on the foot and engages the surface 1, giving rise to the contact area shown in Figure 28.

Various cooperating surface contour radii on the underside of the foot may be provided in order to enable the foot to confirm to a variety of supporting surfaces of differing radii. For example Figure 29 shows a foot which includes a disc which has contours 34 and 35 of two different radii of curvature for accommodating different radii of supporting surfaces.

The underside of the disc 37 of the foot shown in Figure 30 has a conical underside 36. When the foot is placed on a supporting surface only an annular portion of surface 36 makes contact with the surface 1, the radius of the annulus being larger for supporting surfaces of smaller radii of curvature.

Figure 31 represents an example of an embodiment that enables the contact surface area to reduce under increased load, in which the surface 1 is engaged by a conical member which can open out about its fulcrum under increased load so that the contact surface area reduces as the load exerted on the camera by the operator increases.

Expanding Attachment Component

The foot can be such that the cooperating surface area 43 of the foot in contact with the supporting surface increases as load is applied to the foot (by the weight of the optical device and the force exerted by the operator) . Figures 33 and 34 show an arrangement which achieves this.

A foot 47 comprises a rigid circular top plate 48 which includes a rigid peripheral lip 48a. An elastomeric cup 49 is sealed to the lip 48a so that there is defined a sealed cylindrical cavity 49a. The cavity 49a contains an enclosed volume of air which extends the cup 49 under load as shown in Figure 34, thus increasing the contact surface between the foot and the surface 1.

In the arrangements shown in Figures 35 to 38, the foot is formed intergrally with the optical device and may coincide with the tripod-bush mount. Figure 35 shows a camera 50 having a simple contour 51 matching the convex support surface 52, Figure 36 has a deformable disc 53 in a cyclindrical recess of optical device 53A. The engagement of the disc 53 with its support surface 52 is illustrated in Figure 36A.

The camera 54A shown in Figure 37 has a conventional tripod-bush mount screw thread 54 which may be sprung to a recess when not in use. With reference to Figure 37A the mount can be extended to enable a conventional tripod to be attached through the connector 54B on the tripod.

Figure 38 illustrates an example in which a sealed hollow elastomeric disc 50 is mounted in a recess on the camera when contact is made between the supporting convex surface 56 and the cooperating surface disc 55, air is displaced from the centre of the cooperating surface to project the periphery downwards, thereby extending the member 55 as shown in Figure 38A.

Figure 39 shows a camera 59 having a centre of balance (on the axis 58) which does not coincide with the axis of the tripod mounting bush 57 on the camera. The degree of this offset 60 can vary from one optical device to another.

Figures 40 and 41 show a foot designated to compensate for this offset 60. The connector 4 is mounted on the top plate 2a via a plate 63 which is rotatably mounted on plate 42a. This enables the position of the bush relative to the centre of the foot to be. varied, since the plate 63 rotates eccentrically to the centre of the plate 2a and the centre of the tripod bush mount 4, rotating in the same plane as the mounting surface. This enables the offset of the centre of the foot relative to the tripod bush mount to be adjusted to any intermediate position between the centre of plate 2a and the maximum radius periphery of the latter (at position indicated by 4' in Figure 41) .

Figure 42 shows a foot in which the offset of the connector 4 can fall outside the periphery of the plate 2a. In this case, the connector 4 is connected to an arm 6 slidably mounted on a rail 68a on the upper surface of the disc 2a.

In the modification shown in Figure 43, the arm 69 is mounted on the plate 2a for rotation about point 69a.

Figures 44 and 45 show a foot in which the connector 4 is mounted on a circular plate P which is in turn rotatably mounted at its centre on an arm A which is slideably mounted on the plate 2a through a similar rail arrangement to that shown in Figure 42A. The offset of the connector 4 can be varied within the range the extremes of which are shown in Figure 44 and 45.

In all the arrangements shown in Figures 41 to 45 the connector 4 is retained in a selected position by frictional interaction between the components connecting the connector to the plate 2a.

Figure 46 illustrates a foot that has similar operating characteristics to the foot shown in Figures 19 ^"to 24. The foot includes a resilient outer ring 71 attached to the underside of the top plate 2a through a helical compression spring 73 which exerts a downward biassing force on the ring 73. The ring 73 surrounds a high friction disc 72.

The foot includes means for adjusting the force exerted by the spring 73 so as to alter the operating characteristic of the foot.

The convex supporting surface 74 of the embodiments shown in Figures 49 to 55 is formed of a resiliently deformable material. As a result, resistance of movement between the supporting surface 74 and the foot is governed not only by the frictional characteristics of the contact surfaces but also the deformation of the supporting surface. The resistance to relative movement, and therefore the damping effect, increases as the foot 'bites' into the support surface.

Figure 49 illustrates an embodiment in which a foot 2 with a matching contour to that of the surface 74 (when not deformed) provides desirable friction characteristics for damped movement of the optical device. When extra load is appled to the optical device and exerted on the supporting surface 74 by foot 2 the supporting surface 74 deforms (at 76 in Figure 50) as the peripheral wall bites into the surface 74, increasing the resistance to movement of the optical device relative to the supporting surface.

Figures 51 and 52 show a foot having a rigid ring 77 which engages and bites into the surface 74.

In the arrangement shown in Figures 53 and 54 the ring 77 surrounds a spike 78 which is so recessed relative to the ring 77 that it makes contact with the supporting surface 74 when extra load is applied to the optical device resulting in further deformation of the supporting surface (Figure 54) .

Figures 55 and 56 illustrate an alternative arrangement with a ring 80 of higher friction material surronding a lower friction central disc 81.

Figures 57 to 59 show a foot 83 which includes a suction cap 82 for retaining the foot in position on the surface 1. The cup 82 comprises a flexible annular skirt 84 which depends from a rigid circular upper plate 87.

When the foot 82 is urged against the surface 1, the skirt 84 expands (Figure 58) and air is expelled from the cavity 85 defined by the cup 82 and the surface 1. The skirt 84 then seals against the surface 1 so that a partial vacuum 85 is created if the foot is pulled away from the supporting surface 1 without breaking the seal.

Thus the suction created between the foot and supporting surface enhances the stability of the connection between the camera foot and supporting surface.

A valve 95 is incorporated into the body of the suction cup 2 in order to facilitate the expulsion of air and breaking the seal (Figure 63) .

The skirt 84 may be constructed in the form of a split ring if a vacuum is not required. The split ring may be of a resilient, flexible or elastomeric material that enables the ring to expand in contact with the supporting surface, Figure 64 illustrates a split ring.

The foot shown in Figures 60 to 62 includes a conventional suction pad 88 that enables support to be provided by a convex supporting surface or alternatively by a flat surface or other surface suitable for providing a seal with a suction pad. Thus the suction pad 88 is able to cooperate with the convex support surface 1 (Figure 60) and a flat surface 89 (Figures 61 and 62) creating at the periphery 90 of the pad 88. The upper surface of the pad 88 is conical.

The foot is constructed such that the point 92 of attachment of the suction pad 88 to the rest of the foot is articulated permitting a degree of movement 93 and 94 of the foot and optical device suitable for panning 93 and tilting 9 .

According to a further aspect of the invention the foot may not be symmetrical about the point of attachment to the optical device. Figures 65 and 66 illustrate an example of a non- symmetrical foot 100. Figure 67 illustrates a foot 101 comprising a central portion 102 of similar construction to the foot 2 shown in Figures 1 and 2, and on which components corresponding to those of the foot shown in Figures 1 and 2 are indicated by the same reference numbers as those used in Figures 1 and 2. The foot 101 includes retaining means comprising two opposing leaves 104 and 106 mounted on the portion 101. The leaves 104 and 106 include top walls 108, 110 with circular recesses for accommodating part of the portion 102 and bottom walls 112, 114 with circular recesses into which the surface 1 extends . With the leaves in the position shown in Figure 68, the engagement of the bottom walls 112 and 114 with the surface 1 prevents removal of the foot 101 therefrom. The leaves 104 and 106 are of a flexible material enabling the components to fold or flex apart as indicated by broken lines 116 to a dimension greater than the diameter of the convex supporting surface 1. Figure 69 shows an example embodiment in which the leaf components 118, 120 are of rigid material and the folding action (indicated by broken lines 124, 126) is enabled by a curved hinge mechanism 122.

Figure 70 illustrates a collet 128 which includes a number of equally circumferentially spaced resilient fingers such as fingers 130. The diameter of the lower end of the collet 128 be constrained to a dimension smaller than the diameter of the convex supporting surface 1 by a clamping ring 132.

The collet forms part of a foot assembly having a central portion 174 similar to the portion 102. Figure 71 shows the foot assembly in position on the surface 1. The ring 132 prevents the collet 130, and hence the foot assembly from being removed. The ring 132 is removed from the collet 130 when the foot assembly is to be removed from the surface 1.

Figure 72 illustrates foot assembly in which the retaining means comprises two hoops in the form of rings 134, 136 each of a smaller diameter that of the surface 1. The rings 134 and 136 pass through apertured lugs (not shown) in the underside of a central portion 138, similar to the portion 102, so that the rings 134 and 136 can hinge about respective tangential axes, one of which is slightly higher than the other. The rings can then be hinged apart (Figure 73) to enable the foot assembly to be seated upon or removed from the convex support surface. The rings 134, 136 can be pressed together to retain the assembly on the surface 1.

The foot assembly anchors the optical device to the supporting surface 1 as long as the distance between the rings is constrained to a dimension less than the diameter of the convex supporting surface. The rings can be folded against the central portion for stowage when not in use (Figure 75) .

Figures 76 to 84 illustrate examples of alternative constructions of rings which may consist of a single component Figures 76 to 79 or more than one component ring (Figures 80 to 84) . Rings may be of metal, plastic, elastomer, fabric or any material giving desirable charateristics.

All the alternative arrangments of rings (when assembled) include an upper connector 142, 144, 146 and 148 which engages in an annular groove (not shown) in the peripheral wall of the central portion of the associated foot assembly to retain the rings thereon.

Figure 85 illustrates a modification to the assembly shown in Figures 72 to 75 in which each ring 150, 152 is attached to a respective part spherical member 156 and 158, of metal, plastic, elastomer or fabric.

Figures 86A to 86C illustrate the tilt action of the foot assemblies of Figures 72 and 85.

The optical device (not shown) attached to the connector 4 may be tilted (as indicated by arrow 160) while anchored to the convex supporting surface 1. The rings can be fixed to the rest of the foot assembled such that the resistance to tilting or panning movement is adjusted by a load applied to the rings by the user against the convex supporting surface 1, at 162 and 164.

In a further embodiment rings may be fixed to the support surface 1, for example at the collar 161 (Figure 86C) such that the tilting and panning movement is achieved by the foot sliding along the rings to the desired position. A damped effect in this case is achieved by resistance to movement as the result of a load applied to the rings against the supporting surface, this may be achieved by a clamping action on the rings at the point that they slide through the foot. The panning movement is achieved by the foot being rotatably attached to the rings or alterntively by the fixture to the support structure being rotatably attached to the support structure.

Figures 87 to 90 illustrate embodiment in which the retaining means comprises wire hoops 170, 172 (similar to the rings shown in Figures 78 and 79) which are normally fitted to the supporting surface 1 and are releasably attachable to a foot 168. The foot 168, includes grooves 176, 178 in its upper surface for receiving the hoops 170, 172.

Figure 91 illustrates an arrangement of hoops which cross over on the surface 1.

A tilting action (in a direction perpendicular to the plane of Figure 91) will results in a sprung force, due to the collar coming into contact with the overlapping rings 180, 182 at a point where their distance apart is less than the diameter of the supporting collar 9 and acting against their natural resistance to deformation, returning the optical device to the central position. The return force is dependent upon the material characteristics and composition of the rings. The rings 180 and 182 are attached to the central portion 183 by locating in grooves in the upper surface of the latter (not shown) similar to the grooves 176 and 178.

Figures 92 and 93 illustrate an arrangement which has a single component retaining wire 184 that can be clamped to the foot 186 in order to anchor the device to the supporting surface. The wire 184 can be constrained (to retain the foot assembly on the surface 1) by collar 186 or connectors 188, 190 on the wire 184. The connectors 188 and 190 can slide along the wire 184 and when adjacent the upper parts of the wire 148, allow the latter to flex so that the foot assembly can be removed.

The components of the foot assembly may by symmetrical or asymmetrical; in the case of rings/hoops described in example embodiments these may be circular or take any enclosed or open form and may only include part of a circle in its embodiment. The form of the components being suitable for use in conjunction with the form of the convex supporting surface, which may be spherical or take another convex form.

Figure 94A-C illustrate and 110-113 a spherical convex supporting surface 1 of a head on an inner telescoping member of a monopod (not shown) the same as the monopod of Figures 3 to 5 except in that the head is integrally formed with the inner telescoping member.

The foot assembly 188 of this embodiment includes a central portion 190, similar to the foot 2, which is attached at its periphery to a hood 192 of flexible, elastomeric material. The outboard edge of the hood is attached to a ring 194 of an elastomeric material. The normal diameter of the ring is less than that of the surface 1.

When in the condition shown in Figure 94A the hood 192 does not prevent or impede the removal of the foot. However the hood can be rolled onto the surface 1 in the way shown in Figures 94A to 94C, the ring 194 expanding to enable the periphery of the hood to pass over the surface 1. When in the position shown in Figure 94C the engagement of the ring 194 against the surface 1 resists the removal of the foot assembly. Furthermore, the hood is sealed against the surface 1 in such a way that an attempt to lift the foot assembly off the surface 1, as illustrated in Figure 94D, creates a cavity 196 of partial vacuum so as to provide further resistance to removal.

The foot assembly 197 shown in Figure 95 is the same as that shown in Figures 94A-D, in all respects, except in that the foot assembly shown in Figure 95 includes a one way valve 196 which allows air to be expelled from the volume 198 between the foot assembly and the surface 1 through an aperture 200 in the top of the central port. The valve 196 can also be manually opened to faciliate removal of the assembly 197 from the surface 1.

Figure 114 shows a foot assembly 202 in which the hood 204 has a rebate 206 in its outer periphery. In the example illustrated the rebate in the hood 204 coincides with a break 208 in the annulus 210 that enables the annulus 210 to expand to a dimension larger than the circumference 5 of the supporting surface. The break in the annulus 210 may be bridged (Figure 110) such that the dimension of the annulus is smaller than the diameter of the surface 1 thereby to anchor the optical device securely to the support surface 1. In the example in Figure 114 the shape of the rebate 206 in the hood 204 coincides with the shape of the neck 212 (constituted by the top of the inner telescoping section of the monopod) foot assembly 202 to be tilted by 90°. The assembly 202 can be locked in the 90° position by bridging the split ring the neck 212 such that the neck is contained in the rebate 206 in the hood 204 which is closed by the bridged ring 210 (Figure 116) .

The hood 204 may be formed of an elastomeric material that allows the foot to be tilted to 90° stretching one side of the hood 204 and compressing the other side (Figures 117-119) .

Figure 120 illustrates a flat, elastomeric component 214 that stretches to form a hood. The component 214 is held in the anchoring position (Figure 12) by the annulus 216 which may be locked to a dimension smaller than that of the diameter ofthe surface 1 thereby to anchor the optical device securely to the support surface. In the illustrated example the annulus 216 is split and the component 19 has a cut-off 218 in the flexible skin to facilitate that attachment operation. The hood may be composed of more than one component as illustrated in Figure 124.

Figure 96 illustrates an alternative embodiment in which the retaining means comprises a hood 220 normally fitted to the lower half of the supporting surface 1 and which is attachable to the optical device or foot when required 222 by means of clips 224, 226 which engage an upper lip on the periphery of the hood 220.

Figure 98 illustrates an example of a hood 226 that is contructed such that the hood unfurls into the position shown in Figure 99 automatically when a load is applied to the foot 228 as the result of resting the foot 228 upon the supporting surface 1. To this end, the hood 226 comprises a part spherical moulding of a resilient material the internal tensions of which are such that the hood is urged into either of the two stable positions shown in Figures 98 and 99.

Figure 100 and 101 shows a hood which is separable from the rest of its foot assembly, 228, 230 by means of a socket 232.

Figure 102 shows an embodiment of an attachment device with a lattice hood 234 formed of flexible elongate wires or straps 236.

Figure 103 illustrates an embodiment in which the annulus or open edge of the hood 237 is not perpendicular to the axis of the connector 4.

Figure 104 shows an embodiment in which the foot assembly is of composite materials providing different frictional characteristics. In the illustrated example a clamping force may be applied by tightening a clamping member clamping the annulus 238 and foot 240 together resulting in a high friction component 242 coming into contact with the supporting surface 1 (Figure 105) .

Figures 106 and 107 illustrate an example of a split annulus forming part of the periphery of a hood which may be constrained to a set diameter by an integral clip 246 (Figure 106) or external clipping mechanism 247 (Figure 107) .

Figure 108 shows apparatus having a support surface which is not part spherical. In this case, the surface is piano convex, and forms the periphery of a part cylindrical head piece 250 formed integrally with a neck 252 which is, in turn, attached to the inner telescoping section of a monopod support (not shown) . The head piece 250 supports a foot 254 which has a rectangular upper plate 256 from which a peripheral wall 258 extends. The plate 254 and wall 256 house an insert (not shown) of the same material as the insert 3 in the other described embodiments. The insert has a piano concave underside which conforms to the piano convex surface of the head piece 250.

The foot 258 has a screw threaded connector 260 for attachment to the tripod bush mount of an optical device.

This arrangement can be modified in the way shown in Figure 9 in which the foot is attached to an elastomeric hood 262 which is attached to a rectangular hoop 264 for drawing the hood 262 towards the bottom of the head piece so as to retain the foot thereon.

The embodiment shown in Figure 125 has a head piece indicated diagramatically at 266, which is identical to the headpiece shown in inter alia Figures 1 and 2. The foot 266 of this arrangement has a rigid cap member 270 which includes an outer annular wall 272 and an inner annular wall 274, and which is attached to a suction cup 276 for attaching the foot 268 to the surface 266. In a modification to this arrangement (Figure 126) the foot 277 having concave underside which can be rested on the surface 266. The insert 278 is at the centre of a suction cap 280 which is functionally similar to the cap 266.

Variations in Cooperating Surface Contours

The cooperating surfaces of the support and attachment component may be of any contour that enables the optical device to be rested upon the support without obstruction. The contour of the camera attachment component in all cases being the inverted contour of the supporting surface, or being able to conform to the inverse of the supporting surface by means of deformable materials. Examples of such contours are those of an ellipse, cone or any composition of such contours.

Claims

1. Apparatus for supporting a device so as to facilitate control of the position and orientation of the latter, the apparatus comprising support means, having a convex supporting surface; and foot means for attachment to the device wherein the foot means is adapted to be placed on the convex supporting surface thereby to support the device on the support means.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the foot, when placed on the convex supporting surface, is so recessed as to accommodate part of the convex supporting surface.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the foot has a concave surface, on or forming part of said recess, for engaging the convex supporting surface so as to support the device on the support means.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the concave surface is formed in a resiliently deformable portion of the foot.

5. Apparatus according to either of claims 3 or 4 in which concave surface of the foot is preformed.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which the concave surface is extemporaneously formed in the resiliently deformable portion of the foot, by pushing said portion against the convex supporting surface.

7. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the foot is attachable to the device by means of a connector for engaging a complementary connector on the device, the connector on the foot being moveable relative the concave surface.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6 in which the resilient portion of the foot comprises a body of resilient material having a lower face, in which the concave surface is formed, and an upper face which includes a concave surface when the foot is not in contact with the convex supporting surface, wherein the concave surface in the upper face facilitates the creation of the concave surface in the lower face.

9. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which different regions of the concave surface have different radii of curvature, to enable the foot to be used with convex supporting surfaces of different radii of curvature.

10. Apparatus according to any of claims 4 to 6 in which the foot has a brake portion which is so positioned that the brake portion can be brought into contact with the convex supporting surface, so as to increase resistance of movement of the foot on the latter by the user pushing the foot onto the convex supporting surface with sufficient force.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 in which the resiliently deformable portion is annular and surrounds the brake portion.

12. A device according to claim 10 or 11 in which the resiliently deformable portion is connected to biassing means operable to urge the brake portion away from the convex supporting surface.

13. Apparatus according to any of claims 4 to 12 in which the resiliently deformable portion comprises a hermetically sealed hollow elastomeric member wherein an increase in the force with which the foot is applied to the convex supporting surface correspondingly increases the area of elastomeric member in contact therewith.

14. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims in which the convex supporting surface is resiliently deformable.

15. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims in which the apparatus includes retaining means for retaining the foot in a selected position on the convex supporting surface.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15 in which the retaining means comprises suction means on the foot, the suction means being operable to expel air from a region between the foot and the convex supporting surface and to seal against the latter.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16 in which the suction means comprises a flexible annular skirt depending from the foot.

18. Apparatus according to claim 16 or claim 17 in which the suction means includes a valve to facilitate said expulsion of air when the foot is being attached to the convex supporting surface or the breaking of said seal when the foot is to be removed. .

19. Apparatus according to claim 18 in which the skirt surrounds a resilient portion of the foot, for supporting the latter on the convex supporting surface, wherein, with the foot placed on the convex supporting surface, a concave surface is formed in said resilient portion.

20. Apparatus according to claim 15 in which the support means include a generally downwardly directed surface which is, in use, engaged by the retaining means to retain the foot on the convex supporting surface.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20 in which the downwardly directed surface is an integral part of the convex supporting surface.

22. Apparatus according to claim 21 in which the retaining means comprises a moveable finger on the foot.

23. Apparatus according to claim 22 in which the finger is one of a plurality of such fingers of a collet, the fingers being held in position by a locking ring which can be releasably fitted onto the collet .

24. Apparatus according to claim 21 in which the retaining means comprises one or more closed hoops.

25. Apparatus according to claim 24 in which the convex supporting surface is connected to the rest of the support means through a neck, and in which the retaining means comprises two hoops which extend one on either side of the neck and intersect each other at a region between the neck and the foot so as to apply a restoring force, urging the foot towards the top centre of the convex supporting surface.

26. Apparatus according to claim 24 or claim 25 in which the wire hoops are retained in position by a collar on the neck.

27. Apparatus according to claim 21 in which the retaining means comprises a hood attached to the foot, and adapted to be fitted over the convex supporting surface.

28. Apparatus according to claim 27 in which the hood includes a expandable peripheral member which, when not expanded has a radius less than that of the convex support surface, the member being operable to preuent or resist removal of the hood from the convex supporting surface.

29. Apparatus according to claim 27 or claim 28 in which the foot is removable from the hood.

30. Apparatus according to any of claims 27 to 29 in which the peripheral member is attachable to locking means operable to prevent the peripheral member from expanding, and hence to prevent removal of the foot from the convex supporting surface.

31. Apparatus according to any of claims 27 to 30 in which the hood, when fitted on the convex supporting surface, seals against the latter so that movement of the hood away from the convex supporting surface creates a space of an at least partial vacuum between the hood and convex supporting surface, thereby to resist removal of the hood.

32. Apparatus according to claim 28 in which peripheral member comprises a ring or a split ring.

33. Apparatus according to claim 27 in which the hood comprises a lattice formed of one or more elongate flexible connecting members.

34. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims in which the support means comprises a monopod.

35. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims in which the convex support surface is part spherical.

36. An optical device and apparatus for supporting the optical device so as to facilitate the control of position and orientation of the device, the apparatus comprising support means having a convex support surface on which, a foot on the underside of the optical device, wherein the foot is, in use, placed on the convex supporting surface so as to provide support for the optical device.

37. An optical device and apparatus according to claim 36, in which the foot comprises a recess in the underside of the optical device.

38. An optical device according to claim 37 in which the recess contains a resiliently deformable member in which a concave surface is, in contact with the convex supporting surface, is formed when the optical device is placed on the convex supporting surface.

39. A foot for apparatus according to any of the preceding claims.