GB2269023A

GB2269023A - Optical instrument support stabilised against user's body

Info

Publication number: GB2269023A
Application number: GB9313740A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frank A S Innes
Original assignee: SHARPE S OF ABERDEEN Ltd
Current assignee: SHARPE S OF ABERDEEN Ltd
Priority date: 1992-07-02
Filing date: 1993-07-02
Publication date: 1994-01-26
Also published as: GB9313740D0; GB9214063D0

Abstract

A support for use with a camera or pair of binoculars has a first means 7 for engaging a camera to form a rigid connection therewith e.g. a screw threaded connection, and a second means 2,3 adapted for engaging a user's upper body. The first and second means are interconnected. The second means may comprise two leg members 2, 3 disposed at an angle to one another. The leg members may be variable in length and the length may approximate the camera user's eye to shoulder length. Lock member 12 may hold a bracket member 23 at a desired angle. Steel weights 9 are shown. In use, weights 9 rest on the user's shoulders. <IMAGE>

Description

OPTICAL INSTRUMENT SUPPORT This invention relates to an optical instrument.

Professional and amateur photographers encounter the problem of camera shake. This may be due to a long wait to obtain the perfect picture or due to the weight of the camera or just due to an unsteady hand. When a long lens is being used, a slight movement of the photographer's hand is magnified in the photograph.

A tripod overcomes the problem by providing a stable base for the camera. However, tripods are generally bulky and awkward to carry. Problems also arise when a tripod cannot be used due to a lack of suitable surface on which to stand the tripod.

According to the present invention there is provided an optical instrument support comprising first means for engaging an optical instrument to provide a rigid connection therewith, and second means adapted for engaging a user's upper body, the first and second means being interconnected and in use the optical instrument is stabilised agains the users body by engagement of the second means therewith.

Preferably, the first and second means are interconnected by at least one leg member.

Preferably, two straight leg members are provided, the two leg members being disposed at an angle to one another.

Preferably, the first means is variably mounted at the divergence of the two leg members.

Preferably, the second means for engaging the user's body is weighted in relation to the proximal ends of the leg members.

Preferably, the length of the leg members approximates the user's eye to shoulder length.

Preferably, the leg members are of variable length.

Preferably, the leg members are formed of two portions which are telescopically variable in length.

The leg members' variable length may be adjusted by adjustment means. Preferably, the adjustment means is in the form of a collet wherein the leg members are formed of two portions, which are selectively lockable together by means of the collet.

Preferably, the leg members are connected by hinge means. The hinge means may have locking means to enable the leg members to be held at a desired angle.

Preferably, the first means is in the form of a screw threaded protrusion corresponding to a screw threaded recess in the optical instrument.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig 1 is a front view of the camera support in accordance with the present invention including a sectional view of one of the adjustment means; and Fig 2a and 2b are respectively an end cross section and a side cross-section of the adjustment means of the camera support of Fig 1.

Referring to the drawings, an optical instrument support is used for supporting a camera 1 and has two leg members 2, 3 a first end of each 4, 5 terminates in a first means in the form of a common connector 6.

A screw threaded protrusion 7 corresponds to a screw threaded recess in a camera and is rotatable by a knurled knob 22. The protrusion 7 and knob 22 are mounted through a bracket 23 rotatable in the connector 6. A lock member 12 is actuable to hold the bracket at a desired angle. The two leg members 2, 3 each have adjustment means in the form of collets 8. The leg members 2, 3 also have mild steel weights 9 at their distal ends 10, 11. A first portion 13 of the leg members 2, 3 is formed of mild steel and a second portion 14 of each support member 2, 3 is formed of aluminium.

Fig 2a and 2b show adjustment means in the form of collets 8 wherein the leg member second portions 14 are formed of aluminium tubing which has four longitudinal ridge-shaped protrusions 16 equispaced around its inside wall. The collet 8 sits inside the aluminium tubing 14 and is slit at 17 to form wing segments 21.

The collet 8 has an internal screw thread 20 on a portion of the wing-segments 16.

The leg member first portions 13 each have a chamfered neck 18 and a screw threaded end 19 corresponding to the screw threaded portion 20 of the collet 8.

In practice the camera support 1 is prepared for use by placing the camera on the screw threaded protrusion 7.

The distal weighted ends 10, 11 of the leg members 2, 3 are placed on the user's shoulders these ends 10, 11 have felt pads to soften the contact of the camera. In order to position the camera in front of the user's eye, the leg members 2, 3 can have their length adjusted at the adjustment means in the form of collets 8.

The collets 8 sit inside the aluminium tubing 14 and its four ridge-shaped protrusions 16 engage in the slits 17 of the collet. The screw threaded end of the leg member first portions 13 is placed in the collet 8 and the screw threaded portions 19 and 20 engaged. The collet 8 allows the two leg member portions 13 and 14 to move longitudinally with respect to each other but does not allow relative rotation of the leg member portions 13 and 14 as a result of the protrusion 16 and slit 17 engagement. Length adjustment can be made to the leg members 2, 3. When the required length is obtained the first leg member portions 13 are screwed further in to the collets 8 to force the chamfered neck 18 into the collet 8. The chamfered neck 18 forces the wing segments 21 of the collet 8 against the inside of the aluminium tubing 14 of the second leg member portions 14.This prevents any further longitudinal movement of the two leg portions 13 and 14 with respect to each other.

When the camera is positioned on the camera support the weights 9 on the distal ends 10, 11 of the leg members 2, 3 alter the position of the centre of gravity from the camera itself towards the distal ends 10, 11.

As the camera support is held the weights 9 rest on the user's shoulders and the leg members 2, 3 are at an angle to the user's body in order to place the camera in front of the user's eye. The weights 9 on the distal ends 10, 11 cause the centre of gravity of the camera and the support to be nearer the user's body and therefore a higher proportion of the weight of the camera is supported by the user's body rather than his arms. The felt pads disposed on the weights 9 at the distal ends 10, 11 soften the contact of the camera with the user's shoulders. This causes the camera to be more stable when a photograph is taken and easier to adjust or hold in place for a long period of time.

The optical instrument may be for example a camera, pair of binoculars or other optical device.

Modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An optical instrument comprising first means for engaging an optical instrument to provide a rigid connection therewith, and second means adapted for engaging a user's upper body, the first and second means being interconnected and in use the optical instrument is stabilised against the user's body by engagement of the second means therewith.

2. A support as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the first and second means are rigidly interconnected by at least one leg member.

3. A support as claimed in claim 2, wherein two straight leg members are provided, the two leg members being disposed at an angle to one another.

4. A support as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the first means is variably mounted at the divergence of the two leg members.

5. A as claimed in any one of Claims 2, 3 or 4 wherein the second means for engaging the user's body is weighted in relation to the proximal ends of the leg members.

6. A support as claimed in any one of Claims 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein the length of the leg members approximates the user's eye to shoulder length.

7. A support as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 6, wherein the leg members are of variable length.

8. A suppport as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the leg members are each formed of two parts which are relatively telescopically variable in length.

9. A support as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the leg members' variable length may be adjusted by adjustment means in the form of a collet wherein the leg members are formed of two portions, which are selectively lockable together by means of the collet.

10. A support as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 7, wherein the leg members are connected by hinge means.

11. A support as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the hinge means has locking means to hold the leg members at a desired angle.

12. A support as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first means is in the form of a screw threaded protrusion corresponding to a screw threaded recess in the optical instrument.

13. A support substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.