US3603545A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tilt-table device
Assignee: ERNEST F MOY Ltd
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Filing: 1970-01-22
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Granted: 1971-09-07
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Expires: 1990-01-22
Abstract
Abstract A device for adjusting the angle of tilt of a camera has a table connected to a base below the table by an intermediate plate, one end of the intermediate plate being pivotally connected to the base about a horizontal first axis and the other end being pivotally connected to the table about a second axis parallel to the first axis. A locking bar is mounting on the intermediate plate and is axially slidable in one direction into locking engagement with the base and in the opposite direction into locking engagement with the table. An expandable jack is mounted on the base and is operable to exert on the table an upward thrust, the line of action of which passes between the two axes. The camera is mounted on the table. When the intermediate plate is locked to the base operation of the jack pivots the table about the second axis and thereby tilts the camera upward. When the intermediate plate is locked to the table operation of the jack pivots the table and intermediate plate about the first axis and thereby tilts the camera downwards. The base may have arcuate quadrants centered about a common horizontal axis and mounted on rollers on a support for rocking movement about the common axis.
Inventors
- 👤 Roy Boniface
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 01:06
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16M; F16M11/00; F16M11/02; F16M11/04; F16M11/06; F16M11/10; F16M11/18; G; G03; G03B; G03B17/00; G03B17/56; G03B17/561
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A tilt-table device for a camera, comprising a base adapted to be mounted on a support, an intermediate member pivotally connected to the base about a substantially horizontal first axis, a table pivotally connected to the intermediate member about a second axis spaced from and substantially parallel to the first axis, the table being adapted to support a camera, locking means operable selectively either to lock the intermediate member to the base to prevent relative angular movement therebetween about the first axis or to lock the intermediate member to the table to prevent relative angular movement therebetween about the second axis, and tilting means operable to pivot the table about the second axis when the intermediate member is locked to the base by the locking means, and to pivot both the table and the intermediate member about the first axis when the intermediate member is locked to the table by the locking means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
A tilt-table device for a camera, comprising a base adapted to be mounted on a support, an intermediate member pivotally connected to the base about a substantially horizontal first axis, a table pivotally connected to the intermediate member about a second axis spaced from and substantially parallel to the first axis, the table being adapted to support a camera, locking means operable selectively either to lock the intermediate member to the base to prevent relative angular movement therebetween about the first axis or to lock the intermediate member to the table to prevent relative angular movement therebetween about the second axis, and tilting means operable to pivot the table about the second axis when the intermediate member is locked to the base by the locking means, and to pivot both the table and the intermediate member about the first axis when the intermediate member is locked to the table by the locking means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A tilt-table device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tilting means comprises an expandable jack disposed between and reacting against the base and the table with the line of action of the jack passing between said first and second axes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
87 words
A tilt-table device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base is formed with a track thereon, and the tilting means comprises a carriage mounted on the track, screw means for moving the carriage along the track, and a lift arm pivotally connected to the table and carriage, the track being arranged so that, upon movement of the carriage along the track in one direction, the lift arm exerts on the table a thrust the line of action of which passes between said first and second axes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
A tilt-table device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the screw means comprises a screw-threaded rod extending along the track and means for rotating said rod, and the carriage comprises a screw-threaded nut mounted on the rod and wheels mounted on the nut and in rolling engagement with the track.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A tilt-table device as claimed in claim 4 and including two lift arms pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the carriage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
A tilt-table device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the base is shaped to form a well which accommodates the carriage and at least part of the screw means, the bottom of the well being inclined relative to the top surface of the base and forming the track for the carriage.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
77 words
A tilt-table device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking means is mounted on the intermediate member and movable in one direction into locking engagement with the base to prevent relative angular movement between the intermediate member and the base about said first axis, and The locking means is movable in the opposite direction into locking engagement with the table to prevent relative angular movement between the intermediate member and the table about said second axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
161 words
A tilt-table device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the locking means comprises a bar axially slidable on the intermediate member, the base is provided with an aperture or recess aligned with the bar when the intermediate member is at a particular setting relative to the base, said aperture or recess being adapted to receive one end of the bar upon movement of the bar in one direction when the intermediate member and base are in said setting so as to lock the intermediate member to the base, and the table is provided with an aperture or recess aligned with the bar when the table is at a particular setting relative to the intermediate member, the aperture or recess in the table being adapted to receive the other end of the bar upon movement of the bar in the opposite direction when the intermediate member and table are in said setting so as to lock the intermediate member to the table.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
77 words
A tilt-table device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the intermediate member comprises a platelike structure having one end pivotally connected to the base about said first axis and the other end pivotally connected to the table about said second axis, and the table, intermediate member and base are superimposed upon each other when the device is in the collapsed condition with the intermediate member resting on the base and the table resting on the intermediate member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
216 words
A tilt-table device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the intermediate member is formed with two apertures arranged one adjacent each end thereof and a guide track extending between said apertures, the base member is provided with an upstanding lug arranged to engage in the aperture remote from the first axis when the intermediate member is collapsed onto the base, the table is provided with a depending lug arranged to engage in the aperture remote from the second axis when the table is collapsed onto the intermediate member, each lug having a bore which is axially aligned with the guide track when the device is in the collapsed condition, and the locking means comprises a bar mounted in said guide track and mechanism for sliding the bar along the guide track, the bar being movable in one direction along the track when the device is in the collapsed condition to engage one end of the bar in the bore in the lug on the base, thereby locking the intermediate member to the base, and being movable in the opposite direction along the track when the device is in the collapsed condition to engage the other end of the bar in the bore in the lug on the table, thereby locking the intermediate member to the table.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
84 words
In a camera head for supporting a television or film camera, a tilt-table device as claimed in claim 1, arcuate guide rails on the base of the device, the guide rails being centered about a common axis substantially parallel to said first and second axes, roller means engaging the guide rails and supporting the base on the frame of the camera head for angular movement about said common axis, and means for adjusting the angle of tilt of the base about said common axis.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-06 | 1975-03-08 | 1975-09-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-06 | 1979-03-08 | 1979-09-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-06 | 1983-03-08 | 1983-09-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |