Patent ID: 6116554
Filing Date: 2000-09-12
Classification: F16M

Abstract:
A tripod comprisinga leg assembly having a metal center sleeve and three legs pivoted to said metal center sleeve;a tubular center post inserted through said metal center sleeve and locked by an elevator lock at said tubular center sleeve;a socket mounted on said metal center post at topside;a holder frame mounted on said socket, said holder frame comprising a mounting hole coupled to said socket, a split extended from the mounting hole thereof to one peripheral side thereof, an internally threaded locating hole extended across said split, a lock screw threaded into said internally threaded locating hole and fastened tight to close said split, a first cylindrical coupling portion protrudes from a vertical left side wall thereof, and a second cylindrical coupling portion protrudes from a vertical right side wall thereof and defining an axial mounting hole;a plug cap fastened to said socket to secure said holder frame to said socket on said tubular center post;a left side cover fastened to the vertical left side wall of said holder frame, said left side cover comprising a receiving chamber, a side through hole, and a plurality of lugs protrude from a top side wall thereof and arranged parallel to each other, the lugs of said left side cover each having a center through hole respectively aligned with each other;an aluminum clamp received inside the receiving chamber in said left side cover, said aluminum clamp having two distal ends disposed close to each other and separated by a gap, and two screw holes respectively provided at the distal ends of said aluminum clamp;an aluminum bush retained to the inside of said clamp in said receiving chamber and sleeved coupled to the first cylindrical coupling portion of said holder frame;an adjustment screw inserted into the side through hole at said left side cover, and threaded into the screw holes at the two distal ends of said aluminum clamp to fasten up said aluminum clamp, causing said aluminum clamp to hold down said aluminum bush on said first cylindrical coupling portion of said holder frame;a right side cover fastened to the vertical right side wall of said holder frame, said right side cover comprising a plurality of parallel lugs extended from a front side thereof and respectively inserted into respective gaps between two adjacent lugs at said left side cover, the lugs of said right side cover each having a center through hole respectively aligned with each other, a vertical mounting wall downwardly extended from a rear side thereof, and a mounting hole provided on said vertical mounting wall and fastened to the axial mounting hole on said holder frame by a tie screw; anda camera platform fastened to said left side cover and said right side cover, said camera platform comprising a rotary platform body, an upright mounting screw raised from said platform body for mounting a camera, a platform lock for locking said platform body, and a slotted coupling shell coupled to the lugs of said left side cover and the lugs of said right side cover, said slotted coupling shell having two through holes connected to the center through hole on each lug of said left side cover and the center through hole at each lug of said right side cover by an adjustment screw and a nut;wherein said tubular center post comprises two positioning holes bilaterally disposed near a top end thereof; said socket comprises a collar for a butting the top end of said tubular enter post, two coupling spring strips bilaterally downwardly extended from a bottom side thereof and respectively plugged into the top end of said tubular center post, two raised positioning portions respectively formed on said coupling spring strips at an outer side and forced into engagement with the positioning holes on said tubular center post, and a plurality of positioning holes respectively provided through the peripheral wall of said socket above said collar; said plug cap comprises a plurality of downward springy plug strips respectively plugged into said socket, and a plurality of raised positioning portions respectively formed on said springy plug strips at an outer side and forced into engagement with the positioning holes on said socket; the first cylindrical coupling portion of said holder frame comprises a plurality of axial teeth spaced around the periphery thereof; said aluminum bush comprises a plurality of axial teeth spaced around an inside wall thereof and respectively meshed with the axial teeth on the first cylindrical coupling portion of said holder frame.