Patent ID: 7637215
Filing Date: 2009-12-29
Classification: B60P,F16M,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An articulating camera transport apparatus, comprising an articulating camera truck for accommodating a camera element and for engaging a set of camera dolly tracks, the tracks having a curvature, the truck comprising a carrier and an undercarriage, the undercarriage comprising a plurality of articulating wheels and means for gimbaling the plurality of articulating wheels for accommodating the curvature and for facilitating a smooth passage of the truck along the tracks, wherein the camera element comprises at least one element selected from a group consisting essentially of a camera platform, a camera dolly, a camera crane, and a camera crane base, wherein the carrier comprises at least one outboard edge and an inboard open section, the carrier being extendible for accommodating varying sizes and orientations of the camera element, wherein the carrier further comprises at least one tap and at least one extension member, the at least one extension member comprising a retaining flange and at least one pin member disposed on a lower surface of the at least one extension member for selective registration with at least one registration element selected from a group consisting essentially of the at least one tap and the at least one outboard edge, the retaining flange being translatable within the inboard open section for imparting structural stability to the at least one extension, wherein the plurality of articulating wheels comprises at least one wheel configuration selected from a group consisting essentially of: at least one pair of articulating wheels; at least four pairs of articulating wheels; at least two sets of articulating wheel pairs; and at least four sets of articulating wheel pairs, wherein the gimbaling means comprises: a wheel mounting bracket coupled to the undercarriage, the wheel mounting bracket including a rigid section having two ends and at least one moment arm section having proximal and distal ends, the at least one moment arm section proximal end being pivotally coupled with one end of the rigid section ends; and an angled axle corresponding to each wheel pair, the angled axle being rotatably coupled to the at least one moment arm section, wherein each set of articulating wheel pairs comprises four articulating wheel pairs, wherein the four articulating wheel pairs comprise two pairs of inboard articulating wheel pairs and two pairs of outboard articulating wheel pairs, wherein the inboard articulating wheel pairs are pivotally mounted to the respective rigid section ends and to the moment arm section proximal ends, whereby the inboard articulating wheel pairs pivot in relation to the rigid section, wherein the outboard articulating wheel pairs are pivotally mounted to respective the moment arm distal ends, whereby the outboard articulating wheel pairs swing in relation to the rigid section, and whereby mechanical stability and articulation are optimized, wherein each wheel pair gimbals independently from any other wheel pair, wherein the plurality of articulating wheels comprises a plurality of skateboard wheels, wherein the angled axle subtends an angle of approximately 90°, wherein the undercarriage comprises at least one slot for facilitating translation of the mounting bracket in order to accommodate varying distances between the tracks, wherein the wheel mounting bracket comprises a swivel member being pivotally coupled to the undercarriage, wherein the swivel member is pivotally coupled to the undercarriage through the at least one slot, wherein the gimbaling means further comprises at least one low friction-coefficient member selected from a group consisting essentially of a gasket and a washer, the at least one friction-coefficient member being disposed between the swivel member and the undercarriage, and wherein the low friction-coefficient member comprises at least one material selected from a group consisting essentially of a flexible polymer, an elastic polymer, an elastomer, a polyurethane, a rubber, a nylon, a fluorinated polymer, an acetal resin engineering plastic, a polyoxymethylene, a acetal resin, a polytrioxane, and a polyformaldehyde, for facilitating smoothness and shock absorption.