Patent ID: 7249740
Filing Date: 2007-07-31
Classification: F16M

Abstract:
1. A camera elevating, support and control apparatus comprising; an extensible mast having telescoping sections and having a top end and a bottom end and an operating location in a region above the bottom end convenient for an operator to reach; a camera mounting and control response assembly proximate the top end of the mast said assembly comprising; a mounting element having a pivot mount attached to the mast proximate its top end the pivot mount; a shaft extending from said pivot mount and extending therefrom to define a mounting portion on one side of said pivot mount and defining a horizontal pivot axis; a tilt plate pivotably mounted on said shaft for pivoting around said horizontal axis said tilt plate having a camera support element for attaching a camera to the tilt plate to allow a camera to be mounted on the tilt plate so that the center of gravity is below the horizontal pivot axis so that the tilt plate will tend to a rest position; and a rotator member pivotably mounted on said shaft and attached to said tilt plate for controlled pivoting of the tilt plate the rotator member having first and second line pulling points on opposite sides of a vertical line through the horizontal pivot axis; a control assembly mounted on the mast at the operating location comprising first and second spools rotatable together about a horizontal axis; and first and second lines, the first line extending directly generally vertically from the first line pulling point to the first spool for take-up by clockwise rotation of the first spool and the second line extending directly generally vertically from the second line pulling point to the second spool for take-up by counter clockwise rotation of the second spool; whereby the tilt plate can be tilted about the horizontal pivot axis by rotating the spools in either direction to wind the line on one spool while the line on the other spool unwinds to tilt the tilt plate to a selected tilt angle about the horizontal pivot axis and a camera mounted on the tilt plate will be similarly tilted.