Abstract:
A tripod assembly having a base and a head mounted to the base. A plurality of legs are coupled to the base and are moveable between an open position and a closed position. The plurality of legs form a tripod to support the base and head in an upright position when the legs are in the open position. The plurality of legs at least partially enclose the base and the head when in the closed position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/516,704, filed on Nov. 3, 2003, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a tripod assembly and more particularly to a folding tripod assembly.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The tripod is not new in the art, and the basic principle involved with its use is fairly simple-three legs used to provide a stable platform. The potential applications for tripods are numerous, although one common use is as a portable stand for a device or tool. For example, tripods are used in applications ranging from supporting a laser sight for surveying, a camera for photography, a telescope for sky viewing, and an antenna in communication systems.  
         [0004]     In this regard, these common uses often involve transportation of the tripod and associated device. Whether to a photo shoot or to a construction sight, transportation of the tripod and associated device raises two important issues-one of size and one of protection.  
         [0005]     As to size, it can be inconvenient to transport a large tripod assembly due to the inherent spread of the tripod legs. A past solution is to allow the legs to fold into a linear assembly. However, issues of length of the assembly may still persist. As to protection of the associated device, which is often expensive and fragile, the typical solution in the past is to remove the device and store it separately from the tripod assembly. However, separate storage can be inconvenient and time consuming. Accordingly, there remains in the art room for improvement in transporting a tripod assembly.  
         [0006]     Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a tripod assembly that folds into a compact size and also protects any device mounted thereon.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     A tripod assembly is provided having a base and a head mounted to the base. A plurality of legs are coupled to the base and are moveable between an open position and a closed position. The plurality of legs form a tripod to support the base and head in an upright position when the legs are in the open position. The plurality of legs at least partially enclose the base and the head when in the closed position.  
         [0008]     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a tripod assembly constructed according to the principles of the present invention and illustrating a neck in an extended position;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the tripod assembly of  FIG. 1  with the neck in a collapsed position;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the tripod assembly of  FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrating movement of the legs to a closed position;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a side partial cross section of the tripod assembly in the closed position with two of the three legs not illustrated;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5A  is a side cross section of a portion of the neck of the tripod assembly illustrating a detent system in an extended position;  
         [0015]      FIG. 5B  is a side cross section of the portion of the neck of the tripod assembly illustrating the detent system in a collapsed position;  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of an incremental adjustment system of the tripod assembly;  
         [0017]      FIG. 7A  is a top view of a portion of the neck of the tripod assembly;  
         [0018]      FIG. 7B  is a bottom view of a head of the tripod assembly; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged side view of the head and the portion of the neck shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]     The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.  
         [0021]     With reference to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a tripod assembly  10  constructed according to the principles of the present invention. The tripod assembly  10  includes a base  12 , a neck portion  14  extending from the base  12 , a head  16  removably coupled to an end of the neck portion  14 , and three legs  18 A,  18 B, and  18 C extending out from the base  12 .  
         [0022]     The base  12  generally includes a hollow cylindrical body  20  with a cap  22  mounted on an end thereof. At an end  26  of the cylindrical body  20  opposite the cap  22 , the cylindrical body  20  is open for receiving the neck  14 . A collar  24  is mounted around the cylindrical body  20 . The collar  24  and the cap  22  cooperate to allow movement of the three legs  18 A,  18 B,  18 C as will also be described in greater detail below.  
         [0023]     The neck  14  telescopes between an extended position as shown in  FIG. 1  and a collapsed position as shown in  FIG. 2 . The neck  14  includes a plurality of segments  30 A,  30 B,  30 C,  30 D, and  30 E. The segments  30 A-E are each hollow cylinders and are sized such that one of the segments  30 A-E fits within another such that the neck  14  may be extended or collapsed. Preferably, as best seen in  FIG. 4 , segment  30 A has an outer circumference less than an inner circumference of the hollow cylindrical body  20  of the base  12 , segment  30 B has an outer circumference less than an inner circumference of  30 A, and so on such that segment  30 E has an outer circumference less than an inner circumference of segment  30 D.  
         [0024]     The segments  30 A-E are held in place in the extended position by a detent system common to each of the segments  30 A-E and the hollow cylindrical tube  20 . Turning briefly to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , this detent system, indicated generally by reference numeral  32 , will be described with reference to the hollow cylindrical tube  20  and segment  30 A. However, it is to be understood that the detent system  34  is used with all the segments  30 A-E.  
         [0025]     As noted above, segment  30 A fits within the open end  26  of the hollow cylindrical tube  20 . The hollow cylindrical tube  20  has a first detent  34  and a second detent  36  formed therein near the open end  26 . The detents  34 ,  36  are formed around the entire circumference of the hollow cylindrical tube  20  and are spaced such that they are proximate to one another. A sheath  38  fits within the open end  26  and is held in place by a third detent  40  that engages a groove  42  formed in the sheath  38 . The sheath  38  is sized to receive segment  30 A.  
         [0026]     Segment  30 A includes an end cap  44  coupled to an end of segment  30 A located within the hollow cylindrical tube  20 . The end cap  44  is held in place by a detent  46  formed in segment  30 A that engages a groove  48  formed in the end cap  44 . The end cap  44  includes a plurality of tabs  50 , three in the example provided, that extend out from segment  30 A. Each tab  50  includes a head portion  52  sized such that it engages an inner surface  54  of the hollow cylindrical tube  20 .  
         [0027]     As seen in  FIG. 5A , segments  30 A-E of the neck  14  are in an extended position when the head portions  52  are located between the first and second detents  34 ,  36 . As seen in  FIG. 5B , urging segment  30 A towards the base  12  forces the tabs  50  to deflect radially inward such that the head portions  52  move past the first detent  34 . Since all the segments  30 A-E use the detent system  32  described above, the neck  14  may be collapsed or extended using any combination of the segments  30 A-E.  
         [0028]     Returning to  FIG. 1 , the neck  14  further includes an incremental adjustment system  60  comprising a rack  62  formed along the length of segment  30 B and a pinion collar  64  mounted on an end thereof. It is to be noted, however, that the incremental adjustment system  60  may be located on any of the segments  30 A-E or the base  12 . The fine tune adjustment system  60  incrementally moves segment  30 B from its collapsed position wherein segment  30 B is located within segment  30 A to an extended position wherein segment  30 B extends fully out from segment  30 A.  
         [0029]     With reference to  FIG. 6 , the pinion collar  64  includes a sheath portion  66  and an adjustment portion  68 . The sheath portion  66  is sized to fit over segment  30 B. The sheath portion  66  has a gap  70  formed in its side in alignment with a threaded mount  72  formed in the adjustment portion  68 . A screw plate  74  is mounted within the threaded mount  72 . The screw plate  74  includes a head  76  and a plate  78  with a threaded portion (not shown) therebetween. The plate  78  extends within the gap  70 . Movement of the head  76  drives the screw plate  74  within the threaded mount  72  and urges the plate  78  against segment  30 B, thereby allowing tightening or loosening of the pinion collar  64  relative to segment  30 B. A pinion  82  is mounted in the adjustment portion  68  and engages the rack  62  on segment  30 B. The pinion  82  includes an easily accessible head  84  that is used to rotate the pinion  82  and in turn drive segment  30 B up or down in small increments. Using the incremental adjustment system  60 , the neck  14  may be moved from its fully extended position, shown in  FIG. 1 , to its fully collapsed position, shown in  FIG. 2 , and any height therebetween.  
         [0030]     Returning to  FIG. 1 , the head  16  includes a housing  90  for preferably storing a laser leveler (not shown). Alternatively, the housing  90  may be used to protect any particular application that requires mobility and versatility, such as a sight scope or camera. The head  16  is mounted to a plate  92  formed at an end of segment  30 E.  
         [0031]     Turning now to  FIG. 7A , the attachment of the head  16  to the plate  92  will be described in further detail. Locking tabs  94  extend out from recesses  96  formed in the plate  92  and form part of a locking mechanism  98  that will be described in greater detail below. A centering tab  100  and a securing ridge  102  also extend out from the plate  92  and aid in the securing of the head  16  onto the plate  92 .  
         [0032]     Turning to  FIG. 7B , the head  16  has a bottom  104  essentially shaped to match the plate  92 . Specifically, a centering hole  106  is formed in the bottom  100  for receiving the centering tab  100  ( FIG. 7A ). Moreover, a contoured edge  108  is formed on the bottom  104  that is shaped to engage the securing ridge  102  ( FIG. 7A ).  
         [0033]     With reference to  FIG. 8 , the locking mechanism  98  will now be described in detail. The locking tabs  94  are each biased by a biasing member  110 , a spring in the preferred embodiment, to a locked position. Buttons  112  are mounted on each side of the plate  92  and engage the locking tabs  94 . The buttons  112  may be pushed towards one another against the biasing force of the biasing members  110  to move the locking tabs  94  to an unlocked position. The bottom  104  of the head  16  includes locking tab recesses  114  sized to receive the locking tabs  94  and button recesses  116  sized to receive the buttons  112 .  
         [0034]     To lock the head  16  onto the plate  92 , the buttons  112  are urged against the biasing members  110  such that the locking tabs  94  move to the unlocked position. The head  16  is then placed onto the plate  92  such that the centering tab  100  ( FIG. 7A ) aligns with the centering hole  106  ( FIG. 7B ), the securing ridge  102  abuts the contoured edge  108 , and the locking tabs  94  extend into the locking tab recesses  114 . The buttons  112  are then released, and the locking tabs  94  move to the locked position where lips  118  formed on the locking tabs  94  engage the locking tab recess  114  and prevent removal of the head  16  from the plate  92 . To remove the head  16 , the buttons  112  must again be depressed such that the lips  118  are clear of the locking tab recesses  114 , at which time the head  16  may be freely removed.  
         [0035]     Returning again to  FIG. 1 , the legs  18 A-C will now be described. Each leg  18 A-C includes a body  120 A-C having a first portion  122 A-C and a second portion  124 A-C. Each body  120 A-C further defines an inner surface  126 A-C (best seen in  FIG. 3 ) having a groove  128 A-C (best seen in  FIG. 3 ) formed therein. The legs  18 A-C are rotatingly coupled at an end of their first portions  122 A-C to the cap  22  of the base  12  to form a tripod configuration. Rubber stoppers  130 A-C are formed at an end of the second portions  124 A-C opposite the first portions  122 A-C to provide a gripping surface for the legs  18 A-C.  
         [0036]     The legs  18 A-C further include snap bars  132 A-C that extend from the inner surface  126 A-C to the base  12 . The snap bars  132 A-C have a first member  134 A-C and a second member  138 A-C pivotably coupled to one another. Specifically, the first members  134 A-C are each pivotably coupled to the collar  24  of the base  12  and the second members  138 A-C are each pivotably coupled to the inner surfaces  126 A-C of each leg  18 A-C. Accordingly, when the legs  18 A-C are in the extended position forming a tripod configuration as seen in  FIG. 1 , a locking feature  140 A-C on the snap bars  132 A-C keep the first member  134 A-C aligned with the second member  138 A-C such that the snap bars  132 A-C act as struts for the legs  18 A-C and lock the legs  18 A-C into their extended positions. Preferably, the locking feature  140 A-C includes a snap fit detent between the first member  134 A-C and the second member  138 A-C, although various other methods of locking may be employed.  
         [0037]     In order to store the tripod assembly  10 , the neck  14  must be fully collapsed as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The locking feature  140 A-C is then disengaged by pulling on an end of the first member  134 A-C. This releases the first and second members  134 A-C,  138 A-C and allows them to pivot with respect to one another. Then, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the snap bars  132 A-C must be moved such that the first member  134 A-C no longer aligns with the second member  138 A-C. The legs  18 A-C may then be moved from the extended position to a closed position, shown in  FIG. 4 . It should be noted legs  18 A and  18 C have been removed from  FIG. 4  for the sake of clarity.  
         [0038]     Specifically, the legs  18 A-C pivot about the cap  22  of the base  12 . Simultaneously with this pivoting, the snap bars  132 A-C fold such that the second members  138 A-C fit within the first members  134 A-C. The first members  134 A-C are in turn held within the grooves  128 A-C.  
         [0039]     In the collapsed position shown in  FIG. 4 , the first portions  126 A-C encapsulate the neck  14  and the base  12  while the second portions  128 A-C encapsulate the head  16 . The inner surfaces  126 A-C of the legs  18 A-C are contoured to fully enclose the base  12 , neck  14 , and head  16  thereby providing a protective shell. The legs  18 A-C may be held in the closed position by any conventional locking mechanism (not shown).  
         [0040]     This protective shell formed by the legs  18 A-C in the closed position provides a compact profile for the tripod assembly  10  thereby making the tripod assembly easily transportable. Also, the legs  18 A-C serve to protect the head  16  from damage during transport or storage without requiring removal and separate storage.  
         [0041]     The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.