Abstract:
A camera support for allowing stationary and stabilized mobile use of a video camera, comprising a base which is capable of free-standing upon a horizontal surface, a camera mount, and a vertical support extending between the base and camera mount. A gimbal bearing assembly is located on the vertical support, having an outer sleeve which is biaxially movable with respect to the vertical support, so that the entire camera support can be supported by the user holding the outer sleeve, allowing the user to move while the vertical support remains stabilized in an upright position. The base has a tripartite construction which is adjustable to balance the camera weight and has retractable legs to which dolly wheels may be removably mounted for an additional mode of mobile operation.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a video camera support device. More particularly, the invention relates to a device which supports a video camera and allows the camera to be operated while stationary as well as while in motion, wherein the camera is stabilized so that motion artifacts are smoothed or eliminated by the device. 
     A primary goal among both professional and amateur videographers is maintaining a jitter free image. Even when the videographer stands still, the relatively light weight of modern cameras make it easy for shaking and minute hand movements to translate to a jumpy image. But, when the videographer chooses to walk while shooting, the image will often be downright dizzying to the viewer. Only professionals and extremely experienced amateurs can actually walk with the camera and maintain fluid motion and a stabilized image. 
     One advance in professional videography is the so-called “STEADICAM”, stemming from U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,017,168 and 4,156,512 to Brown. The STEADICAM is a large device which helps a camera operator move around the subject while filming with relative ease, while maintaining fluid camera movement. However, while it can effectively maintain fluidity while moving, the STEADICAM does not allow the camera to be held perfectly still. The camera is always “floating”. Also, The STEADICAM is quite heavy, yet does not allow the operator to set it down on the ground at any time. In addition, the complexity of the STEADICAM makes it too expensive for amateurs. In addition, the STEADICAM does not allow the camera to be raised above the arm reach of the operator, seriously limiting its use in filming “bird&#39;s eye” camera angles. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,474,439 to Brown discloses another camera support design which provides support for the “electronics package”, a monitor, a battery, and other auxiliary equipment. This design is too complex and thus too expensive for the amateur videographer. Further, the design is configured specifically for supporting auxiliary equipment. Modern video cameras are generally self-contained, and require that the operator carry little or no additional equipment. 
     Other camera stabilizing and support devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,657,267 to Jaumann; U.S. Pat. No. 4,699,484 to Howell; U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,332 to Ishikawa; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,650,820 to Hewlett. While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose employed, or for general use, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as disclosed hereafter. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a video camera support which allows a video camera to be mounted thereto, and then allows a variety of operation modes, allowing for both stationary and mobile videography. Advantageously, the videographer need not remove the camera from the camera support while using the camera in various modes of operation, and even when the camera is not is use. Accordingly, the camera has a camera mount on its upper end, and has a base at its lower end which allows the camera to be supported in a free-standing position. 
     It is another object of the invention that the camera support stabilizes motion of the camera, reducing jitter and motion artifacts. Accordingly, the combined structural configuration, weighting, adjustability of the base, and gimbal bearing act to reduce camera shaking, increase fluidity of motion, and thus stabilize the acquired image. 
     It is another object of the invention that dolly wheels are detachably mountable to the base to provide a further mode of usage. Accordingly, the legs fold forward and rearwardly into parallel positions, and allow dolly wheels to be removably attached at extremities thereof. 
     The invention is a camera support for allowing stationary and stabilized mobile use of a video camera, comprising a base which is capable of free-standing upon a horizontal surface, a camera mount, and a vertical support extending between the base and camera mount. A gimbal bearing assembly is located on the vertical support, having an outer sleeve which is biaxially movable with respect to the vertical support, so that the entire camera support can be supported by the user holding the outer sleeve, allowing the user to move while the vertical support remains stabilized in an upright position. The base has a tripartite construction which is adjustable to balance the camera weight and has retractable legs to which dolly wheels may be removably mounted for an additional mode of mobile operation. 
     To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being part of the invention, limited only 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings, like elements are depicted by like reference numerals. The drawings are briefly described as follows. 
     FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view, illustrating a camera mounted upon the invention, per se. 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, illustrating the gimbal bearing assembly. 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, illustrating movement of the gimbal bearing assembly. 
     FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view, illustrating the base in an alternate position, wherein the legs are retractable inward to parallel forward and rearward positions, and wherein dolly wheels are removably mounted in the legs. 
     FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view, illustrating the bearing sleeve of the gimbal bearing assembly. 
     FIG. 6 is a top plan view, illustrating retractability of the legs of the base and relative motion between the extended and retracted positions. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a camera support  10 , comprising a base  12 , a camera mount  14 , and a vertical support  16  extending between the base  12  and camera mount  14 . A camera  15  is shown mounted to the camera mount  14 . The base  12  has four legs  18  extending outward therefrom. A gimbal bearing assembly  20  is located on the vertical support  16  between the base  12  and camera mount  14 . 
     The vertical support  16  preferably comprises telescoping sections  22  which allow adjustment of the distance between the base  12  and camera mount  14 . The telescoping sections  22  are typically a pair of coaxial tubes of slightly different sizes. The telescoping sections  22  may be fixed in a suitable relative position by twisting, set screws, or any other scheme which allows the relative position of such telescoping tubes to be maintained, as is well known by those of skill in the art, and accordingly is beyond the scope of this discussion. Preferably, the telescoping sections  22  extend above the gimbal bearing assembly  20 , and the vertical support  16  further comprises a lower support  23  which extends below the gimbal bearing assembly  20  and is a tube that is coaxial with the telescoping sections  22 . 
     The base  12  includes a central plate  24  and a pair of outer plates  26 . The outer plates  26  each have a sleeve  28  which allows the central plate  24  to slide therein, such that the outer plates  26  are capable of movement toward and away from each other, effectively lengthening or shortening the base  12 . The base includes a pair of plate tighteners  29 , each preferably being a tightening screw located on one of the outer plates  26 , in communication with the sleeve  28  thereof, so as to tighten against the central plate  24  located within said sleeve  28  and prevent relative movement of the central plate  24  with respect to said outer plate  26 . The relative movement of the outer plates  26  in the horizontal plane allow overall weight distribution of the base  12  to be adjusted. Accordingly, components of the base  12  can be customized to act as a counterweight for the camera  15 . 
     With simultaneous reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 5, the gimbal bearing assembly  20  is located on the vertical support  16  between the base  12  and camera mount  14 . The gimbal bearing assembly  20  comprises an outer sleeve  30  having an outer sleeve top  30 T, an inner sleeve  32 , and a handgrip, which may include a flange  34  mounted to the outer sleeve  30  at the outer sleeve top  30 T and/or a handle bar  36  extending radially from the outer sleeve  30 . The inner sleeve has a semispherical outer surface  35 , and an inner sleeve bore, such that the vertical support  16  extends fully through the inner sleeve bore. The outer sleeve  30  has a semispherical inner surface  31  which mates with the semispherical outer surface  35  of the inner sleeve  32  such that the outer sleeve  30  is capable of biaxial movement upon the inner sleeve  32 , partially indicated by FIG.  3 . In essence, the vertical support  16  is allowed to “float” within the outer sleeve  30  which helps accomplish the image stabilization goals of the invention. 
     The semispherical inner surface  31  of the outer sleeve  30  and the semispherical outer surface  35  of the outer sleeve  30  comprise what is commonly known as a two piece spherical bearing. A suitable two-piece spherical bearing is manufactured under the tradename SEALMASTER. Among these spherical bearings, the BH-LS Series of heavy duty spherical bearings is preferred. 
     When the base  12  is properly balanced, the camera support is held by a user by grasping the outer sleeve  30  with one hand. That hand can either hold the outer sleeve  30  directly, resting under the flange  34 , or firmly grasp the handle bar  36 , according to the embodiment of the invention and/or the preference of the user. The user can then move while holding the camera support  10 , and even vary the position of his hand with respect to the horizontal plane. The inherent weight of the base  12  and the vertical support  16  will help “right” the camera support, such that the vertical support and thus the camera will remain in a vertical position despite the hand position and accordingly the position of the outer sleeve  30 . In addition, rapid “side-to-side” movements are smoothed, as the inertia of the overall camera support interacts with the gimbal bearing so that the vertical support  16  fluidly lags but follows the hand motion at the outer sleeve  30  and then returns to its upright equilibrium position. In addition, the weight and inertia of the camera support stops jitters which otherwise occur from minute hand movements when holding a lightweight camera. It should also be noted that the handle bar can alternatively or additionally be attached to the vertical support  16  to provide a slight steering of the vertical support while primary support is provided by the user at the outer sleeve  30 . 
     The camera support  10  also works effectively in a stationary mode of operation. Accordingly, the base  12  is substantially flat, and is thus capable of free-standing upon a horizontal surface. Accordingly, the camera support can function effectively as a tripod, wherein the gimbal bearing assembly  20  allows the camera to be tilted as necessary and otherwise remain still. In addition, the camera may remain mounted to the camera support  10  even when the camera is not in use or when it is being transported. Further, many modern digital cameras provide for connectivity to personal computers. In accordance therewith, the camera can easily sit alongside a computer desk, held at desk height by the camera support, while images from the camera are downloaded to the computer. 
     FIG.  4  and FIG. 6 illustrate various modes and positions for the base  12 . In particular, the legs  18  are pivotable within the horizontal plane, and are capable of moving between various positions, including an extended position, as shown in FIG.  1  and in full lines in FIG. 6, and a retracted position, as shown in full lines in FIG.  4  and in phantom in FIG.  6 . In the retracted position, the legs  18  all extend parallel to each other, such that a pair of the legs extend forwardly of the base  12  of the camera support  10 , and a pair of the legs extend rearwardly of the base  12 . It should be further noted that in addition to the positions shown, the legs  18  can be configured to extend fully laterally (to the side), such that all legs  18  extend parallel to each other, and all legs are perpendicular to their retracted position shown in FIG.  4 . 
     Also illustrated in FIG.  1  and FIG. 4, dolly wheels  40  are removably mountable to the legs  18 . In particular, the legs  18  each have an extremity  18 E located on each legs  18  nearly fully opposite from the base  12 . A bore  19  may be located at the extremity  18 E to facilitate selective mounting and removal of the dolly wheels  40 . The dolly wheels  40  thus allow a further mode of mobile operation for the camera support  10 . In addition the various positions of the legs  18  allow for various effective widths between the wheels  40 . Varying the effective width, and the ability to attach different types of wheels  40  onto the legs also allows the camera support  10  to be used with various track or rail systems often employed in video and motion picture production. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates the camera mount  14 , and the manner of attaching the camera  15  thereto. The camera mount  14  comprises a vertical threaded rod  50 , extending coaxially upward from the vertical support  16 . A camera mounting nut  52  extends on the vertical threaded rod  50  for tightening up against the camera  15  once the camera  15  is fully threaded onto the vertical threaded rod  50 . 
     In conclusion, herein is presented a camera support for holding a camera during both stationary and mobile filming, such that the camera is effectively stabilized during mobile use thereof. In furtherance of the goals of the invention, said invention has been illustrated by example in the accompanying drawing figures and throughout the written description. It should be appreciated though, that numerous variations are possible, while adhering to the inventive concept. Such variations are contemplated as being a part of the present invention.