Abstract:
A tripod is configured with a body configured to match the shape and size of the bottom of a camera. The tripod body optionally includes recesses allowing the three legs to fold up into the body, resulting in a substantially planar bottom surface. The three legs, when extended, are independently positionable to give the user the flexibility to use the tripod on non-planar surfaces, and to allow some aiming of the camera.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     Low light situations in photography often require long shutter speeds for proper exposure. As a general rule of thumb cameras may be carefully hand held for shutter speeds at or above the inverse of the focal length of the lens in mm, for capturing a sufficiently sharp image. For example, a camera with a 100 mm lens may be hand held for shutter speeds of 1/100 seconds or faster. If slower shutter speeds are necessary, the camera must be stabilized to prevent blurring of the image. Many photographers carry large tripods to provide this stability. However, full-size tripods are bulky, heavy, and expensive. Small tripods exist and many users will carry along a pocket (of backpacking) tripod. However, even these small tripods (when used with pocket digital cameras) take up a substantial amount of space, generally must be carried separate from the camera since when they are attached to the camera, they stick out and are not convenient for packing, and because of this may be easily forgotten.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     A tripod is configured with a body configured to match the shape and size of the bottom of a camera. The tripod body optionally includes recesses allowing the three legs to fold up into the body, resulting in a substantially planar bottom surface. The three legs, when extended, are independently positionable to give the user the flexibility to use the tripod on non-planar surfaces, and to allow some aiming of the camera.  
         [0003]     Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]      FIGS. 1A-1H  show an example embodiment of a tripod including pin hinged tripod legs according to the present invention.  
         [0005]      FIG. 1A  is a top view of an example embodiment of a tripod according to the present invention.  
         [0006]      FIG. 1B  is a left view of an example embodiment of a tripod according to the present invention.  
         [0007]      FIG. 1C  is a right view of an example embodiment of a tripod according to the present invention.  
         [0008]      FIG. 1D  is a front view of an example embodiment of a tripod according to the present invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 1E  is a back view of an example embodiment of a tripod according to the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 1F  is a bottom view of an example embodiment of a tripod according to the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 1G  is a lower perspective view of an example embodiment of a tripod according to the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 1H  is an upper perspective view of an example embodiment of a tripod according to the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIGS. 2A-2H  show the example embodiment of a tripod including pin hinged tripod legs from  FIGS. 1A-1H  with the legs extended according to the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2A  is a top view of the example embodiment of a tripod from  FIGS. 1A-1H  with the legs extended according to the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 2B  is a left view of the example embodiment of a tripod from  FIGS. 1A-1H  with the legs extended according to the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2C  is a right view of the example embodiment of a tripod from  FIGS. 1A-1H  with the legs extended according to the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2D  is a front view of the example embodiment of a tripod from  FIGS. 1A-1H  with the legs extended according to the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 2E  is a back view of the example embodiment of a tripod from  FIGS. 1A-1H  with the legs extended according to the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 2F  is a bottom view of the example embodiment of a tripod from  FIGS. 1A-1H  with the legs extended according to the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 2G  is a lower perspective view of the example embodiment of a tripod from  FIGS. 1A-1H  with the legs extended according to the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 2H  is an upper perspective view of the example embodiment of a tripod from  FIGS. 1A-1H  with the legs extended according to the present invention.  
         [0022]      FIGS. 3A-3H  show an example embodiment of a tripod including ball and socket hinged tripod legs according to the present invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 3A  is a top view of an example embodiment of a tripod according to the present invention.  
         [0024]      FIG. 3B  is a left view of an example embodiment of a tripod according to the present invention.  
         [0025]      FIG. 3C  is a right view of an example embodiment of a tripod according to the present invention.  
         [0026]      FIG. 3D  is a front view of an example embodiment of a tripod according to the present invention.  
         [0027]      FIG. 3E  is a back view of an example embodiment of a tripod according to the present invention.  
         [0028]      FIG. 3F  is a bottom view of an example embodiment of a tripod according to the present invention.  
         [0029]      FIG. 3G  is a lower perspective view of an example embodiment of a tripod according to the present invention.  
         [0030]      FIG. 3H  is an upper perspective view of an example embodiment of a tripod according to the present invention.  
         [0031]      FIGS. 4A-4H  show the example embodiment of a tripod including ball and socket hinged tripod legs from  FIGS. 3A-3H  with the legs extended according to the present invention.  
         [0032]      FIG. 4A  is a top view of the example embodiment of a tripod from  FIGS. 3A-3H  with the legs extended according to the present invention.  
         [0033]      FIG. 4B  is a left view of the example embodiment of a tripod from  FIGS. 3A-3H  with the legs extended according to the present invention.  
         [0034]      FIG. 4C  is a right view of the example embodiment of a tripod from  FIGS. 3A-3H  with the legs extended according to the present invention.  
         [0035]      FIG. 4D  is a front view of the example embodiment of a tripod from  FIGS. 3A-3H  with the legs extended according to the present invention.  
         [0036]      FIG. 4E  is a back view of the example embodiment of a tripod from  FIGS. 3A-3H  with the legs extended according to the present invention.  
         [0037]      FIG. 4F  is a bottom view of the example embodiment of a tripod from  FIGS. 3A-3H  with the legs extended according to the present invention.  
         [0038]      FIG. 4G  is a lower perspective view of the example embodiment of a tripod from  FIGS. 3A-3H  with the legs extended according to the present invention.  
         [0039]      FIG. 4H  is an upper perspective view of the example embodiment of a tripod from  FIGS. 3A-3H  with the legs extended according to the present invention.  
         [0040]      FIG. 5A  is a front perspective view of the example embodiment of a tripod from  FIGS. 3A-3H  with the legs extended and mechanically coupled with a camera according to the present invention.  
         [0041]      FIG. 5B  is a rear perspective view of the example embodiment of a tripod from  FIGS. 3A-3H  with the legs extended and mechanically coupled with a camera according to the present invention.  
         [0042]      FIG. 5C  is a front view of the example embodiment of a tripod from  FIGS. 3A-3H  with the legs extended and mechanically coupled with a camera according to the present invention.  
         [0043]      FIG. 5D  is a right side view of the example embodiment of a tripod from  FIGS. 3A-3H  with the legs extended and mechanically coupled with a camera according to the present invention.  
         [0044]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart of an example embodiment of a method to manufacture a tripod according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0045]     This description of the preferred embodiments is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description of this invention. In the description, relative terms such as “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “up,” “down,” “top,” “bottom,” “left,” and “right” as well as derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing figure under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and normally are not intended to require a particular orientation. Terms concerning attachments, coupling and the like, such as “connected,” “coupled,” and “interconnected,” refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise.  
         [0046]      FIGS. 1A-1H  show an example embodiment of a tripod including pin hinged tripod legs according to the present invention. In this example embodiment of the present invention a tripod is constructed comprising a tripod body  100  a tripod bolt  106  and three tripod legs  102 . The tripod legs  102  are hingeably attached to the tripod body  100  by pins  110 . These pins  110  are friction fit into holes in the tripod body  100  and the tripod legs  102  such that the tripod legs  102  may extend from the tripod body  100  at a plurality of angles while retaining sufficient strength to support a camera mechanically coupled to the top of the tripod body  100 . In some embodiments of the present invention, the tripod legs  102  include fingernail recesses  112  configured to enable a user to extend the tripod legs  102  from the tripod body  100 . The tripod bolt  106  is mechanically coupled with the tripod body  100  such that the bolt  106  may be rotated to tighten or loosen the tripod to a camera while remaining attached to the tripod body  100  when the tripod is removed from the camera. This feature may be realized with a groove in the tripod bolt  106  and a tab or lock ring within the tripod body  100 . Those of skill in the art will recognize that this feature is optional and may be realized in a wide variety of ways all within the scope of the present invention. In an example embodiment of the present invention, the tripod bolt  106  includes a knurled head  108  allowing a user to tighten or loosen the tripod to a camera without the use of tools. Other methods of tightening or loosening the tripod bolt  106  may be used within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0047]      FIG. 1A  is a top view of an example embodiment of a tripod according to the present invention. The top surface of the tripod head  100  is configured to mate to the bottom surface of a camera and to match the horizontal extent of the bottom surface of the camera. This allows the tripod to be attached to a camera without extending out beyond the horizontal extent of the camera. The thickness of the tripod body  100  will add to the vertical extent of the camera, however, the footprint of the camera will remain unchanged with the tripod attached, allowing easy storage of the camera with the tripod attached. This feature enables users to leave the tripod affixed to the camera without significant penalty in storage space.  
         [0048]      FIG. 1B  is a left view of an example embodiment of a tripod according to the present invention.  
         [0049]      FIG. 1C  is a right view of an example embodiment of a tripod according to the present invention.  
         [0050]      FIG. 1D  is a front view of an example embodiment of a tripod according to the present invention.  
         [0051]      FIG. 1E  is a back view of an example embodiment of a tripod according to the present invention.  
         [0052]      FIG. 1F  is a bottom view of an example embodiment of a tripod according to the present invention.  
         [0053]      FIG. 1G  is a lower perspective view of an example embodiment of a tripod according to the present invention.  
         [0054]      FIG. 1H  is an upper perspective view of an example embodiment of a tripod according to the present invention.  
         [0055]      FIGS. 2A-2H  show the example embodiment of a tripod including pin hinged tripod legs from  FIGS. 1A-1H  with the legs extended according to the present invention.  
         [0056]      FIG. 2A  is a top view of the example embodiment of a tripod from  FIGS. 1A-1H  with the legs extended according to the present invention.  
         [0057]      FIG. 2B  is a left view of the example embodiment of a tripod from  FIGS. 1A-1H  with the legs extended according to the present invention.  
         [0058]      FIG. 2C  is a right view of the example embodiment of a tripod from  FIGS. 1A-1H  with the legs extended according to the present invention.  
         [0059]      FIG. 2D  is a front view of the example embodiment of a tripod from  FIGS. 1A-1H  with the legs extended according to the present invention.  
         [0060]      FIG. 2E  is a back view of the example embodiment of a tripod from  FIGS. 1A-1H  with the legs extended according to the present invention.  
         [0061]      FIG. 2F  is a bottom view of the example embodiment of a tripod from  FIGS. 1A-1H  with the legs extended according to the present invention.  
         [0062]      FIG. 2G  is a lower perspective view of the example embodiment of a tripod from  FIGS. 1A-1H  with the legs extended according to the present invention.  
         [0063]      FIG. 2H  is an upper perspective view of the example embodiment of a tripod from  FIGS. 1A-1H  with the legs extended according to the present invention.  
         [0064]      FIGS. 3A-3H  show an example embodiment of a tripod including ball and socket hinged tripod legs according to the present invention. In this example embodiment of the present invention a tripod is constructed comprising a tripod body  300  a tripod bolt  306  and three tripod legs  302 . The tripod legs  302  are hingeably attached to the tripod body  300  by ball and socket joints  308 . These ball and socket joints  308  are configured to friction fit with the tripod legs  302  such that the tripod legs  302  may extend from the tripod body  300  at a plurality of angles while retaining sufficient strength to support a camera mechanically coupled to the top of the tripod body  300 . In this example embodiment of the present invention, the sockets of the ball and socket joints are mechanically coupled with the tripod body  300  by a plurality of small screws  310 . Other embodiments may use other configurations of the hinge joint all within the scope of the present invention. The tripod. bolt  306  is mechanically coupled with the tripod body  300  such that the bolt  306  may be rotated to tighten or loosen the tripod to a camera while remaining attached to the tripod body  300  when the tripod is removed from the camera. This feature may be realized with a groove in the tripod bolt  306  and a tab or lock ring within the tripod body  300 . Those of skill in the art will recognize that this feature is optional and may be realized in a wide variety of ways all within the scope of the present invention. The tripod body  300  in this example embodiment of the present invention also includes a number of extra tripod bolt holes  314 . A family of cameras may have the same bottom footprint, but may have the tripod hole in different locations. By providing extra tripod bolt holes  314 , the tripod bolt  306  may be placed in the proper bolt hole  314  for a particular camera model while allowing use of the tripod with other camera models. In an example embodiment of the present invention, the tripod bolt  306  includes a slotted head  312  allowing a user to tighten or loosen the tripod to a camera with a screwdriver or small coin. Other methods of tightening or loosening the tripod bolt  306  may be used within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0065]      FIG. 3A  is a top view of an example embodiment of a tripod according to the present invention. The top surface of the tripod head  300  is configured to mate to the bottom surface of a camera and to match the horizontal extent of the bottom surface of the camera. This allows the tripod to be attached to a camera without extending out beyond the horizontal extent of the camera. The thickness of the tripod body  300  will add to the vertical extent of the camera, however, the footprint of the camera will remain unchanged with the tripod attached, allowing easy storage of the camera with the tripod attached. This feature enables users to leave the tripod affixed to the camera without significant penalty in storage space.  
         [0066]      FIG. 3B  is a left view of an example embodiment of a tripod according to the present invention.  
         [0067]      FIG. 3C  is a right view of an example embodiment of a tripod according to the present invention.  
         [0068]      FIG. 3D  is a front view of an example embodiment of a tripod according to the present invention.  
         [0069]      FIG. 3E  is a back view of an example embodiment of a tripod according to the present invention.  
         [0070]      FIG. 3F  is a bottom view of an example embodiment of a tripod according to the present invention.  
         [0071]      FIG. 3G  is a lower perspective view of an example embodiment of a tripod according to the present invention.  
         [0072]      FIG. 3H  is an upper perspective view of an example embodiment of a tripod according to the present invention.  
         [0073]      FIGS. 4A-4H  show the example embodiment of a tripod including ball and socket hinged tripod legs from  FIGS. 3A-3H  with the legs extended according to the present invention.  
         [0074]      FIG. 4A  is a top view of the example embodiment of a tripod from  FIGS. 3A-3H  with the legs extended according to the present invention.  
         [0075]      FIG. 4B  is a left view of the example embodiment of a tripod from  FIGS. 3A-3H  with the legs extended according to the present invention.  
         [0076]      FIG. 4C  is a right view of the example embodiment of a tripod from  FIGS. 3A-3H  with the legs extended according to the present invention.  
         [0077]      FIG. 4D  is a front view of the example embodiment of a tripod from  FIGS. 3A-3H  with the legs extended according to the present invention.  
         [0078]      FIG. 4E  is a back view of the example embodiment of a tripod from  FIGS. 3A-3H  with the legs extended according to the present invention.  
         [0079]      FIG. 4F  is a bottom view of the example embodiment of a tripod from  FIGS. 3A-3H  with the legs extended according to the present invention.  
         [0080]      FIG. 4G  is a lower perspective view of the example embodiment of a tripod from  FIGS. 3A-3H  with the legs extended according to the present invention.  
         [0081]      FIG. 4H  is an upper perspective view of the example embodiment of a tripod from  FIGS. 3A-3H  with the legs extended according to the present invention.  
         [0082]      FIG. 5A  is a front perspective view of the example embodiment of a tripod from  FIGS. 3A-3H  with the legs extended and mechanically coupled with a camera according to the present invention. Notice that the footprint of the tripod matches the footprint of the bottom surface of the camera  500 , such that when the tripod legs  302  are not extended, the tripod does not extend beyond the horizontal extent of the camera. Also, since the tripod legs  302  are friction fit to the tripod body  300  they may be extended at a wide variety of angles with respect to the tripod body  300  while maintaining sufficient strength to support the camera  500 .  
         [0083]      FIG. 5B  is a rear perspective view of the example embodiment of a tripod from  FIGS. 3A-3H  with the legs extended and mechanically coupled with a camera according to the present invention.  
         [0084]      FIG. 5C  is a front view of the example embodiment of a tripod from  FIGS. 3A-3H  with the legs extended and mechanically coupled with a camera according to the present invention.  
         [0085]      FIG. 5D  is a right side view of the example embodiment of a tripod from  FIGS. 3A-3H  with the legs extended and mechanically coupled with a camera according to the present invention.  
         [0086]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart of an example embodiment of a method to manufacture a tripod according to the present invention. In a step  600 , a tripod body, sized to match the bottom footprint of a camera is provided. In a step  602 , at least one tripod bolt hole is drilled through the tripod body. In a step  604 , three tripod legs are mechanically coupled to the tripod body with hinges. In an optional step  606 , recesses are formed in a lower surface of the tripod body and configured to accept the tripod legs into the tripod body when the tripod legs are not extended. In an optional step  608 , fingernail recesses are formed in the tripod legs and configured to facilitate the extension of the tripod legs by a user. In an optional step  610 , at least one extra tripod bolt hole is drilled through the tripod body.  
         [0087]     The foregoing description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and other modifications and variations may be possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the appended claims be construed to include other alternative embodiments of the invention except insofar as limited by the prior art.