Abstract:
A camera or other items positioning device including a relatively hard endoskeleton substantially covered by a softer corpulent body. A mount region is coupled to the endoskeleton and configured to permit the releasable attachment of a camera or other device. The attachment mechanism may be mechanically or magnetically based, or both. The soft body permits the devices to be readily grasped by a user and to wrap securely about mounting structures of different size and shape. Several embodiments, including tripod, extra leg and monopod embodiments, are disclosed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/047,065, filed Apr. 22, 2008, entitled Optic Stabilization System and having Toren Orzeck as an inventor. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to devices on which a camera or other optical device may be mounted and positioned. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Various tripod devices are known on to which a camera or spotting scope may be mounted. These tripod devices typically provide various positioning features which may include height adjustment, pan and tilt, and universal ball and socket movement. These features are typically achieved through releasably locking mechanisms that provide mount pivoting or telescoping vertical movement and the like. 
         [0004]    These tripod devices are disadvantageous in that they tend to be bulky, expensive, rigid (which may damage a lens or camera body when stored together), and are prone to ready failure went bent or otherwise damaged in the field. 
         [0005]    Other devices are known to which a camera or other optical device may be mounted. These include a product known commercially as the Gorillapod that consists of three bendable legs that extend from a mount unit. The legs are formed of a series of interconnected ball and socket members formed of hard plastic. A thin rubber ring is provided about each of the socket housings. 
         [0006]    This product is disadvantageous in that it does not adequately support larger cameras, the hard material of their exposed structural skeleton can damage a camera with which it is transported and used, and it presents a rather hard and size-limited exterior contact surface, for grabbing and friction-based mounting. Also, the device is not very well anchored or stabilized. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a camera or other device positioning apparatus that overcomes the disadvantageous features of the prior art. 
         [0008]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a camera or other device positioning apparatus that has a soft, compliant body that affords protection to a camera or other device, enhanced surface area for friction-based mounting and/or a comfortable substrate into which the hand of a user can secure grab. 
         [0009]    It is also an object of the present invention to provide a camera or other device positioning apparatus that magnetic based mounting of an ancillary article, a cord for increased stability and anchoring and/or enhanced flotation. 
         [0010]    These and related objects of the present invention are achieved by use of a flexible, positionable and grasping ancillary article mount apparatus as described herein. 
         [0011]    The attainment of the foregoing and related advantages and features of the invention should be more readily-apparent to those skilled in the art, after review of the following more detailed description of the invention taken together with the drawings. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a top plan view of a positioning device  10  to which a camera  15  or other ancillary article may be mounted in shown in a “flattened” position. Referring to  FIG. 2 , a perspective view of device  10  in a “dome” positioned is shown. Referring to  FIG. 3 , a cross-sectional view (in the horizontal plane) of device  10  as disposed in  FIG. 1  is shown (with the feet excluded). Referring to  FIG. 4 , a perspective view of a mount base  41 , into which the leg supports  31 - 33  of legs  21 - 23  couple in accordance with the present invention is shown. The term ancillary article will be used herein to refer to a camera, spotting scope, light, sensor or any other device that can be mounted to the positioning devices of the present invention. 
         [0013]    Device  10  may include three legs  21 - 23  that are joined at a center region  40  that includes mount base  41 . Each leg preferably includes an endoskeleton or support section  31 - 33 . The endoskeleton is preferably configured such that a user may bend a leg into a desired position and the leg will retain the shape to which it is bent. 
         [0014]    In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , each leg endoskeleton section  31 - 33  is configured from a series of interlocking ball and socket members  36 . These members are formed with an inherent shape and bias that permits the ball  34  of one member to move under force in the socket  35  of an adjacent member and then retain the new alignment when the bending force is withdrawn. Ball and socket arrangements of this type are known in the art. 
         [0015]    The mount base  41  may have a mount structure on one side (preferably the top) which may be a threaded member  42  such as that found on a tripod or other camera or optical device mounting mechanism. A magnetic based mounting system (discussed in more detail with reference to  FIGS. 7 and 8  below) may be coupled to threaded member  42  or another mount structure. In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a magnet  81  is provided at mount base  41  for the releasable magnetic attachment of a camera or other ancillary article.  FIGS. 1 and 2  also illustrate the use of a platform  44  (through which threaded member  42  preferably extends to mount to the underside of the housing magnet  81 ). Platform  44  distributes weight and protects the body  45  and skin  48  adjacent the mount area. 
         [0016]    The mount base  41  preferably has a plurality of sockets  43 , or another suitable arrangement, for coupling to each of the endoskeleton legs. 
         [0017]    Through movement of the leg supports  31 - 33 , device  10  can be repositioned from a flat shape shown in  FIG. 1  to a dome shape shown in  FIG. 2 , or various other positions, including wrapping the legs around an object, e.g., a post, tree, frame, or other structure that may provide an advantageous perch for a camera, optical device or other item. 
         [0018]    The endoskeleton is preferably housed in a body of a soft, formable material that has shape memory. Small cell, soft foam is one suitable material, though other materials may be used. The soft, corpulent foam body provides several advantageous features which include, but are not limited to the following. The foam body renders device  10  easy to grasp and hold by a user. It is soft on the hand, and fingers readily compress into and hold the device. The compressible foam body combined with the bendable legs creates a device that may be wrapped around a camera and lens (or other object) to protect that item during transport. Furthermore, the broader foam body provides greater surface area for branding or use information and pockets or other attachments for gear, etc. Furthermore, the broad body provides ample surface area for friction-based retention of device  10  in a desired position, for example, when wrapped around a tree or other item. 
         [0019]    The compressible foam body is referred to as a whole by reference numeral  45  and in the individual legs  31 - 33  by reference numbers  37 - 39 , respectively. 
         [0020]    The exterior of the compressible body may be cloaked in a skin  48 . Attributes of the skin include protection of the compressible body  45 , increased friction for mounting to a support structure, improved tactile sensation in the hand of a user, and increased branding and design features. The skin may be one or more of neoprene, nylon, formed integrally as a hardened skin of the foam of body  45  or of another suitable material. In one embodiment, the interior/bottom side skin may be neoprene for increased friction and the exterior/top skin may be a stretchable nylon providing a smooth feel to a user. 
         [0021]    The skin may also be formed integrally with the foam or other material of the compressible body. This permits fabrication of feet in the same molding process, formation of additional traction/friction elements, and formation of ribs or the like to enhance gripability, etc. 
         [0022]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , each leg  31 - 33  preferably has a foot  51 - 53 , respectively, and a cord connecting structure  61 - 63 , respectively, which may be a D-ring or other suitable structure. The feet may be made of a non-slip rubber or other material and may provide the benefits of non-slip gripping to a surface and protection for the ends of the legs. 
         [0023]    A cord or cable  70  may be run through the D-rings to stabilize the legs (for example, as shown in  FIG. 2 ), increase the load capacity of the device, and securely attach the device to various mounting structures (tree, pole, frame, etc.). It should be recognized that as an alternative to the D-ring, an eyelet or other suitable opening for cord  70  may be formed directly in feet  51 - 53 . 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIGS. 5-6 , a top plan view in a “flattened position” and a perspective view in a “domed position” of another embodiment of a positioning device  110  in accordance with the present invention are respectively shown. Device  110  is similar to device  10  of  FIG. 1  and preferably has the same or substantially similar endoskeleton structure and corpulent body. 
         [0025]    Device  110  has at least one leg  121  that is longer than the other two. As shown in  FIG. 6 , this leg may be folded backwards and used to support a longer lens (and provide more even weight distribution when a longer lens is used). Foot  151  at the end of legs  121  may have a recess  154  formed therein to receive a lens. During transport this longer leg may be positioned under and then folded backwards over a lens to provide cushioned protection about the lens. 
         [0026]    A band or other base  165  (position adjustable or not) may be provided on the longer leg  121 . It is preferably position at a similar distance from mount base  141  as the cord connecting structures  162 , 163  and anchors a cord connecting structure  161  (on the interior side of leg  121 ). It is obscured from view in  FIG. 6  by leg  121 . 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , one embodiment of a magnetic mount assembly is shown. This assembly includes magnet  81  and a pivoting snap fit clip  85  that may be snapped into a releasable locking position about the magnet and the adapter mounted on the bottom of the ancillary article. This assembly provides both magnetic and mechanical releasable attachment. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , a perspective view of another embodiment of a positioning device  210  in accordance with the present invention is shown. Device  210  is similar to that of device  10  yet includes the additional feature of a detachable leg. For example, device  210  may be similar to device  10 , yet permit the addition of a longer leg when one is desired to support or protect a longer lens, or when additional support is needed for the mount base  241 . 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , a perspective view of another embodiment of a positioning device  310  in accordance with the present invention is shown. Device  310  is similar to devices  10 , 110 , 210  in that it has an endoskeleton covered by a compressible body and is similarly positionable. Device  310  is substantially linear or serpentine in shape compared to the three legged embodiments of devices  10 , 110 . 
         [0030]    It should be recognized that while the leg endoskeletons are shown as serially arranged ball and socket members (which may be made of plastic, metal, fiberglass or other materials), the endoskeleton sections may be formed of bundles of metal wire or as individual bendable metal members or of other suitable bendable and positionable materials. 
         [0031]    At one or more foot regions or along one or more legs, an accessory socket may be provided for the attachment of accessories such as flashes and longer legs, etc. 
         [0032]    The body may include memory foam or non-memory foam depending on desired characteristics. Alternative materials include fibrous materials or other suitable compressible, resilient materials. 
         [0033]    The skin may be formed of cloth, neoprene, nylon, a second layer of foam, or a combination of these or other materials. 
         [0034]    While the invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification, and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth, and as fall within the scope of the invention and the limits of the appended claims.