Mounting platform assembly for a stand device

A mounting platform assembly for a stand device includes a connecting platform having two parallel engaging blocks projecting from a bottom surface thereof, each having a positioning hole and forming a slope on an outward face thereof; and a fixing base having two engaging ribs projecting from a top surface thereof, each forming a sliding groove on the top surface of the fixing base corresponding to the slope of each engaging block, and the fixing base having a positioning means including an engaging button and a push rod. When a conical portion of the push rod abuts against a bottom end of the engaging button, the other end of the engaging button projects from the top surface of the fixing base to engage with the positioning hole of the engaging block, thereby achieving the positioning and fixing of the connecting platform.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a mounting platform assembly for a stand device, which is capable of fast positioning and fixing an object, such as a camera, to the stand device.

2. The Prior Arts

In general, when using a camera or video camera to photo or shoot, a user usually holds the camera or video camera by hands. However, the hands of the user may shake or sway so as to make the resulted pictures vague. Therefore, in order to keep the stability in taking a photograph, a mounting platform assembly is often used to fix the camera to a stand device. After the camera has been fixed, it can be used to stably shoot by time lapse or remote control. Especially, some bulkier and heavier cameras or video cameras need to be supported by stand devices to smooth the shooting. Also, the camera to be fixed to a stand device is often mounted to a mounting platform assembly.

Referring toFIG. 1, a conventional mounting platform assembly10comprises a supporting base11, a connecting platform12and a screw rod13. The supporting base11is mounted on general stand devices. The connecting platform12is mounted on the supporting base11. The screw rod13is projected from a top surface of the connecting platform12, such that the screw rod13can be threadedly connected with a screw hole or a connecting member provided on a bottom of a camera. In this way, the fixing of the camera is achieved.

However, in order to fix a camera to the conventional mounting platform assembly10, the user must align the screw hole provided on the bottom of the camera with the screw rod13, such that the screw rod13can be threaded into the screw hole and thus be fixed thereto. When detaching the camera from the mounting platform assembly10, the user needs to operate conversely such that the screw rod13can be threaded out of the screw hole. As a result, no matter assembling or disassembling, the above operation is very inconvenient. In some cases having special requirements, for example, a reporter or ecological photographer may miss very important scenes if he or she does not complete the assembling of the camera as soon as possible and timely take the shoot. Therefore, it is necessary for the photographers to have a stand device with a mounting platform assembly that can be fast assembled/disassembled and safely fixed with the camera. Although a mounting platform assembly, which has been changed to a sliding-type structure and can be fast assembled with a camera, is proposed, they are not provided with any safety positioning means. Thus, the camera connected thereon is liable to slide out of the mounting platform assembly. It still has a problem not able to achieve the safe fixation of the camera.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the present invention is to provide a mounting platform assembly for a stand device, which is capable of fast positioning and fixing an object, such as a camera, to the stand device.

To achieve the above-mentioned objective, a mounting platform assembly for a stand device is mounted on a supporting base and comprises a connecting platform provided with two parallel engaging blocks projecting from a bottom surface thereof, wherein an outward face of each engaging block forms a slope, each engaging block is provided with a positioning hole; and a fixing base having two engaging ribs projecting from a top surface thereof, wherein each engaging rib forms a sliding groove on the top surface of the fixing base corresponding to the slope of each engaging block, the fixing base is provided laterally with a transverse notch in communication with a through hole perpendicularly provided on the fixing base, the through hole receives a first elastic element and an engaging button, the notch receives a second elastic element and a push rod, a bottom end of the engaging button abuts on the push rod; and wherein the push rod has a slender portion and an conical portion near a middle section thereof, when the conical portion abuts against the bottom end of the abutting button, the other end of the engaging button projects from the top surface of the fixing base to engage with the positioning hole of the engaging block; when pushing the push rod so as to make the slender portion abut against the bottom end of the engaging button, the engaging button is retracted in the through hole due to the elastic force of the first elastic element.

Further, a bottom surface of the fixing base is provided with a penetrating hole in communication with the notch. The penetrating hole is threadedly connected with a screw rod, and one end of the screw rod projects into the notch and exactly abuts against the push rod to limit the moving range of the push rod.

Therefore, in practical application for the present invention, users can first connect the connecting platform to a screw hole or a connecting member on a camera by a screw. Then, the connecting platform and the camera directly slide into the sliding grooves of the fixing base. At this time, push the push rod forward to make the engaging button retract in the through hole of the fixing base. After the connecting platform slides to a proper position, release the push rod such that the engaging button projects into and engages with the positioning hole of the connecting platform. In this way, the connecting platform can be fast assembled/disassembled, and the stability in assembling can be ensured. Further, the accidental sliding of the connecting platform and the camera can be prevented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference toFIG. 2, a mounting platform assembly for a stand device in accordance with the present invention comprises a fixing base20and a connecting platform30. The connecting platform30having two male engaging blocks31engages with two sliding grooves211of the fixing base20; and, by the engagement of a positioning hole32on the male engaging block31and an engaging button221on a top surface the fixing base20, the connecting platform30can be firmly fixed on the fixing base20.

Next, with reference toFIGS. 2 and 3, the fixing base20is provided with two engaging ribs21projecting from the top surface thereof. Faces of the engaging ribs21opposite to each other are provided with a slope and thus form a sliding groove211on the top surface of the fixing base20, respectively. The fixing base20is laterally provided with a transverse notch202in communication with a through hole201perpendicularly provided on the fixing base20. The through hole201receives an engaging button221, and the notch202receives a push rod222. The engaging button221and the push rod222forms a positioning means22to position the connecting platform30.

The engaging rib21can be fixedly provided, or provided on a movable T-shaped engaging block23as shown in this embodiment. In this case, the fixing base20is provided with an inserting groove (not labeled) corresponding to the T-shaped engaging block23. A spring (not shown) is provided between the T-shaped engaging block23and the inserting groove. The T-shaped engaging block23is also provided with a fixing rod24having a knob25to firmly mount the T-shaped engaging block23to the fixing base20.

Further, a bottom surface of the fixing base20is provided with a penetrating hole203in communication with the notch202, which is threadedly connected with a screw rod225. The fixing base20is provided with a receiving hole204penetrating through the fixing base20, such that the fixing base20can be fixed to the supporting base11by a screw (seeFIG. 1).

The connecting platform30is provided with two parallel engaging blocks31projecting from a bottom surface thereof. The outward face of each engaging block31forms a slope311corresponding to the sliding groove211. Each engaging block31is provided with a positioning hole32for engaging with the engaging button221of the fixing base20. All the two engaging blocks31and the two positioning holes32can be symmetrically provided. In this way, whether the inserting direction of the connecting platform30is reverse or not, the connecting platform30can be well assembled. A connecting hole301is provided in a center of the connecting platform30, such that the user can connect the connecting platform30to a screw hole or a connecting member on a camera by a screw. Further, in order to prevent the mounting platform assembly from scraping the camera and increase the stability in connection, a soft pad33is further provided on a top surface of the connecting platform30for a cushion. The pad33can be made by but not limited to rubber and other soft elastic materials.

With reference toFIG. 4, a positioning means22mainly comprises an engaging button221and a push rod222. The engaging button221comprises an engaging post2211and an abutting block2212. The engaging button221is received in the through hole201, which has an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion of the through hole201allows the engaging post2211to move therein, while an outer diameter of the lower portion of the through hole201is larger than and allows the abutting block2212to move therein. In assembling, a first elastic element223is inserted into the through hole201from a lower end thereof; then, the engaging button221with the engaging post2211facing upward is inserted into the through hole201.

The push rod222comprises in order a push end2221exposed to a side face of the fixing base20after assembled, a slender portion2222, a conical portion2223, a brake portion2224, and an abutting end2225. After the engaging button221is assembled, the engaging button221is pressed toward the smaller end of the through hole201. As a result, after the abutting block2212of the engaging button221departs from the notch202(seeFIG. 5), the second elastic element224is inserted into the notch202, and then, the push rod222is inserted into the notch202.

Finally, the push rod222is further pushed forward, such that the brake portion2224corresponds to the penetrating hole203(seeFIGS. 3 and 5). Then, the screw rod225is threaded into the penetrating hole203, while one end of the screw rod225projects into the notch202to abut the push rod222between the abutting end2225and the conical portion2223. As a result, the push rod222can only slide in a length range of the brake portion2224for restricting the push rod222not to bounce out of the notch202. The above-mentioned first elastic element223and the second elastic element224are but not limited to springs.

With reference toFIG. 5, as described in the above, a camera should be first connected to the connecting platform30, and then the connecting platform30is mounted on the fixing base20. In assembling, the engaging blocks31of the connecting platform30are slid into the sliding grooves211of the fixing base20(seeFIG. 2); and then, presses the push end2221of the push rod222toward the second elastic element224so as to make the slender portion2222align with the engaging button221. At this time, the abutting block2212will abut against the slender portion2222due to the elastic force of the first elastic element223. In this way, the engaging post2211can be retracted beneath the top surface of the fixing base20, such that the connecting platform30can slide over the engaging post2211and position at the proper position.

With reference toFIG. 6, after the connecting platform30has located in position on the fixing base20, release the push rod222. The push rod222will move backward until the abutting end2225touches the screw rod225, due to the elastic force of the second elastic element224. During the backward movement of the push rod222, a conical surface of the conical portion2223gradually pushes upward the abutting block2212of the engaging button221. When the push rod222moves backward to the proper position, the engaging button221is pushed upward to a highest point. At this time, the engaging post2211projects from the top surface of the fixing base20to engage with the positioning hole32of the connecting platform30, such that the connecting platform30can be suitably positioned and fixed. When intending to disassemble, a simply detachment of the connecting platform30from the fixing base20can be carried out by the above operations in reverse order. Therefore, the present invention can be fast assembled/disassembled, and increase the stability in assembling by utilizing the positioning means. Further, the accidental sliding of the connecting platform30and the camera can be prevented.