Abstract:
A tripod having legs which automatically open and close when the device is placed on a support surface and removed from the support surface, respectively. The device includes a telescopic center post, a plurality of downwardly extending support legs, a plurality of coupling links pivotally attached at one end to a bottom end of the center post and pivotally attached at the other end to the bottom end of the support legs. The attachment of the coupling links to the support legs is linked at the bottom of the support legs so that the coupling serves as a foot on the support surface when extended. Hinge-type mechanisms between the coupling links and support legs allows the support legs to close to a vertical position parallel and adjacent to the center post while allowing the legs to automatically open when the tripod is placed on the support surface.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims one or more inventions which were disclosed in Provisional Application No. 62/114,625, filed Feb. 11, 2015, entitled “Tripod With Automatically Extending And Retracting Legs”. The benefit under 35 USC §119(e) of the United States provisional application is hereby claimed, and the aforementioned application is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    Generally, the invention pertains to a vertical support. More particularly, the invention pertains to a tripod having support legs which automatically open and close when the tripod is placed on a support surface and lifted from a support surface. This particular improved automatic tripod opens and closes reliably and fluidly with no special care or manipulation needed by the user, which makes it both convenient for consumers to instantly use without needing to fiddle with or adjust the device, and also reliable and therefore appropriate for use with expensive consumer electronics like a smartphone. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Tripods are commonly used by professionals in the video and photographic industries to support and stabilize equipment such as cameras, lights, and background screens, and by consumers for a multitude of products. Typically, tripods include at least three pivotally mounted support legs movable between open and closed positions. The support legs stabilize the tripod in a vertical position and prevent movement of the video equipment during filming. The tripods often have telescopic legs or a telescopic center post to allow a user to adjust the height of the equipment being mounted on the tripod. The legs of the tripod pivot to the closed position whereby all three legs extend generally adjacent and parallel to one another. 
         [0006]    One problem with this type of prior art tripod is the often awkward process of pivoting the support legs to the open position. Support legs must be moved to the open position, telescopically adjusted to the proper height, and locked in place. Repeated adjustments may be necessary on uneven ground, or if the user is uncertain that the legs are properly adjusted. Simplified tripod bases can be opened more easily but often scrape on the ground or surrounding objects. They also are prone to catch as they fold open, or to open unevenly or in a position that isn&#39;t ready to bear weight, especially on uneven ground or in tight quarters. 
         [0007]    I have found that adjustment of tripods is a burdensome step in the photography and videography process, especially for amateurs, who aren&#39;t as practiced in tripod use as professionals. This lack of familiarity is doubly challenging for amateurs as they also aren&#39;t as prepared as professionals for the constant challenge of videography and photography: quickly establishing and then maintaining a readiness to capture the moment, without concern about the readiness of peripheral equipment such as a tripod. 
         [0008]    I see that is an increasingly important problem as more and more amateur photographers stop use of single-purpose cameras and video cameras and rely instead on smartphones, which of their nature encourage consumers to expect portability, instant readiness, and ease of use. While consumers in the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s could commonly be seen in public shooting photo or video using a tripod, today almost no casual videographers such as soccer dads or vacationers can be seen using tripods with smartphone cameras. 
         [0009]    Several prior art tripods have been developed which disclose a mechanism to open the support legs of a tripod or similar structure by use of telescoping columns, and by use of moveable legs attached to collars. These date back to 1899, when Leedy filed U.S. Pat. No. 624,662 for “Drum Stand,” which had legs hinged in the middle, with a lower collar sliding on a central shaft. That tripod, like so many patented improved designs to come in the next century, offered users a telescoping pole with nesting columns in order to raise and lower the height of the object being supported. The collars to which the legs were mounted slid and adjusted on the exterior of the outer column. Those hinged legs attached to collars required users to secure them in place before use, and then to manually retract them after use to make the tripod device more compact for transport and storage. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 624,662 and US Publ. No. 2007/0235605 show either the upper collar, or the lower collar, slideably movable on the central column. The central column is often telescoping. The prior art does not proposes to affix the collars for the hinged legs to each of the telescoping columns, with the result of automatically opening and closing tripod legs that require no manual attention in the course of use. More than a century of tripod innovations has not included such an improvement. 
         [0011]    In the last few decades, several patented inventions have sought to create automatically opening and shutting tripods, but they each present drawbacks in ease of use and reliability. 
         [0012]    For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,705,251 discloses a self-erecting tripod apparatus having three outwardly extending legs which are attached to a lower rod which telescopically engages an upper sleeve intermediate the three legs. When the center rod is lowered onto a support surface, the support legs are automatically extended to an outward open position and when the apparatus is lifted from the support surface the support legs will collapse to a closed position under the influence of gravity. A vertically slidable collar extends around the center rod and includes a plurality of links pivotally mounted to the collar and to the support legs. The support legs move between the open and closed positions as the bottom collar moves upwardly and downwardly, respectively, along the center rod. 
         [0013]    The design of the &#39;251 tripod automatically opens and retracts, but does so without the benefit of a base that is stable on a variety of surfaces. Its three feet and central pole, rigidly extended, amount to four small points of contact with the support surface. That does not allow for quick, reliable use on uneven surfaces such as hills, and in varied terrain including sand, grass, or foliage. Another problem with the &#39;251 patent&#39;s design is that the legs must be angled outward even when the tripod is in the closed position. That makes the tripod unwieldy and able to snag on clothing. It also prevents the tripod from being easily transported in a bag with other items, given that the outwardly angled legs could catch on the bag or other items when the tripod is removed. 
         [0014]    A second, more recent example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,628 discloses a similar self-erecting tripod apparatus which automatically opens when the tripod is placed on a support surface and automatically closes when the tripod is lifted from the support surface. It has many of the same problems as &#39;251 that would preclude an amateur video user from confidently placing it on a variety of surfaces. 
         [0015]    One problem with the &#39;628 design is that the legs extend with the feet in close proximity to the support surface, such as the ground. That means the user must carefully manipulate the tripod so it opens without scraping the ground. The legs extend jerkily and with feet close to the ground due to the design&#39;s coupling links, the feet are pivotally attached at one end to a bottom end of the center post and pivotally attached at the other end to the center of the support legs, not the bottom end of the support leg. It is unsuitable for uneven surfaces such as grass or turf due to the angle at which the legs extend, offering little clearance from the ground. 
         [0016]    Therefore, the need exists for a tripod having support legs which automatically open and close when the tripod is placed on a support surface and when removed from the support surface, respectively, which allows the support legs to close to a vertical position parallel and adjacent to the center post when in the closed position, and which does so with legs opening upwards and downwards, firmly landing on a variety of support surfaces. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    The tripod or vertical support of the present invention has support legs which automatically open when the tripod is placed on a support surface and automatically shuts, or retracts, when the tripod is removed from the support surface, respectively. 
         [0018]    The tripod includes a telescopic center post, a plurality of downwardly extending support legs, a plurality of coupling links pivotally attached at one end to a bottom end of the center post and pivotally attached at the other end to the bottom end of the support legs. The attachment of the coupling links to the support legs is linked at the bottom of the support legs so that the coupling serves as a foot on the support surface when extended. Hinge-type mechanisms between the coupling links and support legs allows the support legs to close to a vertical position parallel and adjacent to the center post while allowing the legs to automatically open in a downwards direction as the tripod is placed on the support surface. 
         [0019]    The support legs extend vertically, parallel and adjacent to a center post of the tripod when in the closed collapsed position, such that the tripod requires a relatively small amount of space to store and transport. Coupling links extend between the support legs and the center post in the tripod and coupling links are connected by hinges or similar mechanisms to the bottom of the support legs to allow a smooth downward opening motion to allow easy use on a variety of surfaces. 
         [0020]    The tripod of the present invention uses the force of gravity to automatically close the support legs, and does so unimpeded by substantial overall friction, or by individual parts that may often catch or falter because of friction. 
         [0021]    The tripod of the present invention may be used in conjunction with: a further telescoping mechanism to adjust height; a conventional gooseneck mechanism; a conventional pincer or other mechanism to hold small electronic devices such as smartphones or cameras; and a protective mechanism such as a cage to shield aforementioned electronic devices from striking the ground if the tripod falls. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0022]      FIG. 1A  shows a perspective view of one side of the tripod, with one leg folded in its open, deployed support position, resting on a support surface on the left side of the drawing, and with another leg partly visible on the other side of the pole. 
           [0023]      FIG. 1B  shows the remaining deployed support leg. 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of one portion of the fully opened tripod, the lower hinges and legs at their point of attachment to the lower pole collar. 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the tripod&#39;s legs as they appear while opening or shutting. 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the tripod in its retracted, elongated form, with legs flush to the central telescoping pole segments. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0027]    The tripod of the present invention is easy to deploy and retract one-handed, which permits the user to both deploy the tripod one-handed, and retract the tripod one-handed simply by picking it up. This convenient attribute allows for immediate, unfettered use, which makes it a more universally useable product than other tripods, and permits more complex operations to be performed by novice videographers or photographers, who can focus on the operations of photo and video devices such as smartphones with complex apps, because they don&#39;t need to think about their tripod. 
         [0028]    The tripod of the present invention is also reliable on a variety of surfaces. It does so by connecting the pivotal attachment of the coupling links to the support legs at the bottom of the legs by hinges or other similar mechanism. That allows the support legs to move to an open position by descending downwards towards the support surface. The downward landing angle makes the tripod more reliable than devices with legs that extend outwardly with a degree of horizontal motion. 
         [0029]    Furthermore, by allowing the support legs to open with a downward angle of motion, the tripod of the present invention works smoothly and offers users greater confidence in its reliability. When fully deployed, legs of the present invention contact the ground along the lower length of the hinge, which provides a larger contact area between ground and tripod, increasing stability in varied terrain. 
         [0030]      FIGS. 1A and 1B , spread across multiple sheets, together show a perspective view of a first embodiment of the tripod or vertical support. In this embodiment an upper telescoping pole segment,  10  is shown in a partial view that shows its connection to upper collar  11 , omitting the continuation of the pole upwards. Two upper hinges  12  are shown affixed to upper collar  11  and to upper legs  13 . Those upper legs  13  descend and connect at the level of the support surface  24  to a set of middle hinges  14 . 
         [0031]    The middle hinges  14  connect to lower legs  16 , which each have a gripping foot surface  15 . The gripping foot surface may be made from rubber or another gripping-textured material. The gripping foot surfaces  15  are on the lower legs&#39;  16  outer side which faces the support surface  24 . 
         [0032]    The lower legs  16  run inward to lower hinges  17 , which are held in place by fasteners  18  that are seated in a slot-shaped space  23  that allows some movement of the fastener  18  in the hinges  17 . The lower hinges  17  are affixed to a lower collar  19 , which is in turn affixed to a lower telescoping pole segment  20 , most of which is not shown, as it is telescoped inside of the upper telescoping pole segment  10 . 
         [0033]    On the upper, inner portions of upper legs  13 , thin lines in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrate outer quick-release fasteners  22  that may be fasteners such as a magnet, or one side of a hook and loop fastener. In  FIG. 1A  the inner quick-release fasteners  21  are located in a central area of the upper telescoping pole segment  10 , just below upper hinges  12 . The inner fasteners  21  may be fasteners such as a magnet or a piece of hook and loop fastener. 
         [0034]    The upper legs  13  and lower legs  16  may be made from strips of a flexible, yet sturdy material such as polycarbonate, which is known by brand names including Lexan® and Tuffak®, although other materials are also suitable. 
         [0035]      FIG. 2  shows a larger perspective view from a different angle, with one of lower legs  16  heading away from lower telescoping pole segment  20  towards the viewer. Lower hinges  17  are shown with the slot-shaped cutaways  23  that allow hinges  17  “wiggle room” at the anchor point of lower legs  16  as the fastener  18  can move laterally within the slot-shaped space  23  in the hinge surface. The lower hinges  17  seen in  FIG. 2  are fixed to lower collar  19 , which in turn, is fixed to lower telescoping pole segment  20 . 
         [0036]    Upper pole segment  10  is connected to an attachment device that holds a smartphone or other camera or device in place and/or permits easy adjustment to the direction or aim of the smartphone or other camera -for example a pincer device or a gooseneck device or other such device. The tripod or vertical support device may also be comprised of a second telescoping or otherwise adjustable conventional mechanism to raise or lower the height of the smartphone or other camera, without changing the function of the tripod depicted in  FIGS. 1-4 . The tripod or vertical support device may also have a conventional hook (not shown) to allow the tripod to be hung from objects such as a fence, bookcase, golf bag, or cart, so that the device remains in the closed and extended position while awaiting its next use. 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the support&#39;s upper telescoping pole segment  10  is moved upward so that a larger area of lower telescoping pole segment  20  can be seen. Upper legs  13  are nearer to the upper telescoping pole segment  10 , as they&#39;ve been brought inwards, with upper collar  11  and upper hinges  12  moved upwards. The lower legs  16  are closer to lower telescoping pole segment  20 , as middle hinges  14  connecting upper and lower legs  13 ,  16  have moved upwards, and inward toward the upper and lower telescoping pole segments  10 ,  20  at the center of the vertical support device or tripod. 
         [0038]    Operation 
         [0039]    When the support is in its fully extended, closed position, seen in  FIG. 4 , upper legs  13  are touching or approximately flush to the upper telescoping pole segment  10 . Some bend is seen in upper legs  13 , and the edge of outer quick-release fasteners  22  can be seen as they are touching inner quick-release fasteners,  21 , in a fastened position. The upper legs  13  are held against the central pole&#39;s upper telescoping pole segment  10  by inner quick-release fasteners  21 , such as magnets or hook and loop fasteners, which, attached to the upper telescoping pole segment  10 , stick to or fasten to the outer quick-release fasteners  22 . 
         [0040]    Lower legs  16  are also held in close proximity to lower telescoping pole segment  20  because of the force of gravity, which is pulling downward on the lower telescoping pole segment  20 , as well as the adherence of the upper telescoping pole segment  10  and upper legs  13  due to the quick-release fasteners  21 ,  22 . The lower telescoping pole segment  20  is fully extended, with the most surface area visible in the device&#39;s operation. Below middle hinges  14 , which are mostly obscured by the legs, gripping foot surfaces  15  can be seen on the exterior of the tripod. A large area of lower leg  16  is visible, as the tripod is fully extended vertically. 
         [0041]    When someone using the device intends to open it, the device is placed on a support surface  24  such as grassy ground, wooden floor, or a sandy surface. Then, as seen in  FIG. 3 , when lower pole segment  20  lands on or contacts the support surface  24 , lower hinges  17  bend outward as lower legs  16  move outward and downward. This forcefully separates outer quick-release fasteners  22  on upper telescoping pole segment  10 , from the inner quick-release fasteners  21  on the interior side of upper legs  13 . The upper pole telescoping pole segment  10  telescopes, overlapping lower telescoping pole segment  20 , and the upper legs  13  move outwards and downwards at the same time that the lower legs  16  move outwards and downwards. 
         [0042]    When the legs are fully deployed, as seen in  FIGS. 1A, 1B and 2 , connected upper legs  13  and lower legs  16  move downwards until gripping foot surfaces  15  on each leg land on or contact the support surface  24 . The foot surfaces  15 , made out of a gripping material such as rubber, contact the support surface  24 , and so can a portion of the lower legs  16 . As the lower legs  16  descend to the support surface  24  and settle in place, the lower legs can flex to land in a secure position on a variety of terrains, because they are made of flexible, sturdy material such as the previously mentioned polycarbonate. 
         [0043]    The lower legs  16  are also able to flex and have “wiggle room” due to the slot-shaped spaces  23  in lower hinges  17 , which allow movement of fasteners  18  that connect those hinges to lower legs  16 . The slot shaped space  23  allows the lower legs  16  to move slightly while still held in place by the fastener  18 , which can move in a straight line in the slot-shaped space  23 . 
         [0044]    When the user wants to pick up the tripod or vertical support device, the operation is reversed: the device is lifted by upper pole segment  10 , and the weight of the lower pole segment  20  causes the upper and lower telescoping pole segments to telescope to their extended positions. The force of that movement pushes lower legs  16  downwards until outer quick-release fasteners  22  on upper legs  13  contact inner quick-release fasteners  21 , which ensure that the upper legs  13  (and the lower legs  16 ) are held tight to the pole segments until the next time the device is lowered to a support surface  24 . 
         [0045]    The tripod or vertical support device is a more reliable tripod to simply deploy and retract automatically, with no manual adjustment required and by simple forces of gravity and adhesion. The legs of the tripod not only open swiftly, they also open surely, by means of a downward trajectory that the legs follow and component parts that adjust to irregular terrain and slopes. 
         [0046]    The large surface area of the legs which land on the support surface  24  offer more stability than existing supports and tripods, which rely on legs each with a single point of contact. The hinged or otherwise frictionless joints that affix the upper and lower legs of the present invention open without catching or jamming 
         [0047]    While the above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any embodiment, but as exemplifications of the embodiment thereof. Many variations are possible within the teachings of the embodiment. For example, the tripod may have any plurality of legs. It may also have various parts to allow stowing of the device in a closed position when not in use, such as a strap, or a drawstring, or a latch. Other variations include a hook to allow the tripod to be hung off of large objects like fences or golf carts. 
         [0048]    In another embodiment the legs may be made of materials besides polycarbonate. 
         [0049]    In another embodiment, springs or similar mechanisms are used to allow the legs room to make minor movements to adjust to a support surface, instead of the slot-shaped space and slideable fastener in the present embodiment. In another embodiment, a ball bearing may be used to allow the legs room to make minor adjusting movements to settle on a support surface. 
         [0050]    In another embodiment, a bolt, screw, ball bearing or other connection capable of providing the upper and lower legs an axis to rotate on or rotatable connection may be used, rather than using a hinge to achieve largely frictionless opening and closing. In yet another embodiment, a protective cage or buffer material may be used around the smartphone or camera at the top of the tripod, to protect it if the device were knocked over. 
         [0051]    In another embodiment, a locking mechanism that would hold the valuable smartphone or camera locked into the tripod unless released by key or combination code. An additional variation is that the upper collar may be adjustable to slide upwards to make the device more compact for shipment or storage. Still further variations may include an attached means to charge or power smartphones or cameras while in use on the tripod. Likewise, another variation would allow the device to be used as a signal booster for smartphones and other internet-connected devices. 
         [0052]    In other embodiments the tripod or vertical support device could be useful as a base for a cane or other device to assist steady walking. In alternate embodiments, the tripod or vertical support device could be useful for electronic or internet-connected equipment besides smartphones, cameras, and video cameras. 
       REFERENCE NUMBERS 
       [0000]    
       
           10  upper telescoping pole segment  18  fastener 
           11  upper collar  15   19  lower collar 
           12  upper hinge  20  lower telescoping pole segment 
           13  upper leg  21  inner quick-release fastener 
           14  middle hinge  22  outer quick-release fastener 
           15  gripping foot surface  23  slot shaped space 
           16  lower leg  20   24  support surface 
           17  lower hinge 
       
     
         [0061]    Accordingly, it is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention herein described are merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Reference herein to details of the illustrated embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the claims, which themselves recite those features regarded as essential to the invention.