Abstract:
A camera support including an angle-shaped base is releasably mountable to an extendable telescopic tubular leg member. The angle-shaped base includes two legs and a tubular member fixed to each leg. The telescopic member has an upper slide section and a lower base section. The upper slide section being slidably disposed in one of the tubular members of the angular-shaped base. The lower base section is slotted longitudinally and grooved peripherally such that when a clamp is fitted into the grooves and actuated, the base is releasably secured in selected positions along the upper slide section. The base member may be manually arrested when the camera is in a first and a second picture taking attitude and the base member is slidably supported by upper slide section. In some instances the upper slide section may be removed from the lower base section and used independently.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to photography and, more particularly, to extensible supports for cameras. 
     For many years, photographers relied on a conventional three-legged tripod to support their cameras in the studio and in the field. That was when camera film was too slow to allow the use of fast shutter speeds, and also because the lenses used were not fast lenses as are available today. So, a rigid camera support was a requirement of every photographer and the tripod provided that support. 
     Today, however, with film speeds approaching ASA 1000, the cumbersome tripod is no longer necessary for supporting hand-held 35 mm cameras equipped with a fast lens. Yet, when a photographer uses a 35 mm camera equipped with a long telephoto or zoom lens of 35-200 mm, 50-300 mm, and 100-600 mm focal length, it becomes necessary to provide some support. Using a tripod in some instances is just not convenient where the subject matter moves rapidly and where a lens having macro capability is used. 
     Some camera supports known from the prior art have a neck strap and one or more rigid legs that join a camera support. Some other known camera supports include a single leg with a camera mount and a connection to a belt worn about the photographer&#39;s waist. Another form of camera support is a long telescopic tube and another form comprises a cart and step ladder. 
     Many other types of camera supports are known from the prior art, but when a photographer uses a camera fitted with a telephoto or zoom lens of the type mentioned previously, when photographing wild life such as animals and birds especially, a camera support of the type described and claimed herein has many features and advantages not available to a photographer using a camera support known from the prior art. 
     Camera supports known from the prior art are represented by: U.S. Pat. No. 2,703,691 to Minnis which discloses a camera support comprising a frame and a swingable camera post mounted adjacent one end of the frame. A leg member is telescopically extensible from the other end. An actuating arm is pivotably mounted to the post. Means is provided within the post, actuated by the lever portion, to hold the swingably camera post in a selected angular position relative to the frame; and 
     United Kingdom Patent Specification No. 687,588 which discloses a supporting device for a camera comprising two parts; one part being formed by a telescoping support or tube provided with a clamping device for securing its element in a selected relative position, the other being formed by a handle provided with element members cooperating with an element of the support for being secured in a removable manner to the latter in at least two different positions. The handle also includes an element that cooperates with the camera for securing it to the handle; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,289,563 to Kent which discloses a support for a camera and a flash gun comprising a telescopic tubular support to which is adjustably mounted a bracket. The bracket is adapted to support a camera in an operative position and the bracket may be moved upwards or downwards on the tubular support or boom. The tubular support of boom also carries a support mount for the ordinary flash gun or strobe light. 
     In contrast to the aforementioned prior art, the present invention has many features and advantages thereover that will be apparent to one skilled in the art from the following description and the drawings. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A camera support in accordance with the present invention includes an angle-shaped base with means thereon for supporting a camera. The angle-shaped base is releasably mountable to an extendable telescopic tubular leg member with means for securing both the angle-shaped base and the extendable leg member in selectable positions. 
     For a further understanding of the invention and for features and advantages thereof, reference may be made to the following description and to the drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a camera support apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic view in elevation of the camera support bracket portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a view along line III--III of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a view along line IV--IV of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5 is a view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 is a view along line VI--VI of FIG. 7; and 
     FIG. 7 is a view of a portion of the lower end of the apparatus of FIG. 1. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a camera support 11 in accordance with the present invention comprises two portions, the one being a telescoping shaft or leg 13 and the other a camera mounting bracket 15 releasably mounted to the telescoping shaft or leg 13. 
     The telescoping shaft or leg portion 13 includes an upper slide section 17 and a lower base section 19. The upper slide section 17 is an elongate member, preferably a hollow tubular tubular member 21 such as conventional PVC plastic pipe, but other materials such as aluminum may be used if desired. If preferred, the member 21 may be an elongate solid rod and need not be tubular at all. The lower end portion of the member 21, when tubular, is fitted with a wooden or plastic insert 23 which is held in place by means of conventional fasteners 25. The inset member 23 is made about 8 or 10 inches long for a purpose that will be disclosed hereinafter. The top end of the tubular member 21 is plugged as shown at 27 in FIG. 1 in any suitable manner. 
     The lower base section 19 is, preferably, a hollow tubular plastic member 29, to the bottom of which is fitted a conventional rubber cane tip 31. The upper end of the base section 19 is slotted longitudinally, FIG. 7, preferably in four places 33. The tubular plastic member 29 at the slotted end is also grooved peripherally, as at 35, to receive the band portion of a conventional screw-type hose clamp 37. Between the slots 33a and 33b, as shown in FIG. 6, the tubular member 29 is cut at the top of the groove 35, as at 39, thereby making each diametrically opposed portion of the plastic member 29a, 29b respectively, bendable inwardly toward the telescoping upper slide section 17, when it is inserted into the base section 19, and when pressure is applied to it by the screw-type clamp 37. 
     FIG. 7 also shows a collar 41 that is adapted to fit slidably down over the upper slotted end of the plastic member 29. A slot 43 in the collar 41 is provided to fit around a portion of the screw-type hose clamp 37. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a camera mounting bracket 15, in accordance with the invention includes an angle-shaped base member 45 to which is fitted guide tubes 47, 49. One tube 47 is fitted to one leg of the angle-shaped base member 45, and the other tube 49 is fitted to the other leg of the base member 45. 
     The guide tube members 47, 49 are each sized to slidably receive the upper slide section 17, as shown in FIG. 1. The shell of the guide tube 47 is partly cut away longitudinally, as at 51, thereby forming two short tubular portions 53a, 53b that remain connected together by the portion of the shell not cut away. In like manner, the shell of the guide tube 49 is partly cut away, as at 51, thereby forming two short guide tubular portions 55a, 55b, that are connected together by the shell portion not cut away. 
     The guide tubes 47,49 are purposely cut away so as to provide finger contact with the upper slide section 17, when a photographer&#39;s hand and fingers grasp the mounting bracket 15. Thus, when the camera and the mounting bracket 15 are raised to a selected position on the upper slide section 17, finger contact with the slide section will hold the camera and bracket in that position long enough for a shot and then the camera and bracket can be positioned at a another place on the slide section 17. 
     In some instances, arresting means is provided to releasably secure the camera support bracket 15 in a desired position on the upper slide section 17. A preferred form of arresting means is described hereinafter. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the tubular portion 53a is slotted, as at 57, and is grooved peripherally, as at 59, to receive the band of one type of arresting device, a screw-type hose clamp 61. In like manner, the tubular portion 55a is provided with a slot 63 and a peripheral groove 65 to receive the band portion of such a screw-type arresting device as the hose clamp 67. 
     As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the horizontal leg of the angle-shaped base member 45 is fitted with two shaped members 69,71 that are connected to the tube member 47 by suitable fasteners 73. Each shaped member 69, 71 is also secured to the horizontal leg portion of the member 45 by means of suitable fasteners 75,77 respectively. The members 69, 71 are made of wood in one embodiment of the invention, but they may be made of any other suitable material as desired. Each member 69, 71 is provided with an upstanding lip portion 79 that engages the back of a camera body 81 mounted on the bracket 15 to prevent the camera body from twisting around relative to the base member 45 once the camera is secured to the member 45 by a conventional mounting screw 83. 
     Referring now to FIG. 3, the upstanding leg of the angle-shaped base member 45 is fitted with a hand grip comprising two members 85, 87, shaped about as shown in FIG. 3. The two members 85, 87 are disposed one on each side of the upstanding leg of the base member 45. In one embodiment of the invention, the two members 85, 87 are made of wood, but each member may be made of other suitable materials as desired. The two members 87, 89 are fastened to the base leg by means of conventional fasteners 89. A leather or plastic strap, shaped as a loop 91, is also secured to the top and bottom end portions of the upstanding leg of the base 45, particularly to the shaped member 87 by means of the fasteners 89. 
     In use, a photographer first mounts the camera to the support bracket 15, threading the screw 83 into the conventional threaded hole in the bottom of the camera body. Then, after extending the upper slide section 17 to a desired length, the photographer mounts the bracket 15 on the upper slide section 17. Depending on whether the photographer wishes to take a vertical format picture or a horizontal picture, the photographer inserts the upper slide section 17 through the short tubes 53a, 53b for a vertical format picture, and through the short tubes 55a, 55b for a horizontal format picture as shown in FIG. 1. 
     The photographer slides his hand through the strap 91 and grasps the hand grip 85, 87, his fingers contacting the slide section 17. Then, the camera and the mounting bracket may be moved up or down on the slide section with the fingers exerting pressure on the slide section to hold the camera and bracket in any desired position on the slide section. 
     The bottom tip 31 may be set upon the ground or other support and the camera mounting bracket and the camera support 11 may be manipulated through an infinite number of angles relative to a vertical line through the tip contact point with the ground. 
     Arresting means is provided to releasably secure the mounting bracket on the slide section at any desired location in the form of the screw clamps 61 and 67. It is a simple matter to reposition the bracket by releasing the screw clamps and moving the camera and bracket to another position at which the screw clamps may be tightened again. 
     When the upper slide section is being extended, there is a danger that it may be extended too far and may be removed from the base section. To prevent this, the photographer is alerted to such danger when the wooden bottom section 23 of the upper slide section appears above the top of the base member 19. The upper slide section may then be extended only a few more inches, say eight or ten, as the case may be, depending on the length of the wooden section 23. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other types of indicia may be employed for this purpose. 
     In some instances, the upper slide section may be removed from the base section and used independently thereof. Such use is particularly handy when photographing things close to the ground or where the entire length of the camera support would be inconvenient. 
     In other instances, the upper slide section may be fully extended and the camera support bracket mounted thereon upside down. Then, by using conventional cable shutter release devices, a picture may be taken from above the photographer&#39;s head, the shutter being released from ground level. 
     From the foregoing description of one embodiment of the invention, those skilled in the art will recognize many features and advantages of it among which the following are significant. 
     That the camera support is mobile and is quickly adjustable to serve many types of photographers in the best possible mode; 
     That the camera support may be quickly and easily raised to any desired height within the limits of the telescopic sections to suit any photographer&#39;s needs; 
     That the camera support bracket may be hand-arrested in a desired position on the support and the bracket moved up or down thereon as required, it being held by the photographer&#39;s fingers in contact with the upper slide section; 
     That the camera support, when in contact with the ground, may be tilted through an infinite number of angles relative to a vertical line through the ground contact point; 
     That by positioning the camera bracket upside down on the extended slide section, a picture may be taken from an elevated position well above the photographer&#39;s head; 
     That when photographing things close to the ground, the upper slide section alone may be used as a camera support; and 
     That the camera support of the present invention is simple to construct and is adaptable to many photographer&#39;s needs. 
     Although the foregoing describes one embodiment of the invention, it is understood that modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.