Abstract:
An easily adjustable scope mounting head and stand. The stand includes a stabilized base with a vertical rod extending upward. The scope mounting head is attached to the vertical rod. A ball and socket joint is located on one end of the mounting head and an adjusting knob is located on the opposite end. The ball is equipped with accessible mounting mens for attaching a spotting scope or similar article. When the user slackens the adjusting knob, the ball and socket joint is free to move in roll, pitch, and yaw. In addition, the entire mounting head can rotate about the vertical rod and slide up and down the vertical rod. When the user tightens the adjusting knob, all degrees of freedom are locked. Thus, the single adjusting knob provides all needed adjustment for the height and orientation of the spotting scope.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to the field of mounting hardware. More specifically, the invention comprises a stand and adjustable mounting head which can be used to adjustably mount a piece of hardware such as a spotting scope. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Telescopic “spotting scopes” have been in common use for many years. These optical devices are used to visually inspect objects at great distances. They require substantial magnification, typically in the range of 20× to 50×. Such scopes are difficult to hold steadily by hand. They are therefore often mounted on a tripod. 
   One common use for such spotting scopes is in the field of target shooting. Targets may be located 300 yards or more away from the shooter. The spotting scope must be aimed at the target, and must provide enough magnification for the shooter to accurately see the bullet strikes on the target (often holes in a piece of paper). A bullet hole may only be 0.200 to 0.300 inches in diameter. Thus, the reader will perceive the need for great magnification. 
   Those skilled in the art will realize that the spotting scope must be very carefully aimed and then locked on the target. It must then be held steadily. Even a slight shift will take the target out of the scope&#39;s field of view. However, the mounting system must also be easy to adjust so that the user can move the scope onto the target while looking through the eyepiece. In addition, the height and orientation of the mounting system must be easily adjusted to allow the user to employ the scope without unduly disturbing the shooting process. 
   As one example, some shooting competitions are conducted from the “off hand” position. “Off hand” means that the user is standing upright without any supplemental means of holding the rifle. Ideally, the user will fire a shot and then immediately look into the spotting scope to observe the bullet strike. In this situation, the spotting scope needs to be held near the user and roughly at eye level. A tall stand is obviously needed. 
   Prior art devices for holding spotting scopes and similar articles do exist. However, they typically have multiple locking features governing their various degrees of freedom. These are cumbersome to use. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention comprises an easily adjustable scope mounting head and stand. The stand includes a stabilized base with a vertical rod extending upward. The scope mounting head is attached to the vertical rod. A ball and socket joint is located on one end of the mounting head and an adjusting knob is located on the opposite end. The ball is equipped with accessible mounting means for attaching a spotting scope or similar article. When the user slackens the adjusting knob, the ball and socket joint is free to move in roll, pitch, and yaw. In addition, the entire mounting head can rotate about the vertical rod and slide up and down the vertical rod. When the user tightens the adjusting knob, all degrees of freedom are locked. Thus, the single adjusting knob provides all needed adjustment for the height and orientation of the spotting scope. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view, showing the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view, showing how the ball and socket joint can be attached to a spotting scope. 
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view, showing how the ball and socket joint can be attached to a spotting scope. 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view, showing the components of the mounting head. 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional perspective view, showing the body. 
       FIG. 6  is a sectional perspective view, showing the ball clamp. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view, showing the ball clamp and the bar clamp. 
       FIG. 8  is a sectional perspective view, showing the operation of the mounting head. 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view, showing the legs folded against the base. 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view, showing the legs in a deployed state. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 10 
                 stand 
               
               
                 11 
                 scope attachment plate 
               
               
                 12 
                 spotting scope 
               
               
                 14 
                 base 
               
               
                 16 
                 leg 
               
               
                 18 
                 rod 
               
               
                 20 
                 adjusting knob 
               
               
                 22 
                 body 
               
               
                 26 
                 ball 
               
               
                 28 
                 threaded hole 
               
               
                 30 
                 fastener recess 
               
               
                 32 
                 mounting plate 
               
               
                 34 
                 through hole 
               
               
                 36 
                 threaded hole 
               
               
                 38 
                 dog screw 
               
               
                 40 
                 mounting screw 
               
               
                 42 
                 washer 
               
               
                 44 
                 stem 
               
               
                 46 
                 access hole 
               
               
                 48 
                 vee lock interface 
               
               
                 50 
                 mounting head 
               
               
                 52 
                 rod opening 
               
               
                 54 
                 threaded receiver 
               
               
                 56 
                 ball clamp 
               
               
                 58 
                 bar clamp 
               
               
                 60 
                 belleville washer 
               
               
                 62 
                 contraction 
               
               
                 64 
                 access notch 
               
               
                 66 
                 pin hole 
               
               
                 68 
                 ball receiver 
               
               
                 70 
                 rod receiver 
               
               
                 72 
                 flat 
               
               
                 74 
                 pivot 
               
               
                 76 
                 stop 
               
               
                 78 
                 canted portion 
               
               
                 80 
                 notch 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  shows the present invention set up for use. Stand  10  includes rod  18  supported by a tripod configuration of three legs  16  attached to base  14 . Mounting head  50  attaches to rod  18  and secures spotting scope  12  in a desired position and orientation. 
   When adjusting knob  20  is loosened, ball  26  is free to move within a ball and socket joint (free to move in roll, pitch, and yaw). This allows mounting plate  32 , with spotting scope  12  attached, to move in roll pitch, and yaw. Likewise, mounting head  50  is free to slide up and down rod  18 , and to yaw around rod  18 . When adjusting knob  20  is tightened, all the degrees of freedom just mentioned are locked. Thus, the reader will appreciate that the loosening or tightening of the single adjusting knob allows complete adjustment of the position and orientation of spotting scope  12 . 
     FIG. 2  is an exploded view showing how ball  26  is attached to the spotting scope. The spotting scope features scope attachment plate  11 , which is typically used to attach the scope to prior art tripods. Threaded hole  28  is in its center. Two fastener recesses  30  are also typically present. These contain screws which attach the scope attachment plate to the scope. The top of the screw heads typically lie beneath the outer surface of scope attachment plate  11 . 
   Mounting plate  32  features through hole  34 . Threaded hole  36  is offset a short distance. Dog screw  38 , the purpose of which will be described shortly, screws into threaded hole  36 . The side of mounting plate  32  which faces away from the spotting scope features vee lock interface  48  (a vee-shaped notch). 
   Ball  26  has an internal passage for receiving mounting screw  40 . This passage goes through the center of the ball and through the center of stem  44 . The reader will observe that the upper surface of stem  44  features a vee lock interface  48  shaped to lock into the vee lock interface  48  found on mounting plate  32 . 
   The assembly of the device will now be described. The user places mounting plate  32  against scope attachment plate  11 , with through hole  34  aligned with threaded hole  28 . The user then aligns stem  44  with through hole  34  and mates the two vee lock interfaces. Finally, the user passes mounting screw  40  through the ball, into through hole  34  and into threaded hole  28 . One or more washers  42  can be added to prevent mounting screw  40  from passing too far into threaded hole  28 . The mounting screw is tightened, locking the ball to the spotting scope. 
   The mating of the two vee lock interfaces tends to prevent any rotation of the spotting scope with respect to the ball. However, dog screw  38  can be threaded into one of the two fastener recesses  30  for extra security. On scopes which do not have a fastener recess  30 , the dog screw can be tightened against the outward-facing surface of scope attachment plate  11  itself. 
     FIG. 3  shows the completed assembly, after mounting screw  40  has been tightened. Access hole  46  provides access to the mounting screw through ball  26 . The ball will generally be trial-fitted to the scope before assembling the mounting head. However, it must be disassembled prior to placing the ball in the mounting head assembly. 
     FIG. 4  shows the components of mounting head  50  in an exploded view. Body  22  is a cylinder having a hollow interior. Rod opening  52  passes through the cylinder in a direction which is approximately transverse to its long axis. Threaded receiver  54  is located on one end. Ball  26  is place into the hollow cylinder first, and pushed toward the end facing away from the viewer. Ball clamp  56  is introduced next, followed by bar clamp  58  and belleville washer  60 . 
   Adjusting knob  20  comes last. It features a threaded portion which screws into threaded receiver  54 .  FIG. 5  shows a section through body  22 , revealing its internal features. As stated, threaded receiver  54  is located on one end. The other end has an opening which is restricted by the presence of contraction  62 . Contraction  62  is simply a region of reduced diameter. It can assume many forms. Access notch  64 , which passes through the body from top to bottom, provides additional clearance for stem  44  when ball  26  is installed within body  22 . Ball  26  actually rests against contraction  62 , which retains it within the body when it is installed. Access notch  64  also provides access to mounting screw  40  when ball  26  is installed, thereby allowing the user to attach or detach a spotting scope. 
     FIG. 6  is a sectional view showing additional details of ball clamp  56 . The portion of ball clamp  56  facing ball  26  opens into a spherical recess designated as ball receiver  68 . 
     FIG. 7  shows the opposite end of ball clamp  56 , which opens into a cylindrical recess designated as rod receiver  70 . Bar clamp  58  likewise has a rod receiver  70 . Both the ball clamp and rod clamp also feature flats  72 . 
     FIG. 8  shows a section view of mounting head  50  installed on rod  18 . The scope is attached to the mounting head after the mounting head is assembled. Ball  26  is preferably pivoted up as shown, so that the stem sticks out the upper part of access notch  64 . The head of mounting screw  40  is then accessible through the lower part of access notch  64 . The user then tightens the mounting screw to lock the scope to mounting plate  32 . The spotting scope then moves in unison with ball  26 . 
   When adjusting knob  20  is tightened (threaded further into the body), bar clamp  58  is pressed against rod  18  (with the cylindrical rod receiver  70  on the bar clamp pressing against the cylindrical surface of the rod). This forces body  22  to the right in the view as shown. Contraction  62  presses ball  26  into ball clamp  56 , which clamps the ball clamp against the rod on the side opposite the bar clamp. As the adjusting screw is snugged, ball  26  is locked tightly in place by being squeezed between contraction  62  and ball clamp  56 . The rod is squeezed tightly between the ball clamp and bar clamp. Thus, mounting head  50  is locked securely in place. Likewise, ball  26  is locked securely between the contraction and the ball clamp. The spotting scope is thereby locked securely to the rod and ready for use. 
   To adjust the position or orientation of the spotting scope, the user need only slacken the adjusting knob. The scope can then be adjusted as desired. When the scope is close to the desired position, the user can tighten the adjusting knob to the point where the scope can still be moved slightly. The user can then make the final adjustments before completely tightening the adjusting knob and locking the scope in place. 
   When the device is transported, the mounting head will often be detached from the rod. The sets of flats  72  on the ball clamp and bar clamp allow the two clamps to be pressed together by the adjusting knob when no rod is present. Thus, the components within the body can be secured by compressing them with the adjusting knob when not in use. Of course, the cylindrical surfaces of the rod receivers  70  dictate that both the ball clamp and rod clamp should remain in the correct orientation. A pair of pins riding within slots can accomplish this objective. Likewise, a male or female keyway can be used. 
   Returning to  FIG. 7 , the reader will observe that both ball clamp  56  and bar clamp  58  feature a notch  80 . Returning to  FIG. 5 , the reader will note the presence of two pin holes  66  in body  22 . A small pin can be place in both of the two pin holes  66 . These pins will then ride within the notches in the ball clamp and bar clamp. Thus, the two clamps are allowed to slide back and forth, but not rotate within the body. 
   Those skilled in the art will realize that the same basic functions can be carried out while omitting certain parts. Bar clamp  58  and belleville washer  60  can be removed. The threaded portion of the adjusting knob would then bear directly against the rod. While somewhat less secure, this version would work. 
   Likewise, the bar clamp can be used without belleville washer  60 . However, belleville washer  60  (generally a dished flat washer made of spring steel so that it can be compressed) helps take up slack in the assembly and assists in the exertion of a steady clamping force. Thus, the embodiment using the bar clamp and the washer is the preferred embodiment. 
   Portability is an advantage in a device such as shown in  FIG. 1 . Thus, it is desirable to have the legs  16  fold into a less bulky configuration.  FIGS. 9 and 10  show how this can be done. Each leg  16  is attached by a pivot  74  to base  14 . Each leg includes a short canted portion  78  which actually includes the pivot joint. This canted portion  78  rests within a notch cut into base  14 . 
     FIG. 9  shows all three legs in the folded position, suitable for transportation. The user deploys the legs by rotating them. As an example, the user would deploy the left leg in the view as shown by rotating it in a counterclockwise direction. The leg would rotate until canted portion  78  comes up against stop  76 . The other two legs are likewise rotated until they come up against their respective stops  76 . The device is then placed on a flat surface as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
   The weight of the assembly tends to force the canted portion of each leg against its respective stop. Thus, the deployed state shown is quite stable. In order to re-fold the legs, the user must lift the device clear of the surface. 
   The preceding description contains significant detail regarding the novel aspects of the present invention. It is should not be construed, however, as limiting the scope of the invention but rather as providing illustrations of the preferred embodiments of the invention. As an example, although a spotting scope has been used as an example of an object to be mounted using the present invention, many different objects could be mounted. Examples include video cameras, microphones, and proximity sensors. Thus, the scope of the invention should be fixed by the following claims, rather than by the examples given.