IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE LEGS, SUPPORTS, OR STANDARDS FOR THE STANDS FOR CAMERAS, STEREOSCOPES, TELESCOPES, THEODOLITES, MUSIC, EASELS, SURVEYORS' STAFFS AND OTHER LIKE PURPOSES
Year: 1884

page_text: I HENRY BRATT SHARP, of No 5 South John Street, Liverpool in the County
of Lancaster, Optician do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE LEGS, SUPPORTS, OR STANDARDS FOR THE STANDS
FOR CAMERAS, STEREOSCOPES, TELESCOPES, THEODOLITES, MUSIC, EASELS, SURVEYORS'
STAFFS AND OTHER LIKE PURPOSES," to be as follows (that is to say) :-
This Invention consists in forming the portable legs or standards from a strip of
sheet metal or other suitable material, or combination thereof.
To construct (say) a tripod stand for (say) a camera, take three strips of metal (of
say, steel or brass) of the required length and (say) about three inches broad, form
each into a spring surrounding a core which forms a spike for entering the ground
when required. It will then appear much like a clock spring, but when drawn out
will form a spiral scroll and when twisted on its own folds and the butt end
inserted into a suitable socket to prevent it expanding will form a rigid tapering
staff. The socket pieces are formed so as to be jointed to the table, or top of the
tripod, that the several legs may be expanded or contracted at pleasure to suit the
ground or elevation required.
In applying the invention to, (say) a music-stand, it is proposed to use only one
upright standard the lower or thicker end of which when in use is inserted into a
socket tube formed on the top of a small plinth, provided with three or more
folding feet. The frame upon which the music-book, or leaflets are laid, is fitted
at the back with a tubular socket, which is slipped on to the thin upper end of the
standard, the reading-frame being connected to the tube piece by a short jointed
arm, for the purpose of regulating the slope of the reading-desk.
An Easel, is constructed in much the same way as the Camera-stand described
except two of the legs are each provided with short movable arms attached to
the standards at the position required to regulate the hight of the canvas-frame,
drawing-board or easel tray by means of screw clips, or other arrangement.
When the invention is used for sighting-staffs for surveyors or other like
purposes, the pointed end can be inserted into the ground and the reverse end can
be used to carry a small flag, the butt end of the staff being inserted into the
hollow standard.

page_text: The metalic coils may be protected from oxydation and ornamented by coating
them, with japan varnish or other protecting substitute.
The whole of the tripod or music-stand may be packed into a small leather case,
quite as portable as that of an ordinary bi nocular field-glass and carried in the
same way.
WILLIAM WALKER,
Of Moss Farm, Stoneycroft, near Liverpool,
Agent for the within named
Henry Bratt Sharp.
I HENRY BRATT SHARP, of No 5, South John Street, Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Optician do hereby declare the nature of my invention for." IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PORTABLE, LEGS, SUPPORTS, OR STANDARDS FOR FOR THE STANDS OF
CAMERAS, STEREOSCOPES, TELESCOPES, THEODOLITES, MUSIC, EASELS SURVEYORS'
STAFFS AND. OTHER LIKE PURPOSES" and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, that is to say :-
This my said Invention consists in forming portable legs, standards, or supports
from a strip of thin sheet metal, or other suitable material or combination thereof.
To construct (say) a Tripod stand for a camera, I take three strips of thin sheet
metal, (say) steel or brass, of the required length and, say, about three inches broad
and form each into a coiled spring, surrounding a core attached to the inner end of
the coil. This core, may be formed with a spiked head for entering the ground,
when required, or with a screwed end, as hereinafter explained. The coils will then
appear much like unto the ordinary clock springs, except the coils are somewhat
broader, but when drawn out longitudinally to the axis, will form a spiral scroll,
which when twisted on its own folds and the butt end inserted into a suitable
socket to prevent it expanding, forms a light rigid tapering staff. The socket
pieces I form so that they can be readily attached to the table, or top of the tripod,
by binged joints fitted thereto, as hereinafter explained, that the legs may be
opened out, or contracted at pleasure, to suit the ground, or elevation required.
In applying the Invention to (say) a Music Stand, I prefer to use only one
upright standard the lower, or thicker end of which when in use I insert into a
tubular socket formed in, or on a small plinth, which is provided with threo
folding feet. The frame upon which the music book, or leaflets are laid, I fit at the
back with a tubular jointed socket which takes onto the head of the upright
standard, by which arrangement the slope of the reading desk may be placed at the
desired angle and there held by means of a thumb screw, forming the pin of the
binged joint. The upper end of the standard may be secured to the jointed socket
piece, if found desirable, as will be readily seen on reference to the annexed
drawings.

page_text: An Easel, I construct in much the same way, as that of the Camera stand,
described, except I provide two of the legs with short movable clip arms, capable
of being attached to and securely held in position on any part of the standard
required, for regulating the height of the canvas frame, drawing board, or easel
tray resting thereon. These arms may be secured to the legs by screw clips, as
shown by figure 7, of the accompanying drawings, or by any other convenient
device.
When the Invention is applied to Surveyors' Sighting Staffs, or other like
purpose, the pointed end of the core-piece can be inserted into the ground and the
reverse, or thicker and open end may be used to receive the butt end of a small
flag staff, or the ferrule used to confine the coil in position when in use, can be
provided with a suitable spike for entering the ground and holding the same in
position.
The metallic coils, used in forming my improved portable legs, may be preserved
from oxydation and ornamented by coating them with japan varnish, or other
suitable preservative substances.
A Tripod, or Music Stand constructed according to this my said Invention, may
be packed into a small leather case, quite as portable as that of an ordinary
Binocular Field Glass and carried by a strap, in the same way.
That this my said Invention and the modes of applying the same, may be the
more readily seen and understood I have hereunto annexed drawings of so much of
the invention and the means I use for carrying the same into practical effect, as
will enable those practiced in the art to carry out the Invention.-Like letters and
figures marked thereon being used to denote similar parts.
Figure 1, Is an elevation showing a Tripod placed ready to support a Camera, or
other instrument, and Figure 2, is an other like Tripod, arranged as an Easel.
Figure 3, is a side elevation of a Music Stand, constructed according to my
Invention.
These three figures (1, 2 and 3) are drawn to a scale of (say) one inch to
the foot.
Figure 4, Is a back elevation of the top of a Tripod, shown detached from it's
supports.
Figure 5, Illustrates a side view of one of my improved portable Legs, coiled up-
and shows the end of the centre pin (to which the inner end of the coil is attached)
formed with a screw, by which it is connected to the top of the tripod.
Figure 6, Is a side view of a spiked socket, or ferrule, into which the open end of
the portable leg is inserted, when drawn out for use, and by which it is firmly held
in position, and Figure 7, Is a plan of a Chip-Arm, applicable to the tripod when it
is to be converted into an Easel.
Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7, are shown about full size.
A (6gures 1, 2 and 3) The improved portable Legs, seen expanded and applied,
and A¹ (figure 5) shows one of the portable Legs coiled up and having it's centre
pin, provided with.
B, as screwed head which fits into (E) one of the short arms jointed to the tripod
top, (seen at figure 5).
C, A Spiked Ferrule, or Socket Shoe, into which the larger end of the coil
forming the portable leg, or standard is inserted and by which the folds of the coil
are firmly held one upon another and are prevented expanding.
D, the top of a Tripod to which is jointed E, three short arms, constructed with
screwed sockets, to receive the screwed heads (B) on the centre pin (seen at
figure 5).
F, (figure 3) Three folding feet, upon which is mounted
G, an upright standard, to the head of which is attached
H, The frame to receive the book, or leaflet.
J A jointed arm with thumb screw for holding the desk at the required slope.
K (igure 7) A Peg Arm, formed on its' inner end with L clip jaws, fitt ed
with M a binding screw, for holding the arm in the required position on the leg.

page_text: To erect the improved Tripod, take one of the coils used for forming the portable
legs, grasp it with one hand near the broad end and with the other the reverse, or
thin end, then expand the coil to arms length, give the thin end two or three turns
from left to right, this will allow the thick end of the leg to be capped with the
spiked ferrule, this done place one end on the ground, press the top with a down-
wards motion, at the same time screwing up the leg until it becomes perfectly rigid.
Perform the same operation with the other two legs, screw them into the short
screwed socket arms, jointed to the head of the tripod, then the stand is complete.
To close the legs, remove them from the top, withdraw the coils from their caps,
or spiked ferrules, then turn the coil smaller on the inside allowing the legs to
collapse.
เ
Should the leg get uncoiled, start to screw up from the small end towards the
reverse and thicker end.
Having hereinbefore fully described the best means I am acquainted with for
practically applying my Invention I wish it to be understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise details or relative proportions or dimensions hereinbefore set
forth, as it will be readily seen that the same may be considerably varied without
departing from the Invention. Nor do I claim the several parts accessary in
applying my Invention of portable Legs, Standards, or Supports, as hereinbefore
described. As taken separately I do not consider them new.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is The construction and use of portable Legs, Standards or Supports,
substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein fully-described and set forth,
or any mere modification of the same.
Deted this tmalith dan
hu 100%
Witness,
WM WALKER,
Of Moss Farm,
Stoneycroft, near Liverpool,
Agent for the Applicant.
HENRY BRATT SHARP.