Improvements in Stands for Photographic Cameras or for Surveying Instruments.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 15th July, 1889-Accepted, 14th Sept., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stands for Photographic Cameras or for Surveying
Instruments.
GEORGE CHARLES INKPEN Architect & Surveyor 12 Havelock Road Southsea do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-'
A Portable stand for holding a Photographic Camera or similar instrument in
position consisting of four parts viz.
Part 1. Metal Tripod or base with tension rod & screwed sockets.
Part 2. Principal support an ordinary walking stick having screwed sockets at
both ends. The stick may be jointed.
Part 3. Ordinary parallel plates as usually applied to Surveying Levels with Socket
to screw into the head of the Walking Stick.
Part 4. Guy Rods stays or tension bars with screw adjustment for tightening' and
making the whole perfectly ridgid when put up together.
Dated this 15th day of October 1888.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stands for Photographic Cameras or for Surveying
Instruments.
I, GEORGE CHARLES INKPEN Architect and Surveyor, 12 Havelock Road, Southsea,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention is devised with the object of producing a stand for supporting a
photographic Camera, levelling or surveying instruments and the like, which shall be
portable, simple in construction, and easily and quickly set up and disconnected.
In order that my invention may be the better understood I have appended the accom-
panying sheet of drawings in which Figure 1 represents the stand fixed ready for use.
Figures 2 and 3 are respectively a plan and elevational view of parallel plates with
levelling screws as usually applied to surveying and like instruments. Figure 4 shows
an elevational view of one of the folding legs of a tripod. Figure 5. is the end of an
ordinary walking stick having a screw ferule fitted thereon, and Figure 6 represents a
tripod, the limbs of which are folded and packed ready for carriage.
My improved stand consists of four parts namely, an ordinary walking stick A,
parallel plates B, B', a tripod C, and guy rods, stays or tension. bars D).
The parallel plate B, which is preferably of metal, is provided with adjusting
screws b, b, b, whereby the plate B' may be adjusted to any desired angle, or be made
perfectly level. A headed screw e passing through the centre of the plate B¹ engages
with a tapped socket d in the centre of the plate B, and, extending beyond said tapped
socket d, it allows of the whole being screwed into a socket formed in the head or
handle of the walking stick A.
To the extremity of the walking stick A is fitted a metal ferule a having a shallow
screw thread formed thereon, which engages with a socket e in which is cut a female
screw thread corresponding in pitch to that of the ferule a aforesaid. The socket e is
provided with three lugs el to which are pivoted the three jointed legs C forming the
tripod. To the lower extremities of the upper limbs of the jointed legs are pivoted
one of the ends of a corresponding number of stay bars or rods E, the other ends
being pivoted to a tapped socket F into which takes a headed screw bolt f free
to move vertically in a perforation formed in the base of the socket e above

page_text: +
described, by which means the spread or extension of the legs C may be regulated
to suit varying circumstances. The extremities of the lower limbs of the legs forming
the tripod have preferably holes drilled or otherwise formed therein for the reception
of the ends of a corresponding number of guy rods, stays or tension bars with screw
or equivalent adjustment for tightening and ensuring perfect rigidity of the stand
when set up.
In the accompanying drawing the stand is illustrated as being provided with stays D
formed of cords engaging with hooks g, the tension of which stays is obtained by
means of the cleats h. At Figure 6 the tripod is shown folded and packet for
carriage, and which, with the parallel plates B, B¹, may, for convenience, be carried
in a knapsack, bag or other convenient means.
When it is desired to set the stand up, the tripod is unfolded and extended. In this
action it will be seen that the head of the screw will be drawn within the socket
in which position it will be held firmly on screwing the end a of the walking stick into
said socket e-The parallel plates B B₁ are now screwed into the socket in the head
or handle of the stick, and the loops of the stays D placed in the hooks g. The cleats /
are now drawn down until perfect rigidity is obtained.
As a modification of the parallel plates B, B¹, and levelling screws b, and in sub-
stitution thereof, I may employ a "ball and socket" joint for the purpose of levelling
the supporting plate B¹, said "ball and socket" joint being secured by any convenient
means.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First The improved portable stand for photographic cameras, surveying and like
instruments substantially as herein described and shown.
Second-In combination with an ordinary walking stick the application thereto of
a supporting plate with means of levelling same substantially as set forth.
Third The combination with an ordinary walking stick and supporting plate of a
folding tripod substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Fourth In the portable stand herein described, the mode of and means employed
for ensuring perfect rigidity thereto substantially as described.
Dated this 15th day of July 1889.
DAD CHADAT
DAT
EDGAR GEORGE,
27, Bow Lane, Cannon Street, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.