Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Feb., 1886.
Complete Left, 13th Oct., 1886.
Complete Accepted, 11th Jan., 1887.
I CHARLES ALBERT ESKELL 2 Onslow Place S. Kensington Fine Art-Salesman
lo hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object improvements in tripods for photographic purposes
applicable also to other similar uses by which means collapsing or telescopic tripods
are made much more secure and portable than formerly.
I make my tripod legs from several pieces of triangular tapering tubing of metal or
they may be of bamboo (in which case they would be circular) & I form at the top
of each length on the inside a spring having on its free end a suitable plate of metal
which passes through a slot in the tube a little above the spring and I form at the
lower end of the tube a slot through which, when set up the springed plate of the
next section passes.
These springs may be one or more in number and may be placed at each or any of
the angles or on each or any of the faces of the tubing.
The top I form of three metal arms (which may in themselves be horozontally
collapsible,) which are hinged to a common centre piece of metal suitably formed;
and to the free ends of these arms are hinged or otherwise attached the telescopic
logs.
The centre piece is prevented from rising by the connections with which the arms
are joined to it being champered and the arms are prevented from falling by a suitable
revolving plate of metal attatched by screws to the underneath of the centre piece and
extending a little beyond the central arm attachments having in it spaces cut in such
manner that on revolving the plate a certain distance regulated by its attatching screws
the arms are allowed to drop in a vertical plane.
The tripods so constructed offer considerable advantages in bearing more weight in
proportion to their size and in their general stability portability and in compactness
when closed, also for the greater quickness & facility with which they can be
crected, or closed for transit.
It will be seen that these legs are suitable for many purposes besides photography.

page_text: to other similar Uses.
I, CHARLES ALBERT ESKELL 2 Onslow Place S. Kensington in the county of
Middlesex Fine Art Salesman do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN TRIPODS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES APPLICABLE ALSO TO OTHER
SIMILAR USES and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
accompanying drawing and to the letters & figures marked thereon that is to say :-
My invention has for its object improvements in tripods for photographic purposes
applicable also to other similar uses by which means collapsing or telescopic tripods
are made much more secure portable than formerly.
I make my tripod legs from several pieces of triangular tapering tubing of metal or
other suitable substance and I form at the top of each length (except the topmost
which is ferruled) either (1) in the body of the tube itself or (2) by inserting a
tempored strip of metal on the inside; a spring having on its free end a suitable plate
of metal which passes thro' a slot in the tube at a certain distance regulated by
circumstance (in the case of No. (1) no slot would be required), and I cut at the
lower end of the tube a slot into which when the sections are fully extended the
springed plate of the next lower section passes and automatically fixes the joint.
The top I form of three metal arms (which may in themselves be horizontally
collapsible or they may be strengthened by the addition of hinged connecting pieces)
which are hinged to a common centre piece of metal suitably formed and to the free s
ends of these arms are hinged pivoted or otherwise attached the tripod legs by means
of the screw ferrules capping them.
The centre piece is prevented from rising by the connections by which the arms are
joined to it being champered and the arms are prevented from falling by a suitable
revolving plate of metal attatched by screws to the underneath of the centre piece and
extending a little beyond the central arm attatchments, having in it spaces cut in such
manner that on revolving the plate a certain distance (regulated by its attatching
screws) the arms are allowed to fall in a vertical plane.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing represents a perspective views of a tripod for
photographic or other purposes, constructed according to my invention Fig. 2
represents in elevation on of the legs of the same extended; Fig.
longitudinal section of the leg represented by fig. 2.
shews a
Fig. 4 shews a longitudinal section of the leg represented by figs. 2 & 3 the parts
partly collapsed or telescoped one within the other.
Fig. 5 is an elevation of the leg represented by figs. 2. 3. 4. closed the cap of same
being clipped or closed.
Fig. 6 shews cap in section and elevation for closing top tube.
Fig. 7 represents a longitudinal section on an enlarged scale the slotted end &
springed end of two of the sections connected and forming part of the leg illustrated
by figs. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Fig. 8 shews the same parts as fig. 7 but disconnected.
Fig. 9 represents in perspective the top for the tripod legs in position for use.
Fig. 10 represents the same closed.
Fig. 11
"
No. 9 in section.
Fig. 12 shews a modification of No. 9 in perspective.
Fig. 13
No. 12 closed while fig. 14 shews it in section.
Fig. 15 represents the revolving plate which sunnarts the redial
0136
whan in

page_text: In constructing a tripod according to my invention I make each of the legs of
several pieces of metal or other triangular tapering tubing. The legs of the tripod
represented by fig. 1 are each formed of four pieces of tubing marked respectively
A A A A and I form at the top of lengths A' A³ A' by inserting a tempered
strip of metal or by cutting a strip in the body of the tube itself a spring B which has
soldered or otherwise joined on its free end a wedge shape plate of metal C the thick
end of the wedge being towards the foot if the tempered strip is used a slot is cut in
the tube where C should come through, and at the bottom of A' A' A³ I cut slots D
into which when extended the plates C of lengths A* A* A* pass, and these slots are
cut in such mesurement that when the sections jam on extension the springs C pass
through in certainity & lock the joint automatically. I make the extremity A+ of
appointed shape for obvious reasons, & the upper extremities of A' are each provided
with ferrule having a process for attatchment to the tripod top (represented by fig. 9
or its modification fig. 11) which connects the legs together or the legs may be
connected by other means as other ordinary tripod legs are connected.
The extended leg represented by the Figs. 1. 2. 3 can be closed by pressing on the
springs C, and pushing up the section into the necks above it (See Fig. 4, which
represents the leg partly closed) until they are all contained within the top tube A¹
(See Fig. 5). A hinged clip cap G [Fig. 6] being then closed.
The springs C may be three or less in number in the back tube, and may be placed
on each or any of the angles or on each or any of the faces of the tubing according to
circumstances.
The tripod top I form of a suitable centrepiece H to which I attatch by a champered
hinge or pivot the radial arms I which are terminated by a crutch J at their free ends
to which are pivoted the legs, represented by Figs. 1. 2. 3. 4. To these crutches J are
then attatched by pivots. vertically hinged bars L passing from one crutch to another
in order to offer a greater supporting surface to the camera bottom.
To the underside of H I attatch a revolving piece of metal N extending a little
beyond the champered hinges K. having in its spaces cut in such manner that on being
revolved a certain distance regulated by the slot through which its attatching screws
pass the radial arms I are allowed to drop in a vertical plane, the hinged bars L
doubling up and adjusting as the arms fall.
Fig. 11 is a modification of No. 9 which dispenses with side bars L. the arms I
being enlarged and the central hinge being made in contrary champer to that of No. 9.
The tripods so constructed offer considerable advantages in bearing more weight in
proportion to their size, their general stability, and in compactness when closed also
for a greater quickness & facility with which they can be erected, or closed for
transit. It will be seen that these legs are suitable for many purposes besides
photography.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said invention
& in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
The improvements in tripods for photographic purposes applicable also to other
similiar uses herein before described and illustrated by accompanying drawing, that is
to say forming each leg of two or more pieces of triangular tapering tubes having
slots & springs at their ends respectively, so as to be readily severally connected.
together or disconnected & telescoped one within the other.
A collapsable tripod head constructed as herein before described & illustrated in the
accompanying drawing. That is to say forming the top of 3 radial arms joined to a
common centrepiece & connected (or not) by hinged connecting arms & supported
by a suitable revolving piece of metal the centre-piece to rise when the top is collapsed
substantially as hereinbefore described in the accompanying drawing.
CHARLES ALBERT ESKELL.