Improvements in Camera Stands.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Jan., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 21st Oct., 1890-Accepted, 6th Dec., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Camera Stands.
I WILLIAM RITCHIE BAKER 9 Belmont Villas, Wallington, Surrey, Chemist do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The top of my stand is usually formed of a hollow triangle, which differs from the
usual kind in having the sides loose, and so hinged that they will fold together.
On the upper surface of each of these sides, 1 hinge or screw a piece of wood of
suitable thickness, and of the same length as the sides, so that it will stand upright
upon it, but not go further back than a right-angle, and to the inner side of this I fix
by a pivot another piece of sufficient length that it will reach across to the
corresponding piece on the opposite side of the triangle to which it is attached by
some suitable fastening, and is itself fixed to the piece from the blind side, thus
forming an upper triangle separated from the lower one by the length of the uprights
first mentioned.
There might be more than one upright at each corner, which could be either fixed
on one another or made to slip into or between each other, so as to give greater
height; but all parts would be so arranged that they would fold up and lie side by
side when not in use, and so occupy but little room.
All the parts need not be permanently fixed together but might be made in
two or more portions, and so arranged that the lower triangle might be used
alone.
By means of this erection I am enabled to reduce the legs to the length of a
walking stick, which they would form, when suitably held together by means of a cap
and ring, or otherwise.
This frame could be used without the legs when it was only required to raise the
Camera a little; it could be thus used whilst resting on the seat of a tricycle, a
table or on the knees, &c.
Instead of having the uprights attached to the triangle they might be fixed to the
base-board of the Camera, and when in use either fixed to the triangle, or directly to
the top of the legs.
For small Cameras it would not be necessary to have such an elaborate arrangement
as that before described. One (or two) uprights would be amply sufficient, and this,
which might be in one or more pieces, so as to pack in the Camera case, could have
one end to screw into the bottom of the Camera and the other into the head of the
stand, which might be made solid and be fitted with a ball and socket joint,
or turn table, so as to allow the Camera to move independently of the stand.
The legs can be made in one or more pieces, which might fold together in any
of the usual methods, but preferably should be connected by means of a screw
joint, so that they could be screwed on when it was desired to use the stand at
its full height.
The stand could be made entirely of wood or partly of metal, or any other suitable
substance.
;
To enable a Camera to be screwed to the stand a piece of metal or wood is
fixed, or pivoted, to one side of the triangle, of such length that it catch in a notch
in the opposite side.
1
In case one or two uprights are used they might be of any shape, tubular or
otherwise furnished with lateral supports or connected together by cross pieces in
any way to give rigidity to the stand."
Two or more of these methods of raising the height might be combined together in
one stand.
03
1000

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Camera Stands.
I, WILLIAM RITCHIE BAKER, of 9 Belmont Villas, Wallington, in the County of
Surrey, Chemist, 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 relates to portable stands upon which cameras are supported
and has for its object the construction and arrangement of a stand which shall
be capable of being folded up into the compass of, and used for a walking stick
if desired.
In order that my invention may be the better understood I now proceed to describe
the same in relation to the drawings hereunto annexed reference being had to the
letters and figures marked thereon. Like letters refer to like parts throughout
the drawings.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved camera-stand fitted together
ready for supporting the camera.
Figure 2 shows it folded up in the form of a walking-stick.
Figure 3 is a view of the stand with modified hinge frame for the legs.
Figure 4 is a sectional view of the upper part of the stand the legs being
folded.
My invention consists in arranging upon a low tripod a superstructure of such a
height as to support the camera at or about the usual height from the ground as with
the ordinary tripods now in use.
The legs of the camera I make preferably of wood in the form of a round stick
divided into three divisions or legs A A A. The upper ends of the stick are split,
each divided portion being hinged by means of suitable pivots or other equivalent device
to a triangular top preferably of wood. Upon the upper face of this top BI provide
a screwed stud on to which can be attached a metal tube C having one end closed by
a cover in the centre of which a tapped hole is provided. The other end of this
tube C. has a screw arranged upon it preferably on the exterior which is screwed into
a suitable socket D attached to a base board E upon which the camera is
supported. A hole is situated in this base board E through which a thumb-screw
securing the camera to the base board passes. When the stand is required to be
folded up the base board E is removed from the top of the tube and the tube is
unscrewed from the triangular top B. The expanded legs are then detached from the
triangular top and folded inwards and the tube C is inverted and placed over the upper
end of the said legs and attached thereto by a spring catch, and thus forms a cap or
sheath as a handle as shown in Figure 2.
The lower end of the legs are retained in their folded position by inserting upon
their ends a ring or ferrule which embraces the same and may be conveniently
attached by means of a bayonet joint. The stand when folded up is thus the height
of an ordinary walking stick.
Instead of having the large triangular top B as shown in Figure 1 which requires
detachment from the legs when the latter are folded up, I use a top of modified
'construction having suitable lugs to which the legs are permanently hinged thus
permitting the diameter of the top B in Figure 3 to be such that the tube can
be placed over it. The tube C in this case when the legs are folded may be attached
to the legs by being screwed on to the stud in an inverted position to that occupied
by it when fixed ready for supporting the camera.
In place of the base board E I may provide a hall and socket joint one part
of which can be screwed to the top of the tube C, the other part being attached to the
camera. I do not confine myself to the particular method described of constructing
the camera-stand. according to my invention as it is obvious it may be carried out in
many different ways with equivalent results.

page_text: 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 :-
1st. The arrangement of a light superstructure upon a low folding tripod in order
to support the camera at or about the ordinary height.
2nd. A camera stand adapted to fold to the compass of a walking stick
consisting of three short legs hinged at the top to a triangular frame, a tube
adapted to be attached to the said triangular frame, a base board or other
device for supporting the camera being attached to the top of the said tube,
substantially as described.
3rd. In combination with such a stand a ball and socket joint attached to the
upper part of the stand for supporting the camera, substantially as described.
4th. In combination with a folding tripod a tube detachably attached thereto, to
increase the height thereof the tube forming a sheath or case embracing the upper
part of the legs of the tripod.
5th. The construction and arrangement of a folding camera stand, substantially
as described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dihi 1
Odob- 1800
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.