Improvements in Mounting Photographic Cameras on their Tripods or Supports.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Jan., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 19th May, 1896-Accepted, 20th June, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mounting Photographic Cameras on their Tripods
or Supports.
I JOHN HENRY FAY of 22 Eastbourne Road South Tottenham in the County
of Middlesex Draughtsman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide very simple and cheap but highly
efficient means for mounting photographic cameras on their tripods or other
supporting appliances in such wise that these cameras can very easily and quickly
be moved into any position and be pointed in any direction and be trained on
objects or views wheresoever such objects or views may be.
To carry out this object I place on the top or platform of the tripod or other
supporting appliance a table of the desired size and shape and centrally or
thereabouts pivoted thereon in such wise as to be capable of being turned on this
top or platform and of being clamped thereon in any position.
Two parallel plates are made of any desired sizes and shapes and maintained
in any convenient manner a certain small distance apart and these plates can
together be mounted on edge transversely across the table it may be by a web
common to both hinged or pivoted on such table or otherwise in such manner that
they can together be erected on this table and also turned down on both sides
until they are parallel with the same or thereabouts. To support these plates in
their desired positions a semicircular slotted guide can be erected on the table
across one of their ends through which slot can pass a stud or bolt secured on or
to this end of the plates and a screw nut on such stud can clamp the same in
position in the slot.
A lug or bracket or the like is formed on or attached to the camera in any
desired position and may be of any suitable size being capable of being inserted
between the two plates and when properly placed between the same a bolt cau be
passed through the parts to act as a pivot whereon this lug or the like and
therefore also the camera can be turned and a screw nut on this bolt can clamp
these parts in any desired relative positions.
It is therefore obvious that the camera can be easily and quickly moved on the
pivot in the plates the plates on their hinges or pivots on the table and the table
on its pivot on the top of the tripod or appliance into what relative positions are
required and therein can be securely clamped and then as easily and quickly be
moved into other positions and so on.
Instead of hingeing or pivoting the plates by or through their lower horizontal
edges on the table as aforesaid they can be pivoted by the lower parts of their
lateral edges or by prolongations of the same in brackets or the like erected in the
proper positions on the table or when desired only one of such lateral edges can be
so fitted whereby the same effects would be produced.
Again instead of the semicircular slotted guide aforesaid a large flat and broad
standard can be erected on the table in the same position and the plates aforesaid
can be formed on or secured to a dise or the like by or through one of their
lateral edges and this disc or the like can he centrally or thereabouts pivoted on
the face of the large standard on which pivot a screw nut can be fitted to clamp
this disc or the like in any desired relative position whereby also the same effects
would be produced.

page_text: Although as a general rule it may be preferable to provide two plates between
which the lug or bracket on the camera can be pivoted yet when desired only one
plate may be provided whereto or whereon this lug or bracket could be pivoted in
the same manner. In this case also the lug or bracket on the camera could be
duplicated if desired and could pass on both sides of the single plate.
In all cases the pivots the hinges and the clamping appliances can be made and
fitted in any usual and convenient manuer suitable for allowing them to perform
their necessary functions aforesaid with ease rapidity and certitude.
Dated this 29th day of January 1896.
HART & Co.,
168, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mounting Photographic Cameras on their Tripods
or Supports.
I JOHN HENRY FAY of 22 Eastbourne Road South Tottenham in the County
of Middlesex Draughtsman do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to he performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:—
The object of this my invention is to provide very simple and cheap but highly
efficient and convenient means for mounting photographic cameras on their tripods
or other supporting appliances in such wise that these cameras can very easily
and quickly be moved into any positions and be pointed in any directions and be
trained on any objects or views wheresoever such objects or views may be both
absolutely and relatively or in respect of such cameras.
In order the more clearly to explain this my invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed I refer to the accompanying drawing wherein I have
shewn my means for mounting photographie cameras on their tripods or supports
in and according to two very convenient and appropriate styles of formation and
fitment and Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the apparatus Figure 2 is a front
elevation of the same Figures 3 and 4 are side elevations of the same and
Figure 5 is a plan of the same.
A base A is made of any desired size and shape and preferably centrally or there-
abouts therein and therethrough is made an hole B and this base A can be placed on
the top or platform or table of the tripod or other supporting appliance and can
be secured thereon by a suitable bolt which passes loosely through the hole B
and through a corresponding hole in such top or platform or table to act as a
pivot whereon such base A can be freely turned or moved and a winged nut or
other ordinary device on the end of the bolt can when desired clamp and secure
the same in any position in the usual or other manner.
On this base A and at or near one of the edges or ends thereof is erected a
standard D which may be of any desired height and breadth and shape
preferably perhaps of a semicircular shape or thereabouts as is shewn in
Figures 1 and 2.
In and according to one style of formation and fitment which is shewn in
Figures 1, 3 and 5 a plate which may preferably be small and somewhat
narrow is placed on and against the face of the standard D and can be centrally
or thereabouts uear its lower part or a little above the base A loosely mounted
thereon by a pivot E at or near one of its ends while the other the free end of this
plate F can be secured and retained in any desired position whether vertically
above the pivot E as is shewn in these figures or inclined out of the vertical plane
on either side by a suitable and usual clamping bolt H which passes loosely
through an appropriate semicircular slot K either as is perhaps preferable and as

page_text: is shewn in Figure I properly made therefor in the standard D or it may be
properly attached or connected to such standard D or otherwise properly erected
on the base A into this plate F in any convenient and customary manner.
In and according to another style of formation and fitment which is shewn in
Figures 2 and 4 the plate F¹ can be made larger and of any convenient shape
preferably perhaps as a circular disc and is similarly placed on and against the
face of the standard D and is centrally or thereabants loosely mounted thereon by
a pivot E' and this plate F can likewise be secured and retaine in any desire
position by providing its pivot E' with a winged nut or other ordinary device or
by fitting and forming such pivot El as a suitable and usual clamping bolt or
otherwise in any convenient and customary manner.
On the plate For F1 can be fitted in any convenient and usual manner two
projecting plates or cheeks L and L which so project at right angles or
thereabouts from such plate For F1 and are connected thereto by their lateral
edges and these cheeks L and L' are parallel with each other and are a certain desired
small distance apart and when the plate F is vertical to the base A these cheeks L
and L' are also vertical thereto and on the plate F they are placed and arranged
diametrically or in line therewith and parallel thereto and corresponding holes M
are made it may be centrally or thereabouts in and through these cheeks L
and L.
A lug or the like of any desired style and shape is formed on or with or is
attached to the camera in any desired and convenient position and is of such a
size as to be capable of being properly inserted between the checks L and L' an
bole being made therein corresponding to and with the holes M in such cheeks L
and L' and through these corresponding holes passes loosely a suitable holt to act
as a pivot whereon such camera can be freely turned or moved and a winged nut
or other ordinary device on the end of the bolt can when desired clamp and secure
the same in any position in the usual or other manner.
There are thus provided in this apparatus three pivots that is to say:-A
vertical pivot through the base A and the top or platform or table of the tripod
or other supporting appliance an horizontal and longitudinal pivot E or E' through
the plate For F and the standard D and an horizontal and transverse pivot
through the cheeks L and L' and the lug or the like on the camera on which three
pivots or any one or more of them as is indeed very obvious the several parts of
this apparatus or any one or more of them can very easily and quickly be so
turned or moved into such required relative positions that the camera is pointed
in what direction is desired and is trained on the desired object or objects or view
and therein can as easily and quickly be clamped and secured by the clamping
appliances herein before described and thus retained so long as may be necessary or
convenient when it can be moved into other positions and so on.
When this apparatus is made and arranged in and according to the style of
formation and fitment hereinbefore described and shewn in Figures 1, 3 and 5 it
may sometimes be convenient for the purpose of rendering the camera still more
rigid and immovable to support the free edges of the cheeks L and L' with
which object a suitable bracket N can be erected on the base A in the proper
position and a corresponding bracket P can depend from the unler edge or edges
of one or both of the cheeks L and L' or from a web common to both when a
screw or other pin R it may even be a spring-actuated pin could be passed
through both brackets N and P whereby the cheeks L and L would be rendered
extremely rigid aud would be turned or moved on two pivots E and R
wherefor as is obvious the pivot R must be on a level with and correspond to the
pivot E.
Again when this apparatus is made aud arranged in and according to the style
of formation and fitment hereinbefore described and shewn in Figures 1, 3 and 5
these cheeks L and L being if necessary enlarged and prolonged downwards
therefor may be hinged or pivoted directly or through a web common to both on
the base A through and along their under edges in which case as is indeed obvious

page_text: the separate pivots E and R if any together with the brackets N and P could
be dispensed with but the action and motion of the cheeks L and L¹ on
their continuous horizontal aud longitudinal pivot would still be precisely the
same.
The necessary parts of this apparatus herein before described that is to say:
The base A and the standard D and the plate For F' and the cheeks L and L
can severally be rigidly and undetachably secured together in any convenient and
usual manner say for example by screws or the like or can severally be rigidly
and detachably secured together in any suitable and ordinary manner say for
example by causing the one part to slide on edge and on end into and along a
groove formed therefor in the other part or the like or as is perhaps most
appropriate and preferable for convenience of packing or carrying or the like the
standard D may be connected to the base A by an hinge T and the cheeks L
and L may be separately connected to the plate For F1 by outside hinges V
whereby as is indeed obvious this apparatus can when desired be folded down into
a flat small compass. The convenience aforesaid could perhaps be still further
enhanced by hingeing the standard D on the extreme edge or end of the base A
and by forming and fitting this hinge in any customary and appropriate manner
as will allow the standard D to be folded under and against the lower or under
surface of the base A in which base A can be made a suitable aperture to receive
the handle of the clamping bolt H or the handle of or the winged nut or other
device on the pivot E' which having passed through this aperture could be turned
to lock and retain the parts together as is common and usual.
It may sometimes and in some cases be advisable to transpose the parts and to
place the two parallel cheeks on the camera and the lug on the plate facing the
standard instead of as is hereinbefore described and further even to provide only
one cheek whether such single cheek be on the plate or on the camera as also to
provide more than two cheeks and more than one lug whether on the plate or on
the camera when for any cause it may be deemed desirable so to do in all or any
of which cases as is indeed obvious the action or motion of the camera on its
horizontal and transverse pivot would still be precisely the same.
This apparatus herein before described and all the several parts thereof can be
made of any appropriate and convenient shapes and sizes and of any suitable and
customary material preferably perhaps of wood and the pivots and pins and bolts
the clamping appliances and the hinges if any can likewise be made and fitted in
any ordinary and convenient manner as may be suitable for allowing them to
perform their necessary functions herein before mentioned with ease rapidity and
certitude.
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:
The arrangement and combination of parts and appliances constituting my
improvements in mounting photographic cameras on their tripods or supports
substantially as and for the purpose herein before described and declared.
Dated this 10th day of Man 100c
HART & Co.,
168, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Agents.