An Improved Collapsible Tripod Stand.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Aug.. 1893
Complete Specification Left, 18th May, 1894-Accepted, 23rd June, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Collapsible Tripod Stand.
WILLIAM ALBERT EDWARDS Camera Fitter Weston House Broadway
Tooting S. W. do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
I provide a round tapering stick of wood or other suitable material divided into
three equal sections in the direction of its length, each section is cut down about
three fourths of its length from the top or thickest end to admit of spreading
when tripod is opened. The head of tripod is formed of a centre boss provide
with three lugs, these lugs are slotted to receive three strips of metal which are
secured by pivots on which the strips are free to turn until they are all in one
plane, when they are prevented from further turning by contact with the bottom
of slot in lug.
When open these strips form the head of tripod on which the camera is
supported and is kept tight and secure by the tripod screw (which is drilled for
that purpose) in the nut in baseboard of camera to the extremity of each strip is
attatched two flat metal hinges one on each side by means of a pivot, and forming
a flexible joint in one direction the rivet of the hinge forming the same in the
contrary direction and the two combined forming an universal joint on which a
division of a section of stick swings. As before said, each section is divided for
the purpose of spreading when opened, and it follows that one division of each
section is attatched to one strip and the other division to the next strip, so that
when the head is opened the divided sections are opened with it, thereby
distributing support of camera over a considerable space and securing rigidity the
top inside of stick is cut away to allow the tripod head and screw to lie in when
closed.
For extending the legs of tripod I make a groove on the inner angle of each
section, this groove is greater in depth than in width, so that it allows a tube of
eliptical section to run freely up and down when the axes of groove and tube are
identical, when it is required to fix the tube all that is necessary is to give it a
In some
a slight turn to the rigth or left when it is securely held by friction.
cases 1 dispense with the collapsible head and simply secure each of the three
sections to a lug on a centre boss the sliding arrangement being the same as in the
foregoing case, I strengthen stick with collars and ferrules, and do not confine
myself to the use of wood or metal for either of the said parts. It is evident that
this stand is suitable for other purposes than as a photographic camera stand, such
as an artists easel, music stand etc.
Dated this 21st day of August 1893.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Collapsible Tripod Stand.
WILLIAM ALBERT EDWARDS Weston House Broadway Tooting S. W. Camera
40 Fitter 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 :-
I provide a tapered stick shown at A Fig. 1 in the accompanying drawings,
preferably of wood and of such length as may be considered su table, divided into

page_text: three equal sections A B C Fig. 1. These sections are again divided from the
top or largest end for about four fifths their length, indicated by the dotted lines
Fig. 1, below which divisions they are strengthened by straps and ferrules as
shown at d and e Fig. 2.
Each section is grooved on its inner angle from the bottom upwards of Fig. 2 to
receive a sliding tube or rod g Fig. 2 which is used for the purpose of increasing
the height of tripod as hereinafter described.
The sections are screwed to a collapsible head H Fig. 2 which lies in cavities i
Fig. 2 (made on the inside of sections) when the tripod is closed and forming a
plane triangular bed when opened, and constructed as follows.
To a centre boss K Figs. 2 & 4 three radial arms L L L Fig. 2 are pivoted
these arms being provided with stop pieces M Fig. 3 which prevents them turning
too far. On the outside end of each arm is attatched two hinges N N" Fig. 3,
one on each side, by means of a pivot O Fig. 3. The divided sections are screwed
to these hinges as shown at p Fig. 2 the rivet of hinge and the pivot O forming an
universal joint allowing free motion to each section when the head is screwed to a
camera or other base by means of a thumb-screw which passes through the hole
shown in the centre boss.
For the purpose of increasing the height of tripod each section is provided with
a sliding metal tube or rod of elliptical section which runs in aforesaid groove made
on the inner angle of section, this groove also being elliptical and slightly larger
than the tube or rod allows the latter to slide freely up and down when the
axes of tube and groove are identical, but firmly secures it when turned to the right
or left by friction. A sectional view of segment of stick showing elliptical
groove will be seen at Fig. 5.
The stick being recessed to receive the head, when closed all is compact and self
and self contained the only loose parts being a bayonet-jointed cap for the top and
one for the bottom to keep stick closed.
To open the tripod the caps are removed and the sections seperated from each
other when the head will open something after the manner of the struts of an
umbrella frame.
When the sections are opened enough to place the hand under the boss a slight
pressure upwards will bring the arms level the stops on them preventing the boss
rising too high and the camera when screwed on preventing it from going back.
I sometimes dispense with the collapsible head and substitute a centre boss in
which case it is not necessary to divide the sections, but merely to pivot them to
suitable lugs attatched to centre boss, the other parts being the same as in the
collapsible head tripod.
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
1. A collapsible head for tripod stands containing a series of universal joints
made and constructed substantially as described.
2. A collapsible head in combination with a segmental stick attatched to and
closing in same substantially in the manner described.
3. A sliding tube or rod of elliptical section in combination with a groove or
collar of elliptical section substantially as described.
Dated this 18th day of May 1894.
WILLIAM ALBERT EDWARDS.