IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE FOLDING TRIPOD STANDS
Year: 1884

page_text: I FREDERIC WILLIAM HART. of 8 and 9 Kingsland Green London in the County
of Middlesex Manufacturer of Scientific Instruments do hereby declare the nature
of my Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE FOLDING TRIPOD STANDS to
be as follows:-
I construct a metal sleeve with two lugs, cast or brazed thereon to which are
hinged two plates of such form that when folded down they shall be parallel with
the axis of the sleeve and of same width apart as the internal portion of the sleeve
between the lugs; these plates when turned up for use have a much greater
parallel width apart:-say one & three forths to double the width inside the sleeve
between the lugs. Each leg of the stand consists of three rods, two forming the
upper portion attached to a stand head by socketed pins, the third and lower half
slides freely through the sleeve.-Now if on making the upper two portions of the
leg of the same width as the sleeve between the lugs their surfaces after fixing to
the hinged plates would fold parallel each way; when downwards the space apart
corresponding to width of sleeve or thickness of central sliding leg; when turned
up the surfacces will be only slightly apart, I now chamfer off the inner surfaces
near the hinges for three or four inches and of such form as shall correspond with
the section of the central sliding leg, by this means I obtain the necessary gripping
action on the central portion of the leg to fix it sufficiently firm for the weight the
stand is intended to support, the said gripping is obtained by simply compressing
the top ends to engage the pins of the stand head. When great weight is intended
to be placed on a stand I place a strut brace near the top between the rods and at
about three forths down a narrow plate is pivoted to one rod, the other end has
an slot to engage the headed stud on the opposite rod, any needed amount of
compression is regulated by the position given to the slot.
For greater portability than is obtained by the upper portions of the leg folding
back on the lower.sliding portion,-in this case about half the length of the stand
at its full height when in use-I then prefer to construct the legs of cylindrical
form with the exception of the portion to be chamfered Such cylindrical portions
I joint after the manner of fishing rods with or without bayonet catch or by screw
joints, I purpose to make the sleeve of cylindrical, oval or angular section and the
rods of wood, cane, or metal in part or entire.
T
1 L
Tam1001.
FREDERIC WILLIAM HART, .
8 & 9, Kingsland Green, London.

page_text: I FREDERIC WILLIAM HART of 8 and 9 Kingsland Green London in the County
of Middlesex: Manufacturer of Scientific Instruments: do hereby declare the
nature of my Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE FOLDING TRIPOD STANDS―
FOR THE SUPPORT OF CAMERAS THEODOLITES AND OTHER SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS
NEEDING AN ADJUSTABLE AND FIRM SUPPORT ON LEVEL OR UNDULATING GROUND
OR OTHER BASE OF OBSERVATION-and in what manner the same are to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statements:-
P
I construct a metal sleeve A. Fig. 1. either from sheet metal or by casting, such
sleeve has two lugs brazed or cast thereon at its upper portion a, a, to which are
hinged two plates, leaves or straps B, B, with or without side plates; the latter
preferred. When these straps are folded down they lie close to and parallel with
the direction of the sleeve. In or on these straps the two upper portions D, D, of
the stand leg are secured by screws or other means.-Through the sleeve the
sliding central rod C passes freely, the section of this may be, square, oblong,
ovate-oblong or oblong with sides, either: form with or without tongues of hard
wood C inserted end-wise of the grain. The sleeve must correspond in form to
section of C. Thus it is seen that each leg of the tripod consists of three rods; the
upper two D D folding back on the central portion Ĉ. for, packing. Further the
rods may be cylindrical-excepting the gripping portion a to e & E to a―for the
purpose of conveniently jointing them after the manner of fishing rods or screwed
connections after the manner of flue or pipe cleaners: or square or oblong socketed
joints by these devises the portability so far as regards length is enhanced.
In the form illustrated by the accompanying drawings. I shew the square form
with projecting tongues to receive the ratchet for special gripping-described in its
place further on.-The rods are of wood, cane or metal.
The rods D; D, when folded up without the central rod C should not be more
than one third the space apart of the total width of the portion C, this allows the
rods D, D, to be chamfered or bevelled off from the hinge end; such bevelling to
form a rubbing surface-fit and embrace the sectional form of the rod C.-The
upper ends of the rods D, D, will then be spread more or less apart when
embracing the rod C, now, in the act of bringing them towards each other for the
purpose of engaging their upper ends with the pins on the tripod head, considerable
pressure is exerted on the central rod C of the leg and so it is gripped at the
desired height, a stretcher is employed as usual to secure the rods on the pins.-
When greater weight than usual is intended to be placed on, a stand,. Ì then
employ a strap brace e, E, pivoted at e, then by further compressing the rods. D; D,
with hand grasp the stud at the end E engages in: the catch plate F and thus the:
additional pressure is maintained to prevent sliding.-Further. security for the.
support of heavy instruments is obtained by employing my Ratchet-face. Clamp
with folding disk-headed screw* (for detail description of the head see my patent
No 8, Jan 1st 1884) so as to have no projection from the surface.-In Figs 1. & 2.
the Ratchet plate R is pivoted on the screw P, the nut plate O, is secured to the
rod D, in a recess cut for it, the folding disk-head M, N, in a recess on the opposite
side-Now having practically. formed a stiff frame e, E, a. a. I can put great
pressure on the ratchet, plate R, by turning the disk-headed screw and thus the
ratchet engages the end grain of the before-cited tongue in the central rod C,; it
is to be understood that this device can be employed on either or both sides of the
central rod a

page_text: The construction of stand described above packs into a uniform parcel without
projections from the general surface.
Definitions:-The sleeve hinges as applied by me to Folding Tripod Stands are
guides for insuring centrality of the sliding parts of the legs and preventing a
jamming or toggle action as happens when a narrow band or collar is employed to
connect the two upper rods of stand legs as previously made. A narrow band
with stiff side plates attached and hinges would partly serve the purpose but such
an arrangement would be practically in part my improvement for insuring the
central working of the sliding portions of the legs in Folding Tripod Stands.
.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
inventions connected with Portable Folding Tripod Stands and in what manner
the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is
1st The employment of a sleeve or its counterpart with two hinges for the
purpose as substantially set forth and described.
2nd The employment of the Ratchet-face Clamp and folding disk-headed screw
in combination for the purpose as substantially set forth and described.
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