An Improved Tripod Stand for Photographic and other Purposes.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Tripod Stand for Photographic and other Purposes.
1, EUSTACE WILLIAM PORTER No. 43, Baronsmere Road, East Finchley, in
the County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved tripod stand for photographic and other
purposes, and has for its object the construction of a stand, which, has a full
range of movement, is easy of erection, occupies a small space, and is easy of
manufacture; combining rigidity and lightness, with good appearance.
My said invention consists in the legs of the tripod being constructed in a
tubular form, each made up of more than one tube, the upper tube of any two being
considerably larger than its fellow.
I do this in order to give room for a device to secure each length to its fellow,
and to prevent the tubes from being scratched when telescoping, also to make them
close more easily.
The aforesaid device for securing each tube to its fellow is as follows:
The smaller of two tubes, having two collars fixed at end a certain distance
apart, of such a diameter as to make it fit the larger of the tubes, has between these
collars, a small tube passed through it, which contains a spring actuating two
nipples, which are placed in the ends of this small tube.
In the larger or outer tube, there is a recess on each side, stamped from the
inside, which is, in a section at right angles to the axis of the tube, tapered to a
tangent with the normal diameter of the Lube, the nipples are thrust out by the
spring into the recess, and thus prevent the tubes from telescoping. The advantage
of the recess in the outer tube is such, that on turning one of the tubes round with
very slight pressure, the nipples are deflected, and the tubes may be pushed one
inside the other.
A modification of the above exists in substituting for the recess a small taper
slot at right angles to the axis of the tube, opposite the positions of the two nipples
contained in the inner tube, the nipples are thrust out by the spring into the larger
end of the slot in the outer tube, preventing the tubes from telescoping, just as
before.
The joint between the top of the leg and the stand top, consists in the portion
which receives the leg having a conical hole with a parallel slot leading out of it.
The top of the leg has a tube passed through it, which contains a small bolt having
a conical head and washer. A thumb nut on the bolt being slackened out, the leg
with bolt is pushed into its receptacle, when the thumbscrew is tightened, causing
the conical bolthead and washer to grip the whole, and make a good joint with the
leg and the top.
The top itself is formed of a stamping, or casting, which carries a combination
ball and screw, with thumb-ears to revolve the same, which in turn is gripped
between a hinged lower piece and the top, by a screw at the end opposite to the
hinge connecting the pieces.
The advantage accruing from this form of ball and socket motion is this: There
is no need to turn round the cainera, or other object, to be fixed thereon, or the
stand itself, since, by the thumb-ears on the ball, the screw, which is part of the
same, may be revolved, and the camera, or object, secured to the stand in an
effectual manner.

page_text: In order to fix an object to the stand in a vertical position, in addition to the
ordinary horizontal one, I devise an arrangement of a triangular form which can
be fixed to the top, composed of hinged members, so that for portability it may be
closed up, the vertical part of which carries the object, and is provided with a
secondary simple screw for that purpose.
The range of movement given by the use of a ball and socket, still comes into use
when using this latter device.
Dated this 12th day of December 1895.
An Improved Tripod Stand for Photographic and other Purposes.
I, EUSTACE WILLIAM PORTER, of No. 43 Baronsmere Road East Finchley in
the County of Middlesex Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in tripod stands and appurtenances
relating thereto, and has for its object the construction of a stand which has
a full range of movement, is easy of erection, occupies a small space when
closed, and is simple in its manufacture, combining rigidity and lightness with a
good appearance.
My said invention consists in the legs of the tripod being of a tubular form
each of more than one part, connected by a joint which effectually prevents the
tubes from telescoping and yet to close the tubes one of the latter has only to be
revolved slightly when the part which prevents telescoping is automatically
depressed.
The top part of each leg is provided with a device which enables the leg to be
removed, by loosening a thumb nut, and pulling the leg downward, from the head
of the tripod.
The head of the tripod itself carries three receptacles which enable the device in
the top of leg aforesaid to be carried out also a ball and socket arrangement which
allows a camera to be fixed to stand without revolving either stand or camera
however small the hall may be made. I also provide on the top of the stand a table
to elevate a camera or other object to a vertical position, in addition to the ordinary
one about the horizontal, fixed by an ordinary attachment screw, and carrying an
additional thumbscrew to attach a camera in the vertical position. The range of
movement given by a ball and socket still comes into use when using this latter
device. I do not prefer the attachment to supplant the use of a ball and socket.
The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the elevation table.
Figure 2 is a sectional plan through X Y of the same.
Figure 3 is a plan of the tie C in the same.
Figure 4 is an elevation of the end W in the above.
Figure 5 is an elevation of the tubes where joint occurs.
Figure 6 is a section through centre of the above joint.
Figure 7 is an elevation of a slight modification at tube joint.
Figure 8 is a section of the slight modification of joint detail.
Figure 9 is a plan of the tripod head.
Figure 10 is a section of head through A B.
Figure 11 is a section of C D through lugs on head and part of leg.
Like letters denote corresponding parts in all figures.
In constructing the joint for the tubular legs of stands and the like Figures 3
to 8 according to my invention, in one of the tubes D I make an indent on one side

page_text: or both as at E, in the other tube J I insert a small tube H which contains a spiral
spring Factuating two nipples G G the action is as follows-When the small
tube H is in the position shewn in Figure 6 the nipples G G are thrust out into the
indents E E and the tubes cannot be telescoped but on revolving the outer tube to
the left, or the inner one to the right the nipples G G are forced towards one
another by the distance between the indents E E becoming less owing to the inclined
plane of one or both and the tubes may be telescoped. Sometimes instead of making
indents in the tubes I cut a small taper slot in the periphery of one of the tubes
and use nipples with a tapered end, the other details remaining the same, the action
of this latter is very similar.
I can also use nipples attached to a flat spring I Figures 2 and 8 which may be
riveted or otherwise fixed to a tube and thus dispense with the small tube H
containing spring F Figure 6.
Again, when the material of which the tubes are made requires painting or to be.
kept from being scratched outside, I make the outer of two fellow tubes of a much
greater diameter than the inner, leaving a space between the two which I fill up
by placing two collars on the end of the smaller tube, one on each side of the device
before described. This arrangement in no way interferes with the other part of the.
device.
The top part of the leg A Figure 2 consists of a hollow piece of metal screwed'
or otherwise fixed into the end of the tube which carries a small tube B through
which passes the bolt attaching leg to tripod head.
The head of the tripod Figures 9 and 10 is made up of three parts E F and G E
in Fig. 9 being the part which carries the lugs H H for receiving legs, II the
stiffening ribs, half the recess for the ball F and J an annular projection, having a
screw thread cut in it to receive the cup G, which grips the ball when revolved by
means of the thumb ears K, L L in the same figure are the thumb ears attached
to ball, and M, the camera, or attachment screw.
The holes at N, Figure 10, are countersunk and bolt head O and wing nut P
made to fit, the greatest diameter of the conical parts being larger than that of the
slots at Q, which run into the conical recesses, when the bolt is tightened up, the
leg is prevented from becoming detached. Sometimes I make a paralel recess
instead of a conical one.
To remove a leg from the head, the action is as follows,
Loosen wing nut P Figure 11, press on end of bolt O till head of same and nut,
are clear of recess, and pull leg down, the bolt now being admitted through the
slot.
The ball Fears L L and collar R with screw M Figure 10 are in one piece,
I make the ball hollow. A modification exists in the ears L L being in
one piece with the screw M and being passed through a small tube fixed in
the hollow ball and then a collar R being fixed on screw M to secure latter
from falling out.
With either of these devices an article may be attached to the screw M without
revolving either the article, or the tripod head, as is the case with the old form of
ball and socket arrangement, in which the ball is encased at the bottom and
therefore cannot be revolved independently.
In constructing a table for elevating a camera or other article to a vertical
position according to my invention, I employ a combination mainly consisting of
three parts A B & C Figures 1. 2. 3. 4. A is provided with a grooved receptacle.
for a sliding piece D Figures 1. 2 & 4 a screw thread at E to receive tripod screw
and hinges to connect to upright part B Figures 1 and 2. B is the part to come in
contact with the baseboard of the article to be attached and elevated, and is
provided with a screw H for that purpose. B is hinged to A at F Figures 1 and 2.
G Figure 1 and 2 is intended to connect B with the tie C Figure 3 and 1. B is
covered on its outer face with a suitable material to prevent an attached article
from being scratched by any friction. C of which Figure 3 is a plan, is the tie
used to hold B. Figure 1 in any position the range of adjustment will permit.

page_text: At I is a pin which passes through G Figure 1 and 2 when in working position and
I provide at J a bracket which prevents pin, which is screwed at one end and has a
milled head at the other, from becoming detached and lost. The other end of C is
made wider, to give the rigidity necessary, and each side is pierced by a hole
at K Figure 3 and 1. L-Figures 1.2 and 4 which carries the end of the tie C,
is a clamp piece through which passes the clamping screw of the sliding piece D
Figures 1. 2.& 4 made to bear with sufficient force against the top of the grooved
part in A Figure 1..2 and 4. by a screw M or other suitable means to hold firmly
the vertical part B when it is loaded. N N are two metal plates on which
the clamp piece L slides O is a hole in the base A to receive the thumb
screw H Figure 1, when the combination of parts is folded up, which is performed
in the following manner. The screwed pin at G Figure 1 is loosed, also the clamp
piece L the latter, carrying C, is pulled towards the end of A, C being raised a
little, B is then folded down on A and C over the top of that. The whole then
occupies an extremely small space, and yet at the same time can be made very
strong and light in weight.
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. In the tubular legs of a tripod stand, a joint to prevent any two tubes from
telescoping by means of two nipples working in an indent, or slot, which can be
automatically deflected by revolving either one of the tubes, substantially as shewn
and described with reference to Figures 5. 6. 7 and 8.
2. Providing such legs with an end carrying a screw, by loosening which, and
pulling end downwards, a leg may be detached, substantially as shewn and described
with reference to Figure 11.
3. In the head of a tripod stand a ball and socket arrangement, in which the
screw for attaching an article, ball, and thumb ears for revolving the same, are in
one piece, the whole being clamped by turning the lower socket, in which the ball
rests, provided with a screw thread, and thumb ears, substantially as shewo
in Figure 10; or with reference to the modification as herein described.
4. Providing such a head with lugs or receptacles for the ends of the legs
aforesaid containing countersunk holes with slots leading into them for the
purpose specified substantially as, described and with reference to Figures 10
and 11.
5. An attachment to a stand enabling a camera or other article to be held at
right angles to its ordinary position, possessing adjustment through a certain angle
with moving the legs, or the top of the stand, this being brought about by the said
attachment possessing three members, one of which in its mid-position is vertical,
another horizontal containing a centrally placed adjustment so devised that the
pull caused by the weight of the article fixed on the first member, is not directly on
the clamping arrangement, but is largely taken by the top of the grooved pieces in
which the adjustment piece slides, materially lessening the size of the clamping
screw. A third member connecting the two aforesaid together, which may be
detached at one or both ends, one of the said ends carrying a connecting pin iu
such a manner that it cannot be detached when removed from its working position,
the whole operating substantially as herein shewn, and described with reference
to Figures 1. 2. 3 and 4.
Dated this 5th day of September 1896.
EUSTACE WILLIAM PORTER,
Applicant.