Improvements in or connected with Stands for Cameras or any other Instruments.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Oct., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 19th July, 1893—Accepted, 23rd Sept., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Stands for Cameras or any
other Instruments.
We HENRY FREDERICK GOLDING, of The Nine Elins Works, of the London
and South Western Railway Company, of the County of Surrey, Mechanical
Draughtsman, and RICHARD WEBSTER, of The Nine Elms Works, of the London
and South Western Railway, of the County of Surrey, Mechanical Draughtsman,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The invention relates to photographic camera, or any other instrument stands,
or supports, of the tripod class, whether of the jointed, rigid, telescopic, or any
other leg class, and has for its object
(Firstly.) To provide an improved head, or mechanism, to attach to, or fix to, a
photographic camera, or any other instrument stand, so that a camera or any other
instrument, can be adjusted, and set, to any angle, without altering the position of
the stand, or legs of stand.
(Secondly.) To provide, in the case of a tripod stand, or equivalent an improved
adjustable mechanism, for fixing the legs, rigidly in any required position, (not
necessary equilateral,) so that they will not tend to spread or close, but be held
rigid and tight, so that the camera, or any other instrument, supported by the legs,
will in no way tend to alter in position.
The said adjustable mechanism, is fixed to the legs, and is made to fold up with.
the legs, and in the same compass.
It can be easily fixed to existing legs, and with this apparatus the legs could be
made much thiner and lighter.
(Thirdly.) To provide a mechanical telescopic, socket, or screwing device, to be
attached to each leg, for holding tight, adjusting, removing, and renewing, needle
points, and various interchangeable jointed, or otherwise feet.
Having now given a short description of our invention; we will now proceed to
describe it more fully, which we declare to be as follows.
(Firstly.) The improved head or mechanism consists of a ball and socket joint.
The ball or socket carrying the plate, and screw, or equivalent; for attaching
the camera, or any other instrument to.
The socket is made in two or more pieces, having lugs, or equivalents, for the
purpose of putting together, and holding the ball with the camera, or any other
instrument on it, at any angle.
The socket is held together on one side, by a screw, screws, or equivalents,
passing thro' said lugs, or equivalents, and which fit tight to one another.
The lugs, or equivalents, on the other side of socket being open, that is to say,
the two faces of the lugs, or equivalents, and socket, do not quite meet, or fit one
another; so as to allow of the socket being compressed on the ball, by a screw,
screws, or equivalents, of convenient length and size, and at any angle.
The socket may be split, in one or more places, and at any angle, having the
lugs, or equivalents, at any angle also.
The socket or ball may be fitted with a screw, nut, or equivalent, at one side for
attaching to any existing tops, or heads, of stands, or tripods made, so that the ball
and socket, may be taken off the existing tops, or heads of stands, or tripods, and
put in the socket, and the existing ordinary tops of stands, or tripods used; or the
ball and socket joint, may be made; so that the existing leg of stand, or legs of
tripod, or equivalent, can be attached, in the ordinary manner.
In using the above improved head and mechanism; the ball or socket, is attached

page_text: to the existing head, of a stand or tripod, and fixed by a screw, screws, or
equivalents, in the ordinary manner.
To adjust the camera or any other instrument; the screw, screws, or equivalents,
of convenient length, and size, for compressing the socket, is released, so that the
two parts, or different parts, of socket are seperated, and the ball left free to turn
to any angle.
To set the camera, or any other kind of instrument, in any required position, the
screw, screws, or equivalents, of convenient length and size, are tighted so that the
two parts, or different parts, of the socket, are tightend on the ball, and so made
to grip it; and keep it rigidly fixed, in any desired position.
(Secondly.) The improved adjustable mechanism, for fixing the legs rigidly, in
any position, not necessary equilateral, consists of a centre nut, box, guide, or
equivalent, made in one or more pieces, and having one or more grooves, slots,
holes, or equivalents, of any section, passing thro' the centre, or otherwise.
The above said nut, box, guide, or equivalent, is used for clamping, and holding
tight, rods, or tubes, or equivalents, of any section, which are attached to the legs,
and so arranged that each leg, can be set and held tight, at any radius, or the legs
at different radi, to one another.
The nut, box, guide, or equivalent, may be split in one or more places, and in
any direction, so that by compressing it with screws, wedges, taper pins, or
equivalents, in any form: the rods, tubes, or equivalents, are held rigid; thus
holding the legs rigid.
By taking the compression off the nut, box, guide, or equivalent; the legs are
allowed to move independently of one another, and set in any position.
The nut, box, guide, or equivalent, is provided with one, or more slots, to allow
of the rods, tubes or equivalents to drop into, when folding up, is required; stops
being provided to keep the said rods, tubes or equivalents from being pulled apart
from nut, box, guide or equivalent and also to keep them in position.
The nut, box, guide, or equivalent, may be made as above described; or in
various other forms; such as, with, one or more pins, with conical discs, and heads
with slots, grooves, or holes, of any section, for the reception of the rods, tubes or
equivalents.
The nut, box, guide or equivalent is so arranged; so that, in compressing it, it
drives the said conical discs, towards the centre, gripping the rods, tubes, or
equivalents, against the sides of the nut, box, guide, or equivalent.
Passing thro' the said nut, box, guide, or equivalent, are one or more rods, tubes,
or equivalents, of any section, with or without slots, grooves, or equivalents, and
having joints, of any form in one or more places.
The above rods, tubes, or equivalents, of any section, are attached, at one end, to
the legs, or supports, of stand, with a hinged, or any other joint.
The other end of the rods, tubes, or equivalents, have projections, bosses, or
equivalents, on either, or both sides, to allow of the rods, tubes, or equivalents,
swinging into the slots of nut, box, guide, or equivalent, as previously mentioned.
To adjust and fix the legs, of any stand, or tripod, for a camera, or any kind of
instrument the nut, box, guide, or equivalent, is compressed by a screw, screws,
wedges, taper pins, or equivalents, and so arranged, so as to hold all rods, which
are attached to the legs, tight and firm, in any position. By slacking the said
screw, screws, wedges, taper pins, or equivalents, the legs are released, for setting
or folding up.
In the case of folding or jointed legs; a plate will be attached to one portion of
the leg, and a slot, or equivalent, made in the other portion, so that the portion of
leg, with slot, or equivalent, may be pulled clear of the said plate, and folded up,
or the said plate, may be slotted, and pulled clear of the leg.
The legs in this case, will be made to fold up outwardly.
(Thirdly.) The mechanical, telescopic, socket, or screwing device, to be attached,
to the bottom of each leg, for holding tight, removing, renewing, and adjusting,
needle points, or various other interchangeable, jointed, or otherwise feet or

page_text: the needle, or various other feet, as the nut is screwed on to larger diameter of
cone.
There are various other methods of fixing a needle point, or various other feet,
such as a split socket, the sides of which, are compressed by a set screw, and so
made to grip a needle point, or various other fect, which may be in the socket.
Or a socket, without being split, having a set screw, or equivalent, to hold needle,
or various other feet.
Or a socket, so that needle, or various other feet, may be simply slipped, or
screwed, into it.
Or a socket, having an eye bolt, and nut, or equivalent, at right angles, or any
angle, to said socket, for gripping the needle, or various other feet, and holding
them in one position or another.
The said needle, rod, or pin attachment, of the various other feet, may have one
or more grooves, of any section, running round, to keep them in one position or
another.
The various feet, will include, a needle, or spike, which will slip into the said
mechanical device, and which can be adjusted, and held tight, in any required
position, to suit indoor, or out-door work, and which can be taken out for grinding,
renewing, or using the various other fect, or other purposes.
Another form of foot would be an inverted cup, or saucer shaped disc, having a
rod, pin, or equivalent attachment, to slip into the said mechanical device, in place
of the said needle, or spike.
This cup, will be used on sandy soil, grass, or any kind of soft soil, to prevent
the legs from sinking, and so keep the camera, or any kind of instrument, steady
and firm.
Another form of foot would be, an inverted, india-rubber lined cup, or saucer
shaped disc, having a jointed or otherwise rod, pin, or equivalent attachment, to
slip into the said mechanical device, in place of the said needle, or other foot.
When the legs are placed in position, on glass, ice, linoleum, or any smooth
surface, and a little pressure, being put on the top of the legs, it drives the air, out
of the cup, and creates, a vacuum, which holds the legs firmly, in any position, by
atmospheric pressure.
Another form of foot, would be a flat, chisel pointed foot, having a rod, pin, or
equivalent attachment, to slip into the said mechanical device, in place of the said
needle, or other feet.
This foot will have, one or more teeth, cut, or cast, on underside, for use on hard,
or rocky substances.
Another form of foot, would be an ordinary, flat foot, having a rod, or pin
attachment, to slip into the said mechanical device, in place of the said needle, or
other feet.
This foot, will project out from the bottom of legs, to allow of the human foot,
being placed on it, and so steady the camera, when pulling dark slides.
To adjust, or change, the needle point, or the various other feet, described above,
is simply by screwing, the nut, or screw of various designs, or equivalents, which
will compress, or release said needle, or the various other feet.
Dated this 26th day of October 1892.
HENRY FREDERICK GOLDING.
RICHARD WEBSTER,

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Stands for Cameras or any
other Instruments.
We HENRY FREDERICK GOLDING 9 Station Road, Penarth in the County of
Glamorgan formerly of The Nine Elms Works of the London and South Western
Railway Company, of the County of Surrey, Mechanical Draughtsman and
RICHARD WEBSTER 8 McKinley Street Glasgow in the County of Lanark
formerly of The Nine Elms Works of the London and South Western Railway, of
the County of Surrey, Mechanical Draughtsman, 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 :-
The invention relates to photographic camera, or any other instrument stands, or
supports of the tripod class, whether of the jointed rigid, telescopic, or any other
leg class, and has for its objects
(Firstly.) To provide an improved head or mechanisin, to attach, or fix to, a
photographic camera or any other instrument stand so that a camera, or any other
instrument can be adjusted, and set to any angle, without altering the position of
stand, or the legs of the stand.
(Secondly.) To provide, in the case of tripod stand, or equivalent, an improved
adjustable mechanism, for fixing the legs rigidly in any required position, (not
necessary equilateral), so that they will not tend to spread or close, but be held
rigid and tight, so that the camera, or any other instrument, supported by the legs,
will in no way tend to alter in position.
The said adjustable mechanism, is fixed to the legs, and is made to fold up with
the legs, and in the same compass.
It can be easily fixed to existing legs, and with this apparatus, the legs could be
made much thiner and lighter.
(Thirdly.) To provide a mechanical, telescopic, socket or screwing device, to be
attached to each leg, for holding tight, adjusting, removing and renewing, needle
points, and various other interchangeable jointed or otherwise feet.
Having now given a short description of our invention, we will now proceed to
describe it more fully, and which we declare to be as follows.
(Firstly.) The improved head or mechanism Figs. 1 & 2 consists of a ball
socket b.
( and
The balla, or socket b, carrying the plate, and screw d, or equivalent, for
attaching the camera or any other instrument to.
The socket is made in two or more pieces, having lugs e, e¹, or equivalents, for
the purpose of putting together, and holding the ball a, with the camera or any
other instrument on it, at any angle.
The socket is held together on one side by a screw f, screws or equivalents,
passing thro' said lugs e or equivalents, and which fit tight to one another.
The lugs el or equivalents, on the other side of socket being open, that is to say,
the two faces of the lugs el or equivalents, do not quite meet one another, so as to
allow of the socket, being compressed on the ball a, by a screw g, screws or
equivalents, of convenient length and size, at any angle.
The socket may be split in one or more places, and at any angle, having the
lugs e, e, or equivalents at any angle also..
The socket b, or ball a, may be fitted with a screw and nut i, or equivalent at
one side, for attaching to any existing tops, or heads, of stands or tripods, so that
the ball a and socket b, may be taken off the existing tops or heads of stands or
tripods, and put in the pocket; and the existing ordinary tops of stands or tripods
used; or the ball, and socket b, may be made, so that the existing leg of stand, or
legs of tripod, or equivalent can be attached in the ordinary manner.
In using the above improved head and mechanism Figs. 1 & 2, the ball a, or

page_text: socket is attached to the existing head of a stand or tripod, and fixed by a screw h,
screws, or equivalents in the ordinary manner.
To adjust the camera or any other instrument the screw g, screws, or equivalents
of convenient length and size, for compressing the socket b, is released, so that the
two parts, or different parts of the socket bare seperated, and the ball a left free to
turn to any angle.
To set the camera, or any other kind of instrument, in any required position, the
screw g, screws or equivalents of convenient length and size, are tightened, so that
the two parts, or different parts of the socket b, are tightened on the ball a, and so
made to grip it; and keep it rigidly fixed in any desired position.
(Secondly.) The improved adjustable mechanism Figs. 3 & 4 for fixing the legs
rigidly, in any position, not necessary equilateral, consists of a centre nut j, box,
guide, or equivalent, made in one or more pieces, and having one or more
grooves k, k, l, slots, holes or equivalents of any section passing thro' the centre, or
otherwise.
The above said nut j, box guide, or equivalent, is used for clamping and holding
tight, rods, 1, ", tube or equivalents of any section which are attached to the
legs, and so arranged, that each legs, can be set and held tight, at any radius, or
the legs at different radi, to one another.
The nut j, box, guide or equivalent may be split in one or more places, and in any
direction, so that by compressing it with screw n, screws wedges, taper pins, or
equivalents; the rods 1, 1, 1, tubes or equivalents are held rigid, thus holding the
legs rigid.
By taking the compression off the nut j, box, guide or equivalent; the legs are
allowed to move independently of one another, and set in any position.
The nut j, box, guide or equivalent is provided with one or more slots m, m³, m":
to allow of the rods 1, 1, 1, tubes or equivalents, to drop into when folding up is
required; stops o, o', oli, being provided, to keep the said rods 1, 1, 11, tubes, or
equivalents from being pulled apart from nut j, box, guide, or equivalent, and also
to keep them in position.
The nut j, box, guide or equivalent may be made as above described, or in various
other forms; such as, with one or more pins, with conical discs, and heads with
slots, grooves, or holes of any section, for the reception of the rods 1, 1, 1, tubes or
equivalents.
The nut, box, guide or equivalent (if it was made with conical discs) would be
arranged, that in compressing it, it would drive the said conical discs towards the
centre, gripping the rods 1,,, tubes or equivalents, of any section, with or
without slots k, k, l, grooves or equivalents, and having joints P, P², p¹¹,
of any
form in one or more places.
The above rods 1, 11, 7, tubes or equivalents, of any section, are attached at one
end, to the legs, or supports of stand, with a hinged or any other joint p, p, p.
The other end of rods 7, 1, 1, tubes or equivalents have projections q, q, q",
bosses or equivalents, on the inside, or either, or on the outside to allow of the
rods,,,tubes or equivalents, coming up against stops o, o¹, o" and swing into
slots m11, m', m, made for the reception of the rods 1, 1, 1, tubes or equivalents,
when folding up is required.
To adjust and fix the legs of any stand or tripod, for a camera, or any other
instrument; the nut j, box, guide, or equivalent is compressed by a screw n, screws,
wedges, taper pins or equivalents, and so arranged to hold all rods 1, 1, 1, (which
are attached to the legs) tight and firm, in any position.
By slacking the said screw n, screw, wedges, taper pins, or quivalents, the legs
are released for setting or folding up.
(Thirdly.) The mechanical, telescopic device, or screwing device Fig. 5, to be
attached to the bottom of each leg, for holding tight, removing, renewing and
adjusting, needle point or various other interchangeable, jointed or otherwise feet,
or equivalents; will consist of a shoe or sockets, which will be fitted, on to the
bottom of each leg, and which will have a screwed cone t, with a nut u, running on it.

page_text: The screwed cone t, will be hollow, for the reception of a needle point r, or
various other feet, and will be split in one or more places, to allow, of it being
compressed on the needle or various other feet, as the nut is screwed on to larger
diameter of screwed cone.
There are various other methods of fixing a needle point r, or various other feet,
such as a split socket, the sides of which are compressed by a set screw, and so
made to grip a needle point », or various other feet, which may be in the socket.
Or a set screw fixed into a solid socket, for keeping a needle point r, or various
other feet in position.
Or a socket having an eye bolt, and nut or equivalent, at right angles, or any
angle to said socket, for gripping the needle point r, or various other feet and
holding them in one position or another.
The said needle, or the rod, or pin attachments of the other feet may have one
or more grooves, of any section, running round, to keep them in one position or
another.
The various other feet will include an inverted cup Fig. 6, or saucer shaped disc,
having a rod, pin, or equivalent attachment, to slip into the said mechanical device
Fig. 5, in place of the said needle », or spike or various other feet.
This cup will be used on sandy soil, grass, or any kind of soft soil, to prevent the
legs from sinking, and so keep the camera or any kind of instrument, steady
and firm.
Another form of foot, would be an inverted, india rubber lined cup Fig. 7, or
saucer shaped disc, having a jointed, or otherwise rod, pin or equivalent attachment,
to slip into the said mechanical devise Fig. 5, in place of the said needle », or
various other feet.
This form of foot would be used, on ice, glass, linoleum, or any smooth surface,
because when pressure would be put on this form of foot, the air would be driven
out, thus forming a vacuum inside the cup, Fig. 7, thereby keeping the camera, or
any other instrument in position.
Another form of foot would be a flat chisel pointed foot, Figs. 8 & 9, having a
rod, pin, or equivalent attachment, to slip into the said mechanical device Fig. 5, in
place of the said needle point r, or other feet.
"
This foot would be used on hard and rocky substances, and would have teeth cast
or cut, on underside to ensure of its gripping.
Another form of foot would be an ordinary flat foot, Figs. 10 & 11, having a
rod, or pin attachment to slip into the said mechanical device Fig. 5, in place of the
said neeille point 7, or various other feet.
This foot would be used when pulling dark slides, or when there was an tendency
of the camera, or any other instrument, to shake, as the human foot could be
place on this foot, thereby keeping the camera, or any other instrument steady
and firm.
Another form of foot would be a foot with a spear shaped point Figs. 12 & 13,
having a rod or pin attachment to slip into, the said mechanical device Fig. 5, in
place of the said needle point or various other feet.
This foot would be used principally on grass or some such like substance.
To adjust or change the needle point 7, or the various other feet, described above,
is simply by screwing, or unscrewing the nut u, or screw of various designs or
equivalents, which will compress or release, needle point r, or the various other
feet.
Having now, particularly described and ascertained, the nature of our inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is 'to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :
(1) The improved head or mechanical screwing and tightening device, consists of
a ball and socket joint, for adjusting and setting the camera or any other instrument
at any angle, substancially, as herein before described in Specification and drawing
Wis &. 2

page_text: (2) The improved adjustable screwing and tightening device, having rods,
attached to the legs by hinged joints, for fixing the legs in any position, (not
necessary equilateral), and to allow of the legs being folded up in the same compass,
substancially as herein before described in Specification and drawing Figs. 3 & 4,
and by the various other methods substancially as herein before described in
Specification.
(3) The improved mechanical screwing and tightening device for holding and
fixing adjustable needle points and various other feet, substancially as herein before
described in Specification and drawing Fig. 5, and by the various other methods,
substancially as herein before described in Specification.
(4) The inverted cup or saucer shaped disc, having a rod or pin attachment to
slip into the said mechanical screwing and tightening device, substancially as herein
before described in Specification and drawing Fig. 6.
(5) The inverted india rubber lined cup or saucer shaped disc, having a jointed
or otherwise rod or pin attachment to slip into the said mechanical screwing and
tightening device, substancially as herein before described in Specification and
drawing Fig. 7.
(6) The chisel pointed foot having a rod or pin attachment to slip into the said
mechanical screwing and tightening device, substancially as herein before described
in Specification and drawing Figs. 8 & 9.
(7) The flat foot having a hinged rod or pin attachment to slip into the said
nechanical screwing and tightening device, substancially as herein before described
in Specification and drawing Figs. 10 & 11.
(8) The spear shaped foot having a rod or pin attachment to slip into the said
mechanical screwing and tightening device, substancially as herein before described
in Specification and drawing Figs. 12 & 13.
(9) The combination of the improved head, the improved mechanical tightening
device attached to the legs for holding samme, the improved mechanical screwing
and tightening device, for holding and fixing adjustable needle point or various
other feet, and the various other feet substancially as herein before described in
Specification and drawing.
Dated this 19th day of July 1893.
HENRY FREDERICK GOLDING.
RICHARD WEBSTER.