Improvements in Stands or Supports for Photographic Cameras or other Objects.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Dec., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 17th Aug., 1893-Accepted, 23rd Sept., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stands or Supports for Photographic Cameras or
other Objects.
We, JOHN EDWARD THORNTON and EDGAR PICKARD, of Altrincham, in the
County of Cheshire, Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The object of the improvements forming the subject of this invention is to
provide an expeditious, simple, and efficient means for locking the joints of folding
or sliding stands, such for instance as the tripod stands used for supporting
photographic cameras, and other objects.
We will describe the invention as applied to a photographic tripod stand of the
ordinary form, each leg of which is made with three parts or sections, the bottom
one sliding into the middle one and these again folding into the top section by
means of a hinged joint.
The invention consists of a spring stud or bolt fitted in such a position that it
will engage with the two parts at each joint, and lock them automatically when
they are extended ready for use.
The stud has a hole through its longitudinal section, and the bottom end of the
hole is made of smaller diameter so as to form an internal shoulder. The stud is
inserted into a hole or recess in the woodwork of the stand which is of sufficient
size to allow the stud to move freely therein. At the bottom of the recess and
underneath or behind the stud we place a short spiral spring of sufficient size to
keep the stud projecting beyond the surface of the woodwork. A screw is passed
through the hole in the stud and through the spring also, and is screwed into the
wood. The screw prevents the parts from dropping out, and the head coming
against the internal shoulder limits the distance that the stud may project above
the surface.
To lock the bottom sliding section the stud is fitted into the side of the said
bottom section in such a position that when the sliding portion is extended as far as
possible the stud will spring out, and prevent its return by catching against the
bottom end of the middle section.
The usual clamping screw may also be fitted. It is useful for clamping the
sections when only partly extended, but the spring stud holds the whole firm when
fully extended without need of clamping.
To lock the middle and top sections at the hinge joint the stud is recessed end-
ways into the butt end of the middle section. When the sections are extended by
turning them on the hinge pin the stud in passing is depressed by the tie-plate that
braces the two halves of the top section together, and immediately that the two
sections are exactly in line the spring stud shoots out behind the plate, and so locks
the top and middle sections rigidly together.
To unlock or release the sections the spring stud is simply pressed in by the
finger.
It will be obvious that the form of fastening hereinbefore described may be
applied to stands constructed in various ways, whether of wood or metal, and with
either two, three, four, or any other number of sections.
Dated this 3rd day of December 1892.
J. E. THORNTON.
EDGAR PICKARD.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stands or Supports for Photographic Cameras or
other Objects.
We, JOHN EDWARD THORNTON and EDGAR PICKARD, of Altrincham, in the
County of Chester, Manufacturers, 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 object of the improvements forming the subject of this invention is to
provide an expeditious, simple and efficient means for locking the joints of folding
or sliding stands, such for instance as the tripod stands used for supporting
photographic cameras and other objects.
We will describe the invention as applied to a photographic tripod stand of the
ordinary form, each leg of which is made with three parts or sections, the bottom
one sliding into the middle one and these again folding into the top section by
means of a hinged joint.
The invention consists essentially in the combination with the folding or sliding
members of the stand of a spring stud or bolt inserted or embedded therein and
fitted in such a position that it will engage with the adjacent member or part
at each joint and lock the two rigidly together automatically when they are
extended for use.
It will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1. Front elevation of ene leg of stand extended in position for use.
Fig. 2. Perspective view of the top joints of three section stand with the inven-
tion applied thereto.
Fig. 3. Perspective view of bottom joint of same.
Fig. 4. Back elevation enlarged of top joint.
Fig. 5. Longitudinal sectional elevation of same.
The legs of the stand are constructed in two, three or more sections in the
usual way.
To each section or member of the stand we apply a spring bolt A placed near
the joint or in other convenient position, which when the stand is extended as in
Fig. 1, engages with a plate or other part of the adjacent member or section
locking it in the extended position and preventing it returning until the bolt is
depressed or released.
The bolt A is comprised of a hollow stud a with a hole through its longitudinal
axis the upper end of the hole being made larger than the lower end to receive
the head of the screw band to form a shoulder against which the head abuts so
that the stud has a longitudinal movement for any desired distance without the
head of the screw 6 becoming exposed or extending beyond the end of the stud.
The stud a is inserted or embedded in a hole or recess cut in the wood of the
stand of sufficient size to allow the stud to move freely therein. Or if found
desirable a ferrule or thimble (such as Fig. 5) may be inserted in the hole for
the stud to slide in. At the bottom of the recess and underneath or behind the
stud a we place a short spiral spring C of sufficient size to keep the stud projecting
beyond the surface of the woodwork. A screw is passed through the hole in the
stud a and through the spring C also and is screwed into the wood. The screw b
prevents the parts from dropping out, and the head coming against the internal
shoulder limits the distance that the stud may project above the surface.
The construction of the spring bolt as applied to the different members of
sections of the stand although placed in different positions is similar to that shown
in Fig. 5.
In applying the invention to the bottom sliding section or member D of the
stand the spring bolt A is fitted into the side near its upper end so that when the

page_text: section or member D is extended as far as possible the stud will spring out and
prevent its return by catching against the bottom end of the middle section E.
The usual clamping band F and screw fare also fitted to the section E, as they
will be found useful for clamping the sections when the bottom one is only partly
extended, but the spring bolt A holds the whole firm when fully extended without
need of clamping.
In applying the invention to the middle section E and top section G to lock the
two rigidly when extended the bolt A is fitted into the butt end of the middle
section E. When the sections are extended by turning them on the hinge pin e
the stud a is depressed by passing under the tie-plate H that braces the two halves
of the top section G together and immediately that the two sections are exactly in
line the hollow stud a shoots out behind the plate H and so locks the top and
middle sections rigidly together.
To unlock or release either of the sections the hollow stud a is simply pressed in
by the finger.
It will be obvious that the form of fastening hereinbefore described may be
applied to folding stands constructed in various ways whether of wood or metal
and with either two, three, four or any other number of sections, which may be
applied for supporting photographic cameras or other instruments such as lanterns
theodolites or the like.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
-
1. In the folding stands or supports for photographic cameras or other objects
the combination with the pivoted sections or members of the spring bolt A placed
at or near each joint so that when the stand is extended the bolt fixed to one section
or member will automatically engage with a part of the adjacent section or member
and rigidly lock the two together substantially as described and shown.
2. In a folding stand or support for photographic cameras or other objects the
combination with the several sections or members of the studs a the springs C and
the screws for automatically locking them rigidly together when extended for
use substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 16th day of August. 1893
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.