Improvements in Tripod Stands.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd July, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 24th Apr., 1893-Accepted, 27th May, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tripod Stands.
I, GEORGE GRAY, of No. 17 Portland Road. Finsbury Park, in the County of
Middlesex, Stock and Share Dealer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:
This invention relates to improvements in folding tripod stands for photographic,
surveying and like purposes, the improvements having for object to provide a
stand which can be quickly and easily folded up so as to occupy but little space,
and which can also be quickly and easily opened out when required for use.
In carrying out my invention I form cach leg of the stand in two, three or more
lengths of channelled or trough shaped sheet metal, the several lengths being
jointed together by means of a pin in the lower end of cach length working in
inclined slots in the upper end of the next length in such a manner that the parts
can be folded one within the other but when opened out the pins sliding in the
inclined slots hold the parts rigidly. The upper end of the top length of each leg
is split so as to allow it to be sprung over pins on the head of the stand in the usual
manner in the lower length of each leg I provide a rod or its equivalent working
telescope-wise and having a pointed end and which can be held in any required
position by an eccentric clip so as to allow of the head of the stand being easily
adjusted to the required level.
Dated the 23rd day of July 1892.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tripod Stands.
I, GEORGE GRAY, of No. 2 Adolphus Road, Finsbury Park, in the County of
Middlesex, Stock and Share Dealer, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in folding tripod-stands for photographic,
surveying and like purposes, the improvements having for object to provide a
stand which can be quickly and easily folded up so as to occupy but little space,
and which can also be quickly and easily opened out when required for use.
In carrying out my invention 1 form each leg of the stand in two, three or more
sections or lengths of channelled or trough-shaped sheet metal, the several lengths
being jointed together, by means of a pin in the lower end of each section or length
working in inclined slots in the upper end of the next length, in such a manner that
the parts can be folded one within the other but when opened out the pins sliding
in the inclined slots hold the parts rigidly. The upper end of the top length of
each leg is slotted so as to allow it to pass over pins on the head of the stand in the
usual manner in the lower length of each leg I provide a rod or its equivalent
forming a foot working telescope-wise and having a pointed end which can be held
in any required position by an eccentric clip or lever so as to allow of the head of
the stand being easily adjusted to the required level.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe the same by
reference to the accompanying drawing, in which :-
Figure is a sectional elevation of one leg and the head of my improved tripod
stand; and,

page_text: Figure 2 is a plan view of the head detached :
Figure 3 is an end view of one leg of the tripod detached from the head; and,
Figures 4 and 5 are sections on the lines 4-4 and 5-5 respectively of Figure 1,
the said Figures 3, 4 and 5 being drawn to a larger scale than Figures 1 and 2:
Figure 6 is a section of one of the legs of the tripod folded up; and,
Figure 7 is a similar view of the leg expanded:
Figure 8 is an elevation of the leg as shown in Figure 7 looking in the direction
of the arrow:
Figure 9 is an elevation of the lower portion of the leg illustrating the operation
of folding the same.
a, b, c, d are the four sections or lengths of which each leg of my tripod stand is
composed the said sections or lengths being made of channelled or trough-shaped
sheet metal, and preferably aluminium.
e is the head to which the said legs are connected, the said head, as shown,
having the form of a triangular table provided at the centre with a hole or
aperture for receiving a fixing screw or bolt and at the angles with pivot pins g, Y,
which pins are flattened on one side as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The upper
section a of each leg is provided with holes h, in the two sides of the U-shaped
bar of which it is formed or of an extension-piece i fixed thereto as shown most
clearly in Figure 3, the diameter of the said holes corresponding with the diameter
of the pins 9, 9. Each hole has extending into it a slot j, the width of which
corresponds to the diameter of the pins g, g through the flattened side.
In fixing the legs to the head with this arrangement the legs are placed in the
position indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 1 so that the slots will pass
over the pins and so that when the leg is turned relatively to the head for instance,
to the position shown in Figure 1, the leg will be prevented from becoming
detached.
kare the pins fixed to the lower ends, of the sections a, b, c as shown in
Figure 4 and are the slots formed in the upper ends of the sections b, c, d
through which slots the pins k, & are passed, the said slots being inclined so that
by pushing the sections of each leg together in the direction of their length the
said sections will be forced into contact at the joints and so ensure rigidity. When
the legs are made of aluminium or other soft metal I advantageously thicken up
the edge of the slots against which the pins kk rub when the sections are
forced into contact at the joints as described, by means of plates of brass or
other comparatively hard metal so as to lessen the wear and tear of the said edges.
mm are the sliding rods or feet in the lower ends of the legs, which rods or feet
may be caused to project more or less beyond the lower ends of the sections d d in
order to enable the stand to be arranged vertically on uneven ground with more
facility than if the legs were all of the same length.
Each foot m is held in any position to which it may be adjusted by means of a
lever pivotted between the sides of the section and having an eccentric end so
that when turned down to the position shown in Figures 1 and 5 it locks the leg in
any position in which it may be adjusted. By turning the lever up to the position
shown in Figures 7 and 8 when the foot is drawn as far into the section d as it will
go a projection n' on the said lever enters a notch m³ in the foot and so locks the
same. When the lever n is in a position intermediate of those shown in Figure 1
and Figure 7, the foot m is free to be moved up or down to any desired position.
m² is a pin which in conjunction with the bent end n of the rod n serves to limit
the movement of the foot m in one direction, its movement in the opposite direction
being limited by the pivotted part of the lever n.
In order to fold the legs, the foot m of each leg is drawn up within the section d,
as shown in Figures 7 and 8 and then the said section is drawn away from the
section c so that the pin k of the said section c is in the upper end of the slot of
the said section d, also as shown in Figure 7 whereby sufficient space is left
between the outer surface of the section d and the inner surface of the section c to
allow the section d to be folded inside the section e, as shown most clearly in

page_text: Figure 9. The section c is jointed to the section b, and the section is jointed to
the section a in the same manner that the section d is jointed to the section C₂ and
the folding of one section within the other is effected in the manner herein before
described, the pin k in each case being placed in the upper end of the slot / to
permit the sections to be turned relatively with each other.
Although I have described my tripod stand as provided with legs each of which
has four sections, it is to be understood that legs having a greater or lesser number
of sections may be employed.
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 tripod stand each leg of which comprises a number of sections or lengths
of channelled or trough-shaped sheet metal, the several sections or lengths being
jointed together by means of a pin on one section or length entering slots in the
adjacent end of the next section or length the said slots being inclined in such a
manner that when the sections or lengths are pushed together they will be rigidly
fixed, whilst, when pulled apart they can be turned one upon the other, substantially
as described.
2. In a tripod stand having a series of legs each of which is composed of several
sections or lengths of channelled or trough-shaped sheet metal, the combination
with the lowermost length of each leg of a rod or foot or the like sliding relatively
with the said section and adapted to be held in any required position by a lever or
clip, substantially as described.
3. The manufacture and use of tripod stands, substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated the 24th day of April 1893.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.