Collapsible tripod with swivel lock

{
  "publication_number": "US4214724A",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A",
  "title": "Collapsible tripod with swivel lock",
  "abstract": "A collapsible tripod having a swivel ball mount within the housing is provided with a pressure plate normally urging against the swivel for locking its position. Three legs are provided, two of which are rotatably coupled to the bottom of the housing with the third leg being in a fixed position and having a release shaft manually operable relative to its longitudinal axis for actuating a pressure plate release mechanism within the housing for releasing the swivel for pivoting to a new position.",
  "claims": [
    "1. In a tripod, the combination comprising: a generally hollow housing having a bottom and a top opening; three legs, one of said legs being mounted to the bottom of said housing in fixed relation therewith, the other two of said legs being pivotally coupled to the bottom of said housing; swivel ball mount means having a ball portion swivelly positioned within said housing and a fastening portion extending through said opening; pressure plate means within said housing, said pressure plate means being configured for engaging a part of said ball portion; means normally biasing said pressure plate means into contact with said ball portion thereby restraining said ball portion from swivelling; and manually operable means operatively coupled to said one leg and to a trip lever within said housing, said trip lever being actuable by said manually operable means against said normally biasing means to thereby free said pressure plate means from the force of its bias for permitting swivelling of said ball portion.",
    "2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said manually operable means is a release shaft within a channel formed in said one leg, said shaft having one end extending into said housing and being slidabley actuated within said channel by pressure on the other end.",
    "3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said pressure plate means includes a pressure plate displaceable axially relative to said housing and said normally biasing means includes a spring member and a biasing wall operatively coupled through another mechanism to said pressure plate, said another mechanism being actuable by said manually operable means.",
    "4. The combination according to claim 3 wherein said tripod includes a core block positioned within said housing, said core block having an upper surface and a centrally disposed aperture, said upper surface having said pressure plate adjacent thereto, and said another mechanism includes a pressure ball being positioned within said aperture for co-acting with said pressure plate, a cam member being pivotally coupled within the lower part of said core block and having a cam surface on the free end thereof engaging said pressure ball, and a lever member being pivotally coupled within said core block and having a first leg biased by said spring member to urge through said biasing ball a second leg thereof against the free end of said cam member for urging said pressure ball toward said pressure plate for locking said ball portion.",
    "5. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said trip lever is pivotally coupled within said core block, said trip lever being actuable by said manually operable means for urging against said one leg of said lever member for pivoting the same against said biasing ball and thence against the force of said spring member enabling said cam member to pivot for permitting said pressure ball to release said pressure plate.",
    "6. The combination according to claim 5 wherein said manually operable means is a release shaft within a channel formed in said one leg, said shaft having one end extending into said housing and being slidabley actuated within said channel by pressure on the other end.",
    "7. The combination according to claim 6 wherein each of said legs is generally bar-shaped and bent at the free end thereof, each of said legs being a different length for permitting the other two of said legs to be pivoted into aligned relation with said one leg.",
    "8. The combination according to claim 5 wherein said spring member is positioned within a recess in said core block having one end adjacent said core block and the opposite end against said biasing ball, said biasing ball being in contacting relation with said first leg of said lever member."
  ],
  "cpc": [
    "F16M 11/22",
    "F16M 11/14",
    "F16M 2200/022"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "GEIGER WILLIAM N"
  ],
  "filing_date": "1978-05-30",
  "publication_date": "1980-07-29",
  "grant_date": "1980-07-29",
  "priority_date": "1978-05-30",
  "application_number": "US-91035678-A",
  "family_id": "25428658",
  "citations": [
    "US1931714A",
    "US2026427A",
    "US2054600A",
    "US2548659A",
    "US2552921A",
    "US2752116A",
    "US2896472A",
    "US3262406A",
    "US3307813A",
    "US3632073A",
    "US3661349A"
  ]
}