Ball Joint Support Mechanism for One-Handed Camera Posture Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camera support devices require users to hold one-hand grips with one hand and adjust the camera posture with the other, as fixing the ball joint with a screw limits single-handed adjustment capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A support device with a pan head unit, ball joint, ball holder, ball fixing screw, and elastic member, allowing the ball holder and screw to move in a predetermined stroke, enabling fully locked, half locked, and unlocked states for easy posture adjustment, facilitating single-handed operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the ball joint is fixed with the ball fixing screw, then the camera posture can be maintained, but the user cannot easily adjust the posture while holding the one-hand grip
Solution Approach 1:
The ball fixing screw is designed to be movable along the ball holder's axis, transitioning between a locked position (where it contacts the ball portion to fix the joint) and an unlocked position (where it releases the ball portion for free rotation). This dynamic positioning allows the user to switch between fixed and adjustable states, enabling easy posture adjustment while maintaining the ability to secure the position when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic member (spring) acts as an intermediary between the ball fixing screw and the ball holder. It provides continuous urging force to push the ball holder toward the ball portion, ensuring reliable contact and locking. The spring mediates the interaction between the screw's movement and the ball holder's positioning, providing both locking force and smooth operation
2Reliability
If the ball holder and ball fixing screw are rigidly connected, then the structure is simple, but the elastic member cannot provide continuous urging force
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the ball holder and ball fixing screw is designed as a movable joint rather than a rigid connection. The screw can move axially along the holder while maintaining engagement, allowing the elastic member to continuously exert urging force. This dynamic connection ensures the ball holder is always pushed toward the ball portion for reliable locking, while the movement capability accommodates the spring's compression and expansion cycles
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables users to easily adjust and maintain the camera posture using a one-hand grip, allowing for flexible rotation and secure locking of the camera's position.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member configured to urge the ball holder toward the ball portion
Data Source
AI summary
Adjustment of a posture of a ball joint is facilitated. A support device includes a pan head unit, a ball joint having a first end to which the pan head unit is attached and a second end provided with a ball portion, a ball holder configured to selectively fix the ball portion, a ball fixing screw connected to the ball holder and configured to move the ball holder between a locked position at which the ball portion is fixed and an unlocked position at which the ball portion is freely rotatable, and an elastic member configured to urge the ball holder toward the ball portion. The ball holder and the ball fixing screw are connected to each other so as to be strokable with a predetermined stroke amount. The predetermined stroke amount is smaller than a movement amount of the ball fixing screw between a first position corresponding to the locked position and a second position corresponding to the unlocked position.