Close-Pack Tripod Head With Single-Ring Camera Locking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional camera tripods lack compactness, ease of use, and efficient packing due to separate controls and protrusions, making them cumbersome for transport and storage.

Innovation Solution

A close-pack, high-aspect-ratio camera tripod with a hub, legs, and a head featuring telescopic segments, concentric control rings, and a spherical end that allows for rapid adjustment and locking of camera orientation, enabling compact storage and easy transport.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If conventional tripod designs are used, then structural stability is maintained, but compactness and ease of transport are compromised due to separate controls and protrusions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetripod volumeVSAvoidease of use

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple separate controls into a single integrated control ring that consolidates pan, tilt, and lock functions. This merging of controls eliminates the need for multiple separate adjustment mechanisms, reducing the overall volume and complexity of the tripod while maintaining ease of operation through a unified interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The tripod employs nested telescopic leg segments where smaller leg sections are inserted within larger ones, allowing the structure to collapse into a compact form factor. The control ring itself is nested within the head assembly, and the spherical end nestles between the leg mounts, maximizing space efficiency and minimizing transport volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional tripod designs with separate controls are used, then functional versatility is maintained, but device complexity and packing efficiency worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecamera orientation adjustmentVSAvoidcontrol structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The single control ring serves multiple functions: it controls pan rotation, tilt adjustment, and locking mechanisms simultaneously. This multi-functional design maintains the versatility of camera orientation adjustment while significantly reducing device complexity by eliminating the need for separate controls for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple adjustment functions are merged into the unified control ring interface, allowing the user to manipulate pan, tilt, and lock operations through a single mechanical structure. This consolidation reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall control architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Strength

If conventional tripod designs are used, then structural robustness is maintained, but weight and size increase reducing transport efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural robustnessVSAvoidtripod weight

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The telescopic leg design with nested segments allows the tripod to achieve full structural robustness when deployed while collapsing to a minimal footprint for transport. This nesting arrangement reduces the effective size and weight during transit without compromising the strength and stability of the extended structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The tripod transitions between static and dynamic states: when deployed, the legs are fixed in position to provide structural robustness; when collapsed for transport, the legs telescope into a compact configuration. This dynamic adaptability allows the same structure to optimize for both strength and portability depending on operational requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Ease of operation

If conventional tripod designs with protrusions and separate controls are used, then functional capability is maintained, but ease of operation and compactness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesingle-hand operationVSAvoidcollapsed tripod volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

All control functions are merged into a single accessible control ring that can be operated with one hand. This unified interface eliminates the need to reach for or manipulate multiple separate controls, significantly improving ease of operation while the nested collapsing mechanism reduces the volume to a compact form factor suitable for portability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11822217B2Close-pack, high-aspect-ratio camera tripod

Publication Date: 2023.11.21 PEAK DESIGN

AI summary

A tripod includes: a hub defining a set of leg mounts; a set of legs configured to telescopically extend from the hub and couple to the set of leg mounts; a center column including a spherical end; and a head pivotably coupled to the spherical end. The head further includes: a base section; a camera platform arranged over the base section; a set of flanges extending below the base section and extending around the spherical end; a hat arranged over the spherical end; a pivot control ring arranged about the base section, configured to drive the hat into the spherical end to fix the head on the spherical end responsive to rotation in a first direction about the base section, and configured to retract the hat from the spherical end to unlock the head from the spherical end responsive to rotation in a second direction about the base section.