Compact Television Camera Stand With Pivotable Legs

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing stands for professional television cameras are not compact or easily storable and transportable due to their simplified pivotable leg designs, which lack efficient coupling mechanisms and stability features.

Innovation Solution

A compact stand with pivotable supporting legs that can be independently moved between open and folded positions, featuring blocking means for stability and adaptable height regulation, allowing for easy storage and transport, and comprising a fixed base, rotatable column, and arm for camera operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If simplified pivotable elements are used for supporting legs, then the stand structure is simplified, but the stand becomes less compact and harder to store and transport

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestand structureVSAvoidstand form factor
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The supporting legs are designed to be dynamically movable between extended and retracted positions through pivotable connections to the fixed base. This allows the stand to adapt its configuration based on operational needs, providing full support during use and compact form for storage and transport.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The supporting legs can be retracted into a folded position where they align with and couple to slots in the fixed base, creating a nested configuration. This nesting approach minimizes the overall volume of the stand when not in use, making it compact and easy to store or transport.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If supporting legs are made movable for compact storage, then the stand becomes more transportable, but the stability during operation is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage and transportVSAvoidstand stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Blocking means are provided that can be activated before or during operation to pre-establish the stable extended position of the supporting legs. This preliminary blocking action ensures that the legs remain firmly in place during camera operation, preventing any unintended movement or instability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The blocking means are designed to work in conjunction with the movable supporting legs, where the blocking mechanism itself is integrated into the leg structure or base. The system serves itself by providing automatic or manual blocking that maintains stability without requiring external support structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Stability of the object's composition

If blocking means are added to secure supporting legs, then the stability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupporting leg stabilityVSAvoidstand structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The blocking means are merged with the supporting leg structure and fixed base, integrating the stabilization function into the existing movable components. This combination approach provides the necessary stability while avoiding the need for entirely separate blocking mechanisms, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

The stand provides enhanced stability and compactness during operation, easy storage, and improved transportability by allowing legs to be securely locked in place, facilitating efficient use and storage in a compact form.

Implementation Method 1

the referred pivoting movement includes a pivoting axis of each supporting leg, the axis being such that the supporting leg is aligned with the corresponding slot, therein being coupled

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPivoting movement: Hinge

Implementation Method 2

blocking means suitable for blocking each of the supporting legs in the folded and/or in the open position, the blocking means being connected to the fixed base and pivotable between: a blocking position, in which the blocking means prevent the pivotable movement of the supporting legs

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical blocking: Mechanical Fastener

Data Source

PatentEP3671000B1A compact stand for a television camera
Publication Date: 2023.09.27 OMNICAM4SKY LDA
  • EP3671000B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3671000B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5b

AI summary

The present invention is enclosed in the area of accessories for television cameras, for the transmission of events with particular movement, such as sports or music events - typically live -, more particularly the stand in which professional television cameras are placed. The present invention includes a compact and easily storable and transportable stand for professional television cameras comprising a plurality of supporting legs (7) pivotable upon the fixed base (2), and between a folded position, in which it is positioned coupled to a corresponding slot (3), and an open position, in which it is positioned substantially in parallel to the fixed base (2) and thereby able to be placed on a surface. When the stand is in storage or transport, it may be brought into a folded position, in which each supporting leg (7) is coupled to a corresponding slot (3), therefore reducing the form factor of the stand while folded and having higher easiness in transportation.