Tripod Head Assembly With Quick-Release Bowl Clamp Levelling

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing bowl clamp mechanism for tripods is cumbersome and difficult to operate, especially when dealing with heavy cameras, as it requires reaching under the tripod to adjust the clamp nut, which is time-consuming and can cause bruised knuckles, and the head assembly is not easily removable or standable after detachment.

Innovation Solution

A head assembly with a stud catch mechanism and adjustment mechanism that allows for levelling and secure attachment to a tripod using a release lever and drag ring, enabling easier operation and secure positioning without the need for screwing and unscrewing, and allowing the head to be placed flat after detachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a bowl clamp mechanism with clamp nut is used to secure the head to the tripod, then the connection is secure and reliable, but the operation becomes cumbersome and time-consuming requiring screwing and unscrewing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection securityVSAvoidoperation convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional screw-threaded clamp nut mechanism with a quick-release lever system that uses cam action and friction engagement. The lever engages with a drag ring and stud catch mechanism, eliminating the need for screwing and unscrewing operations while maintaining secure connection through friction and mechanical interlocking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a dynamic quick-release lever mechanism that can be rapidly engaged and disengaged. The lever moves between locked and unlocked positions, providing dynamic control over the head-tripod connection without requiring multiple rotational movements of a clamp nut.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If the clamp nut is positioned underneath the tripod for the bowl clamp mechanism, then the structure is compact, but the operator has difficulty operating it and may suffer bruised knuckles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural compactnessVSAvoidoperator accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional bowl clamp design by positioning the quick-release lever mechanism on the head portion rather than underneath the tripod. This allows the operator to easily access and operate the release lever from above, eliminating the need to reach underneath the tripod and avoiding bruised knuckles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If the clamp nut must be fully unscrewed to remove the head from the tripod, then the connection is secure, but the removal process takes significant time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection securityVSAvoidremoval time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the time-consuming screw-unscrew operation with a quick-release lever mechanism that can be disengaged with a single lever movement. The lever releases the drag ring from the stud catch, allowing rapid head removal while the friction engagement during operation maintains secure connection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables rapid disengagement by skipping the gradual unscrewing process entirely. The quick-release lever mechanism allows the operator to instantly release the head from the tripod by moving the lever, dramatically reducing removal time from multiple rotations to a single action.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

4Ease of manufacture

If the head has a protruding stud on its bottom for the bowl clamp, then the clamp mechanism can function, but the head cannot be stood upright on a flat surface and may cause damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclamp mechanism functionalityVSAvoidhead and camera damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the protruding stud from the head portion and relocates it to the bowl portion of the tripod mount. This allows the head to have a flat bottom surface for stable upright storage, while the stud remains positioned where it is needed for the clamp mechanism to function properly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS11306863B2Head assembly for a tripod

Publication Date: 2022.04.19 VITEC GRP PLC

AI summary

A head assembly for a tripod comprising a head portion and a bowl portion releasably connectable to one another, the bowl portion having a clamp stud and the head portion having a stud catch mechanism, wherein the stud catch mechanism is adapted to be releasably connectable to the clamp stud, and wherein the head assembly further comprises an adjustment mechanism adapted to adjust the connection between the head portion and the bowl portion when the head portion and bowl portion are connected to one another.