Tripod Leg Lever Merged With Head For Stable Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tripod legs require frequent and arduous adjustments of multiple clamps, which can lead to instability when supporting heavy payloads, and external connection rods add bulk and are prone to damage or accidental activation.

Innovation Solution

A tripod leg design featuring a lever that operates clamping mechanisms without moving relative to the tripod head, providing an ergonomic grip and aperture for secure handling, and internal connecting elements that reduce bulk and prevent accidental activation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the clamp lever is arranged on the first sliding stage of the leg, then all clamps can be locked with one single movement, but the lever drops down or shifts up when the leg is extended or retracted, making adjustment awkward and unstable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeed of clamp adjustmentVSAvoidstability during adjustment

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The lever is merged with the tripod head assembly rather than being separate on the sliding stage. This integration ensures the lever moves with the head, not the leg, eliminating the instability caused by lever movement during leg extension/retraction while maintaining the single-movement clamping capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

A connection rod serves as an intermediary mechanism transmitting the lever's rotational movement to the clamps. This allows the lever to remain stationary relative to the head while still actuating the clamps on the moving leg sections, resolving the contradiction between fixed lever position and functional clamping action.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the clamp lever is arranged low on the leg, then it is easier to reach, but the operator cannot adjust the tripod while steadying the heavy payload, resulting in instability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility of leverVSAvoidstability of tripod during adjustment

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The lever is positioned in a different spatial dimension - on the tripod head assembly rather than on the leg body. This repositioning allows the operator to reach the lever while maintaining hand position near the high centre of gravity, enabling simultaneous payload stabilization and adjustment without compromising stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of operation

If connection rods are located externally to the tripod leg, then they can operate the brake, but they add significant bulk and are prone to damage or accidental activation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperability of brakeVSAvoidrisk of damage and accidental activation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The connection rod is nested within the tripod leg structure rather than being external. This internal placement eliminates the bulk and exposure of external rods, preventing damage and accidental activation while maintaining the mechanical connection needed for brake operation through the leg's internal pathways.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS10400941B2Tripod leg

Publication Date: 2019.09.03 VITEC GRP PLC

AI summary

A tripod leg (3) comprises a lever wherein said lever (13) is arranged on a portion of said leg (3), which in use, does not move in relation to an attached tripod head element (2); characterized in that said lever (13) further comprises an aperture (15) which is sized to cooperate with one or more digits of a user's hand.