Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A leg spreader (10) for a tripod comprising at least two portions (12, 14) selectably moveable with respect to one another along an axis; a first portion comprising a latch (16) and a second portion comprising an engagement region (18); the latch being releasably engageable with the engagement region, the latch being moveable by an actuator (20) between an engaged position in which the portions are substantially non-moveable with respect of one another and a disengaged position in which the portions are moveable with respect to one another; wherein the latch is biased towards the engaged position.

Abstract: A foot having a base portion and a handle, the handle being pivotally attached to the base portion at a first end and including a gripping portion at a second end, said handle further comprising a centrally deployed securing member attached to the gripping portion, the handle being movable between a first position in which the foot is removable from a leg and a second position in which an end of the securing member is secured within a securing recess in the leg portion whereby the foot is secured to the leg.

Abstract: An extendable leg 10 for a tripod, the leg 10 comprises two or more leg-stages 11b, 11c, each leg-stage 11b, 11c moveable axially relative to one or more of the or each other leg-stages to lengthen or shorten the leg. The leg 10 includes a clamp assembly to releasably prevent the relative movement when the leg is at the desired length. The clamp assembly includes a leg brake 22a moveable between a first leg-stage locking position and a second leg-stage release position. In order to control movement of the leg brake 22a between the first and second positions, an actuation means 16 is provided. A cable 17 is operably connected at a first end to the actuation means 16 and at a second end to the leg brake 22a, such that operation of the actuation means 16 causes the cable 17 to move the leg brake 22a.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A focus control device is adapted to adjust a camera lens. The device comprises a rotational input device (1), a variable gear ratio means (10) and a rotational output means so coupled to communicate a first rotational movement applied to said rotational input device to said variable gear ratio means (10) and to communicate a second rotational movement from said variable gear ratio means (10) to said rotational output means. The variable gear ratio means provides a variable adjustment of the angular velocity of said second rotational movement relative to the angular velocity of said first rotational movement.

Abstract: A tripod (1) for mounting a camera or the like is disclosed. The tripod (1) comprises a support (5) having three legs (40) which are moveably mounted at a proximal end about the support (5) and circumferentially equidistant from each other. The legs (40) are moveable between an expanded configuration to support the tripod (1) and a folded configuration when the legs (40) lie adjacent to each other. In order to retain the legs in the folded configuration, at least one leg (40) includes a magnet (11) spaced distally along the leg (40) from the support. Each of the other two legs (40) includes a further magnet (12) or a magnetically attracted portion to magnetically engage the magnet (11) and releasably retain the tripod (1) in the folded configuration.

Abstract: A tripod (1) for supporting a video camera includes a head element (4) and a plurality of supporting legs (2), whereby each leg (2) is attached at one end to the head element (4). The tripod includes an illumination means (6) which is arranged to illuminate a space beneath said head element (4).

Abstract: An extendable leg 10 for a tripod, the leg 10 comprises two or more leg-stages 11b, 11c, each leg-stage 11b, 11c moveable axially relative to one or more of the or each other leg-stages to lengthen or shorten the leg. The leg 10 includes a clamp assembly to releasably prevent the relative movement when the leg is at the desired length. The clamp assembly includes a leg brake 22a moveable between a first leg-stage locking position and a second leg-stage release position. In order to control movement of the leg brake 22a between the first and second positions, an actuation means 16 is provided. A cable 17 is operably connected at a first end to the actuation means 16 and at a second end to the leg brake 22a, such that operation of the actuation means 16 causes the cable 17 to move the leg brake 22a.

Abstract: A tripod (1) for supporting a video camera is disclosed. The tripod (1) comprises a head element (4) and a plurality of supporting legs (2), whereby each said leg (2) is attached at one end to said head (4). The tripod comprises an illumination means (6), the illumination means (6) being arranged to illuminate a space beneath said head element (4).

Abstract: The invention concerns correcting an error in an estimated pose of a moveable camera. The camera is at least a part of a camera system that generates an output image on the basis of the camera pose. Incremental pose measurements for the camera are taken over time and a pose of the camera using the incremental pose measurements is estimated, the estimated camera pose having an error. A pose correction is determined on the basis of the difference between an absolute pose measurement for the camera and the estimated camera pose. A rate of change in the camera image caused by a change in the camera is monitored. A parameter of the camera system is periodically adjusted based on the incremental pose measurements. The adjustment is further set in order to effect the pose correction so as to correct for the estimated camera pose error and the pose correction is effected at a rate based on the monitored rate of change in the camera image.

Abstract: A pan and tilt head for supporting a payload such as a TV, video or motion picture camera comprising a base and a tiltable support including a platform for receiving a payload pivotally mounted on the base to tilt about a horizontal axis to either side of a neutral position in which the platform is generally horizontal. A balancing mechanism for the platform includes an adjustable spring mechanism mounted on the base to enable a pre-load in the spring mechanism to be varied and means coupling the tilting support to the spring mechanism. Adjustable mounting for one end of the spring mechanism includes an upright post mounted on the base and having rotary height adjustment. A manually operable rotary thumb wheel is mounted on the base for rotation about an upright axis.

Abstract: A battery pack for mounting to a camera and camera stand is described. The battery pack has attachment means on opposite sides. The attachment means are of complementary design so that the battery pack can be mounted between the camera and the stand. Each attachment means permits linear adjustment of the camera. The two means provide parallel linear adjustment of the camera with respect to the battery pack and of the battery pack with respect to the stand.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a pan and tilt head (12) for an optical apparatus (10) (e.g. a video camera) which captures or creates an image. The head has a base (19) to be mounted on a support structure (11) (e.g. a tripod), and a body (15) is mounted on the base for pan movement and a platform mounted on the body for tilt movement, about a tilt axis to receive the optical apparatus. The head includes damping means for damping both pan and tilt movement and transducer means (17, 20) for measuring tilt movement of the body about said tilt axis and pan movement of the base to provide measures of unwanted pan and tilt movement for correction of the optical apparatus for said unwanted movement.

Abstract: This invention provides a pedestal for a TV, video or cine camera comprising a base supported on at least three steerable wheel units, a steering system for the wheel units for maintaining the wheel units in parallel alignment with one another, a monitoring system for the wheel units and the steering system, and means for determining the distance moved by each wheel unit and the angle steered in relation to a fixed axis defined on the base. The monitoring system having processor means for calculating from the distances moved by every one of at least three wheels and the angle steered by every one of the at least three wheels in relation to the fixed axis, the trajectory distance traveled and any change of orientation of the pedestal to enable the position and orientation of the pedestal to be determined in relation to a previously known position and orientation.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a camera control interface for a video camera having powered translation/rotation in multiple axes. The control system comprising a monitor for replicating the field of view of the camera, a manually operable controller for inputting translation/rotation commands in multiple axes and a processor for transmitting input commands to the controller to the camera. The processor provides a plurality of different sets of axes in which the camera may be required to move and means for selecting a set axis or axes from said plurality of sets for the camera to move in in response to controller commands.

Abstract: A tiltable mounting as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the lever has a conical shaped roller engaging the cam, the roller being mounted for rotation on the lever about an axis which passes through the pivotal axis of the lever and the conical surface of the roller having a projected apex which coincides with the pivotal axis of the roller to minimize sliding movement at the line of contact of the roller and cam as the roller moves over the cam surface.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a spreader mechanism for supporting the legs (11) of a tripod erect, comprising a hub (13) having a central axis, three arms (14) pivotally mounted on the hub at positions equi-spaced around the hub to swing with respect to the hub axis between extended and folded positions. A drive mechanism (19, 22) coordinates movement of the arms so that all three arms remain in the same relationship to the hub axis throughout the range of movement of the arms, and a locking device (26, 29, 30, 31, 32) locks the drive mechanism against movement at any position throughout the range of movement of the arms. The locking device may be released held by a push button operated mechanism (50, 51, 36, 34) to allow adjustment of the spreader member and the holding means is deactivated to allow engagement of the locking device to lock the arms in a selected position of adjustment.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a camera mounting tripod having a hub with three legs hinged at one end thereof to the hub at equi-spaced locations around the hub to swing between a folded condition in which the legs lie alongside one another and an erect position in which the legs diverge from one another. An automatic releasable latching device is provided on one of the legs to engage end housings on the other two legs to hold the legs in the folded position.