MOUNT FOR MOTION PICTURE LIGHTS IN AERIAL LIFTS
A mount suitable for use in mounting a motion picture lamp to a rail of a boom lift includes a clamp having a slider body with a first rail contacting member and a throughhole for receiving a post. A second body is pivotally coupled to the slider body and has a second rail contacting member. The second body is pivoted relative to the slider body to secure the rail of a boom lift between the first and second rail contacting members. The disclosed design allows for simultaneously clamping of the rail and securing of the clamp to the post of a motion picture lamp.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/933,951, filed Jun. 8, 2007 which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to the field of mounting devices used to mount equipment to support structures. In particular, the present invention relates to the field of mounts useful for mounting lights to lifts for use during motion picture filming.
BACKGROUNDIn the motion picture industry there are supports used to mount motion picture lights in aerial lifts such as telescoping boom lifts and scissor lifts.
The traditional Candlestick Condor Mount, as shown in
Each of the sliding clamps (
-
- A slider body 14 which can be moved up and down the post 7 to align it with the railing 4 as shown in
FIG. 1 . - A four inch long steel angle 15, welded on perpendicular to the slider body 14, that can be hooked over the railing 4.
- A T-bolt support 16 which has one end welded to the slider body 14. The other end protrudes beyond the railing 4 and is drilled and tapped to receive the threaded T-bolt 17.
- A T-bolt 17 that threads through the T-bolt support 16 and can be tightened against the railing 4, clamping the railing 4 against the slider body 14 and the steel angle 15 as shown in
FIG. 1 .
- A slider body 14 which can be moved up and down the post 7 to align it with the railing 4 as shown in
In recent years some of the manufacturers of telescoping boom lifts have begun putting steel mesh side walls on the baskets of their lifts. The steel mesh is welded onto the outside surface of the lower railing, and extends down to the basket floor. This steel mesh keeps the lower sliding clamp from fitting onto the lower railing. The steel mesh prevents the T-bolt and T-bolt support from passing under the railing and achieving the required position for attachment to the railing.
An improved candlestick condor mount 19 (
The sliding clamp 20, as shown in
The pivoting jaw 31 hinges on the hinge tube 37 (
Other improvements of this new candlestick condor mount over previous embodiments will next be described.
A first such improvement is a feature that gives the mount 19 safety benefits over prior art mounts. On previous candlestick condor mounts, when the lock knob 18 (
A second such improvement makes attaching the mount 19 faster and easier than it was with previous mounts. The bolt 33a of lock knob 33 on the new sliding clamp (
The mount 19 (
It should be recognized that a number of variations of the above-identified embodiment will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the foregoing description. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited by the specific embodiments and methods of the present invention shown and described herein. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be defined by the claims and their equivalents.
REFERENCE NUMERALS
- 1 motion picture light
- 2 traditional candlestick condor mount
- 3 junior pin
- 4 railing
- 5 basket of telescoping boom lift
- 6 steel mesh floor of basket
- 7 traditional candlestick post
- 8 traditional candlestick junior receiver
- 9 traditional candlestick upper sliding clamp
- 10 traditional candlestick lower sliding clamp
- 11 traditional candlestick pin
- 12 traditional candlestick safety cable
- 13 traditional candlestick connecting shackle
- 14 traditional sliding clamp slider body
- 15 traditional sliding clamp steel angle
- 16 traditional sliding clamp T-bolt support
- 17 traditional sliding clamp T-bolt
- 18 traditional sliding clamp lock knob
- 19 condor mount
- 20 sliding clamp
- 21 safety cable
- 22 safety cable retaining ring
- 23 safety cable quick link
- 24 safety cable quick link nylon tie
- 25 junior receiver
- 26 pin
- 27 post
- 28 securing knob
- 29 slider body
- 30 rail contacting member/angle
- 31 pivoting jaw
- 32 clevis pin
- 33 new sliding clamp lock knob
- 33 a bolt
- 34 threaded hole
- 34 a nut
- 35 rail contacting member/jaw face
- 36 pressure plate
- 37 hinge tube
- 39 compression spring
Claims
1. A clamp for use in coupling a post to a rail, the clamp comprising:
- a slider body having a first rail contacting member and throughhole for receiving a post;
- a second body pivotally coupled to the slider body, the second body including a second rail contacting member, the second body pivotable relative to the slider body between a first position in which the first and second rail contacting members are spaced by a first distance, and a second position in which the first and second rail contacting members are spaced by a second, smaller, distance.
2. The clamp according to claim 1, further including an actuator in contact with the second body, the actuator moveable between first and second actuator positions to pivot the second body between the first and second positions.
3. The clamp according to claim 2, wherein the actuator includes a rotatable shaft including first threads engageable with corresponding second threads on the second body, the shaft rotatable to pivot the second body between the first and second positions.
4. The clamp according to claim 3, wherein the slider body includes an opening and wherein the shaft is advanceable through the opening into the throughhole.
5. The clamp according to claim 4, further including a plate within the throughhole, wherein the shaft is advanceable into contact with the plate to, when a post is disposed in the throughhole, bias the plate into contact with the post.
6. The clamp according to claim 5, further including a spring positionable such that when a post is disposed in the throughhole, the spring is positioned between and in contact with the plate and slider body.
7. A mount assembly for attachment to a rail; the mount assembly comprising: a slider body having a first rail contacting member and throughhole for receiving the post; a second body pivotally coupled to the slider body, the second body including a second rail contacting member, the second body pivotable relative to the slider body between a first position in which the first and second rail contacting members are spaced by a first distance, and a second position in which the first and second rail contacting members are spaced by a second, smaller, distance.
- a post;
- at least one clamp coupled to the post, the clamp including:
8. The mount assembly according to claim 7, wherein the clamp further includes an actuator in contact with the second body, the actuator moveable between first and second actuator positions to pivot the second body between the first and second positions.
9. The mount assembly according to claim 8, wherein the actuator includes a rotatable shaft including first threads engageable with corresponding second threads on the second body, the shaft rotatable to pivot the second body between the first and second positions.
10. The mount assembly according to claim 9, wherein the slider body includes an opening and wherein the shaft is advanceable through the opening into the throughhole towards the post.
11. The mount assembly according to claim 10, wherein the clamp further includes a plate within the throughhole, wherein the shaft is advanceable into contact with the plate to bias the plate into contact with the post.
12. The mount assembly according to claim 11, wherein the claim further includes a spring positioned between and in contact with the plate and slider body.
13. The mount assembly according to claim 7, further including:
- a cable having a clasp for coupling two portions of the cable together to form a loop; and
- a member coupling the cable to the post.
14. The mount assembly of claim 13, wherein the member includes a ring encircling the post.
15. A method of mounting a post to a rail, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a post and at least one clamp slidably coupled to the post, the clamp including a slider body having a first rail contacting member and a second body having a second rail contacting member;
- positioning the post in proximity to a rail;
- positioning the first rail contacting member in contact with the rail; and
- pivoting the second body relative to the slider body to position the second rail contacting member in contact with the rail.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein pivoting the second body includes rotating a shaft coupled to the second body to pivot the second body.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the method further includes rotating the shaft to fix the longitudinal position of the clamp on the post.
18. A method of mounting a post to a rail, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a post and at least one clamp slidably coupled to the post, the clamp including an actuator, a first rail contacting member and a second rail contacting member;
- positioning the post in proximity to a rail;
- manipulating the actuator to fix the longitudinal position of the clamp on the post; and
- manipulating the actuator to move at least one of the rail contacting members towards the other of the rail contacting members.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein manipulating the actuator includes rotating a shaft to pivot the second rail contacting member relative to the first rail contacting member and to engage the clamp against the post.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein rotating the shaft sequentially engages the clamp against the post and pivots the second rail contacting member into contact with the rail.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein rotating the shaft simultaneously engages the clamp against the post and pivots the second rail contacting member into contact with the rail.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 2, 2008
Publication Date: Dec 11, 2008
Inventor: STEVEN L. CARDELLINI (Corte Madera, CA)
Application Number: 12/131,413
International Classification: A47B 96/06 (20060101);