TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a camera mount comprising a frame, two handles and a camera connecting member to connect a camera to the camera mount, the camera connecting member being positioned in a centre position of the frame in between the two handles.

PRIOR ART

Stabilizing mounts for cameras are known. For instance, stabilizing mounts are known which include a harness that can be carried by a cameraman. Attached thereto is an armature with the camera mounted at one end and a counterbalance weight at the other. Such a mount isolates the movements of the cameraman from the camera, thereby ensuring a steady, non- shaking, movement of the camera resulting in smooth shots. However, the harness makes it impossible for a cameraman to hand over the camera during recording. The counterbalance weight makes the mount relatively heavy and therefore difficult to handle and transport.

Alternative stabilizing mounts are known which are less heavy and are easier to handover. An example of this is the SteadyWing which has been invented by Leonard Retel Helmrich and Willem Doevendans. The SteadyWing is an elongated camera mount which has two handles at opposite distal ends. The camera can be mounted on top of the camera mount in between the handles, such that the weight of the camera is comfortably and ergonomically in the middle of the hands of a user. The handles are at a distance of approximately 60cm with respect to each other, making it easier to keep the camera stable. The SteadyWing is a simple, light and cheap camera mount.

However, handing over the camera is still relatively difficult. Also, involuntary movements of the hands may still result in uncontrolled movements of the camera.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

It is an object to provide an improved camera mount which is even more stable and easier to handle and handover.

According to an aspect there is provided a camera mount comprising a frame, two handles and a camera connecting member to connect a camera to the camera mount, the camera connecting member being positioned in a centre position of the frame in between the two handles, whereby the two handles are connected to the frame with rotatable connections. By providing a rotatable connection between the handles and the frame, the handles are more flexible allowing improved handling of the camera mount. The rotatable connection may have two independent axes of rotation, which axes are perpendicular to each other. In this way, the handles can be rotated about two rotation axes independently and thereby moved in any desired direction and thus the camera can be oriented in any desired orientation while filming. Small involuntary rotations of the hands of a user will not be transferred to the frame and will therefore not result in shaking of a camera which is mounted to the camera connecting member. No counter balance weight is needed.

According to an embodiment the frame has an elongated shape with the two handles positioned at opposite distal ends of the frame. This elongated shape ensures a smooth handling of the camera mount by a user and makes it easier to keep the horizon steady. The two handles are typically at a mutual distance in the range of 30 - 80 cm, preferably in the range of 40 - 60 cm.

According to an embodiment, the rotable connections are formed by one of a cardan j oint, a ball j oint or a combination thereof. The term cardan joint, also known as universal joint, relates to a joint comprising of two hinges orientated at a mutual angle of 90 degrees, thereby allowing rotation of the rotatable connection in two directions independently. Cardan joints and ball joints are easy to implement into rotatable connections. Most cardan joints permit larger rotations compared to ball joints. Of course other suitable rotatable connections are not excluded by the term rotatable connections.

According to an embodiment, the rotatable connections are aligned with a centre of gravity of the frame, camera connecting member and camera when connected to the camera connecting member. It is advantageous to align the rotatable connections and the centre of gravity of the frame with the camera mounted on it. The centre of gravity and the rotatable connections are thus positioned on a line. This will result in an even more steady camera mount as rotation of the handles about an axis of rotation passing through both the rotatable connections will not influence the orientation of the camera, thereby keeping it steady. The camera may be kept steady in any rotational orientation about a frame axis passing through the two rotatable connections. According to an embodiment, the frame is adjustable to change the position of the rotatable connections with respect to the camera connecting member to align the rotatable connections with the centre of gravity of the frame, camera connecting member and camera when connected to the camera connecting member. As different camera's may be used in combination with the camera mount, resulting in different locations for the centre of gravity, it is advantageous to provide an adjustable frame, such that the position of the rotatable connections can be adjusted.

According to an embodiment, the frame comprises two arms each having a distal end pointing away from each other, the rotatable connections being connected to the distal ends of the arms, the arms further comprising proximal ends opposite the distal ends, which are hingeable about a hinge axis which is perpendicular with respect to a frame axis passing through the two rotatable connections. By hinging the arms about the hinge axis, the position of the handles can be adjusted with respect to the camera connecting member to position the handles in one line with a centre of gravity of the frame, the camera connection member and the camera. The arms are preferably

(mechanically) coupled such that they can only hinge in a symmetrical way. The frame may further comprise a securing member to secure the orientation of the arms.

It is noted that the hinge axis and the frame axis do not necessarily intersect, but may pass each other at a closest mutual distance larger than zero.

According to an embodiment the camera connecting member allows adjusting the position of the camera in a direction perpendicular to a frame axis passing through the two rotatable connections. This allows a user to adjust the position of the camera such that the centre of gravity of the frame and camera is in line with the two rotatable connections. The camera connecting member may be arranged to allow adjusting the position of the camera in a direction parallel to the hinge axis mentioned above, which may be in line with the direction of the line of sight of the camera. This direction may be parallel to a line of sight of the camera. The camera connecting member may comprise a camera supporting table on which the camera can be mounted, the camera supporting table comprising a slit or groove through which a screw or the like can be applied to screw the camera to the camera connecting member. The slit or groove allows positioning of the camera. Alternatively, the supporting table can be provided with a threaded rod and adjusting means to move the supporting table with the camera along the threaded rod for an accurate alignment of the centre of gravity of the frame, camera connecting member and camera with the frame axis. Any other way of aligning the centre of gravity of the frame, camera connecting member and camera with the frame axis of the camera mount can be used as well.

According to an embodiment the camera connecting member is rotatable about an axis of rotation which is perpendicular to a frame axis passing through the two rotatable connections. The camera connecting member can thus rotate with respect to the frame axis. This allows to position the camera at an angle with respect to the frame axis of the frame. The camera can thus be pointed to the left or right, making the camera mount less wide with respect to a line of sight of the camera, allowing the camera mount to pass through relatively small openings when recording shots.

The axis of rotation may be perpendicular with respect to the frame axis and the hinge axis mentioned above.

According to an embodiment, each handle comprises two gripping elements. This allows easy handover of the camera mount from one cameraman to another

cameraman.

According to an embodiment, each handle comprises a support member provided in between two distal ends of the two gripping elements, the support member having a bottom surface which is parallel to a frame axis passing through the two rotatable connections allowing to position the camera mount on a surface. This makes it possible to position the camera mount on a surface in a stable way.

According to an aspect there is provided a camera mount according to any one of the preceding claims to which a camera is connected.

According to an embodiment, the camera and the camera mount are integrally formed.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which corresponding reference symbols indicate corresponding parts, and in which:

Fig. 1 schematically depicts an embodiment in a perspective view,

Fig.'s 2a - 2b schematically depict the embodiment of Fig. 1 in side view, Fig. 3 schematically depicts the embodiment of Fig. 1 in front view, Fig. 4 schematically depicts a perspective exploded view of part of the camera mount without a camera, and

Fig. 5 schematically depicts a perspective view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a camera mount 1. The camera mount 1 comprises a frame 10, two handles 20 and a camera connecting member 30 to connect a camera 50 to the camera mount 1. The camera connecting member 30 is positioned in a centre position of the frame 10 in between the two handles 20. The two handles 20 are connected to the frame 10 via rotatable connections 40. The handles 20 are positioned at opposite distal ends of the frame 10.

The camera mount is adjustable such that the relative position of the camera connecting member 30 with respect to the rotatable connections 40 can be altered. An embodiment of such an adjustable camera mount 1 is provided below with reference to the drawings. It will be understood that alternative adjustable camera mounts can be conceived.

The frame 10 is provided with two arms 1 1 with proximal ends 17 that are hingeably connected to each other through a hinge pin 171. Close to each of the proximal ends 17 an auxiliary arm 13 is hingeably connected at one end by respective hinge pins 172. In addition, the auxiliary arms 13 are hingeably connected to each other at their other end by one or two hinge pins 151 to a connecting member 15.

Through this connecting member 15 a screw-threaded axis 18 is provided, which cooperates with the inner screw thread in the securing member 14 that is provided on axis 18 to limit the axial movement of the connecting member 15 and thereby set the orientation of the arms 11. The proximal ends 17 of the arms 11 and the auxiliary arms 13 form a parallelogram.

Connected to the axis 18 is a camera connecting member 30, comprising a camera supporting table 31 on which the camera 50 may be provided. As shown in the figures, the handles 20 and the camera connecting member 30 are all provided such that the handles 20 and the camera connecting member 30 are below the arms 11 when in use. This provides a relatively stable configuration. The handles 20 and the camera connecting member 30 may also be above the arms 11 when in use. Under the influence of gravity, the camera connecting member 30 and the camera 50 will push the connecting member 15 up against the securing member 14.

The supporting table 31 is provided with a slit 35 along which the camera 50 can be moved. Any other way of adjusting the location of the camera in the camera connecting member can be used as well. The supporting table 31 is connected to the arms 11 by a hanging element 33. In Fig. 1 this hanging element has the shape of a U, but any other suitable shape can be used as well. The legs of the U are not necessarily the same length.

In addition, the arms 11 have distal ends 12 at each of which a handle 20 is attached. The handle 20 comprises a connecting rod 25 that extends from each of the distal ends 12 of the arms 11 to a rotatable connection 40 by which the pair of gripping elements 21 can be rotated independently of each other. The axes of rotation of the rotatable connections 40, which can be a universal joint or a ball joint or a combination thereof, are aligned with the frame axis A. Since the arms 11 are coupled through the mechanism described above, the arms 11 can only move in a symmetrical way.

The handles 20 may be provided with control members, such as rotating, sliding and/or push buttons, to control operating the camera 50. Control signals generated by operating the control members may be transmitted to the camera in a wireless, or in a wired way, for instance via wires and possibly sliding contacts.

In Fig. 1 the rotatable connection is a universal joint 41. The universal joint 41 allows rotation about frame axis A passing through both rotatable connections and about a further axis of rotation A2 perpendicular to the frame axis A.

The rotatable connection 40 may also be formed by a ball joint or a combination of a universal joint 41 and a ball joint. In the embodiment shown in the Fig.'s, the universal joint 41 is combined with a roller bearing connected to connecting rod 25 to allow rotation about the longitudinal axis of the connecting rod 25.

Because of the rotatable connections 40 between each arm 11 and handle 20, a frame axis A between both rotatable connections 40 is established. By aligning the centre of gravity of the camera 50 along this frame axis, the camera remains stable in a desired orientation of the line of sight relative to the horizon, without the need of a counterbalance weight, in case of involuntary movement of the filmer holding the camera mount and camera. These involuntary movements are accommodated by the rotatable connections 40. In addition, the handles 20 are provided with control means 23 attached to the hingeable end of the connecting rod 25, aligned with each gripping element. The control means 23 can be used to rotate or block the rotation of the rotatable connecting member 40. Through the control means 23 the camera operator can tilt the camera by placing the thumb (or any other suitable control device) against the control means 23. As shown in Fig. 2, by pushing against the upper part of control means 23, the camera is tilted forward. By pushing against the lower part of control means 23, the camera is tilted backward.

In order to be able to put the camera mount on a supporting surface (not shown), the handles 20 may be provided with supporting members 22 at the end of each pair of gripping elements 21. The gripping elements 21 may come in pairs, such that during filming the camera mount can easily be transferred to another filmer. The handles 21 may also comprise three or more gripping elements 21 to allow for an even more flexible handling and handover. When three or more gripping elements are provided, the supporting members 22 are no longer necessary for putting the camera mount on a supporting surface.

When a camera 50 is provided onto the supporting table 31, the position of the centre of gravity of the camera 50 together with the camera mount 1 without the handles 20 and rotable connections 40 can be aligned such that it lies on the frame axis A that passes through the rotational centres of the rotatable connections 40. The centre of gravity and the rotatable connections 40 are thus positioned on a line.

This alignment can be done in many ways. One embodiment is described with reference to the figures. According to this embodiment, the alignment can be done by adjusting the orientation of the arms 11, i.e. by changing the shape of the parallelogram formed by the proximal ends 17 of the arms 11 and the auxiliary arms 13 by changing the position of the securing member 14. In addition, the camera 50 can be moved along the slit 34 in the supporting table 31 in a direction perpendicular to the frame axis A. In the Fig.'s this moving direction is parallel to the hinge axis HA of the hingeble connections of the arms 11 and the auxiliary arms 13. Alternative ways of alignment may be employed as well.

The camera connecting member 30 may be arranged to receive two camera's in parallel. The camera 50 may also be a three dimensional camera, as the movements related to 3D filming are even more pronounced when using the camera mount according to the invention.

Figures 2a-b shows how the camera 50 stays steady in any desired orientation with respect to the camera mount 1, as long as the centre of gravity as defined above is in line with the frame axis A. Fig. 2a shows the camera 50 in a position wherein the line of sight of the camera 50 is oriented in a substantial horizontal direction when held by a filmer.

Fig. 2b shows the camera 50 in an orientation in which the line of sight of the camera 50 is at an angle with respect to the horizon, in this orientation pointing upwards from the filmer. Because the centre of gravity is aligned with the frame axis A, the camera 50 is stable in this orientation and will therefore remain in this position when the mount 1 is moved. Also, the camera 50 will stay in this orientation despite relative movements of the handles 20 with respect to the arms, i.e. when the handles are rotated about the rotatable connections 40.

Figure 3 shows a front view of the camera mount 1 with the camera 50 mounted on the supporting table 31. As described above, the supporting table 31 is provided with a slit 34, which is more clearly shown in Fig. 4. By loosening securing means 32, the camera 50 can be moved along the slit 34 in the direction of the line of sight of the camera 50. When the desired location is reached, the securing means 32 is locked again and the camera 50 is secured in the desired location. Fig. 3 also shows that the centre of gravity of the frame and the camera is aligned with the frame axis A.

Fig. 4 shows in detail an exploded view of the parts that make up the adjustment means of the parallelogram formed by the arms 11 and the auxiliary arms 13. Between the hanging element 33 and the arms 11, two machined flanges 16 are provided. The flanges 16 are machined in such a way, that the facing surfaces of the flanges 16 can accomodate each other. In Fig. 4 the surfaces of the flanges are machined to form a 3D saw tooth. A saw tooth of one surface is located in a saw valley of the other surface. In a first position, the hanging element 33 is aligned with the frame axis A. In the embodiment shown, the legs of the U-shape are parallel to the frame axis A.

However, when it is desired to move the camera 50 with the camera mount through narrow spaces, the flanges can be rotated relative to each other in such a way that the hanging element 33 is no longer aligned with the frame axis A, but is at an angle a, as shown in Fig. 5, such that the line of sight of the camera 50 is also at an angle a with the frame axis smaller than 90°, for instance 45°. The hanging element 33 can be rotated about a vertical axis of rotation RA which is perpendicular to the frame axis A passing through the two rotatable connections 40.

The saw tooth lay out prevents the flanges from rotation during use.

Alternatively, the surfaces of the flanges can be machined in a different shape, as long as these shapes can accommodate one another and prevent the flanges from rotating relative to each other during use. The surfaces of the flanges may for instance be rough to create friction to prevent rotation.

It will be understood that the embodiment described above with reference to the Figures is an example and that alternative adjustable camera mounts 1 may be provided. For instance, the handle connecting members 25 may be adjustably connected to the distal ends 12 of the arms 11 to allow changing the height of the handles 20. The handle connecting members 25 may for instance be telescopic members or may be threadedly connected to the distal ends 17 of the arms 11. Also, the camera connecting member may be provided with adjustment means to change the height of the camera 50 with respect to the rotatable connections 40.

Hinge axis HA is shown as a horizontal axis. Alternatively, the hinge axis HA may be vertically, i.e. parallel to screw-threaded axis 18 to change the relative position of the camera connecting member 30 with respect to the rotatable connections 40.

The descriptions above are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Thus, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the invention as described without departing from the scope of the claims set out below.

LIST OF PARTS

I . Camera mount

10. Frame

I I . Arm

12. Distal end of arm

13. Auxiliary arm

14. Securing member

15. Screw-threaded connection member

16. Machined flange

17. Proximal end of arm

18. Screw-threaded axis

19. Hinge pin

20. Handle

21. Gripping element

22. Support member

23. Control element

25. Handle connecting member

30. Camera connecting member

31. Camera supporting table

32. Securing means

33. Hanging element

34. Slit

40. Rotatable connection

41. Cardan hinge

50. Camera