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Claims  |
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We claim:
1. A camera hand grip for separable connection to a camera, with a grip
having a lateral fixing housing and with a connecting member between the
grip and the camera body, which is separably connected to the grip via the
fixing housing and which can be locked on the camera body, wherein the
grip has a further lateral fixing housing disposed opposite the first
fixing housing and an additional fixing housing accessible from the upper
end face of the grip for receiving the connecting member, a release button
being disposed on the grip, an axially displaceable push rod in the
connecting member which transmits the movement of the release button to a
shutter release of the camera body, a transmission structure provided in
the grip for meshing with the release button, said transmission structure
having an end protruding into each fixing housing so that each respective
end can enter into operative engagement with the push rod of the
connecting member regardless of which one of the three fixing housings are
being used.
2. A hand grip according to claim 1, wherein there is a locking member
located in the grip which has lugs which project into the respective
fixing housings and which are constructed when in a locking position to
engage behind a rim located on said connecting member.
3. A hand grip according to claim 2, wherein the locking member is engaged
by a set screw for moving it into the locked position, and a restoring
spring which moves it away from the locked position.
4. A hand grip according to claim 1, wherein the transmission structure
includes three individual pivotally mounted two-armed levers, each of
which has one arm, pretensioned, bearing on the release button which is
pivotally held in the grip while the free end of the other arm of each
lever lies in each case in an axis of a fixing housing.
5. A hand grip according to claim 4, wherein the lever pivoting axes are
oriented transversely of the axes of the fixing housings associated with
each of the individual levers.
6. A hand grip according to claim 1, wherein the fixing housings have a
common central cavity and in each case, discharging into the cavity, a
bore for insertion of the connecting member, the bore axes constituting
the axes of the fixing housings, and furthermore wherein said transmission
structure and a locking member are disposed in the cavity.
7. A hand grip according to claim 6, wherein the connecting member is
constructed as a substantially T-shaped side holder with a cylindrical
middle part, and said middle part accommodating a push rod, an axial
through-bore in line with the axis of at least one fixing housing in the
grip, the bore being a stepped bore, said middle part having a conically
tapering free end carrying an annular flange which constitutes a rim
behind which it is possible to engage, and further a transverse part which
serves to fix the side holder on the camera body having terminating end
faces with threaded bores with an axial bore axis into which it is
possible to screw screws which serve for attachment to the camera.
8. A hand grip according to claim 7, wherein the end faces of the
transverse part are provided with shaped recesses and shaped projections.
9. A hand grip according to claim 1, wherein the connecting member is
constructed as a supporting plate carrying a tripod screw for association
with a tripod thread in the camera body and a transversely projecting bolt
which tapers conically towards the free end, said bolt having a stepped
axial through-bore, which is in line with the axis of the fixing housing
in the end face of the grip and which accommodates said push rod, and the
bolt having at its free end an annular flange forming a rim behind which
it is possible to engage.
10. A detachable hand grip for a camera compising: a grip having a lateral
fixing housing; a connecting member provided for use between the grip and
the camera body which is separably connected to the grip via the fixing
housing and which can be locked on the camera body; said grip further
having a second lateral fixing housing disposed opposite the first fixing
housing; an additional fixing housing opening from the upper end face of
the grip for receiving the connecting member; said grip further being
provided with a release button, said connecting member being provided with
an axially displaceable push rod for transmitting the movement of said
release button to release means associated with the camera, said grip
further having a transmission means so that the grip can be affixed to the
camera from three sides and in each case the camera release means can be
operated from said release button and for meshing with the release button
which has an end protruding into each one of said three fixing housings so
that said end can enter into operative engagement with the push rod of the
connecting member no matter which one of the three fixing housings has
said connecting member connected therewith.
11. A hand grip according to claim 10, wherein there is further provided in
the grip a locking member which has lugs for association with the
respective fixing housings and which are arranged so when in a locking
position at least one of them engages a flange provided on said connecting
member.
12. A hand grip according to claim 11, wherein the locking member is
actuated by adjustable means for moving it into the locked position, and
restoring means is also provided for moving it away from the locked
position.
13. A hand grip according to claim 10, wherein the transmission means
includes three individual pivotally mounted two-armed levers, each of
which has one arm, pretensioned, bearing on the release button which is
pivotally held in the grip while the free end of the other arm of each
lever lies in each case in an axis of a fixing housing.
14. A hand grip according to claim 13, wherein the lever pivoting axes are
orientated transversely of the axes of the fixing housings associated with
each of the individual levers.
15. A hand grip according to claim 10, wherein the three fixing housings
provided in said grip have a common central cavity and in each case,
discharging into the cavity, a bore for insertion of the connecting
member, the bore axes constituting the axes of the fixing housings, and
furthermore wherein said transmission means and a locking member are
disposed in the cavity.
16. A hand grip according to claim 15, wherein the connecting member is
constructed as a substantially T-shaped side holder with a cylindrical
middle part, and said middle part accommodating a push rod, an axial
through-bore in line with the axis of at least one fixing housing in the
grip, the bore being a stepped bore and said middle part having a
conically tapering free end carrying an annular flange which constitutes a
rim behind which it is possible to engage, and said T-shaped side holder
further having a transverse part which serves to fix the side holder on
the camera body which has, terminating at the end faces, threaded bores
with an axial bore axis into which it is possible to screw screws which
serve for attachment to the camera.
17. A hand grip according to claim 16, wherein the end faces of the
transverse part are provided with shaped recesses and shaped projections.
18. A hand grip according to claim 10, wherein the connecting member is
constructed as a supporting plate carrying a tripod screw for association
with a tripod thread in the camera body and a transversely projecting bolt
which tapers conically towards the free end, said bolt having an axial
through-bore which is in line with the axis of the fixing housing in the
end face of the grip and which accommodates said push rod, and the bolt
having at its free end an annular flange forming a rim behind which it is
possible to engage. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a camera hand grip for separable connection to a
camera of the hand held type.
Such a hand grip which is separably connected to the camera serves to
facilitate handling of the camera.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the case of known hand grips of this type, the grip is adapted in its
form to a specific camera position which is ideal for photography, so that
the grip fits easily into the hand so that hand grip and camera can be
held for a relatively long period without fatigue, and thus without risk
of wobble.
However, when a photograph is being taken, some cameras, e.g. mirror reflex
cameras with a ground glass indirect and a direct-vision viewfinder, have
to be held in different positions. A camera with a direct-vision
viewfinder must be lifted directly to the eye so that an ergonometrically
favorable supporting of the camera is possible only if the grip is
disposed underneath the camera body. In the case of cameras with an
indirect-vision viewfinder, on the other hand, the user must be able to
look down onto the camera body from above. In such a case, it is only
possible for the camera to be ergonometrically held if the hand grip is so
disposed on the camera body that the grip is located at the side of the
camera body. Left-handed camera users prefer the grip to be disposed on
the left beside the camera body while right-handed camera users ask for
the grip to be located on the right of the camera body (in either case
looking in the direction of the object to be photographed).
For each way of holding the camera, practice hitherto has been to use a
specially adapted camera hand grip in which case the particular design of
the grip offers ergonomically optimum operation in the associated camera
position.
A camera hand grip has already been suggested which has a grip disposed
laterally alongside the camera body when the hand grip is fixed to the
camera. The grip itself can be fixed on the camera body by means of a
connecting element separably fixed thereto. The camera release is located
on the front face of the grip and must be operated by the thumb. This
means it is possible to attach the hand grip to the camera body in two
different positions, whereby the grip is on the right in one position and
on the left of the camera body in the other position. This hand grip can
therefore, in the case of a camera which has an indirect-vision
viewfinder, be used by both the left-handed and also the right-handed
camera user, although certainly operation of the release button with the
thumb instead of the normally customary operation of the camera release
with the index finger, compels the camera user to an initially disturbing
change of habit. However, this hand grip can no longer be used if the
camera user wishes to use the camera which--as is already conventional
nowadays--is additionally equipped with a direct-vision viewfinder, to
take a photograph in a position which makes it possible to use the ground
glass indirect-vision viewfinder. In this case, the camera user is
compelled completely to remove the hand grip and either to hold the camera
by the camera body or to equip himself with a further camera hand grip for
the purpose.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is based therefore on the problem of providing a hand
grip of the type mentioned at the outset which makes it possible to hold
the camera in all possible positions, in other words to hold the camera by
a grip fixed under the camera body or by a grip disposed to the left or
right alongside the camera body.
The camera hand grip according to the present invention makes it possible
not only to hold a camera which has both indirect and direct-vision
viewfinders in an ergonomically favorable manner for both right and
left-handed persons in all the necessary positions for taking a
photograph, but can also be used easily on various models of camera,
possibly with a minor adaptation which can be undertaken by the camera
user himself, whereby in such cases he can guarantee ergonomically optimum
holding of the camera in the operative position.
A particularly advantageous feature of the present invention is that the
release button which is disposed on the grip and by which the camera
shutter is usually triggered, is fully capable of functioning in all
possible positions of the grip. It also always lies on the front of the
grip which points towards the object being photographed and can be
operated in the customary and ergonomically favorable manner with the
index finger. What is more, the simple fitment on, and locking on, the
camera body automatically ensures transference of the camera release
function from the release button to the shutter release contact or the
camera release.
Another advantageous feature of the invention is also disclosed wherein by
the design of the lever transmission and of the fitment housings, it is
possible to produce both the lever transmission and also the grip itself
is truly competitive fashion so that the hand grip constitutes a keenly
priced accessory which by reason of its price is also interesting for the
amateur photographer.
Also an advantageous feature of the invention exists wherein by
constructing the connecting member as a T-shaped side holder, the hand
grip can be so designed that when it is attached to the camera body, the
grip can be optionally located on the left or right side of the camera
body. When the hand grip is locked on the camera body, the push rod guided
in the side holder simultaneously comes in mechanical contact with the
release or the release contact and translates the movement of the release
button in the grip into an actuation of the release or of the release
contact in the camera body. The internally screwthreaded longitudinal bore
provided in the transverse part of the side holder makes it possible to
fit further holding members which make it possible for the hand grip to be
individually adapted to the shape of the camera body.
Also another favorable feature of the invention is disclosed in which
shaped recesses and/or projections constitute a non-rotatable connection
between the side holder and further holding members.
A further advantageous feature of the invention is a result of designing
the connecting member between grip and camera body as a supporting plate
so that the hand grip can be fitted to the camera body so that the grip is
located directly underneath the bottom of the camera body and is thus
directly below the center of gravity of the camera. Here, too, by a simple
fitment of the supporting plate to the bottom of the camera body, which is
effected furthermore by means of the tripod screw, the mechanical coupling
of the release button in the grip to the release or release contact in the
camera body is automatically ensured by the push rod guided in the bolt.
A preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the bolt
is separably held in the supporting plate by means of a screw-thread. This
arrangement makes it possible to remove the bolt from the supporting
plate, and to use this latter purely as a fixing plate in conjunction with
the hand grip which is composed of grip and side holder.
According to a further feature of the invention, it is thereby envisaged
that the supporting plate carry transversely projecting humps each of
which has, for passage of a bolt, an axial through bore and shaped
projections and/or recesses which engage in form-locking fashion into
shaped recesses and projections on the side holder. By reason of this
construction of the supporting plate, this latter can be previously
mentioned be connected to the side holder. To this end, a screw is passed
through the axial bore in one of the humps and screwed into the female
screwthread in the transverse part of the side holder. The molded
projections and/or troughs on the hump and on the end face of the
transverse part of the side holder which become thereby inter-engaged
permit a rotation-resistant connection.
A further advantageous form of embodiment of the invention has at least one
shoulder piece serving preferably as an extension of the transverse part
of the side holder and which has an axial through-bore intended for
passage of a screw and shaped projections and/or recesses which engage in
form-locking fashion into the shaped recesses and/or projections on the
side holder. In this way, the transverse part of the side holder can be
extended beyond the top of the camera so that further accessories such as
a flash gun, can be mounted on it.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the hand grip has at least one
transverse rail with two humps respectively projecting transversely from
the ends, each of which has an axial bore intended to allow passage of a
screw as well as molded projections and/or recesses which engage in
form-locking fashion into shaped recess and/or projections on the
supporting plate and/or shoulder piece. Such a transverse rail can have
one hump fitted against the end face of a shoulder piece while a screw
passed through the hump and through the shoulder piece and into the female
threaded bore in the transverse part of the side holder can be attached to
the side holder. Such a transverse rail serves to hold further accessory
equipment for taking photographs, e.g. flash gun, light meter sensor, etc.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, the hand grip is
characterized in that the transverse rail has holes, preferably
screwthreaded holes, which serve to accommodate attachment of a flash
shoe.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, the hand grip has at
least one spacer with a through-bore preferably having a female
screwthread and having at the end molded projections and/or recesses which
engage in form-locking fashion into shaped recesses and/or projections on
the transverse rail and/or on the supporting plate. By means of this
spacer, farther-reaching adaptation of the hand grip to the shape of the
camera and to the need to be able to use the hand grip to hold further
accessory equipment for photography becomes possible.
In the case of the hand grip according to the invention, all individual
parts such as side holder, supporting plate, shoulder piece, spacer,
transverse rail, can be optionally interchanged and/or connected to one
another. Thus, the hand grip acquires a variable form which makes it
possible to dispose the grip on the camera body in any of the three
positions explained at the outset in order to cope with the circumstances
involved in attaching the hand grip to the camera body of different
cameras and at the same time mount accessory equipment on the hand grip in
cases where such accessory equipment must for photographic purposes be in
a definite location in relation to the lens of the camera, such as a flash
gun or a photo sensor which controls the light radiated from the flash
gun.
These together with other objects and advantages which will become
subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation
as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to
the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals
refer to like parts throughout.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a camera hand grip obliquely from above and
from the front;
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a grip of the camera hand grip in FIG.
1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a supporting plate of the camera hand grip
in FIG. 1, viewed obliquely from above;
FIG. 4 shows in an enlarged exploded view details of the interior of the
grip shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a front view of a camera hand grip according to a second
embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a side holder of the camera hand grip of
FIG. 5 with a lengthwise cross-section through the middle part;
FIG. 7 shows a front view of a camera hand grip according to a third
embodiment of the invention; and
FIG. 8 shows a fragmentary perspective view, partly in cross-section, of
the camera hand grip with the internal parts of FIG. 4 associated
therewith.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The embodiments of a camera hand grip as shown in FIGS. 1, 5 and 7 all have
the same grip 10 shown separately in FIG. 2 and a differently constructed
connecting member which can be fixed to the camera body of a camera and
which connects the camera body to the grip 10 and vice versa. These
connecting members 11, 11' and 11" are each separably connected to the
grip 10. To this end, the grip 10 has altogether three fixing housings 12,
13 and 14 into which any of the connecting members can optionally be
inserted and secured. Two of the fixing housings 12 and 13 are disposed
directly opposite each other and are accessible from the lateral faces 15,
16 of the grip 10, while the third fixing housing 14 is accessible from
the upper end face 17 of the grip 10. On the front face 18 of the grip 10
which, when the hand grip is mounted on the camera, is always directed
towards the object to be photographed, a release button is disposed close
to the upper end face 17. The release button which is constructed as a
rocker button 19 is held so that it can pivot about an axis 20 in the grip
10 (FIGS. 4 and 8) and it protrudes beyond the front face 18 of the grip
10.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 8, the fixing housings 12, 13 and 14 have a common
central cavity 21 and in each case, terminating in the cavity, a bore or
hole 22, 23 and 24 for insertion of the connecting members. As shown, the
bore axes 25, 26 and 27 constitute the axes of the fixing housings 12, 13,
14. In FIG. 4, the cavity 21 is indicated diagrammatically by the bores
22, 23 and 24 which are shown therein in dash-dotted lines. For securement
of the connecting member 11 or 11', there is in the grip 10, and in fact
in its cavity 21, a locking member 28, which in its locked position has
lugs 29, 30 and 31 which extend into the fixing housings 12, 13 and 14.
The lugs are constructed so that they engage behind an edge disposed on
the connecting member 11 and which will be described in greater detail
hereinafter. In the locking position, the lugs 29, 30 and 31 of the
locking member 28 become pushed immediately behind the mouth of the bores
22, 23 and 24 respectively in the cavity 21, and bear on the one hand on
the rim of the connecting member and on the other hand on the face of that
wall of the grip 10 which surrounds the cavity 21. Thus, withdrawal of one
of the connecting members 11 and 11' from one of the fixing housings 12,
13 or 14 is reliably prevented. In order to actuate the locking member 28
to its locking position, a setscrew 32 is provided which is screwed into a
screwthreaded bore 132 in the grip 10, axially displacing the locking
member 28 in the direction of the bore axes 25, 26, and 27. To return the
locking member 28 from the locking position when the setscrew 32 is
loosened, a restoring spring 33 is provided. This is preferably
constructed as a coil spring which is biased at one end against the
locking member 28 and at the other end against a wall in the grip 10 which
defines the cavity 21.
A push rod is held in axially displaceable position in the connecting
member for transmitting the pivoting movement of the release button 19 to
a shutter release or release contact as conventionally located on a camera
body, not shown here. When the release button 19 is not actuated, the push
rod remains at the camera end in direct contact with the release or
release contact but without mechanically displacing the latter. Located in
the grip 10 and in fact in the cavity 21 thereof, there is a lever
transmission structure 70 which converts the pivoting movement of the
release button 19 into an axial displacement of the push rod. In the case
of the connecting member 11 being constructed in accordance with FIGS. 1
and 3, the push rod is designated 35 (FIG. 3), while in the case of the
embodiments of FIGS. 5 to 7, which use the connecting member 11', the push
rod is designated 34 (FIG. 6). The lever transmission structure 70, shown
on an enlarged scale in FIG. 4, is in engagement with the release button
19 and protrudes in part into the fixing housings 12, 13 and 14, whereby
in these fixing housings, a portion enters into operative engagement with
the push rod 34 or 35 of whichever connecting member is inserted into one
or more of the fixing housings. For this purpose, three two-armed levers
36, 37, 38 are pivotally mounted in the grip 10 and in the cavity 21
thereof. The levers 36 to 38 each have one arm bearing on the release
button 19, with initial tension provided by the curved spring 39. The
other arm of each of the respective levers 36 to 38 projects into one of
the fixing housings 12 to 14 in such a way that, in each case, its free
end 40, 41 or 42 lies more or less on one of the bore axes 25, 26, or 27.
Therefore, the lever pivoting axes 43, 44, 45 are aligned transversely of
the axes of the fixing housings associated with them. For example, the
lever pivoting axis 43 of the lever 36 lies at a right angle to the bore
axis 25; the lever pivoting axis 44 of the lever 37 is at a right angle to
the bore axis 26; and the lever pivoting axis 45 of the lever 38 is at a
right angle to the bore axis 27. When the release button 19 is actuated,
the levers 36, 37 are pivoted about their respective axis, and their
respective free ends 40, 41 and 42 move in a substantially axial direction
through a small path on the bore axes 25, 26 and 27, this small distance
being sufficient to produce an axial displacement of the push rod 34 or 35
which is aligned with one of the bore axes 25, 26 or 27 after insertion of
a connecting member in the grip 10. The push rod 34 or 35 then actuating
in turn the release or release contact at the camera end.
In the case of the camera hand grip according to the preferred embodiment
of FIG. 1, the connecting member 11 is constructed as a supporting plate
46 which has for association with a tripod screwthread in the camera body
a tripod screw 47, and a transversely projecting bolt 48 (FIG. 3). The
bolt 48 which is shown in cross-section in FIG. 3, projects downwardly
from the supporting plate and is separably held by a screw 49 in a blind
bore in the supporting plate 46. The bolt 48 tapers towards the free end
in conical fashion and has an annular flange 50 which constitutes for the
connecting member 11 an edge behind which it is possible to grip. Thus,
the lug 31 of the locking member 28 is able to grip behind this annular
flange 50. The bolt 48 has an axial through-bore 51 which is preferably
constructed as a stepped bore in which the push rod 35 is displaceably
held. The push rod 35 protrudes at the top of the supporting plate 46. The
push rod 35 is secured against falling out of the axial through-bore by a
coil spring 52 braced at one end on a shoulder 151 on the stepped bore 51
and at the other end on an annular flange 135 provided on the push rod 35.
The bolt 48 can be inserted into the fixing housing 14 on the upper end
face 17 of the grip 10, with the lug 31 on the locking member 28 engaging
behind the annular flange 50 when the locking member 28 is in its locked
position. Thus, the supporting plate 46 is held on the grip 10, and at the
same time the push rod 35 bears on the free end 42 of the lever 38 of the
lever transmission structure 70. Thus prepared, the hand grip is applied
with the supporting plate 46 to the bottom of the camera body, the tripod
screw 47 which is held in the supporting plate 46 being screwed into the
tripod nut normally provided in the bottom of the camera body. So that the
supporting plate 46 cannot twist on the camera body, there are provided on
the upper side of the supporting plate 46 two studs or nipples 53 which
can engage into corresponding depressions in the camera body. Upon
attachment of the supporting plate 46 to the bottom of the camera body,
the push rod 35 simultaneously engages a recess provided in the camera
body and enters into touching contact with the camera shutter release
contact.
If, now, the release 19 is depressed, all the levers 36, 37 and 38 of the
lever transmission structure 70 pivot in the previously described manner.
Since only the upper fixing housing 14 has presently a connecting member
11 in the form bolt 48 and supporting plate 46, the movement of the levers
36 and 37 of course have no effect. However, the lever 38 does function
and displaces the push rod 35 by an amount which is sufficient to close
the release contact in the camera. When the release button 19 is released
again, the levers 36, 37 and 38 all pivot under the action of the spring
39 back into their starting positions as shown in FIG. 4. The push rod 35
is returnd to its basic position by the coil spring 52.
The supporting plate 46 also has two laterally disposed humps 54 projecting
transversely from its surface and which are each provided with an axial
through-bore 55. On their end faces, the humps have molded projections 56
and molded depressions 57. The object and purpose of these humps 54 will
be explained in greater detail hereinafter.
In the case of the two embodiments of camera hand grips shown in FIGS. 5
and 7, the connecting member is constructed with a substantially T-shaped
side holder 58, such as is indicated as a component in FIG. 6. The side
holder 58 has a substantially cylindrical middle part 59 and a transverse
part 60. The middle part 59 has an axial through-bore 61 which is likewise
preferably constructed as a stepped bore. The push rod 34 is mounted in
this through-bore 61 and is secured against falling out by a cylindrical
coil spring 62 which engages around the push rod and which engages at one
end with a shoulder 161 in the stepped bore 61 and at the other end with
an annular flange 134 on the push rod 34. The free end of the middle part
59 tapers conically and has an annular flange 63 which functions with the
connecting member as a rim behind which it is possible to engage. Thus,
the lug 29, or the lug 30, of the locking member 38 can engage behind this
annular flange, according to whether the side holder 58 projects from the
left-hand side 15 (FIG. 5) or the right-hand side 16 (FIG. 7) of the grip
10. The side holder 58 is attached to grip 10 by the conically tapering
end of the middle part 59 being pushed into one of the lateral fixing
housings 12 or 13, after which it is locked by means of the locking member
28, by the screwing-in of the setscrew 32. The push rod 34 is thereby
flush with either the bore axis 25, or the bore axis 26, of the fixing
housing 12 or 13, and bears on the free end 40 or 41 of the lever 36 or
37.
The transverse part 60 of the side holder 58 has two threaded bores 64 with
an axially orientated bore axis, each of the bores opening at one of the
two end faces of the transverse part. It is possible to screw into these
threaded bores 64 screws which serve to attach the supporting plate 46 to
the side holder 58 as in FIG. 5. Provided on the two end faces of the
transverse part are identical shaped recesses 65 and shaped projections
66. The shaped projections 66 are complementary to the shaped recesses 57
and the shaped recesses 65 are complementary to the shaped projections 56
on the humps 54 on the supporting plate 46, so that when the end face of
the transverse part 60 is applied to a hump 54, they inter-engage in
form-locking fashion. If, now, a screw is passed through the axial bore 55
in the hump 54 and is screwed into the threaded bore 64 in the transverse
part 60, then a camera hand grip is created such as is illustrated in FIG.
5. The bolt 48 (FIG. 3) has been in this case unscrewed from the
supporting plate 46. The camera hand grip can now be attached by the
supporting plate 46 against the bottom of the camera body where it can be
secured by means of the tripod screw 47. In this case, the push rod 34
which is held in the middle part 59 of the side holder 58 has its camera
end directly in front of a manual release located at the side of the
camera body. If, now, the release button is actuated, then in the case of
the hand grip according to FIG. 5, also the lever 36 of the lever
transmission structure 70 will be pivoted. Since the push rod 34 bears
directly on the free end 40 of the lever 36, this latter is displaced and
in turn actuates the release in the camera body.
In the case of the embodiment of the camera hand grip according to FIG. 7,
the side holder 58 can again be seen, but this time it is fitted on the
right-hand side 16 of the grip 10, into the fixing housing 13 provided
therein. This alternative form of hand grip is intended for left-handed
people and for a camera with an indirect vision ground glass viewfinder.
Here, too, the side holder 58 is connected to the supporting plate 46 via
its transverse part 60. However,in contrast to FIG. 5, in this case the
other hump 54 of plate 46 is applied to the lower end face of the
transverse part 60 and secured by a screw. In addition, in this
embodiment, fitted onto the upper end face of the transverse part 60 by
its own end face is a shoulder member 67 which serves as an extension of
the transverse part 60. This shoulder member has an elongated bore 68
which is indicated by the dash-dotted line in FIG. 7. The end faces of the
shoulder member 67 are likewise provided with shaped recesses and shaped
projections one pair of which engage in form-locking manner with the
shaped projection 66 and shaped recess 65 on the upper end face of the
transverse part 60. It is possible to pass through the longitudinal bore
68 a screw which can then be screwed into the threaded bore 64 in the
transverse part 60. The hand grip according to the embodiment of FIG. 7
further has a transverse rail 69 with two humps 71 projecting
transversely, one at each end. These humps are identicial to the humps 54
on the supporting plate 46. They likewise have a central through-bore 72
and have on their free faces shaped recesses 177 and shaped projections
176 which are identical to the shaped recesses 57 and shaped projections
56 on the humps 54 of plate 46 and/or the recesses 65 and projections 66
on the transverse part 60 of the side holder 58, and are so located that
they engage in form-locking fashion into the shaped recesses and shaped
projections on the end face of the shoulder member 67, when the hump 71 is
fitted thereon. The transverse rail 69 and the shoulder member 67 are held
on the side holder 58 by a screw which is passed through the bore 72 in
the hump 71, the transverse rail 69 and through the longitudinal bore 68
in the shoulder member 67, and which is screwed into the threaded bore 64
in the transverse part 60 of the side holder 58. The transverse rail 69
also has housing apertures 73 and 74 which are indicated through their
central axes as depicted in FIG. 7. These apertures 73 and 74 serve for
attachment of a flash shoe on the transverse rail 69 so that it functions
as a structure for holding a flash gun. However, it is also possible for
other accessory equipment required for photographic purposes, preferably
such equipment as must be in a definite spatial relationship to the camera
lens, to be mounted on the transverse rail 69.
A further possible arrangement of the hand grip in FIG. 7 is provided by a
spacer 75 having an axial through-bore with an internal screwthread. This
threaded bore 76 is identified in FIG. 7 by its central axis. The two end
faces of the spacer 75 are in turn provided with identical shaped recesses
and shaped projections like those already described. Then the spacer 75
has one end face applied against a hump 54 on the supporting plate 46, and
is secured to the supporting plate 46 by a screw which is passed through
the bore 55 in the hump 54 and screwed into the threaded bore 76. On the
other end face of the spacer 75 there is applied a further shoulder member
67' which is identical to the shoulder member 67. The second hump 71 on
the transverse rail 69 rests on the end face of the second shoulder member
67'. By means of a screw which is passed through the bore 72 in the hump
71, through the longitudinal bore 68' in the shoulder member 67' and which
is screwed into the threaded bore 76, the transverse rail 69, the shoulder
member 67' and the spacer 75 are rigidly connected to one another.
As can be seen from FIG. 7, the transverse part 60 of the side holder 58,
the supporting plate 46, the spacer 75, the second shoulder member 67',
the transverse rail 69 and the shoulder member 67 now form a rigid frame
which surrounds the camera body. The camera is connected again to the
supporting plate 46 via the tripod screw 47. Thus, the push rod 34 guided
in the side part 58 is directly on the camera release which is provided on
the left of the camera body, and the camera release is therefore actuated
by the push rod when the release button 19 on the grip 10 is operated.
The fixing housing 14 which terminates at the upper end face 17 of the grip
10 serves in the case of the hand grip shown in FIG. 7 for attachment of a
hand loop 77 to the grip 10. For this purpose, a stud 78 which has a free
conically tapering end with flange like that of the conical end of the
bolt 48, is provided which is inserted into the fixing housing 14 and held
by the lug 31. The stud 78 carries a large diameter pressure applying disc
79 which is passed through a slot in the hand loop 77. The pressure
applying disc 79, when the stud 78 is locked, holds the hand loop against
the end face 17 of the grip 10.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the
invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily
occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the
invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and
accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to,
falling within the scope of the invention.
* * * * *
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