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Claims  |
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What is claimed is:
1. A camera quick-release tripod fastener comprising a fastener axle having
an attachment bolt extended from an attachment end of the fastener axle,
a fastener-lock section intermediate bearing sections on a circumferential
outside periphery of the fastener axle,
a fastener housing with a fastener bay having a cylindrical inside
periphery in which the fastener axle is insertable with the bearing
sections on the outside periphery of the fastener axle in rotational
contact with the cylindrical inside periphery of the fastener bay,
a lock latch that is pivotal on a latch axle that is attached to the
fastener housing in parallel relationship to axes of the fastener bay and
the fastener axle,
a fastener lock on the lock latch in pivotally engageable relationship with
the fastener-lock section on the circumferential outside periphery of the
fastener axle,
a latch handle extended from the lock latch perpendicularly to the latch
axle,
a housing handle extended from the fastener housing in a direction
selectively parallel to the latch handle,
a fastener spring positioned in distance-decreasing tensional relationship
between the fastener-lock and the fastener-lock section on the
circumferential outside periphery of the fastener axle and with the
fastener spring positioned in distance-increasing tensional relationship
between the latch handle and the housing handle, and
at least one attachment-bolt hole oppositely disposed from the fastener bay
in the fastener housing.
2. A camera quick-release tripod fastener as claimed in claim 1 and further
comprising a thread-lock means on the attachment bolt.
3. A camera quick-release tripod fastener as claimed in claim 2, wherein
the thread-lock means is a conical head of a lock bolt extended through an
axial lock orifice in the attachment bolt to a lock-bolt nut with which
the conical head of the lock bolt is rotationally thread-drawn against a
split end of the attachment bolt to spread opposite sides of the split end
of the attachment bolt inside of an attachment-bolt hole in a camera to
spread-lock the attachment bolt in the attachment-bolt hole by rotating
the lock-bolt nut on the lock bolt.
4. A camera quick-release tripod fastener as claimed in claim 3, wherein
the fastener axle is threaded internally to receive a threaded shaft of
the attachment bolt,
the attachment bolt has a bolt head which fits in a bolt-head recess in an
insertional end of the fastener axle,
a lock washer is positioned in thread-locking relationship intermediate the
bolt head of the attachment bolt and a seat end of the bolt-head recess in
the insertional end of the fastener axle,
the axial lock orifice in the attachment bolt is extended through the bolt
head of the attachment bolt,
the lock bolt is extended through the axial lock orifice in the attachment
bolt and in the bolt head of the attachment bolt and threaded into a
lock-bolt nut positioned in the bolt-head recess in the insertional end of
the fastener axle, and
the conical head of the lock bolt is rotationally thread-drawn against the
split end of the attachment bolt to spread the opposite sides of the split
end of the attachment bolt inside of the attachment-bolt hole in the
camera to spread-lock the attachment bolt in the attachment-bolt hole by
rotating the lock-bolt nut on the lock bolt.
5. A camera quick-release tripod fastener as claimed in claim 2, wherein
the thread-lock means is a lock washer having smooth edges positioned
between a camera surface and the attachment end of the fastener axle.
6. A camera quick-release tripod fastener as claimed in claim 5, wherein
the lock washer is a conical type having opposite outside surfaces of
oppositely beveled sides positioned between contact surfaces of the camera
and the attachment end of the fastener axle.
7. A camera quick-release tripod fastener as claimed in claim 2, wherein
the thread-lock means is a lock nut which can be positioned on the
attachment bolt intermediate a camera and the fastener axle, and a
lock-nut grip extended radially from the lock nut to a position of
accessibility from a side of the camera for rotating the lock nut snugly
against the camera in lock-nut relationship to threads on the attachment
bolt that are threaded into an attachment-bolt hole in the camera.
8. A camera quick-release tripod fastener as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the fastener-lock section intermediate bearing sections on the
circumferential outside periphery of the fastener axle is a plurality of
linear axle serrations extended parallel to an axis of the fastener axle.
9. A camera quick-release tripod fastener as claimed in claim 8, wherein
the fastener lock on the lock latch is a select plurality of linear lock
serrations which are sized and shaped to be interspersed in juxtaposed
relationship between the linear axle serrations, and the linear lock
serrations are juxtaposed in an arc having a matching circumferential
relationship to the fastener axle.
10. A camera quick-release tripod fastener as claimed in claim 8, wherein
the fastener lock is a resilient member attached to the lock latch.
11. A camera quick-release tripod fastener as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the fastener-lock section intermediate bearing sections on the
circumferential outside periphery of the fastener axle is a plurality of
location notches juxtaposed circumferentially on the fastener axle at a
position of pivotal contact by the lock latch,
at least one location tooth is positioned on the lock latch, and
the location tooth is sized and shaped to fit into either one of the
location notches.
12. A camera quick-release tripod fastener as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the fastener spring is an expansion type of coil spring having a coil axis
perpendicular to the latch handle,
a spring orifice in which the fastener spring is positioned intermediate
a handle channel in the fastener housing and an outside surface of the
fastener housing, and
a set screw threadable into the spring orifice with the fastener spring
intermediate the set screw and the latch handle.
13. A camera quick-release tripod fastener as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the fastener spring is an expansion type of coil spring having a coil axis
selectively parallel to the latch handle,
a second spring orifice in which the fastener spring is positioned
intermediate a lock-latch channel in the fastener housing and an outside
surface of the fastener housing, and
a second set screw threadable into the spring orifice with the fastener
spring intermediate the set screw and the lock latch.
14. A camera quick-release tripod fastener as claimed in claim 1 and
further comprising:
a lock-engagement bolt that is threadable selectively in a lock-bolt
orifice that is in communication between a latch-handle bay and an outside
periphery of the fastener housing,
an internal end of the lock-engagement bolt being thread-positioned
selectively in contact with the latch handle, and
an external end of the lock-engagement bolt having a hand-rotatable head.
15. A camera quick-release tripod fastener comprising:
a fastener axle having an attachment bolt extended frown an attachment end
of the fastener axle,
a fastener-lock section intermediate bearing sections on a circumferential
outside periphery of the fastener axle,
a fastener housing with a fastener bay having a cylindrical inside
periphery in which the fastener axle is insertable with the bearing
sections on the outside periphery of the fastener axle in rotational
contact with the cylindrical inside periphery of the fastener bay,
a lock latch that is pivotal on a latch axle that is attached to the
fastener housing in parallel relationship to axes of the fastener bay and
the fastener axle,
a fastener lock on the lock latch in pivotally engageable relationship with
the fastener-lock section on the circumferential outside periphery of the
fastener axle,
a latch handle extended from the lock latch perpendicularly to the latch
axle,
a housing handle extended from the fastener housing in a direction
selectively parallel to the latch handle,
a fastener spring positioned in distance-decreasing tensional relationship
between the fastener-lock and the fastener-lock section on the
circumferential outside periphery of the fastener axle and with the
fastener spring positioned in distance-increasing tensional relationship
between the latch handle and the housing handle,
at least one attachment-bolt hole oppositely disposed from the fastener bay
in the fastener housing,
a thread-lock means on the attachment bolt,
lock-engagement bolt that is threadable selectively in a
lock-engagement-bolt orifice that is in communication between a
latch-handle bay and an outside periphery of the fastener housing,
an internal end of the lock-engagement bolt being thread-positioned
selectively in contact with the latch handle, and
an external end of the lock-engagement bolt having a hand-rotatable head.
16. A camera quick-release tripod fastener as claimed in claim 15, wherein
the thread-lock means is a conical head of a lock bolt extended through an
axial lock orifice in the attachment bolt to a lock-bolt nut with which
the conical head of the lock bolt can be rotationally thread-drawn against
a split end of the attachment bolt to spread opposite sides of the split
end of the attachment bolt inside of an attachment-bolt hole in a camera
to spread-lock the attachment bolt in the attachment-bolt hole by rotating
the lock-bolt nut on the lock bolt.
17. A camera quick-release tripod fastener as claimed in claim 16, wherein
the fastener axle is threaded internally to receive a threaded shaft of
the attachment bolt,
the attachment bolt has a bolt head which fits in a bolt-head recess in an
insertional end of the fastener axle,
a lock washer is positioned in thread-locking relationship intermediate the
bolt head of the attachment bolt and a seat end of the bolt-head recess in
the insertional end of the fastener axle,
the axial lock orifice in the attachment bolt is extended through the bolt
head of the attachment bolt,
the lock bolt is extended through the axial lock orifice in the attachment
bolt and in the bolt head of the attachment bolt and threaded into a
lock-bolt nut positioned in the bolt-head recess in the insertional end of
the fastener axle, and
the conical head of the lock bolt is rotationally thread-drawn against the
split end of the attachment bolt to spread the opposite sides of the split
end of the attachment bolt inside of the attachment-bolt hole in the
camera to spread-lock the attachment bolt in the attachment-bolt hole by
rotating the lock-bolt nut on the lock bolt.
18. A camera quick-release tripod fastener as claimed in claim 15, wherein
the thread-lock means is a lock washer having smooth edges positioned
between a camera surface and the attachment end of the fastener axle.
19. A camera quick-release tripod fastener as claimed in claim 18, wherein
the lock washer is a conical type having opposite outside surfaces of
oppositely beveled sides positioned between contact surfaces of the camera
and the attachment end of the fastener axle.
20. A camera quick-release tripod fastener as claimed in claim 15, wherein
the thread-lock means is a lock nut which can be positioned on the
attachment bolt intermediate a camera and the fastener axle, and a
lock-nut grip extended radially from the lock nut to a position of
accessibility from a side of the camera for rotating the lock nut snugly
against the camera in lock-nut relationship to threads on the attachment
bolt that are threaded into an attachment-bolt hole in the camera.
21. A camera quick-release tripod fastener as claimed in claim 15, wherein
the fastener-lock section intermediate bearing sections on the
circumferential outside periphery of the fastener axle is a plurality of
linear axle serrations extended parallel to an axis of the fastener axle.
22. A camera quick-release tripod fastener as claimed in claim 21, wherein
the fastener lock on the lock latch is a select plurality of linear lock
serrations which are sized and shaped to be interspersed in juxtaposed
relationship between the linear axle serrations, and the linear lock
serrations are juxtaposed in an arc having a matching circumferential
relationship to the fastener axle.
23. A camera quick-release tripod fastener as claimed in claim 21, wherein
the fastener lock is a resilient member attached to the lock latch.
24. A camera quick-release tripod fastener as claimed in claim 15, wherein
the fastener-lock section intermediate bearing sections on the
circumferential outside periphery of the fastener axle is a plurality of
location notches juxtaposed circumferentially on the fastener axle at a
position of pivotal contact by the lock latch,
at least one location tooth is positioned on the lock latch, and
the location tooth is sized and shaped to fit into a select one of the
location notches.
25. A camera quick-release tripod fastener as claimed in claim 15, wherein
the fastener spring is an expansion type of coil spring having a coil axis
perpendicular to the latch handle,
a spring orifice in which the fastener spring is positioned intermediate a
handle channel in the fastener housing and an outside surface of the
fastener housing, and
a set screw threadable into the spring orifice with the fastener spring
intermediate the set screw and the latch handle.
26. A camera quick-release tripod fastener as claimed in claim 15, wherein
the fastener spring is an expansion type of coil spring having a coil axis
selectively parallel to the latch handle,
a second spring orifice in which the fastener spring is positioned
intermediate a lock-latch channel in the fastener housing and an outside
surface of the fastener housing, and
a second set screw threadable into the spring orifice with the fastener
spring intermediate the set screw and the lock latch.
27. A method for using a camera quick-release tripod fastener comprising:
a fastener axle having an attachment bolt extended from an attachment end
of the fastener axle,
a fastener-lock section intermediate bearing sections on a circumferential
outside periphery of the fastener axle,
a fastener housing with a fastener bay having a cylindrical inside
periphery in which the fastener axle is insertable with the bearing
sections on the outside periphery of the fastener axle in rotational
contact with the cylindrical inside periphery of the fastener bay,
a lock latch that is pivotal on a latch axle that is attached to the
fastener housing in parallel relationship to axes of the fastener bay and
the fastener axle,
a fastener lock on the lock latch in pivotally engageable relationship with
the fastener-lock section on the circumferential outside periphery of the
fastener axle,
a latch handle extended from the lock latch perpendicularly to the latch
axle,
a housing handle extended from the fastener housing in a direction
selectively parallel to the latch handle,
a fastener spring positioned in distance-decreasing tensional relationship
between the fastener-lock and the fastener-lock section on the
circumferential outside periphery of tile fastener axle and with the
fastener spring positioned in distance-increasing tensional relationship
between the latch handle and the housing handle,
at least one attachment-bolt hole oppositely disposed from the fastener bay
in the fastener housing,
a thread-lock means on the attachment bolt,
lock-engagement bolt that is threadable selectively in a
lock-engagement-bolt orifice that is in communication between a
latch-handle bay and an outside periphery of the fastener housing,
an internal end of the lock-engagement bolt being thread-positioned
selectively in contact with the latch handle, and
an external end of the lock-engagement bolt having a hand-rotatable head;
the method comprising the following steps:
attaching the fastener axle to a camera by screwing the attachment bolt
into an attachment-bolt hole in the camera,
actuating the thread-lock means to lock threads of the attachment bolt to
threads of the attachment-bolt hole in the camera,
attaching the fastener housing to a desired camera stand by screwing a
stand-attachment bolt into an attachment-bolt hole in the fastener
housing,
attaching the camera to the desired camera stand by inserting the fastener
axle into the fastener bay while the latch handle is squeezed towards the
housing handle to pivot the lock latch to a disengagement position,
releasing the latch handle to allow spring pressure of the fastener spring
to engage the lock latch with the fastener-lock section in order for the
fastener axle and the camera attached to the fastener axle to be retained
thereby in a desired circumferential position relative to the fastener
housing and the camera stand,
hand-squeezing the latch handle in a direction towards the housing handle
for pivoting the lock latch to a position of disengagement with the
fastener-lock section in order to rotate the fastener axle and the camera
attached thereto as desired for changing circumferential positioning of
the camera relative to the camera stand, and
hand-squeezing the latch handle in a direction towards the housing handle
for pivoting the lock latch to a position of disengagement with the
fastener-lock section in order to remove and to replace the fastener axle
and the camera attached thereto as desired.
28. A method for using a camera quick-release tripod fastener as claimed in
claim 27 and further comprising:
engaging the lock-engagement bolt with the latch handle as desired for
preventing the latch handle from being squeezed towards the housing handle
as desired in order to hand-grasp and utilize the latch handle and the
housing handle combined as a single handle without releasing the lock
latch from locking engagement with the fastener-lock section, and
disengaging the lock-engagement bolt from contact with the latch handle for
hand-squeezing the latch handle in a direction towards the housing handle
for utilizing the latch handle to engage and to disengage the latch lock
and the fastener-lock section. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of quick-release
fasteners of cameras to a tripod or other stand, and in particular it
relates to side restriction of a fastener axle in a camera quick-release
for selective circumferential positioning and for quick-release mounting
of a camera on a tripod or other stand. II. Description of the Prior Art
Different from a prior U.S. patent application having Ser. No. 07/955,642
filed by the same inventor, this invention employs side restriction of a
fastener axle instead of end restriction of a fastener stud for fixing
selective circumferential positioning and for quick-release mounting of a
camera on a tripod or other stand. Also different, this invention employs
a squeeze-handle that quick-releases both circumferential positioning and
camera attachment. This squeeze-handle permits one-handed circumferential
adjustment and quick-release attachment of the camera to a camera stand.
One-handed positioned adjustment is highly important for a user's other
hand for other photographic activities. Further yet different, this
invention employs a novel means for thread-locking a camera-attachment
bolt in a camera-attachment bolt hole in order to allow the fastener axle
to remain attached to a particular camera when being used intermittently.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, it is contemplated that one
object is to provide one-handed circumferential adjustment of a camera or
other instrument on a stand in order to free a user's other hand for other
operational activities.
Another object is to permit one-handed quick release of a camera or other
instrument from a stand in order to free a user's other hand for grasping
and removing the camera or other instrument when it has been
quick-released with the other hand.
This invention accomplishes the above and other objectives with a fastener
axle that can be inserted into a fastener orifice in a fastener housing
where a side-grip fastener lock is spring-pressured against a cylindrical
wall of the fastener axle to hold the fastener axle circumferentially and
linearly in a set position. The side-grip fastener lock is releasable by
hand-squeezing a latch handle and a housing handle which combine to form a
squeeze-handle. With the fastener lock released, the fastener axle
attached to the camera or other instrument can be rotated as far or as
little as desired to a different circumferential setting or it can be
removed linearly for removal of the camera or other instrument. The
fastener axle has a fastener bolt that is threadable into a
camera-attachment bolt hole where it can be secured with a convenient
thread-locking means.
Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the invention will become
apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings showing preferred embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a cutaway elevation side view showing a camera attached to a top
of the camera quick release and a tripod attached to a bottom of the
camera quick release;
FIG. 2 is a top view of the camera quick release having a multiple-tooth
lock latch;
FIG. 3 is a cutaway elevation view of a preferred embodiment of the
fastener axle with its internal structure and components for a split-bolt
thread-locking means;
FIG. 4 is a cutaway elevation view of the fastener axle with a
threaded-head attachment bolt;
FIG. 5 is a cutaway elevation view of the fastener axle with a hex-head
attachment bolt and a lock bolt having length sufficient for additional
thread-locking resilience;
FIG. 6 is a cutaway elevation view of the fastener axle with a cone-head
attachment bolt and a smooth-surface lock washer as a thread-locking
means;
FIG. 7 is a cutaway elevation view of a fastener axle that allows use of a
hard-metal fastener-lock section and a hand-adjustable lock nut with
aluminum construction of the fastener axle;
FIG. 8 is a cutaway elevation view of a fastener axle that allows use of a
split-bolt thread-locking means in conjunction with a hard-metal
fastener-lock section and long-bolt thread-locking resilience;
FIG. 9 is a sectional top view of the FIG. 2 illustration of the camera
quick release with a rubber:r-like lock latch; and
FIG. 10 is a sectional top view of the FIG. 9 illustration with a
single-tooth lock latch.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate
corresponding parts throughout the several figures, reference is first
made to drawing FIGS. 1 and 2, this invention is described in relation to
components which are numbered the same on the drawings as in this
description. A fastener axle 1 having an attachment bolt 2 extended from
an attachment end of the fastener axle 1 has a fastener-lock section 3
intermediate an outside bearing section 4 and an inside bearing surface 5.
A fastener housing 6 has a fastener bay 7 with a cylindrical inside
periphery in which the fastener axle 1 is insertable with the outside
bearing section 4 and the inside bearing section 5 in rotational contact
with the cylindrical inside periphery of the fastener bay 7.
A lock latch 8 is pivotal on a latch axle 9 that is attached to the
fastener housing 6 in parallel relationship to axes of the fastener bay 7
and the fastener axle 1. A fastener lock 10 on the lock latch 8 can be
positioned in rotationally locking relationship to the fastener-lock
section 3 by pivoting of the lock latch 8 in a direction towards the
fastener axle 1.
The lock latch 8 is spring-pressured in a pivotal direction towards the
fastener axle 1 by either a handle spring 11 or a latch spring 12 or by
both the handle spring 11 and the latch spring 12 as preferred for
different design factors. Spring pressure of either or both springs 11 and
12 maintains the lock latch 8 in rotationally locked relationship to the
fastener-lock section 3 unless the lock latch 8 is pivoted to an unlocked
relationship to the fastener-lock section 3 by hand-squeezing a latch
handle 13 that is extended from the lock latch 8 towards a housing handle
14 that is extended from the fastener housing 6.
The handle spring 11 is preferably a coil spring that is positioned in a
handle-spring orifice 15 intermediate a handle channel 16 and an outside
periphery of the fastener housing 6. The handle spring 11 is buttressed by
a handle-spring set screw 17. The latch spring 12 also is preferably a
coil spring that is positioned separately in a latch-spring orifice 18
intermediate a latch 15 channel 19 and an outside periphery of the
fastener housing 6. In like manner, the latch spring 12 is buttressed by a
latch-spring set screw 20.
The handle spring 11 is perpendicular to the latch handle 13. At a right
angle, the latch spring 12 is perpendicular to the lock latch 8.
A lock-engagement bolt 21 is threadable selectively in a lock-bolt orifice
22 in parallel relationship to either spring 11 or 12. The lock-engagement
bolt 21 maintains the lock latch 8 with the fastener lock 10 in locked
relationship to the fastener-lock section 3 for use of the handles 13 and
14 together as a single handle.
The fastener-lock section 3 in this embodiment is provided with a plurality
of axle serrations 23 that are positioned linearly intermediate the
outside bearing section 4 and the inside bearing section 5 of the fastener
axle 1. These axle serrations 23 are placed circumferentially on the
outside periphery of the fastener-lock section.
Matching the axle serrations 23 are a plurality of lock serrations 24 that
are juxtaposed arcuately on the fastener lock 10. The lock serrations 24
are sized and shaped to be interspersed in juxtaposed relationship between
the linear axle serrations 23 when the lock latch 8 is pivoted by pressure
of 15 springs 11 and/or 12 to a locking relationship. In FIG. 2, the lock
serrations 24 are juxtaposed between axle serrations 23 with common
contact lines such that a line of contact between them is not portrayed.
In FIG. 1, the attachment bolt 2 is shown screwed into a camera bolt hole
25 in a camera 26. A tripod attachment bolt 27 on a tripod 28 or other
platform is shown screwed into an attachment-bolt hole 29 in the fastener
housing 6. Without this camera quick release, the camera 26 is mounted
directly to the tripod 28. Dimensions of the attachment bolt 2 and its
threading, therefore, are the same as for the tripod attachment bolt 27.
Cushioning material 30 can be positioned on tops and bottoms of the
fastener housing 6 to protect against marring surfaces of a camera or
other equipment attached with this camera quick release. Use of the
cushioning material 30 is a tradeoff related to structural design and
materials of the fastener housing 6.
Referring to FIG. 3, a preferred embodiment of the fastener axle 1 has an
attachment bolt 2 with a bore 31 comprising an axial lock orifice in which
is inserted a lock bolt 32 having a conical head 33 and a threaded shaft
34 that is extended to a position of threadable engagement with a
lock-bolt nut 35 that can be positioned in contact with a bolt-head end of
an attachment-bolt head 36 of the attachment bolt 2- The attachment bolt 2
has a split end 37 with a separation channel 38 extended through opposite
sides of the split end 37. A terminal end of an insider periphery of the
bore 31 can be tapered to match a conical angle on the conical head 33 of
the lock bolt 32. Opposite sides of the split end 37 of the attachment
bolt 2 can be spread apart against metallic resilience moment of the
attachment bolt 2 by rotation of the lock-bolt nut 35 in a rotational
direction which draws the conical head 33 of the lock bolt 32 against the
split end 37 of the attachment bolt 2 while the lock-bolt nut 35 is
supported by the attachment-bolt head 36.
Spreading of the split end 37 locks attachment-bolt threads 39 of the split
end 37 tightly in threads of the camera bolt hole 25. This locks the
fastener axle 1 onto a camera 26 for reliable circumferential settings and
for intermittent use as desired. In this embodiment also, the attachment
bolt 2 is threaded into the fastener axle I with attachment-bolt threads
39 that extend from proximate the split end 37 to proximate the
attachment-bolt head 36 in a bolt-head recess 40 in an insertional end or
inside end of the fastener axle 1.
Between a base wall 41 of the bolt-head recess 40 and the attachment-bolt
head 36, an attachment lock washer 42 can be employed to assure locking of
attachment-bolt threads 39 in the fastener axle 1. This is in addition to
locking attachment-bolt threads 39 at the split end 37 in a camera bolt
hole 25.
Wrench surfaces on the attachment-bolt head 36 and on the lock-bolt nut 35
can be screw slots 43 as shown. An outside hex for a socket wrench or an
internal hex for a hex rod also can be employed as wrench surfaces.
Referring to FIG. 4, a fastener bolt 2 can have a threaded bolt head 44
that is threaded directly into the fastener axle 1. The threaded bolt head
44 can have an internal hex 45 as wrench surfaces that decrease length of
small-bore machining of the bore 31. A lock washer can be employed to
thread-lock the threaded bolt head 44 in the fastener axle 1. Then the
lock bolt 32 can be drawn tightly between a base wall 41 and the conical
head 33 to spread opposite sides of the split end 37 to thread-lock
attachment-bolt threads 39 in a camera bolt hole 25 shown in FIG. 1.
A lock-bolt lock washer 46 is recommended to maintain split-end expansion
pressure with conversion of linear pressure to lateral pressure by means
of the conical head 33. The lock-bolt lock washer 46 is recommended due to
a lack of resilient expansion pressure in the split end 37. Instead, the
split end 37 has inward resilience without application of linear pressure
by a spring-loaded lock-bolt lock washer 46.
Referring to FIG. 5, an attachment bolt 2 can have a hex head 47 that is
fit into a hex orifice 48 in the fastener axle 1. This also decreases
length of small-bore machining of the bore 31. A large bore section 49 can
be provided from a head side of the hex head 47 to decrease further the
length of bore 31. In addition, the bolt-head recess 40 can be short with
a long but relatively large-diameter bolt bore 50 extended from the hex
orifice 48 to the bolt-head recess 40. This embodiment allows drilling of
the longer bolt bore 50 to be in aluminum which is less expensive to drill
deeply and which provides thread-locking resilience. In addition to
thread-locking resilience of the aluminum, length of the lock bolt 32 from
the hex head 47 to the lock-bolt nut 35 can be great enough in proportion
to diameter of the lock bolt 32 to provide thread-lock resilience in the
lock bolt 32 without a lock washer. However, a plain washer 51 can be
employed to avoid wear of a hard-metal lock-bolt nut 35 on an aluminum
surface of a fastener axle 1. Resilience of an aluminum fastener axle 1
and of the long lock bolt 32 can provide more than ample resilience to
maintain locking resilience of the split end 37 in a camera bolt hole 25.
Referring to FIG. 6, a thread-locking means for fastener bolt 2 need not be
an expansion type such as provided with the split end 37 and the lock bolt
32 with a conical head 33. Instead, as a design alternative, the
thread-lock means can be a linear-expansion washer, provided it does not
have sharp edges like most spring-loaded washers that would mar surfaces
of the camera 26 and the fastener axle 1. A V-washer 52 accomplishes this
objective. Legs of the V shape can point inwardly like a pressure washer
used for spark plugs or outwardly. With this embodiment, the bolt-head
recess 40 can be shallow and a conical bolt shaft 5B in a match-tapered
orifice 54 can be employed to provide rotational locking of the attachment
bolt 2 in the fastener axle 1. The plain washer 51 can be employed to
isolate abrasion of the lock-bolt nut 35 from an aluminum fastener axle 1.
For this embodiment the fastener axle 1 is thread-lock bolted to a camera
26 by merely hand-turning the fastener axle 1 tightly into the camera bolt
hole 25.
Referring to FIG. 7, the thread-locking means for the attachment bolt 2 can
be a lock nut 55 that is rotatable in thread-tightening opposition to the
attachment-bolt threads 39 when the attachment-bolt threads 39 are screwed
inside of a camera bolt hole 25. The lock nut 55 can have a
circumferential outside periphery that is knurled to be hand-turned
easily. An attachment-bolt head 56 can be cylindrical as shown or
hex-shaped as desired and positioned in a matching bolt-head receptacle 57
where the attachment bolt 2 can be held in position by an attachment-bolt
stem 58 having threads 59 with which the attachment-bolt stem 58 is
thread-drawn with a lock-bolt nut 35 in opposition to bolt-head receptacle
57. This embodiment allows length of the attachment-bolt stem 58 to be
sufficient for thread-locking resilience of the threads 59, such that a
plain washer 51 can be employed instead of a lock washer similar to
lock-bolt lock washer 46.
This structure allows separation of the outside bearing section 4 and the
inside bearing section 5 into separable bearing sections 4 and 5 of the
fastener axle 1, Between the separable bearing sections 4 and 5 can be
positioned a hard-metal lock section 60 as a design alternative to
fastener-lock section 3 which is constructed of the same material as the
fastener axle 1, This allows use of aluminum for construction of the
fastener axle 1 while using a hard metal for the fastener-lock section B
that is formed separately as hard-metal lock section 60. Hard-metal
structure of the fastener-lock section 3 in this manner allows wider
design selection of forms of fastener-lock sections 3 in combination with
matching forms of fastener locks 10.
Outside bearing step 61 and inside bearing step 62 can be provided to
position the hard-metal lock section 60 with lock serrations 63 radially
inward from a circumferential outside periphery of the separable bearing
sections 4 and 5. An inside periphery 64 of the hard-metal lock section 60
can be positioned snugly on the bearing steps 61 and 62 with concentricity
of the steps 61 and 62 and the inside periphery 64 to establish and
maintain concentricity of the separable bearing sections 4 and 5 of the
fastener axle 1.
Referring to FIG. 8, the outside bearing step 61 and the inside bearing
step 62 shown in FIG. 7 can be provided with external threading 65 onto
which internal threading 66 of the inside periphery 64 of the hard-metal
lock section 60 can be threaded. Threaded steps 61 and 62 can have
sufficient length and threaded hard-metal lock section 60 can have
sufficient corresponding length to hold the two separable bearing sections
4 and 5 together. An attachment bolt 2 having a split end 37 can be
employed with the lock bolt 32 extended through the attachment bolt 2 to a
lock-bolt nut 35 as described in relation to FIG. 5. Also as described in
relation to FIG. 5, either a hex head 47 in a hex orifice 48 or a
cylindrical head 67 in a cylindrical orifice 68 can be employed with the
sanhe working relationship of parts. This design of the fastener axle 1
allows use of split-end thread-locking means, hard-metal fastener-locking
means and long-bolt resilience in a long-lasting and convenient form.
Referring to FIG. 9, a rubber-like fastener lock 69 can be employed as an
alternative to a serrated fastener lock 10 shown in FIG. 1. This design
tradeoff is particularly useful for single-unit construction of the
fastener axle 1 with aluminum and with small axle serrations 23.
Referring to FIG. 10, at least one location tooth 70 can be employed on a
limited-tooth fastener lock 71 in place of either the rubber-like fastener
lock 69 or the fastener lock 10. The limited-tooth fastener lock 71 is for
use in conjunction primarily with a hard-metal lock section 60 that can be
positioned on steps 61 and 62 with or without threading 65 and 66 as
described in relation to FIGS. 7-8.
Various modifications may be made of the invention without departing from
the scope thereof and it is desired, therefore, that only such limitations
shall be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art and which are set
forth in the appended claims.
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