Rotatable camera support
A rotatable support apparatus for a camera is provided. The rotatable support apparatus comprises a support arm having a first end section and a second end section displaced from the first end section; an actuator positioned at the first end section of the support arm and capable of providing an actuating force or signal between the first end section and the second end section; and a support assembly positioned at the second end of the support arm and comprising a mount capable of supporting a camera and a rotational member adapted to translate the actuating force or signal from the actuator into rotational motion of the mount.
1. A rotatable camera support comprising:
a support arm member;
an actuator located at a first end section of the support arm member providing a linear actuating force from the first end section toward a second end section of the support arm member;
a support assembly positioned at the second end section of the support arm and comprising:
a mount capable of supporting the camera; and
a rotational member coupled to the mount and adapted to translate the linear actuating force into rotational motion of the mount;
wherein the mount is disengageably coupled to the rotational member to allow rotation of the mount in a single direction; and
the mount is disengageably coupled to the rotational member via a ratchet mechanism; and
the ratchet mechanism disengages the mount from the rotational member when the actuator resets between actuations to allow a linear force generated during the actuator reset to rotate the rotational member without rotating the mount.
2. The rotatable camera support according to claim 1 , wherein the mount is disengageably coupled to the rotational member via a friction clutch mechanism.
3. The rotatable camera support according to claim 1 , wherein the support assembly further comprises a rotational assist device capable of providing a supplemental rotational force to the mount.
4. The rotatable camera support according to claim 1 , wherein the mount rotates about 180° per actuation of the actuator.
5. The rotatable camera support according to claim 1 , wherein the mount rotates between a first stop position substantially facing the first end of the support arm, and a second stop position about 180° from the first stop position.
6. The rotatable camera support according to claim 1 , wherein the second end section of the support arm member is displaced from the first end section along a longitudinal axis, and the rotational motion of the mount is within a plane which the longitudinal axis of the support arm member lies in.
7. The rotatable camera support according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator and rotational member comprise a rack and pinion mechanism for translating the actuating force from the actuator into the rotational motion of the mount.
8. The rotatable camera support according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a spring-loaded trigger.
9. The rotatable camera support according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a rod, pulley, cable, chain, rope, string, or belt for providing the actuating force to the rotational member.
10. The rotatable camera support according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a rod for providing the actuating force to the rotational member.
11. The rotatable camera support according to claim 1 , wherein the mount comprises a mounting screw for mounting a camera.
12. The rotatable camera support according to claim 1 , wherein the support arm further comprises a hand grip at the first end section of the support arm.
13. The rotatable camera support according to claim 3 , wherein the rotational assist device comprises a cam profile located on the mount and a follower mechanism in contact with the cam profile, the follower mechanism urging rotation of the cam profile from a high point of the cam profile to a low point of the cam profile.
14. The rotatable camera support according to claim 13 , wherein the cam profile provides two or more preset positions through which the mount can be rotated, with each of the preset positions associated with a high point and corresponding low point of the cam profile.
15. The rotatable camera support according to claim 14 , wherein the two or more preset positions of the cam profile are equally distributed about a 360° rotation of the mount.
16. The rotatable camera support according to claim 14 , wherein the two or more preset positions of the cam profile are unequally distributed about a 360° rotation of the mount.
17. A rotatable camera support kit, comprising:
an actuator for installation at a first end section of a support arm member providing a linear actuating force from the first end section toward a second end section of the support arm member; and
a support assembly for installation at the second end section of the support arm and comprising:
a mount capable of supporting the camera; and
a rotational member coupled to the mount and adapted to translate the linear actuating force into rotational motion of the mount; and
wherein the mount is disengageably coupled to the rotational member to allow rotation of the mount in a single direction; and
the mount is disengageably coupled to the rotational member via a ratchet mechanism; and
the ratchet mechanism disengages the mount from the rotational member when the actuator resets between actuations to allow a linear force generated during the actuator reset to rotate the rotational member without rotating the mount.
18. The rotatable camera support kit according to claim 17 , further comprising the support arm member.
19. The rotatable camera support kit according to claim 17 , wherein the actuating force is a linear force provided along a longitudinal axis of the support arm.