The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 10, 1999
Filed:
Jan. 23, 1997
Frederick Bosnakovic, Uniontown, OH (US);
Other;
Abstract
A tripod having support legs which automatically open and close when the tripod is placed on a support surface and removed from the support surface, respectively, and having a self-contained battery. The tripod includes a telescopic center post, a plurality of downwardly extending support legs, a plurality of coupling links pivotally attached at one end to a bottom end of the center post and pivotally attached at the other end to the support legs, and a battery positioned within a hollow center of the center post. The pivotal attachment of the coupling links to the support legs is offset towards an outer edge of the support legs to bias the support legs outwardly and facilitate the automatic opening of the support legs. The outward biasing of the coupling links and support legs allows the support legs to close to a vertical position parallel and adjacent to the center post while allowing the legs to automatically open when the tripod is placed on the support surface. The battery is contained within the center post and includes an electrical cord extending within the center post from the battery to the top of the tripod. The weight of the battery and the telescopic configuration of the center post cause the support legs to automatically close when the tripod is lifted from the support surface. A base is mounted to the bottom end of the center post and unscrews to allow access to the battery.