Deployment apparatus for cameras and other hand-held devices and deployment method

Abstract

A hand-held device has a body and a deployable component mounted to the body. The deployable component is movable, with a deployment method, between undeployed and deployed positions. A drive unit is disposed within the body and engages the deployable component. The drive unit is reversibly pivotable about a drive axis from a first end orientation, through first and second ranges of intermediate orientations, to a second end orientation. An actuator that is mounted to the body is manually switchable, in forward and rearward strokes, between primary and secondary positions. The actuator at the forward stroke pivots the drive unit from the first end orientation to a second range intermediate orientation and at the rearward stroke pivots the drive unit from the second end orientation to a first range intermediate orientation. A drive over-center mechanism biases the drive unit to pivot from the second range intermediate orientations toward the second end orientation and from the first range intermediate orientations toward the first end orientation.