The present invention generally relates to a quick detach connector.
A conventional camera carrying system, such as affixing a shoulder strap to opposing ends of the camera, can make it problematic to compactly store the camera in a case when not in use. Also, the shoulder strap tends to hang up on portions of a tripod when affixing the camera to a tripod. Further, the shoulder strap tends to inhibit the ability to quickly obtain images when there is limited time in which to obtain an image.
What is desired, therefore, is a simplified system for a panoramic device.
Referring to
The mounting plate 200 may include a raised flange 206 that extends above the upper surface 202. The raised flange 206 preferably includes a substantially planar interior surface 208. The raised flange 206 is preferably positioned so that it extends up the side of the imaging device with the interior surface 208 thereof in face-to-face abutment with the side surface of the imaging device. The interior surface 208 provides an anti-twist rotation structure for the mounting plate 200. Accordingly, in a preferred engagement, the upper surface 202 is in face-to-face engagement with the lower surface of the imaging device, while simultaneously, the interior surface 208 of the raised flange 206 is in face-to-face engagement with the side surface of the imaging device. Typically, the interior surface 208 is in abutment with the front surface of the imaging device (typically below the lens) or the rear surface of the imaging device (typically below a viewfinder). In some embodiments, the raised flange 206 may be omitted, in which preferably, the upper surface 202 includes a flexible pad supported thereon to inhibit rotation of the mounting plate 200. The mounting plate 200 may be detachably secured to the imaging device using a threaded portion 302 of the screw 300, described in more detail below.
The mounting plate 200 may define a set of dovetail grooves 210A, 210B, 210C, 210D each of which may include a lower inclined surface 212A, 212B, 212C, 212C, such as generally 45 degrees, and may include an upper inclined surface 214A, 214B, 214C, 214D, such as generally 45 degrees. With pairs of opposing dovetail grooves 210A, 210C and 210B, 210D the mounting plate 200 is suitable to be engaged with a Really Right Stuff or Arca Swiss compatible quick release system using either of the pairs of dovetail grooves 210A, 210C and 210B, 210D. One exemplary quick release system is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,773,172 which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Also referring to
The threaded portion 302 of the screw 300 may be engaged with a threaded opening defined by the imaging device to detachably engage the mounting plate 200 to the imaging device. Also, the threaded portion 302 of the screw may be engaged with another plate, that is in turn, attached to the imaging device. Referring also to
Referring also to
The screw 300 may include another set of threads 314 on the upper flange 308. The interior of a portion of the slot 218, such as an end portion 240, may include a corresponding set of threads. The threads 314 of the screw are preferably sized to be rotatably engageable with the threads of the end portion 240, thereby permitting the screw 300 to rotatably pass through so that it is retained by the mounting plate 200. Also, the threads 314 of the screw permit the screw 300 to rotatably pass through so that it is selectably removable from the mounting plate 200. During normal operation of the quick detach connector 100, the screw 300 is effectively captured by the mounting plate 200. Also, the screw 300 may be retained by using other structures by the mounting plate 200.
The screw 300 may held captive under normal operating conditions by including the upper flange 308, a recessed portion 310 and a lower flange 312. The recessed portion 310 is maintained within the mounting plate 200 by a protruding interior flange 230. In this manner, the lower flange 312 prevents the screw 300 from being removed from the mounting plate 200 in an upwardly direction, and the upper flange 308 prevents the screw from being removed from the mounting plate 200 in a downwardly direction. Other structures may likewise be used, as desired, to maintain the screw from being readily disengaged from the mounting plate.
The screw 300 may define an internal hex structure 320 that may be accessed through a lower opening 322 of the screw 300. A hex wrench may be inserted through the lower opening 322 of the screw 300 and engaged with the internal hex structure 320. By rotating the hex wrench engaged with the internal hex structure 320, the screw 300 may be tightened and loosened from being engaged with the threaded opening of the imaging device. Other internal and/or external structures may be defined by the screw 300 to facilitate the engagement and disengagement of the screw, and the mounting plate, with the imaging device.
Referring also to
The screw 300 may define at a lower portion thereof an internal groove 330, that is preferably an arc. The internal groove 330 extends between a lower internal surface 334 and an upper internal surface 332. The upper internal surface 332 and the lower internal surface 334 preferably are both substantially tubular, both having the same diameter, and both being aligned with one another. The combination of the upper internal surface 332, the lower internal surface 334, and the internal groove 330 collectively form a receiver 350 that is preferably symmetrical about a central axis.
Referring to
The detailed description, above, sets forth numerous specific details to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and circuitry have not been described in detail to avoid obscuring the present invention.
All the references cited herein are incorporated by reference.
The terms and expressions that have been employed in the foregoing specification are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the claims that follow.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/223,429, filed Apr. 6, 2021, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/538,324, filed Aug. 12, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,976,000, issued Apr. 13, 2021, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/897,734, filed Feb. 15, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,422,467, issued Sep. 24, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/582,640, filed Apr. 29, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,274,125, issued Apr. 30, 2019, which application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional App. No. 62/330,006, filed Apr. 29, 2016.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20220107048 A1 | Apr 2022 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62330006 | Apr 2016 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 17223429 | Apr 2021 | US |
Child | 17553396 | US | |
Parent | 16538324 | Aug 2019 | US |
Child | 17223429 | US | |
Parent | 15897734 | Feb 2018 | US |
Child | 16538324 | US | |
Parent | 15582640 | Apr 2017 | US |
Child | 15897734 | US |