GB2232942A

GB2232942A - Car rig

Info

Publication number: GB2232942A
Application number: GB8910617A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dennis J Fraser
Original assignee: Samuelson Group PLC
Current assignee: Samuelson Group PLC
Priority date: 1989-05-09
Filing date: 1989-05-09
Publication date: 1991-01-02
Anticipated expiration: 2009-05-09
Also published as: GB8910617D0; GB2232942B

Abstract

A car rig for mounting a camera to a vehicle comprises a vertical arm (2) which is secured to a vehicle at its upper and lower end by mounting frames (4,6). The vertical arm (2) supports a horizontal support arm (26) carrying a camera mounting (28). The half-cylindrical shape of the vertical arm (2), and a correspondingly shaped mounting on the support arm (26) enables the support arm to be rotated about a vertical axis, and also slid up and down the vertical arm. Thus, a camera mounted to the camera mounting (28) can be quickly and easily secured in a desired position. The rig can be secured either to the side of the vehicle, or to the front, on a bonnet beam. <IMAGE>

Description

CAR RIG The present invention relates to a car rig. In the film industry, there is a need for film makers conveniently to be able to secure cameras to cars or other vehicles, for example to film the occupants of the vehicle or alternatively to film an exterior scene from a moving vehicle.

For the purpose of the present specification and claims a 'car rig will be defined as a rig for the securement of a cinematograph, video or still camera to a car or any other type of vehicle.

The type of car rig which is currently known comprises a main rig body having means for securing the rig to a car or other vehicle, and an elongate support arm having camera mounting means thereon, the support arm being securable to the main rig body in one of a plurality of discrete vertical positions simply by bolting the support arm to the main rig body at the desired height. For this purpose, a plurality of vertically spaced mounting apertures are provided on the main rig body, and the support arm can be bolted onto the main rig body through whichever aperture is at the appropriate height for the scene that is to be filmed.

This known car rig is, however, somewhat inflexible. If the film maker wishes to reposition his camera further towards the front of the vehicle, for example, then the entire rig has to be demounted from the vehicle, and repositioned accordingly. Since it is essential for the camera to be positioned absolutely rigidly with respect to the vehicle body, the attach ment of the car rig to the vehicle also has to be absolutely rigid, and this is generally achieved by providing a number of restraining straps which are affixed to suitably strong points on the vehicle's body. Releasing, adjusting and retightening these straps can take a considerable time.

It is a first object of the present invention at least to alleviate this problem of the prior art.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a car rig in which the camera position can be easily and conveniently adjusted without having to demount the rig from the vehicle.

According to the present invention there is provided a car rig comprising a main rig body having means for securing the rig to a car or other vehicle, an elongate support arm having camera mounting means thereon, and adjustable support arm mounting means arranged to permit the support arm to be swivelled about an axis and selectively to secure the support arm to the main rig body in one of a plurality of angled positions.

The adjustable support arm mounting means may also be arranged to be slidable with respect to the main rig body, and selectively to be capable of securing the support arm to the main rig body at one of a plurality of different heights.

The camera mounting means, conveniently a camera support plate, may be slidable with respect to the elongate support arm and lockable in one of a plurality of positions along the arm. Also, the camera mounting means may be slidable in a direction generally perpendicular to that of the elongate support arm, and lockable in one of a plurality of positions in that direction. This provides a camera which is mounted on the camera mounting means with a large number of degrees of freedom, which can be further increased if the camera has a pan and tilt or a universal head.

The adjustable support arm mounting means may be defined by a mounting portion at the end of the elongate support arm (with the support arm conveniently being cantilevered from this mounting portion) which has a concave or convex surface arranged to abut and slide over a convex or concave surface of the main rig body, so as to provide the necessary swivelling action.

One particularly convenient arrangement is for the main rig body to comprise a cylindrical or part-cylindrical arm, with the mounting portion comprising a cylindrical or part-cylindrical sleeve which surrounds or fits inside this arm.

Bolt means, passing through the sleeve and through the vertical arm, may be provided to lock the sleeve relative to the arm. Relative movement between the two parts may be allowed for by providing an aperture or a slot, desirably in the sleeve, along which the bolt travels as the sleeve is being rotated. Alternatively, the bolt could be fixed relative to the sleeve, and a slot or aperture provided in the vertical arm, along which the bolt travels as the sleeve rotates relative to the arm.

The bolt may pass through a further aperture or slot in the vertical arm, extending along its length, so allowing the sleeve to be slid vertically along the arm, the bolt travelling within the slot as this occurs.

To allow for possible rotational motion and also vertical sliding motion, one would have perpendicular slots in the sleeve and in the vertical arm, with the bolt passing through both the sleeve and the vertical arm at the intersection of these slots.

In the particular embodiment described, the mounting portion comprises a part-cylindrical sleeve which surrounds a part-cylindrical vertical arm having a vertical slot therein. Upper and lower locking bolts pass first through upper -and lower horizontal slots respectively in the sleeve, then through the vertical slot in the vertical arm, where they are secured to a part-cylindrical securing plate. The mounting portion and thus the elongate support arm can be fixed in angular and vertical positions by tightening the locking bolts, so effectively trapping the vertical arm between the sleeve and the securing plate.

To provide further flexibility to the car rig, the adjustable support arm mounting means may be reversable so that the elongate support arm and the camera mounting means may be used upside down, so that for example a camera can be attached below rather than above the support arm.

Where the main rig body comprises an elongate vertical support arm, one or more extension sections may be provided so that the length of this arm can be extended vertically upwards or downwards as desired.

The support arm mounting means may then be secured to one of these extensions, rather than to the main vertical arm, allowing the camera operator more flexibility in positioning his camera. The additional sections may conveniently be identical to the vertical arm (except, perhaps, shorter) and may be securable to the vertical arm by bolt means. Where the vertical arm is of part-cylindrical form with a vertical slot therein, a convenient way of securing the additional section is to abut the vertical arm and the additional section together at one end, to place a securing plate across the join at the back, and to pass bolts through the respective ends of the two slots to attach both vertical arm and additional section to the securing plate. The securing plate may conveniently be identical to the securing -plate originally mentioned, so reducing the number of different parts required.

For securing the vertical arm to a car door, or to a door of another vehicle, a conventional car rig mounting arrangement may be used, with the vertical arm being secured to appropriate upper and lower support frames. Alternatively, means may be provided for securing the vertical arm to a bonnet beam, so enabling the camera operator to position a camera in front of the car, either at windscreen level or higher, or alternatively very close to the ground. Again, additional sections may be used if required.

The invention may be carried into practice in a number of ways and one specific car rig will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a car rig embodying the present invention; Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the car rig of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an end elevation of the support arm and camera mounting plate; and Figure 4 is a side elevation of the support arm and camera mounting plate.

A car rig embodying the present invention is shown in overall perspective view in Figure 1. It comprises a half-cylindrical vertical arm 2 (effectively the main rig body) which is held in position at its upper and lower ends by respective upper and lower support frames 4,6. As can be seen more clearly in Figure 2, which is a rear view of the car rig, the attachments at the upper and lower ends comprise respective bolted spindle arrangements 8,10; the spindles extend through the vertical arm and through the respective support frame and are secured at the rear with a hexagonal nut and at the front with a larger knurled nut 16,18 for manual removal. Again as can best be seen in Figure 2, the lateral rear edges of the half-cylindrical vertical arm 2 are received within correspondingly positioned cutouts 12,14 in the upper and lower support frames 4,6.

The upper support frame 4 is secured to a car door 20, through the open window, by means of two pairs of downwardly extending clamping members, one pair 22 abutting the car door 20 on the outside and another pair (not shown) abutting the car door on the inside.

Means (not shown) are provided for adjusting the spacing between the two pairs of clamping members, so that they can first be positioned over the car door 20 and then closed up and secured to clamp the door tightly.

The lower support frame 6 is secured to the lower part of the car door 20 by a pair of suction cups 24.

Finally, in order to improve the rigidity of the entire structure with respect to the car body, securing straps (not shown) may be provided extending between the upper and lower support frames 4,6 and suitably strong points on the car body.

Supported in cantilever fashion from the vertical arm is a horizontal support arm 26 which carries a camera mounting generally indicated at 28.

The support arm 6 has a half-cylindrical end mounting portion 30 which fits over the exterior surface of the half-cylindrical vertical arm 2. Upper and lower bolts 32,34 pass through the mounting portion and vertical arm 2 and secure at the rear, as may be seen in Figure 2, to a rear part-cylindrical securing plate 36 which sits within the curve of the vertical arm 2.

The vertical arm 2 has a vertical slot 38 passing down it, through which these bolts 32,34 pass. By loosening the bolts slightly between the mounting portion 30 and the securing plate 36 the support arm 6 may be slid up and down the slot. It may then be clamped at the desired height simply by retightening the bolts and effectively trapping the vertical arm 2 between the mounting portion 30 and the securing plate 6. Even while the bolts 32,34 are loose, however, the support arm 26 will temporarily hold at the height to which it has been moved by virtue of a wedging action between the mounting portion 30 and the securing plate 36; this conveniently allows the film maker to try out the effects of various heights without having continually to loosen and retighten the bolts.

The bolts 32,34 also extend through respective upper and lower horizontal slots 40,42 in the mounting portion 30. Thus, when the bolts are loosened, the mounting portion and thus the support arm 26 may be swivelled about the vertical arm 2. As will be evident from Figures 1 and 2, locking the bolts will in addition lock the armed support arm 26 at any desired angle with respect to the vertical arm 2.

The camera mounting 28 will now be described in more detail, with reference particularly to Figures 3 and 4, in which the clearances between the various parts have been exaggerated for clarity.

Surrounding the support arm 26, and mounted for sliding movement along it, is a camera mounting block 44. The block, which is open at both ends, comprises two opposing side walls 46,48, an upper mounting portion 50, and a horizontal bottom wall 52 to which is secured a centrally-placed interior boss 54. Between them these parts define an aperture 56 of generally inverted U-shape, within which is received the support arm 26, which similarly is of an inverted U-shape in section.

Smooth sliding movement of the camera mounting block 44 along the support arm 26 is assisted by a pair of brass guides 58,60 which are positioned immediately below the upper mounting portion 50, on either side, to take the weight of the camera mounting block 44 as it bears down on the upper edges of the support arm 26.

Locking of the camera mounting block 44 at a particular position along the arm 26 is effected by means of a knurled locking nut 62, the turning of which forces a locking member 64 upwardly from the boss 54, so trapping the arm 26 between the locking member and the brass guides 58,60.

Extending laterally on either side of the boss 54 there are guide spigots 64,66 with rollers that extend into slots 68 on either side of the support arm 26.

This helps to guide the arm, and also provides stops for the movement of the camera mounting block 44.

Mounted on the top of the upper mounting portion 50, for movement in a direction perpendicular to that of the arm 26, there is a camera mounting plate 70.

The plate rests on a guide or support plate 72, and has a V-shaped cut-out portion running along opposing edges, for cooperation respectively with a fixed end member 74 and a movable shin 76. The shin can be tightened against the camera support plate 70 by means of a movable locking member 78 which can be tightened by a locking nut 80. Thus, when the locking nut 80 is loose, the camera support plate can be slid in the direction of the arrows of Figure 3, and can then be locked in the desired position by tightening the nut 80.

The camera mounting plate 70 is designed so that a cinematograph, video or still camera (not shown) may be mounted to it. Appropriate conventional mounting means (not shown) may be provided for this purpose, or alternatively the camera or an intermediate mounting for the camera may be screwed onto the mounting plate by means of suitably positioned holes in the plate. For additional flexibility of camera movement, the camera may conveniently first be mounted to a suitable pan and tilt head, or to a universal head, before being secured to the mounting plate; this will allow the camera both to be swivelled about its own vertical axis, and also to be pointed up or down.

If desired, the support arm 26 can be secured to the vertical arm upside down, with the slot 42 above the slot 40, so that the camera will then hang down below the camera mounting plate 70.

By providing additional half-cylindrical sections corresponding to the vertical arm 2, the vertical arm can in effect be extended to any desired length. To secure an additional section at one end of the arm 2 the additional section is merely positioned to abut one end of the arm, and is attached thereto by means of a securing plate, similar or identical to the securing plate 36, the nut at one end of the plate passing through one end of the slot 38 in the arm 2 and the other nut passing through the corresponding slot in the additional section. By cantilevering the support arm 26 from the additional section rather than from the main vertical arm 2, the camera can be positioned as high or as low as may be desired.

In an alternative arrangement (not shown) the vertical arm 2 may be secured elsewhere to a car or to another vehicle. In particular, the arm could be supported vertically in front of the front bumper of a vehicle by supporting it at the end of a cantilevered arm extending forwardly from a conventional bonnet beam (a secured horizontal beam which passes from one side of the car to the other, over the bonnet). A further degree of freedom could be provided by means of a swivel at the end of this cantilevered arm, enabling the vertical arm 2 to be rotated, at least to some extent, about a vertical axis.

In any of the embodiments already described, it would be possible for the arm 2 to be secured in a nonvertical position.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A car rig comprising a main rig body having means for securing the rig to a car or other vehicle, an elongate support arm having camera mounting means thereon, and adjustable support arm mounting means arranged to permit the support arm to be swivelled about an axis and selectively to secure the support arm to the main rig body in one of a plurality of angled positions.

2. A car rig as claimed in claim 1 in which the support arm mounting means is slidable with respect to the main rig body, and selectively capable of securing the support arm to the main rig body at one of a plurality of different heights.

3. A car rig as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the camera mounting means is longitudinally slidable with respect to the elongate support arm.

4. A car rig as claimed in claim 3 in which the camera mounting means is also slidable in a direction generally perpendicular to that of the support arm.

5. A car rig as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the support arm mounting means are mounted to a main arm of the main rig body.

6. A car rig as claimed in claim 5 in which the main arm includes one or more add-on extension sections enabling the length of the main arm to be selectively increased, the mounting means being secured to such an extension section.

7. A car rig as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 in which the main arm is arranged for securement to a vehicle by means of upper and lower support frames.

8. A car rig as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 in which the main arm is arranged for securement to a vehicle by means of a horizontal bonnet beam.

9. A car rig as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the support arm mounting means comprises a mounting portion including a concave or convex surface arranged to abut and slide over a convex or concave surface of the main arm.

10. A car rig as claimed in claim 9 in which the main arm is cylindrical or part-cylindrical, with the mounting portion of the support arm mounting means comprising a cylindrical or part cylindrical sleeve which surrounds or fits inside the main arm.

11. A car rig as claimed in claim 10 having bolt means which pass through the sleeve and through the main arm, to lock the sleeve relative to the arm.

12. A car rig as claimed in claim 11 in which the bolt means passes through an aperture or slot in the sleeve or in the main arm, relative swivelling movement between the sleeve and main arm being provided for by allowing the bolt means to travel along the slot or aperture as the support arm is swivelled about the axis.

13. A car rig as claimed in claim 12 in which the bolt means passes both through the aperture or slot in the sleeve and through a longitudinal slot in the main arm, the bolt travelling along the slot in the main arm as the sleeve is slid along the main arm.

14. A car rig as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 13 having upper and lower locking bolts which pass through respective upper and lower slots in the sleeve, and through the longitudinal slot in the main arm, where they are secured to a part cylindrical securing plate.

15. A car rig as claimed in claim 14 when dependent upon claim 6 in which the securing plate is of a size and shape as also to be usable for securing the add-on extension sections of the main arm of the main rig body.

16. A car rig as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the support arm may be secured to the main rig body upsidedown, the camera mounting thus allowing a camera to be secured selectively above or below the support arm.

17. A car rig substantially as specifically described, with reference to the drawings.