Camera tripods mounting

Claim 1

In a camera tripod having a pan-head adapted to pivot a camera relative to said tripod about an axis of rotation; an axle mounted coaxial with said axis of rotation on said tripod pan-head; camera mounting means pivotally mounted on said axle for rotation about said axis; means for controlling said pivotal motion by frictional resistance, said means comprising: a rotor mounted on said axle substantially coaxial therewith and extending radially therefrom, said rotor being fixed to said pivotal mounting means to rotate therewith about said axis; at least one stator ring mounted on said axle substantially coaxial therewith and extending radially therefrom substantially coextensive with said rotor, said stator being restricted against rotational movement about said axis relative to said tripod; said rotor and stator having on the adjacent sides thereof respectively at least one circular raised ridge on one and a corresponding circular groove adapted to receive said ridge thereinto on the other; said ridge having tapered truncated sides and said grooves having tapered sides substantially parallel to said ridge sides, whereby said tapered sides and said ridges and said grooves are the surfaces of contact between said rotor and stator; means adapted to exert compressive pressure between said rotor and said stator to effect frictional resistance to relative rotational movement between them comprising: stop means mounted on said axle to one side of said rotor and stator limiting movement of said rotor and stator in that direction, bar means mounted on said axle on the other side of said rotor and stator and adapted to compress said rotor and stator together by screw means threadably mounted on said axle and adapted to urge said bar means towards said rotor and stator in the direction of said stop means to exert compressive pressure between said rotor and stator and effect frictional resistance to relative rotational movement between them.