Article mounting

Abstract

An arrangement for eccentrically mounting a camera on a support incorporating two portions adapted for relative rotation about an axis defined by the orientation of the support to maintain a given camera orientation. An electric motor rotates a pinion gear relative to a rack to correct for displacement of a portion of the support. The support can be combined with an adjustable level article supports including telescoping sections and other post sections that can be independently positioned.

1 - 13 . (canceled)  
   
   
       14 . An adjustable level article support for an article having a center of gravity, the article support supporting the article from below the center of gravity and being coupled to the article in such a manner as to permit relative rotation between the support and the article about a predetermined axis.  
   
   
       15 . The adjustable level article support of  claim 14  wherein said predetermined axis is definable by positioning the support relative to a selected horizontal direction.  
   
   
       16 . The adjustable level article support of  claim 15  comprising first and second portions adapted for relative rotation about the predetermined axis, the article being eccentrically mounted within one of the first and second portions such that rotation of the other of the first and second portions can occur while the article remains in an initial position.  
   
   
       17 . The adjustable level article support of  claim 16  wherein the article is mounted within one of the first and second portions such that the article can be rotated about a selected axis with respect to the support while remaining aligned with said selected axis.  
   
   
       18 . The adjustable level article support of  claim 17  wherein the first and second portions includes annular guide tracks rotatably engaged together.  
   
   
       19 . The adjustable level article support of  claim 18  further comprising motor means for producing relative rotation between the guide tracks on said first and second portions.  
   
   
       20 . The adjustable level article support of  claim 19  wherein the motor means is coupled to a pinion gear engaging a rack on one of the first and second portions.  
   
   
       21 . The adjustable level article support of  claim 20  wherein the article comprises a camera and the rotational axis of the guide tracks is aligned with the camera optical axis.  
   
   
       22 . The adjustable level article support of  claim 21  wherein the support unit further comprises telescopically engageable sections including a main post section and at least two further post sections that are adapted to be independently positionally set with respect to opposite ends of the main post section.  
   
   
       23 . The adjustable level article support of  claim 22  wherein the two further post sections are telescopically extendable from opposite ends of the main post section, and a position adjustment element coupled directly to the main post section.  
   
   
       24 . The adjustable level article support of  claim 23  wherein the position adjustment element comprises a gimbals unit including a sleeve movable lengthways of the main post section and lockable to the sleeve at any selected position along the main post section.  
   
   
       25 . The adjustable level article support of  claim 24  wherein the gimbals unit includes a pivotally mounted support handle.  
   
   
       26 . An adjustable level article support unit including a first elongate post section, a second elongate post section adapted at one end thereof to mount an article to be supported, and adapted at another end telescopically to engage into one end of a first post section, a third elongate post section adapted at one end thereof telescopically to engage in said another end of the first post section, and a fourth elongate post section adapted at one end to engage the third elongate post section and adapted at a second end to support a load, and a gimbals unit located intermediate of the ends of the first post section for enabling the support unit itself to be manually directed while permitting pivotal movement between the support means and the unit post sections.