Thoughts on my tripod design ideas?

[sk66]

I have thought of a new tripod design.

It incorporates locking ball and socket leg attachment along with a "swing pivot." The idea is the swing pivot will allow more "normal" leg positioning (but without fixed stops) and the ball/socket will allow for much more versatile placement of the foot.

It also incorporates inverted leg tubes. The idea here is that because the smallest tubes are fixed at both ends it should flex less. And the tube you want to extend the least/last is the smallest one. That's easier to do if they are at the top.

I see a couple of issues:
Potential water collection in the inverted tubes; should be solvable with an x-ring.
The thing would be harder to setup than a conventional tripod as the leg adjustments are "two handed;" almost three handed. A lot like a Benbo in that regards... but even more versatile.

Hmm, I'm torn on the idea... thoughts?

View attachment 32664

 

[the black fox]

The idea had potential ,if you look at the pull out flagpoles used by caravan owners ,the thickest section is always at the bottom so it makes sense. It looks like you have done a fair bit of r & d already I would like to see a bit more of your thoughts so far ,a larger diameter top plate might make fitting parts easier to

 

[sk66]

Thanks. The ball and socket parts add a fair bit of weight. And I think that having the points closer together in more direct opposition should stiffen things up some.... I can't think of any advantage to a larger top plate as long as it can accommodate the head/column and the controls have enough hand room.

When I thought of the inverted tubes I was thinking about the inverted forks used on modern sports bikes.

 

[pingu666]

leveling bowl?

 

[Blank_Canvas]

I admire your innovation. There are many tripod manufactures out there so market entry is difficult. The inverted leg tubes have already been done by Benbo (you mention them) I don't know if they have a world wide patent applied ? Great illustration by the way.

 

[HoppyUK]

Looks a bit like a solution looking for a problem. I don't have any difficulty positioning normal tripod legs (a tripod is inherently stable, will sit solidly on any surface, unlike a quad-pod for example) and that arrangement looks really cumbersome to set up. May be better to use a conventional hinged pivot and locks on top, above the ball. Would reduce undoubtedly high manufacturing costs.

Increased rigidity is a bit of a red herring (if you follow the English meaning) as tripod legs are already quite stiff enough, with most of the flex in cheap joints. And the way they're used and loaded doesn't stress them laterally. Upside-down motorcycle forks have to bear huge lateral forces and the other advantage of upside-down forks is reduced unsprung weight.

What I'd like to see is some serious design thinking applied to the Benbo concept (that is fundamentally excellent - fast, versatile, solid) using the latest materials and manufacturing techniques

 

[LCPete]

I shoot macro so probably have different needs to the people already posted
I often need to shoot low to the ground so use a manfrotto tripod with a centre column that can be locked horizontally
the problem that the manfrotto has is that when used like this with the centre column horizontal and the legs splayed out to get the camera low to the ground height adjustment is very awkward as the legs can only be locked in set positions
your design solves this so would be a brilliant macro tripod
With your design it would be easy to make height adjustments when working low to the ground
for macro it would need to have the centre column movable to a horizontal position though so would possibly be expensive to make

 

[LCPete]

Forgot to say I agree with Hoppy about the upside down tripod legs, stability isn't a problem with the current design my manfrotto is very stable unless I extend the centre column too high

 

[chris malcolm]

I agree that legs are stronger inverted for the reasons you suggest. It's usually the case that when I want seriously repositionable legs I also want a seriously repositionable centre column. That's when I use my Benbo. In other words I think you need at least to equal the Benbo's versatility. That would also require an extra degree of freedom in the leg hinges, so that you weren't fixed to a 120 degree equiangular leg splay.

 

[sk66]

I admire your innovation. There are many tripod manufactures out there so market entry is difficult. The inverted leg tubes have already been done by Benbo (you mention them) I don't know if they have a world wide patent applied ? Great illustration by the way.

Thanks.
There's no patent on the inverted legs... someone else did it, but I don't know who.

 

[sk66]

Looks a bit like a solution looking for a problem.

Yeah, I was kind of thinking the same thing...
It has it's purpose, but rather limited and the increased complexity might not make it worthwhile. That's part of why I included swing pivots; to increase the positioning range, but also to make leg placement a bit more "normal."

Besides "stiffness" a tripod dampens vibrations... I thought that maybe having the smaller tubes on top might help with that as well.

I have never gotten used to my Benbo... The single locking lever is both "better" and "worse." I don't know why they haven't made a CF version.

 

[sk66]

I agree that legs are stronger inverted for the reasons you suggest. It's usually the case that when I want seriously repositionable legs I also want a seriously repositionable centre column. That's when I use my Benbo. In other words I think you need at least to equal the Benbo's versatility. That would also require an extra degree of freedom in the leg hinges, so that you weren't fixed to a 120 degree equiangular leg splay.

It would be easy to make the top plate interchangeable between flat and column. This design would actually allow the top plate to be positioned at almost any angle (i.e. 90*) without a column.

The other "advantage" of the inverted legs is that the lowest/longest tube could also be waterproof... Of course, a waterproof lower tube means that anything that did get into the legs would be trapped... Maybe the feet could use o-ring seals and be removable for drainage.

 

[sk66]

your design solves this so would be a brilliant macro tripod

I was thinking of something "better" than Benbo for versatility.

 

[Blank_Canvas]

I was thinking of something "better" than Benbo for versatility.

That would be some tripod, the Benbo is probably the best tripod in the world for crime scene / forensic work. You can put it into any position very quickly. I've tried many tripods but none have topped it. I sincerely wish you luck with your endeavours. I'd have no qualms in buying one.