US2314642A - Portable photographing unit - Google Patents

Description

March 23, 1943. C. WORCESTER 2,314,642

PORTABLE PHOTOGRAPHING UNIT Y Filed June 23, 1941 Charles ,B. Wo n'esier.

Patented Mar. 23, 1943 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE PORTABLE PHOTOGRAPHIN G UNIT Charles B. Worcester, RiversidaCalif.

Application June 23, 1941, Serial No. 399,265

4 Claims.

This invention relates to photographing equipment and has for its primary object the provision of a novel combination and arrangement of a camera, an adjustable mounting therefor, a seat for the subject, and a base common to the mounting and seat, whereby such component parts will form a rugged, portable, compact and readily workable unit which is subject to adjustment to render it more compact and better suited for transportation without necessitating disassembling thereof, and adapted for repeatedly and quickly taking photographs of uniform characteristics, such as used in police work and for identification cards, motor vehicle operators license, passports, and the like.

Another object of my invention is to provide a portable photographing unit such as hereinbefore described which readily lends itself to a convenient inclusion therewith of desirable accessory components such as a background panel, electric lamps, trays and the like in a particular association with one another and the major elements of the unit to facilitate use thereof.

Another object of my invention is to provide a unit of the character described having an improved identification card holder arranged to support a card containing identifying or desired indicia, at a predetermined point in the photo- 'graphic field to achieve uniformity of position of the identifying matter on the photographs, said support being movable to out-of-the-way position to facilitate transporting the unit A further object of my invention is to provide a unit of the character described wherein a standard, mounted on the base in predetermined spaced relation to the seat, supports a camera mounting for rotation about a vertical axis, and said mounting extends laterally outwardly from the standard whereby to support a camera in the desired relation to the seat-and the mounting and camera may be swung into different positions in an are on a fixed horizontal plane, one of said positions providing for photographing a person seated on the seat, other of said positions affording the taking of partial and full length photographs of persons standing, seated or otherwise positioned at various points spaced outwardly from the base, and another of said positions disposing the camera and its mounting in out-of-the-way position overlying the base to facilitate moving the unit from place to place.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with such other objects and advantages as may subsequently appear, the invention is carried into effect as illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a photographing unit embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the unit as when adjusted for storage or transportation.

Referring to the accompanying drawing more specifically, it is seen that one embodiment of my invention generally includes an elongated rectangular base 4, a seat 5- for the subject of photography fixed adjacent one end of the base, a standard 6 fixed adjacent the other end of said base, a substantially L-shaped camera supporting arm or mounting 1 having the free end of its horizontal leg connected with the upper end of the standard for rotation about a vertical axis, and a photographic camera 8 fixed on the upper end of the arm 7 for movement in an are at a given elevation when the arm is turned about said axis.

It should be noted that when a photograph is to be taken of a subject seated on the seat 5, the arm is positioned as shown in full lines in Fig. 1 whereby the horizontal leg of the arm extends beyond the adjacent end of the base 4 in line therewith to provide a predetermined focus. However, when it is desired to take partial or full length photographs, the subject may stand or be seated at various points spaced outwardly from the base and the arm is swung around to the appropriate position, as for example, as indicated by the dashed lines in Fig. 1 whereby to dispose the camera in line with the subject. When the unit is to be stored or transported or it is desired to place the arm I and camera 8 in an out-of-the-way position the arm 1 is swung into position shown in Fig. 3 wherein the arm and camera lie directly above the base.

As here provided, the standard 5 has a pintle 9 on its upper end on which is rotatably mounted one leg of an elbow fitting ID. The free end of the horizontal leg of the arm 1 is fitted into the other leg of the elbow l0 and welded or otherwise fixed thereto so that the other leg of said arm stands upright in outwardly spaced relation to the standard 6.

A set screw II on the elbow I ll is adapted to cooperate with depressions [2 in the pintle 9 for holding the arm in the three positions as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. This set screw will also hold the. camera. mounting in. any position throughout the range of movement permitted the mounting.

Fixed as by welding or otherwise to the upper end of the elbow I is a circular plate l3 serving as a shelf. A brace rod 14 is fixed to said plate and the upper end of the rod 1 respectively to lend rigidity to and strengthen the camera supporting structure, The camera is removably held in a fixed position on the arm by means of a clamp I5 or the like but it is apparent that the camera can be turned on said arm if desired. The camera 8 when removed from the arm 1, or another camera, may be rested on the plate for photographing purposes. It is noted that this plate may also be utilized as a shelf for supporting photographic accessories.

An upright holder l6 for an identification card H or the like is mounted on the outer end of a straight bar l8 slidably supported in guides l9 fixed on the lower face of the plate l3 whereby the card may be disposed at a fixed point in front of the subject of photography and may if desired appear at the same point in each photograph. As the plate I3 turns with the arm 1 it is seen that the card holder is moved with it and will always be in fixed relation to the camera. When the unit is collapsed into smaller compass, as shown in Fig. 3, the bar I8 is retracted to extend over the base alongside the horizontal leg of the arm I, thus disposing the holder and card in an out-of-the-way position. The slide bar l8 also facilitates positioning the card or ob-. ject in the holder 16 which is to be photographed in different positions as desired to suit the particular subject or photographic result desired. A stop pin 26 on the end of the bar opposite the holder supporting end thereof is disposed to engage the plate l3 to limit the movement of the bar as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

As here provided the seat 5 is supported on a vertically adjustable screw shank 2| threadedly supported in a standard 22 fixed on the base 4, thus providing for raising or lowering the seat to suit the particular subject and the photographic effect desired.

A sectional upright background supporting standard 23 is fixed at its lower end to the base 4 rearwardly of the seat and may be connected to the seat standard 22 by means of a horizontal bar section 24. This connection of the standard 22 with the seat braces the seat and the standard and also lends desired rigidity to the unit as a whole.

Near the upper end of the standard 23 is a rearwardly projecting arm 25 which at its outer end is connected to and supports a background panel 26. The upper end portion of the standard is curved forwardly as at 21 and supports a head rest 28, as shown in Fig. 1.

Electric lamps 29 and 39 are mounted on the arm 25 and the upper side of the camera respectively for illuminating the background and subject respectively. In this connection it should be noted that the standards 6 and 23, also the arms 1 and 25 and plate 13 may be conveniently used as supports for shelves, trays and other accessories not shown.

It is important to note that my improved unit may be readily and easily moved from place to place and transported in compact form and may be quickly and easily prepared for use when set on a floor or other suitable supporting surface, by extending the camera and associated parts into position shown in Fig. 1 or otherwise as desired. An important feature of the unit is that once adjusted as desired it will provide for uniformity of the photographs and permit of the making a comparatively large number of photographs in a short space of time. The arrangement of the component parts of the unit renders it compact so that it takes up little space, is simple as to construction, comparatively light and inexpensive.

It should be noted that the standards and the mounting hereof may be of tubular construction to facilitate the leading of the electrical conductors to the lights.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention I do not limit myself to the exact details of construction set forth, and the invention embraces such changes, modifications and equivalents of the parts and their formation and arrangement as come within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a portable photographing unit, a base, a seat mounted on said base, a standard mounted on said base in fixed spaced relation to said seat, a camera, a mounting for said camera rotatably supported on said standard for movement from a position extending outwardly from said base and with the camera likewise extended into an out-of-the-way position in which the mounting and camera lie over the base between the seat and standard and vice versa, a card holder, a bar for supporting said holder between the camera and a subject of photography and within the photographic range of the camera, and means slidably supporting said bar on said mounting so that said bar and holder will be moved with the turning of the mounting on the standard, and the holder may be moved towards and away from said standard.

2. In a portable photographing unit, a portable elongated base, a seat for a subject of photography mounted on said base, a standard mounted on said base in fixed spaced relation to said seat, a camera, a mounting for said camera rotatably supported on said standard for movement from a position extending outwardly from one end of said base and with the camera likewise extended, into an out-of-the way position in which the mounting and camera lie over the base between the seat and standard and vice versa, said mount ing including a horizontal member rotatably mounted at one end on the standard for extension outwardly from said end of said base and adapted to lie over andin alignment with said base, and an upright member on the other end of said horizontal member and on which the camera is mounted.

3. In a portable photographing unit, a base, a seat mounted on said base, a standard mounted on said base in fixed spaced relation to said seat, a camera, a mounting for said camera rotatably supported on said standard for movement from a position extending outwardly from said base and with the camera likewise extended into an out-of-the-way position in which the mounting and camera lie over the base between the seat and standard and vice versa, a plate mounted on said mounting at a point over the standard to serve as a shelf, a horizontal bar slidably supported on said plat and extending from the standard in the opposite direction to said mounting, and a holder for a card or the like to be photographed, mounted on said bar and movable towards and away from said standard upon sliding the bar relative to said plate.

4. In an elongated portable photographing unit, a base, a standard thereon, a member r0- tatable on the upper end of said standard, a camera mounting having a leg fixed at one end to said member and adapted to be extended o-utwardly from said standard and beyond margins of said base, a leg extending upright from the outer end of the first named leg, a camera mounted on the upper end of said upright leg, means on the rotatable member for releasably looking it against rotation on said standard, another standard in aligned and spaced relation to the first standard, a background panel supported by second standard, a seat for a subject of photography, fixed on the base between said standards, and a rigid connection between said seat and said second standard for supporting said second standard.

CHARLES B. WORCESTER.

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