This invention is in the field of camera handling equipment and more particularly to a transportable, foldable, maneuverable, and multifunctional video cart.
When a camera operator arranges to film a subject, the operator ordinarily sets up a tripod with camera mounted thereon at the location of the subject. Sequentially, the operator adjusts the height of the tripod and the angular orientation of the camera. When the operator wants to film the subject at a different angle or film another subject at a different location, the operator must collapse the tripod and reset same at another location. Clearly, such running about is laborious and time consuming.
The prior art, however, was cognizant of such problems in the industry as reflected in U.S. Pat. No. 4,166,687, which issued on Sept. 4, 1979 to R. Viering. The patentee discloses a mobile photographic cart that can be transported and operated by one person. Viering's cart however, suffers the disadvantage of the camera operator disconnecting and reconnecting the power supply, or in the alternative, running a very long electric cord in and about the filming site. Similarly, K. Littwin et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 4,542,909 and issuing on Sept. 24, 1985, shows a mobile TV camera cart having a monopodial camera mount and an operator's seat attached. The patentee's cart also relies on an outside power source and teaches no means of storing multiple camera accessories.
The maneuverable video cart of the present invention simplifies the filming process for the camera operator by not only making it easier for the operator to move the essential camera and equipment about, but also in controlling the camera orientation once the cart is in position for the rapid film recording of the subjects. Moreover, such simplification is achieved without the exposure of electrical wires about the floor, with their inherent dangers, since the instant video cart contains its own portable power source.
Accordingly, it is a general object of this invention to provide a maneuverable, self-sufficient, inexpensive video cart for use by a lone camera operator.
It is particularly an object of the present invention to provide a video cart that contains its own electrical power supply.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a video cart having compartments for batteries, VCR, video monitor, and requisite camera accessories.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a video cart that is partially collapsible for easy transport.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a video cart equipped with camera mounting means.