US Patent 9366376 Telescoping portable camera jib

This invention provides a portable camera jib assembly that is retractable between a relatively short retracted position and a significantly extended fully elongated position. The jib assembly is constructed from a series of upper and lower telescoping tubes that nest within each other. It includes a bottom bracket that is pivotally attached to a tripod base and a top, camera-supporting bracket that is attached to an end of the upper and lower telescoping tubes. The tubes include twist-lock rings to maintain a predetermined length of extension, and notably, the bottom bracket includes upper and lower knuckles that slidably guide the respective upper and lower tubes so as to allow complete retraction of the tubes that brings the top bracket into close proximity with the bottom bracket—thereby ensuring a highly compact shape when fully retracted for enhanced portability.