Quick-release ball-and-socket joint camera mount

• US 10,416,538 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2017
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
• Original Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
• Inventors: Clearman, Christopher Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): LaBalle, Clayton E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hancock, Dennis
• Application Number:
  US15/834,941
• Publication Number:
  US 20180136546A1
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/14 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06 ; adjustable mountings employing universal joints for lighting devices F21V21/26 - F21V21/30
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/22 with approximately constant height, e.g. with constant length of column or of legs F16M11/42 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/022 by friction
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/08 Foot or support base
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/02 Bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/08 Waterproof bodies or housings
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/561 Support related camera accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/566 Accessory clips, holders, shoes to attach accessories to camera if integral part of camera body G03B17/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils

Abstract

A camera mounting system has an upper mount component, a lower mount component, and a base mount component. The upper mount component secures the camera and has a ball protrusion that reciprocally couples with a socket of the lower mount component. The upper mount component can rotate 360 degrees relative to the lower mount, and can pivot 90 degrees or more relative to the lower mount component. The lower mount component couples with the base mount component in a plurality of orientations. This camera mounting system allows for a large range of motion for the camera relative to the mounting system.

Claims

1. A mounting system for attaching a camera to a surface, the mounting system comprising:

an upper mount configured and dimensioned to at least partially enclose the camera;

a lower mount configured and dimensioned for engagement with the upper mount such that the upper mount is movable in relation to the lower mount, the lower mount including an upper surface, a pair of sidewalls depending from the upper surface, and a single endwall depending from the upper surface, the endwall connecting the sidewalls so as to define a single opening opposite the endwall; and

a base mount configured and dimensioned for removable engagement with the lower mount via insertion of the base mount into the lower mount, the end wall defining a range of relative motion between the lower mount and the base mount, the base mount including a bottom surface configured, dimensioned, and adapted for removable attachment to the surface.

2. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein the bottom surface of the base mount includes an adhesive.

3. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein the base mount is symmetrical in configuration.

4. The mounting system of claim 3, wherein the base mount is symmetrical about first and second axes, the first and second axes being orthogonal in relation.

5. The mounting system of claim 3, wherein the base mount includes a generally square-shaped configuration facilitating engagement with the lower mount such that the base mount and the lower mount are positionable in relation to each other in four distinct orientations separated by approximately 90°

.

6. The mounting system of claim 5, wherein the base mount includes a first section and a second section depending from the first section along a vertical axis, the first section defining a first outermost dimension extending transversely in relation to the vertical axis and the second section defining a second outermost dimension extending transversely in relation to the vertical axis, the second outermost dimension being less than the first outermost dimension such that the base mount includes an inwardly extending relief defining an engagement surface.

7. The mounting system of claim 6, wherein the first section and the second section including corresponding configurations.

8. The mounting system of claim 7, wherein the first and second sections are each generally square-shaped in configuration.

9. The mounting system of claim 6, wherein the lower mount defines an interior space configured and dimensioned to removably receive the base mount.

10. The mounting system of claim 9, wherein the lower mount includes an upper wall and a pair of opposing sidewalls depending from the upper wall and including inwardly depending ledges collectively defining the interior space with an inner surface of the upper wall, the ledges being configured and dimensioned for contact with the engagement surface of the base mount.

11. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein the lower mount includes a deflectable tab configured and dimensioned to secure the base mount in relation to the lower mount.

12. The mounting system of claim 11, wherein the deflectable tab includes a lip and the base mount includes a ledge configured and dimensioned for engagement with the lip to maintain engagement of the lower mount and the base mount.

13. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein the upper mount and the lower mount are configured and dimensioned for engagement such that the upper mount is pivotable and rotatable in relation to the lower mount.

14. The mounting system of claim 13, wherein the upper mount includes a ball and the lower mount includes a socket configured and dimensioned to receive the ball.

15. A mounting system for attaching a camera to a surface, the mounting system comprising:

an upper mount configured and dimensioned to support the camera, the upper mount having a bottom surface including a protrusion extending at a fixed, non-perpendicular angle relative to the bottom surface, the protrusion comprising a ball component;

a lower mount configured and dimensioned for engagement with the upper mount such that the upper mount is movable in relation to the lower mount, the lower mount including an upper surface, a pair of sidewalls depending from the upper surface, and a single endwall depending from the upper surface, the endwall connecting the sidewalls so as to define a single opening opposite the endwall, wherein the upper surface includes a socket component configured to rotationally couple with the ball component, the socket component being tilted relative to the upper surface; and

a base mount configured and dimensioned for removable insertion into the lower mount, the end wall defining a range of relative motion between the lower mount and the base mount, the base mount being generally square-shaped in configuration such that the base mount is insertable into the lower mount in four different orientations separated by approximately 90°

.

16. The mounting system of claim 15, wherein the lower mount defines an interior space, the base mount being configured and dimensioned for positioning within the interior space.

17. The mounting system of claim 15, wherein the base mount includes an adhesive such that the base mount is removably securable to the surface.

18. The mounting system of claim 15, wherein the lower mount includes a deflectable tab configured and dimensioned for manual engagement to release the base mount from the lower mount.

19. A mounting system for attaching a camera to a surface, the mounting system comprising:

a camera support, the camera support having a bottom surface including a protrusion extending at a fixed, non-perpendicular angle relative to the bottom surface, the protrusion comprising a ball component;

a first mount engageable with the camera support and defining an interior space, the first mount including an upper surface, a pair of sidewalls depending from the upper surface, and a single endwall depending from the upper surface, the endwall connecting the sidewalls so as to define a single opening opposite the endwall, wherein the upper surface supports a socket component configured to rotationally couple with the ball component, the socket component being tilted relative to the upper surface; and

a second mount configured and dimensioned for insertion into the interior space defined by the first mount such that the first mount and the second mount are positionable in relation to each other in a first orientation, a second orientation, a third orientation, and a fourth orientation, each of the first, second, third, and fourth orientations being separated by approximately 90°

, the end wall of the first mount defining a range of relative motion between the first mount and the second mount.

20. The mounting system of claim 19, wherein the second mount includes an adhesive such that the second mount is removably securable to the surface.