Concealed camera

• US 20060279631A1
• Filed: 06/13/2005
• Published: 12/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Silverstate Safety Image
• Original Assignee: Silverstate Safety Image
• Inventors: Badalian, Edward
• Granted Patent: US 7,413,357 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19619 Details of casing
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/001 Concealed systems, e.g. disguised alarm systems to make covert systems

Abstract

A concealed camera comprising a housing, a subminiature camera and a peep hole of very small size through which the camera may perceive a large field of vision. With a high resolution camera and the tiny peep hole, the camera may be positioned or located in plain view as concealed within a myriad of functional objects, such as a clock, reflector, light or any other common looking device in the area of desired view or surveillance. Multiple concealed cameras may by employed and perhaps synchronized in a surveillance system such that the downstream viewed image may be automatically switched from one image to another as desired by the system user.

Claims

1. A concealed camera comprising an housing and at least one miniature video camera;

said housing having one or more cavities into which a camera is inserted and a peep hole covering through which the image is perceived;

said camera being of the type which does not require a secondary artificial light source;

and, said camera and corresponding cavity capable of being inset into any outwardly facing surface of the housing.

2. The concealed camera of claim 1, whereby the camera type is selected from the group including black and white, color, still image, motion, motion detection and closed circuit.

3. The concealed camera of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a cover plate.

4. The concealed camera of claim 1, further comprising at least one electrical lead from the camera element with which the camera may be connected to other components to create a video surveillance system.

5. The concealed camera of claim 1, whereby the camera body is retained within in the housing cavity by means of one of the group of retaining means consisting of coaxial threads, adhesive, retention pin, set screw and an interference fit between the outer diameter of the camera body and the inside diameter of the cavity.

6. The concealed camera of claim 3, whereby a cavity is located on an housing surface that is covered by a cover plate.

7. The concealed camera of claim 3, whereby a cavity is located on an housing surface which is not covered by a cover plate.

8. The concealed camera of claim 3, whereby the cover plate is configured to falsely appear to be a functional apparatus of a type selected from the apparatus group of clock, doorbell, picture, alarm, sprinkler, and switchplate.

9. The concealed camera of claim 3, whereby the cover plate is configured to falsely appear to be, but are not actually a functional vehicular apparatus of a type selected from the apparatus group of:

reflector, running light, brake light, signal, mirror, horn, bell, monitor and camera.

10. The concealed camera of claim 3, whereby the housing and cover plate are also secondarily functional to further include a vehicular apparatus selected from the apparatus group of:

reflector, running light, brake light, signal, mirror, horn, bell, and monitor.

11. The concealed camera of claim 3, whereby the cover plate is an optical lens through which the camera may view an image.

12. A concealed camera comprising an housing, at least one sub-miniature video

camera and at least one cover plate;

said housing having one or more cavities into which a camera is inserted and a peep hole covering the cavity, through which the image is perceived;

said camera being of the high resolution type which does not require a secondary artificial light source and having at least one electrical lead from the camera element with which the camera may be connected to other components to create a video surveillance system;

said cover plate retained in place on an outer surface of the housing; and

,

said camera and corresponding cavity capable of being inset on any outwardly facing surface of the housing without regard to the cover plate location.

13. The concealed camera of claim 12, whereby the camera type is selected from the group including black and white, color, still image, motion, motion detection and closed circuit.

14. The concealed camera of claim 12, whereby the camera body is retained within in the cavity by means of one of the group of retaining means consisting of coaxial threads, adhesive, retention pin, set screw and an interference fit between the outer diameter of the camera body and the inside diameter of the cavity.

15. The concealed camera of claim 12, whereby the cavity is located on an housing surface that is covered by a cover plate.

16. The concealed camera of claim 12, whereby the cavity is located on an housing surface which is not covered by a cover plate.

17. The concealed camera of claim 12, whereby the cover plate is configured to falsely appear to be a functional apparatus of a type selected from the apparatus group of clock, doorbell, picture, alarm, sprinkler, and switchplate.

18. The concealed camera of claim 12, whereby the cover plate is configured to falsely appear to be a functional vehicular apparatus of a type selected from the apparatus group of:

reflector, running light, brake light, signal, mirror, horn, bell, monitor and camera.

21. The concealed camera of claim 12, whereby the housing and cover plate are also secondarily functional to further include a vehicular apparatus selected from the apparatus group of:

reflector, running light, brake light, signal, mirror, horn, bell, and monitor.

22. The concealed camera of claim 12, whereby the cover plate is an optical lens through which the camera may view an image.