Camera Adapter

• US 20130188943A1
• Filed: 01/19/2012
• Published: 07/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Madcow Products Limited
• Original Assignee: Madcow Products Limited
• Inventors: Wu, Shing-Wai David
• Application Number:
  US13/353,680
• Publication Number:
  US 20130188943A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/419
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/17 with reflectors arranged in beam forming the photographic image, e.g. for reducing dimensions of camera
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/565 Optical accessories, e.g. converters for close-up photography, tele-convertors, wide-angle convertors
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/566 Accessory clips, holders, shoes to attach accessories to camera if integral part of camera body G03B17/02

Abstract

An adapter is provided for a camera having an image display screen at one side and a lens at another side. A magnet attaches the body of the adapter to the camera and mirrors inside the body reflect light into the lens from a subject viewing the image display screen directly.

Claims

1. An adapter for a camera having an image display screen at one side thereof and a lens at another side thereof, the adapter comprising:

a body;

attachment means for attaching the body to the camera;

optical means supported by the body to reflect and/or refract light into the lens from a subject viewing the image display screen directly.

2. The adapter of claim 1, wherein said optical means comprises:

a first optical means to align with the camera lens when the body is so attached; and

a second optical means aligning with the subject and cooperating with the first optical means.

3. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the first and second optical means comprise mirrors cooperating with one another to reflect light from the subject throughout 180°

to the camera lens.

4. The adapter of claim 3, wherein the mirrors are mutually offset by 90°

.

5. The adapter of claim 3, further comprising a top lens through which light from the subject must pass en route to the mirrors.

6. The adapter of claim 5, wherein the body further comprising a magnetic or metallic ring around the top lens to magnetically secure an auxiliary lens such as a fisheye lens.

7. The adapter of claim 1, wherein said attachment means for attaching the body to the camera comprises:

a magnetic or metallic anchor at the body;

a casing to receive a portion of a camera, the casing comprising an aperture to align with the camera lens, and a metallic or magnetic attractant to which the anchor attaches magnetically to maintain said alignment.

8. The adapter of claim 7, wherein the casing comprises an internal thread by which the casing might be supported by a tripod.

9. The adapter of claim 8, wherein the internal thread is metallic and the adapter further comprises a base to support the casing on a surface, the base having an embedded magnet to attract the internal thread without the need for threaded engagement between the base and casing.

10. The adapter of claim 7, wherein the casing comprises an electrical plug that is received by a jack of the camera when the casing receives a portion of the camera, the casing housing an infrared or RF receiver to receive remotely controlled camera activation signals passed to the camera via the plug.

11. A camera support, comprising:

a casing to receive a portion of a camera, the casing comprises an electrical plug that is received by a socket of the camera; and

an infrared or RF receiver to receive remotely controlled trigger signals to control the camera via the plug.

12. The camera support of claim 11, further comprising a bracket extending from the casing and having an internal thread by which the bracket might be supported by a tripod.

13. The camera support of claim 12, wherein the internal thread is metallic and the camera support further comprises a base to support the bracket on a support surface, the base having an embedded magnet to attract the internal thread without the need for threaded engagement between the base and bracket.

14. The camera support of claim 13, wherein the base comprises a concave cover and the bracket comprises a convex riding surface of profile complementary to the cover, wherein a magnetic field between the embedded magnet and the metallic thread maintains contact between the bracket and the base sufficient to retain the camera in a desired position.

15. The camera support of claim 13, wherein the bracket is detachable from the casing.