Camera Mount Stand and Cover

• US 20180084160A1
• Filed: 09/21/2016
• Published: 03/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
• Original Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
• Inventors: Miyashita, Yusuke
• Granted Patent: US 10,582,094 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 11/04 Hoods or caps for eliminating unwanted light from lenses, viewfinders or focusing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/04 collapsible, foldable or extensible, e.g. book type
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/56 Accessories carrying-cases A45C11/38
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/561 Support related camera accessories
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings

Abstract

A camera housing can be configured as both a protective housing and a stand for a camera. The camera housing includes a housing body, an arm component, and a lid component. The housing body partially encloses the camera and exposes a lens of the camera. A first end of the arm component is coupled to the housing body via a first hinge, and a second end is coupled to the lid component via a second hinge. The arm component includes over-molded components configured to limit rotation of the arm component relative to the housing body and the lid component. In a folded configuration, the lid component reciprocally mates to the housing body to cover the camera lens. In an unfolded configuration, the arm component and the lid component are rotated away from the housing body, acting as a stand for the housing body.

Claims

1. A camera housing comprising:

a housing body comprising a cross-section that is substantially square-shaped with rounded corners, the housing body comprising an opening within a first face of the housing body and a cavity extending from the opening into the housing body, the cavity structured to at least partially enclose a camera such that when the camera is enclosed within the housing body, a lens of the camera is exposed within the opening;

an arm component, a first end of the arm component rotatably coupled to an edge of a bottom surface of the housing body via a first hinge, the first end of the arm component comprising a first over-molded component configured to, when the arm component is rotated a first threshold angle away from the bottom surface of the housing body, secure the arm component at an angle greater than or equal to the first threshold angle relative to the housing body; and

a lid component that is substantially square-shaped with rounded corners, the lid component rotatably coupled to a second end of the arm component opposite the first end via a second hinge, the second end of the arm component comprising a second over-molded component configured to, when the lid component is rotated a second threshold angle towards the arm component, secure the lid component at an angle greater than or equal to the threshold angle relative to the arm component, the lid component further configured to reciprocally mate with the first face of the housing body such that the lid component covers the opening when the arm component is in a folded configuration.

2. The camera housing of claim 1, wherein, when the camera housing is configured in the folded configuration, the arm component abuts the bottom surface of the housing body, and the lid component is secured to the housing body and covers the opening and the lens of the camera.

3. The camera housing of claim 1, wherein, when the camera housing is configured in an unfolded configuration, the lid component acts as a base, and the arm component secures the housing body at a threshold height above the lid component.

4. The camera housing of claim 1, wherein the housing body comprises a plurality of securing protrusions that are located within the cavity, the plurality of securing protrusions configured to secure the camera when the camera is enclosed within the cavity.

5. The camera housing of claim 1, wherein the housing body comprises a second opening on a top surface of the housing body, the second opening exposing a plurality of control buttons on the camera when the camera is enclosed within the cavity.

6. The camera housing of claim 1, wherein the housing body comprises a latch that protrudes from a top edge of the opening.

7. The camera housing of claim 6, wherein the lid component comprises a notch that is configured to reciprocally mate with the latch in the folded configuration, such that the latch prevents the lid component from rotating away from the opening when the notch is mated with the latch.

8. The camera housing of claim 7, wherein the housing body comprises a button that is coupled to the latch, such that when the button is pressed, the latch releases the notch and allows the lid component to rotate away from the opening.

9. The camera housing of claim 1, wherein the bottom surface of the housing body comprises a recess that is configured to enclose the arm component when the camera housing is configured in the folded configuration.

10. The camera housing of claim 1, wherein the first threshold angle and the second threshold angle are substantially the same angle.

11. The camera housing of claim 1, wherein the first threshold angle is different from the second threshold angle.

12. The camera housing of claim 1, wherein the housing body comprises a mating interface on edges of the housing body surrounding the opening.

13. The camera housing of claim 12, wherein the lid component comprises a reciprocal mating interface along a perimeter of an inner surface of the lid component, the reciprocal mating interface configured to mate with the mating interface when the camera housing is in the folded configuration.

14. The camera housing of claim 1, wherein each over-molded component creates a friction lock when in contact with another surface.

15. The camera housing of claim 1, wherein the housing body further comprises a clip coupled to a back side of the housing body, the clip configured to couple the camera housing to an object.

16. A camera housing comprising:

a housing body structured to at least partially enclose a camera such that when the camera is enclosed within the housing body, a lens of the camera is exposed within a first face of the housing body;

an arm component, a first end of the arm component rotatably coupled to an edge of a bottom surface of the housing body via a first hinge, the first hinge configured to, when the arm component is rotated a first threshold angle away from the bottom surface of the housing body, secure the arm component at an angle greater than or equal to the first threshold angle relative to the housing body; and

a lid component that is rotatably coupled to a second end of the arm component opposite the first end via a second hinge, the second hinge configured to, when the lid component is rotated a second threshold angle towards the arm component, secure the lid component at an angle greater than or equal to the threshold angle relative to the arm component.

17. The camera housing of claim 16, wherein each end of the arm component comprises an over-molded component that creates a friction lock when in contact with another surface.

18. The camera housing of claim 16, wherein the lid component is further configured to reciprocally mate with the first face of the housing body such that the lid component covers the lens of the camera when the arm component is in a folded configuration.

19. The camera housing of claim 18, wherein, when the camera housing is configured in the folded configuration, the arm component abuts the bottom surface of the housing body, and the lid component is secured to the housing body and covers the lens of the camera.

20. The camera housing of claim 16, wherein, when the camera housing is configured in an unfolded configuration, the lid component acts as a base, and the arm component secures the housing body at a threshold height above the lid component.

21. The camera housing of claim 18, wherein the camera housing further comprises:

a latch that protrudes from a top edge of the first face of the housing body;

a notch on the lid component that is configured to reciprocally mate with the latch in the folded configuration, such that the latch prevents the lid component from rotating away from the first face of the housing body when the notch is mated with the latch; and

a button on the housing body that is coupled to the latch, such that when the button is pressed, the latch releases the notch and allows the lid component to rotate away from the first face of the housing body.