Portable video-photo machine

• US 5,091,791 A
• Filed: 09/12/1990
• Issued: 02/25/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Charles E. Mitchell
• Original Assignee: Charles E. Mitchell
• Inventors: Mitchell, Charles E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HSIA, SHERRIE Y
• Application Number:
  US07/581,724
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 358/479, 358/229, 358/254, 358/909, 358/248, 358/249, 358/93
• US Class Current: 358/479
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00286 with studio circuitry, devices or equipment, e.g. television cameras television studio circuitry, devices or equipment per se H04N5/222
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00289 in a video photo booth or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0044 for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras

Abstract

A portable video-photo machine for permitting a person being photographed to see how he or she will appear the photograph prior to the printing thereof. The machine comprises a collapsible housing having a video camara, video monitor, a still-frame apparatus, and photograph printing device associated therewith. The machine also comprises transporting means and a stand alone power source to facillitate its portability.

Claims

1. A portable, self contained video-photo machine for readily producing a photograph of a subject from a captured video image thereof, said video-photo machine comprising;

an elongated upright, generally cylindrical housing;

a video camera for creating real time video images of the subject mounted on the uppermost--horizontal exterior surface of said housing, said video camera having a video output terminal;

a monitor having a screen for displaying said real time video images mounted within said housing, said screen being viewable through an opening in the frontal surface of said housing, and said monitor further having a video input terminal;

a still-frame apparatus for "freezing" a selected one frame of said video images and controlling the display thereof on said monitor, said still-frame apparatus having video input and output terminals for connecting said still-frame apparatus intermidate said camera and monitor via the respective video output and input terminals of said camera and monitor;

said still-frame apparatus comprising a computer having a memory for capturing and storing said selected one "frozen" video image;

photo printing means integrally formed with said still-frame apparatus for readily producing a hard copy photograph of said selected one "frozen" video image;

a frontal access door pivotally connected to said housing beneath said monitor and adjacent to said photo printing means to provide access to said photo printing means for loading the same with film for producing said photograph;

said frontal access door further including an elongated opening therein for permitting the egress of said photograph from said printing means and the presentation thereof to an operator;

a control panel electrically connected to said still-frame apparatus and mounted in a recess in said frontal access door;

said control panel having actuation means for selectively providing said "freezing" of one of the video images;

means for providing a source of power for said video camera, monitor, and still-frame printing apparatus; and

means for facilitating the transport of the machine as a unit comprising;

a hand truck having a platform surface, an upright frame member transversely connected to said platform surface at its lower end with handle means provided at its upper end, and wheel means connected to said platform and upright frame member;

said hand truck being independently connected to said housing with all of the components comprising said video-photo machine either contained in or connected to said housing.

2. The video-photo machine according to claim 1, wherein said housing has an elongated support frame contained therein;

said frame having an upper pair of transversely projecting arms for supporting said monitor, and a lower pair of transversely projecting arms for supporting said still-frame printing apparatus;

the portion of said support frame intermediate said upper and lower projecting arms being slidably connected to said hand truck upright frame member, whereby the overall height of the machine can be reduced by moving said hand truck from an extended to a retracted position wherein the bottom of said housing rests upon the upper surface of said hand truck platform.

3. The photo-video machine according to claim 2, wherein said source of power is a gasoline generator positioned on the upper surface of said hand truck platform;

said photo-video machine further comprising;

a detachable shroud connected to the lower end of said housing for surrounding said generator and for maintaining said housing in a raised position relative to said hand truck platform, whereby said reduction in the overall height of said machine is accomplished by first removing said shroud and generator and thereafter permitting said housing to be displaced downward until the housing bottom rests upon said hand truck platform;

said shroud further having an opening therein for ventilating exhaust fumes from said generator while the machine is in use in said raised position.

4. The video-photo machine according to claim 3, further comprising audio means mounted in said housing for providing "mood music" for the subject being photographed.

5. The video-photo machine according to claim 4, wherein said audio means comprises a cassette player or the like and a speaker system.

6. The video-photo machine according to claim 1, wherein said housing has attached thereto a covering for the rear of said monitor, the shape of said covering protruding to conform to the rearwardly projecting shape of said monitor.

7. The video-photo machine according to claim 5, wherein the rear of said housing has pivotally attached thereto an elongated rear access door having inclined storage shelves formed in the interior wall for the storage of said film.

8. A portable housing assembly for a video-photo system, wherein said system comprises a video camera, monitor, still-frame apparatus, photo-printing unit, control means, and power supply;

said housing assembly comprising;

an elongated cylindrical body member of a generally upright configuration;

an opening in the frontal surface of said body member for viewing said monitor;

a frontal access door pivotally connected to the frontal surface of said body member for permitting access to said printing unit and for supporting said control means;

an elongated support frame member mounted to and contained in said body member;

said frame member comprising an upper pair of transversely projecting arms for supporting said monitor and a lower pair of transversely projecting arms for supporting said still-frame apparatus and photo-printing unit;

said support frame having a pair of vertical arms extending intermediate said upper and lower transversely projecting arms;

means for transporting said housing including a hand truck comprising a platform, a pair of upright frame member transversely connected to said platform, and wheel means respectfully attached to said hand truck upright frame and platform;

said hand truck upright frame being slidably connected to said pair of vertical arms of said support frame for displacing said body member relative to said hand truck; and

said platform providing a support for said power supply, while the rest of the components comprising said video system are either connected to or contained in said body member;

a shroud detachably connected to the lower end of said body member for surrounding said power supply and for maintaining said body member in a raised position spaced above said hand truck platform;

the overall height of said housing assembly being reduced by removing said shroud and permitting said support frame intermediate vertical arms to slide along said hand truck upright frame members until the bottom of the body member rests upon said platform.

9. The portable housing assembly according to claim 8, wherein an audio system is supported by said support frame within said body member.