Video camera carrying handle supporting battery and accessories

• US 5,121,147 A
• Filed: 03/28/1991
• Issued: 06/09/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Wada, Koichi, Kamaya, Naoki
• Primary Examiner(s): Perkey, W. B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SPYROU, CASSANDRA
• Application Number:
  US07/676,744
• Time in Patent Office: 439 Days
• Field of Search: 354/81, 354/82, 354/288, 354/484, 354/293, 354/295, 358/906, 358/909
• US Class Current: 396/198
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/563 Camera grips, handles means in general for steadying hand-held apparatus F16M13/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 358/906 Hand-held camera with recorder in a single unit

Abstract

In order to provide a compact carrying handle arrangement for a video camera which is not provided with carrying handle connections per se, the lower horizontally extending portion of an essentially C-shaped handle extends along the lower edge of the camera and is secured thereto by a screw which is threaded into the threaded bore provided for connecting the tripod. The vertical portion of the handle has a connection site which can operatively engage with a first battery mounting site provided on the rear of the camera. A second battery site is provided on the handle and is arranged to receive the battery. The second mounting site is electrically connected with the connection site so that power from the battery can be supplied to the camera via the first battery mounting site. The grip portion of the handle extends forward in a space relationship over the top of the camera. Hot shoes are formed at the leading end of the grip portion and operatively connected with the second battery mounting site so as to enable power to be supplied thereto from the battery.

Claims

1. A carrying handle for a video camera, the camera having a battery mounting site on a rear section thereof and a threaded bore on a lower section of the camera for attaching a tripod, the carrying handle comprising:

means for supplying electrical power through the handle to the camera;

a first portion having the battery mounting site; and

a second portion which is adapted to be connected to the camera by way of the threaded bore.

2. A carrying handle for a video camera, the camera having a battery mounting site at a rear side thereof and a threaded tripod connection bore on a lower side of the camera, the carrying handle comprising:

means for supplying electrical power through the handle to the camera;

a first portion having the battery mounting site on which a battery can be operatively mounted;

a second portion which can be releasably connected to the camera through the threaded tripod connection bore; and

a grip portion on which an accessory hot shoe is provided to mount an accessory to the handle and to supply electrical power through the handle to the accessory.

3. A video camera carrying handle for use with a video camera having a battery mounting site on which a battery can be mounted, the battery mounting site being located at a rear of the camera, the camera carrying handle being so constructed and arranged that it is interposable between the camera mounting site and the battery, so that electrical power from the battery can be supplied to the camera, and so that a light can be attached to the carrying handle in a manner wherein electrical power can be supplied to the light from the battery through the handle.

4. A video camera carrying handle as claimed in claim 3 wherein said carrying handle is so constructed and arranged that the light can be supported at a position which is one of above and beside the camera.

5. A video camera carrying handle as claimed in claim 3 where said carrying handle has a portion which is connectable to the camera and which further comprises a second battery mounting site.

6. A video camera carrying handle as claimed in claim 5 wherein the battery mounting site on the camera and the battery mounting side on the carrying handle comprise L shaped projections.

7. A video camera carrying handle as claimed in claim 6 wherein the battery mounting site on the camera and the battery mounting site on the carrying handle have rectangular configurations, the rectangular configurations each having four corners, and wherein the L-shaped projections are formed at each of the four corners.

8. A generally C-shaped carrying handle for a video camera, the video camera having a battery mounting site on a rear section thereof which includes four L-shaped projections, the camera also having a threaded, tripod connection bore on a lower section thereof, the carrying handle comprising:

a first attachment portion located on a lower region of the handle which can be releasably connected to the camera through the threaded, tripod connection bore;

a vertically slidable second attachment portion located on a vertical region of the handle which can be releasably connected to the battery mounting site on the camera and can provide electrical power to the camera therethrough, the second attachment portion having a rectangular configuration with four corners, each of the corners having an L-shaped recess for releasably engaging the L-shaped projections on the battery mounting site of the camera;

the battery mounting site rigidly connected to the vertically slidable second attachment portion and electrically coupled thereto, the battery mounting site having a rectangular configuration with four corners, each of the corners having an L-shaped projection for releasably engaging a battery having L-shaped recesses, the mounting site having connectors to releasably electrically connect the battery to the second attachment portion, thereby providing power to the camera;

a grip portion located on an upper region of the handle for carrying the camera; and

an accessory mounting hot shoe located on an upper portion of the handle forward of the grip, being electrically connected through the handle to the battery mounting site, for attaching and electrically powering the accessory.