Impact triggering mechanism for a camera mounted in a vehicle

• US 5,262,813 A
• Filed: 02/09/1993
• Issued: 11/16/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert M. Bamford
• Original Assignee: Terry D. Scharton
• Inventors: Scharton, Terry D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes, Monroe H.
• Application Number:
  US08/015,526
• Time in Patent Office: 280 Days
• Field of Search: 354/266, 354/76, 352/132, 352/174
• US Class Current: 396/502
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/00 Special procedures for taking photographs; Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/38 Releasing-devices separate from shutter integral with shutter G03B9/08

Abstract

The present invention is an impact triggering mechanism for a camera mounted on a rear-view mirror of a vehicle. The impact triggering mechanism provides a unidirectional mechanical output in response to inertial forces from any horizontal direction. Upon sudden impact or deceleration an inertia member connected to the camera depresses the shutter release button on the camera, which the button actuates the shutter in the camera and takes a photographic picture.

Claims

1. An impact triggering camera apparatus removably mounted inside a vehicle at a location between a back of a rear-view mirror and a front windshield for taking a photographic picture, the impact triggering camera apparatus comprising:

a. a disposable panoramic camera apparatus having a shutter release button, a panorama lens, means for retaining a roll of film and means to advance the roll of film after an exposure and set the shutter for a next shot;

b. a mounting box having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front panel, a rear panel, a first end and a second end with an opening;

c. a slot centrally located on said front panel of said mounting box extending to said opening of said second end for accommodating said panorama lens of said disposable panoramic camera when said disposable panoramic camera slides into said opening of said second end;

d. a top aperture on said top surface of said mounting box which is centrally located between said front and rear panels of said mounting box for accessing said shutter release button through the top aperture;

e. means for mounting said mounting box to said back of said rear-view mirror of said vehicle;

f. an impact triggering device having a frame which has an upper section, a lower section, a slope section and an upright section, the upper section having an opening located remote from said shutter release button of said disposable panoramic camera, the lower section affixed to said top surface of said mounting box;

g. said impact triggering device further comprising a sliding weight which is responsive to inertial forces and has a cylindrical weight disk, the cylindrical weight disk having a counter bored top which is integrally connected by a rod having a concave top, the cylindrical weight disk sandwiched between said upper and lower sections of said frame with the rod extending through said opening of said upper section of said frame for retaining and limiting a horizontal plane movement of the sliding weight;

h. said impact triggering device further comprising a pivot shaft mounted to said upright section of said frame at a location remote from said sliding weight and a lever member supported by the pivot shaft;

i. said lever member having a first end forming a lever pin resting on said concave top of said rod and a second end affixed to said pivot shaft and forming a latching means;

j. a cantilever spring plate having a tip section and a fixed section, the fixed section affixed to said slope section of said frame and the tip section engagable with said latching means of said lever member; and

k. a handle member attached to said tip section of said cantilever spring plate to facilitate the cocking of said tip section to said latching means of said lever, said latching means of said lever member latching said tip section of said cantilever spring plate for preventing said tip section of said cantilever spring plate from pushing down on said shutter release button of said disposable panoramic camera;

I. whereby when said impact triggering camera apparatus is mounted in said vehicle, said sliding weight can move in response to said inertial forces on said horizontal plane upon sudden impact on said vehicle from any direction, which drops said lever pin of said lever member off from said concave top of said rod of said sliding weight, causing said latching means of said lever member to release said tip section of said cantilever spring plate which in turn presses down on said shutter release button of said disposable panoramic camera, to thereby automatically take said photographic picture at the moment of sudden impact.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said impact triggering device has a sensitivity adjustable by means of changing a cone angle of said concave top of said rod.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said impact triggering device has a sensitivity adjustable by means of changing said sliding weight.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said impact triggering device has a sensitivity adjustable by means of changing said lever member dimensions.

5. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said disposable panoramic camera can readily removed from said mounting box for conventional manual operation.

6. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said impact triggering device can be triggered insitu by moving said sliding weight with a finger.

7. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for mounting said mounting box and said disposable panoramic camera to said back of said rear-view mirror of said vehicle is a safety tie.

8. The invention as defined in claim 1 further comprising a transparent cover attached to said top surface of said mounting box for enclosing said impact triggering device.

9. An impact triggering device for use with a camera which has a shutter button and is removably mounted inside a vehicle for taking a photographic picture, the impact triggering device comprising:

a. a frame having a top section, a bottom section, a ramp section and an upright section, the top section having an opening located remote from said shutter button of said camera and the bottom section affixed to said camera;

b. a sliding weight which is responsive to inertial forces and has a disk integrally connected by a rod, the disk sandwiched between said top and bottom sections of said frame with the rod extending through said opening of said top section for retaining and limiting a horizontal plane movement of the sliding weight;

c. a pivot rod mounted to said upright section of said frame at a location remote from said sliding weight and a lever member supported by the pivot rod;

d. said lever member having a first end forming a lever pin resting on said rod and a second end affixed to said pivot rod and forming a latching means;

e. a cantilever spring having a first end and a second end, the first end affixed to said ramp section of said frame; and

f. a handle attached to said second end of said cantilever spring to facilitate the cocking of said second end to said latching means of said lever member, said latching means of said lever member latching said second end of said cantilever spring for preventing said second end of said cantilever spring from pushing down on said shutter button of said camera;

g. whereby when said camera is mounted in said vehicle, said sliding weight can move in response to said inertial forces on said horizontal plane upon sudden impact on said vehicle from any direction, which drops said lever pin of said lever member off from said rod of said sliding weight, causing said latching means of said lever member to release said second end of said cantilever spring which in turn presses down on said shutter button of said camera, to thereby automatically take said photographic picture at the moment of sudden impact.

10. The invention as defined in claim 9 wherein said camera is mounted to a rear-view mirror of said vehicle by a safety tie.

11. The invention as defined in claim 9 wherein said impact triggering device can be manually overridden by manually moving said rod of said sliding weight away from said lever pin of said lever member.

12. The invention as defined in claim 9 wherein said camera is mounted directly to said vehicle with a bracket.

13. The invention as defined in claim 9 wherein said camera can be removed for manual use.

14. The invention as defined in claim 9 wherein said cantilever spring is a plate with a rectangular cross-section.

15. The invention as defined in claim 9 wherein said cantilever spring is a wire with a circular cross-section.

16. An impact triggering mechanism for use with a photographic device which has an operation button for controlling operation and is mounted inside a vehicle, the impact triggering mechanism comprising:

a. a frame having an opening;

b. a sliding mass which is responsive to inertial forces and is located within said opening of said frame;

c. a spring member;

d. a pivoting arm member having a lever end engagable with said sliding mass and a latch end engagable with said spring member for preventing said spring member from pushing down on said operation button of said photographic device; and

e. means for mounting said impact triggering mechanism to said photographic device;

f. whereby when said photographic device is mounted in said vehicle, said sliding mass can move in response to said inertial forces upon sudden impact on said vehicle from any direction, which drops said lever end of said pivoting arm member off from said sliding mass, causing said latch end of said pivoting arm member to release said spring member which in turn presses down on said operation button of said photographic device at the moment of sudden impact.

17. The invention as defined in claim 16 wherein said photographic device is mounted to a rear-view mirror of said vehicle.

18. The invention as defined in claim 16 wherein said photographic device is a disposable camera.

19. The invention as defined in claim 16 wherein said photographic device is a continuous video recorder.

20. The invention as defined in claim 16 wherein said photographic device is a panoramic camera.

21. The invention as defined in claim 16 wherein said photographic device is an electronic camera.

22. The invention as defined in claim 16 wherein said photographic device is a digital camera.

23. The invention as defined in claim 16 wherein said photographic device is turn-off by said impact triggering mechanism after some selected time delay.

24. The invention as defined in claim 16 wherein said photographic device is mounted in front of a swivel so that said inertial forces swings said photographic device toward a direction of impact.