Evidence recorder and method of securing

• US 5,400,185 A
• Filed: 07/08/1994
• Issued: 03/21/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Frank C. Scerbo III
• Original Assignee: Frank C. Scerbo III
• Inventors: Scerbo, Frank C. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Psitos, A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WAMSLEY, PATRICK G
• Application Number:
  US08/272,077
• Time in Patent Office: 256 Days
• Field of Search: 360/5, 360/57, 348/143, 348/151, 348/152, 348/335, 348/158, 455/100, 455/351, 455/66, 455/18, 455/89, 340/825.7, 354/81, 42/1.01, 42/106, 358/479, 381/169
• US Class Current: 360/5
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19621 Portable camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19669 Event triggers storage or change of storage policy
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19671 Addition of non-video data, i.e. metadata, to video stream
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 31/00 Arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus with cameras or projectors G03B31/00 ; recording/reproducing of music for electrophonic musical instruments G10H1/0033; automatic arrangements for answering calls or for recording messages for absent subscribers H04M1/64; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with dictation recording and playback systems H04M11/10; connection of TV recorder with other related apparatus, e.g. TV camera or receiver, in which the TV signal is significantly involved H04N, e.g. H04N23/00, H04N5/765; combination of radio or TV with other apparatus, e.g. with vehicles H05K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/025 Portable cases

Abstract

A non-erasing audio and/or video tamper-proof recorder is mounted on a belt secured to the body of the taping person, and uses a preidentified recording substrate such as a tape or disk or cassette of which its assigned code identity is maintained in separate distant locked records and stationary files thereof by separate security storage personnel after recording is completed on the recording substrate. There is body mounting structure that secures the recorder in a security fashion avoiding ability to rapidly remove the recorder and/or its enclosed recording substrate from the body of the taping person. The recorder includes multiple coordinated turn-off switching elements requiring use of both hands to terminate (turn-off) taping. The recorder contains a microphone and/or video lense positioned in an orientation for recording events occuring substantially in front of the person wearing the mounted recorder. The recorder includes a code mechanism required to be actuated in order to open the recorder to remove a previously inserted recording substrate.

Claims

1. A security person-mountable recorder comprising in combination:

a) a recording means for recording at-least one of audio and video signals, for providing interior space for containing a recording substrate therein and for intermittently locking and unlocking a recording substrate therein and for intermittent alternate code-locking and unlocking a recording substrate detainably within said space; and

b) said recording substrate alternately insertable into and removable from said space, said recording substrate being recordable of signals that are at-least one of audio and video signals; and

c) recorder securing means for intermittently substantially fixed and long-term mounting of said recording means onto at-least one of (1) a wearer-person and (2) an article secured to a wearer-person, in an orientation by which said recording means is functional to record on said recording substrate said signals, and for intermittent detachment of said recording means, said intermittent detachment requiring delayed detachment over a substantially major time lapse sufficient to discourage at least one of unlawful or unauthorized quick detachment from the wearer-person.

2. The security person-mountable recorder of claim 1, in which said recording means is non-functional for erasing said signals when said signals are in a state of having been recorded on said recording substrate by said recording means.

3. The security person-mountable recorder of claim 2, in which said recording substrate includes identification that is at-least one of inseparable structure and recorded identifiable data that is specifically identifiable of that particular recording substrate, and separate records being inclusive of said identification maintained at a location distant from said recording means.

4. The security person-mountable recorder of claim 3, in which said location is within locked files that are intermittently unlockable and maintainable apart and away from said recording means and from said wearer-person designated to utilize said recording substrate, such that a separate probative record of each separate recording substrate is maintainable, and including said locked files, and said locked files being of at-least one of size and shape as to be substantially fixed immovable file structure whereby the identification is non-transportable by said wearer-person on which said recording means is mounted by said recorder securing means.

5. The security person-mountable recorder of claim 4, in which said recording means includes an off-on switch for alternately beginning at-least one of initial and continuing recording on said said substrate and in which said recording means further includes at-least an on-lock having multiple deactivation switch members jointly functional to stop recording of said signals when jointly concurrently actuated.

6. The security person-mountable recorder of claim 5, in which said recorder securing means includes tamper-proof screws securably mountable for at-least partially attaining said substantially fixed and long-term mounting.

7. The security person-mountable recorder of claim 6, in which said recording means includes an integral microphone in a mounted orientation such that spoken sound is ascertainable and recordable as said signals.

8. The security person-mountable recorder of claim 7, including said article, said article consisting essentially of a body-mountable belt having body-mounting fastening structure of a type requiring extended dismounting time of at-least one minute.

9. The security person-mountable recorder of claim 8, in which said body-mounting fastening structure is of a type requiring at-least three minutes.

10. The security person-mountable recorder of claim 9, in which said intermittent detachment requires delayed detachment over a period of three minutes.

11. The security person-mountable recorder of claim 10, in which said body-mountable belt includes at-least one horizontally-extending strap when mounted on said wearer-person, and in which said recorder securing means includes structure for mounting said recording means in an upright forwardly-facing direction.

12. The security person-mountable recorder of claim 10, in which said body-mountable belt includes at-least one diagonally-extending strap when mounted on said wearer-person, and in which said recorder securing means includes structure for mounting said recording means in an upright forwardly-facing direction.

13. The security person-mountable recorder of claim 1, in which said body-mountable belt includes at-least one horizontally-extending strap when mounted on said wearer-person, and in which said recorder securing means includes structure for mounting said recording means in an upright forwardly-facing direction.

14. The security person-mountable recorder of claim 1, in which said body-mountable belt includes at-least one diagonally-extending strap when mounted on said wearer-person, and in which said recorder securing means includes structure for mounting said recording means in an upright forwardly-facing direction.

15. The security person-mountable recorder of claim 1, in which said recording substrate includes identification that is at-least one of inseparable structure and recorded identifiable data that is specifically identifiable of that particular recording substrate, and separate records being inclusive of said identification maintained at a location distant from said recording means.

16. The security person-mountable recorder of claim 15, in which said location is within said locked files that are intermittently unlockable and maintainable apart and away from said recording means and from said wearer-person designated to utilize said recording substrate, such that a separate probative record of each separate recording substrate is maintainable, and including said locked files, and said locked files being of at-least one of size and shape as to be substantially fixed immovable file structure whereby the identification is non-transportable by said wearer-person on which said recording means is mounted by said recorder securing means.

17. The security person-mountable recorder of claim 1, in which said recording means includes an off-on switch for alternately beginning at-least one of initial and continuing recording on said said substrate and in which said recording means further includes at-least an on-lock having multiple deactivation switch members jointly functional to stop recording of said signals when jointly concurrently actuated.

18. The security person-mountable recorder of claim 1, in which said recorder securing means includes tamper-proof screws securably mountable for at-least partially attaining said substantially fixed and long-term mounting.

19. The security person-mountable recorder of claim 1, in which said recording means includes an integral microphone in a mounted orientation such that spoken sound is ascertainable and recordable as said signals.

20. The security person-mountable recorder of claim 1, including said article, said article consisting essentially of a body-mountable belt having body-mounting fastening structure of a type requiring extended dismounting time of at-least one minute.

21. The security person-mountable recorder of claim 1, in which said body-mounting fastening structure is of a type requiring at-least three minutes.

22. The security person-mountable recorder of claim 1, in which said intermittent detachment requires delayed detachment over a period of three minutes.

23. The security person-mountable recorder of claim 10, including sealing means for sealing-closed said recording substrate subsequent to completion of recording on said recording substrate and it removal from said recording means.

24. The security person-mountable recorder of claim 1, including sealing means for sealing-closed said recording substrate subsequent to completion of recording on said recording substrate and it removal from said recording means.

25. A method of obtaining irrefutable evidence of conduct of a recorded person, comprising employing the security person-mountable recorder of claim 7, said employing including a) establishing identifiable data on the recording substrate, b) thereafter locking the recording substrate within the recording substrate interior space, c) substantially fixed and long-term mounting said recording means onto at-least one of (1) said wearer-person and (2) an article secured to said wearer-person, in said orientation by which said recording means is functional to record on said recording substrate said signals, d) thereafter recording at-least one of audio and video signals, creating said identifiable data to be specifically identifiable of the recording substrate, and e) thereafter removing said recording substrate and substantially simultaneously thereafter placing and storing the recording substrate with said separate records at said distant location within said locked files.

26. The method of claim 25, including maintaining said identification in said separate records within said locked files maintained at said location distant from said recording means.

27. The method of claim 26, including at least one of prior to, simultaneous with and subsequent to said establishing of said identification, establishing said separate records at said location and placing said separate records under security of a security person other than said wearer-person.

28. The method of claim 27, including sealing-closed said recording substrate subsequent to completion of recording on said recording substrate and it removal from said recording means.

29. The method of claim 25, including sealing-closed said recording substrate subsequent to completion of recording on said recording substrate and it removal from said recording means.

30. A security person-mountable recorder consisting essentially of:

a) a recording means for recording at-least one of audio and video signals, for providing interior space for containing a recording substrate therein and for intermittently locking and unlocking a recording substrate therein and for intermittent alternate code-locking and unlocking a recording substrate detainably within said space; and

b) said recording substrate alternately insertable into and removable from said space, said recording substrate being recordable of signal that are at-least one of audio and video signals; and

c) recorder securing means for intermittently substantially fixed and long-term mounting of said recording means onto at-least one of (1) a wearer-person and (2) an article secured to a wearer-person, in an orientation by which said recording means is functional to record on said recording substrate said signals, and for intermittent detachment of said recording means, said intermittent detachment requiring delayed detachment over a substantially major time lapse sufficient to discourage at least one of unlawful or unauthorized quick detachment from the wearer-person.

31. The security person-mountable recorder of claim 30, including sealing means for sealing-closed said recording substrate subsequent to completion of recording on said recording substrate and it removal from said recording means.