Video recording traveling cart

• US 5,528,453 A
• Filed: 04/03/1996
• Issued: 06/18/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Video Express Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Video Express Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Kirkland, Steve M., Berman, Jessica R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tolin, Gerald P.
• Application Number:
  US08/415,190
• Time in Patent Office: 76 Days
• Field of Search: 354/81, 354/293, 307/150, 280/33.995, 280/33.997, 280/47.371, 280/47.2, 280/47.26, 280/47.33, 222/25, 222/26, 222/30, 206/328, 206/332, 221/2, 221/92, 220/908, 220/909, 220/485, 248/129, 248/130, 248/135, 248/136, 248/316.7, 248/455, 312/114, 312/117, 312/249.8, 312/249.11, 312/7.1, 312/7.2, 312/213, 312/236, 312/311, 348/376, 348/838, 358/296, 358/302, 358/312, 358/471, 358/479, 358/906, 358/909.1, 361/600-602, 361/622, 361/625, 361/641, 361/658, 361/679, 361/724-726, 361/728, 361/807, 361/809, 361/810, 361/829, 361/826, 361/827
• US Class Current: 361/625
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 5/14 with built-in rolling means
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 1/125 by means of telescoping elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/28 Mobile studios

Abstract

A recording equipment travel cart for easily transporting video recording equipment used in video depositions, wherein the cart generally comprises three compartments, wherein one compartment is detachable from the main compartment, while another compartment is hingedly attached to the main compartment, and casters are provided for easily rolling and transporting the cart. In addition, the recording equipment travel cart includes foam cushion lining on the interior section to protect the equipment and cabling to make the required connections with the equipment.

Claims

1. A video and audio recording equipment storage and travel cart for supporting and moving video and audio recording equipment, including a plurality of cables, video and audio control components, and a video camera, conveniently between locations, said cart comprising:

a main bay, vertically oriented, said main bay for storing the video and audio control components, said main bay defining an open front end and an open back end;

means for securely mounting the video and audio control components in said main bay so that the control components remain substantially stationery when said cart is moved, said mounting means fixedly secured within said main bay;

a rear bay for storing the plurality of cables so as to facilitate connection with the video and audio recording equipment, said rear bay hingedly attached along a first edge to said main bay;

a front bay, for storing a video camera, releasably attached to said main bay;

wheel means, rotatably attached to said cart, for traversing said cart along the ground; and

handle means, retractably attached to said cart, for pulling said cart.

2. A cart as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

means for releasably fastening a second edge of said rear bay to said main bay, said second edge oppositely disposed the second edge.

3. A cart as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

means for releasably fastening said front bay to said main bay, said releasably fastening means partially attached to said main bay, and partially attached to said front bay.

4. A cart as recited in claim 3, further comprising rubber foot stops depending from a bottom end of said main bay to balance and support said cart.

5. A video and audio recording equipment storage and travel cart for supporting and moving video and audio recording equipment, including a plurality of cables, video and audio control components, and a video camera, conveniently between locations, said cart comprising:

a main bay, vertically oriented, said main bay for storing the video and audio control components, said main bay defining an open front end and an open back end;

means for securely mounting the video and audio control components in said main bay so that the video and audio control components remain substantially stationary when said cart is moved, said mounting means fixedly secured within said main bay;

a rear bay, vertically oriented, for storing the plurality of cables, said rear bay defining a closed back end and an open front end, said rear bay open front end being contiguous with said main bay open back end so that the cables may be directly connected to the video and audio control components;

means hingedly joining a first side edge defined by said rear bay with a corresponding first side edge defined by said main bay for swinging said rear bay open;

means for releasably fastening a second side edge defined by said rear bay, opposite said first side edge, to a second corresponding edge defined by said main bay, opposite said first corresponding edge, said releasable fastening means partially attached to said main bay and partially attached to said rear bay;

a front bay, vertically oriented, for storing the video camera, inside an inner volume said front bay defining an open back end and a closed front end, said front bay open back end being contiguous with said main bay open front end when attached to said main bay, said front bay being releasably attached to said main bay;

means for releasably fastening said main bay to said front bay, said releasably fastening means partially attached to said main bay and partially attached to said front bay; and

wheel means rotatably attached to said rear bay for easily traversing said cart.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 5 further comprising a handle means retractably attached to said rear bay for pulling said cart.

7. An apparatus as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

a plurality of cable collecting means affixed in said cart for collecting the cables into select groups to categorically store the cable groups so that the cable groups may be selectively separated.

8. A cart as recited in claim 7, wherein said plurality of cable collecting means comprises:

at least one reel affixed inside said rear bay, said reel having a rotation means disposed within said reel for collecting select cables into said reel when said rotation means turns;

means for locking the select cables in place when the select cables are extended to a desired length, said cable locking means operatively associated with said rotation means; and

means for automatically retracting the select cables previously extended back into said at least one reel, said automatic retracting means operatively associated with said rotation means.

9. A cart as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

an electrically operated cable reeling means disposed in said cart for automatically extending the cables for use and for automatically retracting the cables back into said electrically operated cable reeling means for storage.

10. A cart as recited in claim 9, said electrically operated cable reeling means being disposed in said main bay, said electrically operated cable means having a plurality of spools for categorically collecting the cables.

11. A cart as recited in claim 7, wherein said plurality of cable collecting means comprises:

an electrically operated cable reeling means for automatically extending and retracting cables, said electrically operated cable means having a plurality of spools;

at least one mechanical reel for collecting cables secured in said electrical reeling means, said at least one mechanical reel having means for locking cables in place when extended to a desired length and a means for rotatably retracting cables automatically when said means for locking is unlocked; and

means for housing cables attachable to a video camera.

12. A cart as recited in claim 5, further comprising a foam cushion liner volume the inner lining of said front bay for absorbing impact so as to protect the video camera stored therein from damage.

13. A cart as recited in claim 12, wherein said foam cushion lining defines a cut out that conforms to the shape of the video camera stored therein.

14. A cart as recited in claim 12, further comprising:

at least one cover situated between said front bay and said main bay when said front bay is attached to said main bay so as to prevent the video camera stored in said front bay from contacting components stored in said main bay; and

at least one strap, secured to said front bay, having a fastening means for for securing an end of said at least one strap so as to secure said at least one cover over said front bay open back end.

15. A cart as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

a panel closing off at least a portion of said main bay open back end so as to protect components in said main bay; and

a plurality of cable adapters mounted to said panel for electrically interfacing cables in said rear bay to components in said main bay.

16. A cart as recited in claim 11, further comprising means for supplying power to components mounted in said main bay, said power supplying means affixed inside said main bay.

17. A cart as recited in claim 7, wherein said means for securely mounting video and audio control components in said main bay comprise a plurality of shelves and a plurality of brackets having a plurality of apertures for supporting said shelves and for supplying a support means to support said components.

18. A cart as recited in claim 5, wherein said means for releasably fastening comprises a buckle and a buckle engaging tab, wherein said buckle engages said tab when fastening.

19. A video and audio recording equipment storage and traveling cart for supporting and moving recording equipment conveniently between locations, said cart comprising:

a main bay, vertically oriented, said main bay for storing video and audio control components, said main bay defining an open front end and an open back end;

a plurality of brackets fixably secured within said main bay;

a plurality of shelves mounted in said main bay and supported by said plurality of brackets, said shelves and said brackets for supporting video and audio components;

a means for securing said components to said brackets;

a rear bay, vertically oriented for storing a plurality of cables used to interface video and audio control components with video cameras and microphones, said rear bay defining a closed back end and an open front end, said rear bay open front end being contiguous with said main bay open back end so that the cables may be directly connected to the video and audio control component;

a means for hingedly joining a first side edge defined by said rear bay with a first common side edge defined by said main bay so that said rear bay swings open away from said main bay;

a front bay, vertically oriented, for storing a video camera in side an inner volume defined by said front bay, said front bay defining an open back end and a closed front end, said front bay open back end being contiguous with said main bay open front end, said front bay releasably attached to said main bay;

means for releasably fastening a second side edge defined by said rear bay to a corresponding second edge defined by said main bay, said means for releasably fastening secured to said rear bay and said main bay;

means for releasably fastening said front bay to said main bay so as to conceal said main bay open front end, said means for releasably fastening said front bay to said main bay being partially connected to said main bay and partially attached to said front bay;

wheel means rotatably attached to said rear bay for easily traversing said cart;

at least one spring-loaded reel having a rotation means disposed within said reel for collecting cables into said reel when said rotation means turns, said spring loaded reel also for automatically retracting cables previously extended from said reel back into said reel, said automatic retracting means being operatively associated with said rotation means;

a foam cushion lining the inner volume of said front bay for absorbing impact so as to protect a video camera stored therein from damage;

means for electrically reeling microphone cables disposed in said cart, said means for electrically reeling microphone cables automatically extending and retracting microphone cables; and

means for supplying power to components mounted in said main bay, said power supply means disposed inside said cart.