Camera Mount

• US 5,664,750 A
• Filed: 11/14/1995
• Issued: 09/09/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edward Cohen
• Original Assignee: Edward Cohen
• Inventors: Cohen, Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Braun, Leslie A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wood, Kimberly T.
• Application Number:
  US08/557,830
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 248/276.1, 248/278.1, 248/288.31, 248/290, 248/181.1, 248/288.51, 248/231.71, 248/229.15, 248/514, 248/535, 248/207
• US Class Current: 248/231.71
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/106 for ball joints
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/14 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06 ; adjustable mountings employing universal joints for lighting devices F21V21/26 - F21V21/30
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2078 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/40 by means of coilable or bendable legs or spiral shaped legs
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/022 by friction
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/561 Support related camera accessories

Abstract

A camera mount is disclosed that includes a base clamp, with a pair of opposing adjustable gripping surfaces to engage an environmental support, such as a bookshelf or a tree branch. In the preferred embodiment, removably attached to the base, is an adaptor designed to receive the mast portions of the device. The adaptor has a plurality of apertures for receiving the first mast portion, thus increasing the possible angles at which the masts can be set relative to the base clamp. Additionally, in the preferred embodiment, each of the mast portions has an integral ball joint that allows the mast to have a "zig-zag" shape through various angles, if desired. This allows the field of view of the camera to avoid intervening obstacles, and aids in concealment, if desired. In a second embodiment of the invention, the adaptor and masts are replaced by a resiliently deformable "goose neck" arrangement.

Claims

1. A camera mount for adjustably fixing a camera in a predetermined position in relation to a fixed support surface, comprising:

a base clamp portion for attaching said camera mount to the fixed support surface, said base clamp portion including a fixed leg terminating in a first gripping surface and an adjustable leg terminating in a second gripping surface;

an intermediate adaptor portion including removable attachment apparatus removably attaching said intermediate adaptor portion to said base clamp portion, said intermediate adaptor portion comprising a plurality of socket members each including a mast receiving aperture;

a mast portion having a first end including adaptor portion attachment apparatus attaching said mast portion to any one said mast receiving aperture of said adaptor portion and a second distal end including camera support attachment apparatus attaching said mast portion to a camera support member, said mast portion including adjustment apparatus for fixing said mast portion such that said camera support member is fixedly held in a predetermined position relative to the fixed support surface.

2. The camera mount as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mast portion further comprises a first mast member and a second mast member, said first mast member having an adaptor end including adaptor portion attachment apparatus and a second, distal end terminating in an adjustable ball receiving clamp, said second mast member having a first ball member adapted to cooperate with said adjustable ball receiving clamp of said distal end of said first mast member, and said second mast member also having a second, distal camera support ball receiving clamp and where said camera support attachment apparatus comprises a camera support ball member integral with said camera support member, said camera support ball member adapted to cooperate with said second mast member camera support ball receiving clamp;

whereby

both said second mast member and said camera support member may be fixed in relation to said first mast member and said second mast member, respectively.

3. The camera mount as claimed in claim 2, wherein said adaptor portion attachment apparatus comprises a ball detent.

4. The camera mount as claim 1, wherein said mast portion comprises a resiliently deformable tube.

5. The camera mount as claimed in claim 1, each one of said socket members oriented in a direction different from that of all other said socket members.