Video scope

• US 6,070,355 A
• Filed: 05/07/1998
• Issued: 06/06/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Frederick A. Day
• Original Assignee: Frederick A. Day
• Inventors: Day, Frederick A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUCKLEY, DENISE J
• Application Number:
  US09/074,088
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 89/41.05, 89/41.19, 89/41.01, 42/100, 42/106
• US Class Current: 42/106
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 27/00 Accessories; Details or attachments not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/165 using a TV-monitor
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/2611 coacting with a TV-monitor

Abstract

A gun-mounted video camera is provided including a gun. Also included is a video camera connected to the gun for accepting video images of a target of the gun.

Claims

1. A gun-mounted video camera system comprising, in combination:

a rifle including a barrel, an intermediate extent and a butt, the rifle having a scope mounted atop a rear of the intermediate extent at a first elevation for aiming the rifle;

a viewing assembly with a cylindrical configuration having a rear portion with a first length and a first diameter, the rear portion including a fiber optic cable mounted therein and extending from an inboard end of the viewing assembly, the viewing assembly further including a front portion with a second length 1/2 that of the first length and a second diameter twice that of the first diameter, the front portion including a cross-hair and a magnifying lens for augmenting the video images entering the outboard end of the viewing assembly and further including an image of the cross-hair;

a viewing assembly mount including a pair of U-shaped resilient clamps each mounted at an apex thereof in tangential relationship with the viewing assembly, wherein the clamps are removably coupled to the barrel of the rifle such that the viewing assembly is secured on the rifle at a second elevation less than the first elevation;

a real time video camera having a rectangular configuration and including a recorder connected to the fiber optic cable for recording the video images received via the viewing assembly and a display connected to the fiber optic cable for viewing the video images in real time in a first mode of operation and further viewing a playback of previously recorded video images in a second mode of operation; and

a hinge having a first end connected to a central extent of the rear portion of the viewing assembly on a side opposite that of the clamps and a second end removably coupled to a lower edge of the video camera for selectively viewing the video images in real time while the rifle is being held in a conventional manner.

2. A gun-mounted video camera system comprising:

a gun; and

a video camera connected to the gun for accepting video images of a target of the gun, wherein the video camera includes a lens mounted on the gun and a display, the display being hingably coupled to the gun;

wherein the video camera is removably coupled to the gun;

wherein the display is removably coupled to the gun; and

wherein the video camera includes a lens mounted on the gun and a recorder.