Game hunting video camera

• US 6,556,245 B1
• Filed: 03/08/1999
• Issued: 04/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Larry Allan Holmberg
• Original Assignee: Larry Allan Holmberg
• Inventors: Holmberg, Larry Allan
• Primary Examiner(s): HO, TUAN V
• Application Number:
  US09/264,587
• Time in Patent Office: 1,513 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.5222, 348/207, 348/333.01, 348/333.06, 348/333.07, 348/333.12, 348/373, 348/374, 348/375, 348/376, 356/1, 386/118, 396/426, 396/429
• US Class Current: 348/333.01
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 31/00 Hunting appliances
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 31/002 Detecting animals in a given area
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/14 Details of bows; Accessories for arc shooting sighting devices for bows F41G1/467
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/1492 with cameras; mounting of cameras on bows
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/46 for particular applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/531 being rotatable or detachable
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

A video camera is disclosed that can be mounted to a firearm or bow for recording game hunting. The camera has a quick release mount system that allows the video camera to slide on to and off of the weapon with ease. The camera has a liquid crystal display so the hunter can monitor what the camera is recording. A liquid crystal display housing member contains the liquid crystal display and acts as a lense cover when the camera is not recording. Moreover, when the liquid crystal display housing member is moved, from covering the lense, the camera start recording automatically. The video camera also has seals that protect the camera'"'"'s components from weather and other conditions likely to be encountered while game hunting.

Claims

1. A video camera recorder in combination with a firearm comprising:

a liquid crystal display;

a liquid crystal display housing member having a front side, a back side and a top side, the liquid crystal display being encased in the back side of the liquid crystal display housing member;

a main camera body having a front end and back end, the liquid crystal housing member being movably connected to the main camera body;

a camera lens of a given diameter encased in the front end of the main camera

a means for the liquid crystal display housing member to cover and uncover the lens;

a means for automatically activating the video camera when the lens is uncovered;

a firearm barrel; and

a means for mounting the main camera body to the firearm barrel whereby a hunter can monitor and record a hunt.

2. A video camera recorder in combination with a firearm as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

a weather cover, cylindrical in shape of a given length and diameter, one end of the weather cover being closed, the other end having external screw threads terminating in a shoulder;

a rubber ring having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the screw threads on the weather cover, the rubber ring being received over the screw threads and against the shoulder of the weather cover; and

the main camera body being cylindrical in shape of a given diameter and thickness, the back end having internal screw threads threadably engaging the screw threads on the weather cover and compressing the rubber ring against the shoulder of the weather cover whereby a weather proof seal is created.

3. A video camera recorder in combination with a firearm as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for mounting the main camera body to the firearm further comprising:

a camera mount member of a given length, having a top side and a bottom side, the top side having a track portion, the bottom side being solidly connected to the main camera body;

the firearm barrel having a top portion and a bottom portion;

a upper mount bracket, of a given length, being shaped to fit around the top portion of the firearm barrel;

a lower mount bracket, of a given length, having top side and a bottom side, the top side of the lower mount bracket being shaped to fit around the bottom portion of the firearm barrel and being removably attachable to the upper mount bracket, the bottom side of the lower bracket having a track portion for receiving the track portion of the camera mount member;

a means for locking the track portion of the camera mount member in the track portion of the lower mount bracket at a predetermined position; and

a means for quickly unlocking the track portion of the camera mount member from the track portion of the lower mount bracket whereby the hunter can remove the video camera from the firearm.

4. A video camera recorder in combination with a firearm as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for covering and uncovering the lens further comprising:

at least one hinge rotatably connecting the front side of the liquid crystal display housing member to the front end of the main camera body, the liquid crystal display housing member being able to rotate on its hinge connection in front of or away from the lens of the camera.

5. A video camera recorder in combination with a firearm as set forth in claim 4 further comprising:

a liquid crystal display weather shield made of a thin ridged material, being large enough to cover the back side of the liquid crystal display housing member and being pivotally connected to the top, back side of the liquid crystal display housing member, the liquid crystal display weather shield being able to rotate on its pivot connections from a position in front of the liquid crystal display housing member to a position approximately 90 degrees in relation to the position of the liquid crystal display housing member, whereby the liquid crystal display weather shield covers the liquid crystal display when it is not in use and acts as a weather shield when it is rotated to the 90 degree position; and

a means for activating the liquid crystal display when the liquid crystal display weather shield is rotated to its weather shield position.

6. A video camera recorder in combination with a firearm as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for covering and uncovering the lens further comprising:

an electric motor in association with the liquid crystal display housing member for sliding the liquid crystal display housing member in front of or away from the lens of the camera.

7. A video camera recorder in combination with a firearm as set forth in claim 6 further comprising:

a remote means for controlling the movement of the liquid crystal display housing member.

8. A video camera recorder in combination with a bow comprising:

a main camera body having a front and back end;

a bow; and

a means for mounting the main camera body to a counter weight bar of the bow whereby a hunter can monitor and record a hunt.

9. A video camera recorder in combination with a bow as set forth in claim 8 further comprising:

a liquid crystal display; and

a liquid crystal display housing member having a front side, a back side and a top side, the liquid crystal housing member being movably connected to the main camera body, the liquid crystal display being encased in the back side of the liquid crystal display housing member.

10. A video camera recorder in combination with a bow as set forth in claim 9 further comprising:

a camera lens of a given diameter encased in the front end of the main camera body;

a means for the liquid crystal display housing member to cover and uncover the lens; and

a means for automatically activating the video camera when the lens is uncovered.

11. A video camera recorder in combination with bow as set forth in claim 10 wherein said means for covering and uncovering the lens further comprising:

at least one hinge rotatably connecting the front side of the liquid crystal display housing member to the front end of the main camera body, the liquid crystal display housing member being able to rotate on its hinge connection in front of or away from the lens of the camera.

12. A video camera recorder in combination with a bow as set forth in claim 11 further comprising:

a liquid crystal display weather shield made of a thin ridged material, being large enough to cover the back side of the liquid crystal display housing member and being pivotally connected to the top, back side of the liquid crystal display housing member, the liquid crystal display weather shield being able to rotate on its pivot connections from a position in front of the liquid crystal display housing member to a position approximately 90 degrees in relation to the position of the liquid crystal display housing member, whereby the liquid crystal display weather shield covers the liquid crystal display when it is not in use and acts as a weather shield when it is rotated to the 90 degree position; and

a means for activating the liquid crystal display when the liquid crystal display weather shield is rotated to its weather shield position.

13. A video camera recorder in combination with a bow as set forth in claim 10 wherein said means for covering and uncovering the lens further comprising:

an electric motor in association with the liquid crystal display housing member for sliding the liquid crystal display housing member in front of or away from the lens of the camera.

14. A video camera recorder in combination with a bow as set forth in claim 13 further comprising:

a remote means for controlling the movement of the liquid crystal display housing member.

15. A video camera recorder in combination with a firearm as set forth in claim 8 further comprising:

a weather cover, cylindrical in shape of a given length and diameter, one end of the weather cover being closed, the other end having external screw threads terminating in a shoulder;

a rubber ring having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the screw threads on the weather cover, the rubber ring being received over the screw threads and against the shoulder of the weather cover; and

the main camera body being cylindrical in shape of a given diameter and thickness, the back end having internal screw threads threadably engaging the screw threads on the weather cover and compressing the rubber ring against the shoulder of the weather cover whereby a weather proof seal is created.

16. A video camera recorder in combination with a bow as set forth in claim 8 wherein said means for mounting the main camera body to a counter weight bar of the bow further comprising:

the bow having an insert with internal screw threads;

the counter weight bar having a given length and diameter, having a top portion and a bottom portion, one end of the counter weight bar having threads, the thread on the counter weight bar being threadably engaged with the internal screw threads in the insert of the bow;

a camera mount member of a given length, having a top side and a bottom side, the top side having a track portion, the bottom side being solidly connected to the main camera body;

a upper mount bracket, of a given length, being shaped to fit around the top portion of the counter weight bar;

a lower mount bracket, of a given length, having top side and bottom side, the top side of the lower mount bracket being shaped to fit around the bottom portion of the counter weight bar and being removably attachable to the upper mount bracket, the bottom side of the lower bracket having a track portion for receiving the track portion of the camera mount member;

a means for locking the track portion of the camera mount member in the track portion of the lower mount bracket at a predetermined position; and

a means for quickly unlocking the track portion of the camera mount member from the track portion of the lower mount bracket whereby the hunter can remove the video camera from the firearm.

17. A video camera recorder comprising:

a liquid crystal display;

a liquid crystal display housing member having a front side, a back side and a top side, the liquid crystal display being encased in the back side of the liquid crystal display housing member;

a main camera body having a front end and a back end, the liquid crystal housing member being movably connected to the main camera body;

a camera lens of a given diameter encased in the front end of the main camera body;

a means for the liquid crystal display housing member to cover and uncover the lens; and

a means for automatically activating the video camera when the lens is uncovered.

18. A video camera recorder as set forth in claim 17 wherein said means for covering and uncovering the lens further comprising:

at least one hinge rotatably connecting the front side of the liquid the front side of the liquid crystal display housing member to the front end of the main camera body, the liquid crystal display housing member being able to rotate on its hinge connection in front of or away from the lens of the camera.

19. A video camera recorder as set forth in claim 18 further comprising:

a liquid crystal display weather shield made of a thin ridged material, being large enough to cover the back side of the liquid crystal display housing member and being pivotally connected to the top, back side of the liquid crystal display housing unit, the liquid crystal display weather shield being able to rotate on it pivot connections from a position in front of the liquid crystal display housing member to a position approximately 90 degrees in relation to the position of the liquid crystal display housing member, whereby the liquid crystal display weather shield covers the liquid crystal display when it is not in use and acts as a weather shield when it is rotated to the 90 degree position; and

a means for automatically activating the liquid crystal display when the liquid crystal display weather shield is rotated to its weather shield position.

20. A video camera recorder as set forth in claim 17 wherein said means for covering and uncovering the lens further comprising:

an electric motor in association with the liquid crystal display housing member for sliding the liquid crystal display housing member in front of or away from the lens of the camera.

21. A video camera recorder as set forth in claim 20 further comprising:

a remote means for controlling the movement of the liquid crystal display housing member.

22. A video camera recorder as set forth in claim 19 further comprising:

a weather cover, cylindrical in shape of a given length and diameter, one end of the weather cover being closed, the other end having external screw threads terminating in a shoulder;

a rubber ring having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the screw threads on the weather cover, the rubber ring being received over the screw threads and against the shoulder of the weather cover; and

the main camera body being cylindrical in shape of a given diameter and thickness, the back end having internal screw threads threadably engaging the screw threads on the weather cover and compressing the rubber ring against the shoulder of the weather cover whereby a weather proof seal is created.

23. A camera recorder comprising:

a main camera body;

a camera base coupled to a first end of the main camera body;

a lens received in the camera base;

a display housing member movably coupled to the camera base to selectively cover and uncover the lens; and

a display received in the display housing member to display images received by the lens.

24. The video camera recorder of claim 23, wherein the display housing member is hingably coupled to the camera base.

25. The video camera recorder of claim 23, wherein the display housing member is coupled to selectively slide into and out of the camera base.

26. The video camera recorder of claim 23, further comprising:

an attachment means to coupled the video camera to a weapon.

27. The video camera recorder of claim 23, wherein the display is a liquid crystal display.

28. The video camera recorder of claim 23, further comprising:

a remote control unit to control operations of the video camera.

29. The video camera recorder of claim 28, wherein the remote control is adapted to be removably attached to a forearm of a firearm.

30. The video camera recorder of claim 23, further comprising:

a record switch coupled to selectively activate the video camera to begin recording when the display housing member uncovers the lens.

31. The video camera recorder of claim 30, further comprising:

an on/off record switch coupled to activate and deactivate the video camera; and

a relay coupled to activate the on/off switch when the record switch is activated, wherein each time the display housing member uncovers the lens the video camera begins to record.

32. The video camera recorder of claim 23, further comprising:

a weather shield rotatably coupled to the display housing member to selectively cover and uncover the display.

33. The video camera recorder of claim 32, wherein when the weather shield is rotated to uncover the display it shields the display from weather.

34. The video camera recorder of claim 32, further comprising;

a display switch coupled to activate the display when the weather shield is rotated to uncover the display.