Universal camera bracket that allows 180 degree of pitch adjustment

• US 6,762,790 B1
• Filed: 12/20/2002
• Issued: 07/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC (Estate of Heinz Hermann Thiele)
• Original Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC (Estate of Heinz Hermann Thiele)
• Inventors: Matko, Mark A., Garrison, Darwin A., Swansegar, Christine G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Christensen, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): GENCO, BRIAN C
• Application Number:
  US10/324,879
• Publication Number:
  US 20040119881A1
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 348/73, 348/75, 348/95, 348/208.7, 348/336.06, 348/333.07, 348/373, 348/375, 348/374, 348/376, 348/118, 348/148, 348/143, 348/787, 348/836, 396/342, 396/427, 396/428, 396/419, 396/341, 396/343, 396/344, 396/345, 396/347, 250/239, 257/433
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0052 using screws, bolts, rivets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence

Abstract

A universal bracket is disclosed that allows 180 degree of pitch adjustment for a camera. The camera has two brackets that can adapt to various mounting angles on any vehicle surface configuration. In addition, the universal bracket is designed to be rigid and prevent the camera from vibrating in order to prevent a blurred picture on a display unit The system is designed to be installed by a single person.

Claims

1. A universal camera bracket for use on a vehicle, comprising:

a base bracket including a base leg and two end legs extending from said base leg, said base leg being adapted to be mounted on a surface, each one of said end legs having a respective pivot opening centered on a pivot axis of said bracket, each one of said end legs having a respective first arcuate slot that is centered on said pivot axis and that has a first radius of curvature;

a camera bracket including a base leg and two end legs extending from said base leg, said base leg of said camera bracket being adapted to support a camera, each one of said end legs of said camera bracket having a pivot opening on said pivot axis and having first and second adjustment openings spaced from said pivot axis by a distance equal to said first radius of curvature;

pivot members extending through said pivot openings of said camera bracket end legs and said pivot openings of said base bracket end legs to support said camera bracket on said base bracket for pivotal movement relative to said base bracket about said pivot axis and relative to a surface on which said base bracket is mounted;

adjustment members extensible through said first adjustment openings of said camera bracket end legs and through said first arcuate slots of said base bracket end legs thereby to adjustably position and lock said camera bracket in any selected one of a plurality of different pivot positions relative to said base bracket when said base leg of said base bracket is mounted on a generally horizontal surface;

said adjustment members being extensible through said second adjustment openings of said camera bracket end legs and through said first arcuate slots of said base bracket end legs thereby to adjustably position and lock said camera bracket in any selected one of a plurality of different pivot positions along an arcuate path relative to said base bracket when said base leg of said base bracket is mounted on a generally vertical surface.

2. A bracket as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said camera bracket is pivotable on said base bracket within about a ninety degree range centered on the horizontal when said adjustment members extend through said first adjustment openings of said camera bracket end legs and through said first arcuate slots of said base bracket end legs and said base leg of said base bracket is mounted on a generally horizontal surface;

said camera bracket is pivotable on said base bracket within about a ninety degree range centered on the horizontal when said adjustment members extend through said second adjustment openings of said camera bracket end legs and through said first arcuate slots of said base bracket end legs when said base leg of said base bracket is mounted on a generally vertical surface.

3. A bracket as set forth in claim 1 further including first and second aiming adjusters on said camera bracket for supporting a camera on said camera bracket, said first aiming adjuster being adjustable within a range of up to about ten degrees in a first direction and said second aiming adjuster being adjustable within a range of up to about ten degrees in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction.

4. A bracket as set forth in claim 1 further including first and second aiming adjusters on said camera bracket for supporting a camera on said camera bracket, said first aiming adjuster being adjustable within a range of up to about ten degrees in a first direction and said second aiming adjuster being adjustable within a range of up to about ten degrees in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction.

5. A bracket as set forth in claim 3 further including a pivot assembly on said camera bracket, said first and second aiming adjusters and said pivot assembly together supporting a camera on said camera bracket, said camera pivoting about said pivot assembly relative to said camera bracket during adjustment of said first and second aiming adjusters.

6. A bracket as set forth in claim 1 wherein said base leg of said base bracket includes first and second fastener openings, said bracket further including a stud plate comprising first and second studs and a cross-piece joining said first and second studs, said first and second studs being extensible through said first and second fastener openings in said base leg of said base bracket and said cross-piece holding said stud plate on said base bracket, said bracket further including a plurality of spacers that can selectively be associated with said first and second studs of said stud plate during mounting or said base bracket to a surface with said first and second studs to change the orientation of said base bracket relative to the surface on which said base bracket is mounted.

7. A bracket as set forth in claim 3 wherein said base leg of said base bracket includes first and second fastener openings, said bracket further including a stud plate comprising first and second studs and a cross-piece joining said first and second studs, said first and second studs being extensible through said first and second fastener openings in said base leg of said base bracket and said cross-piece holding said stud plate on said base bracket, said bracket further including a plurality of spacers that can selectively be associated with said first and second studs of said stud plate during mounting or said base bracket to a surface with said first and second studs to change the orientation of said base bracket relative to the surface on which said base bracket is mounted.