Camera stabilizer platform and camcorder therefor

• US 6,773,110 B1
• Filed: 07/18/2003
• Issued: 08/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Charles H. Gale
• Original Assignee: Charles H. Gale
• Inventors: Gale, Charles H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Adams, Russell
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Arthur A
• Application Number:
  US10/622,219
• Time in Patent Office: 389 Days
• Field of Search: 396/421, 396/420, 396/425, 396/426, 348/211.99, 348/211.2, 348/211.4, 348/376, 352/243
• US Class Current: 352/243
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/04 for supporting on, or holding steady relative to, a person, e.g. by chains , e.g. rifle butt or pistol grip supports, supports attached to the chest or head apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs or for projecting or viewing them G03B
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/08 Foot or support base
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof

Abstract

A stabilizing platform for attachment to the bottom of the camcorder to steady the filming of subjects with the use of fiber optics positioned along the body of the camcorder to transmit remote control infrared signals to an infrared receiving port on the camcorder. The platform includes a two piece bar that is held together with a locking bolt and includes a mounting screw which attaches the camcorder to the top of the platform and also attaches a handle below the platform. The handle has a locking pin to prevent the handle from rotating with respect to the platform. A remote control is attached to the handle. The remote control also can be imbedded into the handle so that the infrared signal can go from the handle directly into the fiber optics thus giving the user instant control of the signal, and improve the quality of the picture. The fiber optic fibers can be attached along a surface of the platform or along the surface of the camcorder by tape or an adhesive.

Claims

1. A camera stabilizer comprising:

a platform having a first end connectable to a camera and a second end extending outwardly from the first end to rest on a shoulder of a camera operator;

a handle locked to the platform having camera controls contained thereon; and

means extending along an exterior surface of the platform for transmitting infrared camera control signals from the handle to a signal receiving port on the camera.

2. The stabilizer of claim 1, wherein the handle is locked to the platform by having a locking pin biased from the handle into a bore in the platform.

3. The stabilizer of claim 2, wherein the locking pin is at least partially positioned in a bore in the handle.

4. The stabilizer of claim 2, wherein the locking pin is biased by a spring.

5. The stabilizer of claim 4, wherein the spring is positioned in the bore below the locking pin.

6. The stabilizer of claim 2, wherein the locking pin includes a knob for manually moving the locking pin.

7. The stabilizer of claim 1, wherein the means for transmitting the camera control signals further includes a signal bore extending through the platform.

8. The stabilizer of claim 1, wherein the handle has a remote control containing the camera controls.

9. The stabilizer of claim 8, wherein the remote control is removably mounted on the handle.

10. The stabilizer of claim 1, wherein the means for transmitting camera control signals comprises a fiber optic fiber and an adhesive.

11. A camera platform comprising:

a shoulder section;

a camera section adjacent to the shoulder section for supporting a camera;

a handle lockably attached to the camera section;

a remote control removably attached to the handle; and

a fiber optic fiber extending along an exterior surface of the camera section for transmitting infrared control signals from the remote control to a signal receiving port on the video camera.

12. The platform of claim 11, wherein the handle is lockably attached by a locking pin extending from the handle into the camera section.

13. The platform of claim 12, wherein the locking pin is biased by a spring.

14. The platform of claim 11, wherein the camera section has a signal bore extending therethrough, such that control signals generated by the remote control can pass through the signal bore.

15. The platform of claim 13, wherein the locking pin and the spring are positioned in a bore in the handle.

16. The platform of claim 13 wherein the locking pin includes a knob for disengaging the locking pin from the camera section.

17. A camera stabilizer comprising a platform having a fiber optic port extending therethrough, a fiber optic fiber extending through the fiber optic port and extending along an exterior surface of the platform to a signal receiving port on a camera positioned on the platform, and a handle having means for locking the handle to the platform.

18. The camera stabilizer of claim 17, wherein the means for locking the handle to the platform is a locking pin.

19. The camera stabilizer of claim 18, wherein the locking pin is biased into engagement with the platform.

20. The camera stabilizer of claim 18, wherein the locking pin includes a knob to disengage the locking pin from the plateform.