Camera actuator

• US 7,048,453 B1
• Filed: 07/07/2004
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wintron Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: WinTron Technologies
• Inventors: Gaunt, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tokar, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): SUTHAR, RISHI S
• Application Number:
  US10/710,390
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 396/420, 396/424, 396/425, 396/427, 396/428, 248/187.1, 248/176.1, 352/243, 348/219.1, 348/373, 348/375, 348/376, 348/82, 348/148
• US Class Current: 396/420
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/18 with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2092 comprising means allowing depth adjustment, i.e. forward-backward translation of the head relatively to the undercarriage
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/028 by positive interaction, e.g. male-female connections

Abstract

A camera actuator having a main body, camera support, camera link, push arm and actuator cable. The main body rotatably mounts to a pole. The camera support extends from the front of the main body. The camera support is adapted to rotatably receive a camera. The camera link connects to the camera, where movement of the camera link moves the camera about the camera support. The push arm extends from the front of the main body and is connected to the camera link. The push arm mounts in the main body such that the push arm slides in and out of the front of the main body to rotate the camera. The push arm mounts in the main body such that rotation of the push arm rotates the main body. The actuator cable extends into the rear of the main body from the pole and connects to the push arm.

Claims

1. A camera actuator, adapted for mounting on a pole and adapted to receive a camera, comprising:

a main body having a front and a rear, said rear of said main body adapted to rotatably mount to the pole;

at least one camera support extending from said front of said main body, said at least one camera support adapted to receive the camera such that the camera can rotate about said at least one camera support;

a camera link adapted to be connected to the camera wherein movement of said camera link moves the camera to rotate about said at least one camera support;

a push arm extending from said front of said main body connected to said camera link, said push arm mounted in said main body such that said push arm slides in and out of said front of said main body to rotate the camera, said push arm mounted in said main body such that rotation of said push arm rotates said main body;

an actuator cable extending into said rear of said main body from the pole, said actuator cable connected to said push arm such that pushing and pulling of said actuator cable pushes and pulls said push arm and rotation of said actuator cable rotates said push arm.

2. The camera actuator of claim 1, wherein there are two camera supports extending from said front of said main body which are adapted so that the camera can be mounted to rotate between said two camera supports.

3. The camera actuator of claim 1, wherein said actuator cable is a speedometer cable.

4. The camera actuator of claim 1, wherein said push arm includes at least one edge;

wherein said front of said main body is solid with a push arm hole which allows passage of said push arm; and

wherein said push arm hole includes at least one edge to interact with said at least one edge of said push arm to cause rotation of said main body due to rotation of said push arm.

5. The camera actuator of claim 4, wherein said push arm hole is square.

6. The camera actuator of claim 1, wherein said camera link is rotatably attached to the camera and rotatably attached to said push arm to effect rotation of the camera due to movement of said push arm in and out of said main body.

7. The camera actuator of claim 1, further including a rear bearing mounted in said rear of said main body;

and

further including a rotation head, said rotation head including a front section and a rear section, said rotation head including an actuator cable hole to allow said actuator cable to freely pass through said rotation head, said front section connected to said rear bearing so that said rear bearing and said rotation head act as one together, said rear section adapted for connection to the pole such that rotation of said actuator cable rotates said push arm which rotates said main body, whereby said main body rotates about the pole due to said rear bearing and interconnection of said rotation head with said rear bearing and the pole.

8. The camera actuator of claim 6, wherein said main body and said rotation head include passages for a camera wire to run from the camera to the pole.

9. The camera actuator of claim 1, wherein said push arm includes at least one edge;

wherein said front of said main body is solid with a push arm hole which allows passage of said push arm;

wherein said push arm hole includes at least one edge to interact with said at least one edge of said push arm to cause rotation of said main body due to rotation of said push arm;

further including a rear bearing mounted in said rear of said main body;

and further including a rotation head, said rotation head including a front section and a rear section, said rotation head including and an actuator cable hole to allow said actuator cable to freely pass through said rotation head, said front section connected to said rear bearing so that said rear bearing and said rotation head act as one together, said rear section adapted for connection to the pole such that rotation of said actuator cable rotates said push arm which rotates said main body, whereby said main body rotates about the pole due to said rear bearing and interconnection of said rotation head with said rear bearing and the pole.

10. The camera actuator of claim 9, wherein there are two camera supports extending from said front of said main body which are adapted so that the camera can be mounted to rotate between said two camera supports.

11. The camera actuator of claim 9, wherein said actuator cable is a speedometer cable.

12. The camera actuator of claim 9, wherein said camera link is rotatably attached to the camera and rotatably attached to said push arm to effect rotation of the camera due to movement of said push arm in and out of said main body.

13. The camera actuator of claim 7, wherein there are two camera supports extending from said front of said main body which are adapted so that the camera can be mounted to rotate between said two camera supports.

14. The camera actuator of claim 7, wherein said actuator cable is a speedometer cable.

15. The camera actuator of claim 7, wherein said camera link is rotatably attached to the camera and rotatably attached to said push arm to effect rotation of the camera due to movement of said push arm in and out of said main body.

16. A camera actuator kit for addition to a pole, said camera actuator kit adapted for mounting on a pole and adapted to receive a camera, comprising:

a main body having a front and a rear, said rear of said main body adapted to rotatably mount to the pole;

at least one camera support extending from said front of said main body, said at least one camera support adapted to receive the camera such that the camera can rotate about said at least one camera support;

a camera link adapted to be connected to the camera wherein movement of said camera link moves the camera to rotate about said at least one camera support;

a push arm extending from said front of said main body connected to said camera link, said push arm mounted in said main body such that said push arm slides in and out of said front of said main body to rotate the camera, said push arm mounted in said main body such that rotation of said push arm rotates said main body;

an actuator cable extending into said rear of said main body from the pole, said actuator cable connected to said push arm such that pushing and pulling of said actuator cable pushes and pulls said push arm and rotation of said actuator cable rotates said push arm.

17. The camera actuator of claim 16, wherein there are two camera supports extending from said front of said main body which are adapted so that the camera can be mounted to rotate between said two camera supports.

18. The camera actuator of claim 16, wherein said push arm includes at least one edge;

wherein said front of said main body is solid with a push arm hole which allows passage of said push arm; and

wherein said push arm hole includes at least one edge to interact with said at least one edge of said push arm to cause rotation of said main body due to rotation of said push arm.

19. The camera actuator of claim 16, wherein said camera link is rotatably attached to the camera and rotatably attached to said push arm to effect rotation of the camera due to movement of said push arm in and out of said main body.

20. The camera actuator of claim 16, further including a rear bearing mounted in said rear of said main body;

and

further including a rotation head, said rotation head including a front section and a rear section, said rotation head including and an actuator cable hole to allow said actuator cable to freely pass through said rotation head, said front section connected to said rear bearing so that said rear bearing and said rotation head act as one together, said rear section adapted for connection to the pole such that rotation of said actuator cable rotates said push arm which rotates said main body, whereby said main body rotates about the pole due to said rear bearing and interconnection of said rotation head with said rear bearing and the pole.