Crawling handle for thermal imaging camera

• US 7,250,603 B1
• Filed: 03/24/2006
• Issued: 07/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Draeger Medical Systems Incorporated (Dragerwerk AG)
• Original Assignee: Draeger Safety Incorporated (Dragerwerk AG)
• Inventors: Nugent, Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): Porta; David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Baker; David S
• Application Number:
  US11/388,801
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• Field of Search: 250/330, 250/331, 250/332, 250/333, 250/334, 250/339.14
• US Class Current: 250/330
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0265 Handheld, portable ear thermometers G01J5/049
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20

Abstract

A thermal imaging camera is provided that facilitates crawling by a user has a handle that supports the user'"'"'s hand off of a floor and protects the camera. The handle includes a grip with a front bumper guard and a base having a widened portion at its butt end that has bumpers. Side bumpers at the opposite end of the handle extend outwardly from the sides of the handle which are coplanar with the bumpers at the butt end, to keep the handle generally parallel to the ground. The bumpers at the butt end and adjacent to the camera extend farther out than any other part of the handle or camera. The handle is removable and re-attachable to the camera. A removable handle alone for a portable, camera is also provided.

Claims

1. A portable, thermal imaging camera, comprising:

(a) a housing having a front surface having a lens, a rear surface having a display, a pair of side surfaces between the front surface and the rear surface, and a bottom surface;

(b) a grid having an array of heat sensors, said grid located within in the housing, the heat sensors each generating a signal that is proportional to the heat sensed, wherein the lens focuses infrared radiation on the grid;

(c) the display connected to the grid, for displaying a real-time image of the heat sensed by each of the heat sensors on the grid to form an image of the heat sensed by the grid;

(d) a handle extending from the bottom surface of the housing, comprising;

(i) a longitudinal axis;

(ii) a first end attached to the housing, said first end having at least one bumper extending perpendicularly outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the handle to a point beyond the side surface of the housing,

(iii) a second end having at least one bumper thereon, extending perpendicularly outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the handle to a point generally the same perpendicular distance from the longitudinal axis as that of the bumper on the first end of the handle;

whereby, crawling by a user holding the camera by its handle using a hand is facilitated where the user'"'"'s hand is supported off of a floor upon which the user is crawling and protects the TIC from shock and vibration.

2. The thermal imaging camera of claim 1, wherein the handle is removable.

3. The thermal imaging camera of claim 2, wherein the removable handle attaches to the housing by a fastener that is operable without the use of a separate tool.

4. The thermal imaging camera of claim 3, wherein the fastener is a screw having a head that is manually operable by fingers of a user.

5. A removable handle for a portable, thermal imaging camera, comprising:

(a) a longitudinal axis;

(b) a first end having a fastener for attachment to the thermal imaging camera, said first end having at least one bumper extending perpendicularly outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the handle to a point beyond the side surface of the thermal imaging camera;

(c) a second end having at least one bumper thereon, extending perpendicularly outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the handle to a point generally the same perpendicular distance from the longitudinal axis as that of the bumper on the first end of the handle;

whereby, when the handle is attached to a thermal imaging camera, crawling by a user holding the camera by its handle using a hand is facilitated where the user'"'"'s hand is supported off of a floor upon which the user is crawling and protects the TIC from shock and vibration.

6. The handle of claim 5, wherein the fastener is operable without the use of a separate tool.

7. The thermal imaging camera of claim 5, wherein the fastener is a thumb screw having a head that is manually operable by fingers of a user.