Surveillance camera mount

• US 7,379,119 B1
• Filed: 10/15/2003
• Issued: 05/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Replex Mirror Company
• Original Assignee: Replex Mirror Company
• Inventors: Schuetz, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu; Ngoc-Yen
• Assistant Examiner(s): HENDERSON, ADAM
• Application Number:
  US10/686,247
• Time in Patent Office: 1,686 Days
• Field of Search: 348/375, 348/143, 348/151, 348/373
• US Class Current: 348/375
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19632 Camera support structures, e.g. attachment means, poles

Abstract

A surveillance camera mounting apparatus for facilitating installation of a surveillance camera on a mounting pole such as a conduit. Typical installations on a conduit include a globe enclosure for protection of the camera equipment and to discourage a person from avoiding the aim of the camera. The mounting apparatus may also be adapted to mount a surveillance camera in a ceiling. A pivotable saddle allows for the top or bottom attachment to a camera. Adjustments facilitated by the saddle provide for positioning the camera to have its optical axis maintained in a position normal to the tangential surface of a globe enclosure over almost any vertical or horizontal position of the camera.

Claims

1. A method for installing a surveillance camera mount apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:

predrilling a hole in a first end of a conduit sufficiently sized to accept a cotter pin;

sliding and holding an upper dome of a surveillance camera housing onto said conduit, said upper dome having a first flange;

sliding an O-ring onto said conduit, wherein said O-ring has a friction fit with said conduit sufficient to temporarily support said upper dome on said conduit;

positioning said upper dome on said conduit by sliding said O-ring onto said conduit to provide access to at least a portion of said conduit in a vicinity of said first end;

sliding and holding a surveillance camera mount apparatus comprised of a saddle, an outer yoke, and at least one leg onto said conduit in said vicinity of said first end;

inserting a cotter pin through said predrilled hole;

bending said cotter pin to secure said surveillance camera mount apparatus onto said conduit;

installing a lower dome of said surveillance camera housing onto said at least one leg of said surveillance camera mount apparatus, said lower dome having a second flange; and

sliding said O-ring and said upper dome on said conduit so that said first flange of said upper dome and said second flange of said lower dome are joined.

2. The method for installing a surveillance camera mount apparatus of claim 1, said method additionally comprising the step of:

tightening a set screw through at least a portion of said surveillance camera mount apparatus to secure said surveillance camera mount apparatus onto said conduit.

3. A surveillance camera mount apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

a saddle for attachment to a surveillance camera, said saddle comprised of;

a base;

a first connecting arm; and

a second connecting arm, said first and said second connecting arms at opposite ends of said base;

an outer yoke comprised of;

a hub;

a first hanger arm; and

a second hangar arm, said first and said second hangar arms at opposite ends of said hub;

wherein said saddle is nested within said outer yoke and connected along a first axis by pivotable connections between said first connecting arm and said second connecting arm with said first hanger arm of said outer yoke and said second hanger arm of said outer yoke, respectively;

at least one leg having a first end and a second end, said first end of said at least one leg connected to said hub;

a housing connected to said second end of said at least one leg, wherein at least a portion of said housing is at least partially transparent to said surveillance camera;

a pin on said second end of said at least one leg;

at least one pin receptacle defined by a third diameter on a portion of said housing; and

wherein said pin receptacle is sized to provide a complementary fit with said pin on said second end of said at least one leg for connecting said housing to said at least one leg.

4. The surveillance camera mount apparatus of claim 3, wherein said saddle, said outer yoke, and said at least one leg are made of an injection molded plastic material.

5. The surveillance camera mount apparatus of claim 3, wherein said base is adapted to be rotated about said first axis for removably securing said base to a top surface of said surveillance camera.

6. The surveillance camera mount apparatus of claim 3, wherein said base is adapted to be rotated about said first axis for removably securing said base to a bottom surface of said surveillance camera.

7. The surveillance camera mount apparatus of claim 3, additionally comprising at least one hole in said base, said at least one hole defined by a first diameter adequately sized for removably securing said surveillance camera to said base with a threaded connector.

8. The surveillance camera mount apparatus of claim 3, additionally comprising at least one slot in said base, said at least one slot defined by a first width and a first length adequately sized for removably securing said surveillance camera to said base with a threaded connector.

9. The surveillance camera mount apparatus of claim 3, additionally comprising at least one channel in said hub, said at least one channel defined by at least a second width and a second length;

and

a leg connector on said first end of said at least one leg connected to said hub, said leg connector having at least a third width and a third length,

wherein said at least said second width and said second length of said at least one channel in said hub provides a complementary fit for said at least said third width and said third length of said leg connector.

10. The surveillance camera mount apparatus of claim 3, additionally comprising a hole defined by a second diameter through said hub, wherein said second diameter is sufficiently sized to provide a complementary fit to a mounting tube for supporting said surveillance camera mount apparatus.

11. The surveillance camera mount apparatus of claim 10, additionally comprising an O-ring to provide a complementary fit to said mounting tube.

12. The surveillance camera mount apparatus of claim 3, wherein said housing is a hemispherical shaped shell.

13. The surveillance camera mount apparatus of claim 12, wherein a flange on said hemispherical shaped shell is adapted to support said surveillance camera mount apparatus on at least a portion of a perimeter of an opening in a ceiling.

14. The surveillance camera mount apparatus of claim 3, wherein said housing is a globe shaped shell comprised of an upper dome and a lower dome.

15. The surveillance camera mount apparatus of claim 14, wherein said upper dome and said lower dome of said globe shaped shell are separable at approximately an equator of said globe shaped shell.

16. The surveillance camera mount apparatus of claim 14, wherein:

side at least one pin receptacle is defined by a third diameter on a portion of said lower dome,

wherein said pin receptacle is sized to provide said complementary fit with said pin on said second end of said at least one leg for connecting said lower dome to said at least one leg.

17. The surveillance camera mount apparatus of claim 14, additionally comprising a hole defined by a fourth diameter in said upper dome of said globe shaped shell, wherein said fourth diameter is sufficiently sized to allow a mounting tube for supporting said surveillance camera mount apparatus.

18. The surveillance camera mount apparatus of claim 17, additionally comprising an O-ring to provide a seal between said mounting tube and said hole defined by said fourth diameter in said upper dome of said globe shaped shell.

19. A surveillance camera mount apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

a saddle for attachment to a surveillance camera, said saddle comprised of;

a base;

a first connecting arm; and

a second connecting arm, said first and said second connecting arms at opposite ends of said base;

an outer yoke comprised of;

a hub;

a first hanger arm; and

a second hangar arm, said first and said second hangar arms at opposite ends of said hub;

wherein said saddle is nested within said outer yoke and connected along a first axis by pivotable connections between said first connecting arm and said second connecting arm with said first hanger arm of said outer yoke and said second hanger arm of said outer yoke, respectively;

at least one leg having a first end and a second end, said first end of said at least one leg connected to said hub;

a housing connected to said second end of said at least one leg, wherein at least a portion of said housing is at least partially transparent to said surveillance camera;

wherein said housing is a globe shaped shell comprised of an upper dome and a lower dome; and

additionally comprising a pin on said second end of said at least one leg comprised of;

at least one pin receptacle defined by a third diameter on a portion of said lower dome,

wherein said pin receptacle is sized to provide a complementary fit with said pin on said second end of said at least one leg for connecting said lower dome to said at least one leg.

20. The surveillance camera mount apparatus of claim 19, wherein said saddle, said outer yoke, and said at least one leg are made of an injection molded plastic material.

21. The surveillance camera mount apparatus of claim 19, wherein said base is adapted to be rotated about said first axis for removably securing said base to a top surface of said surveillance camera.

22. The surveillance camera mount apparatus of claim 19, wherein said base is adapted to be rotated about said first axis for removably securing said base to a bottom surface of said surveillance camera.

23. The surveillance camera mount apparatus of claim 19, additionally comprising at least one hole in said base, said at least one hole defined by a first diameter adequately sized for removably securing said surveillance camera to said base with a threaded connector.

24. The surveillance camera mount apparatus of claim 19, additionally comprising at least one channel in said hub, said at least one channel defined by at least a second width and a second length;

and

a leg connector on said first end of said at least one leg connected to said hub, said leg connector having at least a third width and a third length,

wherein said at least said second width and said second length of said at least one channel in said hub provides a complementary fit for said at least said third width and said third length of said leg connector.

25. The surveillance camera mount apparatus of claim 19, additionally comprising a hole defined by a second diameter through said hub, wherein said second diameter is sufficiently sized to provide a complementary fit to a mounting tube for supporting said surveillance camera mount apparatus.

26. The surveillance camera mount apparatus of claim 25, additionally comprising an O-ring to provide a complementary fit to said mounting tube.

27. The surveillance camera mount apparatus of claim 25, wherein said mounting tube is electrical conduit.

28. The surveillance camera mount apparatus of claim 19, wherein said housing is a hemispherical shaped shell.

29. The surveillance camera mount apparatus of claim 28, wherein a flange on said hemispherical shaped shell is adapted to support said surveillance camera mount apparatus on at least a portion of a perimeter of an opening in a ceiling.

30. The surveillance camera mount apparatus of claim 19, wherein

said at least one pin receptacle is defined by a third diameter on a portion of said housing,

wherein said pin receptacle is sized to provide said complementary fit with said pin on said second end of said at least one leg for connecting said housing to said at least one leg.

31. The surveillance camera mount apparatus of claim 19, wherein said upper dome and said lower dome of said globe shaped shell are separable at approximately an equator of said globe shaped shell.

32. The surveillance camera mount apparatus of claim 19, additionally comprising a hole defined by a fourth diameter in said upper dome of said globe shaped shell, wherein said fourth diameter is sufficiently sized to allow a mounting tube for supporting said surveillance camera mount apparatus.

33. The surveillance camera mount apparatus of claim 32, additionally comprising an O-ring to provide a seal between said mounting tube and said hole defined by said fourth diameter in said upper dome of said globe shaped shell.