Device, system and method of mounting audio/video capturing equipment

• US 7,570,301 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2005
• Issued: 08/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Electronic Security Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Electronic Security Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Gilor, Avraham
• Primary Examiner(s): Henn; Timothy J
• Application Number:
  US11/282,710
• Publication Number:
  US 20060072007A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,352 Days
• Field of Search: 348373-376, 396419-428
• US Class Current: 348/373
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/04 Parts, details or accessories of helmets
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/048 adapted to forward-backward translation movement
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• 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 13/022 repositionable
• 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: G03B 17/561 Support related camera accessories
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/915 for field- or frame-skip recording or reproducing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/7921 for more than one processing mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8047 using transform coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8063 using time division multiplex of the PCM audio and PCM video signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal

Abstract

Some embodiments of the invention include devices, systems and methods of mounting audio/video capturing equipment. For example, a mounting device for mounting equipment onto a helmet includes: a support structure having one or more gripping mechanisms adapted to be fitted to one or more locations of the helmet; and a camera mount, at a first location of the support structure, to support a camera at a desired image-capturing position.

Claims

1. A mounting device for mounting equipment onto a helmet, the mounting device comprising:

a support structure having one or more gripping mechanisms adapted to be fitted to one or more locations of the helmet, said gripping mechanism comprising an adjustable-length rail to adjust the length of said gripping mechanism, and one or more removable linking elements to adjust the length or curvature of said support structure; and

a camera mount, at a first location of the support structure, to support a camera at a desired image-capturing position.

2. The mounting device of claim 1, further comprising:

a recorder mount, at a second location of the support structure, to support a recorder operatively associated with the camera.

3. The mounting device of claim 2, further comprising:

a wired link to transfer to the recorder data captured by the camera.

4. The mounting device of claim 3, further comprising:

a first grip to connect the mounting device to a first side of the helmet.

5. The mounting device of claim 4, wherein the first grip comprises:

a hook adapted to grip an edge of the helmet.

6. The mounting device of claim 4, wherein the first grip comprises:

a hook adapted to grip a foam layer of the helmet.

7. The mounting device of claim 4, wherein the first grip comprises:

a locking mechanism to modify a length of a rail that protrudes from a housing, the rail able to connect to a side of the helmet.

8. The mounting device of claim 7, wherein the locking mechanism comprises:

a screwing mechanism able to lock the rail at a desired protrusion length.

9. The mounting device of claim 4, further comprising:

a second grip to connect the mounting device to a second, substantially opposite, side of the helmet.

10. A system for capturing video, the system comprising:

a camera mount to support a camera;

a recorder mount to support a recorder operatively associated with the camera;

one or more linking elements to attach the camera mount to the recorder mount;

a wired link to transfer to the recorder data captured by the camera;

one or more grips adapted to connect the system to a helmet,

wherein the one or more linking elements form a chain, and wherein at least one of the one or more linking elements is removable.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the camera mount is connected to an orientation mechanism able to modify an orientation of the camera.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the camera mount is able to slide on a base rail of an orientation mechanism upon application of force.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the camera mount comprises:

a housing to protect the camera from mechanical shocks; and

an opening through which a lens of the camera acquires data.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein at least one of the one or more linking elements comprises a hollow shaft traversing therethrough.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein at least part of the wired link passes through the hollow shaft.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a cable to transfer power from a power source of the system to the camera,

wherein at least part of the cable passes through the hollow shaft.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more grips comprise:

a rail having a single-directional length-shortening mechanism to shorten the length of the rail, the rail having a hook adapted to grip an edge of the helmet.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein a lower side of at least one of the camera mount, the recorder mount and the one or more linking element is substantially curve-shaped to fit a curve-shape of the helmet.

19. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

the camera supported by the camera mount; and

the recorder supported by the recorder support,

wherein the recorder includes a digital storage unit to record the data captured by the camera.