Camera support mechanism

• US 7,572,073 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2005
• Issued: 08/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lifesize, Inc. (Enghouse Systems Limited)
• Original Assignee: Lifesize, Inc. (Enghouse Systems Limited)
• Inventors: Howard, Paul Leslie, Frey, Paul D., Kenoyer, Michael L., Kaplan, Jonathan I., Lukic, Branko
• Primary Examiner(s): BLACKMAN, ROCHELLE ANN J
• Application Number:
  US11/252,222
• Publication Number:
  US 20060088308A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,394 Days
• Field of Search: 396/428, 396/419, 396/424, 396/425, 396/427, 348/373, 348/375, 348/376, 348/207.99, 348/14.01, 348/14.16, 348/211.12, 348/207.1, 248/187.1, 248/178.1, 248/188, 248/188.1, 248/188.3, 248/188.6, 248/188.8, 248/205.6, 248/213, 248/689, 248/124.2, 248/154, 248/231.4, 248/166, 248/121, 248/126, 248/918, 248/229.12, 248/912
• US Class Current: 396/428
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable

Abstract

In some embodiments, a camera support mechanism may be used as a mount to couple a camera to a display. The camera support mechanism may include a front lip and rear leg to hold the camera in place. The front lip may align with a front edge of a display. In some embodiments, the rear leg may be adjustable by an adjustment knob. The rear leg may further have a compliant tip to allow the camera support mechanism to adapt to different sizes and shapes of displays. The camera may be mounted on the camera support mechanism through a fastener.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a mount;

a front lip, coupled to the mount, wherein the front lip is configured to abut an edge of a display when the mount is coupled to the display; and

an adjustable rear leg coupled to the mount, wherein the adjustable rear leg is configured to tighten onto the display to hold the mount on the display;

wherein tightening the adjustable rear leg comprises reducing a straight-line distance between a display-engaging end of the adjustable rear leg and the mount and wherein a force applied on the display by the adjustable rear leg is user adjustable.

2. The apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the mount is configured to couple to a camera;

wherein the front lip is adjustable relative to the mount; and

wherein adjusting the front lip comprises changing a straight-line distance between the front lip and the portion of the mount coupled to the camera.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an adjustment knob configured to rotate the adjustable rear leg, tighten the adjustable rear leg onto the display, and lock the adjustable rear leg onto the display with a substantially similar user interaction with the adjustment knob.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adjustable rear leg is adjustable by a rear leg securing assembly coupled to the mount, wherein the rear leg securing assembly comprises:

a rotatable knob;

a washer;

a tapered member;

wherein the tapered member and the rotatable knob are in contact with the washer and wherein rotating the knob rotates the washer and the tapered member;

a barrel, wherein the barrel receives the tapered member; and

a threaded rod coupled to the rotatable knob, wherein when the rotatable knob is rotated, the washer and tapered member are pressed toward the barrel;

wherein the tapered member is coupled to and rotates the rear leg as the rotatable knob rotates until the rear leg contacts the display;

wherein when the rear leg contacts the display, the tapered member tightens against the barrel as the rotatable knob is rotated to further secure the rear leg.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mount comprises an upper deck and a lower deck, and wherein the upper deck is adjustable, relative to the lower deck, by a lifter knob coupled to the mount.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the front lip and the adjustable rear leg are moveable relative to the mount and to each other.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mount comprises a lower deck and an upper deck, and wherein the upper deck is operable to be lifted relative to the lower deck.

8. A system, comprising:

a mount means;

a fastener means to couple a camera to the mount means;

an adjustable front lip means, coupled to the mount means, wherein the adjustable front lip means is configured to be adjusted on the mount means; and

an adjustable rear leg means coupled to the mount means, wherein the adjustable rear leg means is configured to tighten onto a display to hold the mount means on the display;

wherein adjusting the front lip means comprises changing a straight-line distance between a portion of the front lip means configured to engage an edge of the display and the fastener means.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the adjustable rear leg means is configured to fold open from the mount means.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the adjustable rear leg means further comprises a tip means, wherein the tip means is configured to engage a back of the display to inhibit slipping of the adjustable rear leg means.

11. The system of claim 8, further comprising a motor coupled to the adjustable rear leg means, wherein the motor is configured to tighten the adjustable rear leg means against a back of the display.

12. The system of claim 8, further comprising a lifter knob means, wherein the lifter knob means is configured to align the mount means with a top of the display.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the adjustable rear leg means is adjustable by a rear leg means securing assembly coupled to the mount, wherein the rear leg means securing assembly comprises:

a rotatable knob;

a washer;

a tapered member;

wherein the tapered member and the rotatable knob are in contact with the washer and wherein rotating the knob rotates the washer and the tapered member;

a barrel, wherein the barrel receives the tapered member; and

a threaded rod coupled to the rotatable knob, wherein when the rotatable knob is rotated, the washer and tapered member are pressed toward the barrel;

wherein the tapered member is coupled to and rotates the rear leg means as the rotatable knob rotates until the rear leg means contacts the display;

wherein when the rear leg means contacts the display, the tapered member tightens against the barrel as the rotatable knob is rotated to further secure the rear leg means.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the mount means comprises an upper deck and a lower deck, and wherein the upper deck is adjustable, relative to the lower deck, by a lifter knob coupled to the mount.

15. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein adjusting the front lip means comprises moving the front lip means relative to the mount means and the adjustable rear leg means.

16. A method, comprising:

coupling a camera to a mount using a fastener;

adjusting a front lip coupled to the mount, wherein the front lip is configured to abut an edge of a display, wherein adjusting the front lip comprises changing a straight-line distance between a portion of the front lip configured to engage the edge of the display and the fastener; and

adjusting a rear leg on the mount to tighten onto the display, wherein the front lip and the rear leg secure the mount to the display.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising folding open the rear leg from the mount.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising tightening an adjustment knob to tighten the adjustable rear leg against a back of the display.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising engaging a compliant tip on the adjustable rear leg with a back of the display to inhibit slipping of the adjustable rear leg.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein adjusting the front lip comprises moving the front lip relative to the mount and the rear leg.