Mount system for attaching camera to a sport board

• US 8,014,656 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2009
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
• Original Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
• Inventors: Woodman, Nicholas D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Perkey; W. B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, MINH Q
• Application Number:
  US12/498,876
• Publication Number:
  US 20100061711A1
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 396/25, 396/27, 396/29, 396/419, 396/420, 396/427, 396/535, 348/81, 348/124, 348/143, 348373-376, 441/74, 248/133, 248/176.3, 248/178.1, 248/179.1, 248/187.1, 248/185.1
• US Class Current: 396/25
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 25/002 for goods other than bulk goods detachable decks B63B25/18; palletised articles B63B25/22; frozen goods B63B25/26; deck loads B63B25/28
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 32/70 Accessories not specially adapted for a particular type of board, e.g. paddings or buoyancy elements
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 32/77 Arrangements for fixation of accessories to the board, e.g. inserts or rails
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/561 Support related camera accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 29/00 Combinations of cameras, projectors or photographic printing apparatus with non-photographic non-optical apparatus, e.g. clocks or weapons; Cameras having the shape of other objects combinations with flash apparatus G03B15/03

Abstract

A camera mount is configured to attach a camera to a sports board. A camera is secured to the mount, which is secured to a sports board. The mount can secure to the sports board via an attachment device such as an embedded plug. The mount can be placed at the front or rear of the sports board. Furthermore, the mount can be configured to face either forwards or backwards to capture images and/or video from different viewpoints while participating in the board activity. Moreover, the mount includes a pivoting joint to allow a user to rotate the camera either upward or downward and then secure the camera at a fixed angle to capture images and/or video from different angles.

Claims

1. A mounting system for attaching a camera to a sports board, comprising:

an upper mount component structured to enclose a camera, the upper mount component having a bottom surface including a first plurality of protrusions extending from the bottom surface, each of the first plurality of protrusions having a pinhole;

a lower mount component having a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface including a second plurality of protrusions extending from the top surface, each of the second plurality of protrusions having a pinhole, wherein the second plurality of protrusions interlock with the first plurality of protrusions such that the pinholes in the first and second plurality of protrusions align for insertion of a pin, the bottom surface including a securing protrusion extending from the bottom surface, the securing protrusion structured for insertion into a reciprocal opening in the sports board, wherein the reciprocal opening in the sports board comprises a reciprocal opening in an embedded plug fixedly embedded in a cavity in a top surface of the sports board, the securing protrusion including a hole structured to receive a securing device;

the pin inserted into the aligned first set of pinholes and second set of pinholes, coupling the upper mount component to the lower mount component; and

the embedded plug having a body structured to fixedly embed in a reciprocal cavity in the top surface of the sports board and a hole substantially aligned with the hole of the securing protrusion when the securing protrusion is inserted into the reciprocal opening, wherein the securing device inserts through the aligned holes of the securing protrusion and the embedded plug to secure the camera mounting system to the sports board.

2. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein a remainder of the lower mount component'"'"'s bottom surface is structured to be substantially flush with a surface of the sports board when the securing protrusion of the bottom surface is inserted within the opening of the sports board to at least a depth of at least the same length as a length of the securing protrusion of the bottom surface.

3. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein the upper mount component securely encloses a camera configured to record either images or video footage.

4. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein the upper mount component and lower mount component are rotatable about the pin when the pin is in a first position and the upper mount component and lower mount component are secured at a fixed angle when the pin is in a second secured position.

5. The mounting system of claim 4, wherein the pin comprises a turnable screw, wherein the pin is in the first position when the screw is loosened, and wherein the pin is in the second position when the screw is tightened.

6. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein the upper mount component comprises:

a camera housing including a front face, a top face, a bottom face, a left side face, a right side face, and a back door, the faces and the door structured to enclose the camera when the door is in a closed position;

an hinge structure pivotally coupling a bottom edge of the housing and the back door of the housing;

a first fastening structure located on the top face of the camera housing;

a second fastening structure located on a top edge of the back door, the second fastening structure for detachably coupling to the first fastening structure such that the back door of the camera housing is secured to the housing in the closed position when the first fastening structure is coupled to the second fastening structure, and wherein the camera is removable from the housing when the first fastening structure is unsecured from the second fastening structure.

7. The mounting system of claim 6, wherein the camera housing comprises a waterproof seal such that the housing is waterproof when the back door is secured in the closed position.

8. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein the embedded plug having a body is structured to fixedly embed in a reciprocal cavity on the rear of the top surface of the sports board.

9. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein the embedded plug having a body is structured to fixedly embed in a reciprocal cavity on the front of the top surface of the sports board.

10. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein the mounting system can be configured to face forwards or backwards.

11. A mounting system for attaching a camera to a sports board, comprising:

an upper mount component structured to enclose a camera, the upper mount component having a bottom surface including a first plurality of protrusions extending from the bottom surface, each of the first plurality of protrusions having a pinhole;

a lower mount component having a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface including a second plurality of protrusions extending from the top surface, each of the second plurality of protrusions having a pinhole, wherein the second plurality of protrusions interlock with the first plurality of protrusions such that the pinholes in the first and second plurality of protrusions align, the bottom surface including a securing protrusion extending from the bottom surface, the securing protrusion structured for insertion into a reciprocal opening in the sports board, wherein the reciprocal opening in the sports board comprises a reciprocal opening in an embedded plug fixedly embedded in a cavity in a top surface of the sports board, the securing protrusion including a hole;

coupling means for coupling the upper mount component to the lower mount component;

the embedded plug having a body structured to fixedly embed in a reciprocal cavity in the top surface of the sports board and a hole substantially aligned with the hole of the securing protrusion when the securing protrusion is inserted into the reciprocal opening; and

securing means for securing the securing protrusion to the embedded plug.

12. The mounting system of claim 11, wherein a remainder of the lower mount component'"'"'s bottom surface is structured to be substantially flush with a surface of the sports board when the securing protrusion of the bottom surface is inserted within the opening of the sports board to at least a depth of at least the same length as a length of the securing protrusion of the bottom surface.

13. The mounting system of claim 11, wherein the upper mount component securely encloses a camera configured to record either images or video footage.

14. The mounting system of claim 11, wherein the upper mount component and lower mount component are rotatable about the coupling means when the coupling means is in a first position and the upper mount component and lower mount component are secured at a fixed angle when the coupling means is in a second secured position.

15. The mounting system of claim 11, wherein the upper mount component comprises:

a camera housing including a front face, a top face, a bottom face, a left side face, a right side face, and a back door, the faces and the door structured to enclose the camera when the door is in a closed position;

an hinge structure pivotally coupling a bottom edge of the housing and the back door of the housing;

a first fastening structure located on the top face of the camera housing;

a second fastening structure located on a top edge of the back door, the second fastening structure for detachably coupling to the first fastening structure such that the back door of the camera housing is secured to the housing in the closed position when the first fastening structure is coupled to the second fastening structure, and wherein the camera is removable from the housing when the first fastening structure is unsecured from the second fastening structure.

16. The mounting system of claim 15, wherein the camera housing comprises a waterproof seal such that the housing is waterproof when the back door is secured in the closed position.

17. The mounting system of claim 11, wherein the embedded plug having a body is structured to fixedly embed in a reciprocal cavity on the rear of the top surface of the sports board.

18. The mounting system of claim 11, wherein the embedded plug having a body is structured to fixedly embed in a reciprocal cavity on the front of the top surface of the sports board.

19. The mounting system of claim 11, wherein the mounting system can be configured to face forwards or backwards.