Aerial support structure for capturing an image of a target

• US 8,251,597 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2010
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Skycam LLC (Florida) (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Original Assignee: Wavecam Media, Inc.
• Inventors: Dougherty, Edmond J., Giegerich, Gary, Bayer, Maury
• Primary Examiner(s): LaBalle, Clayton E
• Assistant Examiner(s): FENWICK, WARREN K
• Application Number:
  US12/905,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20110091196A1
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 396/419, 396/428, 396/7, 396/12, 348/144
• US Class Current: 396/428
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/00 Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor lens hoods or caps G03B11/04

Abstract

An aerial support structure for capturing an image of a target via a camera mounted thereon includes a support platform, a frame mounted to the support platform and a beam movably attached to the frame. A camera platform suspends and is axially spaced from the support platform by a plurality of support cables. An actuator is mounted to one of the support platform and the frame, and the actuator is associated with each of the plurality of support cables. Operation of the actuator causes the beam to move with respect to the frame, thereby moving the camera platform relative to the support platform.

Claims

1. An aerial support structure for capturing an image of a target via a camera mounted thereon, the aerial support structure comprising:

a support platform;

a frame mounted to the support platform;

a beam movably attached to the frame;

a camera platform suspended and axially spaced from the support platform by a plurality of support cables; and

an actuator mounted to one of the support platform and the frame, the actuator being associated with each of the plurality of support cables,

wherein operation of the actuator causes the beam to move with respect to the frame, thereby moving the camera platform relative to the support platform.

2. The image capturing mechanism of claim 1 further comprising:

a controller in communication with the actuator to control the operation of the actuator.

3. The image capturing mechanism of claim 2 wherein the support cables are comprised of first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth support cables.

4. The image capturing mechanism of claim 2 further comprising:

a radio frequency device mounted to the support platform for transmitting at least one of images from the camera to the controller, command signals from the controller to the camera, and command signals from the controller to the actuator.

5. The image capturing mechanism of claim 1 further comprising:

an advertising medium mounted to one of the camera platform and the support platform.

6. The image capturing mechanism of claim 1 further comprising:

a fiber optic transport cable extending from the camera to the support platform transmitting information from the camera to the support platform.

7. The image capturing mechanism of claim 1 wherein at least one of the support cables is a fiber optic cable to transmit signals to and from the camera platform.

8. The image capturing mechanism of claim 1 wherein the beam slides horizontally with respect to the frame and the camera platform moves vertically with respect to the support platform.

9. The image capturing mechanism of claim 8 further comprising:

a first bracket mounted to a top surface of the beam;

at least one pulley rotatably mounted to the first bracket;

a second bracket mounted to the top surface of the beam; and

at least one pulley rotatably mounted to the second bracket.

10. The image capturing mechanism of claim 9 further comprising:

a brace extending upwardly from the frame; and

a pulley rotatably mounted to the brace.

11. The image capturing mechanism of claim 1 wherein the support platform has a triangular shape and the frame has a rectangular shape.

12. The image capturing mechanism of claim 1 wherein opposing end portions of the beam are attached to the frame by at least one roller or bearing such that the beam is slidable with respect to the frame.

13. The image capturing mechanism of claim 1 wherein a longitudinal axis of the beam extends generally perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the frame.

14. The image capturing mechanism of claim 1 wherein the frame includes at least one stop to prevent or inhibit movement of the beam.

15. The image capturing mechanism of claim 1 wherein the support platform includes three spaced-apart vertices, each vertex being attached to a ceiling of a venue by a vertically-extending tension cable.