Camera housing

• US 8,837,928 B1
• Filed: 07/23/2013
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
• Original Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
• Inventors: Samuels, Rudy Lucas, Gioscia, Richard, Clearman, Christopher Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): Laballe, Clayton E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Linda B
• Application Number:
  US13/949,160
• Time in Patent Office: 420 Days
• Field of Search: 396/25, 396/178, 206/316.2
• US Class Current: 396/25
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/2019 elastic, i.e. the dog or detent being formed or carried by a spring
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/02 Bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/08 Waterproof bodies or housings
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/561 Support related camera accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/566 Accessory clips, holders, shoes to attach accessories to camera if integral part of camera body G03B17/02

Abstract

A camera housing comprises a four-sided frame. A first side of the four-sided frame includes a first segment, a second segment, and a latch mechanism with a first latch component and a second latch component. The first latch component and the second latch component are pivotally coupled such that in a closed position, the frame securely encloses a camera and in an open position, the first segment and the second segment are separable.

Claims

1. A flexible camera housing comprising:

a frame configured to form an enclosure around respective top, bottom, and sides of a camera, the frame comprising;

a first side including a first segment and a second segment; and

a latch mechanism coupled to the first segment and the second segment, the latch mechanism comprising a first latch-arm, a second latch-arm, and a third latch-arm, the first latch-arm pivotally coupled to the first segment by a first hinge mechanism, the second latch-arm and the third latch-arm each pivotally coupled to the second segment by a second hinge mechanism and a third hinge mechanism, respectively, and the first segment, the second segment, and a third segment pivotally coupled together by a fourth hinge mechanism;

the first latch-arm, the second latch-arm, and the third latch-arm being substantially flush with the first side of the frame such that the first segment and the second segment are substantially spatially flush when the latch mechanism is in a closed position;

the first latch-arm, the second latch-arm, and the third latch-arm protruding outward from the first side of the frame such that the first segment and the second segment are spatially separated when the latch mechanism is in an open position.

2. The camera housing of claim 1, wherein the second segment comprises a boundary surrounding a gap configured to receive the latch mechanism when the latch mechanism is in the closed position such that the latch mechanism occupies the gap and is surrounded by the boundary.

3. The camera housing of claim 2, wherein lengthwise portions of the boundary formed along the length of the second segment are coupled by a widthwise portion of the boundary formed along the width of the second segment, thereby maintaining a substantially fixed separation between the lengthwise portions of the boundary.

4. The camera housing of claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises a second side comprising a plurality of protrusions configured to interlock with mating protrusions of a camera housing mount.

5. A camera housing comprising:

a four-sided frame including a top side, a bottom side, a left side, and a right side, the top side comprising a first segment and a second segment; and

a latch mechanism comprising a first latch component and a second latch component, the first latch component pivotally coupled to the first segment, the second latch component pivotally coupled to the second segment, and the first latch component pivotally coupled to the second latch component such that when the latch mechanism is in a closed position, the frame is configured to securely enclose a camera, and such that when the latch mechanism is in an open position, the first segment and the second segment are separable.

6. The camera housing of claim 5, wherein the second segment comprises a boundary surrounding a gap configured to receive the first latch component and the second latch component when the latch mechanism is in the closed position such that the first latch component and the second latch component occupy the gap and are surrounded by the boundary.

7. The camera housing of claim 6, wherein lengthwise portions of the boundary formed along the length of the second segment are coupled by a widthwise portion of the boundary formed along the width of the second segment, thereby maintaining a substantially fixed separation between the lengthwise portions of the boundary.

8. The camera housing of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of protrusions configured to interlock with mating protrusions of a camera housing mount.

9. The camera housing of claim 8, wherein the plurality of protrusions protrude from the bottom side of the camera housing.

10. The camera housing of claim 8, wherein the plurality of protrusions protrude from the right side or the left side of the camera housing.

11. The camera housing of claim 5, wherein the frame further comprises one or more respective openings for one or more of:

a camera power button, a data port, and a microphone interface.

12. The camera housing of claim 5, such that when the latch mechanism is in the closed position, the first latch component, the second latch component, and the top side are substantially coplanar.

13. The camera housing of claim 5, such that when the latch mechanism is in the open position, the first latch component and the second latch component each forms an angular separation relative to the top side of the frame.

14. The camera housing of claim 5, wherein at least a portion of the second segment terminates in compressible material configured to seal a gap, if present, between the first segment and the second segment, in the closed position.

15. The camera housing of claim 5, wherein the first latch component and the second latch component comprise each a substantially right-angled bend configured to fold over a corner adjacent to the second segment of the top side of the frame.

16. The camera housing of claim 5, further comprising a foldable handle, with a first arm and a second perpendicular arm, pivotally coupled to a respective side of the four-sided frame of the camera housing so as to rotate outward from the respective side thereby forming a secure retainer arm.

17. A camera housing comprising:

a four-sided frame comprising a first side including a first segment, a second segment, and a latch mechanism comprising a first latch component and a second latch component;

the first latch component and the second latch component pivotally coupled such that in a closed position the frame securely encloses a camera and in an open position the first segment and the second segment are spatially separable.