Point of view video mounting system

• US 9,071,675 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2012
• Issued: 06/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fellowes Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Fellowes Incorporated
• Inventors: Willenborg, John
• Primary Examiner(s): TORRES, MARCOS L
• Application Number:
  US13/350,785
• Publication Number:
  US 20130184033A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,262 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575.6, 455/575.8, 455/556.1, 455/557, 396/544, 396/529, 396/419, 396/420, 396/422, 396/423, 396/425, 396/71, 396/25, 396/27, 396/29
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/16 Details concerning attachment of head-supporting legs, with or without actuation of locking members thereof
• 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 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• 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: F16M 2200/022 by friction
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings

Abstract

A system, method, and apparatus are disclosed. In particular, a Point of View (POV) video mounting system described herein includes a casing assembly operable to fit an electronic device therein. The electronic device has video and data recording and display capability. In addition, a POV video mounting system includes a mounting assembly coupled to the casing assembly and operable to mount the POV video mounting system to sports equipment.

Claims

1. An apparatus to contain an electronic device, said apparatus comprising:

a casing sleeve having;

a first casing wall,

wherein a first surface of said electronic device, when installed in said casing sleeve, faces said first casing wall, and

wherein said first surface of said electronic device comprises a camera aperture;

an opening in said casing sleeve,

wherein said opening has a first edge in said first casing wall and a second edge in a second casing wall, and

wherein said second casing wall is adjacent and non-parallel to said first casing wall;

a door coupled to said casing sleeve,

wherein said door comprises a corner of said casing sleeve, and

wherein said door in an open position permits said electronic device to pass through said opening, and in a closed position secures said device in said casing sleeve;

a lens area in said door,

wherein closing said door aligns a lens in said lens area to said camera aperture for capturing an image of an object outside said casing sleeve, and

wherein said lens area allows said lens to be removed and replaced by another lens or a flat;

a coupling component on, in, or through a wall of said casing sleeve;

a mounting assembly detachably coupled to said coupling component to mount said apparatus to supporting surface;

wherein said mounting assembly comprises an axle rotatable around two orthogonal axes and a lever operable to lock and unlock an angle of said axle.

2. Said apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sled component slidingly insertable into said casing sleeve through said opening,

wherein said sled component comprises at least one soft plastic or hard rubber portion interposed between said casing sleeve and said electronic device to reduce said amount of vibration transferred to said electronic device from or through said casing sleeve while said electronic device is assembled into said apparatus, and

wherein said sled component exposes said camera aperture of said electronic device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said casing sleeve includes a transparent portion such that a display portion of an electronic device is visible from outside of said casing sleeve when said electronic device is inserted therein.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said mounting assembly includes an adhesive component which affixes said mounting assembly to said support surface.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said mounting assembly includes at least one opening to enable an external mechanism affix said mounting assembly to said support surface.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said casing sleeve comprises features enabling real-time access to data from performance metric data recording and display capabilities of said electronic device while said device is installed in said casing sleeve.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said casing sleeve accommodates a plurality of different models of smart-phone or portable music player by features of differently configured sleds.

8. A point-of-view photography system, comprising:

an electronic device comprising a camera aperture;

a casing sleeve having a transparent portion and, a first opening;

a door coupled to said casing sleeve and repositionable to cover or expose said first opening,

wherein said door has a removable lens area that covers a camera aperture of said electronic device when said door is locked

a latch operable to lock and unlock said door to said casing sleeve;

at least one interchangeable lens configured to temporarily replace said removable lens area, wherein locking said door aligns said interchangeable lens with said camera aperture to capture an image of an object outside said casing sleeve;

a sled component fitted between said casing sleeve and said electronic device,

wherein said sled component comprises a spacing portion contacting both said casing sleeve and said device,

wherein said spacing portion comprises a layer of hard rubber or soft plastic operable to reduce said amount of vibration transferred to said electronic device when said casing sleeve vibrates

a mounting assembly coupled to a connection component of said casing sleeve,

wherein said mounting assembly includes a quick-release component detachably coupled to said connection component and a substantially flat-base component coupled to said quick-release component and,

wherein said substantially flat-base component is mountable to a supporting surface.

9. The point-of-view video mounting system of claim 8, wherein said casing sleeve includes a touch-screen membrane that allows a user to activate functions on said electronic device.

10. The point-of-view video mounting system of claim 8, wherein said interchangeable lens includes a wide-area lens.

11. The point-of-view video mounting system of claim 8, wherein said supporting surface comprises a part of a user'"'"'s body.

12. The point-of-view video mounting system of claim 8, further comprising:

a strap coupled to a base component;

a buckle coupled to said strap;

a bracket couple to said strap; and

a first snap coupled to said bracket;

wherein said base component is operable to attach to said mounting assembly;

wherein said first snap is engageable to a second snap coupled to said casing sleeve; and

wherein said buckle are operable to secure said strap around a user'"'"'s wrist.

13. The point-of-view video mounting system of claim 8, further comprising a strap coupled to a mounting base, wherein said strap and said mounting base are operable to suspend said casing assembly from a user'"'"'s torso.

14. A method, comprising:

affixing a mounting assembly to a supporting surface;

coupling said mounting assembly to a casing sleeve, wherein said casing sleeve includes a removable lens area on a door;

coupling an interchangeable lens to said removable lens area of said casing sleeve;

inserting an electronic device into a fitted sled component;

sliding said fitted sled component holding said electronic device into said casing sleeve;

securing said electronic device and said fitted sled component inside said casing sleeve by closing and latching said door of said casing sleeve,

wherein said closing and latching additionally aligns said interchangeable lens to a camera aperture of said electronic device;

adjusting an orientation of said camera aperture by;

moving a lever to unlock said mounting assembly,

rotating said casing sleeve around at least one of

a longitudinal axis of an axle of said mounting assembly or

a transverse axis perpendicular to said axle, and

moving said lever to lock said mounting assembly;

capturing images of objects outside said casing sleeve through said interchangeable lens by means of a camera illuminated through said camera aperture of said electronic device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising moving or tilting said support surface while capturing said images, wherein said casing sleeve maintains said orientation relative to said support surface during said moving or tilting.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said coupling of said mounting assembly to said casing sleeve comprises engaging a hook to part of a perimeter of a rod, and further comprising detaching said casing sleeve from said mounting assembly by disengaging said hook from said rod.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein moving said lever to lock said mounting assembly comprises pressing said hook against said rod.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

monitoring performance data collected by said electronic device in real time; and

deciding whether to change a performance parameter in said real time responsive to said performance data.