Roof inspection devices, methods, and systems

• US 9,706,172 B1
• Filed: 11/16/2011
• Issued: 07/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Original Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Inventors: Hillman, James P., Blasing, Cynthia, Brunet, Damien, Cable, Dan D., Fernandez, Adolfo J., Kreth, Jeffrey A., Osborne, Shane, Pacheco, Robert A., Sokolowski, Renee
• Primary Examiner(s): Parikh, Dakshesh
• Application Number:
  US13/298,083
• Time in Patent Office: 2,064 Days
• Field of Search: 348143, 703 1, 705400, 707E17044, 707999104, 707999107
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/005 integral with the apparatus or articles to be supported
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/06 Arms
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

The present disclosure describes roof inspection devices, methods, and systems. One roof inspection device includes a pole, a camera coupled to an end of the pole and configured to capture an image of a roof, and a number of attachments coupled to the pole and configured to stabilize the pole on the roof or other elevated surface.

Claims

1. A roof inspection device, comprising:

a pole adapted to extend to a height of a roof;

a camera coupled to an end of the pole, the camera having a first width perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the pole; and

an attachment coupled to the pole and arranged to stabilize the pole on the roof when the pole is arranged such that the camera is positioned to capture an image of the roof and a second end of the pole is held by a user on a ground surface, the attachment comprising;

a coupling member coupled to the pole;

a base member coupled to the coupling member; and

a plurality of wheels coupled to the base member and arranged to engage the roof,

the base member comprising a rectangular frame having a central gap and a second width perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the second width greater than the first width,

wherein the camera is configured to send the image to a mobile device over a wireless network created by the mobile device.

2. The roof inspection device of claim 1, wherein the camera is a remotely operable camera.

3. The roof inspection device of claim 1, wherein the pole is an extendable pole.

4. The roof inspection device of claim 1, wherein the pole is a non-conductive pole.

5. The roof inspection device of claim 1, wherein the camera is releasable from the end of the pole.

6. A roof inspection system, comprising:

a pole adapted to extend to a height of a roof;

a camera coupled to an end of the pole, the camera having a first width perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the pole;

an attachment coupled to the pole and arranged to stabilize the pole on the roof when the pole is arranged such that the camera is positioned to capture an image of the roof and a second end of the pole is held by a user on a ground surface, the attachment comprising;

a coupling member coupled to the pole;

a base member coupled to the coupling member; and

a plurality of wheels coupled to the base member and arranged to engage the roof,

the base member comprising a rectangular frame having a central gap and a second width perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the second width greater than the first width; and

a mobile device communicatively coupled to the camera, the mobile device configured to;

cause the camera to capture the image of the roof;

create a wireless network; and

receive the image from the camera via the wireless network.

7. The roof inspection system of claim 6, wherein the mobile device is configured to instruct the camera to capture the image.

8. The roof inspection system of claim 6, wherein the mobile device is coupled to the pole.