Roof inspection devices, methods, and systems

• US 9,706,173 B1
• Filed: 02/28/2013
• 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: Osborne, Shane, Hillman, James P., Blasing, Cynthia, Brunet, Damien, Cable, Dan D., Fernandez, Adolfo J., Kreth, Jeffrey A., Pacheco, Robert A., Sokolowski, Renee
• Primary Examiner(s): Parikh, Dakshesh
• Application Number:
  US13/781,389
• Time in Patent Office: 1,594 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/00 Special procedures for taking photographs; Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/56 Accessories carrying-cases A45C11/38
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/561 Support related camera accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2206/00 Systems for exchange of information between different pieces of apparatus, e.g. for exchanging trimming information, for photo finishing
• 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 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

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 device, comprising:

an extendable pole having a plurality of carbon fiber pole sections between a first end and a second end;

a number of flexible spherical shaped members coupled in series to the first end of the extendable pole;

a camera mount coupled to one of the number of flexible spherical shaped members;

a camera releasably coupled to the camera mount and configured to capture an image of a roof; and

a stabilizer coupled to a surface of at least one of the plurality of carbon fiber pole sections, the stabilizer adapted to stabilize the extendable pole on the roof as the second end is operated by a user on a ground surface to capture the image, the stabilizer comprising;

a plurality of extendible legs, each leg having a first leg end and a second leg end;

a coupling member coupling the surface of at least one of the plurality of carbon fiber pole sections to the first leg end of each of the plurality of extendible legs; and

a plurality of wheels arranged to engage the roof, wherein each wheel of the plurality of wheels is coupled to the second leg end of a respective one of the plurality of extendible legs.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising an insulator material coating at least a portion of the extendable pole.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the insulator material is a fiberglass material.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a detachable pole extender, wherein the detachable pole extender is removably coupled to the second end.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a mount coupled to the extendable pole, the mount adapted to receive a mobile device.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the mobile device is communicatively coupled to the camera.