Fifth wheel video monitor system

• US 20040041942A1
• Filed: 09/03/2002
• Published: 03/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Martin G. Jones
• Original Assignee: Martin G. Jones
• Inventors: Jones, Martin G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,176,958 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/373
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/25 to the sides of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0085 with adjustment by rotation in their operational position
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/101 using cameras with adjustable capturing direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/802 for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views

Abstract

The present invention teaches at least one video camera mounted upon the tractor part of a truck. An anchor is affixed to the truck so as to prevent any relative motion of anchor and truck, and a rail is affixed to the anchor. A slider is moveably mounted upon the rail so that motion along the rail is allowed but the slider cannot depart from the rail. A camera rack is affixed to the slider but the camera rack and slider are angularly coupled to the trailer/semi-trailer of the truck, so that the rack and any cameras mounted thereon swivel with the trailer, not with the tractor. In the preferred embodiment, the angular coupling is achieved with at least one roller affixed to the camera rack but urged against the trailer. Also in the preferred embodiment, there are at least two cameras: one showing each side of the trailer.

Claims

1. A camera mount for a vehicle having a trailer hitch and trailer, the mount comprising:

at least one anchor affixed to such vehicle;

at least one rail affixed to the anchor,

at least one slider movably mounted upon the rail; and

at least one camera rack affixed to the slider, the camera rack further being angularly coupled to such trailer.

2. The camera mount of claim 1, used in a vehicle wherein the trailer hitch further comprises:

a fifth wheel hitch, and further wherein;

the anchor is affixed to such vehicle at the fifth wheel hitch.

3. The camera mount of claim 1, wherein the camera rack further comprises:

at least one video camera affixed to the camera rack.

4. The camera mount of claim 3, wherein the angular coupling of the camera rack to the trailer further comprises:

the camera rack being dimensioned and configured so as to urge the video camera against the side of the trailer.

5. The camera mount of claim 1, wherein the camera rack further comprises:

an angular coupling affixed to the camera rack.

6. The camera mount of claim 5, wherein the angular coupling further comprises:

at least one roller affixed to the camera rack, the camera rack being dimensioned and configured so as to urge the roller against one surface of the trailer.

7. The camera mount of claim 1, wherein the anchor further comprises:

at least one clamp bracket.

8. The camera mount of claim 7, wherein the affixation of the clamp bracket to the vehicle further comprises:

affixing the clamp bracket to the trailer hitch of the vehicle.

9. The camera mount of claim 3, wherein the affixation of the camera to the camera rack further comprises:

positioning the camera below the level of the side of the trailer.

10. A method of viewing the blind spots of a towing vehicle having towed vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

a) affixing at least one anchor to such towing vehicle;

b) movably mounting at least one camera rack having at least video camera to the anchor in a position such that the video camera can view such a blind spot; and

c) angularly coupling the camera rack to the towed vehicle.

11. The method of viewing of claim 10, wherein the anchor comprises a clamp bracket.

12. The method of viewing of claim 10, wherein the step of angularly coupling the camera rack to the towed vehicle comprises urging at least one roller against the side of the towed vehicle, the roller being affixed to the camera rack.

13. The method of viewing of claim 10, wherein the step of movably mounting the camera rack further comprises:

affixing a slider to the camera rack, and movably mounting the slider upon a rail affixed to the anchor.

14. The method of viewing of claim 10, wherein the camera rack further holds the camera at an elevation lower than the bottom of the trailer in the vicinity of the camera.