PORTABLE VIDEO AND IMAGING SYSTEM

• US 20150103246A1
• Filed: 12/18/2014
• Published: 04/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digital Ally Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Digital Ally Incorporated
• Inventors: Phillips, Steve, Troxel, Jason R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,237,262 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/376
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/14 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06 ; adjustable mountings employing universal joints for lighting devices F21V21/26 - F21V21/30
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2078 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06
• 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: 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: 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: G11B 27/102 Programmed access in sequence to addressed parts of tracks of operating record carriers access by moving the head G11B3/08, G11B5/54, G11B7/085, G11B21/022; by moving the record carrier G11B15/005, G11B17/005, by driving of both record carrier and head G11B15/1816
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253

Abstract

A portable video and imaging system includes a camera for capturing video of an event, and a video recording device for recording the captured video of the event. The camera is housed in a first housing, the recording device is housed in a second housing, and the first and second housings are physically separate. Various embodiments provide for the system to be mounted to a user'"'"'s body, an article of clothing, such as a shirt or a hat, to a vehicle, or to an ancillary component carried by the user, such as a firearm.

Claims

1. A portable video system comprising:

a camera component for capturing video of an event, said camera component comprising a camera housed within a housing having a size configured to mount on a user'"'"'s body,

wherein the camera includes a camera mating member,

a recording component comprising a processor and a memory associated with the camera for storing the captured video; and

a set of interchangeable mounting assemblies for mounting the camera to the user'"'"'s body, including—

a first mount assembly including a first mount mating member that is configured to mate with the camera mating member so as to secure the first mount assembly to the camera for mounting the camera the user; and

a second mount assembly including a second mount mating member that is configured to mate with the camera mating member so as to secure the second mount assembly to the camera for mounting the camera on the article on the user'"'"'s body,

wherein the first mount mating member and the second mount mating member are configured to each interchangeably be mounted to the camera by the user.

2. The portable video system of claim 1,

wherein said housing for the camera is a first housing,

wherein said processor and memory are stored in a second housing, and

wherein the second housing is physically separated from the first housing,

wherein said first and second housings are coupled via a wired cable for transmission of captured video from the camera stored in the first housing and to the memory stored in the second housing.

3. The portable video system of claim 1, wherein the first mount mating member and the second mount mating member are of substantially the same size and shape to interchangeably mount with the camera mating member.

4. The portable video system of claim 1,

wherein the camera mating member presents a shape that is complementary to a shape presented by the first mount mating member,

wherein said shape presented by the camera mating member is complementary to a shape presented by the second mount mating member.

5. The portable video system of claim 4,

wherein the camera mating member is a recessed seat,

wherein the first mount mating member and the second mount mating member are each a raised seat.

6. The portable video system of claim 5, wherein the recessed seat and the raised seat each present a generally square shape.

7. The portable video system of claim 1,

wherein the first mount assembly is a button-mount assembly including a slotted plate presenting a slot for receipt of a button through the slot, wherein the button is located on clothing worn by the user,

wherein the first mount mating member is a button-mount mating member,

wherein the second mount assembly is a clip mount assembly configured for grasping an article on the user'"'"'s body,

wherein the second mount mating member is a clip mount mating member.

8. The portable video system of claim 7,

wherein the clip mount assembly includes—

at least two plates pivotably secured together at a general end of each plate, such that each plate pivots with respect to the other plate to position the plates in either of a closed position or an open position,

wherein when the plates are pivoted towards each other, the plates are in the closed position,

wherein when the plates are pivoted away from each other, the plates are in the open position, and

wherein when in the open position, the user can secure the plates around the clothing article of the user; and

a spring is interposed between the plates at the end where the plates are pivotably secured together to provide a resilient tension that pivots the plates to the closed position unless the plates are otherwise actuated by the user.

9. The portable video system of claim 7, wherein the set of interchangeable mounting assemblies further comprises:

a hat mount assembly for securing to a helmet or cap worn by the user,

said hat mount assembly further including a hat mount mating member that is configured to mate with the camera mating member so as to secure the hat mount to the camera for mounting the camera on a helmet or cap worn by the user; and

a hook-and-loop mount assembly comprising a plate and adhesively-securable hook-and-loop material for grasping a corresponding hook-and-loop material associated with the user,

said hook-and-loop mount assembly further including a hook-and-loop mount mating member that is configured to mate with the camera mating member so as to secure the hook-and-loop mount to the camera for mounting the camera on the corresponding hook-and-loop material associated with the user.

10. A portable video system comprising:

a camera component for capturing video of an event, said camera component comprising a camera housed within a housing having a size configured to mount on a user'"'"'s body;

a recording component comprising a processor and a memory associated with the camera for storing the captured video; and

a set of interchangeable mounting assemblies for mounting the camera, including—

a button-mount assembly including a slotted plate presenting a slot for receipt of a button through the slot, wherein the button is located on clothing worn by the user,

a clip mount assembly configured for grasping an article on the user'"'"'s body; and

a hook-and-loop mount assembly comprising a plate and adhesively-securable hook-and-loop material for grasping a corresponding hook-and-loop material associated with the user,

wherein the button-mount assembly, the clip mount assembly, and the hook-and-loop mount assembly are each interchangeably mounted to the camera mounted on the user.

11. The portable video system of claim 10,

wherein the camera includes a front side and a rear side, and wherein said rear side of the camera has a camera mating member,

said button-mount assembly further including a button-mount mating member that is configured to mate with the camera mating member so as to secure the button-mount assembly to the camera for mounting the camera on the clothing worn by the user,

said clip mount assembly further including a clip mount mating member that is configured to mate with the camera mating member so as to secure the clip mount assembly to the camera for mounting the camera on the article on the user'"'"'s body,

said hook-and-loop mount assembly further including a hook-and-loop mount mating member that is configured to mate with the camera mating member so as to secure the hook-and-loop mount assembly to the camera for mounting the camera on the corresponding hook-and-loop material associated with the user.

12. The portable video system of claim 11, wherein the button-mount mating member, the clip mount mating member, and the hook-and-loop mating member are each a substantially similar structure.

13. The portable video system of claim 12,

wherein the camera mating member is a recessed seat,

wherein the button-mount mating member, the clip mount mating member, and the hook-and-loop mating member are each a raised seat.

14. The portable video system of claim 10, wherein the set of interchangeable mounting assemblies further includes—

a hat mount for securing to a helmet or cap worn by the user;

a vehicle mount being secured within a law enforcement vehicle associated with the user; and

a saddle bracket for securing the camera to a barrel of a firearm.

15. A set of interchangeable mounting assemblies for mounting a housing of a camera of a portable video system, the set of interchangeable mounting assemblies comprising:

a button-mount assembly including a slotted plate presenting a slot for receipt of a button through the slot, wherein the button is located on a clothing article of a user,

wherein the button-mount assembly presents a button-mount mating member so as to secure the button-mount assembly to the camera for mounting the camera the user;

a clip mount assembly configured for grasping the clothing article of the user,

wherein the clip mount assembly presents a clip mount mating member so as to secure the clip mount assembly to the camera for mounting the camera the user; and

a hook-and-loop mount assembly comprising a plate and a segment of adhesively-securable hook-and-loop material for grasping a corresponding segment of hook-and-loop material associated with the user,

wherein the hook-and-loop mount assembly presents a hook-and-loop mount mating member so as to secure the hook-and-loop mount assembly to the camera for mounting the camera the user,

wherein the button-mount mating member, the clip mount mating member, and the hook-and-loop mount mating member each interchangeably interfit with a camera mating member on a rear side of the housing of the camera,

wherein the button-mount assembly, the clip mount assembly, and the hook-and-loop assembly are each interchangeably mounted to the camera by the user.

16. The set of interchangeable mounting assemblies of claim 15,

wherein the button-mount mating member, the clip mount mating member, and the hook-and-loop mount mating member are each of substantially the same size and shape to interchangeably mount with the camera mating member,

wherein the button-mount mating member, the clip mount mating member, and the hook-and-loop mount mating member are each a raised seat,

wherein the camera mating member is a recessed seat.

17. The set of interchangeable mounting assemblies of claim 16,

wherein said button-mount assembly further includes a mounting bracket that at least partially overlays and forwardly extends from a front of the slotted plate to present a longitudinal track between the front of the slotted plate and the mounting bracket,

wherein said mounting bracket includes a ledge configured to interfit in said recessed seat of the camera to secure the camera to said button-mount assembly.

18. The set of interchangeable mounting assemblies of claim 15, wherein the clip mount assembly includes—

at least two plates pivotably secured together at a general end of each plate, such that each plate pivots with respect to the other plate to position the plates in either of a closed position or an open position,

wherein when the plates are pivoted towards each other, the plates are in the closed position,

wherein when the plates are pivoted away from each other, the plates are in the open position,

wherein when in the open position, the user can secure the plates around the clothing article of the user; and

a spring interposed between the plates at the end where the plates are pivotably secured together to provide a resilient tension that pivots the plates to a closed position unless the plates are otherwise actuated by the user.

19. The set of interchangeable mounting assemblies of claim 15,

wherein the portable video system further comprises a recording component including a processor and a memory associated with the camera for storing the captured video,

wherein said camera of the portable video system is adapted for capturing video of an event,

wherein said camera component is operable to capture the event for a predetermined period of time prior to the user actuating the input to instruct recording by the portable video system,

wherein said housing for the camera is a first housing,

wherein said processor and memory are stored in a second housing, and

wherein the second housing is physically separated from the first housing.

wherein said first and second housings are coupled via a wired cable for transmission of captured video from the camera stored in the first housing and to the memory stored in the second housing.

20. The set of interchangeable mounting assemblies of claim 16, further comprising:

a vehicle mount assembly being secured within a law enforcement vehicle associated with the user,

wherein the hook-and-loop mount assembly presents a vehicle mount mating member so as to secure the vehicle mount assembly to the camera for mounting the camera in the law enforcement vehicle; and

a saddle bracket mount assembly for securing the camera to a barrel of a firearm,

wherein the saddle bracket mount assembly presents a saddle bracket mount mating member so as to secure the saddle bracket mount assembly to the camera for mounting the camera the firearm.