Adjustable stable camera support for vehicles

• US 4,029,246 A
• Filed: 04/13/1976
• Issued: 06/14/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert L. Woodruff
• Original Assignee: Robert L. Woodruff
• Inventors: Woodruff, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spar, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Douglas, Winston H.
• Application Number:
  US05/676,521
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• Field of Search: 224/5 V, 224/29 R, 224/29 D, 224/42.42 A, 224/42.43, 224/42.44, 224/42.45 B, 224/42.46 B, 108/45, 108/132, 108/44, 108/131, 108/133, 354/75, 354/76, 354/81, 354/293, 352/243, 248/166, 248/168, 248/439, 248/188.6, 248/188.8, 248/205 R, 280/179 A
• US Class Current: 224/275
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/048 adapted to forward-backward translation movement
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2021 around a horizontal axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/26 by telescoping, with or without folding details concerning the constructional features of telescoping parts only F16B7/10
• 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 2200/028 by positive interaction, e.g. male-female connections

Abstract

A camera support for automobiles and like vehicles utilizes the top of the vehicle instrument panel and the front seat cushion as a rest means for the support structure. Rear divergent telescoping legs impart lateral stability and height and angle adjustability. An elastic element interconnects the support and instrument panel to hold down the support structure. The rear telescoping legs are foldable to stowed positions within the channel supporting member.

Claims

1. A stable adjustable camera support for vehicles comprising an elongated camera supporting channel beam having a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings in its top web and having downturned side flanges, the forward end of said channel beam during use adapted to rest on top of a vehicle instrument panel, a camera engaging eye screw engageable selectively through any of said openings from below the channel beam to secure a camera in a selected adjusted position fixedly on top of the channel beam, an elastic flexible hold-down and stabilizing means for the channel beam having opposite end hooks, one hook engageable with the vehicle instrument panel and the other hook engageable with said eye screw, a pair of rear telescopically adjustable foldable support legs for the rear end of said channel beam adapted to rest on a vehicle front seat cushion in laterally divergent relationship, heads secured to the tops of said legs and each said head having outer parallel faces which lie immediately inwardly of said side flanges when the legs are in a vertical use position, a pivot pin for said heads connected to and extending between said side flanges, the heads being apertured to loosely receive said pin, and an expansion spring on said pivot pin engaging said heads and urging them outwardly into contact with said side flanges, whereby when said legs are extended for usage to the vertical use position the channel beam may be leveled or set at any desired angle to the horizontal by merely adjusting the lengths of the support legs and when said legs are moved toward each other from the laterally divergent relationship to a nearly parallel position said legs may then be pivoted on said pin into a folded stored relationship in said channel beam and between said downturned side flanges.

2. A stable adjustable camera support for vehicles as defined in claim 1, and said side flanges having aligned detent openings near and rearwardly of the axis of said pivot pin, and said heads having parts which are eccentric to said pivot pin and said parts carrying detent projections on their outer sides which snap into the detent openings when said legs are rotated to the vertical use positions on said pivot pin, said heads having substantially flat top faces which then abut the bottom of said top web of the camera supporting channel beam.