Camera mount for a vehicle

• US 5,260,731 A
• Filed: 01/13/1992
• Issued: 11/09/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Roy E. Baker Jr
• Original Assignee: Roy E. Baker Jr
• Inventors: Baker, Roy E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gellner, Michael L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TUCCILLO, NICHOLAS
• Application Number:
  US07/819,810
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 354/81, 248/214, 248/231.4
• US Class Current: 396/428
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/908 Carrier for camera or other photographic equipment

Abstract

A vehicle door or window supported camera mounting bracket assembly including a pair of L shaped nesting grips having depending, cooperating, plastic coated clamp legs embracing a vehicle window top, door, door portion, or the like. An otherwise conventional camera mount is journaled through an outer end of the upper grip and a cooperating pin and slot construction together with a set screw threaded into the upper grip through the slot, formed through the lower grip, permits sliding adjustment of the grips relative to one another and thus spacing of the clamp legs, from close together (e.g., one quarter inch or less) to engage a vehicle window, to relatively far apart (e.g., two inches or more), to engage a vehicle door portion or door. The set screw is then tightened to secure the clamp legs tightly against a vehicle window or door. The upper grip has a camera support leg of sufficient length to permit mounting of a camera at the outer end of the support leg, the camera being rotatable through a full circle without interference with either the bracket or the vehicle door or window upon which the bracket is secured.

Claims

1. Bracket means for mounting an otherwise conventional camera on the window or door of a vehicle, comprising:

a first, generally L shaped upper grip member including a flat, extended length, horizontal, camera support leg and an integral, vertical, first clamp leg segment depending from one end thereof;

a second, generally L shaped lower grip member nested beneath said upper grip member, including a second, flat, extended length support leg and an integral, vertical, second clamp leg segment depending from an end of said lower grip member and arranged generally parallel with said first clamp leg segment;

camera support and attachment means journaled through an end of said upper grip camera support leg opposite said one end thereof, for supporting an otherwise conventional camera thereon;

cooperating pin and slot means formed in said first and second legs for slidably interengaging said first and second grips together and adjusting the distance between said first and second clamp leg segments;

a positioning and adjustment screw for locking said upper and lower grip members in assembly with said first and second clamp leg segments tightly embracing a mount for said bracket means such as a vehicle window, door or the like; and

said lower grip second support leg further includes an angled, elongate edge defined thereon for avoiding an interference fit with said camera attachment means as said upper and lower grips are adjusted relative to one another;

whereby a camera may be affixed to said upper grip camera support leg with said bracket means first and second clamp leg segments securely embracing a vehicle window, door or the like.

2. The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein both of said clamp leg segments further comprise a resilient, encompassing, plastics material protective coating.

3. The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pin is rigidly affixed to and depends from said upper grip camera leg support and said slot means is formed through said lower grip second support leg, said pin means being received in said slot means, said set screw being inserted through said slot means remote from said pin means and further being matingly, threadably received in said upper grip camera leg support, thus to securely lock said grips together in adjusted assembly.