Impact activated triggering mechanism for a camera mounted in a vehicle

• US 5,568,211 A
• Filed: 04/10/1995
• Issued: 10/22/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Terry D. Scharton
• Original Assignee: Terry D. Scharton
• Inventors: Bamford, Robert M.
• Primary Examiner(s): MATHEWS, ALAN A
• Application Number:
  US08/419,092
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 354/76, 354/266, 352/132, 352/174, 200/61.45 R, 200/61.53
• US Class Current: 396/429
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/38 Releasing-devices separate from shutter integral with shutter G03B9/08
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2219/045 adapted for unloading the film in the processing laboratory, e.g. disposable, reusable or recyclable cameras

Abstract

An improved impact activated triggering mechanism for a camera which is mounted on a rear-view mirror of a vehicle. The impact activated triggering mechanism responds to inertial forces from any horizontal direction. Upon sudden impact or deceleration an enclosed inertia member moving relative to the camera causes the release of a spring which directly or indirectly actuates the shutter in the camera.

Claims

1. An impact activated camera triggering apparatus used in combination with a disposable camera which has a wide angle lens and a shutter release button lever for taking a photographic picture, the apparatus removably attached inside a vehicle at a location between a back of a rear-view mirror and a front windshield, the rear-view mirror has a mirror side, the apparatus comprising:

a. a mounting case including a generally rectangular shaped rear compartment for retaining said camera and a generally right triangular shaped front compartment;

b. said rear compartment having a bowed shaped front panel with an elliptical shaped opening therethrough, a bowed shaped rear panel, a bottom panel, a top panel, a first end opening, and an opposite second end opening, the bowed shaped front and rear panels facing each other for securely locating said camera, the bottom panel having a longitudinal step-down section and a cut-out opening located adjacent to the second end opening for accessing said shutter release button lever and grasping said camera for insertion and removal;

c. a longitudinal cover plate mounted within said rear compartment and covering said step-down section of said rear compartment;

d. said front compartment having a slanted front panel, a bottom panel, a first end opening, and an opposite second end opening, the slanted front panel having a slotted top end and an elliptical shaped opening therethrough located centrally and aligned with and parallel to said opening of said front panel of said rear compartment, where both of the openings of the slanted front panel of said front compartment and said front panel of said rear compartment accommodate the field of view of said wide angle lens of said disposable camera when said disposable camera slides invertedly into a respective one of said end openings of said rear compartment, the bottom panel having a multiplicity of apertures and a detent section located between a respective two of the multiplicity of apertures, the detent section having a central cavity therethrough;

e. a longitudinal elongated trigger spring mounted within said step-down section of said rear compartment and having a tapering distal section with a narrow distal end, a wide middle section, and a tapering proximal section with a narrow proximal end, the proximal end located relative to said cover plate such that the middle section abuts against said bottom panel of said rear compartment, and the distal end located adjacent to an end opening on said cover plate;

f. a chamber located within said front compartment and covering said detent section, the chamber having a first end wall, a top wall with an opening and a second end wall;

g. a spherical rolling ball retained within said chamber and being able to roll on said detent section, where the rolling ball is limited to a horizontal plane movement and responsive to inertial forces;

h. a trigger lever arm pivotally mounted between said front panels of said front and rear compartments at a location remote from said chamber and having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end forming a trigger lever pin extending down through said opening of said top wall of said chamber and resting on said rolling ball when said rolling ball is seating above said central cavity, the proximal end forming a reset trigger lever and resting above a respective one of said multiplicity apertures of said bottom panel of said front compartment and a transverse latching pin extending through an opening on said front panel of said rear compartment and into said rear compartment for latching said distal section of said trigger spring;

i. said reset trigger lever of said trigger lever arm facilitating the cocking of said tapering distal section of said trigger spring by latching said transverse latching pin of said trigger lever arm over said narrow distal end of said trigger spring to prevent said tapering distal section of said trigger spring from pressing up on said shutter release button lever of said camera prematurely when said apparatus is cocked; and

j. means for preventing said camera from sliding out from said end openings of said rear compartment, one of the means being disablable to allow insertion and retraction of said camera;

k. whereby when said impact activated camera triggering apparatus is mounted in said vehicle, said rolling ball can be moved off said central cavity of said detent section in response to said inertial forces in the horizontal plane upon sudden impact on said vehicle from any lateral direction, which drops said trigger lever pin of said trigger lever arm off from said rolling ball, causing said latching pin of said trigger lever arm to release said tapering distal section of said trigger spring which in turn presses on said shutter release button lever of said disposable camera, to thereby automatically take said photographic picture at the moment of sudden impact.

2. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the sensitively can be adjusted by changing the weight of said rolling ball relative to the spring load.

3. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the sensitively can be adjusted by changing the diameter of said central cavity of said detent section relative to the diameter of said rolling ball.

4. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the sensitivity can be adjusted by changing the horizontal projection of the length of said trigger lever arm from its pivot to said rolling ball relative to the distance between the pivot and the normal to said distal end of said trigger spring at said latching pin.

5. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said disposable camera can be readily removed from said mounting case for conventional manual operation.

6. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said mounting case further comprises indexing means for locating said apparatus relative to the reflective face of said rear view mirror.

7. The apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein said indexing means locating said mounting case to said mirror side of said rear-view mirror is preloaded with elastic bands.

8. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for preventing said camera from sliding out from said end openings of said rear compartment comprises at least two opposite flanges mounted on each end of said rear panel of said rear compartment, where one of the at least two opposite flanges being flexible for allowing insertion or retraction of said camera.

9. An impact activated triggering mechanism for use with a camera inside a vehicle, the camera has a shutter release button lever and a lens for taking a photographic picture, the impact activated triggering mechanism comprising:

a. a mounting case including a rear compartment for retaining said camera and a front compartment;

b. said rear compartment having a front panel with an opening therethrough, a rear panel, a bottom panel, a top panel, a first end opening, and a second end opening, the bottom panel having a step-down section and a cut-out opening located adjacent to the second end opening for accessing said shutter release button lever;

c. a cover plate mounted within said rear compartment and covering said step-down section of said rear compartment;

d. said front compartment having a front panel, a bottom panel, a first end opening, and a second end opening, the front panel having a slotted top end and an opening therethrough located centrally and aligned with and parallel to said opening of said front panel of said rear compartment, where both of the openings of the front panel of said front compartment and said front panel of said rear compartment accommodate the field of view of said lens of said camera when said camera slides invertedly into said second end opening of said rear compartment, the bottom panel having at least three apertures and a detent section located between a respective two of the at least three apertures, the detent section having a cavity therethrough;

e. a trigger spring mounted within said step-down section of said rear compartment and having a tapering distal section with a narrow distal end, a wide middle section, and a tapering proximal section with a narrow proximal end, the proximal end located relative to said cover plate such that the middle section abuts against said bottom panel of said rear compartment, and the distal end located adjacent to an end opening on said cover plate;

f. a chamber mounted within said front compartment and covering said detent section and having a first end wall, a top wall with an opening and a second end wall;

g. a rolling ball retained within said chamber and being able to roll on said detent section, where the rolling ball is limited to a horizontal plane movement and responsive to inertial forces;

h. a trigger lever arm pivotally mounted between said front panels of said front and rear compartments at a location remote front said chamber and having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end forming a trigger lever pin extending down through said opening of said top wall of said chamber and resting on said rolling ball when said rolling ball is seated above said cavity, the proximal end forming a reset trigger lever and resting above a respective one of said at least three apertures of said bottom panel of said front compartment and a latching pin extending through an opening on said front panel of said rear compartment and into said rear compartment for latching said distal end of said trigger spring; and

i. said reset trigger lever of said trigger lever arm facilitating the cocking of said tapering distal section of said trigger spring by latching said latching pin of said trigger lever arm over said narrow distal end of said trigger spring to prevent said tapering distal section of said trigger spring from pressing up on said shutter release button lever of said camera prematurely;

j. whereby said rolling ball can be moved off from said cavity of said detent section in response to said inertial forces in the horizontal plane upon sudden impact on said vehicle from any lateral direction, which drops said trigger lever pin of said trigger lever arm off from said rolling ball, causing said latching pin of said trigger lever arm to release said tapering distal section of said trigger spring which in turn presses on said shutter release button lever of said camera, to thereby automatically take said photographic picture at the moment of sudden impact.

10. The impact activated triggering mechanism in accordance with claim 9 wherein the sensitively can be adjusted by changing the weight of said rolling ball relative to the spring load.

11. The impact activated triggering mechanism in accordance with claim 9 wherein the sensitively can be adjusted by changing the diameter of said cavity of said detent section relative to the diameter of said rolling ball.

12. The impact activated triggering mechanism in accordance with claim 9 wherein the sensitivity can be adjusted by changing the horizontal projection of the length of said trigger lever arm from its pivot to said rolling ball relative to the distance between the pivot and the normal to said distal end of said trigger spring at said latching pin.

13. The impact activated triggering mechanism in accordance with claim 9 wherein said camera can be readily removed from said mounting case for conventional manual operation.

14. The impact activated triggering mechanism in accordance with claim 9 wherein said camera is a disposable wide-angle camera.

15. The impact activated triggering mechanism in accordance with claim 9 further comprising means for attaching said mounting case inside said vehicle.

16. The impact activated triggering mechanism in accordance with claim 15 wherein said means for attaching said mounting case inside said vehicle comprises elastic bands.

17. The impact activated triggering mechanism in accordance with claim 16 wherein said elastic bands automatically preloads an indexing means attached to said mounting case against the mirror side of a rear-view mirror of said vehicle.

18. The impact activated triggering mechanism in accordance with claim 9 further comprising at least one flange mounted on a respective one of said end openings of said rear panel of said rear compartment to prevent said camera from sliding out from said end openings of said rear compartment.

19. A triggering mechanism for use with a camera inside a vehicle, the camera has a shutter release button lever and a lens for taking a photographic picture, the triggering mechanism comprising:

a. a mounting case including a rear compartment for retaining said camera and a front compartment;

b. said rear compartment having a front panel with an opening therethrough, a rear panel, a bottom panel and a top panel, the bottom panel having a step-down section;

c. a cover plate mounted within said rear compartment and covering said step-down section of said rear compartment;

d. said front compartment having a front panel with an opening therethrough and a bottom panel, where both of the openings of the front panels of said front and rear compartments accommodate the field of view of said lens of said camera when said camera is mounted within said rear compartment, the bottom panel having a detent section with a cavity therethrough;

e. means for attaching said mounting case inside said vehicle;

f. a trigger spring mounted within said step-down section of said rear compartment and having a distal section with a distal end, a middle section, and a proximal section with a proximal end, the proximal end located relative to said cover plate such that the middle section abuts against said bottom panel of said rear compartment, and the distal section being loaded;

g. a chamber mounted within said front compartment and covering said detent section, the chamber having an opening therethrough;

h. a rolling mass retained within said chamber and being able to roll on said detent section, where the rolling mass is limited to a horizontal plane movement and responsive to inertial forces;

i. a trigger lever arm pivotally mounted between said front panels of said front and rear compartments at a location remote from said chamber and having a distal end forming a trigger lever pin extending down through said opening of said chamber and resting on said rolling mass when said rolling mass is located above said cavity and a proximal end forming a reset trigger lever and a latching pin extending into said rear compartment for loading said distal end of said trigger spring; and

j. said reset trigger lever of said trigger lever arm facilitating the cocking of said distal section of said trigger spring by latching said latching pin of said trigger lever arm over said distal end of said trigger spring to prevent said distal section of said trigger spring from pressing up on said shutter release button lever of said camera prematurely;

k. whereby said rolling mass can be moved off from said cavity of said detent section in response to said inertial forces in the horizontal plane upon sudden impact on said vehicle from any direction, which drops said trigger lever pin of said trigger lever arm off from said rolling mass, causing said latching pin of said trigger lever arm to release said distal section of said trigger spring which in turn presses on said shutter release button lever of said camera, to thereby automatically take said photographic picture at the moment of sudden impact.

20. The triggering mechanism in accordance with claim 19 wherein the sensitively can be adjusted by changing the weight of said rolling mass relative to the spring load.

21. The triggering mechanism in accordance with claim 19 wherein the sensitively can be adjusted by changing the diameter of said cavity of said detent section relative to the diameter of said rolling mass.

22. The triggering mechanism in accordance with claim 19 wherein the sensitivity can be adjusted by changing the horizontal projection of the length of said trigger lever arm from its pivot to said rolling mass relative to the distance between the pivot and the normal to said distal end of said trigger spring at said latching pin.

23. The triggering mechanism in accordance with claim 19 wherein said camera can be readily removed from said mounting case for conventional manual operation.

24. The triggering mechanism in accordance with claim 19 wherein said means for attaching said mounting case inside said vehicle further includes at least one elastic band.

25. The triggering mechanism in accordance with claim 24 wherein said at least one elastic band automatically preloads an indexing means attached to said mounting case against a mirror side of a rear-view mirror of said vehicle.

26. The triggering mechanism in accordance with claim 19 wherein said rolling mass comprises two spherical rolling balls stacked on top of each other.

27. The triggering mechanism in accordance with claim 19 wherein said rolling mass includes two spherical rolling balls and a cylindrical shaped hollow housing, where two spherical rolling balls are loosely retained within the cylindrical shaped hollow housing.

28. A triggering mechanism for use with a visual image recording device which has an element whose motion initiates operation and is removably mounted within a vehicle, the triggering mechanism comprising:

a. a seismic mass limited to small movements essentially in a horizontal plane and responsive to inertial forces;

b. a trigger spring having a distal end and a proximal end being fixedly located relative to said visual image recording device when said device is mounted within said vehicle, where the distal end is loaded and induces motion of said element of said visual image recording device, said motion of said element initiates operation when the distal end of the trigger spring is released;

c. means for maintaining the position of said seismic mass relative to said visual image recording device in the absence of any acceleration in excess of a desired threshold value, and for allowing non-sliding motion of said seismic mass relative to said visual image recording device in the presence of any acceleration in excess of said desired threshold value; and

d. a trigger lever arm having a distal end, a proximal end and a pivot axis, the trigger lever arm pivoted about the pivot axis relative to said visual image recording device when said device is mounted within said vehicle, the distal end forming a trigger lever pin resting on said seismic mass when said seismic mass is in the position in which it is maintained by said means for maintaining the position of said seismic mass and the proximal end forming a latching pin, which loads said distal end of said trigger spring;

e. whereby in response to said acceleration in excess of the desired threshold induced by a sudden impact on said vehicle from any direction, said seismic mass is moved relative to said visual image recording device essentially in the horizontal plane from the position in which it is maintained by said means for maintaining the position of said seismic mass, which drops said trigger lever pin off from said seismic mass, allowing said trigger spring to rotate said trigger lever arm, causing said latching pin to release said distal end of said trigger spring, which moves said element of said visual image recording device that initiates operation of said visual image recording device, to thereby automatically record a visual image at the moment of sudden impact.

29. The triggering mechanism in accordance with claim 28 wherein said visual image recording device is a camera.

30. The triggering mechanism in accordance with claim 28 wherein the sensitively can be adjusted by changing the magnitude of the weight of said seismic mass relative to the spring load.

31. The triggering mechanism in accordance with claim 28 wherein the sensitivity can be adjusted by changing the horizontal projection of the length of said trigger lever arm from its pivot to said seismic mass relative to the distance between the pivot and the normal to said distal end of said trigger spring at said latching pin.

32. The triggering mechanism in accordance with claim 29 wherein said camera can be readily removed from said mounting case for conventional manual operation.

33. The triggering mechanism in accordance with claim 28 further comprising at least one elastic band for mounting said visual image recording device inside said vehicle.

34. The triggering mechanism in accordance with claim 33 wherein said at least one elastic band automatically preloads an indexing means fixed relative to said visual image recording device when said device is supported inside said vehicle against a mirror side of a rear-view mirror of said vehicle.

35. The triggering mechanism in accordance with claim 34 wherein said indexing means comprises three clips, each clip having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal ends fixedly located relative to said visual image recording device when said device is mounted inside said vehicle, the distal ends forming hooks around the edge molding of the reflective face of said rear view mirror, whereby manually placing said visual image recording device between said rear view mirror and a windshield of said vehicle with said hooks around the reflective face edge molding, gradual release of said visual image recording device allows said at least one elastic band to preload the clips, mounting said visual image recording device within said vehicle rigidly and unambiguously normal to said mirror reflective surface independent of the back surface of said mirror.

36. The triggering mechanism in accordance with claim 28 wherein said element whose motion initiates operation of said visual image recording device is an external operation initiating button, where the motion of said distal end of said trigger spring toward the button induces motion of the button, which initiates operation of said visual image recording device.

37. The triggering mechanism in accordance with claim 28 wherein said element of said visual image recording device whose motion initiates operation is spring loaded to induce motion.

38. The triggering mechanism in accordance with claim 37 wherein said distal end of said trigger spring further comprises a lug which prevents motion of said spring loaded element of said visual image recording device in its cocked position, where the rotation of said trigger lever arm allows said spring loaded element to initiate operation of said visual image recording device.

39. The triggering mechanism in accordance with claim 28 further comprising a chamber for enclosing said seismic mass and having an essentially flat bottom, an opening in its upper surface, and a planform diameter sufficiently greater than the planform diameter of said seismic mass such that said trigger lever pin has sufficient clearance to drop to any side of its cocked position if said seismic mass moves relative to the chamber in the opposite direction, the chamber fixedly attached relative to said visual image recording device when said device is mounted within said vehicle such that said seismic mass is limited to small movements essentially in a horizontal plane, said distal end of said trigger lever arm enters the opening in the upper surface of the chamber with said trigger lever pin resting on said seismic mass and following an acceleration in excess of the required threshold said trigger lever pin drops off said seismic mass.

40. The triggering mechanism in accordance with claim 28 wherein said element whose motion initiates operation of said visual image recording device is an internal part of said visual image recording device and is spring loaded to induce motion, said motion is prevented by said trigger lever latching pin in the cocked configuration of said triggering mechanism, whereby motion of said trigger lever latching pin allows said spring loaded element to directly initiate operation of said visual image recording device integrated with said triggering mechanism.

41. The triggering mechanism in accordance with claim 28 wherein said visual image recording device is mounted between the rear view mirror and a windshield of said vehicle oriented with a generally forward field of view, where the field of view of said visual image recording device includes a scene whose visual image is useful to record in the event of an impact on said vehicle from any direction and there is minimal obstruction to the field of view of the driver of said vehicle.

42. The triggering mechanism in accordance with claim 28 wherein said element of said visual image recording device whose motion initiates operation can be readily triggered by manual pressure on said element.

43. The triggering mechanism in accordance with claim 28 further comprising means for initiating cocking of said triggering mechanism, where in response to a single finger thrust, the means for initiating cocking moves said triggering mechanism into its cocked configuration.

44. The triggering mechanism in accordance with claim 43 wherein said means for initiating cocking of said trigger mechanism further comprises:

a. a connecting bell-crank having a horizontal first arm terminating in a reset button, a second arm and a pivot axis, the bell-crank pivoted about the pivot axis relative to said visual image recording device, where the second arm extends upwardly to form a loop;

b. a reset trigger bell-crank having a horizontal lower arm, a vertical upper arm terminating in a link shaft and a pivot axis, the bell-crank pivoted about the pivot axis relative to said visual image recording device;

c. a reset tension element having a loop end and a delay link end, the loop end hooked to said loop on said second arm of said connecting bell-crank and the delay link end hooked to said link shaft on said vertical upper arm of said reset trigger bell-crank;

d. a spring link loosely connected to said trigger spring adjacent to said distal end of said trigger spring and to said horizontal lower arm of said reset trigger bell-crank;

e. a delay link loosely connected to a link shaft of said trigger lever arm and said link shaft of said reset trigger bell-crank, which does not engage the link shaft of said trigger lever arm until said distal end of said trigger spring is clear from said latching pin of said trigger lever arm; and

f. means for relocating said seismic mass to the position in which it will be maintained by said means for maintaining the position of said seismic mass in the absence of an acceleration in excess of the desired threshold;

g. whereby pressing said reset button resets said triggering mechanism, said connecting bell-crank rotates until said loop of said connecting bell-crank pulls said reset tension element toward its loop end, which pulls said link shaft of said reset trigger bell-crank, rotating said reset trigger bell-crank, which causes said lower arm of said reset trigger bell-crank to move downward, lowering said spring link, which lowers said distal end of said trigger spring and clears said latching pin of said trigger lever arm, continued motion of said link shaft of said reset trigger bell-crank pulls said delay link, which pulls said link shaft of said trigger lever arm, which rotates said trigger lever arm, causing said latching pin of said trigger lever arm to abut against said distal end of said trigger spring and raises said trigger lever pin which clears said seismic mass, said means for relocating said seismic mass relocates said seismic mass to the position in which it is maintained in the absence of an acceleration in excess of the desired threshold, and release of said reset button relaxes loads in said connecting bell-crank, said reset tension element, said reset trigger bell-crank, said delay link, said trigger lever arm and said spring link, allowing said trigger spring to push said latching pin of said trigger lever arm, rotating said trigger lever arm, lowering said trigger lever pin to press on said seismic mass with the required preload.

45. The triggering mechanism in accordance with claim 44 wherein said seismic mass is a sliding mass with a central rod on its upper surface and a conical cavity on its base.

46. The triggering mechanism in accordance with claim 45 wherein said means for relocating said seismic mass to the position in which it will be maintained by said means for maintaining the position of said seismic mass in the absence of an acceleration in excess of the desired threshold is a cavity in the top of said central rod which can capture the tip of said trigger lever pin.

47. The triggering mechanism in accordance with claim 45 wherein said connecting bell-crank reset button comprises a cone shaped head on its upper surface, the head is located within a cavity of said sliding mass such that when said reset button is pressed upward after said trigger lever pin is raised above its cocked position on said central rod, which occurs prior to extending said reset tension element, where said reset tension element is a soft spring, said sliding mass is moved into the position in which it is maintained by the tip of said trigger lever pin in the cavity of said sliding mass and releasing said reset button returns it to its cocked position, said trigger spring rotates said trigger lever arm, preloading said trigger lever pin down into the cavity in said central rod, which maintains the position of said sliding mass in the absence of an acceleration in excess of the desired threshold value, said central rod providing clearance for said trigger lever pin to drop off with minimal horizontal motion of said sliding mass relative to said visual image recording device.

48. A triggering mechanism for use with a visual image recording device which has an element whose motion initiates operation and is removably mounted within a vehicle, the triggering mechanism comprising:

a. at least one rolling ball limited to small movements essentially in a horizontal plane and responsive to inertial forces;

b. a trigger spring having a distal end and a proximal end being fixedly located relative to said visual image recording device when said device is mounted within said vehicle, where the distal end is loaded and induces motion of said element of said visual image recording device, said motion of said element initiates operation when the distal end of the trigger spring is released;

means for maintaining the position of said at least one rolling ball relative to said visual image recording device in the absence of an acceleration in excess of a desired threshold value; and

d. a trigger lever arm having a distal end, a proximal end and a pivot axis, the trigger lever arm pivoted about the pivot axis relative to said visual image recording device when said device is mounted within said vehicle, the distal end forming a trigger lever pin resting on said at least one rolling ball when said at least one rolling ball is in the position in which it is maintained by said means for maintaining the position of said at least one rolling ball and the proximal end forming a latching pin, which loads said distal end of said trigger spring;

e. whereby in response to said acceleration in excess of the desired threshold induced by a sudden impact on said vehicle from any direction, said at least one rolling ball is moved relative to said visual image recording device essentially in the horizontal plane from the position in which it is maintained by said means for maintaining the position of said at least one rolling ball, which drops said trigger lever pin off from said at least one rolling ball, allowing said trigger spring to rotate said trigger lever arm, causing said latching pin to release said distal end of said trigger spring, which moves said element of said visual image recording device that initiates operation of said visual image recording device, to thereby automatically record a visual image at the moment of sudden impact.

49. The triggering mechanism in accordance with claim 48 wherein said at least one rolling ball comprises two rolling balls stacked one on top of the other.

50. The triggering mechanism in accordance with claim 49 wherein said at least one rolling ball comprises two rolling balls and an open ended cylindrical shaped hollow housing, where the two rolling balls are loosely retained within the cylindrical shaped hollow housing.

51. The triggering mechanism in accordance with claim 48 wherein said means for maintaining the position of said at least one rolling ball in the absence of an acceleration in excess of the desired threshold comprises one cavity for each of said at least one rolling ball, the cavity having an elliptical rim in contact with said at least one rolling ball, each cavity being fixedly located relative to said visual image recording device, where the cavity controls the threshold at which said at least one rolling ball moves from its cocked position, the threshold reduces as said at least one rolling ball moves out of said cavity providing reliable operation with negligible chance of termination once motion is initiated.

52. The triggering mechanism in accordance with claim 51 wherein the sensitively can be adjusted by changing the diameter of said rim of said cavity relative to the diameter of said at least one rolling ball.

53. The triggering mechanism in accordance with claim 51 wherein said cavity is located at the deepest part of a conical depression.

54. The triggering mechanism in accordance with claim 51 wherein said at least one rolling ball is a single rolling ball which is maintained in position by said cavity corresponding to the single rolling ball which is at the deepest part of a conical depression fixedly located relative to said visual image recording device, where the single rolling ball is relocated in the conical depression by gravity to the position in which it is maintained by said cavity.

55. The triggering mechanism in accordance with claim 54 wherein said proximal end of said trigger lever further comprises a reset arm which facilitates manual lever rotation of said trigger lever arm to cause said latching pin of said trigger lever arm to abut against said distal end of said trigger spring and to provide clearance for said single rolling ball to relocate, thereby releasing of the reset arm allows said trigger spring to raise said latching pin and rotates said trigger lever arm, lowering said trigger lever pin to push on said single rolling ball with the required preload completing the cocking of said triggering mechanism.