Impact activated triggering mechanism for a camera mounted anywhere in a vehicle

• US 5,596,382 A
• Filed: 10/16/1995
• Issued: 01/21/1997
• 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:
  US08/541,203
• Time in Patent Office: 463 Days
• Field of Search: 354/76, 354/81, 354/266, 354/293, 354/295, 354/288, 352/132, 352/174
• 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 impact activated camera triggering apparatus is used in combination with a camera wherein the apparatus can be mounted on any window of a vehicle having a field of view. The apparatus has an impact activated triggering mechanism which responds to inertial forces from any horizontal direction. Upon sudden impact or deceleration an enclosed inertia member moves relative to the camera causes the release of a spring which directly or indirectly actuates the shutter on the camera.

Claims

1. In combination with a vehicle having at least one window surface and a camera having a lens and a shutter release button lever for taking a photographic picture, an impact activated camera triggering apparatus comprising:

a. a mounting element having a partial rear panel, a base panel and a front panel, the partial rear panel integrally formed with and upwardly extending from the base panel and having a top end terminating into a slanted flange protruding outwardly away from the mounting element, the base panel having a step-down section with a forward region and a rear region, the forward region having at least two apertures and a detent region with a cavity therethrough between the at least two apertures, the front panel having an opening therethrough for accommodating the field of view of said lens of said camera, where the front panel forms an upper flange section, a middle slanted section and a lower slanted section;

b. a divider including a forward extension section, a rearward extension section and a vertical extension section;

c. said forward extension section forming a top surface with an opening therethrough, a front surface with a pivot hole and two end surfaces which enclose said detent region of said mounting element with the opening on the top surface above said cavity of said detent region;

d. said rearward extension section covering said rear region of said step-down section of said base panel of said mounting element and having a cutout end opening;

e. said vertical extension section having an aperture and a dimpled pivot hole;

f. a trigger spring mounted within said rear region of said step-down section 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 rearward extension section such that the middle section abuts against said base panel, and the distal end protruding out from said cutout end opening on said rearward extension section;

g. a rolling ball retained by said forward extension section and being able to roll on said detent region, 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 pivot hole of said front surface of said forward extension section and said dimpled pivot hole of said vertical extension section at a location remote from said rolling ball 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 surface of said forward extension section and resting on said rolling ball when said rolling ball is seated above said cavity of said detent region, the proximal end forming a reset trigger lever and resting above a respective one of said at least two apertures on said forward region of said base panel and a latching pin extending through said aperture of said vertical extension section for latching said distal end 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 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. an elongated rod having one end attached to said slanted flange of said rear panel and the other end extending upwardly above said camera;

k. an upper central suction cup attached to the other end of said elongated rod such that it adheres to said at least one window surface of the vehicle;

l. two separated lower suction cups attached to said middle slanted section of said front panel and opposite each other such that the two separated lower suction cups adhere to said at least one window surface of the vehicle; and

m. means for retaining said camera when said camera is invertedly installed within said rear region of said mounting element;

n. whereby said rolling ball can be moved off from said cavity of said detent region in response to said inertial forces in the horizontal plane upon sudden impact on the 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.

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 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 camera can be readily removed from said mounting element for conventional manual operation.

6. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said camera is a disposable wide-angle camera.

7. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for retaining said camera when said camera is invertedly installed within said rear region of said mounting element comprises an elastic band having loops respectively extending through at least two clearance holes and looped over two opposite hook means on said vertical extension section of said divider and a third loop looped over a hook means on said partial rear panel of said mounting element, where the elastic band also rigidizes said mounting element by preloading it to said camera.

8. In combination with a vehicle having at least one window and a camera having a lens and a shutter release button lever for taking a photographic picture, an impact activated camera triggering apparatus comprising:

a. a mounting element having a rear panel, a base panel and a front panel, the rear panel having an upper flange, the base panel having a step-down section with a forward region and a rear region, the forward region having at least one aperture and a detent region with a cavity therethrough, the front panel having an opening therethrough for accommodating the field of view of said lens of said camera;

b. a divider including a forward extension, a rearward extension and a vertical extension, the forward extension forming a top surface with an opening, a front surface and two end surfaces which enclose said detent region, where the opening on the top surface is above said cavity of said detent region, the rearward extension covering said rear region of said step-down section and having a cutout end opening, the vertical extension having an aperture;

c. a trigger spring mounted within said rear region of said step-down section 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 rearward extension such that the middle section abuts against said base panel, and the distal section being loaded;

d. a rolling mass retained by said forward extension of said divider and being able to roll on said detent region, where the rolling mass responds to inertial forces;

e. a trigger lever arm pivotally mounted between said front surface of said forward extension and said vertical extension of said divider at a location remote from said rolling mass 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 surface of said forward extension and resting on said rolling mass when said rolling mass is located over said cavity of said detent region, and the proximal end forming a reset trigger lever and a latching pin extending through said aperture of said vertical extension of said divider for loading said distal end of said trigger spring; and

f. 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;

g. a rod having one end attached to said top flange of said rear panel and the other end extending upwardly above said camera;

h. at least three suction cups attached to the other end of said rod and said front panel respectively such that the at least three suction cups adhere to said at least one window of the vehicle; and

j. means for retaining said camera when said camera is installed within said rear region of said mounting element;

k. whereby said rolling mass can be moved off from said cavity of said detent region in response to said inertial forces in the horizontal plane upon sudden impact on the 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.

9. The apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein the sensitively can be adjusted by changing the weight of said rolling mass relative to the spring load.

10. The apparatus in accordance with claim 8 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.

11. The apparatus in accordance with claim 8 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.

12. The apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said camera can be readily removed from said mounting element for conventional manual operation.

13. The apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said means for retaining said camera when said camera is installed within said rear region of said mounting element comprises an elastic band having one end with loops respectively extending through holes in said front panel and looped over two retaining means on said vertical extension and the other end looped over a retaining means on said partial rear panel.

14. In combination with a vehicle having at least one window surface and a camera having a lens and a shutter release button lever for taking a photographic picture, an impact activated camera triggering apparatus comprising:

a. a mounting element having a partial rear panel, a base panel and a front panel, the partial rear panel integrally formed with and upwardly extending from the base panel, the base panel having a step-down section with a forward region and a rear region, the forward region having at least two apertures and a detent region with a cavity therethrough between the at least two apertures, the front panel having an opening therethrough for accommodating the field of view of said lens of said camera, where the front panel forms a slanted upper flange, a slanted middle section and a slanted lower section, the slanted middle section having two opposite cutout tabs being integrally attached at top ends to the lower slanted section and bendable in a backward or forward direction;

b. a divider including a forward extension section, a rearward extension section and a vertical extension section;

c. said forward extension section forming a top surface with an opening therethrough, a front surface with a pivot hole and two end surfaces which enclose said detent region of said mounting element with the opening on the top surface above said cavity of said detent region;

d. said rearward extension section covering said rear region of said step-down section of said base panel of said mounting element and having a cutout end opening;

e. said vertical extension section having an aperture and a dimpled pivot hole;

f. a trigger spring mounted within said rear region of said step down section 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 rearward extension section such that the middle section abuts against said base panel, and the distal end located adjacent to said cutout end opening on said rearward extension section;

g. a rolling ball retained by said forward extension section and being able to roll on said detent region, 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 pivot hole of said front surface of said forward extension section and said dimpled pivot hole of said vertical extension section at a location remote from said rolling ball 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 surface of said forward extension section and resting on said rolling ball when said rolling ball is seated above said cavity of said detent region, the proximal end forming a reset trigger lever and resting above a respective one of said at least two apertures on said forward region of said base panel and a latching pin extending through said aperture of said vertical extension section for latching said distal end 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 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. two opposite slidable brackets slidably mounted on said slanted middle section of said front panel and adjustable in a backward or forward direction;

k. at least four suction cups each one respectively secured to said two opposite slidable brackets and said two cutout tabs of said front panel, where the at least four suction cups adhere to said at least one window surface of the vehicle; and

l. means for retaining said camera when said camera is invertedly installed within said rear region of said mounting element;

m. whereby said rolling ball can be moved off from said cavity of said detent region in response to said inertial forces in the horizontal plane upon sudden impact on the 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.

15. The apparatus in accordance with claim 14 wherein the sensitively can be adjusted by changing the weight of said rolling ball relative to the spring load.

16. The apparatus in accordance with claim 14 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.

17. The apparatus in accordance with claim 14 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.

18. The apparatus in accordance with claim 14 wherein said camera can be readily removed from said mounting element for conventional manual operation.

19. The apparatus in accordance with claim 14 wherein said camera is a disposable wide-angle camera.

20. The apparatus in accordance with claim 14 wherein said means for retaining said camera when said camera is invertedly installed in said rear region of said mounting element comprises an elastic band having loops respectively looped over two opposite hook means on said vertical extension section of said divider and a hook means on said partial rear panel of said mounting element, where the elastic band also rigidizes the mounting element by preloading it to said camera.

21. In combination with a vehicle having at least one window and a camera having a lens and a shutter release button lever for taking a photographic picture, an impact activated camera triggering apparatus comprising:

a. a mounting element having a rear panel, a base panel and a front panel, the base panel having a step-down portion with a forward region and a rear region, the forward region having at least one aperture and a detent region with a cavity therethrough, the front panel having an opening therethrough for accommodating the field of view of said lens of said camera and at least two tabs being attached at their top ends and bendable in a backward or forward direction;

b. a divider including a forward extension, a rearward extension and a vertical extension, the forward extension forming a top surface with an opening, a front surface and two end surfaces which enclose said detent region, where the opening on the top surface is above said cavity of said detent region, the rearward extension covering said rear region of said step-down portion and having a cutout end opening, the vertical extension having an aperture;

c. a trigger spring mounted within of said rear region of said step-down portion 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 rearward extension such that the middle section abuts against said base panel, and the distal section being loaded;

d. a rolling mass retained by said forward extension of said divider and being able to roll on said detent region, where the rolling mass responds to inertial forces;

g. a trigger lever arm pivotally mounted between said front surface of said forward extension and said vertical extension of said divider at a location remote from said rolling mass 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 surface of said forward extension and resting on said rolling mass when said rolling mass is seated above said cavity of said detent region, the proximal end forming a reset trigger lever and resting above said at least one aperture on said base panel and a latching pin extending through said aperture on said vertical extension for latching said distal end of said trigger spring;

h. 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;

i. at least two brackets slidably mounted on said front panel above said at least two tabs and slidably adjustable in a backward or forward direction;

j. at least four suction cups each one respectively secured to said at least two brackets and said at least two tabs, where the at least four suction cups adhere to said at least one window of the vehicle; and

k. means for retaining said camera when said camera is installed in said rear region of said mounting element;

l. whereby said rolling mass can be moved off from said cavity of said detent region in response to said inertial forces upon sudden impact on the vehicle from any lateral 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.

22. The apparatus in accordance with claim 21 wherein the sensitively can be adjusted by changing the weight of said rolling mass relative to the spring load.

23. The apparatus in accordance with claim 21 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.

24. The apparatus in accordance with claim 21 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.

25. The apparatus in accordance with claim 21 wherein said camera can be readily removed from said mounting element for conventional manual operation.

26. The apparatus in accordance with claim 21 wherein said means for retaining said camera when said camera is installed within said rear region of said mounting element comprises an elastic band having one end attached to said vertical extension and the other end looped over a hook means on said rear panel, where the elastic band also rigidizes said mounting element by preloading it to said camera.

27. A triggering mechanism attachable to a vehicle in a position from which there is a view outside the vehicle for use with a visual image recording device having an element whose motion initiates operation, the triggering mechanism comprising:

a. a mounting element having at least one suction cup mounted and positioned on the mounting element for adhering to and maintaining the visual image recording device to the vehicle;

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

c. a trigger spring having a distal end and a proximal end, and being fixedly located relative to said mounting element, where the distal end is loaded and when the distal end is released it induces motion of said element whose motion initiates operation, and that motion initiates operation;

d. means for maintaining the position of said seismic mass relative to said mounting element in the absence of an acceleration in excess of a desired threshold value;

e. a trigger lever arm having a pivot axis, a distal end and a proximal end, the trigger lever arm pivoted about the pivot axis relative to said mounting element, 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; and

f. means for retaining said visual image recording device when said recording device is installed to the vehicle;

g. whereby in response to said acceleration in excess of the desired threshold induced by a sudden impact on the vehicle from any direction, said seismic mass is moved relative to said mounting element 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.

28. The apparatus in accordance with claim 27 wherein said means for retaining said visual image recording device when said recording device is installed to the vehicle comprises said mounting element being formed as part of said visual image recording device.

29. The apparatus in accordance with claim 27 wherein said means for retaining said visual image recording device when said recording device is installed to the vehicle comprises an elastic band.

30. A triggering mechanism attachable to a vehicle in a position from which there is a view outside the vehicle for use with a visual image recording device having an element whose motion initiates operation, the triggering mechanism comprising:

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

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

c. means for maintaining the position of said seismic mass in the absence of an acceleration in excess of a desired threshold value; and

d. a trigger lever arm having a pivot axis, a distal end and a proximal end, the trigger lever arm pivoted about the pivot axis, 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 the vehicle from any direction, said seismic mass is moved 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.

31. A triggering mechanism attachable to a vehicle in a position from which there is a view outside of the vehicle for use with a visual image recording device having an element whose motion initiates operation, the triggering mechanism comprising:

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

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

c. a trigger lever arm having a pivot axis, a distal end and a proximal end, the trigger lever arm pivoted about the pivot axis, the distal end forming a trigger lever pin resting on said seismic mass, and the proximal end forming a latching pin, which loads said distal end of said trigger spring;

d. whereby in response to an acceleration induced by a sudden impact on the vehicle from any direction, said seismic mass is moved essentially in the horizontal plane, 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.

32. An impact activated camera triggering apparatus attachable to a vehicle in a position from which there is a view from the vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a. an inverted camera for taking a photographic picture and having a back side, a front side, a bottom end, a top end, a lens located on the front side, and a shutter release button lever located on the bottom end, the front side having an aperture and a closed bottom pivot hole;

b. a mounting element integrally formed with said front side of said inverted camera and having a base portion, a slanted front portion, and a slanted top portion, the base portion having at least two apertures and a detent region with a cavity therethrough between the at least two apertures, the slanted front portion having an opening therethrough for accommodating the field of view of said lens of said inverted camera;

c. a seismic enclosure located below said lens and having a top surface with an opening therethrough, a front surface with a closed bottom pivot hole and two end surfaces, which enclose said detent region of said base portion of said mounting element, where the opening on the top surface is above said cavity of said detent region;

d. a trigger spring installed within a cavity of said inverted camera that does not enclose a film and located adjacent to said bottom side, the trigger spring having a distal section with a distal end and a proximal section with a proximal end, where the proximal end is permanently fixed;

e. a rolling ball retained by said seismic enclosure and being able to roll on said detent region, where the rolling ball is limited to a horizontal plane movement and responsive to inertial forces;

f. a trigger lever arm pivotally mounted between said pivot hole of said front surface of said seismic enclosure and said closed bottom pivot hole on said front side of said inverted camera at a location remote from said rolling ball 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 surface of said forward extension portion and resting on said rolling ball when said rolling ball is seated above said cavity of said detent region, the proximal end forming a reset trigger lever and resting above a respective one of said at least two apertures on said base portion and a latching pin extending through said aperture of said front side of said inverted camera for latching said distal end of said trigger spring;

g. 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 above 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 inverted camera prematurely;

h. a flange integrally formed with said back side of said inverted camera and protruding rearwardly and upwardly at an angle;

i. a rod having one end mounted to said flange of said back side of said camera and the other end extending upwardly above said top end of said inverted camera;

j. an upper suction cup attached to the other end of said rod such that it adheres to the vehicle;

k. two separated lower suction cups mounted to said slanted top portion of said mounting element and opposite each other such that the two separated lower suction cups adhere to the vehicle; and

l. means for cocking said distal section of said trigger spring to prepare said apparatus to take a photographic picture;

m. whereby said rolling ball can be moved off from said cavity of said detent region in response to said inertial forces in the horizontal plane upon sudden impact on the 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 distal section of said trigger spring which in turn presses on said shutter release button lever of said inverted camera, to thereby automatically take the photographic picture at the moment of sudden impact.

33. The apparatus in accordance with claim 32 wherein said means for cocking said distal section of said trigger spring to prepare said apparatus to take the photographic picture comprises a pendant attached to said distal end of said trigger spring, thereby pulling said distal end of said trigger spring to provide clearance for latching said latching pin of said trigger lever arm over said distal end of said trigger spring.

34. An impact activated camera triggering apparatus attachable to a vehicle in a position from which there is a view from the vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a. a camera for taking a photographic picture and having a back side, a front side, a bottom side, a top side, a lens located on the front side and a shutter release lever located on the bottom side, the front side having an aperture;

b. a mounting element formed with said front side of said camera and having a base portion, a front portion, and a top portion, the base portion having a detent region with a cavity therethrough, the front portion having an opening therethrough for accommodating the field of view of said lens of said camera;

c. a seismic enclosure located below said lens and enclosing said detent region of said base portion of said mounting element;

d. a trigger spring installed within a cavity in said camera that does not enclose a film and located adjacent to said bottom side of said camera, the trigger spring having a distal end and a proximal end, where the proximal end is permanently fixed within said camera and the distal end is loaded and induces motion, when it is released;

e. a seismic mass limited to small movements essentially in a horizontal plane by said seismic enclosure and being able to move on said detent region and responsive to inertial forces; and

f. a trigger lever arm pivotally mounted within said mounting element at a location remote from said seismic mass and having a trigger lever pin extending down and resting on said seismic mass when said seismic mass is seated above said cavity of said detent region and a latching pin extending through said aperture of said front side of said camera, which loads said distal end of said trigger spring;

g. whereby said seismic mass can be moved off from said cavity of said detent region in response to the inertial forces upon sudden impact on the vehicle, which drops said trigger lever pin of said trigger lever arm off from said seismic mass, causing said latching pin of said trigger lever arm to release said distal end of said trigger spring which in turn presses on said shutter release lever of said camera, to thereby automatically take the photographic picture at the moment of sudden impact.

35. The apparatus in accordance with claim 34 further comprising means for cocking said distal end of said trigger spring to prepare said apparatus to take the photographic picture.

36. The apparatus in accordance with claim 35 wherein said means for cocking said distal end of said trigger spring to prepare said apparatus to take the photographic picture comprises a pendant attached to said distal end of said trigger spring, and thereby pulling said distal end of said trigger spring to provide clearance for latching said latching pin of said trigger lever arm above said distal end of said trigger spring.

37. The apparatus in accordance with claim 34 further comprising a flange integrally formed with said back side of said camera and protruding rearwardly and upwardly at an angle.

38. The apparatus in accordance with claim 37 further comprising a rod having one end mounted to said flange of said back side of said camera and the other end extending upwardly above said top side of said camera.

39. The apparatus in accordance with claim 38 further comprising an upper suction cup attached to the other end of said rod such that it adheres to the vehicle.

40. The apparatus in accordance with claim 34 further comprising at least two lower suction cups mounted to said top portion of said mounting element and opposite each other such that the at least two lower suction cups adhere to the vehicle.