Camera system for capturing a sporting activity from the perspective of the participant

• US 6,028,627 A
• Filed: 06/04/1997
• Issued: 02/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John A. Helmsderfer
• Original Assignee: John A. Helmsderfer
• Inventors: Helmsderfer, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Britton, Howard
• Assistant Examiner(s): VO, TUNG T
• Application Number:
  US08/868,680
• Time in Patent Office: 993 Days
• Field of Search: 348/157, 348/158, 348/161, 348/162, 348/374, 348/375, 348/376, 348/373, 345/7, 345/8, 224/181, 224/908, 396/373
• US Class Current: 348/157
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/042 Optical devices night vision goggles G02B23/12
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• 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 13/04 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: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera

Abstract

A camera system for capturing the sporting activity from the perspective of the participant comprises a mount structure configured for being positioned proximate a mouth guard of a safety helmet, and a securement device coupled to the mount structure for securely engaging the mouth guard for securely holding the mount structure thereto. The system further comprises a camera and an adjustment mechanism coupled to the mount structure and configured for receiving a camera when the adjustment mechanism tiltably engages the camera for vertically moving the camera up and down on the helmet such that the camera records generally on the line of sight of a participant wearing the helmet.

Claims

1. A camera system for capturing a sporting activity from the perspective of the participant and mountable on a safety helmet having a mouth guard, the camera system comprising:

a mount structure configured for being positioned proximate a mouth guard of a safety helmet to lie generally coextensive with a portion of the mouth guard;

a securement device coupled to the mount structure and operable for securely engaging the mouth guard to hold the mount structure thereto;

a camera operable for capturing a video image;

an adjustment mechanism coupled to the mount structure and configured for receiving the camera, the adjustment mechanism maintaining the camera in a generally forward direction of the helmet when the mount structure is secured to the helmet;

the adjustment mechanism tiltably engaging the camera for vertically moving the camera up and down on the helmet such that the camera records generally in a line of sight of a participant wearing the helmet.

2. The camera system of claim 1 wherein the mount structure includes a U-shaped element configured for lying across the front and sides of the mouth guard for stably mounting the camera thereto.

3. The camera system of claim 1 wherein the securement device includes a strap operable for surrounding a portion of the mouth guard and holding the mount structure thereto.

4. The camera system of claim 1 wherein the adjustment mechanism includes an axle element engaging the camera, the camera rotating about the axle element for vertical movement on the helmet.

5. The camera system of claim 1 wherein the mount structure includes a generally rigid outside layer and a yieldable inner layer for engaging the helmet.

6. The camera system of claim 1 further comprising a recorder operably coupled to the camera for recording the video image captured by the camera.

7. The camera system of claim 6 further comprising a record line for coupling the camera and recording unit together and a disconnect structure in-line with the record line, the disconnect structure located proximate the mount structure for readily disconnecting the camera from the recording unit such that a helmet worn by a participant may be removed without significantly disturbing the recording unit.

8. The camera system of claim 6 further comprising a protective shield operatively coupled to the recorder to protect a portion of the recorder, the recorder including at least one control button, the protective shield including a cut away section proximate the control button for providing access to the button while the shield is coupled to the recorder such that the recorder is readily usable apart from the camera.

9. The camera system of claim 6 further comprising a protective shield operatively coupled to the recorder to protect a portion of the recorder, the recorder including at least one input port to receive a signal input from a record line coupled to the camera, the protective shield including a cut away section proximate the input port for providing access to the port while the shield is coupled to the recorder.

10. The camera system of claim 6 further comprising a protective shield operatively coupled to the recorder to protect a portion of the recorder, the system including a power source coupled to the camera, the protective shield being configured for holding the power source proximate the recorder when the shield is coupled to the recorder.