Camera mount

• US 6,116,485 A
• Filed: 02/24/1998
• Issued: 09/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: D. Scott Watkins
• Original Assignee: D. Scott Watkins
• Inventors: Watkins, D. Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Vidovich, Gregory M.
• Application Number:
  US09/028,598
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 224/279, 224/929, 224/539, 224/545, 224/547, 224/548, 224/550, 224/551, 224/553, 224/554, 224/555, 224/558, 224/564, 224/572, 224/908, 396/419, 396/428, 248/177.1, 248/179.1, 248/183.2, 248/298.1, 248/299.1, 248/187.1
• 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: B60R 2011/0012 Seats or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0017 Head-rests
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/908 Carrier for camera or other photographic equipment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/929 Article carrier for electrical device

Abstract

An improved bracket for connecting a camera mount to rectangular supports for headrests in automobiles is disclosed. A camera support having extendable telescopic legs for bearing against a surface in the automobile provides improved support for larger, heavier cameras supported on the camera mount for recording images during operation of the automobile. A cushion pad attaches to a front or rear face of the camera mount, for example, to guard against bruises to a person operating the camera in a back seat of the automobile. Improved pivotable supports for the camera are also disclosed, whereby the camera is selectively positioned at a horizontal angle for recording images.

Claims

1. A camera mount for use in an automobile to support a camera for recording images of objects from the automobile, said mount comprising an elongate member adapted to be disposed on respective seat backs in the automobile and connecting means for connecting the member to the seat backs, the camera mount further comprising:

a support plate defining a planar surface for supporting a camera thereon;

at least one lateral side extending from the plate;

the support plate defining a central threaded bore for receiving a fastener therein for connecting the support plate to an attachment means on the camera mount;

at least one pin connected to the lateral side in a first distal portion of the support plate;

a telescopically extendable tube attached to the pin for pivotal movement about the pin, said tube being extendable to a selected length at a selected angle for a distal end to bear against a surface of the automobile; and

means for securing a camera to the support plate.

2. The camera mount as recited in claim 1, wherein the support plate has a pair of lateral sides extending in a first direction which defines a U-shape in cross-sectional view and said pin connects to both lateral sides.

3. The camera mount as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

a second pin connected both of the lateral sides in a second distal portion of the support plate opposite the first distal portion; and

a second telescopically extendable tube attached to the second pin for pivotable movement about the pin, said second tube being extendable to a second selected length at a second selected angle for a distal end thereof to bear against a second surface in the automobile,

whereby the camera support is stabilized by the first and the second extended tubes.

4. The camera mount as recited in claim 1, the connecting means comprising brackets for respectivaly connecting the member to a rectangular support for a headrest in each of the automobile seats, the brackets each comprising:

a block having a side defined by a first face and a second face which are parallel to a plane on a longitudinal axis of the block, said first face disposed in a plane closer to the longitudinal axis than the plane in which said second face is disposed, whereby said side of the block defines a notch therein for receiving a portion of the rectangular headrest support; and

the block defining a tapped bore extending partially therein from the second face for receiving a fastener for connecting said camera mount to said bracket.

5. The camera mount as recited in claim 4, wherein at least one land portion of said bracket extends laterally from the second face for being received within a mating opening in the member whereby the extending land restricts the bracket from rotational movement while the fastener is attached to the bracket.

6. The camera mount as recited in claim 1, further comprising a cushion pad for attachment to a face of the member, comprising:

an elongate backing board;

a cushion member of a resilient material attached to the backing board;

a plurality of connectors extending laterally from the backing board on a side opposite the cushion member for engaging the backing board to the face of the camera mount.

7. The camera mount as recited in claim 1, said connecting means comprising:

a pair of straps connected at respective first distal ends to opposing ends of the elongated member and respective second distal ends engaged to a buckle means for connecting the pair of straps together,

whereby the straps extend around the seat backs for securing the elongated member against the seat backs.

8. The camera mount as recited in claim 7, wherein the respective first distal ends of the strap define loops;

the elongate member defines openings in opposing end portions thereof through which the respective first distal ends extend; and

clips which respectively engage the loops and prevent the straps from being removed from the openings,

whereby the straps are secured to the elongated member.

9. The camera mount as recited in claim 1, wherein the atachment means comprises:

a base plate with a pair of opposing sides extending therefrom;

connector means for attaching the base plate to the member;

each side defining a first opening near the base plate and a second opening distal from the base plate;

a clinch nut secured coaxially with the second opening;

a pivot plate with a pair of opposing sides which define a pivot opening, an arcuate slot concave towards the base plate, and support plate connecting means for cooperative engagement with the fastener associated with the threaded bore of the support plate for attaching the support plate to the pivot plate;

a pair of pins, each received through a respective one of the pivot openings of the pivot plate and the respective aligned first opening in the base plate, whereby the pivot plate pivots relative to the base plate about the pins; and

threaded pins each extending through a respective one of the arcuate slots of the pivot plate and the aligned second opening of the base plate and engaging the clinch nut, whereby the pivot movement of the pivot plate is guided by the threaded pin traveling relative to the arcuate slot and the pivot plate is secured in a selected position by tightening the threaded pin to the pivot plate.

10. The camera mount as recited in claim 1, wherein the attachment means comprises:

a base plate with a pair of spaced-apart flanges extending from a first side portion of the base plate, and each of the flanges defining a threaded bore;

connector means for attaching the base plate to the member;

a pivot plate with a pivot flange extending therefrom and received between the spaced-apart flanges of the base plate, the pivot flange defining a bore coaxial with the threaded bores, in the flanges of the base plate, and support plate engaging means for cooperative engagement with the fastener associated with the threaded bore of the support plate for attaching the support plate to the pivot plate; and

a threaded fastener extending through the threaded bores in the flanges of the base plate and engaging the bore in the pivot plate, whereby the pivot plate is moveable to selected angles relative to the base plate and secured thereat by tightening the threaded fastener,

whereby the support plate with a camera secured thereto being attached to the pivot plate, is positionable at a selected angle, for recording images.