Camera apparatuses, systems and methods for use with marine propulsion mechanisms

• US 7,599,614 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2006
• Issued: 10/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Droubie, Mark R.
• Primary Examiner(s): LeDynh; Bot L
• Application Number:
  US11/378,728
• Publication Number:
  US 20070217773A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,299 Days
• Field of Search: 396 25- 29, 396/419, 348/81, 359/507, 359511-513
• US Class Current: 396/25
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/08 Waterproof bodies or housings

Abstract

Camera apparatuses, systems and methods are provided having particular application with marine propulsion mechanisms. In one aspect, a camera apparatus can include a housing that can have an external airfoil configuration. The camera apparatus can be mounted on a marine propulsion mechanism, such as a marine outboard engine, and can be used to see images of and monitor the engine. A water intake on the outboard engine can be particularly viewed and monitored, even during operation of the engine with a boat at high speeds.

Claims

1. A camera apparatus for a marine propulsion mechanism, the camera apparatus comprising:

(a) a housing having an interior, the housing comprising an exterior airfoil configuration and the housing having a camera viewing aperture that is positioned in relation to the exterior airfoil configuration of the housing to provide visual exposure of at least a portion of a marine propulsion mechanism and to reduce cavitation caused by the housing upon attachment of the housing to a marine vessel; and

(b) a camera positioned within the interior of the housing wherein the camera is configured to have visual exposure through the camera viewing aperture of the at least a portion of the marine propulsion mechanism upon attachment of the housing to a marine vessel.

2. The camera apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a leading edge and an opposite curved surface.

3. The camera apparatus of claim 1 wherein the exterior airfoil configuration of the housing is at least generally symmetrical.

4. The camera apparatus of claim 1 wherein the camera viewing aperture is defined by the housing proximate an end of the housing.

5. The camera apparatus of claim 1 wherein the camera apparatus further comprises a mounting mechanism for mounting the camera apparatus to a structure.

6. The camera apparatus of claim 1 wherein the camera apparatus further comprises a plurality of mounting mechanisms for mounting the camera apparatus to a structure.

7. The camera apparatus of claim 6 wherein the mounting mechanisms each comprise a mounting arm for attachment to a marine propulsion mechanism.

8. The camera apparatus of claim 1 wherein an air vent is in communication with the interior of the housing.

9. The camera apparatus of claim 1 wherein the exterior of the housing is adapted for minimizing or eliminating cavitation from the camera apparatus.

10. A camera apparatus for use with a marine propulsion mechanism, the camera apparatus comprising:

(a) a marine propulsion mechanism for generating propulsion; and

(b) a camera apparatus attached to the marine propulsion mechanism, the camera apparatus comprising;

(i) an elongated housing having an interior, and the housing having a camera viewing aperture; and

(ii) a camera positioned within the interior of the housing wherein the camera can have visual exposure through the camera viewing aperture;

wherein the camera apparatus is attached to the marine propulsion mechanism wherein the camera can have visual exposure of at least a portion of the marine propulsion mechanism.

11. The camera apparatus of claim 10 wherein the housing of the camera apparatus comprises an exterior airfoil configuration.

12. The camera apparatus of claim 10 wherein the exterior airfoil configuration of the housing is generally symmetrical.

13. The camera apparatus of claim 10 wherein the housing comprises a leading edge and an opposite curved surface.

14. The camera apparatus of claim 10 wherein the camera viewing aperture is defined by the housing proximate an end of the housing.

15. The camera apparatus of claim 10 wherein the camera apparatus further comprises a mounting mechanism for mounting the camera apparatus to the marine propulsion mechanism.

16. The camera apparatus of claim 15 wherein the camera apparatus further comprises a plurality of mounting mechanisms for mounting the camera apparatus to the marine propulsion mechanism.

17. The camera apparatus of claim 16 wherein the mounting mechanisms each comprise a mounting arm for attachment to a marine propulsion mechanism.

18. The camera apparatus of claim 10 wherein the camera apparatus is attached to the marine propulsion mechanism wherein the camera can have visual exposure of a water intake of the marine propulsion mechanism.

19. The camera apparatus of claim 10 wherein an air vent is in communication with the interior of the housing.

20. A camera apparatus for use to monitor a water intake of a marine outboard engine, the camera apparatus comprising:

(a) an elongated housing defining an interior, the housing comprising an exterior airfoil configuration that is mounted to a marine outboard engine;

(b) a camera positioned within the interior of the housing wherein the camera has visual exposure through a camera viewing aperture of the housing and wherein the field of visual exposure comprises a water intake of the marine outboard engine; and

(c) an electronic display in communication with the camera for displaying images from the camera.

21. A method of monitoring a marine propulsion mechanism, the method comprising:

(a) providing a camera apparatus comprising;

(i) a housing having an interior, the housing comprising an exterior airfoil configuration and the housing having a camera viewing aperture; and

(ii) a camera positioned within the interior of the housing wherein the camera can have visual exposure through the camera viewing aperture of a marine propulsion mechanism; and

(b) observing an image from the camera apparatus.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein observing an image from the camera apparatus comprises observing an underwater image of a water intake of a marine propulsion mechanism.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein observing an image from the camera apparatus comprises observing an underwater image of cavitation caused by a marine propulsion mechanism.

24. A method of monitoring a marine propulsion mechanism, the method comprising:

(a) mounting a camera apparatus to a marine propulsion mechanism, the camera apparatus comprising;

(i) a housing having an interior, the housing comprising an exterior airfoil configuration and the housing having a camera viewing aperture; and

(ii) a camera positioned within the interior of the housing wherein the camera has visual exposure through the camera viewing aperture of a marine propulsion mechanism; and

(b) observing an image from the camera apparatus.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein observing an image from the camera apparatus comprises observing an underwater image of a water intake of the marine propulsion mechanism.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein observing an image from the camera apparatus comprises observing an underwater image of cavitation caused by the marine propulsion mechanism.

27. A method of monitoring a water intake of an engine of a boat, the method comprising:

(a) mounting a camera apparatus to a boat engine wherein a camera of the camera apparatus has visual exposure to a water intake of the boat engine; and

(b) observing an image of the water intake boat engine from the camera while the boat engine is moving through water.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising maintaining the camera apparatus in a position slightly off of parallel to a flow of water past the camera apparatus.