Method and apparatus for documenting the condition of a vehicle

• US 7,764,196 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2007
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rugged CCTV LLC
• Original Assignee: Kevin Allen Spears
• Inventors: Spears, Kevin Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): POINT, RUFUS C
• Application Number:
  US11/805,983
• Publication Number:
  US 20080291056A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,159 Days
• Field of Search: 348/143, 348/144, 348/148, 348/149, 348/151, 382/104, 206/316.2, 346/107.2, 340/932.2, 340/937, 340/933, 340/938
• US Class Current: 340/933
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0175 by photographing vehicles, e.g. when violating traffic rules

Abstract

A method and apparatus that includes cameras encased in vandalism and weather resistant housings, which attach to the outside or inside of a tunnel. The cameras provide for overhead, side, front, and rear views of a vehicle as the vehicle approaches and enters the tunnel and as the vehicle exits and leaves the tunnel. In order to provide the views, the camera devices are strategically located at the entrance of the tunnel, at the exit of the tunnel, and within the tunnel. The cameras are attached directly to the structure of the tunnel or are attached to a frame that can be installed inside the tunnel or attached to the tunnel.

Claims

1. A method for recording the condition of a vehicle as the vehicle approaches and enters a vehicle washing facility and after the vehicle exits and leaves the vehicle washing facility comprising, in combination:

camera devices facing out of the vehicle washing facility recording front views of the vehicle as the vehicle approaches and enters the vehicle washing facility, wherein the camera devices facing out of the vehicle washing facility recording front views of the vehicle are positioned and operated in a manner that provide maximum visibility of the front views of the vehicle as the vehicle approaches and enters the vehicle washing facility;

camera devices facing down recording overhead views of the vehicle as the vehicle approaches and enters the vehicle washing facility, wherein the camera devices facing down recording overhead views of the vehicle are positioned and operated in a manner that provide maximum visibility of the overhead views of the vehicle as the vehicle approaches and enters the vehicle washing facility;

camera devices facing into the vehicle washing facility recording rear views of the vehicle as the vehicle enters the vehicle washing facility, wherein the camera devices facing into the vehicle washing facility recording rear views of the vehicle are positioned and operated in a manner that provide maximum visibility of the rear views of the vehicle as the vehicle approaches and enters the vehicle washing facility;

camera devices facing opposing sides of the vehicle washing facility recording side views of the vehicle as the vehicle approaches and enters the vehicle washing facility, wherein the camera devices facing opposing sides of the vehicle washing facility recording side views of the vehicle are positioned and operated in a manner that provide maximum visibility of the side views of the vehicle as the vehicle approaches and enters the vehicle washing facility;

camera devices facing out of the vehicle washing facility recording rear views of the vehicle as the vehicle exits and leaves the vehicle washing facility, wherein the camera devices facing out of the vehicle washing facility recording rear views of the vehicle as the vehicle exits and leaves the vehicle washing facility are positioned and operated in a manner that provide maximum visibility of the rear views of the vehicle as the vehicle exits and leaves the vehicle washing facility;

camera devices facing down recording overhead views of the vehicle as the vehicle exits and leaves the vehicle washing facility, wherein the camera devices facing down recording overhead views of the vehicle as the vehicle exits and leaves the vehicle washing facility are positioned and operated in a manner that provide maximum visibility of the overhead views of the vehicle as the vehicle exits and leaves the vehicle washing facility;

camera devices facing into the vehicle washing facility recording front views of the vehicle as the vehicle exits the vehicle washing facility, wherein the camera devices facing into of the vehicle washing facility recording front views of the vehicle as the vehicle exits and leaves the vehicle washing facility are positioned and operated in a manner that provide maximum visibility of the front views of the vehicle as the vehicle exits and leaves the vehicle washing facility; and

camera devices facing opposing sides of the vehicle washing facility recording side views of the vehicle as the vehicle exits and leaves the vehicle washing facility, wherein the camera devices facing opposing sides of the vehicle washing facility recording side views of the vehicle as the vehicle exits and leaves the vehicle washing facility are positioned and operated in a manner that provide maximum visibility of the side views of the vehicle as the vehicle exits and leaves the vehicle washing facility; and

comparing the recorded views to identify damage to the vehicle incurred in the vehicle washing facility.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the camera devices attaches to a frame.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the camera devices attaches to a structure of the vehicle washing facility.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the camera devices is weather resistant, vandalism resistant, resistant to cleaning agents, waterproof, and condensation resistant.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the overhead views of the vehicle comprise overhead views of the hood, roof, and trunk of the vehicle;

the rear views of the vehicle comprise rear views of the tires, bumper, trunk, and rear window of the vehicle;

the side views of the vehicle comprise side views of the wheels, bumper, body, trim, and side windows of the vehicle;

the front views of the vehicle comprise front views of the tires, head lights, bumper, grill, and windshield.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

at least one of the camera devices is close enough to an opening of the vehicle washing facility to allow for well-lit views of the vehicle without the use of artificial lighting.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the camera devices facing out of the vehicle washing facility, the camera devices facing down, and the camera devices facing opposing sides of the vehicle washing facility recording views of the vehicle as the vehicle approaches and enters the vehicle washing facility attach to an outer surface of a front wall of the vehicle washing facility and are weather and vandalism resistant; and

the camera devices facing out of the vehicle washing facility, the camera devices facing down, and the camera devices facing opposing sides of the vehicle washing facility recording views of the vehicle as the vehicle exits and leaves the vehicle washing facility attach to an outer surface of a back wall of the vehicle washing facility and are weather and vandalism resistant.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the camera devices facing out of the vehicle washing facility, the camera devices facing down, and the camera devices facing opposing sides of the vehicle washing facility recording views of the vehicle as the vehicle enters the vehicle washing facility attach to a frame in an entrance of the vehicle washing facility and are weather and vandalism resistant; and

the camera devices facing out of the vehicle washing facility, the camera devices facing down, and the camera devices facing opposing sides of the vehicle washing facility recording views of the vehicle as the vehicle exits and leaves the vehicle washing facility attach to a frame in an exit of the vehicle washing facility and are weather and vandalism resistant.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle washing facility is a tunnel car wash.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the camera devices communicate footage of the vehicle to a media storage device.

11. The method of claim 10. wherein the media storage device is a digital media storage device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein a housing structure encloses at least one of the camera devices.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the housing structure is sealed, is gasketed, is weatherproof, is resistant to high-pressure washes, and has enough internal space to allow a camera to be adjustable.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the camera devises is a video camera.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the video camera is a digital video camera.