Hurricane damage recording camera system

• US 8,605,209 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2010
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gregory Towle Becker
• Original Assignee: Gregory Towle Becker
• Inventors: Becker, Gregory Towle
• Primary Examiner(s): TORRENTE, RICHARD T
• Application Number:
  US12/953,844
• Publication Number:
  US 20110122240A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• Field of Search: 348/374
• US Class Current: 348/374
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence

Abstract

A storm damage monitoring system, including: a low-lux video camera, a digital video recording device, and a power storage container, disposed on a guided slide. Further included is a sealable housing that includes an optical window on one side and a sealing cap disposable on an opposite side, the sealing cap removable to receive the guided slide inside the housing. The optical window and the camera are positioned and arranged for the camera to capture images through the optical window when the guided slide is received by the housing. Further included is a mounting plate, a first and a second anchoring strap, a first and a second U-bolt for securing the sealable housing to the mounting plate, a stabilizer chain, and a location tracking device disposed in the housing. The camera and digital video recording device are configured to run autonomously upon sealing inside the housing.

Claims

1. A storm damage monitoring system, comprising:

a guided slide having means for carrying components;

a low-lux video camera disposed on the guided slide;

a digital video recording device disposed on the guided slide and connected to the video camera, having capacity to record digital images from the camera at a frame rate of at least one frame per second and having capacity to store at least two days accumulation of the recorded digital images when recorded at a frame rate of two frames per second;

a power storage container disposed on the guided slide and in electrical supply communication with the camera and the digital video recording device, physically dimensioned for holding a power storage member having capacity to provide power to the camera and the digital video recording device sufficient to capture and store at least two days accumulation of the recorded digital images when recorded at a frame rate of two frames per second;

a sealable housing having a means for positioning and locking the guided slide inside the housing;

an optical window on one side of the housing;

a sealing cap disposable on an opposite side of the housing, the sealing cap removable to receive the guided slide inside the housing;

wherein the optical window and the camera are positioned and arranged for the camera to capture images through the optical window when the guided slide is received by the sealable housing;

means for aiming the camera, the aiming means comprising;

a video output outlet disposed in the housing, the video output outlet in video communication with the digital video recording device, positioned and arranged to connect to a detachable monitor screen when the sealing cap is detached from the housing and the guided slide is received by the sealable housing; and

a detachable monitor screen external to the housing, removably connectable to the video output outlet when the sealing cap is detached from the housing and the guided slide is received by the sealable housing;

a mounting plate;

a first pair of first receptacle orifices disposed on the mounting plate positioned and arranged to receive a first anchoring strap, the first pair of first receptacle orifices positioned laterally on one side of a first axis of the mounting plate;

a second pair of first receptacle orifices disposed on the mounting plate positioned and arranged to receive a second anchoring strap, the second pair of first receptacle orifices positioned laterally on the side of the first axis of the first mounting plate opposing the first pair of first receptacle orifices;

a first and a second anchoring strap each arranged and configured for receiving by either the first pair or by the second pair of first receptacle orifices;

a first pair of second receptacle orifices disposed on the mounting plate positioned and arranged to receive a first U-bolt for securing the housing to the mounting plate, the first pair of second receptacle orifices positioned laterally on one side of a second axis of the mounting plate;

a plurality of second pairs of second receptacle orifices disposed on the mounting plate positioned and arranged to receive a second U-bolt for securing the housing to the mounting plate, the plurality of second pairs of second receptacle orifices positioned laterally on the side of the second axis of the mounting plate opposing the first pair of second receptacle orifices;

a third pair of second receptacle orifices disposed on the mounting plate positioned and arranged to receive a first U-bolt for securing the housing to the mounting plate, the third pair of second receptacle orifices positioned laterally on one side of the first axis of the mounting plate, the second axis opposing the first axis of the mounting plate;

a plurality of fourth pairs of second receptacle orifices disposed on the mounting plate positioned and arranged to receive a second U-bolt for securing the housing to the mounting plate, the plurality of fourth pairs of second receptacle orifices positioned laterally on the side of the first axis of the mounting plate opposing the third pair of second receptacle orifices;

a first and a second U-bolt for securing the sealable housing to the mounting plate, each of first and second U-bolt arranged and configured for receiving by either the first pair or by one of the plurality of second pairs of second receptacle orifices or by either the third pair or by one of the plurality of fourth pairs of second receptacle orifices;

a pair of third receptacle orifices disposed on the first axis of the mounting plate positioned and arranged to receive a stabilizer chain;

a stabilizer chain arranged and configured for receiving by the pair of third receptacle orifices, one end of the chain bolted to the mounting plate at a first of the pair of the third receptacle orifices and the other end of the chain mounted to one end of a tensioner wherein the other end of the tensioner is attachable to the second of the pair of third receptacle orifices; and

a location tracking device disposed in the housing; and

wherein the camera and digital video recording device are configured to run autonomously upon sealing inside the housing.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the camera comprises a fixed-focused lens or locking-adjustable-focus lens.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the camera comprises a low-lux video camera without infrared enhancement.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the camera comprises a combination of a low-lux camera and a night-vision camera without infrared enhancement and wherein the night-vision camera provides images when the light level is too low for the low-lux camera.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the camera is non-motion sensing.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the power storage container is physically dimensioned to contain eight batteries selected from the group consisting of:

US ANSI Standard C18.1 type 13 batteries, type D batteries, rechargeable US ANSI Standard C18.1 type 13 batteries, and rechargeable type D batteries.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the location tracking device is powered by a second power storage member that is independent from the power storage container.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for positioning and locking comprises an internal mount for preventing rotation of the guided slide member and for preventing longitudinal movement of the guided slide member.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for positioning and locking comprises a track preventing rotation of the guided slide member and a fastening member for preventing longitudinal movement of the guided slide member.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for positioning and locking comprises a stop member configured to receive the guided slide member.