Head mount apparatus for hands-free video recording with an electronic device

• US 9,038,870 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2013
• Issued: 05/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: August A. Johnson
• Original Assignee: August A. Johnson
• Inventors: Johnson, August A.
• Primary Examiner(s): WAGGENSPACK, ADAM J
• Application Number:
  US13/895,289
• Publication Number:
  US 20130306689A1
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 224/181, 224/250, 224/929, 224/930
• US Class Current: 224/181
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/00 Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00 specially adapted for toiletry or cosmetic equipment A45D29/20, A45D44/18; travelling sewing kits A45F3/48
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0516 Portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0533 Cameras, e.g. reflex, digital, video camera
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/00 Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping

Abstract

A head mount device is worn by a person to retain an electronic device in a desirable position for hand-free use as a video recorder. A head strap assembly with tri-glide adjustment mechanisms extends from the sides and top of the main body mounting plate, allowing the device to fit most head sizes. The mounting plate is preferably an injection-molded part for holding the electronic device in a horizontal position with an elastic retention strap securing mechanism between the mounting plate and the electronic device. An elastic strap extends from an upending portion of the mounting plate, wraps around the electronic device, extends through a slot in the mounting plate, and fastens back upon itself via hook and loop fasteners to capture the device in landscape orientation. The design of the mounting plate and preferred length of the retention strap fit most modern smartphone designs by simply tightening the retention strap around the smartphone.

Claims

1. A head mount apparatus for an electronic device with video recording capability, the head mount apparatus comprising:

a mounting plate having a generally vertical platform and a generally horizontal platform;

a retention strap haying one end connected to a rear surface of the mounting plate and a fastener at an opposing end, the retention strap extending forward over the mounting plate and down to the generally horizontal platform forming a space between the retention strap and the front surface of the generally vertical platform for receiving the electronic device, wherein the retention strap is for being fastened in a tightened configuration over the electronic device to hold the electronic device against the mounting plate;

a head strap assembly comprising a generally circular side-strap for extending around a wearer'"'"'s head, and a top-strap for extending over the wearer'"'"'s head, the side-strap and the top strap being connected to the mounting plate so that the mounting plate is held on the wearer'"'"'s forehead;

wherein the top-strap is connected to and extends between the mounting plate and a rear portion of the side-strap;

wherein the top-strap comprises a front end loop and a rear end loop, wherein the mounting plate comprises a set of top-strap arms extending from a rear side of the mounting plate and removably received in the front end loop, and wherein a rear portion of the side-strap extends through the rear end loop to connect the top-strap to the side-strap.

2. The head mount apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the retention strap further extends through a slot in the generally horizontal platform and extends upward and rearward to fasten said fastener to a portion of the retention strap located above the mounting plate, so that the retention strap fastens to itself after looping through said slot.

3. The head mount apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the side-strap has two ends each connected to the mounting plate, so that the mounting plate is centered between said two ends.

4. The head mount apparatus as in claim 3, wherein the side-strap ends comprise a right loop and a left loop, and the mounting plate comprises right and left arms removably received in the right loop and left loop, respectively.

5. The head mount apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the generally vertical platform and the generally horizontal platform extend from a main body of the mounting plate at an angle from each other that is in the range of 18-28 degrees.

6. The head mount apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the retention strap is elastic and comprises grip-material on a side that faces the electronic device.

7. The head mount apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the side-strap is elastic and comprises a length-adjustment mechanism for tightening the side-strap on a wearer'"'"'s head.

8. A head mount system For hand-free video recording, the system comprising:

an electronic device with video recording capability; and

a head mount apparatus comprising;

a generally-L-shaped mounting plate having a generally vertical platform and a generally horizontal platform forming between them a cradle receiving the electronic device so that a rear surface of the electronic device is against the generally vertical platform;

a retention strap having a proximal end connected to a rear surface of the mounting plate and a fastener at an opposing distal end, the retention strap extending forward over the electronic device and down to the generally horizontal platform, the retention strap looping through a slot in the generally horizontal platform and extending upwards, wherein the retention strap distal end is fastened to the proximal end with the retention strap in a tightened configuration against the electronic device; and

the system further comprising a head strap assembly comprising a generally circular side-strap for extending around a wearer'"'"'s head and a top-strap for extending over the wearer'"'"'s head, the side-strap and the top strap being connected to the mounting plate so that the mounting plate is held on the wearer'"'"'s forehead;

wherein the side-strap has right and left loops at ends of the side-strap, and the top-strap has a front end loop, the right and left loops being connected to arms at the right and left sides of the mounting plate, and the front end loop being connected to rear arms of the mounting plate.

9. The system as in claim 8, wherein the electronic device comprises a lower surface having functional buttons and the generally horizontal platform comprises upward protrusions that hold the lower surface of the electronic device to prevent the electronic device functional buttons on said lower surface from contacting the retention strap and the mounting plate.

10. The system as in claim 8, wherein the generally horizontal platform comprises a downwardly-slanted top surface portion and a portion of the retention strap extends along said downwardly-slanted top surface portion, a corner edge of the electronic device resting on said portion of the retention strap so that functional buttons on a lower surface of the electronic device are in a empty space beside the downwardly-slanted top surface and do not contact the mounting plate or the retention strap.

11. The system as in claim 8, wherein said arms at said right and left sides are each a set of two arms reaching near to each other with a gap between the two arms for insertion of the right and left loops between and over the two arms.

12. The system as in claim 8, wherein the rear arms comprise two arms reaching near to each other with a gap between the two arms for insertion of the front end loop between and over the two arms.

14. The system as in claim 8, comprising a cushion pad on a rear side of the mounting plate for resting against a wearer'"'"'s head.

13. A mounting system for hand-free video recording, the system comprising:

an electronic device with video recording capability; and

a mounting apparatus comprising;

a generally-L-shaped mounting plate having a generally vertical platform and a generally horizontal platform forming between them a cradle receiving the electronic device so that a rear surface of the electronic device is against the generally vertical platform;

a retention strap having a proximal end connected to a rear surface of the mounting plate and a fastener at an opposing distal end, the retention strap extending forward over the electronic device and down to the generally horizontal platform, the retention strap looping through a slot in the generally horizontal platform and extending upwards, wherein the retention strap distal end is fastened to the proximal end with the retention strap in a tightened configuration against the electronic device, and the retention strap distal end extends along and attaches by hook and loop patches to the proximal end of the retention strap at a location over and rearward of the electronic device;

wherein the mounting plate comprises rearward protrusions at an upper end of the generally vertical platform, and wherein the retention strap proximal end and distal end both extend across the rearward protrusions at or near said hook and loop patches.