Television – Special applications – Observation of or from a specific location
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-18
2001-03-06
Britton, Howard (Department: 2713)
Television
Special applications
Observation of or from a specific location
C348S151000, C348S373000, C386S349000, C360S005000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06198502
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to apparatus for mounting video imaging equipment in motor vehicles. More particularly, the present invention relates to video camera and recorder mounts attached to seats in motor vehicles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In recent years, police and private detectives have added video cameras to their equipment list for patrols and investigations. For police particularly, the video camera provides a visual record of events such as traffic stops, chases, and other incidents of law enforcement. Private detectives also record incidents for evidentiary purposes during investigations.
Various devices have been provided for supporting video cameras in motor vehicles. Stationary investigations allow use of tripods mounted in the motor vehicle to support the video cameras. The tripod readily stands in many vans or other trucks which have room for the legs to spread and thereby provide a stable foundation for using a video camera attached thereto. Tripods however are not readily adaptable for use in passenger vehicles which have limited space in the rear seat portion of the car. Generally, the legs are insufficiently separated for image recording stability.
For police vehicles, video cameras typically mount on U-shaped brackets attached to the forward portion of the roof adjacent the windshield. The bracket receives the video camera for a forward view through the windshield in order to provide a record of traffic stops, automobile chases, and the like. Other camera mounts have been used to secure video or television cameras within automobiles, such as race cars to provide a driver's perspective during an automobile race being broadcasted on television. One known device for mounting a camera in a car maintains the camera level with respect to the roads surface regardless of acceleration or gravitational forces. The camera is supported on a pendulum suspended from a gimble and constrained with spring and damping elements which match the vehicle suspension system in order to produce equal and opposite rotations of the pendulum in response to the movements of the vehicle.
Other devices are less complicated. One such device mounts a camera in a protective box which attaches to the rear deck of the vehicle near the back window. Telescoping members connect the box to the rear deck. Coil springs absorb shock in order to dampen vibrations communicated to the camera. Another device provides a channel member with a depending plate at one end. The plate is received in a slot of an upper edge of a car seat which normally receives a tongue or support member of a headrest. A distal end of the channel rests on top of the dashboard of the vehicle. A camera mounts with a bolt through an opening in the channel. An elastic hold-down and stabilizing cord is used to secure the distal end of the channel to the dashboard.
My U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,101 discloses a transverse bar which connects at opposing distal ends to the supports for headrests in the seats of motor vehicles. The video camera mounts to a pivotable support attached to the transverse bar, whereby the camera may be oriented at a selected angle for recording.
While these devices have generally functioned to support a camera within a car, there are drawbacks to their use. Mounting the camera on a rear deck of a car does not satisfactorily show dashboard information which is useful and important during automobile races. Also this perspective view differs from that seen by the driver. On the other hand, placing the camera closer to the windshield may have the camera to far forward to show the dashboard of the car which had key gauges, such as the speedometer, displaying information about the car. Brackets which are cantilevered in the car are susceptible to vibration as the distal end is not adequately secured. Further, such brackets that mount to the seat slot for headrest supports occupies one of the headrests and takes the space otherwise occupied by a passenger.
Also, surveillance security and other police activities however need the camera to be less visible from casual observation, which the present devices do not provide.
Further, while some video cameras incorporate a recording apparatus within the camera, often, the recorder is a separate component connected to the video camera by communication cables. As a separate component, the recorder is usually permanently mounted to a portion of the wall of the trunk of the motor vehicle. This makes access to the recorder and tapes cumbersome, time consuming, and unsatisfactory. Space within a police vehicle however is at premium for storage of equipment and materials. The video recorder needs to be secure so that it is not independently moving while the vehicle is traveling, yet must be readily and easily accessible for retrieval and exchange of recording tapes.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for improved mounts for video recording equipment in motor vehicles. It is to such that the present invention is directed.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention meets the need in the art by providing mounts for video recording equipment in motor vehicles, in which a video camera is concealed within a headrest that attaches to the seat of a motor vehicle, while the video recorder is secured within a seat that selectively moves to provide access to the video recorder. More particularly, the present invention comprises an elongate member having a distal end portion that defines a bore. A threaded connector extends through the bore. A cushion attaches to the elongate member and defines a cavity at a distal end portion for enclosing a video camera. The threaded connector rigidly engages the video camera to the elongate member. A forward-facing surface of the cushion defines a first hole for being substantially in alignment with a lens of the video camera. The cushion is openable for insertion of the video camera into the cavity for engagement to the elongate member. The elongate member connects by a support to a seatback of a motor vehicle. A portion of the seat cushion is hingedly attached for moving from a closed position for seating to an open position for accessing a video recorder secured within the seat.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a headrest integral with a seatback of a seat in a motor vehicle. A frame defines a perimeter shape of a seatback having a headrest in a first portion. A seat cover overlies the frame. The headrest has a main portion that defines a surface on a forward face of the headrest for receiving a head of a person occupying the seat and a second portion lateral of the main portion. The second portion defines a cavity having a support member engaged to a portion of the frame of the seatback. The support member is adapted for rigidly engaging an imaging apparatus. A port in a side wall of the seat provides entrance to the cavity, whereby the imaging apparatus is inserted into the cavity for engagement to the support member. The forward surface of the second portion defining an opening for communicating light to a lens of the imaging apparatus in the cavity. A portion of the seat cushion is hingedly attached for moving from a closed position for seating to an open position for accessing the video recorder secured within the seat.
Objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following detailed description of the invention and claims in view of the appended drawings.
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patent: 3752
Baker, Donelson Bearman & Caldwell
Britton Howard
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