CAMERA GIMBAL

SUPPORT A LA CARDAN POUR CAMERA

English Abstract

An apparatus for adjustably mounting a camera. The apparatus comprises a base bracket, a ring bracket, a square bracket and a carrier bracket.

French Abstract

Un appareil pour installer une caméra de façon réglable. L'appareil comprend un support de base, un support en anneau, un support carré et un support de transporteur.

Claims

1. A camera positioning apparatus comprising:
(a) a mounting bracket;
(b) a gimbal bracket assembly having
i) a ring bracket, rotationally secured to said
mounting bracket and operative to rotate
about a roll axis;
ii) a square bracket, pivotally secured to said
ring bracket and operative to pivot about a
yaw axis; and
iii) a carrier bracket, pivotally secured to said
square bracket and operative to pivot about a
pitch axis; and
(c) a plurality of locking mechanisms, each of said
locking mechanisms operative to lock said gimbal
bracket assembly about a respective one of said
axes.
2. The camera positioning apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein a first of said locking mechanisms locks said
carrier bracket relative to said gimbal bracket assembly and
a second of said locking mechanisms locks said square
bracket relative to said gimbal bracket assembly.
3. The camera positioning apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein said first and second locking mechanisms include
interleaving of ridges on adjacent bracket surfaces.
4. The camera positioning apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein said mounting bracket includes a plurality of clips
to removably and rotationally secure said ring bracket to
said mounting bracket.
5. The camera positioning apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein a camera is secured to said gimbal bracket assembly.
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6. The camera positioning apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein said ring bracket is locked relative to said
mounting bracket by a screw.
7. A camera positioning apparatus comprising:
(a) a mounting bracket;
(b) a gimbal bracket assembly having three
orthogonal axes, wherein said first axis
is roll, said second axis is yaw and
said third axis is pitch and wherein
said gimbal bracket assembly is secured
to said mounting bracket; and
(c) a plurality of locking mechanisms, each
of said locking mechanisms operative to
lock said gimbal bracket assembly about
a respective one of said three
orthogonal axes,
wherein said gimbal bracket assembly has a range of
motion of at least approximately 360° about each of
said three orthogonal axes.
8. The camera positioning apparatus according to claim 7,
wherein said gimbal bracket assembly comprises:
(a) a ring bracket, rotationally secured to said
mounting bracket and operative to rotate about the
first axis;
(b) a square bracket, pivotally secured to said ring
bracket and operative to pivot about the second
axis; and
(c) a carrier bracket, pivotally secured to said
square bracket and operative to pivot about the
third axis.
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9. The camera positioning apparatus according to claim 8,
wherein a first of said locking mechanisms locks said
carrier bracket relative to said gimbal bracket assembly and
a second of said locking mechanisms locks said square
bracket relative to said gimbal bracket assembly.
10. The camera positioning apparatus according to claim 9,
wherein said first and second locking mechanisms include
interleaving of ridges on adjacent bracket surfaces.
11. The camera positioning apparatus according to claim 8,
wherein said mounting bracket includes a plurality of clips
to removably and rotationally secure said ring bracket to
said mounting bracket.
12. The camera positioning apparatus according to claim 7,
wherein a camera is secured to said gimbal bracket assembly.
13. The camera positioning apparatus according to claim 8,
wherein said ring bracket is locked relative to said
mounting bracket by a screw.
14. A camera positioning apparatus comprising:
(a) a mounting bracket;
(b) a gimbal bracket assembly having three orthogonal
axes, wherein said first axis is roll, said second
axis is yaw and said third axis is pitch and
wherein said gimbal bracket assembly is secured to
said mounting bracket; and
(c) a plurality of locking mechanisms, each of said
locking mechanisms operative to lock said gimbal
bracket assembly about a respective one of said
three orthogonal axes,
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wherein said locking mechanism operative to lock said
gimbal bracket assembly about said first axis is on
said first axis; and
wherein said locking mechanism operative to lock said
gimbal bracket assembly about said third axis is on
said third axis.
15. The camera positioning apparatus according to claim 14,
wherein said gimbal bracket assembly comprises:
(a) a ring bracket, rotationally secured to said
mounting bracket and operative to rotate about
the first axis;
(b) a square bracket, pivotally secured to said
ring bracket and operative to pivot about the
second axis; and
(c) a carrier bracket, pivotally secured to said
square bracket and operative to pivot about the
third axis.
16. The camera positioning apparatus according to claim 15,
wherein a first of said locking mechanisms locks said
carrier bracket relative to said gimbal bracket assembly and
a second of said locking mechanisms locks said square
bracket relative to said gimbal bracket assembly.
17. The camera positioning apparatus according to claim 16,
wherein said first and second locking mechanisms include
interleaving of ridges on adjacent bracket surfaces.
18. The camera positioning apparatus according to claim 15,
wherein said mounting bracket includes a plurality of clips
to removably and rotationally secure said ring bracket to
said mounting bracket.
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19. The camera positioning apparatus according to claim 14,
wherein a camera is secured to said gimbal bracket assembly.
20. The camera positioning apparatus according to claim 15,
wherein said ring bracket is locked relative to said
mounting bracket by a screw.
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Description

CA 02340897 2001-03-14
CAMERA GIMBAL
FIELD
The present invention is related to a camera
positioning apparatus. More specifically, the present
invention is related to a camera positioning apparatus
having a gimbal assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Since the commencement of the use of security cameras,
camera users have sought to mount their cameras in various
locations and positions. The key to effective use of a
security camera is to ensure that the camera is directed at
the area to be surveyed. Most often, security cameras are
mounted within a static bracket that is fixed in a single
position. In other cases, the camera mount is adjustable in
only one dimension.
All of these devices suffer from the inability to
adjust in at least two dimensions. Therefore, the cameras
must be remounted or mounted in a different location should
the area to be surveyed change or the line of sight becomes
obscured by changing store displays, for example.
Various devices have been developed for mounting
cameras yet no single device has combined the qualities of
the invention disclosed herein. The camera gimbal described

CA 02340897 2001-03-14
herein is generally smaller and lighter than typical camera
mounts. Furthermore, and perhaps more importantly, the
camera gimbal of this invention is adjustable in two
dimensions and is also rotationally adjustable about the
axis of the camera.
SU1~A,RY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, there is provided a
camera gimbal for adjustably mounting a camera. The camera
gimbal comprises a base bracket, a ring bracket, a square
bracket and a carrier bracket.
The base bracket is mounted to a wall or other surface.
The ring bracket is rotationally secured within the base
bracket by a plurality of clips. The clips allow the ring
bracket to be removable secured within the base bracket.
The ring bracket includes two raised pivot posts secured to
opposite sides of the ring bracket and extending away from
the base bracket. The square bracket is pivotally secured
to the pivot posts of the ring bracket. The carrier bracket
includes two raised pivot posts secured to opposite sides of
the carrier bracket and extending towards the base bracket.
A line connecting the pivot posts of the carrier bracket is
perpendicular to a line connecting the pivot posts of the
ring bracket. The carrier bracket is pivotally secured to
the square bracket through the pivot posts.
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CA 02340897 2001-03-14
The pivot posts of the carrier bracket and the ring
bracket include a plurality of interleaving ridges. The
interleaving ridges allow the carrier bracket and the square
bracket to pivot in indexed steps and lock into a particular
orientation once positioned.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will
become clear from the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiment, which is presented by way of
illustration only and without limiting the scope of the
invention to the details thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Many objects and advantages of the present invention
will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art when
this specification is read in conjunction with the attached
drawings wherein like reference numerals are applied to like
elements and wherein:
Fig. 1 is a top view of a camera gimbal of this
invention;
Fig. 2 is a side view of a camera gimbal of this
invention;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a camera gimbal of this
invention;
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CA 02340897 2001-03-14
Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a camera
gimbal of this invention; and
Fig. 5 is a perspective of a camera gimbal of this
invention housing a camera.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to Figs. 1 to 5, a camera gimbal 10 is shown.
The camera gimbal 10 comprises a carrier bracket 20, a
square bracket 40, a ring bracket 60 and a base bracket 80.
The base bracket 80 includes mounting posts 88 and
mounting tabs 84 and 86. The mounting posts 88 and the
mounting tabs 84 and 86 may be used individually or in
combination to mount the base bracket in the desired
location. The base bracket further includes a channel 90 to
accept the ring bracket 60. The ring bracket 60 is
removably secured within the channel 90 by a plurality of
clips 82. The ring bracket 60 rotates 360 degrees within
the channel 90 of the base bracket 80.
The base bracket 80 may also include an optional screw
92 to lock the ring bracket into place and prevent it from
rotating once positioned.
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CA 02340897 2001-03-14
The ring bracket 60 includes two pivot posts 62 and 66.
Pivot posts 62 and 66 have apertures 64 and 74 respectively,
to allow the square bracket 40 to be pivotally secured to
the pivot posts 62 and 66. A plurality of ridges 68 on the
inside surface of the pivot post 66 interleave with a
plurality of ridges 56 on the outside surface of the square
bracket 40. The interleaving of the ridges 68 and 56,
allows the square bracket to pivot in indexed steps and lock
into a particular orientation once positioned. The ring
bracket 60 rotates in the direction indicated by arrow 72.
The square bracket 40 includes a projection 42 and a
post 45 having an aperture 44 to secure the square bracket
within the ring bracket. To secure the square bracket 40 to
the ring bracket 60, the projection 42 of the square bracket
40 is inserted into the aperture 64 of the ring bracket 60,
and the aperture 44 of the square bracket 40 is aligned with
the aperture 74 and a screw 70 passes through apertures 74
and 44 and is secured within the post 45, thereby pivotally
securing the square bracket 40 to the ring bracket 60.
Preferably, aperture 44 is threaded to receive and secure
the screw 70. Square bracket 40 pivots in the directions as
indicated by arrow 52 around a line formed by joining
aperture 44 and projection 42 of the square bracket.
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CA 02340897 2001-03-14
As discussed previously, a plurality of ridges 56
oriented about the aperture 44 interleave with the ridges 68
of the ring bracket 60 allowing the square bracket 40 to
pivot in indexed steps and lock into a particular
orientation once positioned.
The square bracket 40 further includes apertures 46 and
48. Apertures 46 and 48 are arranged such that a line
formed by joining apertures 46 and 48 is perpendicular to a
line formed by joining projection 42 and aperture 44. A
plurality of ridges 50 are on the inside surface of the
square bracket 40 oriented about the aperture 48.
The carrier bracket 20 includes pivot posts 24 and 22.
Pivot post 22 includes ridges 26 and aperture 28. Pivot
post 24 includes a projection 34. To secure the carrier
bracket 20 to the square bracket 40, the projection 34 of
carrier bracket 20 is inserted into aperture 46 of the
square bracket, and the aperture 28 of the carrier bracket
is aligned with the aperture 48 of the square bracket a
screw 54 passes through apertures 48 and 28 and is secured
within the aperture 28, thereby pivotally securing the
carrier bracket 20 to the square bracket 40. In this way,
the carrier bracket pivots in the direction indicated by
arrow 32. Preferably, aperture 28 is threaded to receive
and secure the screw 54. The interleaving of the ridges 50
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CA 02340897 2004-08-30
of the square bracket 40 and the ridges 26 of the carrier
bracket 20 allowing the carrier bracket 20 to pivot in
indexed steps and lock into a particular orientation once
positioned.
Referring to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the carrier bracket 20
further includes mounting tabs 30 to secure a camera 100 to
the interior of the carrier bracket.
The combination of the four brackets permits a camera
100 to be positioned freely about three orthogonal axes,
namely roll, yaw and pitch. In particular, the carrier
bracket 20 is adjustable about the pitch axis, the square
bracket 40 is adjustable about the yaw axis and the ring
bracket 60 is adjustable about the roll axis.
Although the invention has been described in detail in
the foregoing embodiments for the purpose of illustration,
it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that
purpose and that variations can be made therein by those
skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention except as it may be described by the
following claims.
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Representative Drawing