Abstract:
A camera pod for an aircraft includes a housing with a plurality of camera compartments configured to downwardly angle a camera therein and a port for the lens of a camera. A pliant member is configured to quickly and easily retain a camera in a compartment biasing the camera in the downwardly angled position and absorbing vibration. A back plate is secured to the housing sealing it.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to camera mounts and housings. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Adventuresome individuals sometimes purchase small video cameras, attach them to a means of conveyance, or a helmet or article of clothing, and record their travels, stunts, and adventures. 
         [0003]    In but one example, the small 42 mm×60 mm×30 mm fairly inexpensive “HD Hero” camera can be purchased with various mounts tailored to attach the camera to handle bars, a chest harness, a roll bar, and the like. 
         [0004]    Cameras and the usually expensive mounts for them are also known for aircraft. See, for example, published patent applications No. 2004/0155959 and 2002/0067424 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,422,508; 5,531,403; 4,218, 702; the “Motocam” shock box camera system available from Aircraft Spruce &amp; Specialty Co. (www.aircraftspruce.com), all of which are incorporated herein by this reference. 
         [0005]    Pilots of various aircraft do not always use safe, FAA approved camera mounts. Instead, some pilots are using suction cup mounts, tape, and the like in order to mount video cameras like the “HD Hero” camera to the exterior of their aircraft. Such methods may not be safe and may violate FAA regulations. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    This invention, in one particular example, results in a safer, less expensive video camera mount likely to be approved by the FAA. The regulations of 14 CFR 23.23-36.9(a) are included herein by this reference. 
         [0007]    The subject invention, however, in other embodiments, need not achieve all these objectives and the claims hereof should not be limited to structures or methods capable of achieving these objectives. 
         [0008]    The invention features a camera pod comprising, in one example, a housing including a plurality of camera compartments configured to downwardly angle a camera therein and having a port for the lens of a camera. A pliant member is configured to retain a camera in a compartment biasing the camera in the downwardly angled position and absorbing vibration. A back plate is secured to the housing sealing it. 
         [0009]    The camera pod housing may have a round side wall with ports therein. In one version, the housing has a circular bottom wall. Typically the housing includes intersecting ribs defining camera compartments and, possibly, additional compartments. In one preferred embodiment, the camera compartments include an outer inwardly angled wall with a port. The inwardly angled wall is typically angled at 5-60° from vertical. The inwardly angled wall preferably includes a channel with a flat wall on each side thereof. The inwardly angled wall may include a channel with a flat wall on each side thereof. 
         [0010]    A curved lens may be provided for the lens port. There may be one or more ports between adjacent compartments. Further included can be a vent in the housing. Typically, the housing is made of a material including nylon. 
         [0011]    One pliant member includes a piece of foam wedged between a camera and a wall of a compartment. Typically, the piece of foam includes an angled front wall. Another pliant member includes a sheet bent into opposing biased apart members wedging a camera against a wall of a compartment. There may be a plurality of different size pliant members for different size cameras. 
         [0012]    In one example, fasteners releasably secure the back plate to the housing. Quick connect fasteners can be used. For example, housing includes a recess for the fasteners designed such that the fastener is visible when not tightened and not visible when tightened. 
         [0013]    Also, the housing in one preferred version includes spaced interior sockets and the back plate then includes spaced interior posts received in the sockets. The back plate may also include a rim surrounding the housing. A gasket is between the housing and the back plate. The camera pod may further require a doubler secured to the back plate (and the aircraft). 
         [0014]    One camera pod housing includes a round side wall with ports therein and intersecting ribs connected to the round side wall defining camera compartments each including an outer inwardly angled wall with a port and configured to downwardly angle a camera therein. A pliant member is wedged between a camera and an outer compartment wall retaining the camera in its compartment and biasing the camera in a downwardly angled position. A back plate is releaseably attached to the housing. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    Other objects, features and advantages will occur to those skilled in the art from the following description of a preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a schematic front view showing a camera pod mounted to the underside of an aircraft belly in accordance with an example of the invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a schematic front view of the pod of  FIG. 1  showing in more detail of the various components thereof; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a schematic three dimensional view of the bottom of the housing portion of the pod shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
           [0019]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are schematic showing the interior of the housing of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a schematic top view showing one example of a camera compartment and retaining member in accordance with an example of the invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a schematic three dimensional top view of another example of a retaining member in accordance with the invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a schematic three dimensional side view of the retaining member of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a three dimensional front view showing two different size cameras and a variety of different sized retaining members in accordance with the invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is a schematic three dimensional side view showing the housing member coupled to the pod back plate; 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is another schematic side view of the housing secured to the back plate; 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  is a schematic three dimensional view showing the interior of the back plate of  FIGS. 9 and 10 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 12  is a schematic three dimensional showing the exterior of the back plate; 
           [0028]      FIG. 13  is a schematic three dimensional showing in more detail a releasable fastener structure useful in accordance with the invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 14  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the releasable fastener of  FIG. 13 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 15  is a schematic three dimensional side view of the housing portion of a camera pod in accordance with an example of the invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 16  is a schematic three dimensional bottom view of an example of a camera pod; and 
           [0032]      FIG. 17  shows a camera sleeve to insulate the camera battery in cold ambient conditions. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0033]    Aside from the preferred embodiment or embodiments disclosed below, this invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Thus, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. If only one embodiment is described herein, the claims hereof are not to be limited to that embodiment. Moreover, the claims hereof are not to be read restrictively unless there is clear and convincing evidence manifesting a certain exclusion, restriction, or disclaimer. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 1-2  depict, in accordance with one version of the invention, low profile camera pod  10  configured to house one or more cameras (e.g., a forward camera, a rearward camera, and two opposing side cameras), typically the “HD Hero” video camera referred to above, and orient them in a downwardly angled configuration as shown by arrows  12   a  and  12   b  in  FIG. 1 . In this particular example, pod  10  includes housing  14 , mounting or back plate  16 , secured to housing  14  and larger doubler  18  which may either be secured on one face to back plate  18  and on its opposite face to the underside of the aircraft, or the doubler may be situated inside the aircraft skin opposite the mounting plate  20 . Rivets or the like may be used. 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIGS. 3-4 , housing  14 , in one example, includes a round side wall  30 , circular bottom wall  32 , and intersecting ribs  34   a ,  34   b ,  34   c , and  34   d  defining camera compartments  40   a ,  40   b ,  40   c , and  40   d  as well as interior compartment  42  and corner compartments  44   a ,  44   b ,  44   c , and  44   d.    
         [0036]    Preferably, round sidewall  30  is angled inwardly from lip  102  to bottom wall  32  and thus defines outward compartment walls  48   a - 48   d  of camera compartments  40   a - 40   d , respectively. The front of a camera such as cameras  50   a  and  50   b  (in compartment  40   d  and  40   b ) rests against these inwardly angled compartment outer walls (or portions thereof) and thus the cameras and their lenses are angled downwardly (typically between 5°-60°, e.g. 29°) to better video the terrain over which the aircraft is flying. In this way, a video log of the aircraft&#39;s flight path can be automatically made. And, the user has a choice of one or more cameras and a choice of mounting positions—right, left, front, and/or rear (usually for parachute operations). The bottom wall or middle compartment  42  may also have a lens. 
         [0037]    The lens of the camera is received in a port in the compartment outer wall covered with a curved lens as shown at  50  in  FIGS. 3 and 4  for camera compartment  40   a .  FIG. 3  also shows additional camera compartment port  51  positioned, for example, adjacent to the camera indicator lamp so it can be seen from outside the pod. There may also be ports between adjacent compartments for vapor escape, for moisture escape, or for vapor equalization, and/or for routing cables and the like and there may be one or more vent holes in housing  14  to allow moisture or vapor to escape. Housing  14  is preferably made of nylon, for example glass reinforced nylon. The round housing shape reduces weight and the compartment design provides strong load paths while also reducing weight. 
         [0038]    To retain each camera in its compartment and biased in the downwardly angled position, foam block  60  and/or bent plastic (e.g., lexan), sheet  62  is provided,  FIGS. 4-7 . These retainers also preferably absorb vibrations for a clearer video capture. Foam body  60 ,  FIG. 6  includes angled front wall  70  for wedging foam body  60  between the rear of the camera and a rear compartment wall as shown in  FIG. 4 . Bent sheet  62  includes opposing biased apart members  72   a  and  72   b  also designed to be wedged between the back of a camera and a rear compartment wall as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0039]    Other retaining means are possible and the size of the retainers may vary depending on the thickness of the camera. For example,  FIG. 8  shows a thicker camera (with an attached battery pack) and thinner camera  50   b  and a plurality of different size retainers  60 ,  62 . It is preferred that the cameras are easy to quickly load in and be removed from their respective compartments. 
         [0040]      FIG. 4B  in particular shows in more detail for a given camera compartment how outer compartment wall  48   b  includes flat inwardly angled sides  49   a  and  49   b  and on opposite sides middle channel  47  which provides clearance for the lens and indicator lamp of the camera. For example, flat inwardly angled side wall portion  49   b  supports camera wall  51   b , and flat inwardly angled compartment front wall  49   a ,  FIG. 4B , supports camera front wall  51   a    FIG. 8 . Recessed channel  47 ,  FIG. 4B  receives camera lens assembly  53 ,  FIG. 8  and indicator lamp  55 . 
         [0041]    Fasteners such as quick release fasteners are typically used to secure housing  14 ,  FIG. 9  to aluminum to back plate  16 .  FIGS. 9-10  Show how housing  14  includes a recess  80   a  for each quick release fastener  82   a  configured such that the head of the fastener is visible when not tightened ( FIG. 9 ) but cannot be seen ( FIG. 10 ) when tightened. Thus, the user can readily ascertain by a quick visual inspection if the housing is secured to the back plate, ensuring the pod is mounted in a safe and airworthy manner. 
         [0042]    Preferably, housing  14 ,  FIG. 4  includes spaced sockets  90   a ,  90   b ,  90   c , and  90   d  through which the quick release fasteners extend and the interior of back plate  16 ,  FIG. 11  includes corresponding spaced posts  92   a - 92   d  received in the housing sockets and each includes a feature therein which receives the distal operational end of one of the quick release fasteners. 
         [0043]    In this way, the housing is easy to quickly attach to the typically permanently mounted back plate in a secure manner. The socket/post configuration in particular addresses shear forces experienced by the housing in flight. The housing is removed, a camera (or two or three or four) is turned on and loaded into the chosen compartment(s), the housing is then reattached. The posts and sockets make alignment simple. The flight then commences. After landing and taxing to a ramp, the housing is detached and the camera(s) are retrieved. 
         [0044]    In the example depicted so far, back plate  16 ,  FIG. 11  includes rim  100  surrounding the lip ( 102 ,  FIG. 3 ) of the housing and housing lip  102 ,  FIG. 4  includes gasket  104  secured in depression  106  in the face of plate  16 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 12  shows the outside of plate  16  typically fastened (via rivets, for example) to a doubler itself permanently attached to the aircraft in a desired position (e.g. under the aircraft belly). The shouldered through holes shown at  110  receive the distal working ends of the quick release fasteners when the housing is secured to the back plate.  FIGS. 13-14  show this detail in a clearer fashion where the distal operational end a of the quick release fastener is shown in socket  90   d  of housing  14  in and then extended up into the corresponding post feature associated with back plate  16  in  FIG. 14 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 15  shows ports  102   a  and  102   b  through peripheral wall  30  of housing  14  before their respective lenses are attached. Port  120   a  is specifically for the camera lens assembly and port  120   b  typically provides a way for the user to view one or more camera indicators.  FIG. 16  shows the complete assembly with the back plate and the housing. 
         [0047]    In one example, the housing is 10.2 inches in diameter and 2.2 inches deep. Each camera compartment is 2.5 inches wide by 2.5 inches long. At higher elevations and during winter months, the cameras in the housing can experience cold temperatures. Cold temperatures can impact camera battery life. At −30° C., for example, the recoding time may be as little as 0.5 hours. Accordingly, the invention also features an insulative case made of foam or neoprene, for example, for each camera. The case retains the heat generated by the camera and keeps the battery warmer. The five sided case may be disposed about the camera before it is placed in the housing.  FIG. 17  shows sleeve  200  for camera  202 . 
         [0048]    Although specific features of the invention are shown in some drawings and not in others, this is for convenience only as each feature may be combined with any or all of the other features in accordance with the invention. The words “including”, “comprising”, “having”, and “with” as used herein are to be interpreted broadly and comprehensively and are not limited to any physical interconnection. Moreover, any embodiments disclosed in the subject application are not to be taken as the only possible embodiments. 
         [0049]    In addition, any amendment presented during the prosecution of the patent application for this patent is not a disclaimer of any claim element presented in the application as filed: those skilled in the art cannot reasonably be expected to draft a claim that would literally encompass all possible equivalents, many equivalents will be unforeseeable at the time of the amendment and are beyond a fair interpretation of what is to be surrendered (if anything), the rationale underlying the amendment may bear no more than a tangential relation to many equivalents, and/or there are many other reasons the applicant can not be expected to describe certain insubstantial substitutes for any claim element amended. 
         [0050]    Other embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art and are within the following claims.