Abstract:
The present invention is an adjustable aesthetically pleasing support structure for a large surveillance camera that is resistant to water and moisture penetration and protects the wires connected to the camera while providing a wide range of adjustable viewing angles for the attached camera.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to surveillance camera systems, and more particularly to an adjustable surface-mountable support for a surveillance camera that provides for a wide range of adjustability while providing protection for the wires passing through the interior thereof. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of surveillance cameras has become increasingly widespread. Often, such cameras must be mounted outdoors where they may be subjected to dramatic temperature, moisture and other climactic changes, as well as potential vandalism. Accordingly, different enclosures and support structures have been developed for surveillance cameras. Unfortunately, the designs of many existing support structures allow the wires leading from the camera to be exposed to the outside where they can be damaged or cut. In addition, many existing camera supports cannot support large cameras and provide only a very limited range of adjustment of the position of the attached camera. 
     It is therefore desirable to provide an adjustable support structure for a large surveillance camera that is resistant to water and moisture penetration and protects the wires connected to the camera while providing a wide range of adjustable viewing angles for the attached camera. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a superior sealed aesthetically pleasing surveillance camera support structure that maintains the camera wires on the inside, and provides wide range of positioning and viewing angles even when a large or heavy camera is attached. The invention includes a surface-mountable base and a reinforced outwardly-extending support arm. A specially adapted rotatable swivel mechanism is attached at the end of the arm that is capable of being rotated (the panning or scanning angle) through a horizontal arc of as much as approximately 300°. Adjacent to the swivel is another rotatable joint that is capable of moving up and down (the tilt angle) through an arc of as much as approximately 180°. A camera support platform is attached above the rotatable joint. 
     The support structure is designed so that once the viewing angle for the camera is selected, the swivel and joint are tightened so that the camera remains pointing at this fixed angle. In order to accommodate larger cameras, significant bearing surfaces are provided in the swivel and joint so as to maximize the frictional resistance to movement. At the same time, sufficient space is provided inside both the swivel and joint to allow wires leading from the camera to pass through. Wires exiting the camera pass through the support platform, rotatable joint, swivel, arm and base into an opening provided in the surface behind where the mount is attached. 
     The present invention also allows considerable adjustability and flexibility with respect to establishing and changing the viewing angle of the attached camera, while keeping the sensitive internal components shielded from outside contaminants. Establishing and changing the viewing angle is accomplished by loosening the tightening screws of the swivel and/or joint, moving the camera to the desired angle, and then retightening these screws. 
     It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide an adjustable surface-mountable support apparatus for a surveillance camera that is resistant to water and moisture penetration and protects the wires connected to the camera while providing a wide range of adjustable viewing angles for the attached camera. 
     It is also an important object of the present invention to provide an adjustable surface-mountable surveillance camera support that may be horizontally adjusted through as much as 300° and vertically adjusted through as much as 180°. 
     It is also an important object of the present invention to provide an adjustable surface-mountable surveillance camera support that is capable of being adjusted through a wide range of possible viewing angles and then firmly secured in a selected fixed position. 
     It is also an important object of the present invention to provide an adjustable surface-mountable surveillance camera support that is capable of supporting a large, heavy surveillance camera in a fixed position. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide an aesthetically pleasing yet durable and reliable support structure for a surveillance camera. 
     Additional objects of the invention will be apparent from the detailed descriptions and the claims herein. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a top perspective exterior view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective exterior view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the upper portion of the invention along line A—A of FIG. 1 
     FIG. 4 is a partially exploded sectional view of the arm and swivel of the invention along line A—A of FIG. 1 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the assembled invention along line A—A of FIG. 1 
     FIG. 6 is a partially exploded sectional view of the invention along line B—B of FIG. 1 
     FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the assembled invention along line A—A of FIG. 1 showing the wire path. 
     FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the assembled invention along line B—B of FIG. 1 showing the wire path. 
     FIG. 9 is a side view of the invention supporting a large camera and enclosure that has been tilted down 90°. 
     FIG. 10 is a side view of the invention supporting a large camera and enclosure that has been tilted up about 6°. 
     FIG. 11 is a set of three views (side, perspective and top) of the invention supporting a large camera enclosure, each view showing the same camera angle rotated 159° from the front. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, it is seen that the support structure of the present invention includes a surface-mountable base or plate  11  for attachment to a flat surface such as a wall, ceiling, soffit or shelf; a hollow reinforced arm  12  fixedly attachable to mounting plate  11 ; a rotatable member  34  for adjustable engagement with a socket  21  at the end of arm  12 ; and upper journal member  40  for adjustable engagement with the rotatable member  34 ; and an upper platform  19  for holding the surveillance camera. Hollow or open areas are provided in side each of these members to allow wires  15  to be threaded through on the inside from the mounting surface to the camera. 
     Referring to FIGS. 3-5, it is seen that a socket  21  is provided at the end of arm  12  for engagement with a mating structure  30  on a separate rotatable member  34 . Socket  21  includes an upwardly extending annular lip  22  having an outer angled bearing surface  23  as shown in FIG. 4. A through hole  25  is provided in the center of socket  21  for receiving an attachment means such as a screw  26 . An open interior area  24  is provided at the bottom of socket  21  that is in communication with the hollow interior  13  of arm  12  through which one or more wires  15  may be threaded. See FIGS. 6-8 for wiring. 
     Rotatable member  34  includes a bell-shaped lower journal section  30  having an angled annular interior surface  31  for slidable engagement against surface  23  of socket  21  as shown in FIG. 4 and 5. A receptacle and opening  29  is provided at the center of journal section  30  for receiving attachment screw  26 , which also provides a pivot for rotation of member  34 . An open interior area  38  is provided in journal section  30  for receiving one or more wires  15 . Journal section  30  is inserted over socket  21  and rotated to a desired location, as surfaces  23  and  31  bear against each other. When the desired position is reached, screw  26  is tightened in order to fix this position. The area of surfaces  23  and  31  is deliberately large to provide sufficient friction to hold a heavy camera in the selected position. 
     The upper portion of rotatable member  34  includes a hemispherical cup  35  having an axis that is perpendicular to that of bell-shaped journal section  30 . The interior of cup  35  includes annular angled bearing surface  36  for receiving a journal member  41  of an upper support. A through hole  45  is provided in the center of cup  35  for receiving an attachment means such as a screw  43 . Open interior area  38  opens into cup  35  providing a channel between journal section  30  and cup  35  through which one or more wires  15  may be threaded. 
     An upper support member  40  is provided for holding the surveillance camera of the system as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. Support member  40  has a lower journal member  41  in the form of an annular lip having an angled bearing surface  44  for slidable engagement against surface  36  of hemispherical cup  35  of rotatable member  34 . An opening  42  is provided at the center of journal member  41  for receiving attachment screw  43  which also serves as a pivot for rotation of journal member  41 . An open interior area  48  is provided in journal member  41  for receiving one or more wires  15 . Area  48  provides a channel to the interior of upper platform  19  so that wires  15  may be threaded to the camera. See FIG. 7 Journal member  41  is inserted into cup  35  and rotated to a desired location, as surfaces  44  and  36  bear against each other. When the desired position is reached, screw  43  is tightened in order to fix this position. The area of surfaces  44  and  36  is deliberately large to provide sufficient friction to hold a heavy camera in the selected position. 
     Some exemplary tilt angles for the camera are illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG. 9 shows a camera enclosure  18  tilted straight down, a full 90° from the horizontal axis of the arm  12 . FIG. 10 shows the same enclosure tilted upward at about 6°. It is to be appreciated that a large camera enclosure  18  is shown in these illustrations, and that smaller enclosures will allow for a much wider range of tilt angles, up to a full 180°. 
     FIG. 11 shows a rotation (pan or scan) angle using the same large camera enclosure  18  with viewing window  17 . Even with the large enclosure  18  as shown, the counter-clockwise range of rotation is about 159° (180°−21°) from the angle of arm  12 . The same range of rotation (about 159°) is available in the clockwise direction, for a full range of well over 300°. Again, it is to be appreciated that a large camera enclosure  18  is shown in FIG. 11, and that smaller enclosures will allow for an even wider range of rotation (pan/scan) angles. 
     It is to be understood that variations and modifications of the present invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof. It is also to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited by the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but only in accordance with the appended claims when read in light of the foregoing specification.