Abstract:
A fully articulated camera mount is presented that may be attached to a tree (or pole or other vertical object) and used by an individual to record activities, such as hunting, without the tree itself being an impediment to the view. The camera mount is configured to include an articulated arm connected between a mounting bracket (used for attachment to a tree) and a camera support fixture. The articulated arm is formed of several telescoping members that can be readily adjusted to provide the horizontal and vertical spacings desired by the user. The arm is attached to the mounting bracket via a pivoting connector, allowing for rotational movement of the arm to be provided. The support fixture is preferably also adjustable.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/263,275, filed Dec. 4, 2015 and herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a camera mount and, more particularly, to a fully articulated camera mount that may be attached to a tree and used by an individual to record activities, such as hunting, without the tree itself being an impediment to the view. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In the sport of hunting, there are many situations in which it is useful to mount cameras in natural settings in positions to observe and record encounters with the hunted animals. During hunting trips, hunters often wish to either monitor a trail frequented by the animals being hunted, or make a video recording of the actual kill of the animal. In such situations, it is desirable to be able to mount a camera (i.e., a camcorder) to a nearby tree. While there are various types of camera mounts for this purpose, many of them are only able to hold the mounted camera in a fixed position (and may also require that the mount be attached to the tree with a bore). While other mounts may utilize a bracket/brace that surrounds the tree in a quickly removable manner, these mounts also hold the camera in a fixed position. 
         [0004]    There is known to be a type of camera mount that combines an archery bow holder (which includes telescoping arms) with a standard commercial camera mount. While this configuration offers the ability for the hunter to move the location of the camera to a degree, the range of motion is limited and there are times when the tree itself blocks the viewing angle. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The needs remaining in the prior art are addressed by the present invention, which relates to camera mount and, more particularly, to a fully articulated camera mount that may be attached to a tree and used by an individual to record activities, such as hunting, without the tree itself being an impediment to the view. 
         [0006]    In accordance with the present invention, a camera mount is configured to include an articulated arm connected between a mounting bracket (attached to a tree or other vertical object) and a camera support fixture (where a smartphone, video recorder, or any other type of device may be attached to the support fixture). The articulated arm is formed of several telescoping members that can be readily adjusted to provide the horizontal and vertical spacings desired by the user. The arm is attached to the mounting bracket via a pivoting connector, allowing for rotational movement of the arm to be provided. The support fixture is preferably also adjustable. 
         [0007]    In one embodiment of the present invention, a first set of telescoping arm segments are adjustable to create the desired horizontal spacing, and a second set of telescoping arm segments are adjustable to create the desired vertical spacing. Locking knobs, spring-loaded buttons, or any other suitable component, may be used to maintain the telescoping arm segments in the desired position. 
         [0008]    A specific embodiment of the present invention takes the form of a camera mount including an articulated arm configured to provide adjustable horizontal, vertical, and rotational movement, a mounting bracket attached to a first end termination of the articulated arm, the mounted bracket configured for releasable attachment to a vertical object and a camera support fixture attached to a second, opposing end termination of the articulated arm. 
         [0009]    Other and further advantages and embodiments of the present invention will become apparent during the course of the following discussion and by reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    Referring now to the drawings, where like numerals represent like parts in several views: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary articulated arm camera mount formed in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0012]    FIG,  2  is an exploded view of the articulated arm camera mount, as shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of the mounting bracket portion of the articulated arm camera mount as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary articulated camera mount  10  formed in accordance with the present invention. Camera mount  10  comprises three main components: a mounting bracket  12 , an articulated arm  14  and a camera support fixture  16 . As shown, articulated arm  14  connects to mounting bracket  12  at a first termination  18 , and connects to camera support fixture at a second, opposing termination  20 . In use, mounting bracket  12  is removably attached to a vertical object (such as, for example, a tree, fence post, pole, or the like) and, a user&#39;s camera is attached to support, fixture  16 . Various types of well-known configurations for providing both of these attachments may be employed, with examples being discussed in detail below. In accordance with the present invention, the utilization of a fully articulated arm (that is, a arm that is capable of adjusting its horizontal positioning, vertical positioning and rotation positioning with respect to the “vertical object”) allows for the user to record pictures and video without any impediments in the desired field of view. 
         [0016]    In accordance with the present invention, articulated arm  14  of camera mount  10  comprises a plurality of individual segments that enable the arm to provide these desired range of motions (horizontal, vertical, and rotational) and enable the camera to record in a manner that is not impeded by the presence of the vertical object (e.g., tree). In the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , articulated arm includes a first segment  30  which engages with mounting bracket  12 . A second segment  32  is formed as a telescoping segment, with a first end termination  34  that is disposed within an open end  36  of first segment  30 . An opposing second end termination  38  of segment  32  is shown as a closed-end surface. In accordance with this embodiment of the present invention, a third arm segment  40  is attached to second end termination  30  of arm segment  32  as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0017]    In this case, third arm segment  40  is also formed as a telescoping segment, with an opposing end termination  44  of third segment  40  inserted within an open end  46  of a fourth arm segment  48 . A second, opposing end termination  50  of fourth arm segment  48  is shown in  FIG. 1  as attached to camera support fixture  16 . 
         [0018]    In accordance with the present invention, the ability to control (and thereafter “fix”) the location of a camera during a live event by properly configuring the, articulated arm is a significant advantage over the prior art. In particular, the horizontal movement of camera mount  10  is provided by modifying the position of telescoping second arm segment  32  within first arm segment  30  (shown as the “x-axis” movement in  FIG. 1 ). Once a desired positioning is achieved, a fixing member, in this case a knob  52 , is used to hold and maintain this position. In a similar manner, the vertical positioning is adjusted by moving telescoping third arm segment  40  within fourth arm, segment  48 . Again, a knob  54  is shown as being used to maintain the desired positioning. It is to be understood that various other mechanisms may be used in place of knobs  52 ,  54 . For example, spring-loaded buttons may be used in combination with a set of apertures to create a set of defined adjustments. 
         [0019]    Referring again to  FIG. 1 , a brace component  60  of mounting bracket  12  is connected to first arm segment  30 , and is adjustable to allow for rotational movement of articulated arm  14  in the manner shown (i.e., rotating about the z-axis direction). Additionally, it is possible to adjust the angular connection between second arm segment  32  and third arm segment, which in the configuration shown in  FIG. 1  may be accomplished by using a bolted attachment  56 . Moreover, the angular position of camera support fixture  16  with respect to arm segment  48  may be adjusted by using (for example) a knob  58 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the configuration shown in  FIG. 1 . Clearly shown in this view is end termination  34  of second arm segment  32  (which telescopes back and forth within open end  36  of first arm segment  30 ). Similarly, end termination  44  of third arm segment  40  (which telescopes back and forth within open end  46  of fourth arm segment  48 ) is also clearly shown. Knobs  52 ,  54 , and  58  are also shown, as is bolt  56 . 
         [0021]    Additionally,  FIG. 2  includes an exploded view of mounting bracket  12 , with an enlarged view of bracket  12  shown in  FIG. 3 . Referring to both  FIGS. 2 and 3 , this particular embodiment of mounting bracket  12  is shown as including, a pair of apertures  60 ,  62 . As mentioned above, mounting bracket  12  may be releasably attached to a vertical object (e.g., tree, pole, etc.) and a mounting strap, bungee cord, etc, may be inserted through apertures  60 ,  62  and placed around the vertical object to hold camera mount  10  in place. Also evident in the particular embodiment shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  is a set of corner angles  64 , which may be used to re-enforce the attachment of camera mount  10  to objects such as tress or wooden poles/fence posts. As best seen in  FIG. 3 , each corner angle  64  includes a sharp, triangular termination point  66  that may be hammered or forced into the vertical object to further secure the attachment of camera mount  10   
         [0022]    In accordance with this particular embodiment of the present invention, mounting bracket  12  is shown as further comprising a pair of parallel plates  70  and  72 , oriented and spaced such that end termination  31  of first arm segment  30  securely fits between the plates (as shown in  FIG. 1 ). Additionally, lower plate  72  is shown as including an arcuate slot  74 , which is used in conjunction with a knob  76  to control the rotational positioning of articulated arm  14 . In attaching first arm segment to mounting bracket  12 , end termination  31  is positioned between plates  70  and  72 . A pivot pin  78  is inserted through an aperture  80  in lower plate  72 , where pivot pin  78  then passes through a pair of apertures (not shown) in arm segment  30 , exiting through an aperture  82  formed in top plate  70 . A locking nut  84  (or other fixture) is used to then hold pivot pin  78  in place, with articulated arm  14  thus attached to mounting bracket  12 . In accordance with this embodiment of the present invention, the operation of knob  76  can be used to rotate arm segment  30  within arcuate slot  74 , providing the desired orientation of articulated arm  14 . Once the desired rotation is, achieved, knob  76  is tightened and arm  14  remains motionless (until the user desires to change the position). 
         [0023]    It is to be understood that this particular configuration of mounting bracket  12 , including the components used to provide pivoting for articulated arm  14 , is exemplary only. Various other configurations of a mounting bracket and rotating attachment may be used and are considered to fall within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0024]    Referring back to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , camera support fixture  16  is shown as including a first L-shaped support member  90  that is used for the attachment of any type of camera, phone, or other recording device. In this particular embodiment, lower arm  92  of first L-shaped support member  90  is formed to include a conventional mounting element  94  as typically used for attaching a camera or other device to a fixture. An upper arm  96  of first L-shaped support member  90  is shown in this particular embodiment as attached to a second L-shaped support member  98 ; in particular, upper arm  96  is attached to a first arm  100  via an adjustment knob  102 . A second arm  104  of second L-shaped support member  98  is shown as attached to end termination  50  of arm segment  48  via a bracket  106 . The use of a pair of L-shaped support members joined at knob  102  allows for the user to adjust the location of the device mounted on, lower arm  92  with respect to bracket  106 . Additionally, the use of knob  58  allows for the orientation of camera support fixture  16  itself to be adjusted with respect to articulated arm  14 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 4  illustrates an alternative embodiment of an articulated arm camera mount formed in accordance with the present invention. Similar to the embodiment described above, camera mount  200  as shown in  FIG. 4  includes a mounting bracket  210 , an articulated arm  212 , and a camera support fixture  214 . In this particular embodiment, the horizontal adjustment of the camera location with respect to the vertical object (shown in phantom) is provided by a three-piece horizontal arm portion, shown as including arm segments  214 ,  216 , and  218 . Also a telescoping configuration for providing adjustments, this particular embodiment configures arm segment  216  as a telescoping member that fits within both arm segments  214  and  218 . In particular, and as shown in  FIG. 4 , a first end termination  220  of telescoping segment  216  is disposed within an open end termination  222  of arm segment  214 . Similarly, a second end termination  224  of telescoping segment  216  is disposed within an open end termination  226  of arm segment  218 . 
         [0026]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , this particular embodiment utilizes a series of apertures A formed along the arm segments and spring-loaded buttons B (disposed within the telescoping segments) to provide the adjustment. This is one alternative to the use of knobs, as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . Indeed, various other configurations for providing the telescoping adjustment necessary in the articulated arm of the present invention may be used and are considered to fall within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0027]    Vertical adjustment in camera mount  200  is provided by a pair of telescoping arm segments  228  and  230 . As shown, arm segment  228  is attached to an end termination  232  of arm segment  218 . Arm segment  230  is formed as a telescoping segment, with a first end termination  232  disposed within an open end  234  of arm segment  228 . A second, opposing end termination  236  of telescoping segment  230  is attached to camera support fixture  214 , as shown. 
         [0028]    In the particular embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , a camera C is shown in position on camera mounting fixture  214 . Fixture  214  is similar to the configuration deserted above, including a lower L-shaped support member  238  and an upper L-shaped support member  240 , with camera C attached to lower support member  238  and upper support member  240  attached to articulated arm  212  via a support bracket  242 . 
         [0029]    It is to be understood that there are many variations and alternatives that may be used to form the different components of the present invention. Additionally, the specific materials used to form each component are considered to a design choice of the user. Thus, while the structure of this invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments, it should be understood clearly that these descriptions are only made by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.