CASE FOR VIDEO-CAMERA

Abstract: The invention concerns a case for video cameras which is characterized in that it presents a rail (11, 36) receiving a slide (12, 34) connected with the terminal part of the fixed supporting stand (14, 33) of the video camera. The slide is connected with the video-camera supporting stand by means of an angular junction and it slides on the grooved rail, so that the case can be pulled out, but remains hooked to the supporting stand thanks to the presence of a catch arranged on the bottom of the rail.

Description: The invention concerns a case for video-cameras, particularly for the type used for closed-circuit televisions. It is a known fact that the video-cameras which are used for inspection and control are installed in rather high places and are supported by shelves or placed on posts or attached to perimetral walls. In order to have access to the video-cameras, both for installation and for maintenance purposes, it is necessary to remove their protective casings and it is, therefore, very important that removal of the casings may occur without bothering or hindering the motions of the operators. For this reason the known technique foresees casings which can be opened, in order to allow easy access to the video-cameras contained therein. One type of casing construction, such as disclosed in US-A-3 819 856, foresees that said casing be built in two halves hinged together. It is thus obtained that, when it is necessary to have access to the video-camera, the casing is opened by rotating one half of the casing on the other half, being hinged to the first. This type of construction sometimes creates some inconveniences, since the lower half of the casing always remains fixed to the supporting stand of the video-camera. It can also happen that, should the video-camera be placed in difficult-to-reach places, it may be hard to operate the opening of the video-camera itself. Other systems foresee the complete removal of the casing, which will then be detached from the supporting stand of the video-camera, so that it is necessary to dispose of said casing before directly operating on the video-camera, so that the operator can work freely. The purpose of this invention is to eliminate said inconveniences. In particular, the purpose is that of realizing a type of casing for video-cameras which can easily be moved from the supporting stand and which allows easy access to the video-camera for maintenance or replacement purposes, said casing not creating operational problems. Another proposed purpose is that said type of casing be easy to handle and, at the same time, conveniently priced. All the above-mentioned purposes and others, which will be better illustrated hereafter, are reached with the construction of a case for video-cameras made with a preferably extruded tube-shaped profile, having a polygonal section, such that it can receive in its interior a supporting stand connected with the video-camera contained therein, which, in accordance with the patent claims, presents a grooved rail receiving a slide which is connected with the terminal part of the fixed supporting stand of the video-camera by means of a curved junction allowing the rotation of said slide on the case, so that the case drops downwards when it is removed from the fixed supporting stand. Other characteristics and details of the invention will be better understood from the description of two preferred forms of execution given by way of illustration only, but which are not meant to limit the scope of the invention and which are represented in the tables of drawing, where: Fig. 1 shows a view of the video-camera case according to the invention in its opened position; Fig. 2 shows the detail of the coupling between the casing and the fixed part of the supporting stand; Fig. 3 is a cross-section emphazising the coupling between the casing and the fixed part of the supporting stand; Fig. 4 shows a construction variation of the case represented in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 emphasizes the detail of the coupling between the case and the fixed part of the supporting stand represented in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a cross-section showing the coupling between the case and the fixed supporting stand of the variation. With reference to the mentioned figures and in particular to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, it can be observed that the case, indicated as a whole with 10, consists of a tube-shaped profile having a practically square cross-section, presenting in correspondence with its lower base and externally in relation to it a grooved rail 11 having a rectangular cross-section, which is open and parallel with the axis of the shaped profile. In correspondence with the track created by said rail a slide 12 is inserted. Said slide consists of a small transversal cylindrical bar connected by means of the curved protrusion 13 to the fixed supporting stand 14 of the case. Said support presents on its upper surface a C-shaped cross-section suited to receive rail 11 of case 10 and such that it creates a supporting surface for the case in its lateral areas 15 which rest in correspondence with the surfaces 16 of the fixed slide. Slide 12 which is inserted into rail 11 is prevented from exiting by the cylindrical head of a screw 17 which is tightened in the terminal part of the shaped profile of the case. Thus, when the case is pulled out, in order to have access to the video camera 20 inserted into it, it can easily be understood that the pulling out stops when slide 12 and the cylindrical head of screw 17 contrast with each other. Since slide 12 is sufficiently removed from the fixed supporting stand 14, thanks to the presence of the curved protrusion 13, case 10 can rotate downwards, as can be observed in Fig. 1, and it comes, therefore, to rest outside of the area of access to the video-camera, thereby allowing the operator the maximum freedom of movement. A variation concerning the same idea of solution is represented in the Figs. 4, 5 and 6. With reference to said Figures, the case, now represented as a whole with 30, presents rail 31 placed on the horizontal interior bottom of the case, rather than on its exterior lower surface. In the case now under examination the supporting stand 32 of the video-camera case consists also of the slide on which the video-camera is inserted and said supporting stand presents, therefore, a slot 33 and ends with a slide 34, inclined downwards by means of a connecting element 35. While slide 34 penetrates within rail 31, the supporting stand 32 rests on the upper part 36 of said rail. In this case, too, the cylindrical part 37 of a screw tightened on the terminal part of case 30 prevents the complete removal of the case, when said case is opened and pulled away from the supporting stand 40. The special downward inclination of slide 34 allows case 30 to turn downward when it is completely opened, as represented in Fig. 4. Thus, it can be seen how all the purposes of the patent have been fulfilled. In particular it can be seen how easily the case can be handled both when opening and closing it and it is easy to observe how such a case in its open position does not in the least hinder the assembly or maintenance operations on the video-camera.

Claims: A case for video cameras made with a preferably extruded shaped profile having a polygonal cross-section, such as to receive in its interior a supporting stand connected with the video camera inserted therein, characterized in that it presents a grooved rail (11, 31) receiving a slide (12, 34) connected with the terminal part of the fixed supporting stand (14, 32), further characterized in that said slide is connected with the fixed supporting stand of the video-camera case by an angular junction (13, 35), such that said slide allows the downward rotation of the case itself, when said case is opened and pulled out, the complete removal of said case being prevented by the presence of a catch (17, 37) placed on the terminal part of the rail. A case for video cameras according to claim 1, characterized in that the rail (11) receiving the slide arranged on the fixed supporting stand in obtained in correspondence with the lower exterior part of the shaped profile of the case. A case for video cameras according to claim 1, characterized in that the rail (31) receiving the slide connected with the fixed part of the video-camera supporting stand is obtained in the interior of the case itself. A supporting stand according to one of the preceeding claims, characterized in that the stop of the slide on the rail is obtained with a catch (17, 37) formed by the cylindrical head of a screw.

Inventors: MARCHESINI, RENZO
Applicants: TEKNO SYSTEM S.R.L.
Application year: 1988
Main classification: G08B15
IPC codes: G08B15, G08B13