Patent Number: 060193263
Section: description

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1 thereof, a new and improved video enhancement kit embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described. The present invention, the new and improved video enhancement kit, is comprised of a plurality of components. Such components in their broadest context include base strip, spotting scope mount, and binocular mount. Such components are individually configured and correlated with respect to each other so as to attain the desired objective. More specifically, it will be noted that the system 10 of the present invention, designated as numeral 10, is adapted for use with a stand 3 having an inverted L-shaped support with a vertically oriented hole 4 formed therein. Note FIG. 5. Also included is a video camera 5 with a threaded bore formed in a bottom thereof, as shown in FIGS. 5 & 6. With reference solely to FIG. 5, a spotting scope 6 is shown to have a cylindrical configuration and a conventional threaded bore 7 formed in a side thereof. The threaded bore of the spotting scope resides along an axis perpendicular with respect to that about which the spotting scope is formed. Associated therewith is a pair of binoculars 8 including a pair of side portions each having a cylindrical configuration with a common diameter. The side portions of the binoculars are connected via an interconnect 9 with a conventional threaded bore formed in a front thereof. This threaded bore is situated about an axis residing in parallel with those about which the side portions are formed. It should be noted that the threaded bores of the spotting scope and the binoculars are conventionally adapted for allowing the same to be mounted to a standard tripod. As shown throughout the Figures, a plurality of couples 59 are provided each including a disk-shaped handle 60. Each couple is equipped with a threaded bolt 64 coupled to the handle and extending therefrom in concentric relationship therewith. As best shown in FIG. 4, a base strip 44 is included with a planar rectangular configuration. The base strip includes a top face, a bottom face and a periphery formed therebetween. This periphery is defined by a pair of elongated parallel side edges and a short first end edge 50 and second end edge 48. The base strip includes three linearly aligned threaded bores 58 formed therein. Such three linearly aligned threaded bores are positioned at a central extent of the base strip along a central longitudinal axis thereof. The base strip further includes a linear elongated slot 52 formed between the central extent of the base strip and the first end edge thereof. As best shown in FIG. 2, a pair of mounting assemblies 55 are positioned adjacent to the second end edge of the base strip and adjacent to the central extent of the base strip, respectively. Each mounting assembly includes a central threaded bore 56 formed in the base strip along the central longitudinal axis thereof. Further, a pair of cylindrical tabs 57 are integrally coupled to the bottom face of the base strip and depend therefrom. In the preferred embodiment, the cylindrical tabs flank the associated threaded bore. In use, the base strip is removably mounted on the support of the stand via one of the couples 59. The threaded post of such couple passes through the hole of the stand and is threadedly coupled to one of the threaded bores of the central extent of the base strip. As an option, a washer 64 may be employed, as shown in FIG. 4. As an option, the stand may take the form of a clip adapted to be removably mounted to a window of a vehicle. As show in FIGS. 5 & 6, the camera is removably mounted to the top face of the base strip adjacent to the first end edge thereof via one of the couples 59. The threaded post of such couple is slidably situated through the elongated slot of the base strip and also threadedly coupled to the threaded bore of the camera. As such, the camera may be selectively situated along the central longitudinal axis of the base strip. As shown in the various Figures including FIG. 5, a spotting scope mount 18 is included having an L-shaped configuration. The spotting scope is equipped with a horizontal extent 24 and a vertical extent 14. An end 30 of the vertical extent is coupled to the horizontal extent in an end-to-end relationship and is further situated in a separate perpendicular plane. Each extent of the spotting scope mount has a linear elongated slot 20 & 34, respectively, formed therein along a central longitudinal axis thereof. By this structure, the elongated slot of the horizontal extent is slidably mounted along the cylindrical tabs of one of the mounting assemblies depending on the size of the spotting scope. Further, the horizontal extent is removably mounted to the base strip via one of the couples. As shown in FIG. 5, the threaded post of such couple passes through the elongated slot of the horizontal extent of the spotting scope mount and is threadedly coupled to the threaded bore of the associated mounting assembly. It should be noted that the spotting scope is removably mounted to the vertical extent of the spotting scope mount via one of the couples the threaded post of which passes through the slot of the vertical extent of the spotting scope mount and is threadedly engaged with the threaded bore of the spotting scope. As such, the spotting scope mount permits vertical and horizontal adjustment of the spotting scope for aligning the same with the camera. Note FIG. 5. Finally, a binoculars mount 70 has a T-shaped configuration with a horizontal extent 72 and a vertical extent 74. As shown in FIG. 6, the vertical extent of the binoculars mount has an end edge mounted to a central extent of a side edge of the horizontal extent. Further, the horizontal extent and the vertical extent are situated in perpendicular planes. In use, the elongated slot of the horizontal extent of the binoculars mount is slidably mounted along the cylindrical tabs of one of the mounting assemblies. Further, the horizontal extent is removably mounted to the base strip via one of the couples. The threaded post of such couple passes through the elongated slot of the horizontal extent of the binoculars mount. This threaded post is further threadedly coupled to the threaded bore of the associated mounting assembly. The binoculars is mounted to the vertical extent of the binoculars mount via one of the couples. A shown in FIG. 5, the threaded post of such couple is slidably positioned through the slot of the vertical extent of the binoculars mount and is also threadedly engaged with the threaded bore of the binoculars. In use, the binoculars mount permits vertical and horizontal adjustment of the binoculars for aligning one of the side portions with the camera. Note FIG. 6. As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.