Abstract:
An extendable viewing system which allows for the suspension of a camera, or a video recorder, at a distance from the user. The viewing system may have a camera mount which may be rotated by the user. The camera mount may be on a far end of a mounting rod, with the user holding the close end of the mounting rod. The user may rotate a handle to rotate the camera mount.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to viewing systems, and more specifically to an extendable viewing system and a kit relating to same. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Prior to the advent of the latest generations of cameras and video recording devices, cameras were much larger, and these larger units presented a challenge to the user. First, the devices could be quite heavy, and support units for these devices might be body mounted to the user, such that the user&#39;s entire body could be called upon to support and stabilize the camera. Second, prior to the image stabilization aspects within cameras themselves, it was more important to stabilize the camera unit than it may be today. 
         [0005]    In the extreme, a camera stabilizer such as seen in U.S. Pat. No. 2,945,428, to Dearborn, would incorporate a significant amount of structure, and also be attached to the user&#39;s body. In the modern era, it is not uncommon for attendees at an event, such as a parade, to hold a camera by hand, and above their head, in order to record video of the event. Many now have smart phones adapted to record video images. In addition, there are small, lightweight, specialty video cameras. 
         [0006]    With the changes in technology, new approaches are needed to support cameras. What is called for is a system that allows for support of a lightweight camera system without the bulky structure of traditional systems. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    An extendable viewing system which allows for the suspension of a camera, or video recorder, at a distance from the user. The viewing system may have a camera mount which may be rotated by the user. The camera mount may be on a far end of a mounting rod, with the user holding the close end of the mounting rod. The user may rotate a handle to rotate the camera mount. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an extendable viewing system according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a top view of an extendable viewing system according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an extendable viewing system according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a side view of an extendable viewing system according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a top view of an extendable viewing system according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is an illustration of the drive cord of an extendable viewing system according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 7A-C  are illustrations of the variation of the length of the drive cord according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is an illustration of a camera mount used with some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is an illustration of a camera mount used with some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is an illustration of a camera mount used with some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  is an illustration of a kit for an extendable viewing system according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  illustrates poles for use with an extendable viewing system according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    In some embodiments of the present invention, as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an extendable viewing system  100  adapted for supported a camera, video camera, or other similar device is supported on a support rod  110 . In some aspects, the drive unit  101  is removably mounted to the support rod  110 . The driven unit  102  is also removably attached to the support rod  110 . A drive cord  113  links the drive unit  101  to the driven unit  102 . 
         [0021]    The twist handle  111  is coupled to the device mount  115  such that rotation of the twist handle  111  causes a rotation of the device mount  115 . The drive unit  101  has a twist handle  111  adapted to be held, and rotated as need be, but the user. The drive unit  101  also has a drive pulley  116  fixedly coupled to the twist handle  111 . The drive unit  101  is attached to or near a first end of the support rod  110 . At the far end of the support rod  110  the driven unit  102  is attached. The driven unit  102  has a device mount  115  adapted to receive a device such as a video camera, or a support holder for a camera or similar item. The driven unit  102  has an end pulley  112  fixedly coupled to the device mount  115 . 
         [0022]    A gripping structure  122  allows for the fastening of the drive unit  101  to the support rod  110 . In some aspects, a plurality of threaded clamping members  124  allow the drive unit  101  to be fastened to the support rod  110 . A second gripping structure  121  allows for fastening of the driven unit  102  to the support rod  110 . The threaded clamping members  123  allow the driven unit  102  to be fastened to the support rod. With the removable clamping members  123 ,  124  the drive unit  101  and the driven unit  102  can be attached and removed from a support rod. This flexibility allows for the various pieces of the extendable viewing system to be kept together as a kit, for example, and to be put together only when needed to be used. 
         [0023]    As seen in  FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 , an extendable viewing system  100  is put together on a support rod  110 . The drive cord  113  couples the drive unit  101  to the driven unit  102 . The user may hold a device, such as a video camera  114 , at a point above the crowd of people, for example. With a turn of the twist handle  111 , the drive cord  113  engages the end pulley  112 , resulting in the commensurate rotation of the end pulley  112 . 
         [0024]      FIGS. 6 and 7A -C illustrate aspects of an adjustable drive cord  113  according to some embodiments of the present invention. Adjustment of the length of the drive cord  113  allows for the use of longer or shorter support rods, and allows for variation in the distance between the drive pulley  116  and the end pulley  112 . As the device mount  115  typically will only be turned a bit, in the range of approximately 180 degrees of rotation, the drive cord  113  will only have a portion of its length go around a pulley. This allows for a cord design that allows for shortening or lengthening of the cord, as the features used to shorten the cord would not need to be run through a pulley. 
         [0025]    A drive cord  113  may consist of a main cord  134  and a cord joiner  131 . The main cord  134  may be discontinuous and may be linked together with a joining cord  131 . The joining cord  131  may have connectors on each of its ends. The ends of the main cord  134  may have slip loops  132 ,  133  adapted to allow fastening of the joining cord  131 , but also adapted to vary the overall effective length of the drive cord  113 . The ends of the main cords, with their slip loops, may allow for the shortening of the drive cord by the slipping of slip knots along the main cord, of using other means. The overall effective length of the drive cord  113  may be set by the user. 
         [0026]      FIGS. 8, 9, and 10  illustrate various devices and the way in which they may be attached to the device mount  115 . In some aspects, as seen in  FIG. 8 , a camera  140  may be directly mounted onto the device mount  115 . A threaded fastener may be used to attach the camera  140 . In some aspects, as seen in  FIG. 9 , a camera  142  may be affixed to a mount  141 , which has been attached to the device mount  115 . In some aspects, a grip clip  143  may be attached to the device mount  115 . A device such as a cell phone  144  may be mounted within the grip clip  143 . In all cases, the device is able to be supported with the extendable viewing system, and the device is able to be rotated in concert with a rotation of the twist handle  111  by the user. 
         [0027]      FIG. 11  illustrates a kit  146  which contains the various pieces of the extendable viewing system.  FIG. 12  illustrates various types of support rods. Among the advantages of the extendable viewing system is that an extendable (and retractable) support rod can be used as part of a kit, so that all of the pieces are small and manageable. 
         [0028]    As evident from the above description, a wide variety of embodiments may be configured from the description given herein and additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is, therefore, not limited to the specific details and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures from such details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicant&#39;s general invention.