Abstract:
This invention is related to a camcorder bracket, that may be held by either one or both hands of the user in a variety of positions, and which will support several camcorder accessories and can be disassembled into smaller parts for easy storage and transport. The invention can be configured into different relationships, based on the attached mounting plate, to fit the user&#39;s need.

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to video camera brackets commonly used for supporting a hand-held camcorder in front of the viewer&#39;s eyes when observing an object, and more particularly to a modular collapsible video camera bracket that may be assembled into several configurations for supporting video camera accessories, as well as providing several options for supporting the video camera while observing a video target. 
     Video camera brackets are known in the art and may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,890,025 issued Mar. 30, 1999 to Paul K. Hart for “Frame Assembly for Supporting a Camera”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,787,317 issued Jul. 28, 1998 to Charles E. Robinson, Sr. for “Shoulder Carrier for Camera”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,749,011 issued May 5, 1998 to John F. Nicolaci for “Camera Stabilizing Mechanism”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,749,010 issued May 5, 1998 to Michael T. McCumber for “Camera Support”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,513,784 issued May 7, 1996 to Andries L. Pretorius for “Carrier Device for Carrying and Holding Appliances”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,332,136 issued Jul. 26, 1994 to John H. Rudolph for “Support Apparatus for an Optical Instrument”; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,753,778 issued Jul. 10, 1956 to John M. Tolcher for “Adjustable Camera Support”. 
     Typically, such prior art patents or inventions limit the number of camera accessories they will hold, in addition to the camera. Further, they limit the carrying conditions available either by one or both hands, and are bulky and expensive. 
     The preferred embodiment of the invention provides a video camera bracket having a modular design which can be broken down and laid flat for storage. The various components have dimensions that nest inside one another for compactness. 
     The preferred bracket is designed to hold the new, small camcorders directly in front of the user&#39;s eyes as the camcorders were designed, or offset. Placing the accessory bracket on the forward part of the main bracket permits the camera monitor to swing out without interference. The tripod base can be used for non-hand held shooting, or for setting the camera on a tabletop, for desktop editing. The bracket components have wide surfaces for attaching Velcro fasteners. The bracket can be held in several different ways, for either left or right eye shooting, or with the monitor open. 
     Still further objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains upon reference to the following detailed description. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The description refers to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which: 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred video camera bracket being held by a user; 
     FIG. 2 is a view of a collapsed bracket fitting into a slim case for transport; 
     FIG. 3 is a view of the basic tripod component of the preferred bracket; 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a bracket mounted on the tripod base; 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of the bracket of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is view showing an extension added to the bracket of FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 7 illustrates a camcorder and the bracket with only the tailpiece; and 
     FIG. 8 illustrates a collapsed bracket adjacent a camcorder. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred modular camcorder bracket  10  being held against the body of a user  12 . The bracket supports a conventional camcorder  14 , a microphone mixer  16 , a microphone  18 , a light  20 , and a wireless microphone receiver  21 . Other accessories, not shown, may be mounted on bracket  10 , such as monitors, lights, cleaning tapes, gobos, cord ties, microphone mixer, remote controls and a lens cap. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, the preferred bracket includes an inverted U-shaped component  22  having a pair of parallel legs  24  and  26  whose lower ends are disposed in a common plane. Component  22  has a horizontal midsection  28  with fastener holes to secure and strengthen a second U-shaped bracket component. 
     An elongated mounting plate  30  has one end releasably connected by two threaded fastener means  32  to the linear midsection  28  of U-shaped component  22 . Mounting plate  30  has a countersunk mounting slot  38  for connecting the plate to camcorder  14 , and two tapped holes  36 , for mounting plate  30  to a tripod (not shown). The mounting plate can be reversed to locate mounting slot  38  adjacent U-shaped component  22 . 
     A modified V-shaped bracket  40  has a lower leg  42 , which also terminates in the same plane as the lower edges of legs  24  and  26  to form a tripod frame useful for supporting the camcorder on a flat, horizontal surface. Bracket  40  has a horizontal variable extension  44  attached by two fastener means  46  (only one shown) to the rear end of mounting plate  30 . 
     Mounting plate  30  has a length sufficient that the camcorder can be mounted on a rubber insulation pad  48  in a position to permit access to camcorder controls and camcorder monitor  50  to be opened without interference. The mounting plate normally remains fastened to the camcorder. V-shaped bracket  40 , U-shaped component  22 , bracket  61  and L-shaped extension  76  are added as necessary. 
     A rubber insulation pad  52  is mounted on top of bracket midsection  28 . Similarly, a rubber insulation pad  54  is mounted between extension  44  and the rear end of mounting plate  30 . 
     Legs  24 ,  26  and  42  are each covered with a resilient gripping material  56 ,  58 , and  60 , respectively, to provide handgrips for the user to readily grasp the bracket, and to cushion leg  42  when braced against the user&#39;s body. The handgrips may be made of wood or plastic. 
     Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, U-shaped bracket  61  has a linear vertical midsection  62 , an upper horizontal leg  64  and a lower horizontal leg  66 . Lower leg  66  is shorter than upper leg  64  and is parallel to upper leg  64 . Both legs  64  and  66  are perpendicular to midsection  62 . Midsection  62  has a sufficient height to support accessories above the camcorder while permitting it to have a clear line of sight, while protecting the camera. 
     An additional fastener member  68  attaches and strengthens lower leg  66  parallel to bracket midsection  28 . Fastener member  68  is used for pre-connecting U-shaped component  22  and U-shaped bracket  61  for easier mounting of component  22  to mounting plate  30 . Fastener  68  also increases the strength of component  22  and bracket  61  by binding them together, thereby shortening the leverage joint where they are attached to mounting plate  30 . 
     Lower horizontal leg  66  has a sufficient length to releasably connect the extreme end of the lower leg to mounting plate  30  while supporting midsection  62  as a linear extension of leg  26 . 
     Bracket  61  can be easily reversed to dispose midsection  62  above and colinear extension with leg  24 . 
     In some cases a third, L-shaped extension  76  may be mounted on bracket midsection  62 . Extension  76  has a vertical leg  78  supported as a linear extension of midsection  62  by releasable fastener  80 . A horizontal leg  82  is supported parallel to both leg  64  and bracket midsection  28 . Accessory shoe  84  can be mounted on leg  82  for supporting a camera light, or the camera light can be mounted directly on a 25″ hole. 
     Lower U-shaped component  22 , upper U-shaped bracket  61 , camcorder mounting plate  30 , bracket  40 , and bracket  61  and extension  76  are all made of aluminum, preferably about  1 . 5  inches wide, useful for attaching a strip of Velcro, which may be clipped on, or fastened directly to the various accessories. 
     Referring to FIG. 1, bracket  10  with the camcorder and accessories can be held by two hands grasping the camcorder while leg  42  is braced against the user&#39;s chest. As shown in FIG. 1, bracket  10  can also be held by grasping horizontal leg  82 . Bracket  10  can be used for mounting a selected number of accessories in their usual functional position. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates what little room is required for storing the various components such as U-shaped bracket  61 , U-shaped component  22 , which nests within bracket  61 , and extension  76 , as well as camcorder  14  and various accessories in a case  90 . This knockdown or modular arrangement provides means for readily carrying the camcorder and its various accessories, as well as permitting bracket  10  to be assembled into a functional configuration. Extension  76  folds down on bracket  61 , nesting against leg  66  as shown in FIG.  8 . These items can be stored while connected together for quicker setup assembly. Extension  76  can be pivoted at fastener  80  to change the angle of horizontal leg  82 , to adjust the angle of accessory light  20 . 
     The camcorder bracket can be assembled in several different configurations, such as, connecting mounting plate  30  to either V-shaped bracket  40 ; as shown in FIG. 7, or with bracket  40  and U-shaped component  22  to form a self-supporting structure; or with bracket  40 , U-shaped component  22  and bracket  61 ; or with bracket  61  and extension  76 .