Abstract:
A digital camera is adapted for being mounted to a bow for archery. The camera comprises a self-contained digital unit within a housing and is protected from vibrational disturbances caused by the release of the bowstring. A viscoelastic material is used to reduce vibrations. The housing is water resistant to protect the internal circuitry of the camera from environmental elements encountered during hunting. A secure digital slot is connected to the digital camera circuitry and can accept a SD flash memory card. The camera may also be connected for transmitting images to an external device for viewing.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims priority benefit from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/599,137, filed Aug. 5, 2004, and the subject matter of that application is incorporated herein by reference. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to cameras mounted to archery bows. The thrill of the hunt, and head-to-head competition in archery contests, has motivated the archer to record his performance. The benefits of capturing the travel of the arrow, or reaction of the prey, are numerous and help the hunter/archer to enhance his skills. By watching the recorded activity, the hunter/archer can better understand the mechanics of the sport, and correct errors where present in order to become a better archer. Furthermore, it provides a source of enjoyment to relive the thrill of the hunt, or to admire the grace and beauty of arrow flight. 
   There exist a number of bow-mounted cameras that achieve varying degrees of success. In addition to single-shot cameras, there also exist multi-frame, or video, cameras that are mountable to bows. As with any hand-held camera, however, the quality of the picture obtained depends in large part on minimizing the susceptibility of the camera to extraneous motion. While it may be practically impossible to completely remove the effects of a wavering hand, it is nonetheless desirable to minimize the vibration effects of the bowstring upon release. The twang of the bowstring, besides creating a vibratory distortion to the recording process, is also a violent shaking that can cause damage to the camera itself. 
   Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a camera that can be mounted to an archery bow, where the camera is capable of withstanding and minimizing the vibration effects from the release of the bowstring. It is also desirable to provide a camera that is of simple construction and that can be easily mounted to a bow. It is further desirable that such camera be either a single shot digital camera or a digital video, or multi-frame, camera. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   There is, therefore, provided in the practice of the invention a camera that is mountable to a bow. The camera is encased within a housing, which has a vibration-dampening member to decrease the deleterious effects of vibrational disturbances caused by the release of the bowstring. The camera can be either a single shot camera, or a video camera. 
   In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the camera is a small, light weight, battery powered digital video camera that uses solid state memory as the recording media. 
   Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved bow camera which is a completely self-contained digital unit. There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, certain embodiments of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof herein may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional embodiments of the invention that will be described below and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
   In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of embodiments in addition to those described and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
   As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Though some features of the invention may be claimed in dependency, each feature has merit when used independently. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Further features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates from reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a bow camera according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the bow camera of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a view in side elevation of the bow camera of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 6  is an end view of the bow camera of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 7  is an end view of the bow camera of  FIG. 1  with the rear cover raised to show the interior of the bow camera housing. 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the vibration-dampening member of the present invention. 
       FIG. 9  is a view in side elevation of the front of the vibration-dampening member of  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 9   a  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  9 A of  FIG. 9 . 
       FIG. 10  is a view in side elevation of the rear of the vibration-dampening member of  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the mounting member of the present invention. 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the bow camera attached to a bow according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 13  is a front elevation view of the bow camera attached to a bow adapted for a right-handed archer. 
       FIG. 14  is a front elevation view of the bow camera attached to a bow adapted for a left-handed archer. 
       FIG. 15  is a front elevation view of the bow camera attached to a bow according to another embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 16  is an exploded view of the bow camera housing. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. For purposes of clarity in illustrating the characteristics of the present invention, proportional relationships of the elements have not necessarily been maintained in the Figures. Instead, the sizes of certain small components have been exaggerated for illustration. 
   An embodiment of the present inventive bow camera apparatus is illustrated in  FIG. 1  and is designated generally by the reference numeral  10 . The apparatus comprises a housing  12 , camera  14  and vibration-dampening member  16  as can best be seen in  FIGS. 5 and 16 . Housing  12  is comprised of a thermoplastic material, such as a polycarbonate/ABS alloy, or a light-weight metal alloy such as aluminum or magnesium. Housing  12  is comprised of right shell member  18  and left shell member  20  (from the perspective of one pointing the camera) which are adapted to be affixed together by screws or other appropriate fastening members. Right shell member  18  and left shell member  20  join to form an interior space  22  for receiving camera  14  and vibration-dampening member  16 . Each of right shell member  18  and left shell member  20  have front flared areas  18 ′ and  20 ′, respectively, which join together to form front compartment  24  as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The front ends of right shell member  18  and left shell member  20  define semi-circular openings  17  and  19 , respectively, which join together to form viewing opening  21 . The rear ends of right shell member  18  and left shell member  20  define openings  23  and  25 , respectively, which join together to form rear access opening  27 . A gasket  29  is placed between the adjoining edges of right shell member  18  and left shell member  20  to provide a seal to exclude moisture from the interior of housing  12 . Hinge sockets  26  and  28  are provided at the rear edges of right shell member  18  and left shell member  20 , respectively, as shown in  FIG. 16 . Rear cover member  30  is removable and permits access into housing  12  through rear opening  27 . Hinge sockets  32  and  34  are provided on rear cover member  30  and are adapted to align with hinge sockets  26  and  28  on housing  12  to receive a hinge pin (not shown), thereby permitting rear cover member  30  to swing in pivoting relationship with housing  12  for opening and closing the housing. A latch  33  is provided at an underneath side at the rear of housing  12  to retain cover member  30  in a closed position during operation. A gasket  31  is placed on the interior edges of cover member  30  to provide a seal to exclude moisture from the interior of housing  12  when cover member  30  is closed. 
   Camera  14  is contained in front compartment  24  of housing  12 . Viewing window  36  is held within semi-circular openings  17  and  19 , which protects the camera while permitting light to enter housing  12 . An O-ring  37  is placed around the perimeter of viewing window  36  to provide a seal to exclude moisture from entering front compartment  24 . Camera  14  may be a single shot analog or digital camera, or a multi-frame video camera, with a single fixed focal length lens. To provide audio-visual capability to the camera apparatus, appropriate circuitry  38  generally known to those having skill in the art is provided in housing  12  as shown in  FIG. 5 . Electronic circuit board  40  enables multiple connectivity and playback features of images and sounds recorded by the apparatus, including phone jack video/audio output, and secure digital (SD) connectivity. SD card slot  42  is connected to electronic circuit board  40  and is disposed in housing  12  such that a flash memory card (not shown) can be introduced through rear access opening  27 . A miniature three channel phone jack  44  is also connected to electronic circuit board  40  and, as shown in  FIG. 3 , access  46  is provided through housing  12  to permit connectivity through an accessory audiovisual cable (not shown). Accordingly, images from the camera may be electronically transmitted to an external display device, such as a computer monitor or a television. 
   The camera&#39;s operating parameters, such as settings, time and date, are displayed in LCD or LED format on rear cover member  30 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , which is in electronic communication with circuit board  40  through ribbon cable  48 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . LED format is preferred because of its greater tolerance for low and high temperature extremes, which are likely to be encountered during hunting. The camera is powered by batteries (not shown) carried in battery pack  49 . The camera uses two CR123 lithium primary cells, and a separate “coin” type rechargeable lithium battery to maintain the date, time and other settings. The camera batteries are inserted into battery pack  49  through rear access opening  27 . Similarly, a flash memory card is inserted in SD card slot  42  through rear access opening  27  by opening rear cover member  30 . 
   As can be appreciated, a microprocessor controls the operation of the digital camera. The microprocessor operates in accordance with a main program stored in the microprocessor&#39;s program memory or in a separate memory chip. The microprocessor is programmed to respond to push buttons arranged on the back of cover member  30 . In order to operate the device, a user may press the various push buttons in various predetermined sequences. Thus, pressing a first button may start the recording of a sequence or an event. Other push buttons may be used to stop recording, to start playback, or to advance a video file forward or backward. The microprocessor also may be initiated in playback mode by coupling a connector to output jack  44 . Once initiated in this manner, the microprocessor may present various menus on an external video or digital display for the user to select from and may use the push buttons to scroll through and select different menu options. When directed by the appropriate menu selection, the device will stream video images from the memory to the output jack and from there to the device in communication with the output jack, such as a television monitor for viewing or a computer for viewing or storage. Other options may allow the memory to be rewritten and other video images stored therein or may allow certain settings for functions to be initiated or altered. 
   Camera  14  is disposed in vibration-dampening member  16  to reduce the disturbance caused by the high-frequency vibrations of the bow string upon release. Vibration-dampening member  16  is comprised of a viscoelastic material such as SORBOTHANE® manufactured by Sorbothane, Inc., or NAVCOM® manufactured by Sims Vibration Laboratories. Vibration-dampening member  16  separates camera  14  from direct contact with any mechanical elements that can transmit vibration to the camera, thereby providing shock and vibration isolation in protecting the camera during the release of the bowstring. For example, if bow camera apparatus  10  receives a shock impulse of 25 g for 1 millisecond (rise and fall time of impulse being greater than 50 g per millisecond), the impulse to camera  14  is reduced by vibration-dampening member  16  to a magnitude of less than 5 g with a rise and fall time of less than 2 g per milliseconds, and subsequent oscillations are reduced to less than 1 g at a period of greater than 5 milliseconds. For maximum effectiveness, vibration-dampening member  16  should not have any freedom of movement within housing  12 . As can be seen in  FIG. 5 , the edges of vibration-dampening member  16  engage the interior walls of housing  12 , with limited offset portions  47  and  49  corresponding to the passage of screw channels  50  and  52 . As shown in  FIG. 9A , an interior portion of vibration-dampening member  16  is configured to receive camera  14  in tight tolerance, with the lens portion  54  protruding through the front end as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9  and the circuit board  56  (for a digital camera) positioned at the rear as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
   Bow camera apparatus  10  is mounted to a bow  58  through attachment bracket member  60  as shown in  FIG. 12 . An embodiment of attachment bracket member  60  comprises an L-shaped bracket having a camera housing engaging portion  62  and a bow engaging portion  64  as shown in  FIG. 11 . Both planar surfaces of housing engaging portion  62  are provided with hook-and-loop fastening material patches  66  and  67 . Housing  12  is provided with a corresponding hook-and-loop fastening material patch  68  on its exterior surface, as shown in  FIG. 2 , which is adapted to connect to attachment bracket member  60  by engaging patch  66  as shown in  FIG. 12 . For additional stability, strap  70  may be used to more securely bind housing  12  to bracket member  60 . The underside  72  of strap  70  is provided with mating hook-and-loop material for corresponding engagement with fastening patch  67  for securing a first end of strap  70  to the top surface of housing engaging portion  62  of the bracket. Strap  70  encircles housing  12  and circles back on itself as shown in  FIG. 12 . A mating hook-and-loop material patch  74  is provided on the top side of strap  70  at its first end for corresponding securing engagement with the strap underside  72 . Bow engaging portion  64  has at least one hole  76 , and preferably a series of such holes, which enable the bracket to be secured to the stabilizer hole on the bow using fastener  78 . The distance at which the camera apparatus is held from the bow can be adjusted by using different holes  76  to mount the bracket to the bow. For example, to extend the distance of the mounted camera from the bow, the hole closest to the end of bow engaging portion  64  of the bracket would be used. The camera apparatus can be adapted for both right- and left-handed archers, as shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , by simply moving hook and loop fastening material patch  68  to the appropriate side of camera housing  12 . For a right-handed archer, the position of patch  68  would be that shown in  FIG. 2 , while patch  68  would be on the opposite side of housing  12  for a left-handed archer. 
   Some archers tilt the bow at an angle from the vertical plane when shooting, which can cause the mounted camera to produce recorded images which are likewise tilted. To avoid that problem the attachment bracket member  60  may be rotated about the axis of its connection to bow  58  as shown in  FIG. 15  to maintain the camera apparatus at a level position so that the recorded images avoid the tilting effect. This is best accomplished through trial and error, and may require the help of another person to set the position of the camera apparatus to level as the archer draws the bow according to his personal style. 
   Accordingly, the invention as described herein provides a self-contained digital unit providing each of single-shot, still photography, digital video and audio-visual recording and playback capability, which is mountable to a bow. The digital unit also provides a self-contained vibration-dampening element which adapts the camera for rugged operation under all kinds of adverse environmental conditions encountered during hunting. Further still, the unit is of simple construction making it easy to use in recording images and playing them back. 
   From the above description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art will perceive improvements, changes and modifications. Such improvements, changes and modifications within the skill of the art are intended to be covered by the appended claims. 
   The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification, and thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.