Abstract:
A video camera light shield for use with a video camera which has an adjustable hood component covering the LCD monitor and lens of a video camera, wherein the hood component is a two-section hood component adjustably slidable front to rear, with a two-piece front plate attached to the two-piece hood component which is adjustably side to side to adjust the light shield to more effectively fit to a variety of different video camera styles and sizes for best performance results.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending application, application Ser. No. 11/459,148, filed on Jul. 21, 2006. This pending application is hereby incorporated by reference into this application. 

   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not applicable. 
   BACKGROUND 
   This device of the present disclosure relates to an improvement in video cameras and video camera recording, and more particularly to preventing or greatly reducing excess sunlight or other external or internal light sources, natural or artificial, from detracting from the recording process. 
   Over the course of years, video cameras have undergone numerous modifications and improvements as to ease of use, quality of recording, and duration of recording capabilities. As to quality, many video cameras have the ability to self-adjust for light exposure thereby making great strides to ensure top quality results for recordings. The addition of LCD viewing or monitors has further simplified the recording process and allows the user to see, in real time and actual quality, to the extent possible, what is being recorded. 
   The LCD monitors on video cameras have undergone many modifications and enhancements, one of which is having the LCD monitor attached nearly flush to the side of the video camera in such a fashion as to permit the LCD monitor to open from the side of the video camera and swing outward like a door. This provides for a greater ability for the user to view the subject matter of what the user is recording. Once swung open, the LCD monitors may also be rotated and angled as desired for further ease of viewing while recording. 
   The only drawback to the extended swinging and rotating of the LCD monitor is, that if too much external lighting is exposed to the LCD monitor, the picture on the LCD monitor is difficult to see by the user. The more excess lighting, such as sunlight for example, the greater the difficulty and, consequently, the less of the real-time picture being seen by the user. 
   No prior art device for use with video cameras, as referenced above, allows the user to control, or virtually eliminate, all the sunlight and other external artificial lighting from affecting, however minimally, the ability to see the LCD monitor as clearly as the subject matter is being recorded. The device of the present disclosure, the improved video camera light shield, permits the user to adjust the video camera light shield from front to rear and, for the lens, a front adjustable plate which adjusts side to side. This adjustability accommodates all video camera sizes and, by such dual adjustments, virtually fully shield the LCD monitor and the lens of the video camera from sunlight and all other unwanted excess external lighting. 
   By careful adjustments to the video camera light shield of the present disclosure, a user can allow only as much, if any, sunlight, or other external artificial light for that matter, to engage the LCD monitor and otherwise distort the user&#39;s real time viewing capability. 
   With the light shield of the present disclosure a user can control sun external lighting and thereby create a unique, professional, and artful recording which the user controls. 
   Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the light shield of the present disclosure are: 
   a. To virtually completely shield the LCD monitor of a video camera in use from unwanted external and internal lighting, be it sunlight or artificial lighting. 
   b. To limit the amount of unwanted light from reaching the lens, to control such light, and the thereby produce a better recorded video clip. 
   c. To permit a user to adjust the amount of external lighting the LCD monitor and the lens of a video camera receives from virtually no amount to full exposure or any amount in between as desired by the user. 
   d. To provide for a light shielding device capable of mounting on virtually any type and model of video camera, single lens reflex camera, or other compact cameras having LCD monitors. 
   e. To create a light shielding device which is relatively inexpensive to purchase and is extremely easy to use. 
   f. To provide maximum comfort and support for a user&#39;s palm by means of the side plate when the user is taking pictures/video without a tripod support or is taking pictures/video while holding the camera with one hand. 
   g. To providing an adjustable and removable shoulder support to better accommodate different user&#39;s preferences. 
   The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent objects of the light shield of the present disclosure. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the light shield of the present disclosure. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying the disclosed light shield of the present disclosure in a different manner or by modifying the light shield of the present disclosure within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a fuller understanding of the monitor shield of the present disclosure may be had by referring to the summary of the light shield of the present disclosure and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment in addition to the scope of the light shield of the present disclosure defined by the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
   SUMMARY 
   The above-noted problems, among others, are overcome by the light shield of the present disclosure. Briefly stated, the light shield of the present disclosure contemplates a video camera light shield having a first hood component with a first upper member and a first side member attached to the first upper member; and a second hood component with a second upper member and a second side member attached to the second upper member wherein the second hood component is slidingly attached to the first hood component for adjustable fit of the light shield onto a variety of different video camera styles and sizes. A first front plate is attached to the first side member and a second front plate is slidingly and adjustably attached to the first front plate to adjust the light shield to more effectively fit to a variety of different video camera styles and sizes for best performance results. 
   The foregoing has outlined the more pertinent and important features of the light shield of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description that follows may be better understood so the present contributions to the art may be more fully appreciated. Additional features of the light shield of the present disclosure will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the disclosed specific embodiment may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures and methods for carrying out the same purposes of the light shield of the present disclosure. It also should be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions and methods do not depart from the spirit and scope of the light shield of the present disclosure as set forth in the appended claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the light shield of the present disclosure, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the upper member of the hood components of the video camera light shield. 
       FIG. 2  is a detailed exploded perspective view of the hood components of the video camera light shield. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view from the back side of the upper components of the video camera light shield as taken on line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4A  is a front elevation view of the hood components of the video camera light shield in a closed mode as taken on line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4B  is a front elevation view of the hood components of the video camera light shield in an open mode as taken on line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 5A  is a rear elevation view of the hood components of the video camera light shield, as taken on line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1 , in a closed mode. 
       FIG. 5B  is a rear elevation view of the hood components of the video camera light shield, as taken on line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1 , in an open mode. 
       FIG. 6  is a side elevation view of the hood components of the video camera light shield as taken on line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 7  is a detailed exploded perspective view of the video camera light shield with a second embodiment of the base component. 
       FIG. 8  is a detailed view of the front end of the base component of the video camera light shield as taken on line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 9  is a detailed view of the front end of the base component of the video camera light shield as taken on line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 10  is a detailed view of the second embodiment of the base component with external rods attached from above. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring now to the drawings in detail and in particular to  FIG. 1 , reference character  10  generally designates a video camera light shield constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 1  shows a first hood component comprised of a first upper member  11  and a first side member  13  attached along one side of the top edge of the first upper member  11 . 
   It also has a second hood component comprised of a second upper member  21  and a second side member  23  attached along one side of the top edge of the second upper member  21 . The two hood components  11 ,  13  and  21 ,  23  are slidingly adjustable in relation to one another in a forward to back translating movement as reflected by arrows A-B. This is useful for larger video cameras to increase the length of the light shield  10  as necessary to shield the LCD monitor at the rear of the video camera. 
   To accommodate such forward-to-rearward adjustability, at least two guide slots  25  are either on the second upper member  21  and the second side member  23  or may be on the first upper member  11  and the first side member  21  and in either case, held thereat by a suitable conventional means, including, but not limited to, rods, pins, rivets, threaded nut-and-bolt combinations, and the like. Being slidingly held together as such permits front to back adjustment as needed and secured in place if necessary. 
   Along the bottom edge of the first and second side member  13 ,  23  is a removable adjustable flexible extension  22 . Along the top of the first and second upper member  11 ,  21  attached along the side opposite of the first and second side member  13 ,  23  and running approximately from front to rear thereat, is a removable adjustable flexible extension  12 . 
   Each of the removable adjustable extensions  12 ,  22  are attached to their respective members [first and second upper members  11 ,  21  and first and second side members  13 ,  23 ] by a suitable fastening component such as, but not limited to, cooperating hook-and-loop fasteners  38 ,  39  [as illustrated in  FIG. 3 ] commonly referred to by the trademark Velcro®. 
   These extensions  12 ,  22  and cooperating fasteners  38 ,  39  not only provide for minute light-shielding adjustments but also function to hold the adjusted position of the first hood component  11 ,  21  to the second hood component  13 ,  23 . 
   It must be understood that the hook side of the hook-and-loop may be either on the respective extension  12 ,  22  with the loop side on the respective first and second upper members  11 ,  21  or first and second side members  13 ,  23  or such may be reversed with the loop on the respective extension  12 ,  22  and the hook on the respective member  11 ,  21 ,  13 ,  23 . What is important is that the fasteners  38 ,  39  cooperate with the extensions  12 ,  22  and the respective member  11 ,  21 ,  13 ,  23 . 
   The purpose of the extensions  12 ,  22 , in addition to providing securing support to the adjustments made with respect to the first and second hood components,  11 ,  21 ,  13 ,  23 , is to permit the user, once the video camera is attached to the light shield  10 , to adjust the extensions accordingly, in-out, back-forth, side-to-side, angled, and the like such that the respective extensions  12 ,  22  maintain contact with the light shield and also are brought into direct contact with the video camera. This makes the light shield extremely flexible and able to accommodate virtually all makes, models, and sizes of video camera while still maximizing its light-shielding capabilities. 
   With a video camera which is tall, the side extension  22  is adjusted downward so that virtually no light gaps, if any, exist between the side extension  22  and the base member  41 . With a video which is wide, the top extension  12  is adjusted outward from the first and second upper members  11 ,  13  and toward the video camera so that virtually no light gaps, if any, exist between the top extension  12  and the video camera. 
   As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 , and described in my co-pending application, the embodiment of the base member  41  of the light shield  10  has a bottom extension  43  along the side below the top extension  12  of the first and second upper members  11 ,  13 . This bottom extension is attached to the base member  41  by hinge components  45 . Once a video camera is attached to the light shield  10 , the hinged bottom extension  43  may be swung upward toward the video camera to come into contact with the video camera, be held thereat by the user&#39;s hand, and to thereby prevent unwanted external lighting from passing therethrough which would adversely affect the LCD monitor viewing capabilities. 
   An upstanding rod  44  on the base member  41  serves to adjustably connect the two hood components  11 ,  13 ,  21 ,  23  to the base member  41 . As illustrated in my co-pending application, the figures, the upstanding rod  44  may be round, oval, squared, or multi-sided. A guide assembly  30  adjustably fits into slide assembly  31  which is adapted to permit the guide assembly to translate side to side. An aperture  34  on the slide assembly  31  is similarly shaped as the rod circumference or outer perimeter fits slidingly onto the upstanding rod  44 . As so fitted, the slide assembly  31  may be moved up and down, in the directions of arrows C, D, on upstanding rod  44  as necessary. 
   A locking member  32  on the slide assembly  31  is threadably connectable to the slide assembly  31  thereat by a threaded aperture in the side of the slide assembly  31 . If the locking member  32  is threaded completely into the threaded aperture of the slide assembly  31 , it would encroach therethrough and tighten onto the upstanding rod  44 . Tightening of the locking member  32  with the slide assembly  31  on the upstanding rod  44  maintains its position. This structure permits a user to move the slide assembly  31  up and down on the upstanding rod  44  to a desired height location and to lock it in place thereat. This is extremely useful to accommodate different size video camera while still maintaining the full functionality and capability of the light shield  10 . When the locking member  32  is tightened into the slide assembly  31 , it will also hold guide assembly  30  at its place of adjustment. 
   The guide assembly  30  also has an aperture  33  on each opposite end. These apertures  33  cooperate with hood rods  33 ′ which are on the front of the first upper member  11  and extend forward thereof. This combination of apertures  33  to hood rods  33 ′ function as a stabilizer between the hood components of the light shield and the upstanding rod  44  to base member  41  and guide assembly  30  and slide assembly  31 . 
     FIGS. 4A ,  4 B,  5 A, and  5 B illustrate yet another unique feature of the light shield  10 . A first front plate  18  is attached to the first side member  13  and extends toward, but not completely to, the opposite side; i.e., the open end  29  of the hood components  11 ,  21 . A second front plate  16  is slidably connected to the first front plate  18  through guide slots  15  in such as fashion as to translate side to side in the directions of arrows E, F. Pull tab  17  more readily facilitates such translation. 
     FIG. 4A  represents a closed mode; i.e., where the second front plate  16  had been slid in the direction of arrow F toward the video camera lens. Sliding in the direction of arrow E will place the hood components into the open mode.  FIG. 4B  represents the open mode; i.e., where the second front plate  16  had been slid in the direction of arrow E. Sliding the second front plate  16  in the direction of arrow F will place the hood components in the closed mode.  FIGS. 5A and 5B  show the hood components from the rear in the closed mode and open mode, respectively. 
   Attachment of the second front plate  16  to the first front plate  18  through these guide slots  15  is by any conventional means, including, but not limited to, rods, pins, rivets, threaded nut-and-bolt combinations, and the like, and secured in place if necessary. A cushion member  28  is on the second front plate  16  extending toward the open end  29  of the hood components  11 ,  21 . 
   This combination of adjustable front plates  16 ,  18  and cushion member  28 , permits a user to adjust the front plate components  16 ,  18  as close to the camera lens as possible and rest the cushion member  28  on the lens or side of the lens to maximize desired light-inhibiting effects. 
     FIGS. 7 through 10  illustrate a second embodiment of the base component  141 . A front member  120  is slidably attached to the front of the base component  141  by telescoping rods  116  which accommodate movement in the direction of arrows G, H. The upstanding rod  44  is at one side of the front member  120  and projects upward therefrom. 
   A slot  53  on the front member  120  is adapted to receive a removable locking component  14 ,  19 ,  24 . This locking component comprises a slide plate  24  which has on it a conventional locking member  14  with receiving aperture  19 . The slide plate  24 , with locking member  14  fits into slot  53 . The receiving aperture  19 , when the locking member  14  is opened, is adapted to receive an external rod from above or from below. When the external rod is received in the aperture  19 , the locking member  14  is clamped closed in a locking mode to hold the external rod securely in place. 
   Also on the front member  120  is a non-removable locking component  114 ,  119  similarly constructed as is the above described removable locking component  14 ,  19 ,  24  but without the slide plate  24 . The non-removable locking component  114 ,  119  functions in the same manner as the above described removable lockable component  14 ,  19 ,  24 . 
     FIG. 7  illustrates a two-piece rear member  132  comprising a proximal rear member  133 , which closer to the non-movable rear  136  of the base component  141  and in between the non-movable rear  136  of the base component  141  and the distal rear member  131 , and a proximal rear member  131 . 
   The distal rear member  131  is slidably adjustable away from, and back to, the proximal rear member  133 , and the proximal rear member  133  is slidably adjustable to or from the distal rear member  131  and to or from the non-movable rear  136  of the base component  141  in the direction of arrows I, J. 
   The proximal rear member  133  and the distal rear member  131  are telescopically attached to the base component  141  by telescoping rods  126 . A conventional clamping lock  79  on either one or both of the telescoping rods  126  secures the position into which the two-piece rear member  132  has been adjusted. 
   A shoulder support  130  is removably and rotatably attached to the distal rear member  131 . In embodiments where there are no slidably rear members, the should support  130  may be removably and rotatably attached to the rear  136  of the base component  141 . The shoulder support  130  is attached by any conventional means suited for the intended purpose and such should accommodate rotation as desired in a clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation as illustrated by arrows K, L. 
   A rear locking component  134 ,  139 , similar to the locking components described above with clamp lock  139  and receiving aperture  134 , is affixed to any rearward portion of the base component  141 . As shown, the rear locking component  134 ,  139  is on the proximal rear member  133  but it may also be on the distal rear member  131  in addition to the or alone; or may be on the rear  136  of the base component  141  in addition or alone. The function of the rear locking component  134 ,  139 , as described above, is to receive an external rod and lock the external rod into place onto the base component  141 . 
   Typical external rods include, but are not limited to, rods from camera tripods, camera bi-pods, camera stabilizers, and the like.  FIG. 10  illustrates this functionality with regard to one or more external rod  144  attached and secured to the base component  141 . As so secured, with shoulder support  130  removed, and with a video camera [not shown] attached to the base component  141 , a user may capture video images from a lower angle and be accorded a great deal of stability. 
   For either base component  41 ,  141  a user would attach a conventional shoe  145  with shoe guide  148  and threaded guide  149  through guide holes  48 ,  49 , respectively, on the base component  41 ,  141 , and then insert the shoe lock screw  142  to lock the shoe  145  to the base component  41 ,  141 . The video camera then attaches to the shoe  145  by threading onto the threaded guide  149  protruding from the base component  41 ,  141 . 
   The present disclosure includes that contained in the present claims as well as that of the foregoing description. Although this light shield of the present disclosure has been described in its preferred forms with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred forms has been made only by way of example and numerous changes in the details of construction and combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the light shield of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the scope of the light shield of the present disclosure should be determined not by the embodiment[s] illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. 
   Applicant[s] have attempted to disclose all the embodiment[s] of the light shield of the present disclosure that could be reasonably foreseen. It must be understood, however, that there may be unforeseeable insubstantial modifications to light shield of the present disclosure that remain as equivalents and thereby falling within the scope of the light shield of the present disclosure.