Abstract:
A holding assembly for a camera, such as a smartphone, which may be hung from a wide variety of surfaces to position the camera for taking pictures that include the camera&#39;s user. The length of a rod at which the end of the camera may be attached is adjustable to set the camera at the appropriate height. The adjustable rod has a handle at one end and may have a C-shaped hook adjacent to the handle. At the other end of the assembly is a mount for the camera. Alternatively, the holding assembly may fold open to attach the camera to one section and the support surface to another section. The holding assembly may be attached to the support surface on an upper section by a sticky gel that doesn&#39;t damage a surface and the camera may be attached to the lower section with magnets or gel.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 14/588,218 filed on Dec. 31, 2014. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a holding assembly for hanging a camera on a support surface. The camera may be hung on a wide variety of surfaces and the holding assembly for the camera is easily transportable. A hook, tether or adhesive may be used as a means to temporarily mount the device on a vertical support. The device is ideal for use with smartphones and digital cameras. The design allows for easy attachment without damaging the surface on which the device is mounted. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The increase in popularity of digital cameras, particularly those incorporated into mobile phones, has given rise to a number of devices that allow a user to support the camera while also being included in a picture. Camera is defined herein as any device for taking pictures or video, such as a smartphone, digital camera and the like. 
     Examples of this type of hand held camera support can be seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,684,694 and 8,757,901 and U.S. patent application publication number 2008/0117328. These hand held supporting devices work well for certain types of photographs, taken under particular conditions. Such devices, however, have limitations. For example, a user may wish to take a photograph from a greater distance than is practical for a hand held device. Further, a hand held device, particular when extended to greater lengths, is prone to shaking while a user is taking a picture, leading to blurring of the photograph. Further, the arm and stick are usually seen in the captured image, particularly in shots where the rod is fully extended. 
     A traditional device designed to overcome the limitations of hand held camera supports is the tripod. Tripods allow for stationary and stable picture taking at greater distances; however, they are generally bulky and inconvenient to carry. Further, a tripod often requires a stable or flat surface for support, which may not be available in certain locations. Additionally, a tripod takes time to set up and decreases the spontaneity which a photographer may wish to capture. 
     To overcome the limitations of a tripod, supports for mounting a camera on a stationary object such as a tree or post have been developed. Examples of such devices can be seen in U.S. patent application publication numbers 2009/0010637 and 2011/0116782. Most hangers currently in the marketplace have a channel through which an elongated fastener, such as a nail or pin, is inserted prior to the pin being driven into the support surface. These types of stationary support devices utilize stationary objects in the environment for supports, such as a trees and posts, to which the device is fastened. 
     The ‘637 application discloses an elongated piece to which a camera is attached. The elongated piece is mounted to a generally wooden or penetrable surface, by using penetrating members similar to pins, nails or staples. The limitations of the ‘637 device include potential damage to surfaces to which the device is mounted and the difficulty of forcing the penetrating member into the support surface. 
     The ‘782 application similarly discloses a device for attachment to a tree or a wooden, penetrable surface. The ‘782 device utilizes a screw or pin to penetrate the surface and support an elongate boom, to which a camera is attached at the end. Much the like the ‘637 device, the limitations of the ‘782 device include potential damage to a surface to which the device is mounted and the difficulty of inserting the pin into the surface. Additionally, the complexity of the ‘782 device requires a set-up time that could reduce the spontaneity of a picture. Further, devices like those described in the ‘637 and ‘782 applications are difficult to reposition if the photograph does not come out as planned. 
     Another solution known in the art designed to overcome the limitations of a tripod include attaching a double sided adhesive or hook and loop fastener strip directly to the camera. Once applied to the camera, the adhesive strip allows the camera to be attached to a vertical surface, or in the case of a hook and loop device, to the complementary hook and loop attachment strip on the vertical support surface. Attaching an adhesive strip directly to the camera, however, may leave damaging residue on the camera, even when the strip is designed to be removable.
         a. Further, a camera is not flexible, so attaching a strip directly to the camera inhibits the ability of the user to mount the device on an irregular support surface. While an adhesive strip attached directly to the camera overcomes the problem of tripod inconvenience, it is clear that this approach has a number of limitations preventing it from being an effective solution to the problem that the present disclosure overcomes. For existing camera supports, use of an adhesive strip, nano suction or hook and loop fastener, does not allow the camera lens to be variably angled. A further problem with existing camera supports that use nano suction is that smartphone cases that have a nano suction back require the user to acquire a new case.       

     SUMMARY 
     In light of the problems associated with the known camera mounting devices, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a camera support that is capable of being mounted on a wide variety of surfaces. Further, the device of the present disclosure will not damage the mounting surface, and is lightweight and compact in size. The length of the device may be altered to suit the needs of the user and can be easily adjusted for positioning at eye level. 
     In one embodiment, one end the device is provided with removable ball-joint/camera mount assembly. This ball-joint mount assembly may receive a smartphone or another type of camera. The other end of the support is provided with a hanger, or adapter, which can be separated from the device when necessary. 
     The hanger may be in the form of a hook or adhesive. The hook may be a flat hook formed from sheet metal or the like. The hanger may be located adjacent a handle or grip, or, alternatively, may be located adjacent to a ball/joint assembly mounted at one end of the rigid support. Alternatively the hanger may be located adjacent to a ball-joint assembly mounted directly to a non-extendable rigid support. 
     A photographer could be at a party in a hotel room, in a backyard, at a tailgate party or the like and seek to be included in a selfie, a group photograph or video and also wants more background than a handheld camera would provide. This problem could be overcome by the use of a tripod, but the photographer may not have a tripod to mount the picture taking device, or a convenient surface on which to mount the tripod may not be available. In addition, a photographer may not have the time to set-up a tripod mounted device. 
     The solution to this problem is achieved by the present disclosure, which may include as its principal components a rigid support having variable lengths; the support having a hook at one end, and a ball-joint assembly mounted on the other end to which a camera may be affixed. 
     Alternatively the present invention may include a rigid support which may have different lengths, the support having a ball joint at one end which may support a picture taking device and a further ball-joint assembly at the other end to which a suspension structure may be secured. 
     In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the holding assembly has two sections that fold together. One section has an attachment surface for affixing the device to a support and the other section has an attachment surface for affixing the device to a camera. Each surface, or only one surface, may have a reusable and washable adhesive section, which leaves no residue on the support or camera with which it comes into contact. In addition, the camera attachment section is attached to a rigid serrated grip that contacts the support and provides additional stability to the holding assembly. Alternatively, the camera attachment section may have magnets behind the camera attachment surface to hold the camera in place. 
     For existing camera supports, use of an adhesive strip, nano suction or hook and loop fastener, does not allow the camera lens to be variably angled. The device of the present disclosure can be adjusted to hold its position at various angles when the joint or hinge is set with sufficient resistance. A further disadvantage of existing gel and hook and loop fasteners is that they may pick up dirt or lint. Some existing smartphone cases have a nano suction backing; however, this requires the user to acquire a new case. 
     For the present disclosure, when the magnet is replaced by sticky gel, the user can select either the front or rear facing lens of the smartphone. This is not practical or possible with other approaches. One embodiment of the present disclosure has two gel surfaces. When the flip case is opened, one gel surface attaches to a surface such as a tree and the other gel surface (replacing the magnet) holds the smartphone. This allows for both rear and front facing photography. The magnet apparatus can only be used effectively for front facing images as a steel plate must be attached to the back of the phone or between the smartphone and the case. However, the sticky gel can attach to the back of the phone, back of the cover, or front of the phone. 
     The camera shutter in the present disclosure may be triggered by a timer, remote control, a voice command, or it can be set to operate in a continuous mode. In addition, new cameras and smartphones may automatically sense the orientation and produce a right side up image for the person to use the screen display for centering. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing the holding assembly of this disclosure when hooked to a shelf, the holding assembly including a rigid rod shown in a refracted position; the holding assembly carrying a camera secured to a ball-joint assembly and also carrying at the other end a suspension structure in the form of a hook. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view showing the holding assembly hung from the top surface of a brick in a brick wall; the holding assembly being in a substantially retracted position and carrying a smartphone. In this view the ball-joint assembly is secured adjacent the handle, and the suspension structure being carried by a further ball-joint assembly adjacent the other end. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of a portion of the holding assembly shown in  FIG. 1  showing the hook. 
         FIG. 4  is a front view showing the holding assembly in an extended position, the holding assembly being hooked to the top of picture frame and being partially extended to position the carried smartphone near eye level. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing the holding assembly hooked to a rain gutter and being extended to such a length that the picture taking device is at about eye level. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing the holding assembly attached to a tree branch; the holding assembly including an adjustable telescopic rod. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view showing a variation of the suspension structure where hinges are provided to permit the suspension structure to be folded. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view showing the suspension structure in a fully folded condition. 
         FIG. 9  is a front view showing the various parts of the holding assembly without the rigid rod-like support and the upper ball-joint assembly. 
         FIG. 10  is a front view of one embodiment of holding assembly having two sections that fold into an open position. 
         FIG. 11  is a cross sectional front view of the holding assembly in an open position. 
         FIG. 12  is front view of the holding assembly in a closed position. 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective side view of the holding assembly in a partially-open position. 
         FIG. 14  is a magnified perspective view of the hinge of the holding assembly. 
         FIG. 15  is a front view of the holding assembly with a hook. 
         FIG. 16  is a front view of a partially assembled holding assembly. 
         FIG. 17  is a front view of the holding assembly with a camera horizontally attached. 
         FIG. 18  is a front view of the holding assembly with a camera vertically attached. 
         FIG. 19  is a perspective view of the holding assembly with a telescopic rod attached to the panels by a tether. 
         FIG. 20A  shows a cross-sectional front view of one embodiment of the holding assembly illustrating the magnets in the camera attachment panel. 
         FIG. 20B  shows a cross-sectional side view of one embodiment of the holding assembly illustrating the magnets in the camera attachment panel. 
         FIG. 21  shows a perspective view of the holding assembly attached to an uneven support surface. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference now to the various figures, one embodiment of the holding assembly  10  is shown in  FIG. 1 . Here, holding assembly  10  is shown holding a camera  40 . The holding assembly  10  is preferably formed of an adjustable rigid support, which in the preferred embodiment is a telescopic rod  12 , shown in  FIG. 1 . The telescopic rod has telescopic units  12   a ,  12   b  . . .  12   n  which may be locked in various positions of length adjustment. The telescopic rod has a first end distal from a second end. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the first end has telescoping unit  12   a , which is of the largest diameter, and is connected to a handle  14 . The second end  12   n  is provided with removable ball-joint assembly  15 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  a camera  40  is secured to the ball-joint assembly  15 . To attach holding assembly  10  to a generally horizontal support surface, as shown in  FIG. 1 , a C-shaped hook  16 , which may be formed from sheet metal, plastic, or the like, may be removably attached to the handle  14  of the support  10  by a screw or attachment means known to one of skill in the art. 
     Alternatively, the C-shaped hook  16  may be secured to the ball-joint assembly  15  as shown in  FIG. 2 . The C-shaped hook  16  has a first vertically extending section  16   a  provided with a lower horizontal tab portion  16   b  which may be secured to the first end of the rigid telescoping sections which first end will become the upper end when the support is placed in its normal operating position. A ball-joint B may be used to attach camera mount to telescopic rod  12 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the C-shaped hook  16  is also provided with an upper transverse section  16   c , and a downwardly extending section  16   d  secured to the upper transverse section and spaced away from the and generally parallel to the vertically extending section  16   a . The downwardly extending section  16   d  is provided with an elongated lower contact surface  16   e  which is angled toward the support when in the normal operating position as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     Elongated lower contact surface  16   e  may be placed on virtually any horizontal structure to hold the support of the device of the present disclosure. The tail of the hook in elongated lower contact surface  16   e  is very important; where narrower shapes are more effective, as elongated lower contact surface  16   e  has to grip mortar on brick walls and behind narrow spaces, and thus lower contact surface  16   e  may have a chisel shape. 
     In the embodiment show in  FIG. 2  the handle  14  is used to grip the holding assembly, pushing the apparatus skyward and unhooking it from the overhead support surface. In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the camera  40  or the ball-joint assembly  15  is grasped by the user to push the holding assembly  10  upwardly to release the C-shaped hook  16  from the surface to which it is engaged. 
       FIG. 1  shows the holding assembly  10  having a camera  40  secured to a ball-joint assembly  15  which in turn is secured to one end of telescopic rod  12 . The other end of the support may carry a C-shaped hook  16 , which in turn may engage various surfaces, such as the top surface of a board as shown in  FIG. 1 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , telescopic rod  12  is formed of telescoping segments  12   a ,  12   b  . . .  12   n  which may be locked in various length positions. The telescopic rod  12  has first and second ends, each of which is preferably provided with screw threaded apertures which may receive various fasteners, such as a stud carried by the ball-joint assembly  15 . 
     The ball-joint assembly  15  may be of differing designs, particularly one adapted to receive camera  40  as shown in  FIG. 1 , or alternatively smartphones as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . Each ball-joint assembly  15  includes a first portion which is secured to an end of the rigid support as for example via a stud which is received in a threaded aperture at the end of the rigid support. The ball-joint assembly is also provided with a second portion which may be locked in various positions of adjustment via knob  22 . The second portion is provided with a mirror  20  so the user can see what the camera or smartphone will capture as an image. 
       FIG. 2  shows the manner in which the support for a picture taking device can be mounted on a relatively flat surface. In this view, elongated lower contact surface  16   e  engages to top surface of a brick in a brick wall. While not shown, elongated lower contact surface  16   e  may engage a variety of other surfaces, such as tree bark, wall and car moldings, etc. 
       FIG. 4  shows the C-shaped hook  16  engaging the top of a picture frame “P” which may above a mantle “M” over a fireplace “F”. In  FIG. 5 , C-shaped hook  16  is shown engaging a gutter “G” below a roof “R”. 
       FIG. 6  shows a holding assembly where the telescopic rod  12  with telescopic units  12   a ,  12   b  . . .  12   n  has latches “L” which are used to secure the telescopic units  12   a ,  12   b  . . .  12   n  from sliding. This variation is desired when using a heavy picture taking device such as a DSLR. 
     One embodiment of C-shaped hook  16 , as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , will have hinges to allow the hook to fold for transport. Thus there will be a first hinge  32  between sections  16   a  and  16   c , and a second hinge  34  between sections  16   c  and  16   d . To fold the C-shaped hook  16  for transport, section  16   a  will initially be folded onto section  16   c , and then section  16   d  will be folded under section  16   c  as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     The holding assembly  10  can further be used to provide near instantaneous mounting, without damage to any surface, of a camera  40  for surveillance and/or monitoring of an area or for personal viewing of a video, such as one might do on a train, by mounting the apparatus on the back of the seat in front of the person using it. This feature is shown in  FIG. 9  which, to a certain extent, corresponds to  FIG. 2 , except that, in  FIG. 9 , there is no requirement for the rigid support to have and adjustable length, nor is there a requirement for the upper ball-joint assembly  15 . 
       FIG. 10  shows an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the holding assembly  100  has two sections, a camera attachment section  102  and a support attachment section  104 . From the view in  FIG. 10 , camera attachment surface  106  is visible, whereas the support attachment surface  142  (shown in  FIG. 14 ) is facing away from the viewer in  FIG. 10 . The support attachment surface  142  is on the opposite side of holding assembly  100  when in the open position, and can be seen in  FIG. 14 , where the two panels are separated along hinge  140 . The hinge  140  may allow the two sections to rotate away from each other beyond  180  degrees to allow for attachment to a wide variety of surfaces, while having the camera remain vertically positioned. 
       FIG. 11  shows a post for screw holes  112  and rigid serrated grip  114 . Rigid serrated grip  114  provides a significant advantage, in terms of holding power and stability, when combined with the adhesive means of attachment on the support attachment surface  142 . Rigid serrated grip  114 , in the preferred embodiment, extends below the camera attachment section  104  and curves toward a support on the support side of camera attachment section  104 , extending beyond the vertical plane of the support side of camera attachment section  104  and gripping the support with teeth  116 , shown in  FIG. 12 , at its lower end. 
     The teeth  116  of rigid serrated grip  114  contact the support and may form an angle of approximately 90 degrees with the support, as illustrated in  FIG. 20 b   , although this angle may vary in some embodiments. The angle formed between the teeth  116  and the region of the support directly above the teeth  116  will generally be between approximately 10 and 90 degrees, such that the teeth  116  may grip the support to provide additional holding power to holding assembly  100 . 
       FIG. 12  shows a front view of holding assembly  100  when in the closed position. A tab  122  is included having an aperture  124  to accept additional means attaching holding assembly  100  to a support, such as tether  110 . Teeth  116  are shown attached to the lower portion of camera attachment section  104  for gripping a support. 
       FIG. 13  shows a convex mirror  130 . The mirror  130  may be of various shapes and sizes.  FIG. 14  shows a hinge  140  having a hinge rod, which in alternative embodiments may be a ball-joint type hinge, for opening the holding assembly  100 . Support attachment surface  142  is shown. The support attachment surface  142  may be an adhesive in the preferred embodiment. The adhesive is preferably washable and will not leave a significant residue on the support or camera. The adhesive may be GK-22, produced by Northstar Polymers. 
       FIG. 15  illustrates a J-hook  150  connected to holding assembly  100  through aperture  124 .  FIG. 16  shows cover plate  162 .  FIG. 17  shows convex mirror  130  and the J-hook  150  supporting holding assembly  100  through attachment to a tree branch. Horizontal camera  170 , which may be a smartphone, is attached to the camera attachment surface  106 .  FIG. 18  shows vertical camera  180  and J-hook  150 .  FIG. 19  shows a holding assembly  110  combined with telescopic rod  12  attached to a flat support. 
       FIG. 20 a    shows an embodiment of the present disclosure having a plurality of magnets  200  in the camera attachment section  104 . The magnets  200  allow attachment of a camera  40 , which may be a smartphone, to the camera attachment surface  106  without the use of adhesives or other means of attachment. Alternatively adhesives and other means of attachment may be used in combination with magnets  200 .  FIG. 20 b    illustrates a side cross-sectional view of holding assembly  100  showing magnets  200  along with cover plate  204 .  FIG. 20 b    provides a side view of rigid serrated grip  114 , which adds stability to holding assembly  10  when in use. Additionally, tab  122  can be seen in  FIG. 20 b   .  FIG. 21  shows holding assembly  100  attached to an uneven surface, such as a mountainside, for support. Vertical camera  180  is attached to the holding assembly  100 . 
     While preferred embodiments of this disclosure has been described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that applicant does not intend to be limited to the particular details described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but intends to be limited only to the scope of the disclosure as defined by the following claims. In this regard, the term “configured” as used in the claims is intended to include not only the designs illustrated in the drawings of this application and the equivalent designs discussed in the text, but it is also intended to cover other equivalents now known to those skilled in the art, or those equivalents which may become known to those skilled in the art in the future.