Abstract:
A lightweight collapsible, shoulder mounted camera support assembly for carrying a camcorder or camera and holding the same steady during operation has a front and rear portion for mounting a battery to counterbalance the weight of the camera or camcorder mounted on the front portion. The front and rear portions are collapsible or detachable to aid in transporting and carrying the shoulder mounted camera support. The front and rear portions are offset in such a way as to match the centerline of the camera with the centerline of the shoulder and thus aligned with the operator&#39;s eye. The front portion has an angular extension on which the camera or camcorder is mounted and is adjustable in at least one axis relative to the horizontal established by the support assembly.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims the priority date of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/441,365, filed Jan. 21, 2003. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to a shoulder mounted support device to hold a camera or a camcorder. Specifically, the present invention relates to a lightweight, shoulder mounted device for supporting a camera or a camcorder on an operator&#39;s shoulder and body providing stability with minimal manual support and is suitable for use with film or video cameras.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0005]    One of the major challenges faced in filming moving objects or activities with varied speed, for example, while skiing, is stabilizing the camera, even though many modem video cameras have built-in electronic image stabilizing circuitry. While these circuits are helpful in reducing the minor fluctuations of camera movement they cannot distinguish between purposeful movement of the camera and accidental movement as a result of operator fatigue. Moreover the frequent use of long lenses and digital zoom capabilities of cameras requires the physical stabilization of the camera in order to minimize the camera&#39;s movement which otherwise would result in image shifts several times that of the camera movement.  
           [0006]    Various solutions are available to assist with this problem, for example, tripods, monopods, and different types of frame assemblies. Tripods can stabilize the camera movement but restrict portability. Frame assemblies for mounting cameras on the human body for stabilization are typically not designed for the size, weight and ergonomics of the small, palm-sized handheld digital cameras of today.  
           [0007]    Older video cameras by example, while larger and heavier, had the advantage of a design, which required them to be rested on the operator&#39;s shoulders. The viewfinder of these cameras was positioned outboard of the camera body and toward the operator thereby placing it in a natural position in front of the operator&#39;s eye. The overall weight of the camera was borne on the operator&#39;s shoulder with the center of gravity of the camera being placed on the point of the operators shoulder.  
           [0008]    With the advent of smaller “palm-sized” handheld camcorders, the viewfinder is typically placed on the centerline of the camcorder and all of the camcorders weight is borne on the operators&#39; arm in front of his body. During prolonged filming, the ergonomics of the camcorder design lead to operator fatigue and camera instability, thereby reducing the quality of the recorded images as the camera shakes and shudders as a result.  
           [0009]    An example of a frame assembly for supporting a camera is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,890,025 and 6,056,449 issued to Hart. The assembly is comprised of a rigid frame having a front and a rear portion with a pair of shoulder rests constructed to rest on the shoulders of the wearer. This type of device has the disadvantage of being bulky, cumbersome and heavy, defeating the ergonomics and the performance of the small handheld cameras or camcorders.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    Thus, there is a need for an improved support for a small camera or camcorder that is self-stabilizing, lightweight, portable, requires minimal support from the operator and optimizes the ergonomics and performance of small handheld cameras or camcorders. The shoulder mounted camera support assembly described herein provides a solution for that problem.  
           [0011]    It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a shoulder mounted camera support that allows the camera to be self-balanced on the operator&#39;s shoulder. It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a support device for a camera or camcorder, which is lightweight, portable, stable, easily manipulated by the operator and improves the functionality of the camera by easily adapting to other accessories and can be set up quickly.  
           [0012]    Another objective of the invention is to provide a shoulder mounted camera support with collapsible or detachable members thereby requiring minimal storage space and is easily assembled or disassembled for flexible use with a variety of cameras or camcorders.  
           [0013]    A further objective of the present invention is to provide a shoulder mounted camera support with means to attach the camera or camcorder camera mount securely yet capable to quick release for operation in a variety of filming situations and applicable to a variety of cameras.  
           [0014]    Yet another object of the invention is to provide a shoulder mounted camera support with means to mount and adjust a variety of cameras so that the viewfinder of the camera or camcorder can be aligned with the operator&#39;s eye.  
           [0015]    In accordance with the above-stated objects, the present invention provides a collapsible or detachable shoulder mounted camera support for holding a camera or a camcorder while filming or recording. The device is comprised of modular units having a front and a rear portion stabilized on the shoulder of the operator by using the battery powering the camera or camcorder as a counterweight. Any appropriate lightweight, sturdy and easily fabricated material with sufficient strength to hold a camera or a camcorder, such as plastic or metal may be used to construct the present assembly.  
           [0016]    In one embodiment of the invention, the shoulder mounted camera support is collapsible with a pair of pivot knuckles operating about a rotary axis (X and Y-axes, respectively) connecting the front and the rear portions of the shoulder mounted camera support and provide for the breakdown of the device for easy transport. This feature also allows the camera support to be collapsed and positioned on a flat surface serving as a base so that the device can be converted to a pod for supporting the camera or camcorder while filming.  
           [0017]    The front portion has a clutch-operated slideable breastplate hingedly connected to a horizontal supporting shaft, which rests on the operator&#39;s chest securing the camera support assembly to the operator&#39;s body for stability. The breastplate also serves to support the forward weight of the camera, relieving the operator&#39;s arm. The clutch on the breastplate enables the breastplate to be adjusted securely in a comfortable, non-movable position against the operator&#39;s body. An additional pivot knuckle extends from the front portion of the shoulder mounted camera support with a second horizontal supporting shaft for slideable attachment to a camera shoe and mount assembly. This second horizontal supporting shaft is oriented slightly off-center from the axis of the first horizontal shaft by a foldable knuckle aiding in the collapsibility of the device for transportation purposes. The second horizontal supporting shaft is oriented at approximately 16° from the first shaft providing for the in-line or linear alignment of the camera&#39;s viewfinder relative to the operator&#39;s eye and relative to the centerline of the operator&#39;s shoulder. The front pivot knuckle rotates about a vertical axis (Y-axis).  
           [0018]    The camera or camcorder can be affixed directly to the second horizontal shaft or mounted on a shoe and mount assembly that is slideably connected to the second, angled, horizontal shaft portion of the shoulder mounted camera support for adjustably positioning the camera or camcorder in a horizontal plane. The shoe and mount assembly can be adjusted for use with a variety of cameras or camcorders as the shoe is in mating engagement with the bottom of the camera or camcorder unit. The shoe is loaded into the mount and is retained in place by a spring biased locking means for interaction with a surface of the shoe.  
           [0019]    A channel-shaped-groove is provided on the base of the mount for engagement with a complementary perpendicular channel-shaped-groove that is fitted with a slide to be slideably connected to a mounting bracket that is disposed at the front of the shoulder mounted camera support for adjustment of the camera or camcorder&#39;s position in a horizontal plane.  
           [0020]    In the preferred embodiment, the rear portion of the shoulder mounted camera support assembly is detachably connected to a battery pack which provides power for the camera and additional power for accessories, such as a camera light or wireless microphone receivers, and provides additional counter-balancing for the camera or camcorder.  
           [0021]    The shoulder mounted camera support may be mounted to a stationary stabilizing device, such as a tripod or monopod, in lieu of the operator&#39;s shoulder and body.  
           [0022]    In one embodiment of the invention, the front portion of the shoulder mounted camera support assembly is detachable as the pivot knuckles are substituted with a releaseable connector to allow further disassembly for convenient storage and transport.  
           [0023]    In another embodiment of the invention, a detachable pistol grip is threadably attached to the bottom of the shoulder mounted camera support by appropriate securing means, for example, nuts, bolts, pins, threaded fasteners, screws or some combination thereof.  
           [0024]    The pistol grip is releasably attached to the front portion of the shoulder mounted support assembly, and can be used with a variety of camcorders or cameras yet still maintain the proper gravitational balance while supporting the camcorder. The pistol grip may house the camcorder&#39;s supplemental controls or battery pack within the housing. The pistol grip is compact and lightweight and capable of being used by ether the right or the left hand promoting maneuverability of the camcorder without creating fatigue after prolonged use.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0025]    Further objectives and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description and claims, as from the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 1 is a side view of the shoulder mounted camera support assembly according to the present invention in use by an operator;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the shoulder mounted camera support of FIG. 1;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 3 is a side view of the shoulder mounted camera support assembly in use as a pod seated on a flat surface;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the plane indicated by line  4 - 4  of FIG. 1;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 5 is an enlarged, exploded side view of the shoulder mounted camera support assembly collapsed for storage or transport;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 6 is top plan view, partly in section of the camera or camcorder mount of the shoulder mounted camera support assembly; and  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 with a shoe connected to the camera or camcorder locked to the mount.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 8 is a side view in elevation view of the pistol grip assembly attached to the shoulder mounted camera support assembly.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0034]    Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views in accordance with the invention. A camera or camcorder  11  can be mounted on a shoulder mounted camera support assembly  10  constituting the subject of the present invention.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 1 is a side view of the shoulder mounted camera support assembly  10  according to the present invention in use by an operator  12  where the shoulder mounted camera support assembly  10  is independently supported and stabilized on the operator&#39;s shoulder  14 . The shoulder mounted camera support assembly  10  comprises a front portion to which the camera or camcorder  11  is attached and a rear portion for receipt of a battery pack  15 .  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 2 is a top view and FIG. 3 an enlarged side view of the camera support assembly  10  for the camera or camcorder  11 . The front portion of the shoulder mounted camera support  10  has a hollow shaft  22  projecting horizontally and forwardly from a rear pivot knuckle  14 , through which a flexible power cable  34  (not shown) can be threaded from a power source, such as a battery pack  15 , to the camcorder or camera  11 . The power cable  34  (not shown) terminates at an electrical connector  36  of the type that is well known and used in the art for ready connections to a camera or camcorder  11 .  
         [0037]    As shown in FIG. 4, extending perpendicularly from the horizontal shaft  22  is a breastplate  20  that is rotatable about a hinge  21  intermediate its length. The upper portion  23  of the breastplate  20  is mounted on the horizontal shaft  22  of the shoulder mounted camera support assembly  10  through a bushing  24  provided with a circular aperture  27  in the bushing  24  receiving the horizontal shaft  22  there through. The bushing  24  has a cam  29  mounted on opposite sides of the bushing  24  on the opposite sides of the upper portion of the breastplate  20  such that a portion of the circumference of each cam  29  seats exactly in a arced groove formed on the bottom of shaft  22  when the upper portion  23  of breastplate  20  is perpendicular to horizontal shaft  22  as shown in FIG. 4, such that the breastplate  20  can be slideably adjusted along the shaft  22 , yet locked into a desired position when the bottom hinged portion  31  is extended by pivoting it about hinge  21  into contact with the chest of the operator  12  which cants the cams  29  into frictional clutching engagement with the groove  25  in the bottom of shaft  22 . The breastplate  20  may be partially folded, collapsing inward from its use position illustrated in FIG. 1 and slideably adjusted at varying positions on the horizontal shaft  22  when the rear potion of the shoulder mounted camera support assembly  10  is collapsed into a pod as further described in conjunction with in FIGS. 3 and 5.  
         [0038]    The clutched breastplate  20  extends downwardly approximately 6 inches from the bushing  24  and is arched at an angle in the middle of the breastplate  20  such that the breastplate  20  readily abuts with the operator&#39;s chest as shown in FIG. 1. The shape of the breastplate  20  allows it to be easily tilted to conform to the operator&#39;s desired fit. The breastplate  20  may comprise of any shape that safely and comfortably fits an operator&#39;s chest.  
         [0039]    In another embodiment of the invention, the breastplate  20  may be replaced with a pistol grip  50 . The pistol grip  50  is constructed with a detachable elongated firm handle  52  portion that is secured to the shoulder mounted camera support assembly  10  by appropriate securing means, for example, nuts, bolts, pins, threaded fasteners, screws or some combination thereof. The pistol grip  50  is attached to the bottom of the camera support assembly  10  by a threaded fastener  54  and a retractable locating pin  56  as seen in FIG. 8. This secures the pistol grip  50  into the preferred position for maneuvering and operating the shoulder mounted camera support assembly  10 .  
         [0040]    The pistol grip  50  is releasably attached to the shoulder mounted camera support assembly  10  and includes the circuitry to control one or more functions of the camera or camcorder  11 , such as power, zooming, iris and focus among others. When attached, the pistol grip  50  assists in the maneuvering and operability of the camera or camcorder  11  which position is maintained by the counterbalance of the battery pack  15  on the rear of the shoulder mounted camera support assembly  10 , positioned over the shoulder  14  and along the back of the operator  12 .  
         [0041]    The elongated firm handle  52  may be of a hollow or solid construction with a solid rectangular top portion  58  for ready annexation to the support&#39;s pivot knuckle  28 . The rear portion  51  of the elongated firm handle  52  may be angled for a comfort fit, whereas the front portion  53  of the elongated firm handle  52  may be contoured with raised finger positions  55 ,  57  and  59  for added comfort.  
         [0042]    The pistol grip  50  may also be attached directly to the bottom of the camera or camcorder  11  in such a manner as to preclude tipping or canting of the camera or camcorder  11  by balancing the camcorder or camera  11  on the pistol grip  50  by appropriate location of the pistol grip  50  relative to the weight of the camera  11 . However, the wrist and arm of the operator  12  could become subject to fatigue, if used for an extended period of time.  
         [0043]    The horizontal shaft  22  shown in FIG. 2 is also connected at the distal end to a front pivot knuckle  28  and may be secured to the front pivot knuckle  28  by welding, a threaded fastener or any other appropriate securing means. In the preferred embodiment, the horizontal shaft  22  is threadedly connected to the pivot knuckle  28 .  
         [0044]    The pivot knuckle  28 , as with the pivot knuckle  14  has two opposed parts  42 ,  44  in mating engagement with each other and are connected together by a hinge  33 . The opposed faces of the pivot knuckle  28  and  14  pivot on hinge  33 ; the only difference is that the parts  42 ,  44  of knuckle  14  pivot along the X-axis and parts  42 ,  44  pivot along a Y-axis when a pivotal latch lock  46  on rear face  44  having a hook end  47  received over a mating surface  49  on part  42  is released. This construction allows the front portion of the shoulder mounted camera support assembly  10  to swivel about an X and Y axis and collapse about the hinged knuckles  14  and  28  for ease of transportation and housing as shown in the collapsed configuration indicated in FIG. 5.  
         [0045]    Projecting from the second part  42  of pivot knuckle  28  is a horizontal supporting shaft  70  for slideably attaching a camera or camcorder shoe and mount assembly  72  illustrated in detail in FIGS. 2 and 5. The horizontal shaft  70  is offset at a nominal angle of 16° to the axis of shaft  22  to accommodate the linear alignment of the camera&#39;s or camcorder&#39;s viewfinder  18  with the operator&#39;s eye.  
         [0046]    A shoe and mount assembly  72  is configured for the shoe  74  to be in mating engagement with the bottom of the camera or camcorder  11 . As seen in FIG. 5, the shoe  74  is detachable and is dimensioned to center fit a corresponding indent  73  in the top surface  75  of the mount  76 . The shoe  74  is configured with a locating pin  78  to be placed in a an aperture (not shown) in the bottom of the camera or camcorder so as to enable a threaded connector  80  to be threadedly connected into a threaded receiving recess (not shown) in the bottom of the camera or camcorder  11 . The top surface  82  of the shoe has abrasion pads  81 ,  83  for frictional engagement with the bottom of the camera or camcorder  11 .  
         [0047]    Once assembled to the camera or camcorder  11 , the shoe  74  may be loaded into the mount  76  and is retained in position by locking means  84 . The locking means  84  includes a spring-biased pin  85  held captive within a slot  87  as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.  
         [0048]    Pushing inward on the head  89  of pin  85  against the bias of spring  95  as shown in FIG. 6 positions an undercut or thinner diameter portion  93  of the pin  85  adjacent to the projecting cam surface  82  of shoe  74  so the shoe can be positioned wholly within recess. Release of head  89  enables a thicker beveled portion  97  of the pin shaft or body to abut a portion of downwardly angled cam surface  82  to lock the shoe against removal.  
         [0049]    The base of the mount  76  is connected to a horizontal slide assembly  77  which is slideably mounted on bracket  88  by relatively slideable, perpendicularly oriented channel members  98 , 99  that are disposed on the shaft  70  of the shoulder mounted camera support assembly  10  and held in adjusted position by thumb screws  101 . The mounting bracket  88  is oriented slightly off-center to shaft  70  to perfect the alignment of the camcorder&#39;s viewfinder  88  relative to the operator&#39;s eye using the sliding adjustments in the X and Y directions in a horizontal plane.  
         [0050]    The rear portion of the shoulder mounted camera support  10  comprises of a unitary hollow shaft  18  where the power cable  34  can be directed from the battery pack  15  to the camcorder  11 . The hollow shaft  18  is secured to the rear pivot knuckle  14  by welding, a threaded fastener or any other appropriate securing means. This hollow shaft  18  in this embodiment may extend downward at an angle from the rear pivot knuckle  14  to a plate  25  for ready connection to the male plate on a battery pack  15 . The battery pack  15  serves as a counterbalance for the camera or camcorder  11  positioned on mounting bracket  88 , so the camera or camcorder is level and parallel to the ground.  
         [0051]    In the preferred embodiment, the male plate of the battery pack is received on a female plate  25  of the type that is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,810,204 to Wilson. The substantially flat male plate of the battery pack  15  has a plurality projections  103  received within slots  105  on the female plate  25  and female electrical terminals positioned within a recess for engagement with male electrical terminals on the female plate. Thus, the female and male plates of the battery pack  15  can be coupled and locked together. The assembled battery pack with plates can be attached to the rear portion of the shoulder mounted camera support assembly  10  counter-balancing the front portion of the shoulder mounted camera support assembly  10  providing independent stability without manual support.  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the shoulder mounted camera support assembly  10  in use on a flat surface, as a pod, or camera or camcorder support in lieu of a tripod. As seen in FIG. 3, the rear portion of the shoulder mounted camera support  10  is collapsed at the rear part  44  of the pivot knuckle  14  to create a pod that can be mounted and rotated on a flat surface  142  or attached to a one-legged support (not shown).  
         [0053]    The rear pivot knuckle  14  has two opposed parts  42 ,  44  in mating engagement with each other and are connected together by hinge  33 . The opposed faces of the pivot knuckle  14  when released from the latch lock  46  pivots about-hinge  33  the X-axis downwardly extending at an angle of approximately 120° between the secured and unlatched position of the latch lock  46 . When the rear portion of the shoulder mounted camera support  10  is rotated open, the breastplate  20  can be partially folded, collapsing inward from the pivot hinge  21  which connects the upper and lower portions of the breastplate  20  to accommodate the extension of the rear pivot knuckle  14 .