Abstract:
A universal bracket is disclosed that allows 180 degree of pitch adjustment for a camera. The camera has two brackets that can adapt to various mounting angles on any vehicle surface configuration. In addition, the universal bracket is designed to be rigid and prevent the camera from vibrating in order to prevent a blurred picture on a display unit The system is designed to be installed by a single person.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention is directed to the art of brackets. More particularly, the invention relates to a universal camera bracket. This application includes some subject matter previously disclosed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/996,152 which is owned in common by the assignee of the present invention, and which the disclosure is fully incorporated herein by reference.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    There is constant improvement in innovation to try to make driving more safe in less than ideal driving conditions. One way this has been achieved is by using thermal imaging cameras. Through the use of infrared technology, a thermal imaging camera mounted on a vehicle will improve a driver&#39;s visibility at night by extending the driver&#39;s vision in front of the vehicle beyond the illumination distance of the headlamps. Therefore, seeing father in front of the vehicle allows for advances, detection of obstacles, such as pedestrians, animals, stalled cars, road debris, road construction, bridges, unmarked roads, etc., and a greater reaction time by the driver.  
           [0003]    For example, in the commercial trucking industry the camera is externally mounted to the surface of the vehicle with a rigid bracket assembly. The thermal imaging camera is able to sense heat from the environment and processes the signals electronically. Those electronic signals are transformed into a virtual image projected onto an in-cab display mounted just below or above the driver&#39;s line of sight. The driver glances at the display just like passenger car drivers glance at a rear-view mirror.  
           [0004]    Being mounted externally to the vehicle, there are many problems for the rigid bracket assembly to overcome. The weather, such as rain, snow, hail, and wind, as well as vibration, can cause the camera bracket assembly to loosen and eventually fall off the vehicle or dislodge the camera from a fixed position, therefore the camera will not be projecting images on the display of what is directly in front of the vehicle. Any type of vibration of the camera bracket will cause the image from the camera to blur on the display unit. In addition, the shape of the vehicle&#39;s surface presents an obstacle for the rigid bracket assembly to be mounted. The rigid bracket needs to be level to ground in order for the camera to be pointed directly forward. The natural mechanical vibrations of the vehicle can cause the image on the driver&#39;s display to vibrate, therefore, the bracket assembly must be rigid to prevent vibration.  
           [0005]    Accordingly, the need exists for a universal camera bracket to withstand weather conditions, accommodate various shaped roof-tops or hoods, and maintain image stability.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The present invention provides for a universal bracket for a thermal imaging camera on a vehicle. The universal bracket includes a base bracket adapted to be mounted to a roof-top of the vehicle having a base member with two identical opposing arms extending from the ends of the base member. Each standoff has a top end and a bottom end. The arms are perpendicularly adjacent to the base member at a bend. In addition, the universal bracket includes a camera bracket adapted to be mounted to the base bracket having a back member with two identical opposing side extending members extending from the ends of the back member. Each side arm has a top end and a bottom end. The side extending members are perpendicularly adjacent to the back member at a bend.  
           [0007]    Also, the present invention provides for a method of installing a universal camera bracket to a truck. The method includes fastening a base bracket to a roof-top of the truck, connecting a camera bracket to the base bracket, securing a camera to the camera bracket, and adjusting the position of the camera. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangements of parts, preferred embodiments and a method of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and wherein:  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of an assembled universal camera bracket with a camera installed.  
         [0010]    FIGS.  2 - 5  show a front view, a side view, a top view, and a back view of the preferred embodiment assembled universal camera bracket with a camera installed.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the camera bracket of the preferred embodiment.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the base bracket of the preferred embodiment.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 8 shows an alternative embodiment of an assembled universal camera bracket.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of a camera cover for the present invention.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 10 shows an exploded view of the components for mounting the base bracket to a non-level surface of a vehicle.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of the assembled universal camera bracket in an angled position for a non-horizontal or non-vertical surface. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]    The present invention is an adaptable universal camera bracket which is adjustable to meet varied driving and weather conditions and varied vehicle surfaces for mounting a camera, i.e., thermal image camera, that will aid a vehicle driver in driving conditions or monitoring the exterior or interior of the vehicle, for example, surveillance or security. The universal bracket is designed to be mounted in different mounting locations on a vehicle with a surface either horizontal, vertical, or at any vertical angle from 0 to 180 degrees. In addition, the universal camera bracket allows the camera to be stable against vibrations so images shown a display are not blurred.  
         [0018]    The invention for a universal camera mounting bracket  1  assembly will be described with reference to the drawings, but is not limited to the described embodiments. The assembly, as shown in FIG. 1, includes two separate brackets, a base bracket  10  and a camera bracket  40 . A thermal imaging camera  5  to assist a driver in nighttime driving is fastened to the camera bracket  40  which in turn is fastened to the base bracket  10 . The assembly is mounted to a vehicle, such as a tractor trailer, commercial or school bus, fire truck, delivery truck, etc., on the roof-top preferably above the driver.  
         [0019]    As shown in FIG. 7, the base bracket  10  includes a base member  12  with two identical opposing arms  14  that perpendicularly extend from the ends  16  of the base member  10 . The connection of the arms  14  and base member  12  creates a corner  18 . During the forming process of the base bracket  10 , strengtheners  20  are formed directly into the corners  18  of the base bracket  10 . The strengtheners  20  make the base bracket  10  more rigid which will prevent vibration of the camera  5 .  
         [0020]    The base member  12  of the base bracket  10  has two end sections  22  and a midsection  24  which is between the end sections  22 . To accommodate for a vehicle surface that is not flat, the midsection  24  is greater in height than the end sections  22 . Fastening holes  26  are included in the end sections  22  for mounting the base bracket  10  to the surface of the vehicle.  
         [0021]    The arms  14  of the base bracket  10  have an aperture  28  for securing the base bracket  10  to the camera bracket  40  in addition to an arcuate slot  30 . The arcuate slot  30  has a 90 degree arch and allows for 180 degrees of total pitch adjustment, in combination with the camera bracket  40 , for the assembly.  
         [0022]    When mounting the base bracket  10  to the surface of the vehicle, as shown in FIG. 10, it is preferred that the base bracket  10  be level. If the vehicle surface for the bracket to be mounted to is not level, spacers  32  are stacked up underneath the base member  12  to raise one end of the base bracket  10  and to accommodate for various shaped vehicle surfaces. The spacers  32  are aligned with the fastening holes  26  in the end sections  22  underneath the bottom side of the base member  12 . This allows for one side of the base bracket  10  to be raised and in addition to making the camera bracket  40  horizontally level to the road after assembled to the base bracket  10  and allow the camera  5  to be pointed directly forward and level, rather than tilted off to a side, in front of the vehicle. A stud plate  34  on each end section  22  of the base member  12  is fastened through the base member  12 , any required spacers  32 , and the surface  36  of the vehicle. Generally, the stud plate  34  is secured, for example, with locknuts and therefore, the base bracket  10  is mounted to the surface of the vehicle.  
         [0023]    As shown in FIG. 6, the camera bracket  40  includes a back member  42  with two opposing extending members  44  that extend perpendicularly from the ends  46  of the back member  42 . The connection of the extending members  44  and back member  42  forms a corner  48  which is rounded.  
         [0024]    The back member  42  of the camera bracket  40  has two square apertures  50 , shown in FIG. 6, for housing aiming adjusters  52 A,  52 B shown in FIG. 4. Aiming adjusters, along with a pivot assembly  54  shown in FIG. 2, allow the camera  5  to be adjusted and aimed in the proper direction for the driver to see the road in front of the vehicle. The aiming adjusters  52 A,  52 B allow selective pivoting of the camera  5  about two perpendicular axes. Thus, the aiming axis or focal direction of the camera cam be selectively oriented about the two axes by selectively advancing and retracting, i.e., altering, the adjustment assemblies. In FIG. 4, the aiming adjusters  52  are secured to the back member  42  with fasteners  56  through retaining lugs  58  on the aiming adjusters  52 . Preferably, the aiming adjusters  52  and the pivot assembly  54  are pre-fastened to the camera bracket  40  in the manufacturing facility.  
         [0025]    The camera  5  is fastened to the aiming adjusters  52  and the pivot assembly  54  with a camera frame or housing  60  shown in FIG. 2. The housing  60  has slots  62  to receive a first end  52   a  with tabs  52   b  of the aiming adjusters  52  and pivot assembly  54 . Once the first ends  52   a  are received by the slots  62 , the tabs  52   b  are turned approximately 90 degrees to lock the camera  5  to the camera bracket  40 .  
         [0026]    In addition, the back member  42  of the camera bracket  40  has two holes or slots  68 , shown in FIG. 6, for a pull-tie to secure a harness (not shown) for the camera  5 . Once the harness is in place, the pull-tie is tightened to secure the harness from moving. The harness is hooked into the camera  5 . If the harness is pulled too tight, the seal for the wires in the harness will be compromised and water would eventually damage the product. If the harness is left too loose and exposed beyond the perimeter of the camera  5 , the exposed harness may chafe damaging the wires. Therefore, the pull-tie slots  68  allow for the harness to be fastened safely behind the camera.  
         [0027]    The side extending members  44  of the camera bracket  40  include three threaded nut inserts  70   a ,  70   b ,  70   c , shown in FIG. 6. The inserts  70   a ,  70   b ,  70   c  are formed into the camera bracket  40  during the manufacturing process. The inserts  70   a ,  70   b ,  70   c  are used to fasten the camera bracket  40  to the base bracket  10 . Only two of the three threaded inserts  70  on each side arm  44  are used at the same time. Insert  70   c  is used for both assemblies. Depending on if the camera  5  is to be horizontally mounted, as shown in FIG. 1, or vertically mounted, as shown in FIG. 8, will determine which of the remaining two inserts,  70   b  or  70   a  are used. Insert  70   b  is used for a horizontal mount (FIG. 1) and insert  70   a  is used for a vertical mount (FIG. 1).  
         [0028]    The aperture  28  on the standoff  14  of base bracket  10  aligns with threaded insert  70   c  on the camera bracket  40 . Depending on which mount is to be used, threaded insert  70   b  or  70   a  will align with the arcuate slot  30  of base bracket  10 . As shown in FIG. 3, fasteners  56  are threaded through the alignments of the aperture  28  with insert  70   c  and the slot  30  with either insert  70   a  or  70   b  to secure the camera bracket  40  to the base bracket  10 . If the base member  12  of the base bracket  10  is not parallel or perpendicular with the ground, the arcuate slots  30  help adjust and angle the camera bracket  40  in order for the back member  42  of the camera bracket  40  to be perpendicular with the ground. FIG. 11 illustrates how the arcuate slot  30  is able to adjust the camera bracket  40  from being at a right angle with the base bracket  10 .  
         [0029]    After mounting and assembling the unit, the camera  5  must be adjusted to align the image on the display, which will be located inside the vehicle, preferably where the driver can view image, such as on the dashboard, or directly above where a sun visor would be located. To adjust the image and where the camera is pointing, the installer will move the aiming adjusters  52  to pivot the camera  5 . Aiming adjuster  52 A will pivot the camera +/−4 degrees up or down, and aiming adjuster  52 B will pivot the camera +/−4 degrees left or right. Both adjustments cause the camera  5  to pivot against the pivot assembly  54 . The universal camera bracket assembly is designed to be a one-man installment.  
         [0030]    As shown in FIG. 9, an optional camera cover or shroud  80  may be fastened to the assembled universal camera bracket  1 . The camera cover  80  is secured to the arms  14  of the base bracket  10  and has an aperture  85  in the front large enough to not block the view from the camera from taking pictures. The base bracket  14  includes threaded inserts  80   a  for the purpose of fastening the camera cover  80  to the bracket. As an accessory, the camera cover  80  is used to cover the universal camera bracket  1  to protect the camera  5  from the elements of weather and to improve overall aesthetics.  
         [0031]    The foregoing description is, at present, considered to be preferred embodiments of the present invention. However, it is contemplated that various changes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art may be made without departing from the present invention. Therefore, the foregoing description is intended to cover all such changes and modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the present invention, including all equivalent aspects.