Patent Publication Number: US-2019200469-A1

Title: Covert rooftop vent enclosure and adjustable multi-tiered rack for electronic surveillance equipment

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/144,726 filed May 2, 2016; which claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/553,577 filed Jul. 19, 2012, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/509,117 filed Jul. 19, 2011. These applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties as if fully set forth herein. 
    
    
     COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
     This disclosure is protected under United States and/or International Copyright Laws. © 2019 Scott Davis. All Rights Reserved. A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and/or Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There is a continuing need in our country for covert surveillance to protect our citizens from terrorists, as well as other predatorial, criminal or mischievous activity. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       The above and further advantages of the invention may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of a rooftop vent enclosure in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of elements of the enclosure of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of a shelf of the enclosure of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of an enclosure in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of a rack for supporting electronic equipment within an interior of a vehicle in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of a shelf of the rack of  FIG. 5  in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 7  is illustrates signage in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In alternative embodiments of the invention, a covert rooftop vent enclosure is disguised as a common structure, such as a transformer, an industrial metal chimney, air conditioning unit, or other structure found on the top of a building. 
     Specifically, and referring to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary rooftop vent enclosure  10  for supporting electronic equipment, such as a surveillance camera and associate equipment (not shown), on the exterior of an outdoor structure, such as a rooftop (not shown) is illustrated. Enclosure  10  includes a base member  20 , configured to be coupled to the exterior of the outdoor structure, and a housing  30  coupled to the base member. In various embodiments, housing  30  is opaque or translucent, such that any equipment positioned therein cannot be clearly seen by the naked eye. 
     At least one shelf  40  is disposed within the housing  30 . As best seen in  FIG. 3 , in an embodiment, each shelf  40  has a support surface  50 , a plurality of support orifices  60  disposed therethrough, and communication orifices  70  disposed therethrough. Referring back to  FIG. 1 , enclosure  10  further includes a plurality of support members, such as rods  80 , configured to be inserted through the support orifices  60 . 
     As best seen in  FIG. 2 , a floor member  90  is coupled to the housing  30 . Floor member  90  may be a single piece or, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , constructed from multiple pieces. Floor member  90  has at least one communication orifice  100  disposed therethrough. The rods  80  are configured to couple the shelves  40  to the floor member  90 . A substantially transparent housing  110  is mounted on the floor member  90 . Housing  110  may be composed of a clear or smoked acrylic, for example. A lid  120  is configured for mounting on the housing  110  and includes venting orifices  130  disposed therethrough. A canopy member  140  is mounted on the lid  120 . 
     In operation of enclosure  10 , a surveillance camera, or lens of such a camera (not shown), may be placed in housing  110  for discreet surveillance of the vicinity of the enclosure. Shelves  40  may be used to support equipment (not shown) associated with the surveillance camera. Wiring or other connective elements may be threaded through communication orifices  70 ,  100  to allow communication among surveillance equipment elements positioned in housing  110  and on shelves  40 . In an embodiment, housing  110  may be covered with wire meshing (not shown) to better conceal the surveillance equipment disposed therein. 
     Alternatively, an embodiment can be disguised as every day, ordinary things one would see on a building or in the city, repurposed to hold surveillance equipment. These things, include, but are not limited to, cable boxes, utility boxes, mailboxes, electrical boxes, such as those found on street corners for traffic signals, and the like. 
     Specifically, and referring to  FIG. 4 , a waterproof enclosure  400 , having the appearance of a utility box, for example, includes a housing  410  having a surface  420 . As indicated by the dashed circle, the surface  420  includes an optical orifice  430  disposed therethrough. A substantially transparent lens  440  is disposed within the optical orifice  430 . Lens  440  may be clear or smoked, for example. A film  450  is disposed on the surface  420  and covers the optical orifice  430 . The film  450  is at least partially transparent and can include a graphic design to camouflage the optical orifice  430 . The film  450  may be constructed from, for example, perforated vinyl, cut vinyl, or other appropriate transparent material. 
     The enclosure  400  may further include a base member  460  configured to be coupled to the housing  410  and the exterior of an outdoor structure (not shown). In an embodiment, base member  460  may include aluminum mounting brackets. 
     In operation of enclosure  400 , a surveillance camera, or lens of such a camera (not shown), may be placed in housing  410  for discreet surveillance, via lens  440 , of the vicinity of the enclosure. 
     Alternatively, an embodiment fits into the interior of a vehicle, anchored to a door, window or other appropriate structure. Such an embodiment is configured to easily install in a variety of different vehicles. It may be constructed of strong, lightweight aluminum plate and rod. It may include an infinitely adjustable tensioning system to hold itself and mounted equipment in place and fit a wide variety of vehicle windows and/or doors. In one embodiment, an optional black finish helps the unit to be less visible and blend into surroundings. It may include a unique component design that incorporates multiple shelves, can be portable and lightweight and require no tools for installation. 
     Specifically, and referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a rack  500  for supporting electronic equipment within an interior of a vehicle (not shown) includes a plurality of shelves  510 . Each shelf  510  includes a support surface  520 , a plurality of support orifices  530  disposed therethrough, and at least one communication orifice  540  disposed therethrough. 
     Each shelf  510  has a primary flexible flange member  550  coupled to a respective support surface  520  and configured to be adjustably angled by hand relative to the support surface. Each primary flange member  550  is configured to engage a surface, such as, for example, a window or door, of the interior of the vehicle. 
     Rack  500  further includes a plurality (in the example illustrated in  FIG. 5 , three) of support members  560 , such as dowels or rods, configured to be inserted through the support orifices  530  and couple each shelf  510  to at least one other of the shelves. A plurality of secondary flexible flange members  570  are disposed proximal to the support orifices  530  and have an orifice  580  therethrough, which may be threaded. Orifices  580  are configured to receive a screw or other device appropriate to secure members  570  and, consequently, shelves  510  to support members  560 . 
     In operation of rack  500 , a surveillance camera, or lens of such a camera (not shown), may be placed on one or more of shelves  510  for discreet surveillance of the vicinity of the vehicle in which the rack is disposed. Shelves  510  may be used to support equipment (not shown) associated with the surveillance camera. Wiring or other connective elements may be threaded through communication orifices  540  to allow communication among surveillance equipment elements positioned on different ones of shelves  510 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , yet another aspect of an embodiment of the invention includes signage  700  including misleading graphics  710  designed to disguise, for example, a vehicle in which rack  500  is situated, so that when an officer is installing the surveillance equipment, their vehicle does not look suspicious. These signs affix to the sides of vehicles and, in one embodiment of the invention, include, but are not limited to, being attached easily by strong magnets. 
     While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment.