Patent Publication Number: US-2023161230-A1

Title: Camera mount and reflector system

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     This disclosure relates to a camera mount system that includes a reflector to provide additional and/or diffused light to the camera subject of interest. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Camera mount systems are well known. Traditional camera mounts have been used for many years to provide a stable base for cameras. These camera mounts were particularly critical during times when cameras were large and bulky and difficult to manage. Over the years cameras have become smaller and more capable. In recent years cameras have become small enough to be pocket sized. Today, almost all cell phones include a camera. 
     Given the small size of today&#39;s cameras, they have found their way into many parts of people&#39;s lives. The cameras are easily brought to events like family outings, vacations, etc. This widespread use of small cameras has also led to the proliferation of camera mounts used in connection with these cameras. Many mounts are designed to be specifically used with these small cameras. While some small camera mounts are more traditional, including tabletop tripods and collapsing tripods that are pocket or backpack sized. 
     One of the unique camera mounts that have been developed solely for use with small cameras and especially cellphone-based cameras, are collapsible rod type camera mounts commonly referred to as “selfie-sticks”. “Selfies” refer to photos taken by a camera user of themselves or with others. Selfie-sticks assist a user in taking selfies. Often selfies are taken to capture a moment where the user is with friends or in a particular place. It is common for the location where a selfie is taken to be determined by a particular scene that a user wants to be the background for the selfie. 
     A selfie-stick is generally a rod with a handle at one end and a camera mount at the other. The camera mount/holder can accommodate either a small camera or a cellphone-based camera. It is often adjustable relative to the rod allowing the camera to be adjusted into the desired position. In order to make the selfie-stick smaller, it is typical for the selfie-stick to include a rod that has telescoping sections. In this manner the selfie-stick has an open or extended position and a closed or retracted position. Selfie-sticks generally include a triggering mechanism that is in wireless communication with the camera or cell phone. This triggering mechanism can be a button built into the handle of the selfie-stick that is connected to a processor, transceiver and battery that provides a wireless signal that can be received by the camera or cell phone. Alternatively, some selfie-sticks include a separate independent key fob trigger unit that can be held by the user outside of the image to be taken. This key fob typically includes a button that likewise communicates with a processor, transceiver and battery to provide a wireless signal that can be received by the camera or cell phone. To take a photograph, the user first sets up the photograph by positioning the camera to a desired location facing the subject, and then presses the trigger either on the selfie-stick handle or on the key fob type trigger unit. 
     A common problem with selfies occurs when the background scene is brighter than the face or faces of the selfie subjects. This is commonly referred to as a backlit subject. While modern cameras are designed to manually or automatically adjust for these situations, the images often result in either the subjects being too dark or the background being washed out, i.e., too light. 
     But the problems associated with backlit subjects are not unique to selfie photography. These problems have been around for as long as cameras have been around. Early solutions to this problem relied primarily on the use of flash lighting systems. These systems were often bulky and unpredictable. Over the years flash systems have improved immensely. Today, most compact cameras and phone cameras include some kind of flash system. Many are processor controlled to specifically compensate for backlit subjects. While flash systems greatly improve backlit images, the flash system light sometimes appears unnatural or is sometimes too much for a particular situation. These flash systems can also result in “red eye” in subjects. In this situation the subject&#39;s eyes allow the camera lash to expose the inside of a subject&#39;s eye, which is red, and results in a red dot in the subject&#39;s pupil. 
     To avoid unnatural, excessive lighting and red eye, reflector type systems were developed to reflect the backlight back onto the forefront of the photo subject. These reflector systems were initially large screens that were positioned behind the camera and/or to the side of the camera. Overtime these reflector systems became more developed and included collapsible stands that could be used to hold and position the reflector systems. 
     As cameras became more and more capable and more electronic, the reflector systems often included lighting or flash systems positioned in front of and facing the reflector to provide additional reflected lighting for the photo subject. While initially the lighting/flash systems were physically connected or wired to the cameras, subsequent systems incorporated wireless communication between the camera and lighting/flash systems to provide instantaneous flashes synchronized with the photograph being taken. As these flash/reflector systems became more and more complicated, they also became more and more bulky. These systems expanded to not only include stands and reflectors, but also included a flash or lighting elements, cabling, wireless transceivers/processors, and often large battery packs for power. 
     While the complicated reflector/lighting systems are routinely used by professional photographers, they are ill-suited for traditional non-professional photography. As a result, and as noted above, camera manufacturers included technology in their cameras to provide fill-in flash capability that provided flash-based light to backlit subjects. 
     Another common lighting problem with selfies occurs when the camera subject of interest is facing the direct sunlight. This is caused when the camera subject of interest wants to position the selfie to capture a photograph where they are facing the direct sunlight. When shooting outdoors, the sun often creates overly bright highlights and harsh shadows on the skin. It may also cause eye discomfort for the camera subject of interest. This is not new to photography. Professional photographers use light diffusers in portrait photography. Placing the diffuser between the sun and the subject eliminates sun dappling on the subject, softens the sun&#39;s rays and corresponding shadows, and diffuses the light in a more balanced way, which creates even lighting that allows one to capture picture-perfect shots having a nice golden or other color adjusted tone. While the complicated reflector/lighting systems are routinely used by professional photographers, they are ill-suited for traditional non-professional photography. There is a need or a camera mount including a simple reflector/diffuser system suitable for use in connection with selfies. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention is an improved camera mount and reflector system. In one embodiment the system includes a rod member having a handle at one end. This rod member could include two or more telescoping members. At the other end is a reflector member. A camera mount is attached to the rod between the handle and the reflector member. 
     In some embodiments the reflector member includes a collapsible rib structure that supports a flexible cover that is configured to have an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration. In other embodiments the reflector member includes a collapsible interconnected slat structure supporting a flexible cover that is configured to have an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration. In some embodiments the side of the reflector member facing the camera mount and handle includes a reflective surface or coating. This reflective surface or coating is in some embodiments a reflective surface or coating on the flexible cover. In other embodiments the flexible cover of the reflector is adapted to diffuse light coming from the side of the reflector facing away from the camera mount and handle. In such embodiments the flexible cover allows only some of the light to pass through, the remainder is reflected back or absorbed. 
     In some embodiments the reflector member is configured to allow it to be in the expanded configuration when the rod member is in the extended configuration and the reflector member is configured to allow it to be in the collapsed configuration when the rod member is in the retracted configuration. 
     In other embodiments the reflector member comprises a reflector rod connected to the collapsing rib structure or the interconnected slat structure and a connector attaching the reflector rod to the telescoping rod. 
     Some embodiments of the system include a remote camera triggering system. Such a triggering system could be included in the handle or the rod member or it could be in a separate stand-alone housing. 
     These and other features, and characteristics of the present technology, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements of structure and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. As used in the specification and in the claims, the singular form of “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    illustrates one embodiment of a camera mount and reflector system of the present invention showing the system in the expanded configuration. 
         FIGS.  2   a ,  2   b  and  2   c    illustrate one embodiment of a camera mount and reflector system of the present invention in the collapsed, extended and expanded configurations, respectively. 
         FIGS.  3   a  and  3   b    illustrate one embodiment of a camera mount of the camera mount and reflector system of the present invention in the disconnected and connected configurations, respectively. 
         FIG.  4    illustrates one embodiment of a pan and tilt swivel connection of a camera mount of the camera mount and reflector system of the present invention. 
         FIG.  5    illustrates an alternative connector of a camera mount of the camera mount and reflector system of the present invention. 
         FIGS.  6   a ,  6   b  and  6   c    illustrate an alternative embodiment of the reflector of the camera mount and reflector system of the present invention in the collapsed, partially expanded and substantially expanded configurations, respectively. 
         FIG.  7    illustrates an alternative embodiment of a camera mount and reflector system of the present invention showing the system in the fully expanded configuration. 
         FIG.  8    illustrates the detachable reflector portion of the camera mount and reflector system of the embodiment shown in  FIG.  7   . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following paragraphs, implementations of the present disclosure will be described in detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and the illustrated components are not necessarily drawn proportionately to one another. Throughout this description, the implementations and examples shown should be considered as exemplars, rather than as limitations on the present disclosure. As used herein, the “present disclosure” refers to any one of the embodiments of the disclosure described herein, and any equivalents. Furthermore, reference to various aspects of the disclosure throughout this document does not mean that all claimed embodiments or methods must include the referenced aspects. 
       FIG.  1    illustrates an embodiment of the handheld camera mount and reflector system  10  of the present invention. Reflector system  10  includes a rod member  12  which has a proximal end  14  and a distal end  16 . Rod member  12  could be a solid or fixed length rod, but it is preferably a collapsible rod. In some preferred embodiments rod member  12  is hollow. In other preferred embodiments rod member  12  includes two or more nested or telescoping sections  12   a ,  12   b . In this manner rod member  12  can have a collapsed configuration and an extended configuration such that the overall length of the rod member  12  is minimized when in the collapsed configuration. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the telescoping rod member  12  could be replaced with other known collapsible structures known in the art without departing from the present invention. 
     In a preferred embodiment a handle  18  is attached to the rod member adjacent the proximal end  14  of the rod member  12 . Handle  18  is configured to facilitate a user being able to grip and maintain control of the reflector system  10 . Handle  18  can include other complimentary systems like a trigger system or a pairing/syncing system. These aspects will be discussed further below. 
     Preferably a camera mount  20  is attached to rod member  12  between the proximal end  14  and the distal end  16 . It is preferable that camera mount  20  is located as far from the proximal end  14  as possible without interfering with placement and functionality of other structures and components. The camera mount  20  can be fixedly or removably attached to rod member  12  and will be described in more detail below. 
     Also attached to rod member  12  adjacent to distal end  16  is a reflector  22  having a proximal side  24  and a distal side  26 . In the preferred embodiment, reflector  22  is umbrella-like with ribs  28  to provide structure and a flexible cover  30 . Preferably, reflector  22  is configured to be collapsible and has a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. Preferably the structure and collapsing functionality are like those known to and used by those the skilled in the art for umbrellas. In the preferred embodiment the surface  32  of the proximal side  24  of reflector  22  is reflective to visible light. To achieve this reflectiveness the flexible cover  30  itself can have a reflective surface  32 . In some embodiments cover  30  could be a reflective, flexible plastic film like aluminized plastic or biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film with a metallic coating. Alternatively, a reflective coating  34  can be applied to the surface of cover  30 . In the preferred embodiment the cover  30  is made of cloth material having one or more reflective coatings  34  applied to the proximal side  24 . Preferably the reflective coating  34  is flexible to allow the reflector  22  to collapse into its collapsed configuration. In some embodiments cover  30  is adapted to reflect light is some portions of the visible spectrum and not others. In this manner the color of the light being reflected can be adjusted. 
     In other embodiments the flexible cover of the reflector is adapted to diffuse light coming from the side of the reflector facing away from the camera mount and handle. In such embodiments the flexible cover allows only some of the light to pass through, the remainder is reflected back or absorbed. In some embodiments a diffuser cover can allow between 10% and 90%. In preferred embodiments between 15% and 40% of light is allowed to pass through. In some embodiments materials can be selected to allow a predetermined color spectrum to pass through or be emphasized so that both the amount of light and the color of light passing through can be adjusted and controlled. In some embodiments the diffuser cover could be a reflective, flexible plastic film like aluminized plastic or biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film with a metallic coating. Alternatively, a reflective coating can be applied to the surface of a diffuser cover. In the preferred embodiment the diffuser cover is made of cloth material having one or more reflective coatings applied to the distal side of the diffuser cover. 
       FIGS.  2   a ,  2   b  and  2   c    illustrate one embodiment of a camera mount and reflector system of the present invention in the collapsed, extended and expanded configurations, respectively. In  FIG.  2   a   , reflector system  10  is shown in its fully collapsed configuration with rod  12  in its collapsed configuration and reflector  22  in its collapsed configuration. In  FIG.  2   b   , reflector system  10  is shown with rod  12  in its extended configuration and reflector  22  in its collapsed configuration. In  FIG.  2   c   , reflector system  10  is shown in its fully expanded configuration with rod  12  in its extended configuration and reflector  22  in its expanded configuration. 
       FIGS.  3   a  and  3   b    illustrate one embodiment of a camera mount of the camera mount and reflector system of the present invention in the disconnected and connected configurations, respectively. In  FIG.  3   a    a removable camera mount  38  is shown which could be part of an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG.  3   b    shows mount  38  attached to rod  12  of the present invention. Mount  38  includes a camera receiver  40  for releaseably retaining a camera, smartphone, etc. Camera receivers are well known to those skilled in the art. Receiver  40  can be box-like and made of plastic or rubber into which the camera or smartphone is inserted. Box-like receiver  40  can include retaining tabs  42  to retain the camera or smartphone. Receiver  40  could also be of a type that includes elastic loops that can retain corners of the camera or smart phone (not shown). In some embodiments receiver  40  is a screw-in camera mounting like those commonly used on camera tripods (not shown). In some embodiments mount  38  includes a swivel  44  and a connector sleeve  46 . Sleeve  46  can include a slot  48  to allow sleeve  48  to be clipped onto rod  12 . To prevent the sleeve  46  from sliding or twisting on rod  12 , an anti-slip coating or material (not shown) can be included on the interior surface of sleeve  46 . Sleeve  46  could also be fixedly attached to rod  12  using an adhesive, by bonding or welding. 
       FIG.  4    illustrates one embodiment of a pan and tilt swivel  50  of camera mount  20 . Swivel  50  preferably includes a panning swivel  52  and a tilting swivel  54 . Panning swivel  52  allows the receiver to rotate about axis  56  and tilting swivel  54  allows receiver  40  to rotate around axis  58 . Axis  58  is preferably perpendicular to axis  56 . 
       FIG.  5    illustrates an alternative connector for a camera mount  20  of the camera mount and reflector system  10 . Connector  60  includes a slot  62  allowing connector  60  to be clipped onto rod  12 . Connector  60  also includes a pair of compression tabs  63  where one tab  63  is connected to connector  60  on each side of slot  62 . Connector  60  is compressed onto rod  12  by at least one and preferably two compressing fasteners  64   a  and  64   b . Fasteners  64  can be screws, bolts or other similar connectors known in the art. 
       FIGS.  6   a ,  6   b  and  6   c    illustrate an alternative embodiment of the reflector in a collapsed, partially expanded and substantially expanded configurations, respectively.  FIG.  6   a    shows reflector  70  in a collapsed configuration.  FIG.  6   b    shows reflector  70  in a partially expanded configuration and  FIG.  6   c    shows reflector  70  in a substantially expanded configuration. Reflector  70  includes a number of ribs or slats  72  which are connected to and pivot around a hub  74 . Hub  74  is configured to be attached to the distal end of rod  12 . As can be seen in  FIGS.  6   b  and  6   c   , each slat  72  is connected to the next slat  72  by flexible material  76  such that it can be expanded like a paper fan into a complete circular disk reflector  70 . When reflector  70  is connected to rod  12  reflector  70  has a proximal side  78  facing rod  12  and handle  18 . 
     In the preferred embodiment surface  80  of proximal side  78  of reflector  70  is reflective to visible light. To achieve this reflectiveness slats  72  and flexible material  76  preferably have a reflective surface  80  comprising a reflective coating  82  made of materials like reflective paint or flexible plastic film, aluminized plastic or biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film. In the preferred embodiment one or more reflective coatings  82  are applied to proximal side  78 . Preferably reflective coating  82  is flexible to allow the reflector  22  to collapse into its collapsed configuration. 
       FIG.  7    illustrates an alternative embodiment of a camera mount and reflector system  110  of the present invention showing the system in the expanded configuration. Reflector system  110  includes a rod member  112  which has a proximal end  114  and a distal end  116 . Rod member  112  could be a solid or fixed length rod, but it is preferably a collapsible rod. In some preferred embodiments rod member  112  is hollow. In other preferred embodiments rod member  112  includes two or more nested or telescoping sections  112   a ,  112   b . In this manner rod member  12  can have a collapsed configuration and an extended configuration such that the overall length of the rod member  12  is minimized when in the collapsed configuration. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the telescoping rod member  12  could be replaced with other known collapsible structures known in the art without departing from the present invention. 
     In a preferred embodiment a handle  118  is attached to the rod member adjacent the proximal end  114  of the rod member  112 . Handle  118  is configured to facilitate a user being able to grip and maintain control of the reflector system  110 . Handle  118  can include other complimentary systems like a trigger system or a pairing/syncing system. These aspects will be discussed further below. 
     Preferably a camera mount  120  is attached to rod member  112  between the proximal end  114  and the distal end  116 . It is preferable that camera mount  120  is located as far from the proximal end  114  as possible without interfering with placement and functionality of other structures and components. The camera mount  120  can be fixedly or removably attached to rod member  112  and will be described in more detail below. 
     Reflector system further includes a reflector member  135  which includes a reflector rod  136  having a proximal end  138  and a distal end  140 . Attached to reflector rod  136  adjacent to distal end  140  is a reflector  122  having a proximal side  124  and a distal side  216 . In the preferred embodiment, reflector  122  is umbrella-like with ribs  128  to provide structure and a flexible cover  30 . Preferably, reflector  122  is configured to be collapsible and has a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. Preferably the structure and collapsing functionality are like those known to and used by those the skilled in the art for umbrellas. In the preferred embodiment the surface  132  of the proximal side  124  of reflector  122  is reflective to visible light. To achieve this reflectiveness the flexible cover  130  itself can have a reflective surface  132 . In some embodiments cover  130  could be a reflective, flexible plastic film like aluminized plastic or biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film with a metallic coating. Alternatively, a reflective coating  134  can be applied to the surface of cover  130 . In the preferred embodiment the cover  130  is made of cloth material having one or more reflective coatings  134  applied to the proximal side  124 . Preferably the reflective coating  134  is flexible to allow the reflector  122  to collapse into its collapsed configuration. 
     Attached to proximal end  138  of reflector rod  136  is one or more connectors, preferably two connectors  142   a ,  142   b . Connectors  142  releasably connect reflector rod  136  to rod member  112 . Preferably connectors  142  are fixedly attached to reflector rod  136  and each includes a longitudinal slot  144  to receive and releasably retain rod  112  and are generally configured to receive and releasably grip onto rod  112 . Reflector rod  136 , reflector  122  and connectors  142  are parts of reflector member  135 . 
       FIG.  8    illustrates the detachable reflector member  135  of the camera mount and reflector system of the embodiment shown in  FIG.  7   . Reflector member  135  is shown relative to rod  112  and camera mount  120  which are shown in phantom. 
     As noted above reflector systems  10  and  110  preferably include a triggering system used to direct the camera to take and store an image. Remote triggering systems are known in the art and are used in connection with cameras. In some embodiments the trigger system is incorporated in the handle of reflector system  10  and  110 . In other embodiments the triggering system is incorporated into a stand-alone remote device housing. In either case the triggering system includes a button switch, a battery, a processor, and an RF transmitter. Preferably the transmitter is part of a transceiver capable of Bluetooth communication. To trigger the camera to take an image, the user presses the button which communicates with and sends a signal to the processor. The processor sends instruction to the transmitter to send an instruction to the camera to trigger the camera to take an image. In some embodiments the handle or the remote device housing includes a pairing or syncing button as is used to pair or sync devices for radio communication like used with systems using Bluetooth communications. In some embodiments the pairing/syncing system can include a battery, a processor, and an RF transmitter. In preferred embodiments the trigger system and the pairing/syncing system will share components like a battery, processor and/or transmitter, 
     Although the present technology has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be the most practical and preferred implementations, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the technology is not limited to the disclosed implementations, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood that the present technology contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any implementation can be combined with one or more features of any other implementation.