Patent Abstract:
A portable camera bracket is disclosed which provides a stable platform for a camera in window openings. The camera bracket includes four legs and a platform which are easily assemble and disassembled for transporting and includes protective material for contacting the perimeter of the window openings.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention pertains to a camera bracket, and more particularly to a camera bracket especially adapted to be used in a vehicle window opening. 
     When taking photographs with high powered lenses, or in low-light conditions, it is important to have a stable platform for the camera being used. One well-known support for providing a stable platform is a tripod, which provides a stable camera platform on flat surfaces, but is not well adapted for use in the door window openings of vehicles. Supports are known which are adapted for use in vehicle door windows; however, known supports do not provide a stable platform in differently shaped windows as they are not well adapted for adjustment to different windows or vehicle doors. 
     In addition to providing a stable platform, it is highly desirable to provide camera equipment which is relatively compact for easy transportation. It is thus important that the camera support be small in size, light weight yet provide a stable platform for large, heavy, camera lenses and camera, combinations. Known camera supports have not aduately satisfied this need for a small, lightweight camera bracket which provides a stable platform from which photographs may be taken through a vehicle window opening with high powered lenses, or under low-light conditions. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The present invention is embodied in a camera bracket providing a stable platform by which photos may be taken from a window opening. Devices embodying the invention include a platform having a protective layer on the underside thereof for contacting the door window frame, and legs extending downwardly over the outside and inside walls of the vehicle door and having adjustable spacing, and most preferably including a protective coating thereon. 
     Because the legs are adjustable they provide stability for the platform by adjusting for the thickness and contour of the vehicle door walls below of the window opening. Additionally, the components of the bracket may be easily assembled and unassembled for transporting. These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent upon review of the following specification in connection with the drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the camera bracket assembly according to the invention with a camera and tripod head mounted thereon, as viewed from the outside of a vehicle; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a camera bracket assembly according to the invention with a tripod head and a camera as viewed from the inside of a vehicle; 
     FIG. 3 illustrates an assembled camera bracket assembly according to the invention; 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the bracket assembly of this invention illustrating its components when disassembled; 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of one of the parts of the assembly, namely the camera bracket platform; and 
     FIG. 6 is a plan view of all the parts unassembled and arranged to be carried in a neat small package. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now specifically to the drawings and the illustrated embodiments depicted therein, the camera bracket assembly 10 includes five major parts, namely, the four L-shaped members 11, 12, 13 and 14 and the base 19. The L-shaped members 11, 12, 13, 14 are connected to the base 19 to form U-shaped supports which fit over the edge of a vehicle door and can be adjusted to firmly clamp on the sides of the door of a vehicle (FIGS. 1 and 2). As disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bracket assembly 10 supports any standard tripod head 20 which, in turn, supports the camera 21 and lens 22. The L-shaped members include the depending legs 11a, 12a, 13a and 14a (FIG. 3), respectively. Each leg includes a rubber coating 15 which protects surfaces of the vehicle door with which the legs come into contact when the bracket is clamped on the door, such as painted metal and fabric. The coating 15 also provides non-slip contact with the surfaces of the door. The L-shaped members 11, 12, 13 and 14 also include the horizontally extending legs 11b, 12b,  13b and 14b. Legs 12b and 13b overlap each other and legs 11b and 14b overlap each other so as to form the U-shaped supports. Legs 12b and 14b have elongated slots 25 and 27 (FIG. 4) respectively, while leg 11b has circular openings 31 and 32, and leg 13b has circular openings 33 and 34, for purposes as will be described hereinafter. 
     The camera bracket further includes a base 19 (FIGS. 4 and 5) having five portions. A center portion 36 provides a platform on which a tripod head 20 (FIG. 1) and camera 21 can be mounted. Center portion 36 is offset upwardly or elevated by portions 39 and 40 so as to provide a space between the bottom surface 36a of center portion 36 and a surface 38 on which the platform rests. Such space is provided to accommodate the heads 40a, 41a and 42a of wing bolts 40, 41 and 42, respectively. End portions 44 and 45 have threaded studs 48, 49, 50 and 51 mounted thereto, respectively, and extending upwardly therefrom. Threaded studs 48-51 may be provided by a bolt which is first screwed into a respective portion 44 or 45, and then has the heads removed therefrom. Alternatively, the threaded studs may be provided by flat head screws received in a threaded opening which is counter-bored to receive the head of the flat-head screw so that the surface of the screw head will be flush with the respective surfaces of portions 44 and 45. A protective material 46 and 47 is provided on the bottom surface of portions 44 and 45 so that bracket 10 will not damage surface 38 (FIG. 2) and to provide a non-slip surface. Thus, protective materials 46 and 47, are rough, non-marring surfaces which provide non-slip, non-abrasive, contact with the inside surface 38 of the window. 
     The assembled camera bracket is illustrated in FIG. 3. To assemble the camera bracket, legs 11 and 13 are placed in contact with the base 19 by receiving studs 48, 49, 50 and 51 within openings 30, 31, 33 and 34, respectively. Next, legs 12 and 14 are mounted over legs 13 and 11 by receiving threaded studs 48 and 49 throuqh slot 25, and studs 50 and 51 through slot 27. Washer 55 is then placed over stud 48 and wing nut 60 is threaded onto stud 48. Washers 56-58 are similarly placed over studs 49-51 and wing nuts 61-63 are then affixed to studs 49-51, respectively, to provide the assembled mount. To receive a tripod head 20, a bolt therefore is received through threaded aperture 68 and received by tripod head 20. 
     When unassembled, the camera bracket 10 (FIG. 6) is relatively small. The four L-shaped members 11-14 may be positioned around base 19 such that each leg 11a-14a and each horizontal section 11b-14b of members 11-14 are parallel to a side of base 19, when base 19 lies flat on a flat horizontal surface. Additionally, wing bolts 40-42 are loosened such that they are within threaded apertures 65-67, respectively, but do not extend above the upper surface 36b (FIGS. 4, 5 and 6) of center portion 36. Further, washers 55-58 and wing nuts 60-63 are received on studs 48-51. The components of the bracket may thus be positioned in the bottom of a camera bag, suitcase, glove compartment or any other small area, so that the camera bracket may be easily transported and available for use whenever desired. cl Operation 
     When the bracket assembly is to be used, the wing nuts 60, 61, 62 and 63 are loosened to permit the opposing legs 11a and 14a and legs 12a and 13a to be slid outwardly a sufficient distance from each other so that legs 11a and 13a can be placed on one side 70a (FIG. 1) of a vehicle door 70 and legs 12a and 14a can be placed on the other side 70b (FIG. 2) of the door opening. The L-shaped elements are then adjusted inwardly to clamp onto the sides of the door with the portions 44 and 45 resting on window edge 38 to provide a platform for the tripod head 80 which supports the camera 70 and lens 71 attached thereto. The L-shaped brackets 11, 12, 13 and 14 are adjusted toward sides 70a and 70b of the door so as to clamp onto the door. The wing nuts 60, 61, 62 and 63 are then tightened to firmly hold the bracket assembly 10 on the door. 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, lens 22 is held by bracket 72 to support 73 which, in turn, is affixed to a platform 74. Tripod head 20, in turn includes platform 74, ball 75 and chamber 76 and is standard equipment for tripods. Tripod head 20 is attached to platform 19 by wing bolts 40-42, as well as a center bolt (not shown) received in the threaded aperture 68. 
     As described above, rubber coating 15 on the legs provides protection for paint on the vehicle exterior and other material provided on the door panel, and also prevents sliding of the bracket. Coating 15 is applied to the legs which may be manufactured from brushed aircraft aluminum. The protectors 21 and 22 prevent scratching of the window frame, as well as providing a stable support for the camera bracket when resting on the window sill. 
     It will become apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications to the preferred embodiment described and disclosed herein can be made, which modifications will however fall within the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5