Abstract:
A thermal imaging apparatus has an integrated support assembly. The apparatus comprises a housing having a main housing portion containing a thermal image camera. A display for showing thermal images as detected by the camera is also provided. The housing further includes a handle attached to the main housing portion. The support assembly includes at least one support element selectively movable between a stored position and an extended position. The support element is adapted to facilitate support of the thermal imaging apparatus when the support element is in the extended position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to thermal imagers. More particularly, the invention relates to a thermal imager having an integrated support assembly which maintains the imager in a stable position. 
         [0002]    Thermal imaging cameras are widely used in a variety of applications, such as predictive maintenance in industrial facilities. In the past, such devices were often large, requiring the use of tripods or carts for mounting and transportation. More recently, lightweight, hand-held units have appeared in the marketplace. 
         [0003]    While an operator will typically hold the smaller units during use, it is occasionally desirable to maintain the unit steady in a particular position. This can be accomplished using a traditional tripod stand. Typically, such tripods include three telescopic legs which fold together for storage. When it is desired to use the tripod, the legs are pivoted apart and extended to the desired length. 
         [0004]    Traditional tripods have worked well, but they are often bulky and inconvenient. As a result, users will often choose not to bring a tripod with them to an inspection site. If situations requiring the use of a tripod subsequently arise, the user has no alternative except attempting to hold the unit as steady as possible. The results achieved with this approach are often less than satisfactory. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]    According to one aspect, the present invention provides a thermal imaging apparatus comprising a housing having a main housing portion containing a thermal image camera. A display for showing thermal images as detected by the camera is also provided. The housing further includes a handle attached to the main housing portion. Also provided is a support assembly including at least one support element selectively movable between a stored position and an extended position. The support element is adapted to facilitate support of the thermal imaging apparatus when the support element is in the extended position. 
         [0006]    Preferably, the at least one support element may be located at a distal end of the handle. In such embodiments, the support assembly may include a recess defined at the distal end of the handle such that the support element is located in the recess. 
         [0007]    In some exemplary embodiments, a pair of support elements pivotable about a common pivot point may be provided. The support elements in such embodiments are pivoted together in the retracted position and pivoted apart in the extended position. Each of the support elements may comprise an elongate member having a substantially flat configuration. The support elements may be configured to nest with each other in the stored position. 
         [0008]    In accordance with other embodiments, the at least one support element may comprise an elongate member pivotable about an axially intermediate pivot point. The elongate member may have a substantially flat configuration. 
         [0009]    In accordance with other embodiments, the at least one support member may comprise a pair of struts functioning along with a base of the housing to form a tripod stand when the struts are in the extended position. Preferably, such struts may rotate about respective first and second pivot points. The struts may be located on respective sides of the housing such that they are received in a respective slot when in the stored position. 
         [0010]    Other aspects of the invention are achieved by a hand-held thermal measurement apparatus comprising a housing having a main housing portion and a depending handle. A display is located on the housing for showing thermal information. The apparatus further includes a support assembly including a recess defined in a distal end of the handle. At least one support element is selectively movable between a stored position and an extended position. The support element is adapted to facilitate support of the thermal imaging apparatus when the support element is in the extended position. 
         [0011]    Still further aspects of the invention are achieved by a hand-held thermal measurement apparatus comprising a housing having a main housing portion and a depending handle. A display is located on the housing for showing thermal information. The apparatus further includes a support assembly having a pair of struts functioning along with a base of the housing to form a tripod stand when said struts are in the extended position. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0012]    A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth more particularly in the remainder of the specification, including reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a rear perspective view of a thermal imager constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the thermal imager of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged fragmentary view of a bottom portion of the thermal imager of  FIG. 1  showing a support assembly thereof; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view with the support assembly in an extended position; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a fragmentary exploded view showing the support assembly according to this embodiment; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view of a portion of the thermal imager of  FIG. 1  showing the support assembly thereof; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a thermal imager including a support assembly constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a bottom view of a portion of the thermal imager of  FIG. 7  showing the support assembly thereof; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a thermal imager including a support assembly constructed in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0022]    Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent same or analogous features or elements of the invention. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0023]    It is to be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the present discussion is a description of exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended as limiting the broader aspects of the present invention, which broader aspects are embodied in the exemplary constructions. 
         [0024]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate an exemplary hand-held thermal imager which utilizes principles of the present invention. As shown, thermal imager  10  includes a housing  12  in which the components of a thermal image camera  14  are located. In this example, housing  12  is formed by complementary left and right housing portions  12   a  and  12   b  which are joined together during assembly. While any suitable material can be utilized, housing portions  12   a  and  12   b  are preferably formed of a rigid high impact plastic material. Selected regions of housing  12  may be desirably overmolded with a softer polymeric material. 
         [0025]    Housing  12  includes a front portion defining a hood  16  where the device&#39;s lens is located. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, the target energy enters the device through this lens. A lens cover  18  may be provided to cover the lens when imager  10  is not in use. 
         [0026]    In this case, lens cover  18  slides up and down in a channel provided in a front shroud  20 . Specifically, cover  18  is moved to the down position (shown) when imager  10  is in use. Cover  18  is moved to an up position in front of hood  16  when imager  10  is turned off. As shown, shroud  20  extends to a location under handle  22  to facilitate placement of the entire unit in a computer docking station for recharging and specialized programming. 
         [0027]    A trigger  24  is located on handle  22 , as shown. Trigger  24  permits the user to store selected images in the device&#39;s internal memory. In the illustrated embodiment, laser diode  26  projects a dot of light forward of the imager to facilitate aiming. 
         [0028]    As indicated at  28 , a display is preferably located at the rear of imager  10 . In this case, a variety of thermal information is shown on the display, including a thermal image  30  of the device being inspected. A temperature gradient scale and other information may also be provided in different regions of the display. For example, the display may provide a numeric temperature reading of the object at the camera cross-hairs. Various functions of imager  10  are controlled by buttons  32 ,  34  and  36 . 
         [0029]    Thermal imager  10  further includes a support assembly  38  which functions to maintain imager  10  in a stable position on a surface, such as a table. As a result, support assembly  38  functions similar to a separate tripod without the necessity of the user carrying the tripod. 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3-6 , support assembly  38  in this embodiment includes a pair of support elements  40   a  and  40   b  located in a recess  42  defined in the distal end of handle  24 . As shown in solid lines in  FIG. 6 , support elements  40   a  and  40   b  are adapted to be maintained in a stored position when not in use. In this embodiment, elements  40   a  and  40   b  are configured as respective elongate members each having a substantially flat configuration. In addition, elements  40   a  and  40   b  may include opposing ledges (one of which can be seen at  41  in  FIG. 5 ) so that the support elements will overlap and nest when in the stored position. As a result, support elements  40   a  and  40   b  will be contained in the stored position within the “footprint” of the imager. 
         [0031]    In this embodiment, elements  40   a  and  40   b  pivot about a common pivot point  44 . When it is desired to use support assembly  38 , support elements  40   a  and  40   b  are thus pivoted apart such that they both extend to a position outside the “footprint” of imager  10 . As a result, imager  10  may be stably supported on a surface. In particular, support elements  40   a  and  40   b,  as well as the base  46  of the imager housing, will together function to support the imager in an upright and stable position. 
         [0032]    Preferably, support elements  40   a  and  40   b  will be appropriately spring loaded at pivot point  44  so they will be urged into the extended position when desired. In such embodiments, support elements  40   a  and  40   b  are thus closed into the stored position against the spring force. A suitable detent mechanism is preferably provided in order to maintain the support elements in the stored position. 
         [0033]    In this case, for example, support element  40   a  includes a pair of raised features  50  and  52  on its top surface. Feature  50  is adapted to engage the edge of element  40   b  for detent in the deployed position. Feature  52  engages a socket (small recess)  54  formed on the underside of element  40   b  to create detent in the stored position. 
         [0034]    In addition, support element  40   b  includes a raised feature  56  on its top surface. Feature  56  acts against the edge of base  46  for detent in the deployed position. Feature  56  also engages a socket  60  defined in base  46  for detent in the stored position. 
         [0035]      FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate an alternative embodiment of the present invention. In this case, a thermal imager  110  includes a support assembly  138 . Support assembly  138  includes a single support element  140  located in a recess  142  at the distal end of handle  122 . In this embodiment, support element  140  is configured as an elongate member which pivots about an axially intermediate pivot point  143 . As shown, element  140  is rotated between a stored position and an extended position (as shown in solid lines and broken lines, respectively, in  FIG. 8 ). 
         [0036]    When support element  140  is in the stored position, it will be contained within the “footprint” of imager  110 . In the extended position, however, the respective ends of support element  140  will extend laterally beyond the imager&#39;s footprint in order to facilitate support of imager  110  on a surface. In other words, support element  140 , along with base  144  of imager  110 , will stably maintain thermal imager  110  in an upright position. 
         [0037]    Preferably, a detent mechanism is provided to maintain support element  140  in either of the two positions. In this case, for example, the detent mechanism includes a raised feature  150  on the top surface of element  140 . Feature  150  acts against the edge of base  144  to provide detent when deployed. In addition, feature  150  engages a socket defined in base  144  to act as a detent in the stored position. Element  140  is preferably spring loaded at pivot point  143  to provide compliance. 
         [0038]      FIG. 9  illustrates a further embodiment of a thermal imager  210  constructed in accordance with the present invention. In this case, a pair of struts  240   a  and  240   b  are located on respective sides of housing  212 . Although struts  240   a  and  240   b  are located in the shroud  220  in this embodiment, one skilled in the art will recognize that they can be situated in other locations on the housing. For example, embodiments are contemplated in which struts  240   a  and  240   b  are located on respective sides of handle  222 . 
         [0039]    Strut  240   a  is pivotable about a first pivot point located at its proximal end. Similarly, strut  240   b  is pivotable about a second pivot point located at its proximal end. When in the stored position, struts  240   a  and  240   b  are received in respective slots (such as slot  242   a ) located on respective sides of housing  212 . 
         [0040]    When it is desired to use the support assembly, struts  240   a  and  240   b  are rotated to the extended position. In the extended position, the distal ends (tips) of struts  240   a  and  240   b  will contact the surface on which imager  210  is to be supported. Thus, struts  240   a  and  240   b,  along with the base  244  of imager  210 , form a tripod stand which stably maintains imager  210  in an upright position. A suitable latching mechanism is provided to maintain struts  240   a  and  240   b  in either the stored position or the extended position, as desired. 
         [0041]    It can thus be seen that the present provides an imager device that advantageously utilizes a retractable support feature. One skilled in the art will appreciate that principles of the present invention are applicable to devices other than a thermal imager, such as a handheld noncontact thermometer. Thus, while preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, modifications and variations may be made thereto by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In addition, it should be understood that aspects of various embodiments may be interchanged both in whole or in part. Furthermore, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the foregoing description is by way of example only, and is not intended to be limitative of the invention as further described in the appended claims.