Abstract:
The present disclosure is directed to a support system for mounting a wearable camera to a shirt placket, such as for the mounting of a camera to the uniform of a law enforcement officer. The support system is configured to attach to at least a first button on the placket and a second button on the placket and is configured to provide a mounting surface located between the first button and the second button. The support system may also comprise a stability-enhancing feature that provides the mounting surface with a structural integrity that is sufficient for a stable mounting of a wearable camera. The support structure of the present disclosure prevents tilting or displacement of the wearable camera, thereby ensuring that the camera remains correctly positioned to capture a representative image.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/091,172, filed on Dec. 12, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The use of wearable cameras has recently become more prevalent in the law enforcement field. Wearable cameras are often configured to be clipped onto a law enforcement officer&#39;s clothing, such as his or her shirt. For instance, wearable cameras are configured to be mounted onto the shoulder epaulet or the placket of a law enforcement officer&#39;s uniform shirt, typically through the use of a clip on the backside of the camera. A conventional law enforcement officer&#39;s shirt, however, was not designed for the mounting of a wearable camera in this manner. Accordingly, a wearable camera that is clipped onto the placket of a law enforcement officer&#39;s uniform shirt is often subject to displacement. For instance, under normal usage, the camera has been found to tilt forward so that it no longer captures a representative and useful image. The camera is also easily jostled and displaced, especially when the officer is engaged in physical activity such as running. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The support system of the present disclosure provides a durable surface on a shirt placket, to which a wearable camera may be securely and stably mounted in order to avoid displacement. 
         [0004]    Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a support system for mounting a camera to a placket of a shirt. The support system is configured to attach to at least a first button on the placket and a second button on the placket. Once attached to the placket by way of the first and second buttons, the support system provides a mounting surface located between the first button and the second button. The support system also comprises a stability-enhancing feature, which imparts the mounting surface with a structural integrity that provides for stable mounting of a wearable camera. 
         [0005]    For example, embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a support system for mounting a camera to a placket of a shirt, the support system comprising a fabric strip having a front panel and rear panel, the front and rear panels being arranged such that the fabric strip comprises an upper edge, a lower edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge. The support system comprises at least a first aperture that is configured to attach to a first button on the placket and a second aperture that is configured to attach to a second button on the placket. The support system is configured to attach to each of a first button and a second button on the placket to provide a mounting surface between the first button and the second button. The mounting surface is capable of supporting a wearable camera. In some embodiments, for example, the support system also comprises a stability-enhancing feature which is configured to provide the mounting surface with a structural integrity necessary for the stable mounting of a wearable camera. 
         [0006]    Embodiments of the present disclosure are also directed to a method for mounting a wearable camera on a shirt. The method comprises attaching the support system to at least a first button and a second button on the placket of a shirt and affixing a wearable camera to the mounting surface that is provided between the first button and the second button in order to provide a stable mounting of the camera to the shirt. The wearable camera may easily be attached and removed from the support system as desired. In some embodiments, the support system may also be easily removed from and reattached to the shirt placket as desired. 
         [0007]    The support system of the present disclosure is desirably configured such that it can accommodate wearable cameras produced by any number of manufacturers. However, modifications to the support system that render it particularly suitable for a specific wearable camera are also contemplated herein. In light of the present disclosure, such modifications would generally be understood by one of skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept. 
         [0008]    Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the embodiments as described herein, including the detailed description which follows, the claims, as well as the appended drawings. 
         [0009]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are merely exemplary, and are intended to provide an overview or framework to understanding the nature and character of the claims. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate one or more embodiment(s), and together with the description serve to explain principles and operation of the various embodiments. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    A clear conception of the advantages and features of one or more embodiments will become more readily apparent by reference to the exemplary, and therefore non-limiting, embodiments illustrated in the drawings: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a support system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the support system being attached to the placket of a law enforcement officer&#39;s uniform shirt. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a support system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the support system being attached to the placket of a law enforcement officer&#39;s uniform shirt and having a wearable camera mounted thereon. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a front elevation view of a support system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a rear elevation view of a support system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a rear elevation view of a support system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the support system having a wearable camera mounted thereon. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a front elevation view, partly in section, of a support system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the support system comprising a stability-enhancing insert. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    Reference will now be made in detail to certain embodiment(s), examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
         [0018]    An embodiment of the support system  10  is shown in  FIG. 1 . The support system  10  is illustrated in  FIG. 1  as being attached to the placket  30  of a law enforcement officer&#39;s uniform shirt. Specifically, the support system  10  is attached to each of a first button  31  on the shirt placket  30  and a second button  32  on the shirt placket. The support system  10  provides a mounting surface  11  between the first button  31  and the second button  32 . An embodiment of the support system  10  in which a wearable camera  40  is affixed to the mounting surface  11  is shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0019]    In some embodiments, the support system  10  may be configured to be removable from the shirt placket  30 . Accordingly, the support system  10  may be attached to the shirt placket  30 , for example when use of a wearable camera may be required, and removed from the shirt placket, for example when a wearable camera is not needed. Because the support system  10  is easily attached to and removed from the shirt placket  30 , a wearer may also position the support system  10  at any desired position on the shirt placket. For example, although  FIG. 1  shows the support system  10  as being attached between a first button  31  and a second button  32  that are located at a particular position on the placket  30 , a wearer could also easily position and attach the support system at a location higher or lower on the placket by using any button located higher on the placket or any button located lower on the placket one of the first and second buttons. In alternative embodiments, the support system  10  may be more permanently attached to the shirt placket  30 , such as by sewing, adhesives, or the like. 
         [0020]    Additionally, the support system  10  may be attached to a law enforcement officer&#39;s uniform shirt without any modification to the shirt itself. As such, the support system  10  of the present disclosure may be attached to a conventional uniform shirt to provide a mounting surface  11  for the stable mounting of a wearable camera  40 . 
         [0021]    An embodiment of the support system  10  is shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The support system  10  comprises a fabric strip comprising a front panel  12  and a rear panel  13 . Together, the front panel  12  and the rear panel  13  are arranged to provide the fabric strip with an upper edge  14 , a lower edge  15 , a first side edge  16 , and a second side edge  17 . 
         [0022]    In the illustrated embodiment, the front panel  12  and the rear panel  13  are sewn together near the periphery of the fabric strip, i.e. near each of the upper edge  14 , lower edge  15 , first side edge  16  and second side edge  17 . In some embodiments, the front panel  12  and the rear panel  13  may be separate panels that are sewn or otherwise adhered together to form the fabric strip. Alternatively, the front panel  12  and the rear panel  13  may be more integrally formed with one another. For example, in some embodiments, the fabric strip comprising a front panel  12  and a rear panel  13  may be prepared from a single piece of fabric, which is folded along a center line, e.g. a line running between an upper edge and a lower edge of the piece of fabric, to form the fabric strip comprising front and rear panels. 
         [0023]    The fabric strip also comprises at least a first aperture  18  and a second aperture  19 . Each aperture  18 ,  19  is configured to fit on and be fastened to a button of a shirt. For example, each aperture  18 ,  19  may comprise a buttonhole, such as a three-quarter inch threaded eyelet. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the first aperture  18  and the second aperture  19  extend through both of the front panel  12  and the rear panel  13 . In alternative embodiments, however, the first and second apertures  18 ,  19  may extend only through the rear panel  13 . The first aperture  18  is configured to attach to a first button  31  on a shirt placket  30 . The second aperture  19  is configured to attach to a second button  32  on a shirt placket  30 . The fabric strip is configured to attach to each of the first button  31  and the second button  32  on a placket of a shirt  30  and to provide a mounting surface  11  between the first button and the second button, the mounting surface being configured to stably support a wearable camera  40 . 
         [0024]    In some embodiments, such as that illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the fabric strip is configured such that the first aperture  18  and the second aperture  19  may be fastened to adjacent buttons  31 ,  32  on a shirt placket  30 . For example, in some embodiments, the distance between the first aperture  18  and the second aperture  19  may be between about two and one-half inches and about four and one-half inches, alternatively between about two and three-quarter inches and about four and one-quarter inches, alternatively between about three inches and about four inches. The distance is measured from the center of the first aperture  18  to the center of the second aperture  19 . Alternatively, the fabric strip may be configured to span multiple buttons, in which case the first aperture  18  and the second aperture  19  may be spaced farther apart. 
         [0025]    The fabric strip may have a variety of dimensions. For example, in some embodiments the fabric strip may have a width, i.e. the distance between the first side edge  16  and the second side edge  17 , between about one inch and about two inches, alternatively between about one inch and about one and one-half inches. For example, in some embodiments, the width of the fabric strip may be about one and three-eighth inches. And in some embodiments, such as where the support system  10  is configured to be attached to adjacent buttons  31 ,  32  on a shirt placket, the fabric strip may have a length, i.e. the distance between the upper edge  14  and the lower edge  15 , that is between about four inches and about six inches, alternatively between about four and one-half inches and about five and one-half inches. 
         [0026]    In some embodiments, the support system  10  may be configured to closely resemble and mimic the placket  30  of a law enforcement officer&#39;s shirt. Accordingly, the support system  10  may be configured so that a law enforcement officer may maintain a professional appearance when the support system is attached to the shirt, even when no camera  40  is mounted thereon. For example, at least the front panel  12  of the support system  10  may be made of a material that is configured to match the material of a standard law enforcement officer&#39;s uniform shirt. In some embodiments, the rear panel  13  of the support system  10  may also be made of a material that is configured to match the material of a law enforcement officer&#39;s uniform shirt. For example, the material may comprise polyester blended with at least one of cotton, wool, or rayon. The material may also be colored in a shade of blue, tan, black, or the like that is typically used in a law enforcement officer&#39;s uniform shirt. Additionally, the support system  10  may be configured to be machine washable. 
         [0027]    In some embodiments, the support system  10  may be configured to align with the placket  30  of a standard uniform shirt. For example, the first side edge  16  of the support system  10  may be configured to substantially align with the edge of the placket  33 . By substantially align, it is meant that the alignment need not be perfect, but rather that it merely give the general visual impression of being aligned. Additionally, when the support system  10  is used on a standard shirt placket (i.e. not a seamless shirt placket), the second side edge  17  of the support system  10  may be configured to substantially align with the seam of the placket  34 . Again, by substantially align, it is meant that the alignment need not be perfect, but rather that it merely give the general visual impression of being aligned. An embodiment of the support system  10  that is configured to substantially align with both the edge of the placket  33  and the seam of the placket  34  is shown, for example, in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         [0028]    In some embodiments, the fabric strip may also comprise an elastic strap  20  located on the rear panel  13 . The elastic strap  20  spans at least a portion of the length of the rear panel  13  between the first aperture  18  and the second aperture  19 . In some embodiments, for example, the elastic strap  20  may have a length that is between about one and one-half inches and about two and one-half inches in length. For example, the elastic strap  20  may be about two inches long. The elastic strap  20  may be made of any of a variety of materials. For example, the material may be selected from known heavy-duty and high-weight elastic materials, such as polyester, rubber, and combinations thereof. The elastic strap  20  is attached to the fabric strip, such as by sewing, at each of a first end  21  and a second end  22 . The span of the elastic strap  20  between the first end  21  and the second end  22  is configured so that it can be moved away from the rear panel  13  to allow for the insertion of a portion of a mounting unit  41 , such as a clip, that is associated with (e.g. integral with or affixed to) a wearable camera  40 . 
         [0029]    As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , for instance, the mounting of a wearable camera  40  onto a shirt may comprise placing a back portion of a mounting unit  41 , such as a clip, between the rear panel  13  and the elastic strap  20 . The elastic strap  20  may be configured to provide force or pressure against a portion of the mounting unit  41 , thereby acting to hold the mounting unit  41  in a desired position on the fabric strip. As such, the elastic strap  20  may increase the stability of a wearable camera  40  mounted on the support structure  10 . The elastic strap  20  may also assist with the proper positioning of the wearable camera  40  during mounting of the camera on the support structure  10 . And in some embodiments, the elastic strap  20  may be configured to increase the tautness of the fabric strip, providing the mounting surface  11  with a desirable degree of tension, when the support structure  10  is attached to each of the first and second buttons  31 ,  32 . By providing the mounting surface  11  with a desirable degree of tension, the elastic strap  20  may further increase the stability of a wearable camera  40  that is mounted on the support structure. 
         [0030]    The support system  10  may also comprise a stability-enhancing feature  25 . The stability-enhancing feature  25  is configured to provide the mounting surface  11  with a structural integrity that is sufficient for a stable mounting of a wearable camera  40 . 
         [0031]    In some embodiments, the stability-enhancing feature  25  may comprise a lining  23 . The lining  23  may be located within the enclosure formed by at least a portion of the front panel  12  and a portion of the rear panel  13 . For example, the lining  23  may be located between the front panel  12  and the rear panel  13  in an area between the first aperture  18  and the second aperture  19 . Alternatively, the lining  23  may be located along the entire length of the fabric strip. The lining  23  may be joined to an inside surface of the front panel  12 , an inside surface of the rear panel  13 , or both. In some embodiments, the lining  23  may comprise either a woven fabric or a non-woven fabric. For example, the lining may be constructed from a material selected from the group consisting of cotton, polyester, nylon, viscose, rayon, and combinations thereof. 
         [0032]    In some embodiments, the stability-enhancing feature  25  may comprise an insert  24 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the insert  24  may be located within the enclosure formed by at least a portion of the front panel  12  and a portion of the rear panel  13 . For example, the insert  24  may be located between the front panel  12  and the rear panel  13  in an area between the first aperture  18  and the second aperture  19 . Alternatively, the insert  24  may be located along the entire length of the fabric strip. Preferably, the insert  24  is sewn into the interior of the fabric strip. In alternative embodiments, however, the insert  24  may be introduced into and removed from the fabric strip. For example, embodiments of the fabric strip may comprise a pocket into which the insert  24  may be positioned. The insert  24  may be made from any material that is capable of providing the mounting surface  11  with an increased rigidity. For example, the insert  24  may be made of plastics, metals, carbon fibers, ceramics, etc. In some embodiments, the insert  24  may be made of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, silicone, rubber, metal, and combinations thereof. 
         [0033]    In some embodiments, the support system  10  may not include a stability-enhancing feature  25 . For example, in some embodiments at least one (and optionally both) of the front panel  12  and the rear panel  13  may be made of a heavy duty or semi-rigid material that itself provides the mounting surface  11  with a structural integrity that is sufficient for a stable mounting of a wearable camera  40 . 
         [0034]    The support system  10  may be configured to be removably attached to a shirt placket  30 . For example, a user may attach the support system  10  of any of the embodiments described above to a shirt by fastening the first and second apertures  18 ,  19  to at least a first button  31  and a second button  32  on a placket of a shirt  30 . Once the support structure has been attached to the shirt placket  30 , a user may affix the wearable camera  40  to the mounting surface  11  provided by the support structure  10  in order to stably mount the camera on the shirt. 
         [0035]    The exact process by which the wearable camera  40  is affixed to the mounting surface  11  may vary depending on the design of the mounting unit  41  associated with the camera. For example, in some embodiments, the mounting unit  41  associated with a wearable camera  40  comprises a clip. Thus, in some embodiments, affixing a camera  40  to the mounting surface  11  may comprise inserting at least a portion of the mounting surface between two portions of a clip. Whether or not a portion of the shirt placket  30  that is adjacent to the support structure  10  is also inserted within the clip may be a matter of personal preference. In those embodiments where the fabric strip comprises an elastic strap  20 , however, the back portion of the clip is preferably placed between the rear panel  13  of the fabric strip and the elastic strap  20  as previously described. 
         [0036]    The wearable camera  40  may be removed from the shirt by operating the mounting unit  41  so as to release the wearable camera form the mounting surface  11 . Where desired, the support system  10  may also easily be removed from the shirt placket  30  by unfastening it from each of the first and second buttons  31 ,  32 . Because the support system  10  is easily fastened to a shirt and removed from a shirt, a wearer may select the exact location on the shirt placket  30  at which to provide the mounting surface  11  by selecting which buttons to use for attaching the support structure  10 . In alternative embodiments, a user may permanently attach the support system to a shirt placket  30 , such as by sewing or the like. In these embodiments, the mounting of a wearable camera  40  to the shirt would only require the step of affixing the camera to the mounting surface  11  provided between the first button  31  and the second button  32  in order to provide a stable mounting of the camera on the shirt. Either way, the support structure  10  may be used on existing uniform shirts, since the support system of the present disclosure does not require any modification to the shirt, itself. 
         [0037]    It can be seen that the described embodiments provide a unique and novel support system  10  that has a number of advantages over those in the art. While there is shown and described herein certain specific structures embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.