Patent Description:
Camera devices which are intended for surveillance and for monitoring of different environments are becoming more and more common. An example of such a camera device is a dome camera, which comprises a semispherical camera housing for allowing camera movements in relation to a base which in turn is attached to a support such as a wall or a ceiling. Such a camera allows rotation and tiling in many directions and thus achieves a large field of view. The entire housing may be rotated with the camera following the movements of the housing, or by rotating/tilting a camera mounted inside of the housing while the housing itself is stationary.

To achieve a good vantage point for the camera device and an undisturbed view of its surroundings, the device should preferably be mounted at an elevated position in relation to the enviroment that it is intended to monitor, such as high on a wall or in the ceiling. This generates strict requirements on the reliability of how the camera device is to be mounted to the wall/ceiling. This can in some applications be complicated by that many camera devices are provided with hidden fasteners for attaching it to the wall/ceiling, which may be desirable for an aesthetic perspective and/or for reducing the risk of unauthorized removal/tampering with the camera device. However, hidden fasteners may make it more difficult to control and ensure that the camera device is safely secured.

Manufacturers of camera devices thus constantly strive to provide safer products while facilitating installation thereof. Related background art can be found in <CIT> and <CIT>.

In view of that stated above, the object of the present invention is to provide a device, preferably a camera device, that improves on prior art solution and mitigates at least some of the problems mention above.

To achieve at least one of the above objects and also other objects that will be evident from the following description, a device having the features defined in claim <NUM> is provided according to the present invention. Preferred embodiments of the device will be evident from the dependent claims.

More specifically, there is provided according to the present invention a device configured for mounting to a surface. The device comprising a base part and an attachment part, the attachment part being attachable to the base part. The base part is provided with a keyhole-shaped opening for receiving a fastener comprising a head and a shaft for attaching the base part to the surface, the keyhole-shaped opening comprises a first segment permitting passage of the head and shaft and a second segment permitting passage of the shaft but preventing passage of the head. The attachment part comprises a protrusion which in an assembled state of the base part and the attachment part restricts relative movement between the fastener and the base part. The risk of the device unintentionally detaching from the fastener is thus reduced, as the assembly of the attachment part and the base part itself provides additional security in preventing relative movement between the fastener and the base part.

The base part is a may be a camera base part and the attachment part may be a dome window.

The keyhole-shaped opening and the protrusion may further be peripherally arranged on the base part and the attachment part respectively. The peripheral arrangement of the keyhole-shaped openings reduces the risk of any rotational force applied to the exterior of the device becoming multiplied as could be the result if the keyhole-shaped openings were arranged closer to the center of the device. The risk of unintentional detachment of the device is thus reduced.

The attachment part is attachable to the base part by linear relative movement between the attachment part and the base part.

The protrusion may in the assembled state of the attachment part and the base part extend into the keyhole-shaped opening. The protrusion being arranged in the keyhole-shaped opening will reduce the risk of the base part moving in relation to the fastener in the assembled state of the device. Moreover, the protrusion may function as a guide for facilitating assembly of the attachment part and the base part by its interaction with the keyhole-shaped opening.

The base part may comprise a plurality of keyhole-shaped openings.

The attachment part may further comprise a plurality of protrusions.

The keyhole-shaped openings may be circumferentially distributed on the base part.

The attachment part comprises an additional protrusion configured to be received by an additional opening provided in the base part in the assembled state, thus facilitating correct relative orientation of the base part and attachment part.

The attachment part may comprise an outer annular bottom section, an inner annular bottom section and a bridging section connecting the outer annular bottom section and the inner annular bottom section, the bridging section comprising a distal end forming the protrusion. The bridging section thus provides structural rigidity to the inner and outer annular sections. The protrusion will likewise be sufficiently rigid by being formed as a distal end of the bridging section between the outer and inner annular bottom sections, whereby the risk of the protrusion being damaged or compromised by interaction with the fastener is reduced.

The attachment part may further be releasably attached to the base part.

All references to "a/an/the [element, device, component, means, step, etc.]" are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of said element, device, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise.

<FIG> discloses a perspective view of a device <NUM>, preferably a camera device <NUM>, which is mounted to a surface <NUM>. The camera device <NUM> is illustrated as a dome camera but may be embodied as another type of camera suitable for mounting to a surface <NUM>.

The surface <NUM> may be any type of surface that is suited for attachment of the camera device <NUM>, such as a wall or a ceiling. Typically, in case the device <NUM> is a camera device, the device <NUM> is preferably mounted at an elevated position in relation to its surroundings for achieving a desired field of view as illustrated in <FIG>. This obviously necessitates that the device <NUM> is securely attached to the surface <NUM>.

The device <NUM> comprises a base part <NUM> and an attachment part <NUM>. The attachment part <NUM> is attachable to the base part <NUM>, while the base part <NUM> configured to be attached to the surface <NUM>. The base part <NUM> thus carries the weight of the attachment part <NUM> and forms a load bearing component of the device <NUM>. The provision of the base part <NUM> facilitates mounting of the device <NUM> to the surface <NUM> as it may be secured by means of suitable fasteners <NUM> (shown in <FIG>) before the attachment part <NUM> is attached thereto. For instance, a camera unit (not shown) may be attached to the base part <NUM> while the attachment part <NUM> forms a cover/housing such as a dome window which encloses the camera unit inside of the device <NUM>. The attachment part <NUM> may thus be partially or entirely transparent such that a camera unit arranged inside of the attachment part <NUM> can achieve a satisfactory image quality. The base part <NUM> and the attachment part <NUM> are shown being provided with corresponding circular shapes, but is to be realized that the base part <NUM> and/or the attachment part <NUM> could be provided with other shapes as well such as rectangular or hexagonal etc..

<FIG> shows the device <NUM> from a posterior view in which the base part <NUM> is shown from the side intended to be facing the surface <NUM>. The base part <NUM> may be formed from a plastic material or e.g. from a metallic material. The base part <NUM> is provided with a keyhole-shaped opening <NUM> for receiving a fastener <NUM> (shown in <FIG>) for attaching the base part <NUM> to the surface <NUM>. The keyhole-shaped opening <NUM> facilitates attachment and removal of the base part <NUM> to/from the surface <NUM>, as the fasteners <NUM> only needs to be loosened, and not being completely removed, for removal of the base part <NUM>.

Preferably are a plurality of keyhole-shaped openings <NUM> provided such as three or more. The keyhole-shaped openings <NUM> are preferably arranged peripherally at the base part <NUM>, i.e. near the perimeter thereof. The keyhole-shaped openings <NUM> may be evenly angularly distributed around the periphery of the base part <NUM>. The keyhole-shaped openings <NUM> may further be unevenly distributed around the periphery of the base part <NUM>, providing only one possible relative orientation of the base part <NUM> and the fasteners <NUM> as well as one possible relative orientation of the attachment part <NUM> and the base part <NUM> for allowing assembly of the two parts <NUM>, <NUM>.

Each keyhole-shaped opening <NUM> comprises a first segment <NUM> permitting passage of a head <NUM> (shown in <FIG>) of the fastener <NUM>, thus allowing the base part <NUM> to be removed from the surface <NUM> without completely removing the fastener <NUM>. A second segment <NUM> of each keyhole-shaped opening <NUM> permits passage of a shaft <NUM> of the fastener <NUM> but prevents passage of the head <NUM> thereof. The base part <NUM> is for securing the base part <NUM> to the surface <NUM> configured to be adjusted in relation to the fastener <NUM> such that the fastener <NUM> is arranged in the second segment <NUM>.

In order to reduce the risk of the base part <NUM>, and thus the entire device <NUM>, unintentionally detaching from the fasteners <NUM>, the attachment part <NUM> is provided with a protrusion <NUM>. The protrusion <NUM> is configured to, in an assembled state of the base part <NUM> and the attachment part <NUM>, restrict relative movement between the fastener <NUM> and the base part <NUM>. As is visible from <FIG>, this may be achieved as the protrusion <NUM> is configured to be arranged in the proximity of the head <NUM> of the fastener <NUM> when the attachment part <NUM> is attached to the base part <NUM> such that the head <NUM> cannot pass through the first segment <NUM>.

The protrusion <NUM> may extend such that it is arranged in the first segment <NUM> of the keyhole-shaped opening <NUM> when the attachment part <NUM> is attached to the base part <NUM>, thus preventing the fastener <NUM> to move in relation to the base part <NUM> from the second segment <NUM> to the first segment <NUM>. Preferably is one protrusion <NUM> provided for each keyhole-shaped opening <NUM>. It is however also feasible that less protrusions <NUM> are provided than keyhole-shaped openings <NUM>.

The protrusion <NUM> may further extend such that it is arranged in the proximity of the keyhole-shaped opening <NUM> when the attachment part <NUM> is attached to the base part <NUM>. In the proximity in this context means closer to the base part <NUM> than the heigth of the head <NUM> of the fastener <NUM>, such that the movement of the fastener <NUM> in relation to the base part <NUM> will be obstructed by the protrusion <NUM>. The protrusion <NUM> may thus not necessarily extend into the keyhole-shaped opening <NUM> but to a position above it which is sufficiently close to avoid the head <NUM> of the fastener <NUM> bewteen the protrusion <NUM> and the base part <NUM>. The protrusion <NUM> will thus be arranged such that it prevents the fastener <NUM> to move in relation to the base part <NUM> from the second segment <NUM> to the first segment <NUM> when the attachment part <NUM> is attached to the base part <NUM>.

The base part <NUM> is further provided with an additional opening <NUM> for receiving an additional protrusion <NUM> on the attachment part <NUM>. A plurality of additional protrusions <NUM> and corresponding additional openings <NUM> may be provided, as illustrated in <FIG>. The additional protrusions <NUM> and the corresponding additional openings <NUM> are preferably arranged peripherally at the attachment part <NUM> and the base part <NUM> respectively, i.e. near the perimeter of each respective part <NUM>, <NUM>. The additional protrusions <NUM> and the corresponding additional openings <NUM> are configured to facilitate correct orientation of the attachment part <NUM> when attached to the base part <NUM>. The additional protrusions <NUM> and the corresponding additional openings <NUM> may thus be arranged such that only one possible relative orientation of the attachment part <NUM> and the base part <NUM> is possible. For instance may the additional protrusions <NUM> and the corresponding additional openings <NUM> be unevenly distributed around the periphery of the base part <NUM> and the attachment part <NUM> respectively. The additional protrusions <NUM> and the corresponding additional openings <NUM> may further be provided with a shape and/or orientation that only permits one relative orientation of the base part <NUM> and the attachment part <NUM>.

Each additional opening <NUM> may further be provided with an elongated shape such that the additional protrusion <NUM> can move in relation to the additional opening <NUM>. The additional opening <NUM> may for instance be provided with a semi-circular elongated shape, which allows the additional protrusion <NUM> to move therein as the attachment part <NUM> is rotated in relation to the base part <NUM>. A first end of the additional opening <NUM> may by its interaction with the additional protrusion <NUM> define the secured relative position of the base part <NUM> and the attachment part <NUM>, in which the fastener <NUM> is arranged in the second segment <NUM> of the keyhole-shaped opening <NUM>. A second end of the additional opening <NUM> opposite the first end may by its interaction with the additional protrusion <NUM> define a released relative position of the base part <NUM> and the attachment part <NUM>, in which the fastener <NUM> is arranged in the first segment <NUM> of the keyhole-shaped opening <NUM>.

The device <NUM> may further be provided with an attachment part fastener <NUM> for securing the attachment part <NUM> to the base part <NUM>. More than one attachment part fastener <NUM> is preferably provided.

The attachment part fasteners <NUM> may be resilient clips allowing snap-lock securing of the attachment part <NUM> to the base part <NUM>. The attachment part fasteners <NUM> may further comprise fasteners such as a screw or similar.

The attachment part <NUM> is preferably releasably attached to the base part <NUM>, whereby the attachment part fasteners <NUM> are releasable for instance by resiliently pressing the attachment part fasteners <NUM> out of snap-lock engagement.

<FIG> shows a detail view of how the protrusion <NUM> is arranged in the keyhole-shaped opening <NUM>. The protrusion <NUM> is shown having a rectangular oblong cross-sectional shape, but is it to be realized that the protrusion can be provided with another cross-sectional shape as well such as circular, oval or square. The protrusion <NUM> may be provided with a shape corresponding to the shape of the first segment <NUM> of the keyhole-shaped opening <NUM>, such that it can be arranged in the first segment <NUM>.

The protrusion <NUM> may be configured to prevent attachment of the attachment part <NUM> to the base part <NUM> if the fastener <NUM> is not correctly arranged in the second segment <NUM> of the keyhole-shaped opening <NUM>.

For instance, the protrusion <NUM> may be provided with a cross-sectional shape that occupies a sufficient amount of space in the first segment <NUM> of the keyhole-shaped opening <NUM> that the protrusion <NUM> cannot be inserted into or sufficiently close to the first segment <NUM> if either of the head <NUM> or the shaft <NUM> of the fastener <NUM> is arranged in the first segment <NUM>.

The protrusion <NUM> is, when the attachment part <NUM> is attached to the base part <NUM>, arranged such that the fastener <NUM> is prevented from movement into the first segment <NUM> of the keyhole-shaped opening <NUM>.

This may be achieved by the protrusion <NUM> extending such that it is arranged sufficiently close to the keyhole-shaped opening <NUM> such that the head <NUM> of the fastener <NUM> will make contact with the protrusion <NUM> if relative movement is induced between the base part <NUM> and the fastener <NUM>.

The protrusion <NUM> may alternatively extend into or to a proximal position above the first segment <NUM> of the keyhole-shaped opening <NUM>, preferably near the transition between first segment <NUM> and second segment <NUM> thereof. Alternatively, in an embodiment where the second segment <NUM> has a sufficient elongated extension in the plane of the base part <NUM> to accommodate both the fastener <NUM> and the protrusion <NUM>, the protrusion <NUM> can be arranged in the second segment <NUM> or in a proximal position above the second segment <NUM> in the assembled state of the device <NUM>. The protrusion <NUM> should in such an embodiment be arranged between the fastener <NUM> and the first segment <NUM>, such that the fastener <NUM> cannot move past the protrusion <NUM> in the second segment <NUM> to the first segment <NUM>.

The protrusion <NUM> may further function as a guide for achieving correct alignment between the base part <NUM> and the attachment part <NUM>.

In accordance with the invention the attachment part <NUM> is illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG> as being attachable to the base part <NUM> by linear relative movement between the attachment part <NUM> and the base part <NUM>. In other words, the attachment part <NUM> can be attached to the base part <NUM> by pushing the attachment part <NUM> together with the base part <NUM>. The attachment part fasteners <NUM> may be configured to snap into a locking position once the attachment part <NUM> is correctly positioned in relation to the base part <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, not in accordance with the invention the attachment part <NUM> is configured to be attached to the base part <NUM> by means of a rotational relative movement between the attachment part <NUM> and the base part <NUM>. The attachment part <NUM> may thus be arranged in connection with the base part <NUM>, whereafter the attachment part <NUM> is twisted/rotated in relation to the base part <NUM> until the correct relative position is achieved. The attachment part fasteners <NUM> may be configured to snap into a locking position once the attachment part <NUM> is correctly positioned in relation to the base part <NUM>.

As can be further seen in <FIG>, the attachment part <NUM> may be provided with an outer annular bottom section <NUM>, an inner annular bottom section <NUM> and a bridging section <NUM> connecting the outer annular bottom section <NUM> and the inner annular bottom section <NUM>. The outer annular bottom section <NUM> and the inner annular bottom section <NUM> may be integrally formed with the attachment part <NUM>. The outer annular bottom section <NUM> may be formed by the exterior of the attachment part <NUM>, with the inner annular bottom section <NUM> forming an annular wall arranged interiorly of the outer annular section <NUM>.

The bridging section <NUM> may be integrally formed with and provide rigidity to the outer and inner annular bottoms sections <NUM>, <NUM>. The outer and inner annular bottom sections <NUM>, <NUM> forms between them an intermediate annular space into which the keyhole-shaped openings <NUM> along with the head <NUM> of the fastener <NUM> is arranged when the attachment part <NUM> is attached to the base part <NUM>. The fastener <NUM> is thus hidden and cannot be removed without removing the attachment part <NUM> from the base part <NUM> first.

The bridging section <NUM> may further comprise a distal end <NUM> which forms the protrusion <NUM>. The protrusion <NUM> is thus formed integrally with the bridging section <NUM> which is connected to the inner and outer annular bottom section <NUM>, <NUM> respectively and may thus be provided with sufficient structural rigidity.

Similarly, as is shown in <FIG> which shows the attachment part <NUM> in a perspective view, each additional protrusion <NUM> may be formed as a distal end <NUM> on a respective bridging section <NUM> between the inner and outer annular bottom sections <NUM>, <NUM>. The additional protrusion <NUM>, as well as the protrusion <NUM>, may thus be formed as a part of a strengthening bridging section <NUM> which provides structural rigidity to the attachment part <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A device (<NUM>) configured for mounting to a surface (<NUM>), comprising a base part (<NUM>) and an attachment part (<NUM>), the attachment part (<NUM>) being attachable to the base part (<NUM>), wherein the base part (<NUM>) is provided with a keyhole-shaped opening (<NUM>) for receiving a fastener (<NUM>) comprising a head (<NUM>) and a shaft (<NUM>) for attaching the base part (<NUM>) to the surface (<NUM>), the keyhole-shaped opening (<NUM>) comprises a first segment (<NUM>) permitting passage of the head (<NUM>) and shaft (<NUM>) and a second segment (<NUM>) permitting passage of the shaft (<NUM>) but preventing passage of the head (<NUM>), wherein the attachment part (<NUM>) comprises a protrusion (<NUM>) which in an assembled state of the base part (<NUM>) and the attachment part (<NUM>) restricts relative movement between the fastener (<NUM>) and the base part (<NUM>), wherein the attachment part (<NUM>) is attachable to the base part (<NUM>) by linear relative movement between the attachment part (<NUM>) and the base part (<NUM>) and wherein the attachment part (<NUM>) comprises an additional protrusion (<NUM>) configured to be received by an additional opening (<NUM>) provided in the base part (<NUM>) in the assembled state.