Patent ID: 8480316

Claim:
A camera mounting apparatus for supporting a camera, comprising: a base member, the base member being substantially rectangular in shape, the base member having a front plane, a back plane, a top, a bottom and a first and second opposing side; a base attached to the front plane of the base member, the base comprising a rectangular box with no top portion and low-height sidewalls, the base having a bottom surface, a rear wall, a front wall and a first and second side wall; a pivoting member connected to the top of the base member about the intersection of the base and rear member of the pivoting member with a hinge apparatus, the pivoting member comprising an upside-down rectangular box with no top portion and low sidewalls, the pivoting member being able to pivot between an open position where the pivoting member is rotated up and backwards in relation to the base and a closed position where the pivoting member is rotated forward and down in relation to the base; an attachment apparatus mounted to the back plane of the base member, the attachment apparatus comprising two rectangular gripping elements mounted to the back plane each with its own hinging mechanism, the two rectangular gripping elements mounted in a spaced-apart vertical orientation on the back plane of the base member, the two rectangular gripping elements each having a base plate which interconnects with the hinging mechanism at one edge to be pivoted toward and away from the back plane of the base member, the base plate having a front plate surface and a back plate surface, the front plate surface having a portion of highly compressible foam mounted thereon; at least one elastic band for urging the two rectangular gripping elements together, the elastic band having knots in it at various points upon its length, the knots being received by at least two apertures, one located on each rectangular gripping element, so that a knot at one end of the elastic band can fit into one of the at least two apertures located on a first of the two rectangular gripping elements, where the elastic band be urged into a second, much smaller aperture adjacent and in cooperation with the one of the at least two apertures such that the knot is secured in place by the smaller aperture, where a knot on the other end of the elastic band is pulled through a second of the at least two apertures located on a second of the two rectangular gripping elements and urged into a second, much smaller aperture adjacent and in cooperation with the second of the at least two apertures such that the knot is secured in place by the smaller aperture; and wherein the elastic band had been pulled taut before securing the other end of the elastic band to the second of the two rectangular gripping elements.