Patent ID: 8827574

Claim:
A camera mounting assembly for adjustably mounting a camera on a vertical support, a quick-release mechanism being provided with the support, comprising: (a) a base member having an upper portion configured to support a lower surface of the camera and a lower portion forming an opposite pair of lower slots; (b) a side member forming an opposite pair of side slots; and (c) a fastening element configured to detachably fasten together said side member and said base member such that when the lower surface of the camera is supported by the base member, at least a portion of the side member is aligned with a side surface of the camera and such that a pair of moveable jaws of the quick-release mechanism are selectively engageable with the lower slots and side slots to adjustably mount the camera in a landscape orientation and a portrait orientation, respectively, while maintaining the camera in a generally centered position over the vertical support, said fastening element comprising a rotatable member accessible from said side surface of said camera when said lower surface of said camera is supported by said base member where rotation of said rotatable member detachably interconnects said side member to said base member when said camera is supported by said base member, said fastening element extends through at least a portion of said side member into at least a portion of said base member when said base member is fastened to said side member and said fastening element is removed from within said at least a portion of said base member when said side member is said detached from said base member, said base member being free from extending along a substantial portion of said side surface of said camera when said camera is supported by said base member and said side member is detached from said base member.