| US8137008B1 | 2012-03-20 |
| Claims What is claimed is: 1. This mvention is an assembly comprising a (miniature) video camera secured to or in the general tip or upper portion of a vertical member 2. As in claim 1 wherein said vertical member is secured to the exterior roof of a vehicle 3. As in claim 2 wherein said vertical member is of sufficient height to provide the camera with an elevated point of view capable of seeing overtop of vehicles ahead 4. As in claim 2 wherein said vertical member extends at least 8 inches above the roof, but may extend 24 inches or more for an elevated point of view 5. As in claim 2 wherein said vertical member is permanently attached to the roof 6. As in claim 2 wherein said vertical member points in the general forward direction of the vehicle 7. As above wherein a viewer for said camera is inside the vehicle in view of the driver 8. As above wherein said camera will feed its images to a general vehicle viewer including but not limited to a reverse-camera viewer, a viewer in the rear view mirror, a personal hand-held device, a tablet, a separate viewer or the like 9. As above wherein said vertical member is rigid to avoid bending from wind resistance 10. As above wherein said vertical member may have the general shape of the blade of a knife to resist bending from wind resistance 11. As above wherein said vertical member may have a bending capability to allow for bending while driving under overhead obstacles 12. As above wherein said vertical member may support a second camera pointed towards the general rear of the vehicle 13. As above wherein said vertical member may support a camera providing a 360 degree view 14 As above wherein, said camera atop said vertical member is capable of rotating 360 degrees 15. As above wherein said camera is a live-feed video camera 16. As above wherein said camera is connected to the viewer by cable(s) or wirelessly 17. As above wherein said assembly composes the camera, the vertical member and antenna as one unit, therefore the antenna itself takes on the function of the vertical member 18. As above wherein said assembly is of fixed shape 19. As above wherein said assembly comprises a telescoping vertical member 20. As above wherein said assembly may telescope in and out of the vehicle's structural body cavities 21. As above wherein said telescoping or extending assembly capability is manual or powered 22. As above wherein said assembly may be detachable 23. As above wherein said camera component may be detachable 24. As above wherein said vertical member may be integrated with a vehicle antenna or the like 25. An assembly comprising a camera for mounting and use on a vehicle roof, the vehicle roof having an upstanding upright vertical member mounted on and extending upwardly from said roof, the camera being mounted on said upstanding upright vertical member and positioned for viewing a desired direction from a height higher than said vehicle roof. 26. The assembly in claim 25 wherein the camera is mounted at least two inches higher than said vehicle roof. 27. The assembly in claim 25 wherein the upstanding upright vertical member is one selected from a group comprising rigidly attached to and removable from said vehicle roof. 28. The assembly in claim 25 wherein the upstanding upright vertical member is one selected from a group comprising rigid, flexible, retractable, foldable, and telescopic. 29. The assembly in claim 25 wherein the camera ccorimunicates with a viewer inside the vehicle to display camera views to a user. 30. The assembly in claim 25 wherein the camera is integrated into said upstanding upright vertical member. |
VEHICLE CAMERA AND ANTENNA ASSEMBLY
Prior Art
It is known to use hood mounted, roof mounted and/or windshield mounted cameras known as dash cameras. Typically these cameras are large (at least 3 inches in width, 2 inches in height, 1 inch depth). Said cameras are mounted on robust frames and are highly conspicuous.
Usefulness of invention
This invention's primary purpose is to promote driving safety. By allowing the driver to see from a higher point of view the driver benefits from receiving more information with which to make driving decisions. By being able to see overtop of other vehicles the driver can make better and safer driving decisions
Illustrations
Figure 1 illustrates the invention mounted on top of a vehicle
Figure 2 illustrates a close up view of the invention
Description
The invention is a camera -atop a vertical member providing the driver with an elevated point of view. The vertical member (2) is mounted generally on the roof of a vehicle (1). The camera (4) is located in the general top of the vertical member (2). The Camera is pointed in the general forward direction of the vehicle. The vertical member may be a separate member or integrated with an existing vertical member such as a car antenna (3) or the like. A second camera (5) may be mounted to the same vertical member and be pointed towards the rear or the vehicle. Alternately a 360 degree camera or a rotating camera may be attached to the tip of said vertical member.
This invention is an assembly comprising a (miruature) video camera secured to or in the general tip or upper portion of a vertical member
Said vertical member can be secured to the exterior roof of a vehicle
Said vertical member is of sufficient height to provide the camera with an elevated point of view capable of seeing overtop of vehicles ahead
Said vertical member extends at least 2 inches above the roof, but may extend 24 inches or more for an elevated point of view
Said vertical member can be permanently attached to the roof
Said vertical member can point in the general forward direction of the vehicle
A viewer for said camera can be inside the vehicle in view of the driver
Said camera will feed its images to a general vehicle viewer including but not limited to a reverse-camera viewer, a viewer in the rear view mirror, a personal hand-held device, a tablet, a separate viewer or the like
Said vertical member can be rigid to avoid bending from wind resistance
Said vertical member may have the general shape of the blade of a knife to resist bending from wind resistance
Said vertical member may have a bending capability to allow for bending while driving under overhead obstacles
Said vertical member may support a second camera pointed towards the general rear of the vehicle
Said vertical member may support a camera providing a 360 degree view
Said camera atop said vertical member can be capable of rotating 360 degrees
Said camera can be a live-feed video camera
Said camera can connect to the viewer by cable(s) or wirelessly Said assembly can comprise the camera, the vertical member and antenna as one unit, therefore the antenna itself takes on the function of the vertical member
Said assembly can comprise a telescoping vertical member
Said assembly may be detachable
Said camera component may be detachable
Said vertical member may be integrated with a vehicle antenna or the like
An assembly comprising a camera for mounting and use on a vehicle roof, the vehicle roof having an upstanding upright vertical member mounted on and extending upwardly from said roof, the camera being mounted on said upstanding upright vertical member and positioned for viewing a desired direction from a height higher than said vehicle roof.
The assembly wherein the camera is mounted at least two inches higher than said vehicle roof.
The assembly wherein the upstanding upright vertical member is one selected from a group comprising rigidly attached to and removable from said vehicle roof.
The assembly wherein the upstanding upright vertical member is one selected from a group comprising rigid, flexible, retractable, foldable, and telescopic.
The assembly wherein the camera communicates with a viewer inside the vehicle to display camera views to a user.
The assembly wherein the camera is integrated into said upstanding upright vertical member.