Rotating Camera Connector With Wedge Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional camera carrying devices, such as straps and body-mounted camera cases, are either prone to damage from impact or hinder quick camera access, especially in fluid situations, and existing rotatable mounting solutions lack efficient locking mechanisms to prevent accidental decoupling.
Innovation Solution
A camera carrying device featuring a male connector with a wedge-shaped base and a rotatable plate that securely engages a female connector with a U-shaped slot, allowing 360-degree rotation and a locking mechanism that prevents accidental release, using a threaded member to attach to a camera's tripod receiver and a strap assembly for hands-free mounting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a strap is used to carry the camera, then the camera can be carried around the neck or shoulder, but the camera swings freely and may become damaged upon impact
Solution Approach 1:
The male connector is designed to rotate freely within the U-shaped slot of the female connector, allowing the camera to dynamically adjust its position and absorb impact forces through rotation rather than rigid fixed positioning, thereby protecting the camera from damage while maintaining carrying convenience
2Ease of operation
If a strap is used to carry the camera, then the camera can be carried hands-free, but the strap may become entangled and interfere with the person's ability to take a picture
Solution Approach 1:
The camera is extracted from the entangled strap system by mounting it on a rigid body-mounted case with a structured connector system. The male connector fits into the female connector on the case, creating a rigid mounting structure that eliminates strap entanglement while maintaining hands-free carrying capability
3Reliability
If a body-mounted camera case is used, then the camera is protected from strap entanglement and impact, but the time required to remove the camera from the case prevents quick photography in fluid situations
Solution Approach 1:
The connector system is segmented into a male connector attached to the camera and a female connector on the case. This segmentation allows the camera to be quickly detached from the case by simply separating the two connector halves, dramatically reducing removal time while maintaining protection when connected
4Adaptability or versatility
If a rotatable mounting mechanism is used, then the camera can be rotated 360 degrees for flexible positioning, but the connector may accidentally decouple from the female connector
Solution Approach 1:
The male connector features an asymmetric design with a circular plate that fits into the U-shaped slot at a specific orientation. The asymmetric geometry provides natural alignment and retention features that prevent accidental decoupling while still allowing intentional rotation and removal when needed
Data Source
AI summary
A device for rotatably mounting a camera on a person comprises a female connector and a male connector. The female connector has a U-shaped slot defined by a pocket and a pair of opposed channels which extend from the pocket. The male connector has a wedge shaped base, a plate spaced-apart form the base, and an opening extending through the wedge shaped base and the plate. The plate is slidably received by the U-shaped slot of the female connector and rotatable through 360 degrees within the pocket of the female connector. A threaded member extends through the opening in the male connector. The threaded member is for engaging a threaded tripod receiver of the camera. A strap assembly is connected to the female connector. The strap assembly is for mounting the device to the person. The plate of the male connector has a first rotatable position within the pocket of the female connector in which the male connector is secured to the female connector, and a second rotatable position within the pocket of the female connector in which the male connector is releasable from the female connector.