Curved Guide Camera Mount with Spring Bias
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camera mounts for wildlife observation are limited by the angle of the supporting structure, are complex, costly, and conspicuous, restricting the camera's orientation and making them difficult to assemble and disassemble.
Innovation Solution
A camera mount design featuring a base member with a curved guide surface and a spring-biased camera support that allows for multiple orientations and easy assembly/disassembly, utilizing a ball-and-socket mechanism with a minority spherical surface for reduced thickness and concealment, enabling securement to various angles without restricting the supporting structure's orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional camera mount is used, then the camera can be secured to the supporting structure, but the mount is restricted by the angle of the supporting structure and limits camera orientation
Solution Approach 1:
The mount is divided into separate functional components: a base member that attaches to the supporting structure, a camera support member that holds the camera, and a spring mechanism that provides biasing force. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall structure while enabling multi-orientation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The mount incorporates a curved guide surface with a radius of curvature that allows the camera support to pivot and assume multiple orientations. The curved surface geometry enables the camera to be positioned at various angles relative to the supporting structure while maintaining secure contact and proper spring biasing.
2Reliability
If a complex camera mount design is used, then secure camera positioning is achieved, but assembly and disassembly become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The mount employs a dynamic spring-biased mechanism where the spring continuously applies biasing force to maintain contact between the camera support and the curved guide surface. This dynamic system automatically adjusts to different positions and orientations, securing the camera reliably while allowing easy attachment and detachment when the spring bias is overcome.
3Strength
If a thick camera mount interface is used, then structural strength is maintained, but the mount becomes conspicuous to wildlife
Solution Approach 1:
The mount concentrates its structural strength locally at critical contact points: the base member attachment interface with the supporting structure, the curved guide surface contact area, and the spring attachment points. This localized strengthening allows the overall mount profile to be minimized, reducing visibility to wildlife while maintaining adequate strength at essential locations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The camera mount provides flexible orientation options, ease of assembly, reduced complexity and cost, and a compact design that closely follows the supporting structure, making it less conspicuous to wildlife while maintaining secure camera positioning.
Implementation Method 1
a spring resiliently biasing the guide abutting surface against the curved guide surface to releasably retain the camera support
Implementation Method 2
a ball or a portion of a ball and a socket having a minority spherical surface that receives the ball or the portion of the ball, wherein the ball or the portion of the ball rotates within the socket
Data Source
AI summary
A camera mount may include a base member having a rear face to face a support structure and a front face, the front face a curved guide surface, a camera support having a rear face facing the front face of the base member, the rear face of the camera support comprising a guide abutting surface and a retainer resiliently biasing the guide abutting surface against the curved guide surface to releasably retain the camera support at one of a plurality of different positions along the curved guide surface and at one of a plurality of different available orientations relative to the support structure.