Quick coupling for a body camera
View Patent ↗A coupling releasably secures an item such as a body camera to a mount point. The coupling includes a connector and a receiver. The connector includes a crossbar and a post. The receiver includes an opening and a slot. The crossbar moves through the entry opening and the connector is rotated relative to the receiver. The post of the connector is moved through the slot to engage the receiver and hold the connector in a mounted position on the receiver, thereby securing the item to the mount point. Embodiments of the present disclosure also involve methods for securing the item to the mount point using a connector and receiver, as well as systems for mounting an item using a connector, receiver, and mount point.
1. A coupling for releasably securing a body camera to a mount point, comprising a connector and a receiver;
the connector including a post and a plate extending perpendicular to a length of the post;
the receiver having a surface structure, an outer wall, and an entry opening, the entry opening defined by walls of a slot, the slot extending from a first end to a second end, the entry opening in communication with a receiver chamber; and
the connector being engageable with the receiver by moving the plate though the entry opening and into the receiver chamber, rotating the connector relative to the receiver, and moving the post along the slot toward the first end of the slot to frictionally engage the surface structure of the receiver and hold the connector in a mounted position on the receiver.
2. The coupling of claim 1 comprising a block positioned at a location adjacent the slot wherein the block is configured to engage the connector in a first rotational direction, thereby preventing rotation of the connector in the first rotational direction after the plate is moved through the entry opening.
3. The coupling of claim 1 wherein the surface structure of the receiver comprises one or more detents oriented along the slot to resist movement of the connector out of the mounted position.
4. The coupling of claim 1 wherein the surface structure of the receiver comprises one or more wedges, each wedge of the one or more wedges including a surface oriented to apply an increasing force to the plate as the plate slides along the surface of the wedge.
5. The coupling of claim 4 wherein the one or more wedges are positioned adjacent the first end of the slot.
6. The coupling of claim 1 wherein the length of the post of the connector is substantially equal to a thickness of the outer wall of the receiver.
7. The coupling of claim 1 wherein the plate of the connector comprises two or more portions, each portion of the two or more portions extending from a center axis of the post.
8. The coupling of claim 7 wherein the two or more portions of the plate of the connector are equal in length.
9. The coupling of claim 8 wherein a diameter of the plate of the connector is at least three times greater than a diameter of the post.
10. The coupling of claim 1 wherein:
a portion of the walls of the slot include chamfered surfaces;
the post of the connector comprises linear surfaces; and
the linear surfaces of the post of the connector are complementary in shape to the chamfered surfaces of the portion of the walls of the slot.
11. A coupling system comprising:
a body camera;
a mount point;
a connector fixed to one of the body camera and the mount point; and
a receiver fixed to the other of the body camera and the mount point, wherein:
the connector includes a post and a crossbar;
the receiver includes a surface structure, an outer wall, and an entry opening in communication with a slot; and
the connector is configured to engage with the receiver by moving the crossbar though the entry opening, rotating the connector relative to the receiver, and moving the post along the slot to engage the surface structure of the receiver and to hold the connector in a mounted position on the receiver.
12. The coupling system of claim 11 wherein the receiver further includes a physical structure positioned on the receiver to limit a direction of rotation of the crossbar.
13. The coupling system of claim 11 wherein the surface structure of the receiver comprises one or more detents oriented along the slot to resist movement of the connector out of the mounted position.
14. The coupling system of claim 11 wherein the surface structure of the receiver comprises one or more wedges, each wedge of the one or more wedges including a surface oriented to apply an increasing force to the crossbar as the crossbar slides along the surface of the wedge.
15. The coupling system of claim 14 wherein:
the slot extends from a first end to a second end; and
the one or more wedges are positioned adjacent the first end of the slot.
16. The coupling system of claim 11 wherein a length of the post of the crossbar is substantially equal to a thickness of the outer wall of the receiver.
17. The coupling system of claim 11 wherein the crossbar of the connector comprises two portions, each portion of the two portions extending from a center axis of the post.
18. The coupling system of claim 17 wherein the two portions of the crossbar of the connector are equal in length.
19. The coupling system of claim 17 wherein a width of the crossbar of the connector is at least three times greater than a diameter of the post.
20. The coupling system of claim 11 wherein:
the slot comprises walls that define a perimeter of the slot;
a portion of the walls of the slot comprise chamfered surfaces;
the post of the connector includes linear surfaces; and
the linear surfaces of the post of the connector are complementary in shape to the chamfered surfaces of the portion of the walls of the slot to provide tight mechanical engagement between the slot and the post.