Assemblies and methods for reducing the complexity of camera mounting assemblies
View Patent ↗A camera mounting assembly includes a positioning support defining a central axis and a plurality of brackets. Each of the brackets includes a first end coupled to the positioning support and a second end spaced apart from the first end. The brackets are configured to move between a retracted state and an extended state. When in the retracted state, the second ends of the brackets are at a first distance from the central axis, and in the extended state, the second ends of the brackets are at a second distance. The second distance is greater than the first distance.
1. A camera mounting assembly for mounting a camera in a hole in an overhead support, comprising:
a positioning support defining a central opening with a central axis, and configured to be inserted into the hole in the overhead support, the positioning support including:
an upper flange extending away from the central axis,
first struts connected to the upper flange and extending away from the upper flange in the direction of the central axis, and
lower flanges connected to the first struts, spaced apart from the upper flange, and extending away from the first struts and the central axis, the lower flanges configured to couple to a bottom surface of the overhead support;
a retention member connected to the upper flange and including second struts and retention flanges; and
a plurality of brackets, each of the brackets including:
a first end coupled to the upper flange of the positioning support, and
a second end spaced apart from the first end and configured to couple to a top surface of the overhead support; and
wherein the brackets are configured to move between a retracted state for inserting the camera mounting assembly into the hole in the overhead support and an extended state for securing the camera mounting assembly to the overhead support, in the retracted state the second ends of the brackets are at a first distance from the central axis, and in the extended state the second ends of the brackets are at a second distance from the central axis, the second distance being greater than the first distance, and
wherein the camera mounting assembly is configured to receive a camera housing of the camera through the central opening of the positioning support, and the retention flanges of the retention member are configured to engage an engagement flange on the camera housing to retain the camera housing in the central opening of the positioning support.
2. The camera mounting assembly of claim 1 , wherein a plane is defined by the first ends of the brackets and a line perpendicular to the central axis and wherein the second ends of the brackets are on a first side of the plane when the brackets are in the retracted state and are on a second side of the plane when the brackets are in the extended state, the second side of the plane being opposite the first side of the plane.
3. The camera mounting assembly of claim 2 , wherein the brackets are configured to rotate between the retracted state and the extended state.
4. The camera mounting assembly of claim 3 , further including biasing members coupled to the brackets, the biasing members being configured to exert biasing forces on the brackets to move the brackets toward the extended state.
5. The camera mounting assembly of claim 1 , wherein when the brackets are in the retracted state, at least one of the brackets is oriented at an acute angle relative to a reference line passing through the at least one bracket and being parallel to the central axis, and when the at least one bracket is in the in the extended state, the at least one bracket is at an obtuse angle relative to the reference line.
6. A camera assembly for mounting in a hole in an overhead support, comprising:
a camera mounting assembly including:
a positioning support defining a central opening with a central axis, and configured to be inserted into the hole in the overhead support, the positioning support having an upper flange extending away from the central axis, first struts connected to the upper flange and extending away from the upper flange in the direction of the central axis, and lower flanges connected to the first struts, spaced apart from the upper flange, and extending away from the first struts and the central axis, the lower flanges configured to couple to a bottom surface of the overhead support,
a retention member connected to the upper flange and including second struts and retention flanges,
a plurality of brackets, each of the brackets including a first end coupled to the upper flange of the positioning support, and a second end spaced apart from the first end and configured to couple to a top surface of the overhead support, wherein the brackets are configured to move between a retracted state for inserting the camera mounting assembly into the hole in the overhead support and an extended state for securing the camera mounting assembly to the overhead support, in which in the retracted state the second ends of the brackets are at a first distance from the central axis and in the extended state the second ends of the brackets are at a second distance from the central axis, the second distance being greater than the first distance; and
a camera coupled to the mounting assembly,
wherein the camera mounting assembly is configured to receive a camera housing of the camera through the central opening of the positioning support, and the retention flanges of the retention member are configured to engage an engagement flange on the camera housing to retain the camera housing in the central opening of the positioning support.
7. The camera assembly of claim 6 , wherein a plane is defined by the brackets and a line perpendicular to the central axis and wherein the second ends of the brackets are on a first side of the plane when the brackets are in the retracted state and are on a second side of the plane when the brackets are in the extended state, the second side of the plane being opposite the first side of the plane.
8. The camera assembly of claim 6 , wherein the brackets are configured to rotate between the retracted state and the extended state.
9. The camera assembly of claim 8 , further including biasing members coupled to the brackets, the biasing members being configured to exert biasing forces on the brackets to move the brackets toward the extended state.
10. The camera assembly of claim 6 , wherein when the brackets are in the retracted state, at least one of the brackets is oriented at an acute angle relative to a reference line passing through the at least one bracket and being parallel to the central axis, and when the at least one bracket is in the in the extended state, the at least one bracket is at an obtuse angle relative to the reference line.
11. The camera assembly of claim 6 , further comprising a cover, the cover being configured to magnetically couple to the camera assembly.