IP Library Granted Patent US 9,377,672
Granted Patent B1
US 9,377,672 · App. 14/854,040 · Granted Jun 28, 2016

Detachable camera mount

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,377,672
App. No.
14/854,040
Granted
Jun 28, 2016
Kind
B1
Abstract

Various camera mounts used to attach a camera to a helmet, vehicle, user, or other object are described. In one embodiment, a flexible camera mount deforms under impact, allowing an attached camera to detach without fracturing the mount. In a second embodiment, a non-flexible camera mount fractures under impact, allowing an attached camera to detach. In a third embodiment, a camera mount comprising a ring base and a floating base separates under impact, allowing a camera attached to the floating base to detach. In a fourth embodiment, a non-flexible camera mount including two rigid sections joined in a “V” shape fractures under impact, allowing the camera to detach. In a fifth embodiment, a flexible camera mount comprising two sections connected in a “V” shape separate under impact, allowing the camera to detach.

Claims (53)

1. A camera mount comprising:

a mount base with a bottom surface comprising coupling means for coupling the mount base to an object;

a spine protruding from a top surface of the mount base;

an elevated surface protruding from the top surface of the mount base on either side of the spine such that a camera, when coupled to the camera mount, abuts the elevated surface and not the top surface of the mount base,

a first flexible arm protruding from a first side of the top surface of the mount base, the first flexible arm configured to elastically flex outward and away from the spine in response to an impact force on a camera coupled to the mount at least partially in a direction of the first flexible arm;

a second flexible arm protruding from a second side of the top surface of the mount base opposite the first side, the second flexible arm configured to elastically flex outward and away from the spine in response to an impact force on the camera at least partially in a direction of the second flexible arm;

wherein the first flexible arm and the second flexible arm are configured to secure the camera to the camera mount.

2. The camera mount of claim 1 , wherein the flexible arms comprise a flexible polycarbonate material.

3. The camera mount of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first divot in the mount base adjacent to the first flexible arm and between the first flexible arm and the spine; and

a second divot in the mount base adjacent to the second flexible arm and between the second flexible arm and the spine.

4. The camera mount of claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface of the mount base is one of:

concave; and

flat.

5. The camera mount of claim 1 , wherein the coupling means comprises one or more of: an adhesive, a buckle, a latch, a button, a rail, and a lock.

6. The camera mount of claim 1 , wherein the first flexible arm and the second flexible arm each comprise a lip configured to abut a top surface of a reciprocal camera mounting component configured to couple to the camera, securing the reciprocal camera mounting component to the camera mount.

7. A camera mount comprising:

a mount base with a bottom surface comprising coupling means for coupling the mount base to an object;

a spine protruding from a top surface of the mount base;

a first inflexible arm protruding from a first side of the top surface of the mount base, the first inflexible arm configured to fracture in response to an above-threshold impact force on a camera coupled to the mount at least partially in a direction of the first inflexible arm;

a second inflexible arm protruding from a second side of the top surface of the mount base opposite the first side, the second inflexible arm configured to fracture in response to an above-threshold impact force on the camera at least partially in a direction of the second inflexible arm;

a first elevated surface protruding from the top surface of the mount base adjacent to the first inflexible arm and between the first inflexible arm and the spine;

a second elevated surface protruding from the top surface of the mount base adjacent to the second inflexible arm and between the second inflexible arm and the spine;

wherein the camera, when the camera is coupled to the camera mount, abuts the first elevated surface and the second elevated surface and not the top surface of the mount base; and

wherein the first inflexible arm and the second inflexible arm are configured to secure the camera to the camera mount.

8. The camera mount of claim 7 , wherein the inflexible arms comprise a brittle plastic material.

9. The camera mount of claim 7 , further comprising:

a first divot in the mount base adjacent to the first elevated surface and between the first inflexible arm and the spine; and

a second divot in the mount base adjacent to the second elevated surface and between the second inflexible arm and the spine.

10. The camera mount of claim 9 , further comprising:

a third divot in the mount base adjacent to the spine and between the first inflexible arm and the spine; and

a fourth divot in the mount base adjacent to the spine and between the second inflexible arm and the spine.

11. The camera mount of claim 10 , wherein the spine couples to the mount base at two points of contact, one on either end of the spine, and wherein the spine is configured to fracture at one or both points of contact in response to an above-threshold impact force on a camera coupled to the mount.

12. The camera mount of claim 7 , wherein the bottom surface of the mount base is one of:

concave; and

flat.

13. The camera mount of claim 7 , wherein the coupling means comprises one or more of: an adhesive, a buckle, a latch, a button, a rail, and a lock.

14. The camera mount of claim 7 , wherein the first inflexible arm and the second inflexible arm each comprise a lip configured to abut a top surface of a reciprocal camera mounting component configured to couple to the camera, securing the reciprocal camera mounting component to the camera mount.

15. A camera mount comprising:

a mount base with a bottom surface comprising coupling means for coupling the mount base to an object;

a spine protruding from a top surface of the mount base;

a first flexible arm protruding from a first side of the top surface of the mount base, the first flexible arm configured to elastically flex outward and away from the spine in response to an impact force on a camera coupled to the mount at least partially in a direction of the first flexible arm;

a second flexible arm protruding from a second side of the top surface of the mount base opposite the first side, the second flexible arm configured to elastically flex outward and away from the spine in response to an impact force on the camera at least partially in a direction of the second flexible arm;

a first divot in the mount base adjacent to the first flexible arm and between the first flexible arm and the spine; and

a second divot in the mount base adjacent to the second flexible arm and between the second flexible arm and the spine;

wherein the first flexible arm and the second flexible arm are configured to secure the camera to the camera mount.

16. The camera mount of claim 15 , wherein the flexible arms comprise a flexible polycarbonate material.

17. The camera mount of claim 15 , further comprising an elevated surface protruding from the top surface of the mount base on either side of the spine such that a camera, when coupled to the camera mount, abuts the elevated surface and not the top surface of the mount base.

18. The camera mount of claim 15 , wherein the bottom surface of the mount base is one of:

concave; and

flat.

19. The camera mount of claim 15 , wherein the coupling means comprises one or more of: an adhesive, a buckle, a latch, a button, a rail, and a lock.

20. The camera mount of claim 15 , wherein the first flexible arm and the second flexible arm each comprise a lip configured to abut a top surface of a reciprocal camera mounting component configured to couple to the camera, securing the reciprocal camera mounting component to the camera mount.

Assignments (6)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 4, 2025
From: GOPRO, INC.
To: FARALLON CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.L.C., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 072340/0676 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 4, 2025
From: GOPRO, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 072358/0001 →
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 25, 2021
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: GOPRO, INC.
Reel/Frame 055106/0434 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 29, 2016
From: GOPRO, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 039851/0611 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 28, 2016
From: GOPRO, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 038184/0779 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 17, 2015
From: CLEARMAN, CHRISTOPHER AARON; BENNETT, ERIC MCCALLISTER
To: GOPRO, INC.
Reel/Frame 036815/0596 →