SHOE AND MOUNT ASSEMBLY TO HOLD CAMERA OR CAMCORDER

[0001] This application claims the priority date of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/441,365, filed Jan. 21, 2003.

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a shoe and mount assembly to hold a camera or a camcorder on an auxiliary stabilizing device and support.

[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0005] There have been various attempts to mount cameras or camcorders on auxiliary carrying and stabilizing devices using a shoe on the camera connected to a mount on the auxiliary device, such as illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,260,731 and 5,890,025. However, either such devices provide for limited relative adjustment of the shoe and camera, or are unstable, permitting unwanted relative movement.

[0006] According to this invention, a shoe and mount assembly is configured for use with a variety of cameras or camcorders as the shoe is in mating engagement with the bottom of the camera or camcorder unit. The shoe is detachable and is dimensioned to center fit a corresponding indent in the top surface of the mount. The shoe is configured with a locating pin and a threaded connector to be fitted on the base of a camera or camcorder. Once the locating pin locates the receiving recess in the

[0007] FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the shoe and mount assembly with portions broken away to show in section the position of the camlock when the shoe is locked in the mount.

[0008] Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the shoe and mount assembly 72. The shoe and mount assembly 72 is configured for the shoe 74 to be connected to the bottom of a camcorder or camera, as shown in our co-pending application entitled Shoulder Mounted Support Assembly to Hold Camera or Camcorder assigned to the same assignee as the instant application, and identified as Attorney Docket No. 6619-P-601. The bottom of the mount can be attached to an auxiliary device, e.g., a shoulder harness for stabilizing the camera or camcorder, which is also shown in our co-pending application, which disclosure is incorporated herein by reference.

[0009] As seen in FIG. 4, the shoe 74 is detachable and is dimensioned to center fit a corresponding L-shaped indent 73 in the top surface 75 of the mount 76. The shoe 74 is configured with a locating pin 78 to be placed in a an aperture (not shown) in the bottom of the camera or camcorder so as to enable a threaded connector 80 to be threadedly connected into a threaded receiving recess (not shown) in the bottom of the camera or camcorder 11. The top surface 82 of the shoe has abrasion pads 81, 83 for frictional engagement with the bottom of the camera.

[0010] Once assembled to the camera or camcorder the shoe 74 may be loaded into the mount 76 and retained in position by a spring biased camlock 84. The camlock 84 includes a spring-biased pin 85 held captive within a slot 87 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Pushing inward on the head 89 of pin 85 against the bias of spring 95 as shown in FIG. 6 positions an undercut or thinner diameter portion 93 of the pin 85 adjacent to the projecting cam surface 82 of shoe 74 so the shoe can be positioned wholly within recess 73. Release of head 89 enables a thicker beveled portion 97 of the pin shaft or body to abut a portion of downwardly angled cam surface 82 to lock the shoe against upward removal, as shown in FIG. 7.

[0011] The base of the mount 76 has a T-shaped in cross-section bar 77 along its bottom surface 90 which is connected to a horizontal slide assembly which is mounted on a bracket on a camcorder or camera (not shown), to perfect the alignment of the camcorder's or camera's viewfinder relative to the operator's eye using sliding adjustments in the X and Y directions in a horizontal plane as shown in our copending application.