Camera attachment device for sports bow

[0001] Not Applicable

[0002] Not Applicable

[0003] Not Applicable

[0004] This invention relates generally to the field of sports bow accessories and more specifically to a camera attachment device for sports bow.

The rapid advancement of features found in cell phones and small hand held video cameras make it possible to use these devices in many new and unusual ways. Many current cell phones include that ability to take video recordings. One unique application for these new video devices is to fasten them to sports equipment such as a sport bow, so that the user can record the event of an arrow being released from the bow and hitting its intended target.
Several designs have been thought of to hold cameras to sports bows. U.S. Pat. No. 4,296,725 shows a method of attaching a still camera to the central portion of a bow and includes a method of automatically activating the camera shutter when the arrow is released. U.S. Pat. No. 7,604,420 shows a way to attach a video camera to a sports bow by means of a standard threaded screw mounted on the bow to a threaded aperture found on the bottom of the camera.
However, none of the designs shown in the prior art provides the ability for a user to attach a standard cell phone or hand held video camera, not having a threaded aperture, to a sport bow. Furthermore, none of the prior art designs provides a camera mount device that can be easily adjusted to fit a variety of sizes and thickness of hand held video cameras.

[0005] The primary object of the invention is to provide a camera mount for a sport bow that lets the user take video footage of an arrow leaving the bow and hitting a target.

[0006] Another object of the invention is to provide a camera mount for a sport bow whose retaining clamp can be adjusted to fit various sizes of cell phones and video camera devices.

[0007] Another object of the invention is to provide a camera mount for a sport bow that includes compressible adaptor panels that accommodate the varying thickness between cameras.

[0008] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

[0009] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed camera attachment device for sports bow comprising: a main support bracket, a secondary support bracket, a bow to bracket attachment arm, and a thumb screw, said main support bracket including a flat vertically disposed panel having forwardly disposed cradle arms fixedly attached to the lower portion of said panel and rearwardly disposed inwardly facing cradle arms on each vertical side of said panel. said secondary bracket being an inverted L shape with the horizontally disposed top leg of said L shape having a downwardly facing tab, the vertically disposed leg of said L shape sized to be slidably retained within said rerwardly facing cradle arms of said main bracket, said secondary bracket including a centrally disposed slot that can allow penetration of a threaded post of said thumb screw. said threaded post of said thumb screw capable of being received by a matching threaded aperture centrally located on said main support bracket panel, said bow to bracket extension arm having a first aperture located near one end and a second aperture located near the opposite end. said bow to bracket extension arm fitting between said thumb screw and said second support bracket so that said thumb screw can penetrate said first aperture, said bow to bracket extension arm capable of removably attaching, via said second aperture, to the stabilizer screw portion of a standard sports bow so that said extension arm is captured between said stabilizer and said bow frame, said secondary bracket capable of being slidably adjusted by a user to fit a standard hand held video camera snuggly between said lower cradle arms of said main support bracket and said upper horizontal leg of said secondary support bracket, said secondary bracket fixed in place when said user tightens said thumb screw.

[0016] Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.

Referring now to FIG. 1 we see a perspective view of a portion of a standard bow 2 where a bow to camera mount support arm 6 has been inserted between the stabilizer post 4 and the front of the bow by means of a threaded post extending from the stabilizer post and penetrating an aperture 16, shown in FIG. 3, of the support arm and entering a threaded aperture located on the front of the standard sports bow 2. The support arm 6 is thereby trapped and fixed between the stabilizer post 4 and the front of the bow 2. A main support bracket 10 and a secondary support bracket 8 retain a standard cell phone 12 which has video capability or other standard digital hand held video cameras 12. The lens 52 of the cell phone camera 12 can be clearly seen. Thumb screw 14 can be tightened by the user to lock together the secondary bracket 8 with the main bracket 10 as well as trapping the opposite end of the bow to camera support arm 6 thereby allowing a person to take a video of an arrow leaving the sports bow and hitting its intended target.

[0017] FIG. 2 shows a front view of the invention clearly showing how the lower cradle arms of the main support bracket 10 hold the bottom portion of the cell phone or camera and the downwardly facing tab of the secondary support bracket 8 holds the top portion of the cell phone or video camera. Bow to camera mount support arm 6 can be positioned at any desired angle by means of adjusting the arm as it can rotate about connection aperture 16 which helps to attach the support arm 6 to the bow 2 as described in FIG. 1. Additional apertures 54, 56 in arm 6 allow the user to accommodate the variation in location of the stabilizer post 4 so that the camera 12 remains in the ideal location with relation to the sight pins of the bow 2.

[0018] FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the invention. Secondary support bracket has an inverted L shape with a vertical panel 38, a horizontal panel 40 and a downwardly facing tab 42. Vertical panel 38 includes a slot that allows the secondary bracket to be slid up or down when it is inserted into the rearwardly facing cradle arms 20, 22 of main bracket 10 even though screw post 34 of thumb screw 14 is penetrating through vertical panel 38 and into aperture 48 of main vertical panel 46. Main bracket 10 includes a pair of lower cradle arms 24, 26 that each have upwardly facing tabs 28, 30 to grip the lower portion of a standard cell phone or digital video camera. The sliding feature of secondary support bracket 8 allows the invention to snuggly retain a variety of sizes of cell phones or video cameras. Bow to camera mount support arm 6 is sandwiched between the outside surface of secondary bracket panel 38 and the inside surface 36 of thumb screw 14.

[0019] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the invention as it is holding a cell phone 12 having a thick cross section. FIG. 5 shows a similar side view of the invention holding a thin cell phone 112. In this embodiment, a resilient pad 44 is placed behind the phone 112 by the user to take up the unused space between the back of the phone 112 and the front surface of main bracket 10. In this way, the present invention can securely hold a variety of sizes and shapes of cell phones and hand held video cameras. The invention is easy to install and operate and is inexpensive to manufacture.

[0020] While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.