WO2007007278A2

WO2007007278A2 - Wearable device supporting a microcamera

Info

Publication number: WO2007007278A2
Application number: PCT/IB2006/052342
Authority: WO
Inventors: Elmar Gallo; Paolo Melchiori
Original assignee: Elmar Gallo; Paolo Melchiori
Priority date: 2005-07-11
Filing date: 2006-07-11
Publication date: 2007-01-18
Also published as: ITMI20050251U1; WO2007007278A3

Abstract

A wearable device (1) apt to support a miniature camera (16), having a body (2) having a ribbon-like configuration, closed at its free ends (3, 4) by adjustable constraining means (5) so as to define a substantially annular body, said body supporting the miniature camera (16) so that the lens (15) thereof be placed in correspondence of a face different from that (12) into contact with the user wearing on the device (1).

Description

WEARABLE DEVICE SUPPORTING A MINIATURE CAMERA

DESCRIPTION

The present invention refers to a device supporting a miniature camera. As it is known, miniature cameras are electronic instruments having very small dimensions: usually a miniature camera has a lens with a diameter ranging from 6 to 10 mm. The use of miniature cameras is effected through the association of the miniature camera to a supporting member that may be static or movable.

It is known to associate a miniature camera to a wearable element like a pair of glasses, a pendant that may be associated to a necklace or a button of the type provided with a pin that can be coupled, e.g., to a lapel.

It is also known the use of shooting means by athletes performing specific activities, such as motorcycling, parachuting or paragliding ones. Through the use of said shooting means, generally defined by cameras of relatively relevant dimensions placed e.g. on the helmet of an athlete, the latter can resume his/her activity and allow the viewer, to whom later on the action is shown, to share his/her emotions as if it were the same viewer directly living them. However, as mentioned above such cameras have relatively relevant dimensions, something that does not facilitate their carrying and, above all, weighs on the athlete's aerodynamics during his/her activity.

It is also known the use of shooting means by persons doing scientific or journalistic research, like e.g. speleologists. Through the use of such means, generally defined by cameras with relatively bulky dimensions, said persons can perform shooting during their motions, though having the hands totally free. However, in this case as well the dimensions of the camera entail problems to its user, as it anyhow limits his/her motion. Object of the present invention is to provide a device apt to support a miniature camera allowing a user to perform shooting safely and without penalizing the user during a motion thereof. Further object is to provide a device of the mentioned type that be of simple manufacturing and have reasonable costs.

These and other objects that will be evident to a person skilled in the art are attained by a device according to the appended claims.

For a better understanding of the present invention the following drawings are annexed, purely by way of example and not for limitative purposes, wherein: figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a device according to the invention; figure 2 shows a front view of the device of figure

1; figure 3 shows an exploded perspective view of a variant of the device according to the invention; figure 4 shows a front view of the device of figure 3; and figure 5 schematically shows an exemplary use of a device according to the invention.

With reference to the mentioned figures, a device according to the invention is generally denoted by 1 and has a body 2 having a ribbon-like configuration. By this term it is meant that the body 2 has a substantially band-like configuration, or opposed plane or substantially plane faces having greater extension with respect to the thickness of said body.

The body 2 comprises two free ends 3 and 4 apt to be constrained therebetween, in particular through adjustable constraining means 5. The latter comprises, e.g., a known rotor-rack system where each end 3, 4 of the body 2 has a hole 6, onto a side 7 of which there is a rack apt to cooperate with a rotor 9 carried by a body 10 in which there enter, in a through manner, said ends 3 and 4. Such a system is of a type known per se; therefore it will not be detailed hereinafter.

Through said constraining means, the body 2 may correctly be positioned about a part of the user' s body, such as the head, at the forehead, forearm or alike part. Therefore, such a body 2 has an internal face or side 12 apt to directly cooperate with the user' s body and an external face or side 13. At the latter it is arranged a lens 15 of a miniature camera 16 associated to the body 2 and preferably inserted therein.

Hence, according to the invention, through the use of the ribbon-like body 2 worn on by the user, it is possible for the latter to record images, through the miniature camera 16, of an action performed thereby, like e.g. a parachute descent, a descent into a cave or the like. Preferably and advantageously, inside the body 2 there are provided electrical connectors 20 reaching an electric coupling member that is external to the body 2 and to which there may be connected a common power supply for the miniature camera or a member for recording the images taken therewith, through a cable 22 schematized in figure 1.

Alternatively, the means required for the power- supplying may be comprised inside of the device itself, optionally arranged internally to the body 2.

According to a variant of the invention, to the ribbon-like body there may be coupled a hollow supporting container 23, to which it is associated the miniature camera 16, said supporting container 23 preferably and advantageously having an aerodynamic configuration, made by means of curved surfaces, and being watertight. At a surface 25 of the supporting container 23 it is positioned the lens 15 of the miniature camera 16; the latter is instead inserted in the supporting container 23 where, advantageously, there may be provided also the power supply, e.g. a battery, of the miniature camera 16.

The supporting container 23 may be connected to the ribbon-like body 2 in any known way: by releasable coupling systems or fixedly. In the first instance there may be provided a connection by the use of portions with hooks and loops defining the product known under the trade name of Velcro® or by hook-shaped elements 30 and 31 associated to a face 32 of the supporting container 23 apt to cooperate with the face 13 of the body 2, said elements 30 and 31 embracing the face 13 at its opposed ends so as to constrain the supporting container 23 to said body 2.

Advantageously, when the body 2 contains the connectors 20, sliding contacts present on the face or side 13 of said body and on the face 32 of the supporting connector 23 allow the connection with the miniature camera and the remote recording member (or other functional body of the camera, e.g. the power supply) through the cable 22.

During use, the ribbon-like body 2 is placed e.g. in a manner such as to embrace the top portion of a user' s head, as illustrated in figure 5, so that the lens 15 of the miniature camera 16 be placed on a median axis of said head, passing between the eyes of the user. Thus, the latter could record through the miniature camera 16 all he/she sees with his/her eyes, and exactly the way he/she sees the surrounding environment.

The invention allows to perform very realistic shooting with the miniature camera, and without penalizing the shooter from a motion standpoint. The device according to the invention is of simple wear and manufacture, and it may anyhow be obtained in different modes and configurations. E.g., the ribbon-like body 2 may have the configuration of the figures or one widening at the zone in which the miniature camera is placed and narrowing in the remainder thereof. Moreover, the ribbon-like body 2 may be a body directly wearable by the user, into contact with his/her body as in figure 5, or be associated to a helmet, visor, hat or other element worn on by the user.

Lastly, it should be noted that the ribbon-like body 2 may exhibit elastic features, such as to allow a certain elasticity in the longitudinal direction, thereby improving and simplifying the wearability of the device.

These variants and still others may be obtained from the preceding description and are to be construed as falling within the protective scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A wearable device apt to support a miniature camera

(16), said miniature camera comprising a lens (15), said device having a body (2), characterized in that said body (2) is ribbon-like and has free ends (3, 4) apt to cooperate with constraining means (5), said free ends being connectible therebetween, so as to define a substantially annular body, said body supporting said miniature camera (16) so that said lens (15) be placed at least in correspondence of one free face (13) of said body (2) , said face being different with respect to an internal face (12) into contact with the user wearing on the device (1) .

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said constraining means (5) is of adjustable type.

3. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said miniature camera (16) is inserted in said ribbon-like body (2) .

4. The device according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said miniature camera (16) is external to said ribbon-like body (2) .

5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that said miniature camera (16) is carried by a supporting container (23) associated to said free face (13) of said ribbon-like body (2).

6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that said supporting container (23) is detachable from said ribbon-like body (2) and is made integral to the latter by releasable constraining means.

7. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that said supporting container (23) has a curved surface.

8. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that said supporting container (23) is internally hollow and contains functional members of the miniature camera (16) .

9. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said ribbon-like body (2) contains electrical connectors (20) apt to connect said miniature camera

(16) to an electric coupling member (21) external to the body (2) and to which it is connectible a common functional member of the camera, such as a power supply or a recording member.

10. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said ribbon-like body (2) is elastically extensible in the longitudinal direction.