U.S. patent application number 14/300424 was filed with the patent office on 2014-12-11 for firearm with a vertically filming camera.
The applicant listed for this patent is Patrick ARACHEQUESNE. Invention is credited to Patrick ARACHEQUESNE.
Application Number | 20140360078 14/300424 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49274695 |
Filed Date | 2014-12-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140360078 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
ARACHEQUESNE; Patrick |
December 11, 2014 |
FIREARM WITH A VERTICALLY FILMING CAMERA
Abstract
Assembly consisting of a firearm, in particular a hunting gun,
and an image capturing device, for example a camera or a mobile
phone, in particular a smartphone, fixed to the firearm,
characterised in that the securing of the image capturing device to
the firearm is performed such that the sighting axis of the image
capturing device is inclined relative to the axis of the barrel at
an angle of between 0.degree. and 90.degree., strictly greater than
0.degree., and in particular 90.degree..
Inventors: |
ARACHEQUESNE; Patrick;
(Miserey, FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ARACHEQUESNE; Patrick |
Miserey |
|
FR |
|
|
Family ID: |
49274695 |
Appl. No.: |
14/300424 |
Filed: |
June 10, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/90 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41G 11/006 20130101;
F41G 11/004 20130101; F41C 27/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
42/90 |
International
Class: |
F41C 27/00 20060101
F41C027/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 10, 2013 |
FR |
13 01317 |
Claims
1. Assembly consisting of a firearm, in particular a hunting gun,
and an image capturing device, for example a camera or a mobile
phone, in particular a smartphone, fixed to the firearm,
characterised in that the securing of the image capturing device to
the firearm is performed such that the sighting axis of the image
capturing device is inclined relative to the axis of the barrel in
the vertical plane by an angle of between 0.degree. and 90.degree.
and strictly greater than 0.degree..
2. Assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that the angle
is 90.degree..
3. Assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that the image
capturing device is a mobile phone of the smartphone type, i.e. has
a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape.
4. Assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that the image
capturing device, and in particular the smartphone type mobile
phone, is fixed to the barrel of the firearm, in particular the
gun, and underneath the barrel, when the gun is held in its usual
firing position essentially horizontally.
5. Assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that the
smartphone is fixed to the barrel of the gun, underneath the
latter, by means of an intermediate securing element comprising
means making it possible to transfer the mobile phone from a
position in which it films into an inclined direction relative to
the axis of the gun, in particular 90.degree., when the gun points
upwards, to a position in which it films in a direction
substantially parallel to the horizontal plane passing through the
axis of the gun, when the latter is in a horizontal position.
6. Assembly according to claim 5, characterised in that the means
making it possible to transfer the smartphone from a filming
position substantially perpendicular to the barrel to a parallel
filming position comprises a hinge element, in particular a ball
joint.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of
priority from the prior French Patent Application No. FR 13 01317,
filed on Jun. 10, 2013, the entire contents of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a firearm, in particular a
shotgun, a hunting rifle, a handgun or the like.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] Increasingly, users of firearms, in particular hunters, the
military and forces of law and order, wish to film their
activity.
[0004] To achieve this it is already known to attach a portable
camera to a hunting gun.
[0005] However, these systems are complicated and also dangerous to
use, the main sighting axis of the camera gets confused with the
(horizontal) firing axis, such that when the shooter or the hunter
is filming the latter moves his gun in a rotational movement
horizontally, scanning the field of vision in front of him and thus
potentially putting the people around him at risk.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention aims to overcome the disadvantages of
the prior art by proposing a system comprising a firearm and an
image capturing device which is very reliable to use and very
simple to operate.
[0007] According to the invention the assembly is as defined in
claim 1.
[0008] By thus ensuring that the image capturing device is arranged
so that it can only film the field of vision in front of the hunter
when the gun is pointing upwards, the risk of firing a shot by
mistake and hitting another hunter in the field filmed by the
camera is avoided, as it is only possible to film in horizontal
direction with this assembly when the barrel is pointing upwards.
Thus in a hunting scene the hunter who wishes to make a film simply
holds his gun by the butt with the tip pointing upwards and films
the hunting scene without any risk that one of his fellow hunters
or a passer-by may be hit by mistake.
[0009] Refinements and preferred embodiments are defined in the
subclaims.
[0010] Thus by providing a system which makes it possible to
transfer the mobile phone from a filming position by being
inclined, in particular perpendicularly, relative to the axis of
the gun to a position in which it films parallel to the axis of the
gun, when the gun is moved from the vertical position to the
horizontal position, a particularly advantageous system is obtained
in which the hunter can film the hunting scene without having to
point his gun towards the hunting scene, therefore ensuring the
safety of people in the area. At the same time, when he wishes to
try and shoot an animal passing through the hunting scene, he
lowers his gun and at the same time this activates with the hinge a
pivoting of the filming axis of the smartphone and the hunting
scene continues to be filmed, then the mobile moves automatically
by means of the hinge of the intermediate securing part into a
position in which it films parallel to the shooting axis. As soon
as the hunter had finished shooting he again points the barrel of
his gun upwards, according to standard procedures, and the
smartphone returns to the image capturing position that is
perpendicular.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely
by way of example with reference to the drawings, in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gun in a first vertical
position, in which the gun points upwards and the image capturing
device is arranged so as to film in a horizontal direction at an
angle of 90.degree. relative to the axis of the barrel and is
arranged underneath the barrel when the barrel is oriented
horizontally;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the gun of FIG. 1 according
to another embodiment of the arrangement of the invention, in which
the image capturing device has its image capturing axis
perpendicular to the barrel and in vertical direction or downwards
when the gun is, as shown in the figure, arranged with the barrel
horizontally;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 2 in
which the image capturing device in the form of a mobile phone is
mounted in a fixed manner relative to the gun having its main
sighting axis perpendicular to the axis of the gun and oriented
horizontally when the barrel points upwards;
[0015] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the intermediate
part formed in two parts by an intermediate securing element
designed to fix the mobile phone of FIGS. 1 to 3 to the
firearm;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the intermediate part in
which the two parts are joined together;
[0017] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of another
intermediate part according to another embodiment comprising the
intermediate part of FIGS. 4 and 5 and a connector making it
possible to mutually position the two elements of the intermediate
part of FIGS. 4 and 5 at an angle of 90.degree. relative to their
orientation in the case of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 5;
[0018] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the intermediate
part of FIG. 6 according to another line of view;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the part of FIGS. 6 and 7 in
which the constituent elements are joined together;
[0020] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a gun provided with the
intermediate part of FIGS. 6 to 8 and an image capturing device,
the gun being oriented with the barrel pointing upwards;
[0021] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the gun of FIG. 9, the gun
being oriented with the barrel pointing horizontally;
[0022] FIG. 11a is a perspective view of a gun comprising an
intermediate part according to another embodiment in which a hinge
is provided, the gun being oriented horizontally;
[0023] FIG. 11b is a perspective view according to another axis of
the gun of FIG. 11a, the gun being oriented horizontally;
[0024] FIG. 12a is a perspective view of the gun comprising an
intermediate part according to the embodiment of FIG. 11a or FIG.
11b in which a hinge is provided, the gun being oriented
vertically;
[0025] FIG. 12b is a perspective view according to another axis of
the gun of FIG. 12a, the gun being oriented vertically.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0026] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of an assembly according to
the invention. The gun 1 comprises a butt part 2 and a barrel 3
which extends in a longitudinal axis of the barrel. A phone known
as a smartphone, with a flat and thin rectangular parallelepiped
shape, is fixed in a detachable manner by means of an intermediate
element 4 underneath the barrel (i.e. when the gun is in a
horizontal firing position). In the vertical non-firing position of
the barrel shown, the image capturing device of the mobile points
horizontally, that is perpendicular to the barrel.
[0027] Thus, when the user wishes to film a hunting scene in front
of him he needs to position his gun such that the barrel points
upwards, the image capturing device of the smartphone then points
in a substantially horizontal direction. In this way any risk of
accidentally shooting a person located in the filmed scene is
avoided during the image taking. The mobile is fixed to the barrel
underneath the latter when the barrel is oriented horizontally.
[0028] FIGS. 2 and 3 show another embodiment of the invention. The
mobile is fixed to the barrel laterally. When the barrel points in
horizontal direction the mobile films downwards or to the ground.
When the barrel is arranged vertically the mobile films
horizontally.
[0029] In the two embodiments described above, the detachable
securing of the mobile to the barrel is performed by means of the
same intermediate part 4. The intermediate part 4 is formed by two
parts, namely one part 5 forming a collar and one part 6 forming a
clamp. The two parts are shown clearly in FIG. 5. In the described
embodiments the two parts are distinct. However, it would also be
possible to provide a single part having the form of the two parts
in the assembled state.
[0030] The part 5 forming the collar comprises a main body 7 in the
form of a U defining within in a space with a cross section that is
substantially circular cylindrical to correspond with the cross
section of the barrel of the gun. The inner space defined by the
body 7 is open at the top and laterally to the front and rear, such
that the barrel of the gun can be mounted in the inner space by
passing through two lateral openings 10 and 11 respectively at the
front (the side of the target) and rear (the side of the
shooter).
[0031] The main body 7 has two branches 8, 9 which are connected by
screws 20 to a respective end locking part 12 to thus ensure the
tightening by screws of the intermediate part 5 (formed by the body
7 and the two locking parts 12) to the barrel of the gun.
[0032] The two locking parts 12 have an inner face 22 which, when
the part is clamped against its respective branch 8, 9, ensures the
continuity of the inner face of the U formed by the intermediate
part 5 to conform with the outer surface of the barrel on which the
part is intended to the fixed. Thus, the main body 7 in the form of
a U extends at an angle that is less than or equal to 180.degree.
and the two locking parts 12, once screwed to the main body 7 by
screwing screws 20 into blind bores 13, increase the angle of
extension of the inner surface of the U up to an angle of about 220
to 240.degree., thus making it possible to clamp the barrel of the
gun, and consequently hold the part against it, preventing it
coming out at the top of the inner space defined by part 5.
[0033] The two branches of the U are pierced with two respective
holes 23 extending in vertical direction for the passage of
respective screws 20 which are also received in blind bores 13 of
corresponding locking parts 12 to ensure the securing of the two
end locking parts to their respective branch 8, 9.
[0034] At the base of the U, from the side opposite the inner face
with a cylindrical circular shape of the inner space defined by the
collar 5, a turret 14 extends that is threaded on the outside. Said
threaded turret is designed to ensure the attachment to the second
part 6 forming the clamp.
[0035] The part 6 forming the clamp is a part with a substantially
circular cylindrical shape formed by a base wall 16 and two lateral
walls 17, 18 opposite one another defining within them an interior
space designed to hold the smartphone. One of the two lateral
branches is pierced by a traversing tapped hole 19, which receives
the threaded rod of a locking screw 21 designed to ensure the
attachment and disconnection of the mobile by tightening and
untightening by locking against the opposite lateral wall 17. It is
also possible to provide an intermediate clamping part in the form
of a plate (not shown in the figures) fixed to the end of the
threaded rod and pressing completely against the smartphone, the
pressing with the plate having the advantage, compared to pressing
with the end of the screw 21, of being less likely to damage the
mobile device, in particular scratch its outer surface.
[0036] The receiving slot for mounting the mobile is delimited by
the two lateral walls 17, 18 facing one another and the base wall
16, such that it is open laterally and downwards (opposite the base
16). A plate can be mounted in the slot (not shown in the figures)
with a substantially rectangular form which extends on either side
in transverse direction along the length of the slot, preferably
without projecting out from the attachment on both sides, and also
extends in height essentially from the inner face of the base wall
or from the bottom to the top of the two lateral walls. The plate
is mounted so as to slide on the inside of the slot between a
position in which the plate is substantially flush with the inner
face of the lateral wall opposite the screw to a position in which
the plate is flush in contact with the inner face of the wall.
[0037] In the base wall 16, on the side opposite the slot, there is
a recess or tapped blind bore 25 at the bottom of which there is a
resilient O-ring seal. The tapped blind bore is designed to receive
the threaded pin 14 of part 5 for the mutual connection of the two
parts 5 and 6.
[0038] According to another embodiment of the invention shown in
FIGS. 6 to 10, the intermediate securing part also comprises a
connector 30 apart from the two parts 5, 6.
[0039] Said connector 30 comprises on the one hand a tapped bore 32
which can cooperate with the threaded pin 14 by screwing the
connector to the part 5, and on the other hand a threaded pin 31
identical to pin 14 and which can cooperate with the tapped blind
bore 25 formed in part 6 by screwing the connector to the part 6.
Thus in this embodiment the two parts 5 and 6 are not fixed to one
another directly as in FIGS. 1 to 5, but with the interposition of
the connector 30, which results in offsetting their mutual
orientation by 90.degree.. As a result when the assembly formed by
parts 5, 6 and 30 is fixed below the barrel of the gun (when the
gun is in a horizontal position) by clamping the barrel with part 5
and always arranging the smartphone between plates 17 and 18 of the
part 6, the assembly of FIGS. 9 and 10 is obtained; in FIG. 9, the
gun is shown vertically with the barrel pointing towards the sky.
In this position, the image capturing device has a viewing axis
which is horizontal and it is possible to film the hunting scene.
In FIG. 10, the barrel is horizontal and the image capturing device
has its axis which points downwards, making it impossible to film
the hunting scene. In this position, the smartphone, with a flat
shape has its largest surface parallel to the horizontal.
[0040] FIGS. 11a, 11b, 12a and 12b show another embodiment of the
invention. In this embodiment the clamping part 6 of the image
capturing device is mounted pivotably relative to the part 5 for
clamping to the barrel. A ball joint 40 is arranged between the
two. Said ball joint 40 comprises two parts 42 and 43 articulated
relative to one another by means of an axis 41. The pivoting part
43 has the form of a stirrup and comprises a threaded pin identical
to the threaded pins 14 or 31 and which cooperates in the same way
as the latter with the tapped bore of part 6. The base section 42
comprises a tapped bore identical to the tapped bore 25 or 32 to be
fixed to the part 5 and is traversed perpendicularly to the axis of
the pin 14 and perpendicular to the axis of the barrel by an axis
41 on which the pivoting part 43 is mounted pivotably.
[0041] Said ball joint 40 creates a hinge connection making it
possible that when the barrel points upwards (FIGS. 12a and 12b),
the smartphone has its image capturing device which points
perpendicularly to the axis of the barrel and is therefore
horizontal in a filming position without putting others at risk.
When the hunter lowers his gun for firing and thus moves into the
position shown in FIGS. 11a and 11b, the hinge pivots
simultaneously, under the effect of weight and inertia of the
smartphone, relative to the hinge axis 41 and moves the mobile or
smartphone or the image capturing device into a position in which
it films parallel to the plane of the barrel, in particular
parallel to the axis of the barrel. As soon as the hunter has
finished firing, as is standard procedure, he again points his gun
upwards and the hinge pivots again moving the mobile device into
its horizontal filming position, perpendicular to the axis of the
barrel.
[0042] For a firearm, in particular a gun, the vertical plane is
defined as being the plane comprising on the one hand the axis of
the barrel when the user points the barrel horizontally to fire and
on the other hand the vertical direction.
* * * * *