Camcorder housing with multilateral hinging system

Abstract

 Camcorder housing (100) having a hinge (50) comprising a first hinge element (11, 12, 21a) associated with a base (1) having a seat (18) adapted to house a pin (26) of a second hinge element (21) associated with a cover (2), said first and second hinge elements being arranged to cooperate with each other in order to allow the mutual rotation of the base and the cover around the axis of the pin (26), wherein the housing (100) comprises a first hinge and a second hinge (50), each associated to a different side of the housing (100) and the seat (18) has an opening (20) having a width such as to allow the passage of the second pin (26) in its inside in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane passing through the axes (A-A, A'-A') of the first and second hinges (50), allowing the separation of said base (1) and said cover (2) when the housing is closed.

Description

Technical Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates, in general, to a camcorder housing.

[0002] Particularly, the present invention relates to a housing intended for protecting surveillance cameras and provided with a multilateral hinging system for a cover.

Background Art

[0003] Use of camcorder housings aimed at protecting camcorders from the action of air, dusts or atmospheric agents in case of use in non-sheltered places is known in the field.

[0004] Such housings are provided with a lid or cover for allowing access to their inside by an operator carrying out installation or maintenance of the camcorder, which is usually arranged in hardly accessible places.

[0005] Known camcorders consist of two main parts: a lower container or base, to which the camcorder and its accessories are secured, and an upper closing cover.

[0006] The inside of the housing contains the camcorder with its corresponding operation accessories, such as feeders, fans and/or heaters, and cables therefor and connectors between the various devices and with the outside of the housing.

[0007] In use, when the housing is closed, the base and the covered are mutually attached, whereas the cover, once it is opened, can be removed from the lower container.

[0008] In a second type of known housing, the cover is hinged to the base and, when it is opened, it remains hinged on the base, for instance along one of its sides.

[0009] Housings having a cover entirely removable from the base allow easy access to the their inside once they are opened, but they have the drawback that the cover, when it is removed, constitutes a hindrance for the operator who needs to access the devices located inside the housing while he/she is in an unstable position, for instance on a ladder.

[0010] In this case the operator, before acting on the equipment located inside the housing, has to find a place for the removed cover.

[0011] This problem is solved by the cover hinged on one of its sides, which cover, however, when opened, has the drawback of being in a position that can disturb access to the components located inside the housing and reduces the operator's space of action around the housing.

[0012] Known camcorder housings are made of aluminum alloy by die-casting and/or extrusion, or of plastics by injection molding.

[0013] Housings made of aluminum must comply with the electric safety requirements which are provided for metal housings supplied by line voltage and one of which requires earthing of all those metal parts that, either accidentally or because of a fault, may simultaneously come into contact both with network supply cables and the installer/maintainer.

[0014] For this reason all metal parts must be fixedly contacted with one another through earthing wires having adequate cross-section, which are then to be connected to the earthing of the system.

[0015] The presence of these earthing wires has the drawback of reducing, inside the housing, the space available for receiving the camcorder with corresponding accessories and the cables thereof or at least of making installation thereof more difficult.

[0016] Housings made of aluminum by die-casting further have the drawback that they involve less precision in the making of components such as bosses, posts, partitions and various holders with respect to housings made of plastics by injection molding.

[0017] Known housings are installed on brackets which have a swiveling joint and through which signal cables and supply cables can be guided that are then connected to the camcorder located inside the housing.

[0018] Brackets with inner passages for cables are usually employed in a system where the cable-containing conduits are embedded and, as they have no visible parts, are more difficult to sabotage.

[0019] In systems with outer conduits, instead, cables arrive in the housing through sheath clamps or cable clamps.

[0020] Bracket are known which have an inner passage for cables and are provided with predetermined breaking points which have to be removed or bored for letting cable-containing conduits or sheaths into the bracket.

[0021] The breaking and removal of inserts is difficult in brackets made by aluminum die-casting and requires use of suitable tools; moreover, for the passage of conduits and cables through the brackets it is necessary that the bracket is attached to a wall or pole after cables have been inserted into it.

[0022] Another feature of known camcorders is that for night filmings they need lighting that can be present on the scene to be shooted, for instance street lighting, or can be provided for the purpose close to the shooting unit, for instance by means of an outer spotlight that can be mounted on the housing, on the bracket thereof or by means of a bracket of its own.

[0023] Lighting can be effected in the spectrum visible to the human eye or in the infrared range visible to camcorders with black-and-white recording, but not to the human eye, and it is generated by lamps of the traditional type or solid-state lamps (LED).

[0024] The necessary lighting amount depends on the quantum efficiency of the camcorder sensor and from the kind of optics that are employed.

[0025] Lightings are known that are made by LED rings arranged within appropriate apparatuses, named Bullets, where LEDs are always coaxial with the shooting objective lens.

[0026] Other types of known camcorders include LED rings arranged, coaxially with respect to the shooting objective lens, behind the front glass of the housing or LED arrays arranged on the sides of the objective lens, though always behind the front glass.

[0027] These types of solutions have drawbacks such as surface reflexion of LEDs on the glass, which causes ghost images in the objective lens especially when dust or dirt deposits on the glass, which is in common between objective lens and LEDs, and a reflexion of the emitted light, cause by insects flying near the camcorder or resting on its glass, thereby provoking overexposure in the objective lens.

[0028] Known housing are covered by a roof which has the function of protecting the housing itself from direct solar radiation, keeping it at a temperature that the housing would have if it were located in a shadow zone.

[0029] The roof further has the purpose of preventing light from entering directly through the front glass of the housing, thus glaring the camcorder shooting: for this reason roofs are made that slide along their axis for seeking the best position for avoiding this drawback.

[0030] Known roofs have the drawback that the objective lens, especially if it is of the wide-angle type, frames part of the roof when the roof is arranged so as to project remarkably. In general, the Applicant has found that housings of the known art cannot effectively solve the problem of allowing easy access to the camcorder and to the components arranged inside the housing irrespective of the orientation at which the housing is positioned, especially when it is located in hardly accessible places.

[0031] Moreover, housings of the known art use cables for fixedly connecting metal parts to the earthing, which cables, though meeting the electric safety requirements, reduce the space available inside the housings or at least make it difficult to install equipment inside them.

Description of the Invention

[0032] The object of the present invention is to provide a camcorder housing with multilateral hinging system that allows easy access to the camcorder and to the components placed inside the housing.

[0033] This object is attained by a camcorder housing with multilateral hinging systems as claimed.

[0034] According to an aspect of the present invention, a camcorder housing is provided that meets the electric safety requirement, without reducing the space available inside the housing and while being cost-effective capable of being installed under different operating conditions.

[0035] According to another aspect of the present invention, a camcorder housing is provided that comprises an illuminator integrated in the housing base.

[0036] According to a further aspect of the present invention, a camcorder is provided that has a sunshading roof serving also as lens shade, which can be used on either of the sides made with different angles.

[0037] The present invention further relates to an openable mounting bracket for facilitating passage of cables therethrough, for a camcorder housing.

[0038] The claims form part of the technical teaching provided herein in accordance with the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0039] These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become evident from the following description of preferred embodiments that are given by way of nonlimiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, where part identified by identical or similar reference numerals are parts that have identical or similar function and structure, where:

Fig. 1 is a schematic view showing a camcorder housing with a hinging system according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing a detail of a camcorder housing with a hinging system according to the invention;

Fig. 3 shows a camcorder housing comprising a hinging system according to the invention;

Fig. 4 is an overall view of a camcorder housing according to the invention;

Fig. 5a shows a detail of a camcorder housing according to the invention;

Fig. 5b shows a second detail of a camcorder housing according to the invention;

Fig. 6 is an exploded view of a bracket of a camcorder housing according to the invention;

Fig. 7 is a bottom view showing a bracket of a camcorder housing according to the invention; and

Fig. 8 is a side view showing a camcorder housing according to the invention.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments

[0040] With reference to Fig. 1, a first embodiment of the camcorder housing with a hinging system 10 according to the invention comprises a plurality of hinges 50; each hinge 50 has first hinge elements or hinges 11 and 12 associated with a first component or base 1 and arranged to cooperate with second hinge elements or hinges 21 associated with a second component or cover 2, so as to allow mutual rotation of the first and second components around an axis A-A of the hinge.

[0041] The first and second hinge elements are associated to the first component or base 1 and to the second component or cover 2, respectively, at a plurality of positions along the perimeter of the base and of the cover.

[0042] Preferably, the camcorder housing with the hinging system 10 according to the invention comprises at least two hinges 50 associated with a camcorder housing at positions along the perimeter of the base and of the cover.

[0043] Of course an alternative embodiment can be realized in which the first hinge elements are associated to the second component or cover 2 and the second hinge elements are associated with the first component or base 1, without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0044] Preferably, the first and second hinge elements are connected to the first component or base 1 and to the second component 2, for instance they are screwed to, or welded to or made integral with the first component or base 1 and with the second component or cover 2, respectively.

[0045] Preferably, the base 1 and the cover 2 are associated to each other to make a container, in particular a camcorder housing.

[0046] In the first embodiment of the invention, the first hinge elements associated with the base 1 comprise an end element 11 and a central element 12; preferably, the first hinge elements comprise two end elements 11 terminating the hinge at its ends and a central element 12 arranged between the two end elements 11; for example, the central element 12 is arranged at half the length of the hinge in the direction of its axis A-A.

[0047] The central element 12 comprises a central body 15 associated with the base 1 and two first pins 16 which have their axis arranged on the axis A-A of the hinge and are associated with opposite sides of the central body 15.

[0048] Preferably, the central body 15 and the first pins 16 are connected to the base 1 and to the central body 15, respectively, for instance they are screwed to, or welded to, or made integral with the first component or base 1 and with the central body 15, respectively.

[0049] Preferably, the first pins 16 are made integral with the central body 15.

[0050] Preferably, the first pins 16 have a cylindrical shape.

[0051] For instance, the central body 15 has the shape of a cylinder with the bases perpendicular to the axis A-A of the hinge and is connected to the base 1 by means of a tab 19 extending from the side surface of the cylinder.

[0052] The end element 11 of the first hinge element is associated with the base 1 and has a seat 18 in its inside arranged to house a second pin 26 of the second hinge element 21, which will be described here below in detail, so as to allow the mutual rotation of the base 1 and of the cover 2 around the axis A-A of the hinge 50.

[0053] Preferably, the end element 11 is connected to the base 1, for instance it is screwed to, or welded to, or made integral with the first component or base 1.

[0054] The seat 18 has an opening 20 in its part that, when the cover 2 is closed and placed on the base 1, faces the cover, and in its part facing the central element 12, so as to allow the passage of the second pin 26 and the positioning of the same into the seat 18 so that the axis of said pin coincides with the axis A-A of the hinge.

[0055] The opening 20, a section of which is visible in Fig. 2, has a width such as to allow the passage of the second pin 26 in its inside, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis A-A of the hinge 50, allowing removal of the cover.

[0056] Preferably, the opening 20 has a width such as to allow the passage of the second pin 26 in its inside solely in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis A-A of the hinge 50, allowing removal of the cover only in said direction.

[0057] Preferably, the opening 20 has a width such as to allow the passage of the second pin 26 in its inside in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane passing through the axes A-A and A'-A' of a first hinge and a second hinge, each associated with a different side of the housing, allowing removal of the cover.

[0058] Preferably, the opening 20 has a width such as to allow the passage of the second pin 26 in its inside solely in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane passing through the axes A-A and A'-A' of a first hinge and a second hinge, each associated with a different side of the housing, allowing removal of the cover only in said direction.

[0059] Therefore the hinge element 11 is interrupted by the opening 20 of the seat 18.

[0060] Preferably, the seat 18 is closed in its part opposite to the central element 12.

[0061] Preferably, the seat 18 has the shape of a half-cylinder.

[0062] For instance, the end element 11 has the shape of a cylinder bored by the opening 20 and having its bases perpendicular to the axis A-A of the hinge, and it is connected to the base 1 by means of a tab 19 extending from the side surface of the cylinder. The second hinge elements associated with the cover 2 comprise an intermediate element 21; preferably, the second hinge elements comprise at least two intermediate elements 21, arranged symmetrical with respect to the plane passing through the axis B-B of the central element 12 perpendicular to the axis A-A, when the cover 2 is closed and placed on the base 1.

[0063] The intermediate element 21 is associated to the cover 2 and comprises a seat 28 provided in its inside and arranged to house a first pin 16 of the first hinge elements, so as to allow the mutual rotation of the base 1 and of the cover 2 around the axis A-A of the hinge 50.

[0064] Preferably, the intermediate element 21 is connected to the cover 2, for instance it is screwed to, or welded to or made integral with the second component or cover 2.

[0065] The seat 28 has an opening 30 in its part that, when the cover 2 is closed and placed on the base 1, faces the base 1, and in its part facing the central element 12, so as to allow the passage of the first pin 16 and the positioning of the same into the seat 28 so that the axis of said pin coincides with the axis A-A of the hinge.

[0066] The opening 30, visible in Fig. 2, has a width such as to allow the passage of the first pin 16 in its inside, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis A-A of the hinge 50, allowing removal of the cover.

[0067] Preferably, the opening 30 has a width such as to allow the passage of the first pin 16 in its inside solely in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis A-A of the hinge 50, allowing removal of the cover only in said direction.

[0068] Preferably, the opening 30 has a width such as to allow the passage of the first pin 16 in its inside in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane passing through the axes A-A and A'-A' of a first hinge and a second hinge, each associated with a different side of the housing, allowing removal of the cover.

[0069] Preferably, the opening 30 has a width such as to allow the passage of the first pin 16 in its inside solely in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane passing through the axes A-A and A'-A' of a first hinge and a second hinge, each associated with a different side of the housing, allowing removal of the cover only in said direction.

[0070] Therefore the hinge element 21 is interrupted by the opening 30 of the seat 28.

[0071] Preferably, the seat 28 is closed in its part opposite to the central element 12.

[0072] Preferably, the seat 28 has the shape of a half-cylinder.

[0073] The intermediate element 21 comprises an intermediate body 25 associated with the cover 2, and a second pin 26 which has its axis arranged on the axis A-A of the hinge and is associated with the part of the intermediate body 25 opposite to the axis B-B.

[0074] Preferably, the intermediate body 25 and the second pin 26 are connected to the cover 2 and to the intermediate body 25 and to the second pin 26, for instance they are screwed to, welded to or made integral with the second component or cover 2 and the intermediate body 25, respectively.

[0075] Preferably, the second pin 26 is made integral with the intermediate body 25.

[0076] Preferably, the second pin 26 has a cylindrical shape.

[0077] For instance, the intermediate body 25 has the shape of a cylinder with its bases perpendicular to the axis A-A- of the hinge and is connected to the cover 2 by means of a tab 19 extending from the side surface of the cylinder.

[0078] The hinge 50 of the first embodiment of the camcorder housing 10 according to the invention shown in Fig. 1 comprises two end elements 11 associated with the base 1 and terminating the hinge at its two ends, a central element 12 also associated with the base 1 and arranged between the two end elements 11, and an intermediate element 21 associated to the cover 2 and arranged between a final element 11 and the central element 12; preferably the hinge 50 comprises at least two intermediate elements 21, arranged symmetrical with respect to the plane passing through the axis B-B of the central element 12 perpendicular to the axis A-A.

[0079] In the hinge 50 according to the invention, to a pin of a hinge element associated with the first component or base 1 there corresponds a respective seat of a hinge element associated with the second component or cover 2, and, correspondingly, to a seat of a hinge element associated with the first component or base 1 there corresponds a respective pin associated with the second component or cover 2; each pin is received in the corresponding seat for making the hinge 50.

[0080] In a second embodiment of the camcorder housing with the hinging system 10 according to the invention, the hinge comprises, besides the hinge elements described above, an intermediate element 21a associated with the base 1; preferably, the hinge 50 comprises two intermediate elements 21a arranged symmetrical with respect to the plane passing through the axis B-B of the central element 12 perpendicular to the axis A-A.

[0081] The intermediate element 21a is identical to the intermediate element 21 and is located between the central element 12 and the end element 11 that, too, are associated with the base.

[0082] The pin of the intermediate element 21a associated with the base 1 is received in a seat 28 of the corresponding intermediate element 21 associated with the cover.

[0083] The hinge of the second embodiment of the hinging system 10 of the housing according to the invention comprises two end elements 11 associated with the base 1 and terminating the hinge at its ends, a central element 12 arranged between the two end elements 11, and an intermediate element 21a arranged between the central element 12 and the end element 11; the hinge further comprises at least two intermediate elements 21 associated with the cover 2 and arranged between an end element 11 and the central element 12; preferably the hinge 50 comprises at least two intermediate elements 21 and 21a arranged symmetrical with respect to the plane passing through the axis B-B of the central element 12 perpendicular to the axis A-A.

[0084] In Fig. 3 there is shown a camcorder housing 100 comprising an alternative embodiment of the hinging system according to the invention, wherein there is no central element 12 associated with the base, and the hinge is made by two end elements 11 terminating the hinge at its ends, by at least one intermediate element 21a also associated with the base 1 and arranged between the two end elements 11, and by at least two intermediate elements 21 associated with the cover 2 and arranged on the two sides of the intermediate element 21a.

[0085] In this alternative embodiment of the hinging system, there is no central element 12 associated with the base; for this reason the intermediate element 21 associated with the cover 2, being closer to the central axis B-B of the cover, can be made without the seat 28, as it does not have to receive the first pin 16 of the central element.

[0086] Preferably, the housing is made of aluminum alloys by extrusion or die-casting or of technopolymers or other plastic materials. The hinge elements can be made directly in the same mold as the cover 2 and the base 1 or they can be made separately and the joined to these by known means, e.g. by means of mechanical fasteners or suitable adhesives.

[0087] In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 3, the housing 100, in particular a camcorder housing, comprises a base 1 and a cover 2; preferably, on the cover 2 there is provided a window 101, closed by a glass, through which the objective lens of the camcorder effects shooting of the images.

[0088] When the housing is closed, the cover and the base are attached to each other and the cover rests on the base; preferably, the housing is closed by fasteners 102, for instance the cover and the base are anchored to each other by means of screws screwed into small regions 102 provided on the edges of the base and cover.

[0089] Preferably, the small region 102 is provided inside the hinge 50, as shown in Fig. 3.

[0090] Preferably, the housing is tight sealed by means of gasket inserted in a seat 103; preferably, the seat 103 is provided in the base.

[0091] In an alternative embodiment of the housing, the cover and the base are mutually fitted by means of a shoulder which is provided on the edge of the base and is fitted into a shoulder provided on the edge of the cover.

[0092] The base 1 and cover 2 of the housing are mutually hinged by means of at least one hinge 50; preferably, the base and the cover are mutually hinge by means of a plurality of hinges provided on the sides of the perimeter of the base and of the cover.

[0093] Preferably, the housing 100 comprises a first hinge and a second hinge, each associated with a different side of the housing 100.

[0094] Preferably, the housing 100 comprises at least two hinges, each associated with a different side of the housing 100.

[0095] Preferably, the housing 100 comprises at least three hinges, each associated with a different side of the housing 100.

[0096] Preferably, the housing 100 comprises a plurality of hinges associated with at least two different sides of the housing 100.

[0097] Preferably, the housing 100 comprises a plurality of hinges associated with at least three different sides of the housing 100.

[0098] In the example of Fig. 3, with the housing 100 there are associated three hinges 50, one for each of the sides of the housing that have no windows.

[0099] Obviously the hinging system 10 of the housing 100 according to the invention can be used also in other fields, for instance for closing boxes or housings for other applications.

[0100] The operation of the system so far described is as follows.

[0101] When the housing 100 is closed, the cover 2 and the base 1 are attached to each other.

[0102] The hinging system 10 of the housing 100 of the invention has the advantage of permitting opening of the housing in two different ways, allowing the user who has to act in its inside to choose the way of opening which is more comfortable depending on the installation position of the housing and of the kind of action to be performed.

[0103] In the first way of opening, the cover is fully separated from the base, as if there were no hinges 50.

[0104] Indeed, the hinges 11, 21 and 21a are interrupted by the openings 20 and 30 of the seats 18 and 28, and allow the passage of the pins 16 and 26 in their inside, allowing the separation of the cover in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis A-A of the hinge 5, in the same way as if a cover without hinges were opened.

[0105] Preferably, the hinges 11, 21 and 21a allow the passage of the pins 16 and 26 in their inside, allowing the separation of the cover in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane passing through the axes A-A and A'-A' of a first hinge and of a second hinge, each associated with a different side of the housing, allowing the separation of the base 1 and of the cover 2 when the housing is closed and the base and the cover are attached to each other.

[0106] In the second way of opening the cover is rotated around the axis A-A of the hinge 50.

[0107] As soon as the rotation of the cover 2 around the axis A-A begins, the openings 20 and 30 of the seats 18 and 28 become arranged in different directions, whereby the passage of the pins 16 and 26 in their inside is no longer possible, and it is impossible to separate the cover from the base.

[0108] In this second way the hinge 50 behaves like a known hinge and allows the rotation of the cover around its axis A-A.

[0109] The hinging system 10 of the housing 100 according to the invention, having a hinge on different sides of the housing, has the further advantage of allowing to open the cover by rotating it around an axis chosen by the user, so that the cover, once it is opened, is on the side of the housing that does not hinder the operator during is installation or maintenance intervention.

[0110] With reference to Figs. 4, 5a and 5b, the base 1 of the camcorder housing 100 according to the invention preferably comprises an inner profile 516 running along the upper edge of the base 1 facing the cover 2.

[0111] In a further embodiment of the invention the housing 100 comprises an insulating removable subframe 510 arranged to be housed inside the base 1.

[0112] Preferably, the insulating removable subframe 510 is made of electrically insulating material, for instance by injection molding of plastics such as PVC, ABS and so on.

[0113] The insulating removable subframe 510 is located inside the base 1, preferably secured inside it, for instance by means of screws.

[0114] The insulating removable subframe 510 comprises a perimetral edge 14; preferably the insulating removable subframe 510 is located inside the base 1, the perimetral edge 14 resting on holders 515 provided in the base 1.

[0115] Preferably the perimetral edge 14 has the same profile as the inner profile 516 of the base 1, and the insulating removable subframe 510 is mounted inside the base so as to maintain a clearance between the perimetral edge 14 of the insulating removable subframe and the inner profile 516 of the base.

[0116] Preferably, the insulating removable subframe 510 cover the entire surface of the base adapted to contain the camcorder and related accessories; optionally the insulating removable subframe 510 can have one or more windows 20 provided in its inside, for the passage of cables or accessories.

[0117] The insulating removable subframe 510 is adapted to contain the camcorder and related accessories, such as fans, thermostated heating circuits, feeders, splitters, anti-tampering devices.

[0118] Preferably, the insulating removable subframe 510 comprises seats 512 adapted to contain the camcorder accessories, which are connected to the insulating removable subframe for example by means of screws or other known fastening means.

[0119] Preferably, the camcorder is mounted on a dissipating support made of aluminum, not shown in the figures, which in turn is fixed to the insulating removable subframe 510, for example by means of screws; in this way the insulating removable subframe 510 keeps the camcorder separated from the base 1 and electrically isolated therefrom.

[0120] Preferably, the insulating removable subframe 510 comprises an undercut 511 allowing to keep the dissipating support on the same plane as the upper edge of the insulating removable subframe 510.

[0121] Preferably, the insulating removable subframe 510 comprises a cable locking support 13, adapted to lock the primary power cord.

[0122] The cable locking support 13 for the primary power cord, together with the insulating material of which the insulating removable subframe 510 is made, meets the electric safety requirements in force, thus avoiding the installation of mass connecting cables between metal parts and corresponding costs and space requirements.

[0123] The housing 100 preferably comprises an illuminator 85 integrated in and integral with the base 1 of the housing, for illuminating the area to be filmed under poor light conditions.

[0124] Preferably, the illuminator 85 is provided in the base 1 of the housing and therefore integral with it and is not attached to the base.

[0125] Preferably, the illuminator is integrated in and integral with the base 1 of the housing 100.

[0126] The illuminator 85 is positioned so that the emitted light is parallel to the shooting axis of the camcorder.

[0127] In the part of the housing in contact with the backside of the illuminator 85 there are provided a number of fins 86 formed in the die-casting mold of the base 1 which allows dissipation of the heat generated by the illuminator.

[0128] Preferably the illuminator 85 is a LED illuminator of known type, for example with continuous LED function or with pulses synchronized on the video signal or on an outer signal (trigger).

[0129] With reference to Figures 6 and 7, the housing according to the invention is adapted to be mounted on a mounting bracket 70, which, too, forms part of the present invention.

[0130] The mounting bracket 70 is hollow, for allowing the passage of signal and power cables of the camcorder, and comprises a housing holder 71 that can be tilted and connected to the bracket free end 72, and a removable bracket cover 73 adapted to close the upper part of the bracket 70 for facilitating the passage of cables in its inside.

[0131] No tools are necessary for opening and closing the bracket cover 73 on the bracket 70.

[0132] Preferably, the housing holder 71 is a swiveling joint rotating on a pin 83 of the bracket.

[0133] The bracket 70 comprises a first wall 77, transverse to a longitudinal axis Z-Z of the bracket, in which a slot 78 is provided through which signal and power cables of the camcorder that are connected to the camcorder by passing through the housing holder 71, are made to pass.

[0134] The bracket cover 73 comprises a tongue 74; the bracket cover is adapted to be positioned, after having been removed, with the tongue 74 inserted in a first seat 75 provided in the upper part of the bracket.

[0135] When the bracket cover 73 is in its closed position, the tongue 74 is inserted in a second seat 76 provided in the upper part of the slot 78.

[0136] The bracket 70 comprises a second wall 79, transverse to the longitudinal axis Z-Z of the bracket; when the bracket is mounted, the second wall 79 is brought in contact with the wall or the pole to which the bracket 70 is attached.

[0137] Preferably, holes 80 are provided on the second wall 79 for fastening the bracket for example by means of screws.

[0138] The bracket 70 comprises holes 81 provided in its lower part for the passage of cables; preferably the holes 81 for cable passage are provided in a horizontal wall 82, transverse to the second wall 79.

[0139] Preferably, the horizontal wall 82 is perpendicular to the second wall 79 and there are two holes 81 for cable passage.

[0140] With reference to Fig. 8, the camcorder housing 100 according to the invention comprises a roof 3 associated with the cover 2.

[0141] The roof 3 of the housing comprises a first end 4 transverse to a longitudinal axis B-B of the housing, and a second end 5 on the side opposite to the first end.

[0142] The roof 3 is connected in a removable manner to the cover 2, for instance by means of symmetrical fastening holders, and it is adapted to be mounted on the cover 2 in two opposite directions, so that the window 101 can be protected from light with one of its two ends 4 or 5, at the user's choice.

[0143] The first end 4 has a projection different from that of the end 5, with respect to the cover 2.

[0144] The profile of the ends 4 and 5 is made in such a way as to allow the roof 3, when mounted on the cover 2, to have two different projections at the end 4 and 5, with respect to the cover 2.

[0145] Preferably, the profile of the ends 4 and 5, seen in a side view, forms a first angle α and a second angle β, respectively, with respect to the longitudinal axis B-B of the housing 100, the two angles α and β being different from each other, so as to allow the roof 3 to have two different projections with respect to the cover 2.

[0146] Preferably, the two ends 4 and 5 are provided with an anti-drip rib 87.

[0147] The roof 3 further comprises holes adapted to receive, by fitting, small plates customizable, for instance, with the customer's logo, and insertable by pressure into the roof holes.

[0148] Preferably, the roof 3 comprises a pair of holes adapted to receive a small plate.

[0149] The operation of the system so far described is as follows.

[0150] The housing 100 according to the invention is mounted by fastening it, by means of the mounting bracket 70, for instance to a wall or to a supporting pole.

[0151] Power and signal cables are passed inside the bracket through the housing holder 71, preferably though the swiveling joint 71, entering the housing 100 through holes protected by tight cable glands until they reach the terminal strips, the camcorder and the related accessories.

[0152] The insulating removable subframe 510 is located inside the base 1, for example it is secured inside it, for instance by means of screws, and it contains the camcorder and related accessories such as fans, thermostated heating circuits, feeders, splitters, anti-tampering devices, which are secured inside the insulating removable subframe.

[0153] The camcorder is mounted on a dissipating support made of aluminum, which in turn is attached to the insulating removable subframe 510; the insulating removable subframe 510 is made of insulating material, preferably of plastic material, and keeps the camcorder separated from the base 1, which is made of metal, and it further avoids ground loop phenomena known to the person skilled in the art.

[0154] The insulating removable subframe 510 of the camcorder 100 according to the invention, when it is made by plastics molding, has the advantage, over a housing made of die-cast aluminum, of allowing higher precision in manufacturing particulars such as bosses, posts, partitions and various holders.

[0155] Furthermore, the insulating removable subframe 510 has the advantage of allowing to manufacture the base 1, which is molded from an aluminum alloy, by using a simpler and therefore less expensive mold, as it is no longer necessary to form these particulars in the base.

[0156] A further advantage of the insulating removable subframe 510 of the housing 100 according to the invention consists in that it allows full electrical insulation of the accessories mounted on it.

[0157] The presence of the insulating removable subframe 510 also avoids the necessity of having an earthing in all the metal parts located at its inside, that, either accidentally or because of a fault, may simultaneously come into contact both with network supply cables and the installer/maintainer.

[0158] This has the advantage of providing more space available in the housing 100, as no earthing connection cables have to be received therein.

[0159] The primary power cable is locked by the cable locking support 13 near the input terminal strip.

[0160] In this way even if one or more of the conductors were not well locked by the clamps, it/they could not anyhow come into contact with one of the metal parts.

[0161] The illuminator 85, inserted in the lower part of the base 1, of the housing 100 according to the invention, has the advantage of having light emission parallel to the camcorder and to its shooting.

[0162] The illuminator 85 further has the advantage - over the housings having the illuminator located in their inside, behind the window - of involving no problems of light refraction and/or reflection by the glass of the window 101.

[0163] The mounting bracket 70 of the housing 100 according to the invention has the advantage of ensuring access to its inside for the operator.

[0164] Indeed, the operator, by removing the cover bracket 73, can insert conduits and cables into the bracket even after having mounted the same on a wall or pole, in either an embedded or a non-embedded system.

[0165] Moreover, the first seat 75 provided in the upper part of the bracket, allows to temporarily position the bracket cover 73 on the bracket during work, and it has the advantage of not hindering the operator during his/her installation or maintenance intervention.

[0166] The roof 3 of the camcorder housing 100 according to the invention is made so as to have two different inclination angles with respect to the longitudinal axis B-B of the housing 100 and be mounted in two directions, allowing to choose between two different projections of the part of roof 3 arranged above the window 101.

[0167] In this way it will be possible to arrange the roof with the projection more suitable for the kind of objective lens used in the camcorder, according to the desired light-shielding function. Both sides of the roof are provided with anti-drip ribs, to prevent water from falling on the window glass.

[0168] The roof further comprises two pairs of holes that allow to insert by fitting two small plates customizable for instance with the customer's logo. This involves the economic and logistic advantage of handling only the small plates for customization (for instance by silkscreen printing or by pad printing), instead of the much bulkier roofs. Said customized small plates can be used also on other series of housings. Of course, obvious modifications and/or other embodiments of the above description are possible with respect to the size, shape, materials, components, circuitry elements, connections and contacts, as well as to the circuitry details, the illustrated structure and the method of operating without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. Camcorder housing (100) having a hinge (50) comprising a first hinge element (11, 12, 21a), associated with a base (1), having a seat (18) arranged to house a second pin (26) of a second hinge element (21) associated with a cover (2), said first and second elements being arranged to cooperate with each other in order to allow the mutual rotation of the base and the cover around the axis of the second pin (26), characterized in that
the housing (100) comprises a first hinge and a second hinge (50), each associated to a different side of the housing (100), and in that
said seat (18) has an opening (20) having a width such as to allow the passage of the second pin (26) in its inside in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane passing through the axes (A-A, A'-A') of the first and second hinges (50), allowing the separation of said base (1) and said cover (2) when the housing is closed.

2. Camcorder housing (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that said second hinge element (21) further comprises a seat (28) adapted to house a first pin (16) of said first hinge element (11, 12, 21a).

3. Camcorder housing (100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said hinge (50) comprises a plurality of said first hinge elements (11, 12, 21a) and second hinge elements (21).

4. Camcorder housing (100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of hinges (50), each associated with a different side of the housing (100).

5. Camcorder housing (100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least two hinges (50), each associated with a different side of the housing (100).

6. Camcorder housing (100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least three hinges (50), each associated with a different side of the housing (100).

7. Camcorder housing (100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an insulating removable subframe (510) adapted to contain a camcorder and related accessories, said subframe (510) being made of electrically insulated material and being housed inside the base (1).

8. Camcorder housing (100) according to claim 7, characterized in that said insulating removable subframe (510) is made of plastic material.

9. Camcorder housing (100) according claim 7 or 8, characterized in that said insulating removable subframe (510) comprises seats (512) adapted to contain camcorder accessories.

10. Camcorder housing (100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said housing (100) further comprises an illuminator (85) provided in the base (1) of the housing and integral with said base (1).

11. Camcorder housing (100) according to claim 10, characterized in that said illuminator (85) is a LED illuminator.

12. Camcorder housing (100) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a roof (3) associated with the cover (2), said roof (3) further comprising a first end (4), transverse to a longitudinal axis (B-B) of the housing, and a second end (5) on the side opposite to the first end, characterized in that said roof (3) is connected in a removable manner to the cover (2), and is adapted to be mounted on the cover (2) in two opposite directions, so that the window (101) can be protected with one of the two ends (4, 5), said first end (4) and said second end (5) having two different projections with respect to the cover (2).

13. Camcorder housing (100) according to claim 12, characterized in that said first end (4) and said second end (5) respectively form a first angle (α) and a second angle (β) with respect to the longitudinal axis (B-B) of the housing (100), the two angles (α, β) being different from each other.

14. Mounting bracket (70) for a camcorder housing (100) according to any of the preceding claims, said bracket (70) being hollow (70) for allowing the passage of signal and power cables of the camcorder, characterized in that said bracket (70) comprises a removable bracket cover (73) adapted to close the upper part of the bracket (70) for facilitating the insertion of cables inside the bracket (70).

15. Mounting bracket (70) for a camcorder housing (100) according to claim 14, further comprising a first seat (75), characterized in that said bracket cover (73) comprises a tongue (74) adapted to be inserted in said first seat (75) for placing the cover when it is removed.

Drawing