Remotely manipulatable panning and tilting mount for video cameras and the like and method of manipulating a camera

Claim 1

A remotely manipulatable panning and tilting camera assembly for video cameras and the like comprising: a. a motor housing; b. vertically extending bearing means supported within the housing; c. a vertically extending sleeve rotatably supported by said bearing means; d. first electric motor means supported within said housing and having motor drive transmission mechanism coupled to said sleeve to rotate it selectively in opposite directions; e. a mount base carried by said sleeve for rotation therewith above the housing in a horizontal plane and having a horizontal axis pivot thereon spaced horizontally from said sleeve, said housing having a vertical opening through which said sleeve extends; f. a camera mount above said mount base having vertically spaced upper and lower portions, the upper portion having camera securing means for releasably securing a camera thereto, the lower portion being pivotally carried by said mount base pivot for pivotal swinging movement vertically about said horizontal axis pivot; g. a threaded shaft received by said sleeve for rotation therein having an upper end extendable vertically up through said sleeve to engage the lower portion of said camera mount and move it upwardly about said axis; h. nut means, restricted from moving vertically, mounted for rotation relative to said shaft by said housing; and i. second electric motor means supported within the housing energizable independently of said first motor means for driving said nut means selectively in either direction of rotation to move said shaft and swing said camera mount upwardly or permit it to return downwardly.