Surveillance device with eyeball assembly and pivotably mountable carriage assembly

Claim 2

A surveillance assembly comprising: an eyeball assembly including: a camera and lens assembly having a viewing axis and a viewing cone; a shroud substantially totally surrounding said camera and lens assembly and having a light-transmissive area aligned with the viewing axis of said camera and lens assembly and sufficient to pass said viewing cone, whereby said camera and lens assembly can view outward of said shroud; said eyeball assembly being adapted to be rotatable about first and second axes so as to enable rotation of said camera and lens assembly and said shroud about said first and second axes, while said viewing axis and viewing cone of said camera and lens assembly remain aligned with said light transmissive area of said shroud; and a housing for housing said eyeball assembly so as to permit said rotation of said eyeball assembly about said first and second axes and including a light transmissive section for passing said viewing cone of said camera and lens assembly during rotation of said eyeball assembly.

Claim 3

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said eyeball assembly further comprises: a mounting member to which said camera and lens assembly and said shroud are mounted, said mounting member being enclosed by said shroud and being adapted to be rotatable about said first and second axes to enable said rotation of said eyeball assembly about said first and second axes.

Claim 4

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 2 wherein: said housing includes: a housing support section for supporting said eyeball assembly such that said eyeball assembly extends from said housing support section so as to be rotatable about said first and second axes; and said light-transmissive section is mounted such that said housing support section and said light-transmissive section fully enclose said eyeball assembly.

Claim 5

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 3 wherein: said light-transmissive section of said housing is dome shaped.

Claim 6

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 4 wherein: said shroud of said eyeball assembly is spherical in shape.

Claim 7

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 5 wherein: said housing support section is dome shaped.

Claim 8

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein: the outer surface of the area of said shroud other than said light-transmissive area is made to simulate the light-reflectivity characteristics of the part of said camera and lens assembly aligned with said light-transmissive area.

Claim 9

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 7 wherein: said light-reflectivity characteristics are those of the glass of the front lens of said camera and lens assembly.

Claim 10

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said light-transmissive area comprises an aperture in said shroud.

Claim 11

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said shroud is spherical.

Claim 12

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 10 wherein: said shroud comprises first and second part spherical shells joined together to form said spherical shroud.

Claim 13

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 11 wherein: each of said first and second part spherical shells is hemispherical.

Claim 14

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said light transmissive area of said shroud is just sufficient to accommodate passage of said viewing cone of said camera and lens assembly.

Claim 15

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said surveillance assembly further comprises: a carriage assembly for carrying said eyeball assembly and for mounting said eyeball assembly to said housing; said carriage assembly including a support means adapted to be rotatable about said first axis; and said eyeball assembly is adapted to be carried by said support means of said carriage assembly so as to permit said eyeball assembly to be rotatable about said first axis with the rotation of said support means about said first axis and to be rotatable about said second axis relative to said support means.

Claim 16

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 14 wherein: said eyeball assembly further comprises: a mounting member to which said camera and lens assembly and said shroud are mounted; and coupling means for coupling said mounting member to said support means such that said mounting member is rotatable about said first axis with the rotation of said support means and such that said mounting member is rotatable about said second axis relative to said support means.

Claim 17

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 15 wherein: said coupling means includes: first and second couplings connected to opposing peripheral parts of said mounting member, each coupling including a shaft fixedly connected to said mounting member, a bearing fixed to said shaft and a bearing housing for supporting the bearing such that the bearing is rotatable about said second axis; and said support means of said carriage assembly comprises a yoke having first and second arms which are fixedly connected to the bearing housings of said first and second couplings, respectively.

Claim 18

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 16 wherein: said shroud has first and second apertures adjacent the bearing housings of said first and second couplings for permitting said bearing housings to be connected to said first and second arms.

Claim 19

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 16 wherein: the bearing housing of said first coupling has a peripheral surface formed as a first gear; and said eyeball assembly further includes: a second gear rotatably mounted to said mounting member so as to be engageable with said first gear and so as to travel along said peripheral surface defined by said first gear when said second gear is rotated; and means for rotating said second gear.

Claim 20

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 18 wherein: said carriage assembly further includes: a third gear rotatable about said first axis and supporting said yoke; and means for rotating said third gear.

Claim 21

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 1 further comprising: a carriage assembly for carrying said eyeball assembly and for mounting said eyeball assembly to said housing, said carriage assembly including a pivot means situated along a first side of said carriage assembly and an engagement means situated along a second side of said carriage assembly, said pivot means being adapted to engage a first surface area of said housing so as to permit said carriage assembly to be pivotted to bring said engagement means into engagement with a second surface area of said housing, thereby causing said carriage assembly and said eyeball assembly carried by said carriage assembly to be mounted to said housing.

Claim 22

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 20 wherein: said pivot means is adapted to releasably, lockingly pivotably engage said first surface area of said housing; and said engagement means is adapted to releasably, lockingly engage said second surface area of said housing.

Claim 23

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 21 wherein: said engagement means can perform the function of said pivot means with respect to said second surface area; and said pivot means can perform the function of said engagement means with respect to said first surface area when said engagement means is performing the function of said pivot means.

Claim 24

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 20 wherein: said pivot means includes: an elongated first member having first opposite ends which form pivot points and are adapted to pivotably engage first spaced seating areas on said first surface area of said housing; and said engagement means includes: an elongated second member having second opposite ends which are adapted to engage second spaced seating areas on said second surface area of said housing.

Claim 25

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 23 wherein: said elongated first member is such that the first ends of said first member can be brought toward and away from each other, whereby said first ends can be brought toward each other to align said first ends with said first seating areas and then brought away from each other so that said first ends can be seated into said first seating areas; and said elongated second member is such that the second ends of said second member can be brought toward and away from each other, whereby said second ends can be brought toward each other to align said second ends with said second seating areas and then brought away from each other so that said second ends can be seated into said second seating areas.

Claim 26

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 24 wherein: said elongated first member includes: first biasing means for biasing said first ends away from each other; and first means for reducing the bias provided by said first biasing means to bring said first ends toward each other; and said elongated second member includes: second biasing means for biasing said second ends away from each other; and second means for reducing the bias provided by said second biasing means to bring said second ends away from each other.

Claim 27

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 25 wherein: said carriage assembly further includes: a first plate which carries said eyeball assembly; and second and third opposing plates extending from opposing ends of said first plate; and said first and second elongated members are supported between respective first and second pairs of outer opposing ends of said second and third plates.

Claim 28

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 26 wherein: said first elongated member is supported by the first pair of opposing ends of said second and third plates such that the first ends of said first elongated member extend beyond the first pair of opposing ends of said second and third plates, said first elongated member including: a first tubular member having first and second ends mounted to the first pair of opposing ends of said second and third plates; first and second rods slidably housed within said first tubular member such that a first end of said first rod is adjacent said first end of said first tubular member and a second end of said second rod is adjacent said second end of said first tubular member; first and second springs surrounding said first and second rods, said first spring being fixed at one end to said first rod inward of said first end of said first rod and being fixed at its other end by engagement with the end of the first pair of ends of said second and third plates supporting said first end of said first tubular member, and said second spring being fixed at one end to said second rod inward of said second end of said second rod and being fixed at its other end by engagement with the end of the first pair of ends of said second and third plates supporting said second end of said first tubular member, whereby said first and second rods are biased such that the first end of said first rod and the second end of said second rod are brought away from each other and outward of said first and second ends of said first tubular member; first and second slots in said first tubular member for accessing said first and second rods and first and second tabs extending through said first and second slots in said first tubular member and affixed to said first and second rods, respectively, said first and second slots and said first and second tabs limiting the extent to which said first and second ends of said first and second rods are brought away from each other and outward of said tubular member by said first and second springs, said first and second tabs permitting respective inward forces to be applied to said first and second rods to reduce the outward bias force of said first and second springs on said first and second rods to bring said first end of said first rod and said second end of said second rod toward each other and inward of said first tubular member; and said second elongated member is supported by the second pair of opposing ends of said second and third plates such that the second ends of said second elongated member extend beyond the second pair of opposing ends of said second and third plates, said second elongated member including: a second tubular member having third and fourth ends mounted to the second pair of opposing ends of said second and third plates; third and fourth rods slidably housed within said second tubular member such that a third end of said third rod is adjacent said third end of said second tubular member and a fourth end of said fourth rod is adjacent said fourth end of said second tubular member; third and fourth springs surrounding said third and fourth rods, said third spring being fixed at one end to said third rod inward of said third end of said third rod and being fixed at its other end by engagement with the end of the second pair of ends of said second and third plates supporting said third end of said second tubular member, and said fourth spring being fixed at one end to said fourth rod inward of said fourth end of said fourth rod and being fixed at its other end through engagement with the end of the second pair of ends of said second and third plates supporting said fourth end of said second tubular member, whereby said third and fourth rods are biased such that the third end of said third rod and the fourth end of said fourth rod are brought away from each other and outward of said third and fourth ends of said second tubular member; third and fourth slots in said second tubular member for accessing said third and fourth rods and third and fourth tabs extending through said third and fourth slots in said second tubular member and affixed to said third and fourth rods, respectively, said third and fourth slots and third and fourth tabs limiting the extent to which said third and fourth ends of said third and fourth rods are brought away from each other and outward of said second tubular member by said third and fourth springs, said third and fourth tabs permitting respective inward forces to be applied to said third and fourth rods to reduce the outward bias force of said third and fourth springs on said third and fourth rods to bring said third end of said third rod and said fourth end of said fourth rod toward each other and inward of said second tubular member.

Claim 29

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 23 wherein: said carriage assembly further includes: a first plate which carries said eyeball assembly; and second and third opposing plates extending from opposing ends of said first plate; and said first and second elongated members are supported between respective first and second pairs of outer opposing ends of said second and third plates.

Claim 30

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 28 wherein: said carriage assembly further includes: a yoke having first and second arms and mounted to said first plate so as to be rotatable about said first axis; and said eyeball assembly includes coupling means for coupling said eyeball assembly between and to said arms of said yoke so as to be rotatable about said first axis with said yoke and so as to be rotatable about said second axis relative to said yoke.

Claim 31

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 29 wherein: said first axis is vertical and said second axis is horizontal.

Claim 32

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 29 further comprising: first means for causing said yoke to be rotated, thereby rotating said eyeball assembly, relative to said first plate about said second axis; and second means for causing said eyeball assembly to be rotated relative to said yoke about said first axis.

Claim 33

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 31 wherein: said first means comprises: a gear to which said yoke is mounted, said gear being rotatably mounted about said first axis to said first plate; and means for rotating said gear about said first axis; said coupling means includes first and second couplings connected to said first and second arms of said yoke; and said second means comprises: a mounting member to which said lens and camera assembly and said shroud are mounted, said shroud surrounding said mounting member and said mounting member being connected at opposing ends to said first and second couplings; a gear assembly including a first gear to which said mounting member is attached and a second gear forming part of one of said couplings; and means for causing said first gear to rotate and move about said second gear.

Claim 34

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein: the outer surface of the area of said shroud other than said light-transmissive area is opaque.

Claim 35

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said shroud comprises a metallic material.

Claim 36

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein: the inner surface of said shroud includes a conductive coating.

Claim 37

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 14 further comprising: an electrical cable extending from said camera and lens assembly in said eyeball assembly to said carriage assembly; and cable support means mounted in said surveillance assembly for supporting a portion of said cable in wound relationship about said second axis.

Claim 38

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 36 wherein: said cable support means supports said cable such that said cable leaves said cable support means in the direction of said carriage assembly in a plane parallel to said second axis.

Claim 39

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 37 wherein: said cable support means is mounted so as to be within said eyeball assembly and so as not to rotate about said second axis with said eyeball assembly and so as rotate about said first axis with said eyeball assembly.

Claim 40

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 38 wherein: said cable support means is a spool member mounted with its axis along said second axis.

Claim 41

Surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 36 wherein: said cable is a flat ribbon cable.

Claim 42

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 18 further comprising: an electrical cable extending from said camera and lens assembly in said eyeball assembly to said carriage assembly; and cable support means mounted to the bearing housing of said first coupling for supporting a portion of said cable in wound relationship about said second axis and such that said cable leaves said cable support means in a plane parallel to said second axis.

Claim 43

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 41 wherein: said cable is a flat ribbon cable.

Claim 44

A surveillance assembly comprising: an eyeball assembly including: a camera and lens assembly having a viewing axis and a viewing cone; a shroud substantially totally surrounding said camera and lens assembly and having a light-transmissive area aligned with the viewing axis of said camera and lens assembly and sufficient to pass said viewing cone, whereby said camera and lens assembly can view outward of said shroud; said eyeball assembly being adapted to be rotatable about first and second axes so as to enable rotation of said camera and lens assembly and said shroud about said first and second axes, while said viewing axis and viewing cone of said camera and lens assembly remain aligned with said light transmissive area of said shroud, said eyeball assembly including first means adjacent spaced peripheral points of said eyeball assembly and adapted to be connected to and rotate with a part of a carriage assembly for carrying said eyeball assembly and for rotating said eyeball assembly about said first axis.

Claim 45

A surveillance assembly comprising: an eyeball assembly including: a camera and lens assembly having a viewing axis and a viewing cone; a shroud substantially totally surrounding said camera and lens assembly and having a light-transmissive area aligned with the viewing axis of said camera and lens assembly and sufficient to pass said viewing cone, whereby said camera and lens assembly can view outward of said shroud; said eyeball assembly being adapted to be rotatable about first and second axes so as to enable rotation of said camera and lens assembly and said shroud about said first and second axes, while said viewing axis and viewing cone of said camera and lens assembly remain aligned with said light transmissive area of said shroud, said eyeball assembly including first means adjacent spaced peripheral points of said eyeball assembly and adapted to be connected to and rotate with a part of a carriage assembly for carrying said eyeball assembly and for rotating said eyeball assembly about said first axis.

Claim 46

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 43 wherein: said first means is further adapted to allow said eyeball assembly to rotate about said second axis relative to said part of said carriage assembly.

Claim 47

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 44 wherein: said first means includes first and second couplings located at said peripheral positions for coupling said eyeball assembly to said part of said carriage assembly to permit said eyeball assembly to rotate about said first axis with said part of said carriage assembly and to permit said eyeball assembly to rotate about said second axis relative to said part of said carriage assembly.

Claim 48

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 45 wherein: said eyeball assembly further comprises a mounting member to which said camera and lens assembly and said shroud are mounted; and said first and second couplings being connected to opposing peripheral parts of said mounting member so as to permit said mounting member to rotate about said first axis with said first part of said carriage assembly and to permit said mounting member to rotate about said second axis relative to said part of said carriage assembly.

Claim 49

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 46 wherein: each of said first and second couplings includes: a shaft fixedly connected to said mounting member, a bearing fixed to said shaft and a bearing housing for supporting the bearing such that the bearing is rotatable about said second axis.

Claim 50

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 47 further comprising: said carriage assembly including said part; and said first and second couplings are fixedly attached to said part.

Claim 51

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 48 wherein: said part comprises a yoke rotatably mounted relative to said first axis, said yoke having first and second arms fixedly attached to the bearing housings of said first and second couplings.

Claim 52

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 47 wherein: said shroud has first and second apertures adjacent the bearing housings of said first and second couplings for permitting said bearing housings to be connected to said first and second arms.

Claim 53

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 49 wherein: the bearing housing of said first coupling has a peripheral surface formed as a first gear; and said eyeball assembly further includes: a second gear rotatably mounted to said mounting member so as to be engageable with said first gear and so as to travel along said peripheral surface defined by said first gear when said second gear is rotated; and means for rotating said second gear.

Claim 54

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 46 further comprising: said carriage assembly including said part; and said first and Second couplings are fixedly attached to said part.

Claim 55

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 52 wherein: said part comprises a yoke rotatably mounted relative to said first axis, said yoke having first and second arms fixedly attached to said first and second couplings.

Claim 56

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 43 wherein: the outer surface of the area of said shroud other than said light-transmissive area is made to simulate the light-reflectivity characteristics of the part of said camera and lens assembly aligned with said light-transmissive area.

Claim 57

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 54 wherein: said light-reflectivity characteristics are those of the glass of the front lens of said camera and lens assembly.

Claim 58

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 43 wherein: said shroud comprises a metallic material.

Claim 59

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 43 wherein: the inner surface of said shroud includes a conductive coating.

Claim 60

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 43 wherein: said surveillance assembly is to be used with an electrical cable extending from said camera and lens assembly in said eyeball assembly to said carriage assembly; and said surveillance assembly further comprises: cable support means mounted in said surveillance assembly for supporting a portion of said cable in wound relationship about said second axis.

Claim 61

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 58 wherein: said cable support means supports said cable such that said cable leaves said cable support means in the direction of said carriage assembly in a plane parallel to said second axis.

Claim 62

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 59 wherein: said cable support means is mounted so as to be within said eyeball assembly and so as not to rotate about said second axis with said eyeball assembly and so as rotate about said first axis with said eyeball assembly.

Claim 63

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 60 wherein: said cable support means is a spool member mounted with its axis along said second axis.

Claim 64

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 58 wherein: said cable is a flat ribbon cable.

Claim 65

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 47 further comprising: an electrical cable extending from said camera and lens assembly in said eyeball assembly to said carriage assembly; and cable support means mounted to the bearing housing of said first coupling for supporting a portion of said cable in wound relationship about said second axis and such that said cable leaves said cable support means in a plane parallel to said second axis.

Claim 66

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 63 wherein: said cable is a flat ribbon cable.

Claim 67

Apparatus for use with a camera and lens assembly and for further use with a housing of a surveillance assembly, said housing having first spaced seating areas on a first surface of said housing and second space seating areas on a second surface of said housing, said apparatus comprising: a carriage assembly including: means for carrying said camera and lens assembly; and a pivot means situated along a first side of said carriage assembly and an engagement means situated along a second side Of said carriage assembly, said pivot means being adapted to engage the first surface area of said housing so as to permit said carriage assembly to be pivoted while said pivot means is maintained in engagement with the first surface area of said housing to bring said engagement means into engagement with the second surface area of said housing, thereby permitting mounting of said carriage assembly to said housing with said pivot means in engagement with the first surface area of said housing and said engagement means in engagement with the second surface area of said housing, said pivot means including: an elongated first member having first opposite ends which form pivot points and are adapted to pivotably engage the first spaced seating areas on the first surface area of said housing; and said engagement means including: an elongated second member having second opposite ends which are adapted to engage the second spaced seating areas on said second surface area of said housing.

Claim 68

Apparatus for use with a camera and lens assembly and for further use with a housing of a surveillance assembly, said housing having first spaced seating areas on a first surface of said housing and second space seating areas on a second surface of said housing, said apparatus comprising: a carriage assembly including: means for carrying said camera and lens assembly; and a pivot means situated along a first side of said carriage assembly and an engagement means situated along a second side Of said carriage assembly, said pivot means being adapted to engage the first surface area of said housing so as to permit said carriage assembly to be pivoted while said pivot means is maintained in engagement with the first surface area of said housing to bring said engagement means into engagement with the second surface area of said housing, thereby permitting mounting of said carriage assembly to said housing with said pivot means in engagement with the first surface area of said housing and said engagement means in engagement with the second surface area of said housing, said pivot means including: an elongated first member having first opposite ends which form pivot points and are adapted to pivotably engage the first spaced seating areas on the first surface area of said housing; and said engagement means including: an elongated second member having second opposite ends which are adapted to engage the second spaced seating areas on said second surface area of said housing.

Claim 69

Apparatus in accordance with claim 65 wherein: said pivot means is adapted to releasably, lockingly pivotably engage said first surface area of said housing; and said engagement means is adapted to releasably, lockingly engage said second surface area of said housing.

Claim 70

Apparatus in accordance with claim 66 wherein: said engagement means can perform the function of said pivot means with respect to said second surface area; and said pivot means can perform the function of said engagement means with respect to said first surface area when said engagement means is performing the function of said pivot means.

Claim 71

Apparatus in accordance with claim 67 wherein: said elongated first member is such that the first ends of said first member can be brought toward and away from each other, whereby said first ends can be brought toward each other to align said first ends with said first seating areas and then brought away from each other so that said first ends can be seated into said first seating areas; and said elongated second member is such that the second ends of said second member can be brought toward and away from each other, whereby said second ends can be brought toward each other to align said second ends with said second seating areas and then brought away from each other so that said second ends can be seated into said second seating areas.

Claim 72

Apparatus in accordance with claim 68 wherein: said elongated first member includes: first biasing means for biasing said first ends away from each other; and first means for reducing the bias provided by said first biasing means to bring said first ends toward each other; and said elongated second member includes: second biasing means for biasing said second ends away from each other; and second means for reducing the bias provided by said second biasing means to bring said second ends away from each other.

Claim 73

Apparatus in accordance with claim 69 wherein: said carriage assembly further includes: a first plate which carries said lens and camera assembly; and second and third opposing plates extending from opposing ends of said first plate; and said first and second elongated members are supported between respective first and second pairs of outer opposing ends of said second and third plates.

Claim 74

Apparatus in accordance with claim 70 wherein: said first elongated member is supported by the first pair of opposing ends of said second and third plates such that the first ends of said first elongated member extend beyond the first pair of opposing ends of said second and third plates, said first elongated member including: a first tubular member having first and second ends mounted to the first pair of opposing ends of said second and third plates; first and second rods slidably housed within said first tubular member such that a first end of said first rod is adjacent said first end of said first tubular member and a second end of said second rod is adjacent said second end of said first tubular member; first and second springs surrounding said first and second rods, said first spring being fixed at one end to said first rod inward of said first end of said first rod and being fixed at its other end by engagement with the end of the first pair of ends of said second and third plates supporting said first end of said first tubular member, and of said second spring being fixed at one end to said second rod inward of said second end of said second rod and being fixed at its other end by engagement with the end of the first pair of ends of said second and third plates supporting said second end of said first tubular member, whereby said first and second rods are biased such that the first end of said first rod and the second end of said second rod are brought away from each other and outward of said first and second ends of said first tubular member; first and second slots in said first tubular member for accessing said first and second rods and first and second tab extending through said first and second slots in said first tubular member and affixed to said first and second rods, respectively, said first and second slots and said first and second tabs limiting the extent to which said first and second ends of said first and second rods are brought away from each other and outward of said tubular member by said first and second springs, said first and second said tabs permitting respective inward forces to be applied to said first and second rods to reduce the outward bias force of said first and second springs on said first and second rods to bring said first end of said first rod and said second end of said second rod toward each other and inward of said first tubular member; and said second elongated member is supported by the second pair of opposing ends of said second and third plates such that the second ends of said second elongated member extend beyond the second pair of opposing ends of said second and third plates, said second elongated member including: a second tubular member having second and third ends mounted to the second pair of opposing ends of said second and third plates; third and fourth rods slidably housed within said second tubular member such that a third end of said third rod is adjacent said third end of said second tubular member and a fourth end of said fourth rod is adjacent said fourth end of said second tubular member; third and fourth springs surrounding said third and fourth rods, said third spring being fixed at one end to said third rod inward of said third end of said third rod and being fixed at its other end by engagement with the end of the second pair of ends of said second and third plates supporting said third end of said second tubular member, and said fourth spring being fixed at one end to said fourth rod inward of said fourth end of said fourth rod and being fixed at its other end through engagement with the end of the second pair of ends of said second and third plates supporting said fourth end of said second tubular member, whereby said third and fourth rods are biased such that the third end of said third rod and the fourth end of said fourth rod are brought away from each other and outward of said third and fourth ends of said second tubular member; third and fourth slots in said second tubular member for accessing said third and fourth rods and third and fourth tabs extending through said third and fourth slots in said second tubular member and affixed to said third and fourth rods, respectively, said third and fourth slots and third and fourth tabs limiting the extent to which said third and fourth ends of said third and fourth rods are brought away from each other and outward of said second tubular member by said third and fourth springs, said third and fourth tabs permitting respective inward forces to be applied to said third and fourth rods to reduce the outward bias force of said third and fourth springs on said third and fourth rods to bring said third end of said third rod and said fourth end of said fourth rod toward each other and inward of said second tubular member.

Claim 75

Apparatus in accordance with claim 65 wherein: said carriage assembly further includes: a first plate which carries said lens and camera assembly; and second and third opposing plates extending from opposing ends of said first plate; and said first and second elongated members are supported between respective first and second pairs of outer opposing ends of said second and third plates.

Claim 76

A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim 72 wherein: said carriage assembly further includes: a yoke having first and second arms and mounted to said first plate so as to be rotational about said first axis; and said lens and camera assembly includes coupling means for coupling said lens and camera assembly between and to said arms of said yoke so as to be rotational about said first axis with said yoke and so as to be rotational about said second axis relative to said yoke.

Claim 77

A camera/lens mounting for mounting the image pickup of a camera to a lens, the lens including a collar at one end for receiving the mounting, the collar having threads on a threaded outer surface and an end face with an annular slot, the camera/lens mounting including: an annular resilient member adapted to fit within said slot; a tubular member having a first tubular end, a second tubular end of wider extent than said first tubular end and adapted to fit within said slot, and a shoulder connecting said first and second tubular ends; and a locking and adjusting ring having an inner surface which includes a threaded sidewall surface section adapted to fit around and engage the threaded outer surface of said collar and an annular surface section adapted to allow passage through said ring of said first tubular end of said tubular member and to engage said shoulder of said tubular member; said camera/lens mounting being connected to said collar by first inserting said annular resilient member into said slot, by next inserting said second tubular end of said tubular member into said slot against said annular resilient member and then placing said locking and adjusting ring around the outer surface of said collar and rotating said ring to cause the threads on said threaded inner sidewall surface section of said ring to engage the threads on said threaded outer surface of said collar to thereby bring the inner annular surface section of said ring into engagement with said shoulder of said tubular member and to provide positive locking of said tubular member to said collar while adjusting the position of said tubular member along the axis of said lens.

Claim 78

A camera/lens mounting for mounting the image pickup of a camera to a lens, the lens including a collar at one end for receiving the mounting, the collar having threads on a threaded outer surface and an end face with an annular slot, the camera/lens mounting including: an annular resilient member adapted to fit within said slot; a tubular member having a first tubular end, a second tubular end of wider extent than said first tubular end and adapted to fit within said slot, and a shoulder connecting said first and second tubular ends; and a locking and adjusting ring having an inner surface which includes a threaded sidewall surface section adapted to fit around and engage the threaded outer surface of said collar and an annular surface section adapted to allow passage through said ring of said first tubular end of said tubular member and to engage said shoulder of said tubular member; said camera/lens mounting being connected to said collar by first inserting said annular resilient member into said slot, by next inserting said second tubular end of said tubular member into said slot against said annular resilient member and then placing said locking and adjusting ring around the outer surface of said collar and rotating said ring to cause the threads on said threaded inner sidewall surface section of said ring to engage the threads on said threaded outer surface of said collar to thereby bring the inner annular surface section of said ring into engagement with said shoulder of said tubular member and to provide positive locking of said tubular member to said collar while adjusting the position of said tubular member along the axis of said lens.

Claim 79

A camera/lens mounting in accordance with claim 73 wherein: said resilient annular member has one or more undulations along the length of its circumference.

Claim 80

A camera/lens mounting in accordance with claim 75 wherein: said resilient annular member is formed of spring steel.

Claim 81

A camera/lens mounting in accordance with claim 76 wherein: said annular member is formed as a wavy washer.

Claim 82

A camera/lens mounting in accordance with claim 75 wherein: said resilient annular member has three undulations spaced at intervals of 120° about its circumference.

Claim 83

A camera/lens mounting in accordance with claim 75 wherein: said resilient annular member has four undulations spaced at intervals of 90° about its circumference.

Claim 84

A camera/lens mounting in accordance with claim 74 wherein: said locking and adjusting ring includes one or more grips on its outer surface for permitting controlled rotation of said ring.

Claim 85

A camera/lens mounting in accordance with claim 74 wherein: said collar includes a notch in its outer wall defining said annular slot; and said tubular member includes a pin extending from the outer wall of said second tubular end of the tubular member for receipt in said notch when said second tubular end is in said annular slot said collar.