Need input on an idea
 

I had this idea to make a mount to attache a camera to a radio. The idea is to make it much easier for someone to both film and drive single handedly. Looking at radio designs, I felt the commonplace Traxxas TQ radio would be easiest to build a mount for, as the bar on the front makes a great mounting point.
Well, I have the first prototype done, and I would be grateful for input on it anyone can give. I'm going to test it myself for a bit, make a few revisions, and prepare to make a couple of test units for other people to try out.
Here's what it looks like:

http://i858.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/DSCN0636.jpg

http://i858.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/DSCN0637.jpg

http://i858.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/DSCN0635.jpg

http://i858.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/DSCN0638.jpg

The later units will have cleaner, more finished look to them.
Also, given the option of having the camera attaching knob fixed in the center of the platform, or having it movable to the three positions shown, what would be preferred? The reason I ask is because once attached with a retaining washer, the knob is rather difficult to remove.

RE: Need input on an idea
 

nice mount but....
why would you want a camera on the control and not the car?

well i understand your idea but seems like it would be hard to watch the camera and run the car at the same time..

it looks very well made.

RE: Need input on an idea
 

saaaaay, not a bad idea. a cam with a flip viewer would work better though.

mounting a cam to a rc usually looks like a drugged up rat running around right before it passes out. it also gives you little perception of how fast its going.

RE: Need input on an idea
 

Another user had a similar design, but his was no where near as refined.

Looks like a nice well thought out mount though.

RE: Need input on an idea
 

duck-tape?

RE: Need input on an idea
 

nah the other guys was made out of wood with a similar design. The wood wasn't squared, sanded, or finished in any way. It looked like a real mess but it worked

He had his hooked to the bottom of the TQ controller.

RE: Need input on an idea
 

Looks good, lookin forward to seeing how it works!

RE: Need input on an idea
 

Thanks! I'll try to get some video of how it works soon.

RE: Need input on an idea
 

I do the same thing with my iPod except I use double sided 3m tape and it works great. Dont think it would hold up a real camera though.

RE: Need input on an idea
 

Not too smart posting something like this without at least applying for a patent. Its a really good idea, but would be a shame for HK or something to come across this thread and start producing them.

RE: Need input on an idea
 

Well, I thought about that, and there are basically 3 reasons I think a patent would be useless in my situation.
First, if some Chinese company did find this thread and wanted to start cranking them out for their own profit, a US patent is going to mean absolutely nothing to them. Second, let's say a US company wanted to do the same thing and start making these for their sole profit. A patent only grants you a limited amount of protection on your design. A big company with a few lawyers could easily find their way around the patent laws to make a design just different enough so it's not considered infringement on my design. Third, I'm just a guy making these in my basement workshop, trying to start a small business on the side. I simply cannot afford the time and money it would require to get a patent. Also, I think it would prove to be un-patentable in the first place, as it's far too simple of a design.

I do appreciate your concern, though, and am also glad you like the idea. Thank you!

RE: Need input on an idea
 

Patents are cheap, and cant hurt. Famous last words - "eh, no time for a patent". A few blue prints and a short explanation of its use is all it takes. I have a few for some insanely simple things... like a threaded hole in a block.

RE: Need input on an idea
 

I'll look into it more.

RE: Need input on an idea
 

its like a lamp clamp. even if you did patent and sell it, my cheap ass would still ghetto rig one out of duct tape and a lamp clamp.:)

again, very nice design

RE: Need input on an idea
 

patents are not that cheap.
plus unless your going to mass produce them for sell the rights its useless and also like he said a chiness so. can and will just take the idea, pay the works 13 cents an hour and kill any comp in the usa

RE: Need input on an idea
 

My thoughts exactly. I looked into the average costs of getting a patent and it seems to be about $1,000. Unless I'm not looking in the right spot.
I thought about doing what's called a "poor man's patent", where you mail yourself a few pictures and drawing of your idea. The date stamp the post office puts on that sealed envelope then proves you had that idea at that time. That's all it does though. No protection against copiers, just proof you had the idea first. Since that's pretty much useless too, there's no point in even wasting a stamp on a vain effort to protect my idea.