Patents by Inventor Michael A. Hofstein

Michael A. Hofstein has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4699484
    Abstract: A camera system which has a wheeled rail car (20) with running gear (26) front and back connected to a chassis (40) containing a movable panning head (46) on the top, covered by an enclosure (44). The panning head (46) has a motion picture camera (58) mounted thereon and the rail car (20) is self-propelled and the head (46) rotatability tilts up and down and pans 360 degrees. The car (20) is movably installed on a track system (22) consisting of rails (64) connected together with ties (78), each rail (64) having a power strip (66) supplying electrical energy to the car (20) through a set of wipers (84). An electrical control system (24) is positioned remotely from the tracks (22) and provides control for propulsion and positioning of the panning head (46), as well as control of the camera (58). A television monitor (86) receives a signal from the camera (58), allowing the operator visual indication of the scene viewed by the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1987
    Inventors: Mary E. Howell, Michael A. Hofstein, Murrell D. Howell