Self orienting underwater camera

Abstract

An underwater fishing camera includes a watertight housing having a transparent part and a video tube received in the watertight housing. The video tube has a light receiving input positioned to view through the transparent part of the watertight housing. A cable is coupled to the watertight housing for suspending the watertight housing in a body of water. The watertight housing and the cable are configured whereupon, when the watertight housing is suspended by the cable in a body of water moving relative to the watertight housing, the watertight housing is responsive to force(s) applied thereto by the water due to said relative movement such that the transparent part of the watertight housing faces in a downstream direction in the body of water moving relative to the watertight housing.

1 . An underwater fishing camera comprising: 
 a watertight housing having a transparent part;    a video tube received in the watertight housing, the video tube having a light receiving part positioned to view through the transparent part of the watertight housing; and    a cable coupled to the watertight housing, wherein the watertight housing and the cable are configured whereupon, when the watertight housing is suspended by the cable in a body of water moving relative to the watertight housing, the watertight housing is responsive to force(s) applied thereto by the water due to said relative movement such that the transparent part of the watertight housing faces in a downstream direction in the body of water moving relative to the watertight housing.    
   
   
       2 . The camera of  claim 1 , wherein the force(s) is/are applied to one or more sides of the watertight housing.  
   
   
       3 . The camera of  claim 1 , further including at least one fin attached to the watertight housing for orienting the housing generally parallel to a direction of the water moving relative to the watertight housing.  
   
   
       4 . The camera of  claim 3 , wherein the fin is attached to the watertight housing adjacent the transparent part thereof.  
   
   
       5 . The camera of  claim 1 , wherein the water moves relative to the watertight housing at a trolling speed.  
   
   
       6 . An underwater fishing camera comprising: 
 a watertight housing having a transparent part;    a video tube received in the watertight housing, the video tube having a light receiving part positioned to view through the transparent part of the watertight housing; and    a cable coupled to the watertight housing, wherein the watertight housing and the cable are configured such that, when the watertight housing is suspended by the cable in a stream of water, the stream of water moving relative to the watertight housing applies one or more forces to the watertight housing that cause the watertight housing to orient in the stream of water with the transparent part of the watertight housing facing in a downstream direction in the stream of water.    
   
   
       7 . The camera of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more force(s) is/are applied to one or more sides of the watertight housing.  
   
   
       8 . The camera of  claim 6 , further including at least one fin attached to the watertight housing for orienting the housing generally parallel to a direction of the stream of water moving relative to the watertight housing.  
   
   
       9 . The camera of  claim 8 , wherein the fin is attached to the watertight housing adjacent the transparent part thereof.  
   
   
       10 . The camera of  claim 6 , wherein the stream of water moves relative to the watertight housing at a trolling speed.  
   
   
       11 . An underwater surveillance camera comprising: 
 a watertight housing having a transparent part;    a video tube received in the watertight housing, the video tube having a light receiving input positioned to view through the transparent part of the watertight housing; and    a cable coupled to the watertight housing, wherein the watertight housing and the cable are configured such that, when the watertight housing is suspended by the cable in a body of water, the watertight housing is responsive to one or more forces applied thereto by movement of the water relative to the watertight housing such that the light receiving input of the video tube faces in a direction downstream in the water moving relative to the watertight housing.    
   
   
       12 . The camera of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more force(s) is/are applied to one or more sides of the watertight housing.  
   
   
       13 . The camera of  claim 11 , further including at least one fin attached to the watertight housing for orienting the housing generally parallel to a direction the water moving relative to the watertight housing.  
   
   
       14 . The camera of  claim 13 , wherein the fin is attached to the watertight housing adjacent the transparent part thereof.  
   
   
       15 . The camera of  claim 11 , wherein the water moves relative to the watertight housing at a trolling speed.