U.S. patent application number 12/754508 was filed with the patent office on 2011-10-06 for camera-steadying device.
Invention is credited to Boake Paugh, Stanfield Young.
Application Number | 20110243551 12/754508 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44709811 |
Filed Date | 2011-10-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110243551 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Young; Stanfield ; et
al. |
October 6, 2011 |
CAMERA-STEADYING DEVICE
Abstract
A portable camera steady device for use with a camera, having a
retractable tensile member whose distal end can be stepped on by a
user or hooked to her body or clothing. The device has a swivel
mounting member providing two independent and generally
perpendicular axes of rotation such that the tensile member extends
tangentially from the reel and housing whether the camera is used
in the landscape or portrait orientation. A switch is provided to
control extension and retraction of the tensile member from a
biased reel.
Inventors: |
Young; Stanfield; (Los
Alamitos, CA) ; Paugh; Boake; (Rancho Cucamonga,
CA) |
Family ID: |
44709811 |
Appl. No.: |
12/754508 |
Filed: |
April 5, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
396/544 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G03B 17/561
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
396/544 |
International
Class: |
G03B 11/00 20060101
G03B011/00 |
Claims
1. A portable camera steady device for use with a camera,
comprising: a housing; a reel inside the housing, a tensile member
carried on the reel, the tensile member having a proximal end and a
distal end, the housing having an opening through which the tensile
member extends; a swivel tab member connected to the distal end of
the tensile member; a swivel mounting member adapted to attach the
device to the camera, the swivel mounting member providing two
independent axes of rotation between the housing and the camera;
and a switch adapted to control rotation of the reel.
2. A device of claim 1, wherein the switch is adapted to at least
releasably lock the reel against rotation in one direction.
3. A device of claim 1, wherein the switch is adapted to at least
releasably lock the reel against rotation in any direction.
4. A device of claim 1, wherein the reel includes a spring coil
biasing rotation of the reel in one direction.
5. A device of claim 4, wherein the switch is adapted to at least
releasably lock the reel against rotation as biased by the spring
coil.
6. A device of claim 1, wherein the two independent axes of
rotation are generally perpendicular to each other.
7. A device of claim 1, wherein the swivel mounting member defines
one of said independent axes of rotation.
8. A device of claim 1, wherein the swivel mounting member has a
mounting screw defining one of said independent axes of
rotation.
9. A device of claim 1, wherein the housing has two opposing awls,
the swivel mounting member extending between the two opposing
arms.
10. A device of claim 1, wherein the swivel tab member is
configured to adopt a deployed position outside of the housing and
a stored position wherein at least a portion of the tab member is
inside the housing.
11. A device of claim 1, wherein the swivel tab member has a distal
end having a hook member.
12. A device of claim 10, wherein the tensile member extends
tangentially from the reel through the opening in a linear path to
the swivel tab member in the deployed position while the camera is
used in a landscape orientation.
13. A device of claim 12, wherein the camera and the device are in
planar alignment.
14. A device of claim 10, wherein the tensile member extends
tangentially from the reel through the opening in a linear path to
the swivel tab member in the deployed position while the camera is
used in the portrait orientation.
15. A device of claim 14, wherein the camera and the device are
perpendicular to each other.
16. A portable camera steady device for use with a camera,
comprising: a housing; a reel inside the housing, the reel being
adapted to rotate in an extension direction and a retraction
direction, the reel including a spring coil biasing rotation of the
reel in the retraction direction; a tensile member carried on the
reel, the tensile member having a proximal end and a distal end,
the housing having an opening through which the tensile member
extends; a swivel tab member connected to the distal end of the
tensile member, the swivel tab member adapted to assume a deployed
position wherein the swivel tab member is outside of the housing
and a stored position wherein a portion of the swivel tab member is
inside the housing; a swivel mounting member adapted to attach the
device to the camera, the swivel mounting having a body that
defines a first axis of rotation between the housing and the
camera, the swivel mounting member having a mounting screw that
defines a second axis of rotation between the housing and the
camera, the two axes of rotation being independent of each other;
and a switch adapted to control rotation of the reel.
17. A device of claim 16, wherein the switch is movable between a
plurality of positions, including a locked position to releasably
lock the reel against any rotation.
18. A device of claim 16, wherein the positions include a release
position to allow rotation of the reel in the extension and
retraction directions.
19. A device of claim 16, wherein the positions include an extend
position to allow retraction rotation
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to devices for steadying a
camera for improved photographs and images.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0002] Tripods for supporting and steadying image recording devices
such as photographic, video and movie cameras have been known. More
recently, portable steadying devices that can be mounted or
attached to a camera and/or worn on the body have been known. Such
portable devices typically provide a tensile member that can be
lengthened and pulled tautly by the user to help steady the camera.
However, many of such prior devices are adapted to be attached to
the camera in only one configuration, limiting the orientation of
the camera to, for example, the landscape orientation. Thus, if the
camera is used in the portrait orientation, these devices are not
as useful and can even be damaged with the tensile member being
tangled, twisted and weakened. Moreover, many of these prior
devices that allow the user to step on a distal end of the tensile
member provide no alternatives in the event contact with the ground
or the user's shoe is undesirable such as when the ground or shoe
is dirty or wet. Furthermore, many of these prior devices provided
limited, if any, locking mechanism controlling the extension and/or
retraction of the tensile member for purposes of facilitating
storing, deployment and adjustment of the tensile member.
[0003] Accordingly, it is desirable that a camera-steadying device
provides a housing that allows the camera to be used in either the
landscape or portrait orientation without damage or premature wear
and tear of the tensile member. It is also desirable that the
device allows different means by which the deployed tensile member
can be anchored. It is also desirable that the device allows varied
control over the extension and retraction of the tensile member for
storing, deploying and adjusting the deployed length.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention is directed to a compact and portable
camera steadying device that is usable with a camera operating in
either the landscape or portrait configuration. In one embodiment,
the device includes a housing with a retractable reel providing a
tensile member that can be deployed and anchored to a user's body
or clothing. The device includes a swivel mounting member that
allows the tensile member to be advantageously deployed in a
tangential direction relative to the reel and housing whether the
camera is operating in the landscape or portrait configuration. The
device also includes a swivel tab member that allows a distal end
of the tensile member to be stepped on or hooked to the user's
clothing including a belt or shoe laces. The device further
includes a switch adapted to provide varied control in the
extension and retraction of the tensile member.
[0005] In a more detailed embodiment, the swivel mounting member
provides two independent axes of rotation between the camera and
the device such that the camera and device can lie in a common
plane for the camera to operate in the landscape orientation, or in
perpendicular planes for the camera to operate in the portrait
orientation. In either configuration, the tensile member is
deployed tangentially from the reel and housing to avoid undue wear
and tear on the tensile member.
[0006] In another more detailed embodiment, the swivel tab member
can lie at an angle ranging between about 0 and 180 degrees
relative to the tensile member such that the tab member can be
stored compactly in the housing or releasably anchored to the
user's foot or clothing without undue wear and tear on the tensile
member. In yet another detailed embodiment, the switch of the
device is movable between multiple positions, including a release
position, a locked position and an extend position by means of a
ratchet that can be completely disengaged from the reel, or
releasably engaged at one end to prevent any rotation, and engaged
at the other end to allow rotation in one direction while
preventing rotation in the other direction.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] These and other features and advantages of the present
invention will be better understood by reference to the following
detailed description when considered in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a
camera-steadying device in accordance with the present
invention.
[0009] FIG. 2a is a top plan view of an embodiment of the device a
swivel mounting member in a stored configuration and a swivel tab
member in a deployed configuration.
[0010] FIG. 2b is a perspective view of an embodiment of the device
attached to a camera in a landscape orientation.
[0011] FIG. 2c is a perspective view of an embodiment of the device
attached to a camera in a portrait orientation.
[0012] FIG. 2d is an end view of an embodiment of the device with a
tensile member extending from the device.
[0013] FIG. 3a is a top plan view of an embodiment of a first
housing half of the device, a swivel mounting member, and a switch
in a "locked" position.
[0014] FIG. 3b is a top plan view of the housing of FIG. 3a wherein
the switch is in a "release" position.
[0015] FIG. 3c is a top plan view of the housing of FIG. 3a wherein
the switch is in an "extend" position.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of an embodiment of a second
housing half of the device, including a reel, and a swivel tab
member in a stored configuration.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of an embodiment of a reel.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a swivel
tab member.
[0019] FIG. 7 is a top plan view of an embodiment of a switch
detached from a rounded corner of the first housing half.
[0020] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the
switch.
[0021] FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of an embodiment of a swivel
mounting member.
[0022] FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the swivel mounting member of
FIG. 9.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] FIGS. 1-4 illustrate an embodiment of a camera steadying
device 10 that allows a user to help steady a photographic or video
camera 12 for taking better and clearer images. The device includes
a housing member 14 in which a retractable reel 16 is provided with
a tensile member 18 that can be extended for creating a positive
tensile force to steady the camera. The housing member includes a
switch 20 to at least (1) allow rotation of the retractable reel
only in one direction, (2) allow rotation of the retractable reel
in both directions, and (3) lock the retractable reel against any
rotation. The housing member 14 further includes a swivel mounting
member 22 that can be positioned in a locked storage configuration
detached from the camera (FIG. 2a), or in various deployed
configurations attached to the camera 12 in either the portrait
orientation (FIG. 2c) or landscape orientation (FIG. 2b) with
minimal stress fatigue on the tensile member 18.
[0024] With reference to FIG. 2a, the housing member has a main
body portion 26 with a proximal end 28, a distal end 30 along a
longitudinal axis 31, and two sides 32 parallel with the axis 31.
The main body has a planar, generally rectangular profile defined
by two flat surfaces 27. The body has a rounded corner 34 and an
indented corner 36 at the distal end 30. The housing member has a
length between the ends 28 and 30 ranging between about 3.0 inches
and 3.5 inches, preferably about 3.25 inches, a width between the
two sides 32 ranging between about 2.0 inches 2.5 inches,
preferably about 2.25 inches, and a thickness between the two flat
surfaces ranging between about 0.5 and 1.0 inches, preferably about
0.75 inches. The overall size can be comparable to present day
pocket-size digital cameras.
[0025] With reference to FIGS. 2b, 2c, 3 and 4, the housing member
14 includes two similar housing halves 14a and 14b that are
generally mirror-images of each other. The housing halves are
configured to contact each other along a peripheral edge 40 which
when joined form a seam 42 around the device. The first housing
half 14a has multiple through-holes 43 that are aligned with
cylindrical projections 44 formed in the second housing half 14b.
To releasably fasten the halves 14a, 14b to each other, screws (not
shown) are inserted through the holes 43 and received in the
cylindrical projections 44. The switch 20 is located at the rounded
corner 34 of the distal end 30, and the tensile member 18 exits the
interior of the housing via a slot opening 48 (FIG. 2d) formed in
the indented corner 36 of the distal end. At the proximal end of
the housing member are two opposing arms 50 that extend
tangentially from the sides 32. Extending between the arms 50 is
the swivel mounting member 22.
[0026] Turning to the interior of the housing 14 as shown in FIGS.
3c and 4, the tensile member 18 is wound on the reel 16 which has a
central opening 50 that receives a central axis member 52
projecting perpendicularly from an inner surface of the second
housing half 14b toward the first housing half 14a. The reel 16 is
thus mounted on the central axis member 52 such that it can rotate
about the central axis in a clockwise or counter clockwise
direction. The reel has a first side 54a that faces the first
housing half 14a and a second side 54b that faces the second
housing half 14b.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 4, the first side 54a that faces the first
housing half 14a has is an inner annular space 66 spanning between
the axis member 52 and a circumferential wall 68 at a periphery of
the first side 54a of the reel. The annular space 66 is occupied by
a spring coil 70 to bias the reel to rotate in a retraction
direction that wounds the tensile member 18 in the channel 56. An
inner end of the coil 70 is anchored in a slot 72 in the central
axis member 52. An outer end of the coil 70 is anchored in a slot
74 formed on the first side 54a in the reel 16. On an outer surface
of the wall 68 are a plurality of circumferential cogs 76 that
interact with the switch 20, as explained further below.
[0028] With reference to FIG. 5, between the first and second sides
54a, 54b and adjacent the second side 54b is a circumferential
channel 56 of the reel in which the tensile member 18 is wound. An
inner or proximal end of the tensile member is anchored in an end
cap 60 that sits in a recess 62 formed on second side 54b of the
reel. A cutout 63 is formed in the second side 54b of the reel to
allow the tensile member 18 to extend between the channel 56 and
the recess 62.
[0029] As understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, the
tensile member 18 (e.g., a cable, chain, cord or monofilament) is
adapted to unwind from the reel 16 and extend outside of the
housing member 14 through the slot opening 48 when a distal end of
the tensile member is drawn by the user with sufficient force to
overcome the biasing retraction force of the spring coil 70. When
the distal end is released by the user, the tensile member 18
rewinds on the reel 16 under the biasing force of the spring coil
70. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 6, a distal end of the tensile
member 16 is equipped with a swivel tab member 80 configured
advantageously for the user to step on or to hook on to her
clothing. In the disclosed embodiment, the tab member is somewhat
L-shaped and has an elongated, generally rectangular body defining
a longitudinal axis 81. The tab member has a tethered proximal end
82, a distal end 84 and a planar main portion 86 therebetween with
a top surface 87, a bottom surface 88 and two side edges 89. The
proximal end 82 has an enlarged portion 83 which extends from top
surface 87. The enlarged portion is formed with a through-hole 90
generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 81. The hole 90
receives ends of a cylindrical fitting 92 in which the distal end
of the tensile member 18 is anchored. The cylindrical fitting 92 is
configured for rotational movement in the hole 90 relative to the
tab member 80 about an axis generally perpendicular to the axis 81.
A slot 94 aligned with the longitudinal axis 81 is provided in the
enlarged portion 83 to accommodate the tensile member 18 and allow
the tensile member a range of swivel motion with the tab member 80,
for example, ranging between about 0 degree adjacent the tab member
(broken lines) to 90 degrees perpendicular with the tab member
(solid lines) and to 180 degrees opposite of the tab member (broken
lines). This range of motion allows the tab member 80 to be stored
in the housing member 14 (see FIG. 2b) and deployed outside of the
housing member (FIG. 2a) with minimal stress on the tensile member
18, especially at or near its distal end anchored in the fitting 92
within the tab member 80. This range of motion also allows the user
to laterally sweep or otherwise move the camera from side to side
without stressing the tensile member along its extended length or
at or near the fitting.
[0030] The main portion 86 of the tab member 80 is generally flat
so that it can be comfortably and effectively stepped on by a foot
of the user when the tab member is deployed. To that end, the top
surface 87 has a friction-inducing surface, such as a surface with
traction ridges 96 so the tab member 80 does not easily slide out
from under the user's foot as the user pulls the tensile member
taut in providing positive tension to steady the camera. And, where
it is not suitable for the user to step on the tab member 80, such
as when the user's shoe or foot or a ground surface is wet or
dirty, the tab member can be advantageously coupled to the user's
body and clothing, including a belt 200 or shoe laces 202 (FIG. 1),
by means of an open hook formation 98 at the distal end.
[0031] Turning to the switch 20 of the device 10, the switch is
better shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The switch can lock the reel against
retraction or extension (FIG. 3a), release the reel for retraction
and extension (FIG. 3b), or allow extension while locking the reel
against retraction (FIG. 3c). That is, the switch is slidable
between three positions for controlling the extension of the
tensile member, namely, (1) a locked position (FIG. 3a), (2) a
release position (FIGS. 3b), and (3) an extend position (FIG. 3c).
As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 7, the switch 20 has an
elongated body of a generally curved or arcuate shape to correspond
and conform with the rounded corner 34 of the housing. The switch
has an elongated outer user interface portion 100 with a friction
inducing outer surface 101 (e.g., a plurality of parallel raised
ridges 102) between two curved end portions 104 that conform with
and hug the rounded corner 34. The outer surface 101 is adapted for
contact with a user's thumb or finger for sliding the switch
between the various positions.
[0032] The switch also has an inner elongated slider 106 with a
two-ended ratchet 108 inward of the slider, and a neck portion 110
between and connecting the outer interface portion 100 and the
inner slider 106. At the rounded corner 34, the housing 14 is
formed with a rectangular opening 119 defined by a slightly
recessed formation 120 in each housing half (FIG. 2c), through
which the neck portion 110 extends. The switch 20 is sandwiched
between the first and second housing halves 14a and 14b but it is
slidable in a circumferential direction along the rounded corner
34. The recessed formation 120 is defined by inset segments 124 of
the peripheral edge (see FIGS. 3 and 4) at the rounded corner 34 of
the housing halves, which accommodate and conform with the curved
end portions 104 of the interface portion 100 of the switch. The
segments 124 are situated between the curved end portions 104 and
the slider 106. As such, the interface portion 100 is outside of
the housing and exposed, whereas the slider 106 and the ratchet 108
are inside the housing 14. The opening 119 in the housing is
sufficiently elongated along the peripheral edge 40 so as not to
interfere with the neck portion 110 as the switch 20 is moved
between the three positions. The curved end portions 104 of the
interface portion 100 are sufficiently elongated along the inset
segments 124 such that the opening 119 is covered by the switch 20
in all three positions.
[0033] The slider 106 is also elongated along the segments 124 but
it sits inside the segments 124. On an outwardly facing surface of
the slider is at least one ridge formation 126 (FIG. 8) at or near
each end of the slider. The ridge formations 126 are adapted for
releasable engagement with grooves 128 formed in an inner surface
of the segments 124 to releasably lock the switch 20 in each of the
three positions. The segments 124, the interface portion 100 and
the slider 106 have a curvature similar to each other, so that they
have a conforming inconspicuous profile allowing the switch 20 to
be moved into the three positions along the rounded corner of the
housing member.
[0034] In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 8, the interface
portion 100 and the slider 106 have nearly the same length whereas
the ratchet has a greater length. In the width dimension, the
slider portion 106 has the greatest width, with the interface
portion 100 having a lesser width and the ratchet 108 having the
least width. As such, each of the interface portion 100 and the
slider 106 sits in both housing halves 14a and 14b whereas the
ratchet 108 sits primarily in the first housing half 14a.
[0035] The ratchet 108 has a mid-portion connected to the slider,
and two opposing arms 130a, 130b, each with a free end with an
inwardly facing tooth member 112a, 112b. Both arms have hinge
formations 114a, 114b (e.g., transverse slices or cutouts) to
provide flexibility. In the illustrated embodiment, the shorter arm
130a (to the left of the neck portion 110 in FIG. 8) has inwardly
facing hinge formation 114a to facilitate outward flexure, and the
longer arm 130b (to the right of the neck portion 110 in FIG. 8)
has outwardly-facing hinge formations 114b to facilitate inward
flexure. In that regard, it is understood that flexure (inwardly or
outwardly) can be facilitated with either an inwardly-facing or
outwardly-facing hinge formation. The tooth member 112b interacts
with a one-way release cam 132. The tooth member 112a interacts
with a locking cam 134. The one-way release cam 132 is formed as an
inwardly facing protrusion on the inner surface of the housing half
14a, at an end 136 of the segment 124a. The locking cam 134 is
formed as protrusion near an end 136 of the segment 124b, on the
inner surface of the first housing half 14a projecting toward the
second housing half 14b.
[0036] When the switch is moved into the "extend" position (FIG.
3c), a raised formation 140 provided on an outwardly facing surface
of the ratchet arm 130b comes into contact with the one-way release
cam 132 which bends the arm 130b inwardly as facilitated by the
hinge(s) 114b so that the tooth member 112b engages a cog 76 on the
reel 16. While the ratchet arm 130b is sufficiently rigid to remain
engaged with the cog 76 and prevent rotation of the reel against
the retraction bias of the spring coil 70, the ratchet arm 130b is
hinged for outward flexure such that it is sufficiently flexible to
release the cog and allow rotation of the reel when the user draws
on the tensile member 18 to extend it from the housing member.
Thus, when the switch 20 is in the "extend" position, the reel 16
is allowed extension rotation in one direction (namely, clockwise
in FIG. 3c) but not retraction rotation in the opposite direction
(namely, counterclockwise in FIG. 3c). As the user draws on the
tensile member 18, a "clicking" sound is audible when the tooth
member 112b slides over a series of cogs 76.
[0037] When the user moves the switch 20 to the "release" position
(FIG. 3b), the raised formation 140 is moved out of contact with
the one way release cam 132, whereupon the ratchet arm 130b
elastically returns to its resting configuration and the tooth
member 112b releases its engagement with the reel 16. The reel can
then either retract the tensile member 18 under the biasing force
of the coil spring 70 or be rotated in an opposite direction
(namely, clockwise in FIG. 3b) when the user pulls on the tensile
member 18 with a force sufficient to overcome the biasing force of
the coil spring 70 to extend the tensile member.
[0038] When the user moves the switch 20 to the "locked" position
(FIG. 3a), the opposite ratchet arm 130a comes into contact
engagement with the locking cam 134 which exerts an inward force to
bend the ratchet arm 130a such that the tooth member 112a engages a
cog 76 on the reel 16. The inwardly facing hinge formation 114a
allows the arm 130a to bend readily toward the reel 16 for a
locking engagement between the tooth member 112a and the cog 76
that is intended to be releasable only when the switch 20 is moved
out of the "locked" position. The locking engagement prevents the
reel 16 from rotating in either direction and thus prevents the
tensile member 18 from being extended or retracted. The locking cam
134 has a trapezoidal cross section and a contact surface 138 that
is angled inwardly to push the tooth member 112a inwardly toward
the cogs 76.
[0039] Notably, the switch 20 is adapted to remain in any selected
position until moved by the user by means of the releasable
engagement between the ridges 126 on the slider 106 and the indents
128 on the segments 124 of the peripheral edge of the housing
halves. The switch 20 can be made of any suitable material that is
sufficiently rigid yet flexible and elastic to enable the ratchet
arms 130 to releasably interact with the cams 132, 134 and engage
the reel 16. Plastics, such as acetal resins, are suitable
materials.
[0040] With reference to FIGS. 2a, 9, 10, the swivel mounting
member 22 has a generally elongated rectangular body with a length
L, a width W and a thickness T. The swivel member is hollow (or
six-sided in the disclosed embodiment) to reduce weight of the
device. The swivel body has two ends 160 that face the arms 50
extending from the housing 14. On each of the ends is a cylindrical
prong 162 that is received in a respective recess 164 (FIG. 2a)
formed in the arms 50 in allowing a range of rotation relative to
the housing 14. The prongs 162 thus define a first swivel axis 166
that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 31 of the
housing 14.
[0041] Extending through the thickness T dimension of the swivel
mounting member 22 at a mid-location along the length L of the
member 22 if a mounting screw with a large head 172 having a
friction-inducing circumferential contact surface 175 and a shaft
173 whose length is greater than the thickness of the member 22 so
that a distal end 174 is exposed. The exposed distal end 174 is
adapted to be received in a threaded tripod mounting hole provided
on a bottom side of most conventional cameras. A cushion liner or
pad 176 (FIG. 10) is provided on a distal contact surface 178 of
the swivel mounting member which allows the screw 170 to be
securely fastened to the camera 12 while enabling rotation of the
swivel member 22 relative to the camera about the screw 170.
Notably, the screw 170 defines a second rotational or swivel axis
177 that is advantageously perpendicular to and independent of the
first rotational or swivel axis 160 defined by the prongs 162.
Thus, the present device provides two independent axes of rotation
between the device and the camera. In the disclosed embodiment, the
device has a rotational range of 360 degrees about the axis 177 and
a rotational range of about 180 degrees about the axis 166. These
two axes of rotational minimize stress on the tensile member during
deployment by allowing the tensile member to extend tangentially
from the reel and housing to its anchored distal end whether the
camera is used in the landscape or portrait orientation.
[0042] Used in the landscape orientation, the camera 12 can lie in
a common plane with the device 10 (along with the mounting member
22 and the mounting screw 170), as shown in FIG. 2b. Moreover, the
mounting screw 170 is parallel with the longitudinal axis 31 of the
device. The slot opening 48 faces downwardly with the tensile
member extending tangentially from the reel 16 and stretched
downwardly with minimal, if any, stress imposed on the tensile
member 18 as it extends tangentially from the reel toward the
user's belt, shoes or feet in a linear path.
[0043] Used in the portrait orientation, the camera 12 and the
device 10 lie in perpendicular planes in that they are
perpendicular to each other. Moreover, the housing 14 is
perpendicular to the swivel mounting screw 170, as shown in FIG.
2c, in that the screw 170 is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis
31 of the device. However, the slot opening 48 remains facing
downwardly with the tensile member 18 stretched downwardly as it
extends tangentially from the reel 16 toward the user's belt, shoes
or feet in a linear path. It is understood that the device may be
rotated so that the switch 20 faces rearward (toward the user) as
opposed to facing forward (toward the subject of the image to be
taken by the camera).
[0044] Thus, regardless of the camera's orientation, the device 10
can be used in a manner by which the tensile member 18 can be
deployed and pulled tautly without significant contact, rubbing or
bending around any portion of the housing at the slot opening. The
tensile member thus can remain free of kinks or bends that can
otherwise lead to premature wear and tear on the tensile member or
the housing. By providing two independent axes of rotation, the
device can be easily maneuvered into deployment whether the user
uses the camera in the landscape orientation or the portrait
orientation.
[0045] To arrange the device between the landscape and portrait
orientations of the camera, the screw 170 remains connected to the
camera which the user can rotate the housing 14 about the axis 166
and rotate the housing 14 about the axis 177, as a single movement,
or two separate movements in either sequence. Typically,
transitioning from use with the camera in the landscape orientation
to the portrait orientation, the device can be rotated 90 degrees
about one axis, and 90 degrees about the other axis.
[0046] When the swivel mounting member 22 is not in use, it can be
rotated about the axis 166 so that end of the mounting screw 174 is
inserted and received in a threaded hole 179 to secure the swivel
mounting member 22 in a stored configuration. To deploy the swivel
mounting member 22, the screw 170 is rotated so that its end 174 is
withdrawn from the threaded hole 179 and the member 22 is rotated
180 degrees about axis 166 so that the screw end faces outward and
can be inserted into a tripod mounting hole of the camera.
[0047] When the tab member 80 is not in use, it is safely stored in
the interior of the housing 14. Adjacent the opening 48 is channel
190 that lies along the side 32 of the housing and extends into the
arm 50. As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the channel 190 is formed from
opposing slots 192 configured in the inner surface of housing
halves 14a and 14b. As the tab member 80 allows for a range of
rotation of about 180 degrees relative to the tensile member 18,
the tab member 80 and the tensile member 18 can be folded or
otherwise collapsed on each for the tab member 80 to be inserted
distal end first into the channel 190. As shown in FIG. 2b, the
enlarged end 83 of the tab member 80 is advantageously configured
to fill in the indented corner 36 of the housing 14 to provide a
more complete profile to the device 10 when the tab member 80 is in
the stored configuration. The enlarged end 83 also has a thinner
dimension t than the thickness T of the housing to draw attention
to the tab member 80 and facilitate deployment of the tab member
from the channel 190. To deploy the tab member, the user pulls on
the enlarged end 83 and pulls the tab member from the channel 190.
The tab member can be stepped by the user on or hooked to the
user's body, such as her shoes, belt, belt loop, button hole and
the like, or even a nearby object.
[0048] It is understood that the camera and the device can be
arranged in any configuration permitted by the two independent
rotational axes and are not limited to those illustrated herein.
While axis 177 provides a 360 degree rotation, the user need not
ever utilize this full range of rotation.
[0049] The preceding description has been presented with reference
to certain exemplary embodiments of the invention. Workers skilled
in the art and technology to which this invention pertains will
appreciate that alterations and changes to the described structure
may be practiced without meaningfully departing from the principal,
spirit and scope of this invention. It is understood that the
drawings are not necessarily to scale. Accordingly, the foregoing
description should not be read as pertaining only to the precise
structures described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Rather, it should be read as consistent with and as support for the
following claims which are to have their fullest and fairest
scope.
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