U.S. patent application number 13/844342 was filed with the patent office on 2014-04-17 for pulley camera strap and camera mounting system using same.
The applicant listed for this patent is DayMen US, Inc.. Invention is credited to Noah Balmer, Heidi Serene Farrell, Eric C. Hale, Fred Italo Polito, David Ethan Yao.
Application Number | 20140103084 13/844342 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49514898 |
Filed Date | 2014-04-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140103084 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hale; Eric C. ; et
al. |
April 17, 2014 |
Pulley Camera Strap And Camera Mounting System Using Same
Abstract
The present invention is directed towards a retractable pulley
strap assembly adapted to mount to the bottom of a camera, or other
device, and to be used in a variety of configurations. The strap is
adapted to allow for extension, and increase of the effective strap
length, while the camera is in use. The strap is adapted to retract
to a shorter effective length while the camera is not in use, such
that the camera is held tightly against the user's body.
Inventors: |
Hale; Eric C.; (San
Francisco, CA) ; Balmer; Noah; (Oakland, CA) ;
Yao; David Ethan; (San Francisco, CA) ; Farrell;
Heidi Serene; (San Francisco, CA) ; Polito; Fred
Italo; (Santa Cruz, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
DayMen US, Inc.; |
Petaluma |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
49514898 |
Appl. No.: |
13/844342 |
Filed: |
March 15, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61641631 |
May 2, 2012 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/264 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F 5/00 20130101; A45F
2003/142 20130101; A45F 3/12 20130101; A45F 3/14 20130101; G03B
17/563 20130101; A45F 2200/0533 20130101; A45F 2005/006
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/264 |
International
Class: |
A45F 3/12 20060101
A45F003/12 |
Claims
1. A camera strap and mounting system comprising: A strap pad, said
strap pad coupled to a main strap on a first end; a main strap,
said main strap coupled to said strap pad on a first end, said main
strap coupled to a strap slider on a second end, a strap slider,
said strap slider coupled to a second end of said strap pad; a
strap tab; and a camera mount coupled to said strap tab; wherein
said strap tab is adapted move along a portion of said strap.
2. The camera strap and mounting system of claim 1 wherein the loop
length of the camera strap system increases when said strap tab is
moved along said portion of said strap in a first direction.
3. The camera strap and mounting system of claim 2 wherein the loop
length of the camera strap system decreases when said strap tab is
moved along said portion of said strap in a second direction.
4. The camera strap and mounting system of claim 3 wherein said
strap is overlaid in a plurality of layers between said strap tab
and said strap slider.
5. The camera strap and mounting system of claim 4 wherein said
strap is not overlaid in a plurality of layers between said strap
tab and said first end of said main strap.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application
No. 61/641,631 to Hale, filed May 2, 2012.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a camera mounting and
handling, and more specifically to a camera mount and adjustable
strap.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Cameras may be handled by a user in a variety of ways, and
may have different straps or tripod mounts attached depending upon
the situation. In some uses, a short wrist strap may be used which
adds security to holding the camera while photographing. In some
uses, a longer strap may be used which allows the camera to be
suspended from the neck of the user while not being used. In some
uses, a user may want to mount the camera onto a tripod.
[0006] In another aspect, a strap may be used to support a camera
wherein the strap is laid over both the neck and a shoulder of the
user. A drawback of this aspect is that a strap long enough to
allow for use of the camera will be long enough that the camera,
when dangling from the strap while not in use, will be able to have
too much mobility. The camera may be subject to too much motion,
such that it is a distraction to the wearer. This may also present
the risk of damage to the camera should it hit an object with this
large range of possible motion.
[0007] What is called for is a body strap for a camera which may
retract while the camera is not being used for photography such
that the camera is held firmly against the body.
SUMMARY
[0008] The present invention is directed towards a retractable
pulley strap assembly adapted to mount to the bottom of a camera,
or other device, and to be used in a variety of configurations. The
strap is adapted to allow for extension, and increase of the
effective strap length, while the camera is in use. The strap is
adapted to retract to a shorter effective length while the camera
is not in use, such that the camera is held tightly against the
user's body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates a view of a pulley camera strap in a
shortened configuration according to some embodiments of the
present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 illustrates a view of a pulley camera strap in a
lengthened configuration according to some embodiments of the
present invention.
[0011] FIG. 3 illustrates a view of a pulley camera strap according
to some embodiments of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 4 illustrates a view of a pulley camera strap and
camera in a shortened configuration according to some embodiments
of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 5 illustrates a view of a pulley camera strap and
camera in a lengthened configuration according to some embodiments
of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 6 illustrates a view of a pulley camera strap according
to some embodiments of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a camera strap according to
some embodiments of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a camera strap according to
some embodiments of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 9 is a side view of a camera strap according to some
embodiments of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 10 is a top view of a camera strap according to some
embodiments of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 11 is a bottom view of a camera strap according to some
embodiments of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a camera strap according to
some embodiments of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a camera strap according to
some embodiments of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 14 is an end view of a camera strap according to some
embodiments of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] In some embodiments of the present invention, as seen in
FIG. 1, a pulley camera strap 100 is adapted to support a device,
such as a camera. The pulley camera strap 100 may include a main
strap portion 103 and a shoulder cushion 102. The pulley camera
strap is adapted for use with a camera 101. As seen in FIG. 1, in a
retracted configuration the pulley camera strap is adapted to go
over one shoulder of the user while holding the camera 101 snugly
against the body of the user.
[0024] As seen if FIG. 2, the pulley camera strap allows for use of
the camera 101. A camera 101 may be used by a user 110 with the
strap around the user's neck and shoulder while being held in the
hand 111 of the user 110. The strap is in an extended configuration
such that the loop formed by the strap is longer and adapted to be
pulled from the body of the user, providing use of the camera while
still around the body. The main strap configuration 103 has been
altered by the user to have extended the effective length of the
strap.
[0025] As seen if FIG. 3, the pulley camera strap allows for the
alteration of the loop length of the main strap portion 103. The
retracted configuration is adapted to hold the camera snugly around
the body of the user, such that the camera does not swing. The
extended configuration is adapted to allow for the use of the
camera by the user without having to have removed the strap from
around the shoulder and neck of the user.
[0026] As seen in FIG. 4, the retracted configuration of the pulley
camera strap has a shorter effective strap length. The shoulder
strap 102 is adapted to be worn over the shoulder of the user, and
may be wider or padded to increase comfort for the user. A first
pulley set 120 adjacent to the shoulder strap 102 and a second
pulley set 121 adjacent to the camera mount 122 allow for the
effective loop length of the pulley camera strap to be adjusted by
the user. The pulley system may be able to be extended with a
single hand of the user, allowing for the user to use the camera
101. The pulley system may exhibit enough friction that after
extension or retraction the strap length stays at the desired
effective length under the expected loads seen by the system.
[0027] FIG. 5 illustrates the system in an extended configuration,
wherein the effective loop length of the strap is at its largest
length. FIG. 6 illustrates aspects of a pulley strap system
according to some embodiments of the present invention.
[0028] In some embodiments of the present invention, as seen in
FIGS. 7-11, a camera strap 200 is adapted to be worn around the
neck and/or shoulder of a user. The strap pad 201 allows for
comfortable placement on the shoulder of the user. The strap 202
creates a loop in conjunction with the strap pad 201. The length of
the loop may be lengthened or shortened by the user by pulling on
the strap tab 203. The strap tab 203 also includes a mounting
attachment for a camera, which may be a threaded post 204.
[0029] The strap 202 is adapted to slide through the strap tab 203
such that the loop length may be altered. The system is adapted to
have the loop remain at the selected length when the user is not
moving the strap tab 203 along the strap 202. The strap tab 203
will remain in place on the strap 202 under the forces typically
seen by the camera strap under normal use conditions. As the strap
tab 203 moves along the strap 202, the relationship of the portion
of the strap that is a single strand, towards one end of the strap
pad, to the portion of the strap that is overlaid with three
strands, changes. As this relationship changes, the loop length, or
the effective length of the loop, changes, by changing this
relationship. Thus, with an unchanging length of strap the loop
length may be altered by manipulation of the location of the strap
tab along the strap.
[0030] The strap slider 204 and the strap tab 203 provide routing
for the strap 202 such that movement of the strap tab 203 along the
strap 202 results in a change of length of the loop created by the
strap and strap pad. Changes in the length of the loop allow for
different uses, such as snug stowage of the camera strap and camera
along the body of the user, or a looser strap allowing for use of
the camera by the user with the strap still on the body of the
user. FIG. 12 illustrates the camera strap 200 in a configuration
that it may take when on a user.
[0031] In some embodiments of the present invention, as seen in
FIGS. 13 and 14, the strap pad may be formed with a bend to allow
for a different resting configuration on the body of a user.
[0032] As evident from the above description, a wide variety of
embodiments may be configured from the description given herein and
additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those
skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is,
therefore, not limited to the specific details and illustrative
examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures from such
details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of
the applicant's general invention.
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