U.S. patent application number 16/056697 was filed with the patent office on 2020-02-13 for shoulder sling with means for anchoring equipment.
The applicant listed for this patent is Matthew SWAGGART. Invention is credited to Matthew SWAGGART.
Application Number | 20200046106 16/056697 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 69406935 |
Filed Date | 2020-02-13 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200046106 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SWAGGART; Matthew |
February 13, 2020 |
SHOULDER SLING WITH MEANS FOR ANCHORING EQUIPMENT
Abstract
Briefly the invention provides a shoulder sling supporting
equipment from a slider that is in slidable communication with the
length of the shoulder sling, the sling also having a reversibly
engagable anchoring mechanism to limit the movement of the
equipment during periods of active movement by a user. Also
provided is a method for using the invented equipment sling.
Inventors: |
SWAGGART; Matthew; (Tulsa,
OK) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SWAGGART; Matthew |
Tulsa |
OK |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
69406935 |
Appl. No.: |
16/056697 |
Filed: |
August 7, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F 3/12 20130101; A45F
3/14 20130101; A45F 5/021 20130101; A45F 2200/0533 20130101; A45F
2003/142 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A45F 3/14 20060101
A45F003/14; A45F 5/02 20060101 A45F005/02; A45F 3/12 20060101
A45F003/12 |
Claims
1. An equipment sling with anchor point comprising: a first strap
configured to overlay a shoulder of a user and extend downwardly
across a front and back of said user toward a hip of the user
opposite the overlaid shoulder, wherein said first strap has a
length; a secondary strap having a first end and a second end,
wherein the first end is in slidable communication with the first
strap along the length of the first strap, and wherein the second
end comprises means for reversibly fixing the secondary strap to
said equipment, wherein the equipment hangs at an idle position
when the equipment is not in use; and an anchoring mechanism
reversibly attached to the second end of the secondary strap such
that the equipment is prevented from moving farther from the idle
position than a predetermined distance, wherein the anchor point
comprises a tertiary strap having a first end and a second end,
wherein the first end comprises a clip reversibly attached to a
belt worn by the user, and the second end comprises a clip
configured to reversibly engage the means for reversibly fixing a
camera to secondary strap, and wherein the clip reversibly attached
to a belt worn by the user comprises an outer ring having an
interior space divided into two voids by a medial rib, and wherein
a portion of the outer ring surrounding the void nearest the user
defines a notch extending through the outer ring and into the void
nearest the user.
2.-8. (canceled)
9. The equipment sling of claim 1 wherein the notch reversibly
receives the belt of a user.
10. A method for limiting movement of equipment suspended from a
sling comprising: a) providing a shoulder sling having a primary
strap configured to overlay a shoulder of a user and extend
downwardly across a front and back of said user toward a hip of the
user opposite the overlaid shoulder and equipment suspended from
said primary strap by a secondary strap, wherein the secondary
strap is in slidable communication with the primary strap; b)
providing an anchoring mechanism that reversibly limits a range of
movement of the secondary strap along the primary strap when the
anchoring mechanism is reversibly attached to the secondary strap,
wherein the anchoring mechanism comprises a tertiary strap having a
first and second end and wherein the tertiary strap has a
stabilizing configuration wherein the tertiary strap extends under
a user's arm between its first and second ends that are both
reversibly attached to the primary strap; and c) reversibly
attaching said anchoring mechanism to said secondary strap.
11.-12. (canceled)
13. The method of claim 10 wherein the tertiary strap has an
anchoring configuration wherein the tertiary strap attaches at its
first end to a portion of the primary strap overlaying a posterior
portion of the user's shoulder and extends downwardly across the
user's back toward an opposite hip and reversibly attaches to the
secondary strap.
14. The method of claim 13 further comprising moving the tertiary
strap from its stabilizing configuration to its anchoring
configuration.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein moving the tertiary strap from
its stabilizing configuration to its anchoring configuration
comprises: a) detaching the first end of the tertiary strap from
the primary strap; b) moving the tertiary strap so that it runs
down the back of the user; and c) reversibly attaching the first
end of the tertiary strap to the secondary strap.
16. The method of claim 14 further comprising moving the tertiary
strap from its anchoring configuration to its stabilizing
configuration.
17. An equipment sling with anchor point comprising: a first strap
configured to overlay a shoulder of a user and extend downwardly
across a front and back of said user toward a hip of the user
opposite the overlaid shoulder, wherein said first strap has a
length; a secondary strap having a first end and a second end,
wherein the first end is in slidable communication with the first
strap along the length of the first strap, and wherein the second
end comprises means for reversibly fixing the secondary strap to
said equipment, wherein the equipment hangs at an idle position
when the equipment is not in use, and wherein the anchoring
mechanism further comprises: a pad that encircles the first strap
and is configured to overlay the shoulder of a user, the pad
further comprising; a first end overlaying a portion of the chest
of a user and a second end overlaying a portion of the back of a
user, wherein an attachment point is disposed on both ends of the
pad; a stabilizing strap having a first end and a second end,
wherein each end of the stabilizing strap comprises a clip; and an
anchoring mechanism reversibly attached to the second end of the
secondary strap such that the equipment is prevented from moving
farther from the idle position than a predetermined distance.
18. The equipment sling of claim 17, wherein the stabilizing strap
has a stabilizing configuration comprising: an end of the
stabilizing strap reversibly clipped to one of the attachment
points on the pad, and wherein the other end of the strap is
reversibly clipped to the other attachment point on the pad such
that the stabilizing strap extends from one attachment point on the
pad under the armpit of a user and to the other attachment on the
pad.
19. The equipment sling of claim 18, wherein the stabilizing strap
has an anchoring configuration comprising: the first end of the
stabilizing strap reversibly clipped to the attachment point
disposed on the second end of the pad, the length of the
stabilizing strap extending diagonally downward across a user's
back, wherein the second end of the stabilizing strap is reversibly
engaged to the means for reversibly fixing a camera to the
secondary strap.
20. The equipment sling of claim 19 wherein the stabilizing strap
is configured to reversibly convert from its stabilizing
configuration to its anchoring configuration, and from its
anchoring configuration to its stabilizing configuration.
21. The equipment sling of claim 1 wherein the notch has a width
between 1/8 inch and 1/2 inch.
22. The equipment sling of claim 1 wherein the clip reversibly
attached to a belt worn by the user has a longitudinal axis, and
wherein the notch extends at an angle from the longitudinal axis of
the clip reversibly attached to a belt worn by a user.
23. The equipment sling of claim 22 wherein the angle is between 20
and 45 degrees.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0001] This invention relates to a shoulder sling for carrying
equipment, and more specifically, this invention relates to a
camera sling with means to reduce the swinging of a camera during
periods of activity.
2. Background of the Invention
[0002] Many devices exist for attaching a camera to a user, with
slings and harnesses being the most popular currently at the time
of this application. State of the art camera slings and harnesses
feature camera sliders. These sliders attach slidably to the
harness or sling at one end and to a camera at the other. This
configuration allows the camera to hang securely and hands-free
from a harness or sling while not in use and enables a user to grab
the hanging camera and slide it up to a shooting position with no
lag time.
[0003] The invention of these camera harnesses and slings with
camera sliders improved on the convenience of previous carrying
devices by providing hands-free carrying of cameras without
requiring a user to detach a camera from the carrying device before
shooting. With the freedom of movement of the camera sliders
offered by these state of the art slings and harnesses also came a
disadvantage. As the camera sliders allow easy movement along the
length of a camera sling and harness, the cameras tend to swing and
bounce during periods of high activity of a user, representing
danger to the attached cameras and accessories. This is especially
true for photographers who are walking or hiking uneven terrain in
pursuit of a subject or otherwise following the movements of an
active subject.
[0004] Thus, a need exists in the art for a system for reversibly
anchoring cameras attached to a camera sling or harness to reduce
camera movement while not in use. Ideally, the apparatus would
reduce the movement of a hanging camera while not in use but allow
for quick release to a shooting position.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0005] An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for
reversibly limiting the movement of a camera hanging from a camera
sling to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.
[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide an
apparatus for quickly and reversibly limiting the movement of a
camera hanging from a camera sling on camera sliders. A feature of
the invention is an anchoring means featured on or near the waste
of a user. An advantage of the apparatus is that its proximity to
an inactive camera hanging from a camera sling allows for rapid
attachment and detachment of the anchoring means to the camera.
[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
means for limiting the movement of a camera hanging on a camera
slider from a camera harness without need for complicated or
awkward camera positioning. A feature of the invention is that the
anchoring means can quickly and easily be attached to a hanging
camera with minimal movement of the camera. An advantage of the
invention is that this rapid attachment allows a user to begin
active movements following a subject without wasting time awkwardly
positioning a camera into a stable position. Similarly, an
advantage of the invention is rapid detachment of the anchoring
means from a hanging camera. A feature of the invention is that one
hand movement can release the anchoring means and release the
camera to a free-shooting configuration.
[0008] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
robust and durable anchoring means for a camera suspended on a
camera slider. A feature of the invention is the use of durable and
tough materials in the construction of the anchoring means. An
advantage of the invention is that the anchoring means strongly
resists movement by an anchored camera.
[0009] Still yet another object of the present invention is to
provide multiple anchoring means to a camera suspended on a camera
slider. A feature of the invention is a strap that can be used
either as a stabilizing strap for a camera sling by encircling the
arm of a user and attaching to the sling or an anchoring means by
attaching to a hanging camera. An advantage of the invention is
that the user can configure the invented camera sling to be in a
stable, photo-shooting configuration or quickly convert to an
active movement, camera anchoring configuration.
[0010] A further advantage of the invention is that the camera does
not have to be manipulated into a specific or complicated position
to utilize the anchoring means. Yet another advantage of the
invention is that the anchoring means can be integrally integrated
into the belt of a user or in an alternative embodiment can be
reversibly detachable to the belt or belt loop of a user.
[0011] Briefly, the invention provides An equipment sling with
anchor point comprising: a first strap configured to overlay a
shoulder of a user and extend downwardly across a front and back of
said user toward a hip of the user opposite the overlaid shoulder;
a secondary strap having a first end and a second end, wherein the
first end is in slidable communication with the first strap along a
first length of the first strap, and wherein the second end
comprises means for reversibly fixing the secondary strap to said
equipment; and an anchoring mechanism reversibly attached to the
second end of the secondary strap such that the first end of the
secondary strap is in slidable communication along a second length
of the first strap, wherein the second length is shorter than the
first length.
[0012] Also provided is a method for limiting movement of equipment
suspended from a sling comprising: providing a shoulder sling
having a primary strap configured to overlay a shoulder of a user
and extend downwardly across a front and back of said user toward a
hip of the user opposite the overlaid shoulder and equipment
suspended from said primary strap by a secondary strap, wherein the
secondary strap is in slidable communication with the primary
strap; providing an anchoring mechanism that reversibly limits a
range of movement of the secondary strap along the primary strap
when the anchoring mechanism is reversibly attached to the
secondary strap; and reversibly attaching said anchoring mechanism
to said secondary strap.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The invention together with the above and other objects and
advantages will be best understood from the following detailed
description of the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in
the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0014] FIG. 1A is a front view of a camera sling having two camera
stabilization features, in accordance with the features of the
present invention;
[0015] FIG. 1B is a back view of a camera sling having two camera
stabilization features, in accordance with the features of the
present invention;
[0016] FIG. 1C. is a detail view of a camera slider for a camera
sling, in accordance with the features of the present
invention;
[0017] FIG. 1D is a rear view of an embodiment of a camera
stabilizing device, in accordance with the features of the present
invention;
[0018] FIG. 1E is a detail view of a waist-mounted camera
stabilizing device, in accordance with the features of the present
invention; and
[0019] FIG. 1F is a rear view of a camera sling having two camera
stabilization features, in accordance with the features of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed
description of certain embodiments of the present invention, will
be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended
drawings.
[0021] As used herein, an element or step recited in the singular
and preceded with the word "a" or "an" should be understood as not
excluding plural said elements or steps, unless such exclusion is
explicitly stated. Furthermore, references to "one embodiment" of
the present invention are not intended to be interpreted as
excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also
incorporate the recited features. Moreover, unless explicitly
stated to the contrary, embodiments "comprising" or "having" an
element or a plurality of elements having a particular property may
include additional such elements not having that property. As
stated herein, "slidable communication" between two components
means that one component may slide along the longitudinal axis of
the other.
[0022] The present invention is a novel apparatus for temporarily
limiting the movement of a camera suspended from a harness or sling
from camera sliders. The device may feature one or both of two
different anchoring means at the same time. When in use, the
anchoring means can be quickly deployed to limit the movement of a
hanging camera while a user is active and can be quickly released
to allow the camera to move freely.
[0023] While useful for attachment to a camera as shown and
described herein, this use is exemplary and not meant to be
limiting. The invented apparatus can be used to support any
equipment or device that can be hung from a shoulder sling. Such
equipment or devices include: binoculars, handbags, grocery bags,
guns, water bottles, pet leashes, and tote bags. This list is
exemplary and not meant to be limiting.
Device Detail
[0024] An exemplary embodiment of the invented device is shown in
FIGS. 1A and B and designated as numeral 10. The device 10 includes
a strap 12 extending a length between a first end 14 and a second
end 16 (shown in FIG. 1B). When worn by a user, the first end of
the strap 14 overlays an anterior portion of the user's shoulder or
chest and extends diagonally therefrom toward the hip opposite the
overlaid shoulder. The strap 12 then extends diagonally upwardly
over the back of the user to its second end 16 that overlays a
posterior portion of the user's shoulder or back. At the first and
second ends of the 14, 16 of the strap, the strap is reversibly
attached to D-Rings 42 that are disposed on both sides of a
shoulder pad 38. The length of the strap 12 between its first and
second ends can be any length and can be customized to fit any
user. Preferably, the length of the strap between its first and
second ends is preferably between approximately 24 to approximately
48 inches in length and typically approximately 29 to approximately
39 inches.
[0025] As shown in FIG. 1A, a camera slider 18 depends from the
strap 12. The camera slider 18 has a first end 20 and a second end
22, the first end 20 in slidable communication with the length of
the strap 12 and the second end 22 reversibly coupled to a camera
attachment means 24. The camera attachment means may comprise any
reversibly attachable clips that are robust enough to remain
attached to a hanging camera. Exemplary clips include quick-detach
or quick-release clips, swivel shackles, snap shackles, and
combinations thereof.
[0026] In an embodiment, the strap 12 is a single continuous strap.
Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 1A-B, the strap 12 actually
comprises two straps that are joined together using apertures 17 in
the straps and the buckle 15 as described in U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/471,163 filed on Mar. 28, 2017, the
entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein, in order to
provide the ability to adjust the length of the camera sliders. The
buckle 15 shown in FIGS. 1A-B is only an exemplary piece of
hardware. In alternative embodiments, the buckle 15 may be any
piece of hardware suitable for adjusting the length of a strap such
as a belt buckle or Conway buckle. The strap 12, may feature belt
loops 13 to manage any extra length of strap.
[0027] FIG. 1C is a detail view of a camera slider 18. As shown,
the slider 18 comprises a length of a secondary strap 23 that
extends between the first 20 and second ends 22 of the slider 18.
In this embodiment, the length of strap 23 is a loop of material
that is reversibly received by the slider hardware 26 at the first
end of the slider 20 and the ring portion 28 of the camera
attachment means 24 at the second end of the slider 22. The slider
hardware 26 receives both the strap portion 23 of the slider 18 and
the larger strap 12 of device. When the slider hardware 26 is in
receipt of both the slider strap 23 and the larger strap 12, this
places the slider 18 in slidable communication with the strap 12
such that the slider 18 can slide along the length of the larger
strap 12 of the device 10. In an embodiment, the camera sliders are
fixed in length. The length of the sliders can be customized to any
length for any user. Preferably, the sliders are between
approximately 2 and approximately 9 inches in length. Typically,
the sliders are between approximately 3 and approximately 3 inches
in length.
[0028] In an embodiment, the sliders 18 feature the apertures and
buckle device described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.
15/471,163 filed on Mar. 28, 2017, the entirety of which is
incorporated herein, in order to provide the ability to adjust the
length of the camera sliders 18.
[0029] FIG. 1C shows the slider hardware 26 as a customized ring
designed for this use featuring a pentagonally shaped outer ring
32, wherein the interior of the outer ring 32 is divided into two
voids 34 by a medially positioned rib 36. Said medial rib 36
prevents friction between the slider strap 23 and the larger strap
12 of the device when the slider slides along the strap. The
pentagonal ring shown here is an exemplary piece of hardware that
is suitable for use as the slider hardware 26 herein and not meant
to be limiting. The slider hardware 26 may be any shape and may
have separate voids that respectively receive the larger strap 12
and the slider strap 23. Alternatively, the slider hardware 26 may
only feature one void that receives both the larger strap 12 and
the slider strap 23. Further, the slider hardware 26 can be made
from any robust material that can support the weight of a camera
25. Suitable materials include metal, plastic, wood, and
combinations thereof.
[0030] As shown in FIG. 1C, the ring portion 28 of the camera
attachment means 24 receives the strap portion 23 of the slider 18.
The camera attachment means 24 may be any piece of hardware that
can reversibly attach to an accessory clip that is received by the
tripod port on a camera 25. Suitable accessory clips include any
lug and loop accessory clip that screws into the tripod port on a
camera 25. Exemplary accessory clips are the holdfast accessory
clips sold by Holdfast Gear, LLC of Tulsa Okla. When the invented
device is in use, a camera 25 is attached to the camera slider 18
via the attachment means 24. If a user is not using the camera 25
and supporting it with their hands, the camera 25, in a default
position, hangs down at a user's side.
[0031] Returning to FIGS. 1A-B, the device 10 features a shoulder
pad 38 that overlays the shoulder of a user while the device is
worn. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A-B, the shoulder pad 38
extends between a first 40 and second end 41. Each end of the
shoulder pad 38 features a D-ring 42 to which an end of the strap
12 reversibly attaches. In alternative embodiments, the shoulder
pad 38 is a substrate having two apertures such that the strap 12
is received by the apertures such that the shoulder pad encircles
the portion of the strap overlaying a user's shoulder.
[0032] Looking to FIGS. 1A-B, the device 10 features a stabilizing
strap 44. Said stabilizing strap comprises a strap extending
between a first end 46 and a second end 48, wherein the first and
second ends both comprise clips 50. The clips 50 may comprise any
reversibly attachable clips. Exemplary clips include quick-detach
or quick-release clips, swivel shackles, snap shackles, and
combinations thereof. In the configuration shown in FIGS. 1A-B, the
stabilization strap 44 is in its stabilizing configuration wherein
the clips 50 of the stabilization strap 44 are reversibly attached
to both D-rings 42 on the shoulder pad 38. The stabilizing
configuration of the stabilization strap features the stabilization
strap 44 extending between the two D-rings 42 and under the arm of
the user such that the stabilization strap and shoulder pad
encircle the user's arm. In this configuration, the stabilization
strap 44 minimizes movement of the whole device while in use.
[0033] The device 10 may feature another stabilizing feature 52
shown in FIG. 1D. This stabilizing feature 52 is a strap 54
extending from the belt 56 of a user to a terminal end 58
comprising a clip 60. Said strap 54 has a first end 62 comprising a
ring 64 that, is reversibly attachable to a user's belt 56. In an
alternative embodiment, the ring 64 at the first end 62 of the
stabilizing feature is either integrally included in the belt of a
user or reversibly attached to the belt loop of a user.
[0034] FIG. 1E is a detail view of the stabilizing feature 52 shown
in FIG. 1D. As shown, the stabilizing feature 52 comprises a strap
54 attached at its first end 62 to a waist attachment clip 64 and
attached at its second end 66 to a camera attachment means 60. The
waist attachment clip 64 is similar to the slider hardware
described above in that it features an outer ring 82 whose interior
is divided into two voids 84 by a medial rib 86. One of the voids
85 receives the stabilizing feature's strap 54. A portion of the
outer ring 82 surrounding the void 85 that receives the strap 54
has a notch 88 that allows for the sliding of an object thinner
than the width w of the notch to slide into the notch and into the
void 85. The waist attachment clip 64 is designed so that the notch
88 can reversibly receive the fabric of a user's waistband or belt
56. The notch can be made to have any width w to accommodate
fabrics or leathers of any kind. Typically, the notch is between
approximately 1/8 and approximately 1/2 inch wide.
[0035] The notch 88 extends at an angle .theta. to the longitudinal
axis a of the waist attachment clip 64. The notch is designed to be
non-parallel to the longitudinal axis a of waist attachment clip 64
so that once the waist attachment clip 64 is slid over a user's
waistband or belt, the received fabric will not slide directly back
out of the notch. Similar to the width of the notch, the angle
.theta. can be customized to be any angle and is preferably between
approximately 0 and approximately 90 degrees. Typically, the angle
.theta. is between approximately 20 and approximately 45
degrees.
[0036] A salient feature of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1E is the
ability to utilize it with any existing camera sling or harness
wherein a supported camera hangs free when not in use. Using the
stabilizing feature shown in FIG. 1E, a user can place the feature
on their belt and limit the movement of a camera hanging free from
any sling or harness. The stabilizing feature of FIG. 1E is
amenable for use with existing systems without any need to modify
those existing systems.
[0037] All straps discussed herein are made from any suitably
robust material. Typical materials include leather, canvas,
goretex, nylon, cotton, polyester, rubber, and combinations
thereof. The shoulder pad described above is made from similar
materials.
Anchoring Detail
[0038] When in use, the device provides a sling 10 configured to
suspend a camera 25 secured to a camera slider. The device 10
allows a camera 25 to freely slide along the length of its strap 12
on either end of the shoulder pad shoulder pad 38. In this position
100 as shown in FIG. 1A a user may hold the camera 25 and position
it. When the user is not holding the camera 25, it hangs from the
device 10 by the slider 18 in a position near a hip of the user. If
the user of the device then begins a period of active movement such
as walking, running, climbing, or any other activity that would
jostle the freely hanging camera 25, he or she may use the
stabilization strap 44 of the device to anchor the camera 25 and
limit its movement to reach position 120 as shown in FIG. 1F.
[0039] In order to reach position 120 from the idle position where
the camera 25 hangs free, a user unclips the clip comprising the
first end of the stabilization strap from the D-ring 42 on the
chest side of the shoulder pad of the device. The user then moves
the stabilization strap so that it runs down their back and
reversibly clips the free clip of the stabilization strap to the
ring of the camera attachment means as shown in FIG. 1F. In
position 120, the stabilization strap is a fixed length and
therefore limits the movement of the hanging camera.
[0040] Once the position of the camera is limited in position 120,
the user can then free the camera 25 to be ready-to-shoot by
disengaging the clip 50 of the stabilization strap from the ring of
the camera attachment means, running the stabilization strap under
their arm and re-engaging the stabilization strap's free clip to
the chest side D-ring 42. This places the device back into position
100.
[0041] Alternatively or in conjunction with the stabilization strap
44, the waist mounted anchoring means 52 can be used to limit the
movement of a camera hanging from a camera sling. As shown and
discussed above, in position 100, the device provides a camera 25
that is free to slide along the length of the strap on either side
of the shoulder pad. Where a user desires to begin active movement,
they may attach the belt-mounted stabilizing feature 52 to the ring
portion 28 of the camera attachment means 24 to move into the
stabilized position 130 as shown in FIGS. 1B and 1D.
[0042] In the stabilized configurations shown in FIGS. 1B, D, and
F, the stabilizing strap 44 or belt-mounted stabilizing feature 52
limit jostling and movement of the camera while a user actively
moves while the camera 25 hangs during walking, hiking, climbing or
other active periods. These stabilizing features prevent damage to
the camera 25 and accessories by limiting large and fast movements.
The stabilizing features further prevent the full weight of a
camera and a lens from repeatedly striking the user, preventing
potential bruises, irritation, and lacerations.
[0043] Both stabilization features shown and discussed above
prevent movement of a secured camera 25 (positions 120 and 130)
beyond an allowed distance as controlled by the fixed length of
either stabilizing feature. Preferably, once the invented device is
in a stabilizing configuration (120 and 130), the camera can only
move a maximum of between approximately one and approximately six
inches away from an idle hanging position. Typically, the camera is
not allowed to move more than approximately three inches when in a
stabilized configuration. These figures are exemplary and not meant
to be limiting. The movement of the camera in a stabilized position
can be customized by lengthening the stabilizing features (either
the stabilizing strap or the waist-bound stabilizing feature). For
example, a photographer using the invented device with a heavy
camera/lens configuration may desire that the camera be allowed to
move less than the distances cited above. In such a case, the
lengths of either stabilizing feature can be customized to achieve
the desired movement of the camera in a stabilized
configuration.
[0044] A salient feature of the invention is the ability to rapidly
engage a stabilization feature to a free-hanging camera when
minimized swinging of the camera is desired. For example, using any
embodiment of the stabilization feature, only one step is needed to
engage a free clip on the end of the stabilization means to the
camera attachment means of the camera slider. Such an engagement
step can be performed rapidly using one hand. Similarly, the
stabilization means can be released from the camera attachment
means using one hand and one step to release the clip of the
stabilization means from the camera attachment means.
[0045] As will be understood by one skilled in the art, for any and
all purposes, particularly in terms of providing a written
description, all ranges disclosed herein also encompass any and all
possible subranges and combinations of subranges thereof. Any
listed range can be easily recognized as sufficiently describing
and enabling the same range being broken down into at least equal
halves, thirds, quarters, fifths, tenths, etc. As a non-limiting
example, each range discussed herein can be readily broken down
into a lower third, middle third and upper third, etc. As will also
be understood by one skilled in the art all language such as "up
to," "at least," "greater than," "less than," "more than" and the
like include the number recited and refer to ranges which can be
subsequently broken down into subranges as discussed above. In the
same manner, all ratios disclosed herein also include all subratios
falling within the broader ratio.
[0046] One skilled in the art will also readily recognize that
where members are grouped together in a common manner, such as in a
Markush group, the present invention encompasses not only the
entire group listed as a whole, but each member of the group
individually and all possible subgroups of the main group.
Accordingly, for all purposes, the present invention encompasses
not only the main group, but also the main group absent one or more
of the group members. The present invention also envisages the
explicit exclusion of one or more of any of the group members in
the claimed invention.
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