Abstract:
What is disclosed is a cover for a still or video camera tripod. The tapered leg covers comprise a foam core, a neoprene cover and a means to secure the cover to the tripod legs.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is directed to the field of covers used on the legs of camera tripods. In particular, the present invention is particularly directed to covers used on tripods primarily by persons who photograph outdoors, such as nature photographers. The covers are useful for a variety of reasons in that they provide padding when the user carries the tripod on his or her shoulder while walking distances. 
         [0002]    The presently available tripod leg covers suffer from many defects. The available tripod leg covers are not soft with a cushiony feel when carried, the leg covers tend to rotate relative to the tripod legs, and the available covers have an exterior fabric cover that tends to rip and tear. It is an object of the present invention to solve the problems with the prior tripod leg covers by providing a soft, cushiony cover with an exterior neoprene cover that does not tear and with the ability to prevent rotation relative to the tripod when mounted thereon. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Covers adapted for installation on tripod legs comprising an elongated, generally cylindrical shaped core comprising an elongated longitudinal slot therein and mounting means on its interior surface; and an exterior neoprene cover adapted to fit over the generally cylindrical shaped core comprising a strap adapted to secure the neoprene cover to the cylindrical core and a closure means on its ends wherein the longitudinal slot is adapted to receive the tripod legs, the mounting means are adapted to secure the core to the tripod legs and the closure is adapted to secure the exterior cover to the core and thereby secure the covers to the tripod legs. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of the exterior of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view illustrating the interior of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view illustrating an alternate interior view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  illustrates another plan view of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  illustrates an embodiment of the present invention as installed on a tripod. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention will now be described in terms of the presently preferred embodiment thereof. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that many obvious changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. 
         [0010]    The present invention is directed to padded leg covers that are used in connection with a tripod. The tripod can be used to support a still camera, a video camera, a spotting scope or any other appropriate device. Generally, the tripod legs are composed of a plurality of telescoping leg sections so that the tripod is expandable to the appropriate height for the user. 
         [0011]    The tripod leg covers  10  are illustrated in the drawings. The leg covers  10  are generally adapted to be installed on the upper leg section of the tripod  100  as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0012]    The tripod leg covers  10  comprise a hollow cylindrically shaped foam core  12 . The foam core  12  is fabricated from polyethylene but any similarly appropriate material may be substituted. The foam core  12  contains a longitudinal slot  14  along its outer edge. A strip of double-sided tape  16  is mounted on the internal surface  18  of the foam core  12 . The double-sided tape  16  is provided with a sheet of removable covering paper  17  over one side of the double-sided tape  16 . 
         [0013]    The tripod leg covers  10  further comprise a neoprene cover  20 . The neoprene cover  20  is generally rectangular in shape. The neoprene cover  20  comprises an elastic strap  22  and a hook and loop closure  23   a  and  23   b  on the edges thereof. In this embodiment, the neoprene cover  20  is printed with a camouflage pattern on its exterior, which is useful for nature photographers who wish to conceal themselves from birds or animals. 
         [0014]    The foam core  12  is removeably secured to the neoprene cover  20  by sliding the elastic strap  22  through the longitudinal slot  14 . The neoprene cover is then wrapped around the foam core  12  and closed thereon by the hook and loop closures  23   a  and  23   b  on its edges. 
         [0015]    The assembled tripod leg covers  10  can be installed onto the tripod  100  as shown in  FIG. 5 . In order to do so, the user would open the hook and loop closure  23   a  and  23   b  and then open the foam core  12  at the longitudinal slot  14 . At that point, the user would remove the covering paper  17  from the double-sided tape  16 . The user would then insert the tripod leg covers  10  over the upper section of the tripod legs at the desired location. 
         [0016]    Next, the user would close the slot  14  and the double-sided tape  16  will cause the foam core  12  to stick to the tripod legs. The neoprene cover  20  would then be wrapped around the outside of the foam core  12  and closed at the hook and loop closure  23   a  and  23   b.    
         [0017]    At this point, the tripod leg covers  10  would be securely installed on the upper leg section of the tripod  100 . The double-sided tape  16  will act to prevent rotation of the tripod leg cover  10  with respect to the tripod itself. The combination of the foam core  12  and the soft neoprene cover  20  will provide a soft cushiony feel to the tripod. Most users carry the tripod  100  with a camera mounted thereon on their shoulder. The weight of a camera and lens combination for nature photography could be over ten pounds. Thus, the tripod leg covers  10  provide a comfortable way to carry the heavy load on one&#39;s shoulders. In addition, the tripod leg covers  10  provide insulation from the cold during winter weather when the tripod legs can become quite cold. 
         [0018]    Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the foregoing merely describes an embodiment of the present invention and that many obvious modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.