Abstract:
The present invention is directed towards a versatile retractable 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 resides in a retractor and is adapted to be used as a wrist strap or a neck strap, and the assembly may also be mounted onto a tripod.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/622,527 to Hale, filed Apr. 11, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     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]    What is called for is a device which may function as a wrist strap, and also extend out to be a neck strap, for the support of a camera. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    The present invention is directed towards a versatile retractable 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 resides in a retractor and is adapted to be used as a wrist strap or a neck strap, and the assembly may also be mounted onto a tripod. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates a view of a camera strap and mounting system used as a wrist strap according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates a view of a camera strap and mounting system used as a neck strap according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  illustrates a view of a camera strap and mounting system used with a tripod according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  illustrates a view of a strap retractor base according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  illustrates a view of a strap retractor base according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  illustrates a view of a strap according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  illustrates a side view of a camera strap system according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  illustrates a top view of a camera strap system according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  illustrates a bottom view of a camera strap system according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a camera strap system according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a camera strap system according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a camera strap system according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a camera strap system according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 14  is an illustration showing the strap assembly in a short and a long configuration. 
           [0022]      FIG. 15  is an illustration of a slide in use on a strap according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0023]    In some embodiments of the present invention, a camera strap and mounting system is adapted to support a device, such as a camera. The camera strap and mounting system may include a strap which is coupled to a retractor base  101 . In some embodiments, a tripod mounting plate is adapted to mount to the bottom of the retractor base for quick installation to and removal from a tripod. 
         [0024]    As seen if  FIG. 1 , the camera strap and mounting system allows for use as a wrist strap. A camera  112  may be used by a user  110  with the strap around the user&#39;s wrist  111 . The strap is in a retracted position such that the strap is relatively short and adapted to be wrapped around the wrist, providing security to the user should the camera be let go. The camera would hang from the wrist via the wrist strap. A removable slide may be mounted on the retractor base which is adapted to be easily removed from the retractor base and slid up the strap in order to cinch up the strap more tightly around the user&#39;s wrist. 
         [0025]    As seen if  FIG. 3 , the camera strap and mounting system allows for use as a neck strap. A camera  112  may be used by a user  110  with the strap around the user&#39;s neck and shoulders  113 . The strap is in an extended position such that the strap is relatively long and adapted to be draped around the neck, providing security to the user should the camera be let go. The camera would hang from the neck via the neck strap. The retractor base may contain a cord reel adapted to allow for extension of cords which attach the strap to the retractor base. The retractor base may be adapted to have a locking aspect which allows the user to lock the cord reel such that the extended cords are locked into the selected length. The cord reel may be spring loaded such that when the locking aspect is released (unlocked), the cord retracts automatically. The cords may then be locked into the shorter retracted position. 
         [0026]    As seen in Figure , the camera strap and mounting system also allows for the mounting of the camera  112  to a tripod with a tripod mounting plate  103  in some embodiments. As seen in  FIGS. 2-4 , the camera strap and mounting system allows the user to have a variety of configurations with a single system. The different strap configurations, as well as tripod mounting, address most, if not all, of the situations in which the user may desire to support the camera. 
         [0027]      FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate top and bottom views, respectively, of a retractor base  101  adapted to mount to the bottom of a camera via a mounting screw  122 . Portions of cords attached to a strap enter the retractor base via holes  120 ,  121  adapted to receive the cords. Within the retractor base  101  may be a spring loaded reel adapted to reel in the cord ends from an extended position of the strap, such as when the strap is used as a neck strap, to a retracted position, such as when the strap is used as a wrist strap. A lock  123  may be used to lock the strap at the desired length. An internal winding assembly may allow the strap to be pulled in onto a reel such that the retracted position may be attained. 
         [0028]    The surface  127  which would contact the camera may be of a somewhat compressible material which would enhance the attachment of the retractor base  101  to the camera. The mounting screw  122  may be tightened into the receptor in a camera with the use of a lever  126 , which may be adapted to fold flat into a recess within the top surface of the retractor base. In some embodiments, the lever  126  may include a threaded recess adapted to receive the threaded post of a tripod, or tripod mount, allowing the retractor base to be mounted onto a tripod. A slide  128  may be mounted onto a receiver extending from the base. The slide is mounted such that the cords route through the slide, allowing the slide to be removed from the base and slid up the cords and then onto the strap. The slide may be of a resilient material and sized such that it provides sufficient compression on the two portions of the strap it surrounds that it cinches the strap into a shorter and tighter closed loop around the wrist of the user. The slide  128  being used to cinch the strap  130  is seen in  FIG. 15 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 6  illustrate a strap  130  according to some embodiments of the present invention. The strap  130  has cords  124 ,  125  attached to its ends. 
         [0030]      FIGS. 7-11  illustrate a camera strap system  100  according to some embodiments of the present invention. These illustrations show the camera strap system  100  with the cords retracted such that the strap is in its shortest configuration, as when the camera strap system would be used as a wrist strap. The strap may be of a flexible material with sufficient strength to withstand the forces associated with supporting a camera in the scenarios described. 
         [0031]      FIG. 12  illustrates the lock  123  in a locked position  132  and an unlocked position  131 . To extend the cords, and thus lengthen the effective strap length, the lock  123  would be pulled into the unlocked position  131 . The cords may then be extended to a desired length. The lock  123  would then be pushed into the locked position  132 . This method may be used to extend the camera strap system out to an effective strap length to be used as a neck strap, for example. To retract the cords, the lock  123  would be pulled into the unlocked position  131 . The cords will retract themselves using a spring loaded mechanism within the retractor base  101 . The lock  123  may then be pushed back into the locked position  132 . This method may be used to retract the camera strap system down to an effective strap length to be used as a wrist strap, for example. The cords may be locked at any length between fully extended and fully retracted. The fully retracted and the fully extended configurations may be seen in  FIG. 14 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 13  illustrates an exploded view of a camera strap system  100  according to some embodiments of the present invention. The retractor body  140  has a top  141 . Within the retractor body  140  is a cord spool  145  which may be locked into a chosen position, corresponding to a desired overall strap length. The cord spool  145  may have teeth on its top edge adapted to receive a portion of the lock  143  to implement a stoppage of the rotation of the cord spool  145 . The lock  143  may be detents at both the open and closed ranges of motion so that the lock can be set into either a locked or unlocked position. A pad  142  on the top  141  allows for more secure fastening of the retractor base to the camera. 
         [0033]    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&#39;s general invention.