Camera strap

A support strap for supporting cameras, binoculars and similar items from the human body includes a flexible strap with connector means at one or both ends of the strap for connection to the camera, etc. The connector means includes a flexible string formed into a loop and having its end portions attached to the strap, a pair of hook and loop connector strips, the first of said hook and loop strips attached to the strap and the second strip pivotably mounted to move along the length of the strip toward and away from the first hook and loop strip, and a ring member pivotably attached to said strap and pivotable along the length of said strap to pivot toward and away from the first hook and loop strip. The loop of the string is extended through the opening of a camera support ring, etc., and is looped about the ring member, the ring member is folded over the string toward the first hook and loop connector strip, and the second hook and loop connector strip is connected about the ring member to the first hook and loop strip.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a support strap for supporting a camera, 
binoculars, or similar objects from the human body, and particularly to a 
support strap that makes a soft connection to the camera, which securely 
holds the camera in place and which can be rapidly manipulated to be 
connected to or to be released from the camera. 
Cameras, binoculars, and other items that are usually hand held when in use 
are commonly fitted with straps so that they can be hung from the neck and 
shoulder area of the human body when not in use. In some instances it is 
highly desirable to be able to connect the camera, etc. to the belt at the 
waist. However, while hanging a camera about the neck and shoulder area 
usually permits the person to lift the camera to eye level for use, 
suspending a camera from a belt at the waist usually requires the strap to 
be disconnected from the camera or from the belt before the camera can be 
raised to eye level. In addition, it is highly desirable to make a "soft" 
connection to the camera; that is, it is desirable that the item fastened 
to the camera is not made of metal or some other hard substance that might 
tend to scratch or wear the case of the camera. Also, if a camera, etc. is 
to be connected to the belt at the waist of the wearer, it is highly 
desirable that the camera be expediently disconnected from and connected 
to its support straps, etc., so that immediate use of the camera can be 
obtained and convenient rehanging of the camera is available at the waist. 
Also, it is necessary that the connection made to the belt at the waist be 
secure so that the camera is not inadvertently dropped and damaged. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Briefly described, the present invention comprises a support strap for 
cameras, binoculars, or other items that are usually carried with a 
person. The support strap includes at one or at both ends a flexible 
string formed into a loop and having its end portions attached to the 
strap. A ring member is pivotably attached to the strap and is pivotable 
along the length of the strap at a position displaced further from the end 
of the strap than the string, and a pair of hook and loop connector strips 
is located at a third position along the length of the strap, with one of 
the strips connected flat to the strap and the other strip pivotably 
mounted to move along the length of the strap toward and away from 
connection with the first strip. The string is insertable through the 
support ring at the side of a camera, etc. and then is looped about the 
ring, the ring is folded over the string, and the pivotable hook and loop 
strip is connected to the ring and connected to the other hook and loop 
strip. This securely fastens the camera, etc. to the strap with a soft 
connection. 
When it is desirable to release the strap from the camera, etc., the wearer 
of the support strap and camera simply pulls the outer hook and loop strip 
away from the inner strip, and upon releasing the outer strip, the ring 
pivots to release the looped string and the looped string slips through 
the camera ring, whereupon the camera is free. 
Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide a support strap for 
supporting cameras and the like from the human body with a soft 
connection, and with a connection to the camera which is quick and easy to 
disconnect, and which is easy to reconnect. 
Another object of this invention is to provide a camera strap with a secure 
connection to a camera, which is inexpensive to construct, which is 
durable, and which is convenient in use. 
Another object of this invention is to provide a quick release camera strap 
which can be securely connected to a camera or similar object. 
Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will become 
apparent upon reading the following specifications, when taken in 
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
Referring now in more detail to the drawings, in which like numerals 
indicate like parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 illustrates an 
end portion of a camera strap 10. The camera strap is formed from flat 
material, such as woven fabric material. A flexible string 11 has its end 
portions 12 and 13 sewn to strap 10, so that the string 11 is in the form 
of a loop with an opening 14. The loop generally extends along the length 
of the camera strap and beyond the end of the camera strap and pivots 
along the length of the strap. 
Ring 16 is attached to camera strap 10 by sewing the ends 12 and 13 of the 
string 11 to the strap on opposite sides of the ring 16, so that the ring 
is pivotably connected to the camera strap. 
Hook and loop connector strips 17 and 18 are mounted to strap 10 and extend 
along the length of the strap. Connector strips 17 and 18 are commonly 
known by the trademark "Velcro", with one of the strips 17 comprising a 
mass of pile loops, and the other strip comprising a mass of hooks, so 
that when the face of one strip is pressed against the face of the 
opposite strip, the hooks inner engage the loops, holding one strip to the 
other. 
Connector strip 17 is sewn in flat abutment with strap 10, so that its 
connector face projects away from the surface of the strap. The other 
strip 18 is sewn at one edge portion 19 to the other strip 17 and to strap 
10, so that strip 18 is pivotably connected to strap 10 as indicated by 
double-headed arrow 20. 
When the end portion of the camera strap 10 is to be connected to a camera, 
binoculars, etc., the flexible string 11 is threaded through the opening 
22 of a support ring 23 of a camera 24 or the like, and the free end of 
the string is looped over ring 16. Ring 16 is then pivoted away from the 
end portion of the strap toward overlying relationship with respect to 
strip 17, and strip 18 is inserted through the opening of ring 16 and 
pressed into engagement with the opposite strip 17. This causes a secure 
connection to be formed between camera strap 10 and camera 24. It will be 
noted that there are four lengths of the flexible string 11 that extend 
between the end portion of the camera strap and the camera, so that the 
camera is securely held to the strap. 
The camera strap as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 can be a strap of the type 
to be worn about the neck and shoulders of a person as illustrated in FIG. 
6, with connectors at both ends of the strap to attach to opposite sides 
of a camera. Also, the connector means can be formed at only one end of a 
camera strap, as illustrated in FIG. 7 where the camera straps are 
releasably connected to the belt 22 which is worn at the waist. In this 
embodiment, releasable buckles are connected to the other ends of the 
camera strap, with a male buckle 22 connected to one camera strap and 
female buckle 23 connected to the other camera strap. Short lengths of 
strap material 24 and 25 are permanently connected to belt 22, and male 
and female buckle elements 22 and 23 are connected to those strap lengths, 
so that the camera can be snapped to and unsnapped from connection with 
the belt 22. In addition, since both male and female buckle elements 22 
and 23 are connected to the camera straps, these elements can be connected 
together at the rear of the camera to form a short strap that permits the 
camera to be temporarily suspended from the arm, etc. 
As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, another embodiment of the invention is 
disclosed wherein the camera strap is formed as a belt loop for extending 
about the belt 29 at the waist of the user. The camera strap 30 is formed 
in a loop by the stitching 31 at its ends. The flexible string 32 has its 
end portions 33 and 34 stitched to strap 30 on opposite sides of ring 35. 
One of the hook and loop connector strips 36 is sewn in flat abutment with 
strap 30, while the other hook and loop connector strip 37 is looped about 
ring 35 and sewn thereto with a line of stitching 38. 
As illustrated in FIG. 4, when the camera strap of FIGS. 3 and 4 is to be 
connected to a camera, the string 32 is inserted through the opening 40 of 
a camera support ring 41 and then looped over ring 35. Ring 35 is then 
pivoted up toward hook and loop connector strip 36 and the opposite hook 
and loop connector strip 37 is pressed against strip 36. Again, this forms 
a firm connection for the camera 39. 
The rings 23 and 35 of FIGS. 1-4 are illustrated as being circular. As 
illustrated in FIG. 5, the ring can be non-circular, as shown by 
rectangular ring 43. 
While the flexible string 11 has been described as "string" it will be 
understood that the string can be made of various woven cords, from 
leather and other suitable materials. Moreover, while the hook and loop 
connector strips 17, 18 and 36, 37 have been disclosed as being the ring 
holder to hold the ring against pivotal movement, it will be understood 
that various other type ring holders such as a strap with a snap or other 
connector can be utilized, if desired. 
While this invention has been described in detail with particular reference 
to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that variations 
and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the 
invention as described hereinbefore and as defined in the appended claims.