Pulley Camera Strap And Camera Mounting System Using Same

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.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In some embodiments of the present invention, as seen inFIG. 1, a pulley camera strap100is adapted to support a device, such as a camera. The pulley camera strap100may include a main strap portion103and a shoulder cushion102. The pulley camera strap is adapted for use with a camera101. As seen inFIG. 1, in a retracted configuration the pulley camera strap is adapted to go over one shoulder of the user while holding the camera101snugly against the body of the user.

As seen ifFIG. 2, the pulley camera strap allows for use of the camera101. A camera101may be used by a user110with the strap around the user's neck and shoulder while being held in the hand111of the user110. 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 configuration103has been altered by the user to have extended the effective length of the strap.

As seen ifFIG. 3, the pulley camera strap allows for the alteration of the loop length of the main strap portion103. 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.

As seen inFIG. 4, the retracted configuration of the pulley camera strap has a shorter effective strap length. The shoulder strap102is 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 set120adjacent to the shoulder strap102and a second pulley set121adjacent to the camera mount122allow 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 camera101. 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.

FIG. 5illustrates the system in an extended configuration, wherein the effective loop length of the strap is at its largest length.FIG. 6illustrates aspects of a pulley strap system according to some embodiments of the present invention.

In some embodiments of the present invention, as seen inFIGS. 7-11, a camera strap200is adapted to be worn around the neck and/or shoulder of a user. The strap pad201allows for comfortable placement on the shoulder of the user. The strap202creates a loop in conjunction with the strap pad201. The length of the loop may be lengthened or shortened by the user by pulling on the strap tab203. The strap tab203also includes a mounting attachment for a camera, which may be a threaded post204.

The strap202is adapted to slide through the strap tab203such 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 tab203along the strap202. The strap tab203will remain in place on the strap202under the forces typically seen by the camera strap under normal use conditions. As the strap tab203moves along the strap202, 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.

The strap slider204and the strap tab203provide routing for the strap202such that movement of the strap tab203along the strap202results 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. 12illustrates the camera strap200in a configuration that it may take when on a user.

In some embodiments of the present invention, as seen inFIGS. 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.

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.