SECURE OPTICAL DEVICE HOLDER OPERABLE BY ONE HAND

Embodiments herein describe a secure handheld device holder for securely holding handheld devices such as binoculars, a telescope, a range finder, or any other handheld device. The holder is held adjacent to the torso of a person using straps with buckles. The straps may go around the torso and around the shoulders. The holder allows placement into the holder and removal from the holder of the handheld device using only one hand.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments herein relate to the field of optical device cases or holders for holding binoculars, telescopes, or range finders or similar devices and, more specifically, to a case or holder for securely holding binoculars, a telescope, a range finder, or a similar device against a torso of a person using straps and buckles while allowing one handed removal and replacement of the optical device back into the case or holder.

BACKGROUND

Generally, people using binoculars, portable telescopes, range finders, or similar devices (device) use some type of case or holder (case) to store and to protect the device while using the same in a field application or other application. The case may protect fragile elements such as lenses and other parts of the device and may include one or more straps to allow the case to be loosely held around the neck of a person or secured more tightly around the torso and/or shoulders of the person using adjustable straps with buckles. The straps may allow the case to be held against the torso, thereby preventing the case from swinging away from the torso. Holding the device against the torso in a case may provide better protection of the device. Generally, two hands are needed to remove the device from the case in order to use the device. Generally, two hands are needed to replace the device back into the case when a use is completed. Under some circumstances, there may be a need to use only one hand to remove the device and to make observations with the device. Under some circumstances, there may be a need to store away the device back into the case using only one hand. The aforementioned circumstances may include situations where the opposite hand is not available due to another use or may include use by a person having only one useable hand. Accordingly, a case operable by one hand while securely holding the device against a torso may be desirable to allow one handed use and storage of the optical device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustrating embodiments that may be practiced. Other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of embodiments is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

The description may use the terms “embodiment” or “embodiments,” which may each refer to one or more of the same or different embodiments. Furthermore, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like, as used with respect to embodiments, are synonymous, and are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.).

The term “upright” is in reference to the direction of gravitational pull.

FIG.1schematically illustrates a front perspective view of a secure handheld device holder100having straps and buckles112for securing to a torso and/or shoulders of a person, in accordance with some embodiments. The torso and shoulders of the person are not illustrated. The straps and buckles112are partially shown as outlines. The holder100is shown in an upright position relative to the pull of gravity. In some embodiments, the holder100may include a base102. The base102may be referred to as a lens cover or a base plate. The base102may cover the lenses of a first end of a handheld device such as a set of binoculars or cover a lens of a telescope. The base102may be a split base to cover lenses of a set of binoculars individually. The two parts of the split base may be joined by a rigid joining structure to allow the two parts of the split base to move together allowing covering of the lenses of the binoculars when placed in the holder. The base102may include one or more straps112couple to the base102to couple the holder to the torso or shoulders of a person. The base102may include sides118. The sides118may be around the circumference of the base102or may be around a portion of the circumference of the base102. The sides118may help secure the handheld device to the base102and hence to the holder100by preventing the handheld device from slipping off the base102. The base102may have a surface116that includes a cross hatch pattern or other pattern. The pattern may reduce weight of the base102while maintaining rigidity of the base102. The pattern may increase friction with the handheld device, thereby helping secure the handheld device in the holder. The pattern may include features to protect lenses of the handheld device. The base102may be comprised of a metal, plastic, or composite or any suitable rigid material or combination of materials to provide sufficient rigidity to hold securely the handheld device, in view of a selected design of the base.

The holder100may include a side103coupled to the base102. The side103and the base102may be formed together and of the same material or of a combination of materials. The side103may be referred to as a side component or a side plate. The side103and the base102may be coupled using any available fasteners and methods of fastening. The side103and the base102may be joined or welded together using any joining, gluing, and/or welding method and suitable materials. The side103may include straps and buckles112coupled to the side103. The straps and buckles112may be used to secure the holder100to the torso and/or shoulders of a person. There may be a single strap for the torso and two straps for the shoulders, one for each shoulder. There may be two straps for the torso and two straps for the shoulders. The side103may be a plate of a material such as a metal, plastic, or composite or any suitable materials or combinations thereof. The metal may be a plate of stainless steel. The side103may be required to have sufficient rigidity to hold a handheld device securely in the holder100. The shape of the side103may be made to optimize holding power of the holder100while minimizing weight of the side103. The side103may include stiffening ridges or other design features to optimize performance and/or rigidity of the side103.

The holder100may include a second side104coupled to the side103. The second side104may be comprised of a flexible material to provide compression to securely hold the handheld device in the holder100. The second side104may be referred to as a flexible component or a spring. The second side104may include a first end coupled to the side103. The coupling may be accomplished using suitable fasteners such as the fasteners105. The coupling may be accomplished by a suitable joining, gluing, or welding method and suitable materials. The second side104may have a shaped region such as a curved region providing a second end107. The shaped region may effectively provide a bend that is approximately a 90 degree bend from the second side104that is coupled to the side103. The second side104may include holes109or other features to optimize performance and/or assembly.

The second side104may be a part of the side103and not be a separate element as illustrated by holder100. For clarity, when a reference is made to the side103, such a reference may include the second side104in the reference to the side103such that no separate reference may be made to a second side104. When the second side104is included as a part of the side103, the material or materials comprising side103and second side104may be the same materials. For example, the side103may be a plate of material having a first end region with a first end coupled to the base102and a second end region that is the second side104. When second side104is not a separate element, side103first side region may be rigid while the second side region may be flexible to provide compression by way of a spring action to securely hold the handheld device in the holder100. In some embodiments where second side104is included in side103, the side103may have a first region that is rigid and a second region that is flexible, wherein the material forming side103is of the same material but the flexible second region may be provided by reducing a thickness of the material. In some embodiments, side103may have the rigid first section made more rigid by coupling an additional material to the rigid first section to provide the additional rigidity, wherein the additional material may create a composite.

The holder100may include a cap106. The cap106may be coupled to the second side104at the second end107. The cap106may include protrusions114to aid coupling by a pin108. The cap106may freely rotate around pin108. The cap106may be to receive a second end of a handheld device. The second end of the handheld device may be the viewing end of a set of binoculars or a telescope. The cap106may cover the lenses of the second end of the handheld device and be referred to as a lens cover. The cap106may be a split cap to cover lenses of a set of binoculars individually. The two parts of the split cap may be joined by a rigid joining structure to allow the two parts of the split cap to move together allowing covering of the lenses of the binoculars when placed in the holder. The cap106may include a cavity to receive the second end of the handheld device. When placing a handheld device in holder100, the second end of the handheld device is placed first in the cap106. The handheld device is then rotated to place the first end of the handheld device into the base102. Pressure is required to flex the second side104in order to place the first end of the handheld device into the base102during rotation. Similarly, to remove the handheld device from holder100, upward pressure is need to lift the first end of the handheld device off from the surface116and to clear sides118while rotating the handheld device first end away from the holder100. Then the second end of the handheld device may be removed from the cap106to allow use of the handheld device. The entire process of placing or removing the handheld device from holder100may be performed using one hand. One handed operation may be important when the other hand is busy with another activity or when the other hand is incapacitated or not available. A tether may be used to secure the handheld device to the holder100.

FIG.2schematically illustrates a top front perspective view of a secure handheld device holder100having a set of binoculars110held in the holder100and having straps and buckles112for securing to a torso and shoulders of a person, in accordance with some embodiments. Only a portion of the straps and buckles112are illustrated. The binoculars110are held in place in the holder100by a compressive force provided by second side104. The cap106may include a cavity to further secure a second side (viewing end) of the binoculars110. The base102may include the sides118to further secure the binoculars110. The shaped region120of the second side104may be approximately a 90 degree bend. The second end107of the second side may be coupled to the top via pin108passing through cap106protrusions114. The pin108may have its ends bent to secure in place the pin108. When binoculars110are in holder100, the surface118and the cap106, are approximately parallel to each other. Although binoculars110are illustrated, other handheld devices may be secured by holder100. These devices include but are not limited to a telescope and a range finder. The base102and cap106may be designed accordingly to fit the telescope or the range finder or other handheld device.

FIG.3schematically illustrates a frontal side perspective view of a secure handheld device holder100having a set of binoculars110held in the holder100and having straps and buckles112for securing to a torso and shoulders of a person, in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, the cap106may have a centerline122along an axis of the cap106. The centerline106may approximate a weight center of the cap106along the axis122. The coupling of the second end107of the second side104via pin108through protrusions114may be off center from the axis122such that a bottom of the cap106rotates outwards away from the side103and the second side104when the holder100is upright and there are no handheld devices in holder100. The outward rotation provides for easier placement of the second end of a handheld device into cap106in order to secure the handheld device into the holder100. The shaped region120of the second side104may be about 90 degrees as illustrated inFIG.3.

In some embodiments, the second side104may be secured to the cap on a side of the cap104instead of the top of the cap106. In such an embodiment, a spring may be used to rotate the bottom of the cap away from the second side104and the side103. The spring mechanism may be incorporated into the coupling or a pin coupling the cap106to the second side104, as commonly known in the art. The spring mechanism may have a circular spring region going around a pin and having ends fixed against the cap106and the second side104. There may be an additional spring to provide compression against a handheld device when the device is in holder100. In this embodiment, the second side104may be rigid similar to side103. In this embodiment, the side103may include the second side104as a single component and may be a rigid component referred to as side103. Various other embodiments of coupling the second side104or the side103to the cap106are readily available to a person of ordinary skill in the art. The various coupling embodiments may include various means for rotation of the cap to allow placement and removal of a handheld device from the holder100while providing the necessary compression to hold the handheld device securely. In some embodiments, the entire holder100may be comprised of a single material made by various means including injection molding of a plastic or reinforced plastic material. The holder100may be formed of a composite material such as a carbon fiber composite, Kevlar composite, or fiberglass composite, or various combinations of composites. Holder100may be formed of various composites in combination with various suitable metals. Holder100may include various metals highly resistant to permanent deformation while providing flexibility sufficient to allow placement and removal of the handheld device.

EXAMPLES

According to various embodiments, the present disclosure describes a secure handheld device holder operable by one hand to remove from the holder and to put back into the holder binoculars, a portable telescope, or a range finder, wherein the holder may be held tightly to a front torso of a person by straps with buckles, the straps wrapping around the torso and the shoulders of the person.

Example 1 of a secure handheld device holder may include a base plate so dimensioned to allow a first end of a handheld device to be placeable on a surface of the base plate. The holder further may include a side component having a first end region having a first end coupled to the base plate. The first end region may extend away from the base and towards a second end region of the side component. the second end region may have a second end. The second end region may be shaped to place the second end above the base plate when the secure handheld device holder is in an upright position. The holder further may include a cap so dimensioned to allow a second end of the handheld device to be placeable in the cap. The cap may be coupled to the second end of the side component. There may be a distance between the cap and the base plate to allow the handheld device to be holdable in compression between the base plate and the cap when the handheld device is placed in the secure handheld device holder.

Example 2 may include the secure handheld device holder of Example 1, wherein the first end region of the side component may be a rigid side component coupled to the base plate and the second end region of the side component may be a flexible side component coupled between the rigid side component and the cap. The compression may be provided by resistance to flexing by the flexible side component when the handheld device is placed in the secure handheld device holder.

Example 3 may include the secure handheld device holder of Example 1, wherein the second end region of the side component is comprised of a flexible material. The compression may be provided by resistance to flexing by the flexible second end region when the handheld device is placed in the secure handheld device holder.

Example 4 may include the secure handheld device holder of Examples 1-3, wherein the second end of the side component is rotateably coupled off center to a centerline on a top of the cap. The cap may be rotated outwards from the side component to receive the second end of the handheld device when the secure handheld device holder is in an upright position.

Example 5 may include the secure handheld device holder of Example 1, wherein the second end of the side component and the cap have a spring component coupled between the second end of the side component and the cap. The spring component may allow the handheld device to be holdable in compression between the base plate and the cap when the handheld device is placed in the secure device holder.

Example 6 may include the secure handheld device holder of Examples 1-5, wherein the base plate is a plate having sides to receive and secure the first end of the handheld device. The cap may have a concave region to receive and secure the second end of the handheld device.

Example 7 may include the secure handheld device holder of Examples 1-6, wherein the base plate and the cap are so dimensioned for receiving and holding securely a set of binoculars, a telescope, or a range finder.

Example 8 may include the secure handheld device holder of Examples 1-7, wherein the cap has an angle relative to the base plate to allow the second end of the handheld device to be placeable in the cap when the secure handheld device holder is in an upright position. The angle may allow the first end of the device to clear the base plate when the second end of the device is to be placed in the cap or to be removed from the cap. The angle may be about zero degrees when the handheld device is secured between the base plate and the cap, the angle being changeable by flexing of the side component or rotation at the coupling between the cap and the second end of the second region of the side component.

Example 9 may include the secure handheld device holder of Examples 1-8, wherein the holder further may comprise receptacles for receiving one or more straps. The straps may include buckles for coupling of the straps to a torso of a person or to shoulders of a person, or to the torso at one or more places and the shoulders of the person. The secure handheld device holder may be held upright and firmly against a front of the torso of the person standing upright.

Example 10 may include the secure handheld device holder of Examples 1-9, wherein the holder further may comprise a tether receptacle to receive a tether coupleable between the handheld device and the secure handheld device holder.

Example 11 may include the secure handheld device holder of Examples 1-10, wherein one or more straps having buckles may be coupled to the side component or the base plate. The straps having buckles may be coupleable to the torso or shoulders of a person.

Example 12 may include the secure handheld device holder of Examples 1-11, wherein a tether may be coupled to the side component or the base plate. The tether may be coupleable to the handheld device.

Example 13 of a secure handheld device holder may include a base plate dimensioned to receive a first end of a handheld device. The first end of the handheld device may be covered by a top surface of the base plate. The base plate may have one or more sides extending up from the top surface to secure the first end of the handheld device to the top surface of the base plate.

The holder further may include a side plate having a first side plate end coupled to the base plate. The side plate may extend away from the base plate at an angle of about 90 degrees as measured relative to the top surface of the base plate. The side plate may have a second side plate end opposite to the first side plate end.

The holder further may include a flexible component having a first component end coupled to the second side plate end and extending away from the base plate. The flexible component may have a shaped region and having a second component end opposite the first component end. The shaped region may be shaped to place the second component end over and above the base plate when the secure handheld device holder is in an upright position.

The holder further may include a cap so dimensioned to allow a second end of the handheld device to be placeable in a cavity of the cap. The cap may be rotateably coupled on a top cap surface of the cap at a location off axis from a centerline of the cap to the second component end of the flexible component. The cap may have an angle relative to the base plate to allow the second end of the handheld device to be placeable in the cavity of the cap. A distance between the cap and the base plate may allow the handheld device to be holdable in compression between the base plate and the cap when the handheld device is placed in the secure handheld device holder. The compression may be provided by the flexible component resisting flexing resulting from the handheld device being between the base plate and the cap.

Example 14 may include the secure handheld device holder of Example13, wherein the base plate and the cap are so dimensioned for receiving and holding securely a set of binoculars, a telescope, or a range finder.

Example 15 may include the secure handheld device holder of Examples 13-14, further comprising receptacles for receiving one or more straps. The straps may include buckles for coupling of the straps to a torso of a person or to shoulders of a person, or to the torso at one or more places and the shoulders of the person. The secure handheld device holder may be held upright and firmly against a front of the torso of the person standing upright.

Example 16 may include the secure handheld device holder of Examples 13-15, further comprising a tether receptacle to receive a tether coupleable between the handheld device and the secure handheld device holder.

Example 17 may include the secure handheld device holder of Examples 13-16, wherein one or more straps having buckles may be coupled to the side component or the base plate. The straps having buckles may be coupleable to the torso or shoulders of a person.

Example 18 may include the secure handheld device holder of Examples 13-17, wherein a tether may be coupled to the side component or the base plate. The tether may be coupleable to the handheld device.

Example 19 of a secure binocular holder operable by one hand may include a base plate so dimensioned to receive a first end of binoculars. The first end of the binoculars may be covered by a top surface of the base plate. The base plate may have one or more sides extending up from the top surface to secure the first end of the binoculars to the top surface of the base plate. The secure binocular holder operable by one hand further may include a side plate having a first side plate end coupled to the base plate. The side plate may extend away from the base plate at an angle of about 90 degrees as measured relative to the top surface of the base plate. The side plate may have a second side plate end opposite to the first side plate end. The secure binocular holder operable by one hand further may include a flexible component having a first component end coupled to the second side plate end and extending away from the base plate. The flexible component may have a shaped region and may have a second component end opposite the first component end. The shaped region may be shaped to place the second component end over and above the base plate when the secure binocular holder is in an upright position. The secure binocular holder operable by one hand further may include a cap so dimensioned to allow a second end of the handheld device to be placeable in a cavity of the cap. The cap may be rotateably coupled on a top cap surface of the cap at a location off axis from a centerline of the cap to the second component end of the flexible component. The cap may be at an angle relative to the base plate to allow the second end of the binoculars to be placeable in the cavity of the cap when the secure binocular holder is in an upright position. A distance between the cap and the base plate may allow the binoculars to be holdable in compression between the base plate and the cap when the binoculars are placed in the secure binocular holder. The compression may be provided by the flexible component resisting flexing resulting from the binoculars being between the base plate and the cap. The secure binocular holder operable by one hand further may include one or more straps having buckles that may be coupled to the side plate or the base plate. The straps having buckles may be coupleable to the torso or shoulders of a person. A tether may be coupled to the side plate or the base plate. The tether may be coupleable to the binoculars.