Handstrap for use on an imaging device

An imaging device is fitted with a handstrap adjustable for holding the device with either the left or right hand without having to detach the handstrap from the body of the imaging device. Such an imaging device includes: a body; a conduit fixedly attached to the body and, a strap having a predetermined length with an intermediate portion and first and second end portions, each of the end portions being attached to the body, the intermediate portion being movable through the conduit to allow formation of a loop on either side thereof which is sufficient in size to accommodate a single hand of a user to engage the imaging device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates generally to providing a handstrap for use 
with an imaging device and, more particularly, to providing an inexpensive 
handstrap which is sturdy, reliable and easily movable into position so 
that a hand-held imaging device can be held with either a left or right 
i.e. one, hand. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
It is well known to provide a photographic camera with a detachable or 
adjustable handgrip which is grasped to hold the camera body steady when a 
shutter release button on the body of the camera is manually depressed to 
initiate imaging a scene through the optics of the camera to a 
photosensitive surface. At times this operation requires the use of two 
hands. However, with the current trend towards manufacturing small 
hand-held cameras and other imaging devices, such as camcorders and 
scanners, these devices have been designed to be held, and in some cases 
operated, solely with one hand. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,016 
issued Apr. 4, 1989 to Leonard et al. discloses a camera which is both 
held and operated with one hand. Leonard's camera includes a handgrip 
which is detachable and can be secured to either the left side of the 
camera for securing and operating the camera with the left hand, or to the 
right side of the camera for securing and operating the camera with the 
right hand. The shutter release button is positioned on the top of the 
camera substantially midway between its two sides. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,208,113 issued Jun. 17, 1980 to Prochnow discloses a camera 
handgrip which includes a shutter release button and is pivotal about a 
pivot axis that extends substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of 
the camera lens. The handgrip may be detached from one side and secured 
onto the other side of the camera as desired for either left or right 
handed use. 
A major disadvantage to a camera handgrip of the type as described above is 
the requirement that, in order to change the position of the handgrip for 
use with one hand or the other, the handgrip must first be removed from 
one side of the camera, and then must be re-attached to the other side of 
the camera. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The above and other disadvantages of handgrips found in the prior art are 
overcome by the current invention of a camera or other, preferably 
hand-held, imaging device having a handstrap adjustable, without having to 
detach the handstrap from the camera body, for holding the camera with 
either the left or right hand. Such an imaging device includes: housing 
means; means on the housing means for defining a passage through which 
means for engaging a hand to the imaging device will pass; and, the hand 
engageable means having a predetermined length with an intermediate 
portion and first and second end portions, each of the end portions being 
couplable to the housing means, the intermediate portion being movable 
through the passage defining means to allow formation of a loop on either 
side thereof which is sufficient in size to accommodate a single hand of a 
user to engage the imaging device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The preferred embodiment described and illustrated herein depicts a 
hand-held photographic camera with an attached, or attachable, handstrap 
for holding the camera with one hand. However, the handstrap is envisioned 
for use with any imaging device whether hand-held or otherwise supported, 
as with a tripod, and whether the imaging device is manually or 
automatically operable, and whether the imaging device requires one or two 
hands for operation. Imaging devices for use with the handstrap include, 
but are not limited to, cameras, camcorders and scanners. 
The handstrap described herein allows the user the option of stabilizing 
the imaging device by holding it with either hand. This is made possible 
by quick and easy adjustment of the handstrap between first and second 
positions, e.g. left-handed and right-handed positions, without a 
requirement for first removing the handstrap from the body of the imaging 
device. Since various features of the imaging device which are not 
effected by the current invention are well known, only those features 
which cooperate or interact with the handstrap will be described in 
detail. It is understood, however, that other components of the imaging 
devices not specifically shown or described are readily available in 
various forms as known to persons of ordinary skill in the art. 
FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 each portray a view of a single embodiment of a camera 
50 having a housing means, e.g. a main body, 40 defined by a left side 14, 
a right side 16, a front wall 12, a back wall 18, a top wall 10 and a 
bottom wall 42. The back wall 18 is defined in part by a passage defining 
means or conduit 20 containing a passageway 21. The conduit 20 may be 
molded as part of the main body 40, or it may be a separate add-on 
component which could be fastened by any known fastening means to the main 
body 40, or to any other portion of the camera 50. None of the various 
fastening means are shown, but they include adhesives, screws, bolts, 
snap-together parts, etc. 
A handstrap 30, defined in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4 by two pieces 22 and 
24, passes through the passageway 21 of the conduit 20. The handstrap 30 
is made of a flexible elongated material which is strong enough to support 
the camera 50, flexible enough to freely conform to the shape of one's 
hand, and flexible enough to easily pass through the conduit 20. In the 
illustrated embodiment, the two sections 22 and 24 have a total 
predetermined length which is adjustable to accommodate different hand 
sizes per attaching means 26, which could be Velcro.TM. strips or any 
other known means for attaching together two or more sections of a 
handstrap. 
The handstrap 30 of FIG. 5 is a single piece and the handstrap 30 of FIGS. 
1-4 is two-pieced having sections 22 and 24. However, the handstrap 30 
could include any number of sections as desired. Preferably, the total 
length of the attached sections is appropriate to accommodate various hand 
sizes for engaging a hand to the camera 50. Each handstrap 30 illustrated 
in FIGS. 1-4 is fastened adjacent to one end of the handstrap 30 to the 
left side 14 of the main body 40 of the camera 50 by a first connecting 
means 32, and each handstrap 30 is fastened adjacent to another end of the 
handstrap 30 to the right side 16 of the main body 40 by a second 
connecting means 28. The first and second connecting means 32 and 28, 
respectively, may include any known means for connecting a strap to a 
housing such as, but not limited to, machine screws, bolts, rivets or 
snap-on clips. Preferably each connecting means 32 and 28 will allow 
pivotal movement of the handstrap 30 thereabout for increasing the 
flexibility of the handstrap in properly fitting over different size 
hands. In one embodiment, the connecting means 32 and 28 permanently 
secures the handstrap 30 to the main body 40 of the camera 50 whereas, in 
another embodiment, the connecting means 32 and 28 provides the handstrap 
30 to be attachable and detachable to and from the main body 40. 
Furthermore, the housing means 40 is not limited to a main body or main 
camera housing of a camera, but could be an adjunct thereto. 
FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of a single piece handstrap 30 having 
first and second end portions 44 and 48 and an intermediate portion 46. 
Each of the end portions 44 and 48 is attachable, e.g. couplable, to the 
housing means 40 at first and second connecting means 32 and 28, 
respectively, and the intermediate portion 46 is movable and guided 
through the passage defining means 20 to allow formation of a loop on 
either side thereof which is sufficient to accommodate a single hand of an 
user to engage the camera 50. 
In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, 6A and 6B, the passage defining 
means 20 is a conduit which provides and defines a passageway 21 as shown 
in FIG. 6A where the conduit 20 is attached to the rear wall 18 of the 
housing 40 of the camera 50. FIG. 6B shows the handstrap 30 passing 
through the passageway 21. The passageway 21 requires dimensions which 
allow free movement of the handstrap 30 therethrough. In a second 
embodiment, the passage defining means 20 may be structured, for instance, 
as shown in FIGS. 6C and 6D. Here, means 20 engages the handstrap 30 in a 
passageway 21 which is open on one side in contrast to the closed conduit 
of FIG. 6A. These are but two of the many known means for providing and 
defining a passageway to allow passage of a handstrap 30. 
FIG. 3 shows the handstrap 30 pulled through the passage defining means 20 
so that the slack in the handstrap 30 forms a loop which resides adjacent 
to the left side 14 of the camera 50. FIG. 4 shows the handstrap 30 pulled 
through the conduit 20 so that the slack in the handstrap 30 forms a loop 
which resides adjacent to the right side 16 of the camera 50. Although the 
preferred embodiments illustrate a carrying handstrap, the present 
invention contemplates other devices or means engageable by a hand for 
facilitating formation of a loop or the like which enables a hand to fit 
therein. 
In the broadest sense, the passage defining means 20 may be placed anywhere 
on the main body 40 of the camera 50 (e.g. on the front wall 12, the back 
wall 18, the left side 14, the right side 16, the top wall 32 or the 
bottom wall 42). One purpose of the passage defining means 20 is to 
provide means, between first and second connecting means 32 and 28, for 
restraining the handstrap 30 adjacent to the main body 40. Another purpose 
of the passage defining means 20 is to provide a passageway for movement 
of the slack of the handstrap 30. As with the passage defining means 20, 
the first and second connecting means 32 and 28 may also be placed 
anywhere on the camera housing (e.g. on the front wall 12, the back wall 
18, the left side 14, the right side 16, the top wall 32 or the bottom 
wall 42), providing that they are positioned to allow movement of the 
slack of the handstrap 30 through the passage defining means 20 to 
accommodate holding the imaging device 50 with one hand. 
It is to be understood that the above described embodiments are merely 
illustrative of the present invention and represent a limited number of 
the possible specific embodiments that can provide applications of the 
principles of the invention. Numerous and varied other arrangements may be 
readily devised in accordance with these principles by those skilled in 
the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as 
claimed.