Abstract:
A carrier has a variable-length compartment for receiving a device of variable length, such as a lens with a hood that may be alternated between a reversed and an extended or operative position. The carrier has an expansion gusset region that allows expansion of the carrier along one dimension when the device is elongated, whereby the carrier is able to securely accommodate the elongated device within the compartment, and contraction of the carrier when the device is less elongated.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/904,603, filed on Mar. 1, 2007 for a “Carrier for Photographic Equipment such as Cameras and Lenses,” by Douglas Harland Murdoch and Michael Sturm, and assigned to Think Tank Photo, Inc. The disclosure of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/904,603 is incorporated herein by reference to the extent permitted by law. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The field of this disclosure is that of article carriers supported by an animate bearer, such as a human being. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Human beings have long carried articles by attaching them to belts worn around the waist or hips or to harnesses or slings supported at least in part by the shoulders. Such articles have included canteens, weapons, food, and the like. Carriers such as bags or pouches for receiving and supporting the articles may be supported by the belt, harness or sling. 
     Photographers often carry their photographic gear in carriers such as pouches or bags that are supported by a belt, harness or sling. Such photographic gear may include lenses and camera bodies with lenses attached. 
     The lenses that may be attached to a single lens reflex or medium format camera body are usually cylindrically shaped objects of varying lengths. Telephoto lenses and other lenses with a long focal length are typically longer along the major axis of the generally cylindrical lens than are shorter focal length lenses. 
     Carriers for lenses and for cameras with lenses attached preferably should have compartments shaped to receive these devices in order to securely contain them without excess movement of the lenses and the cameras with lenses inside the compartment. 
     Photographers frequently attach lens hoods to their lenses when taking pictures, in order to shield the lens from a source of bright light such as the sun. This will result in pictures that are not distorted or washed out by the bright light. The lens hood is attached to the front of the lens and projects from the lens in order to shelter the light-gathering element of the lens from the bright light. The lens hood may be removed from the lens, usually by rotating it so that it disengages from a ridge or other locking element on the front of the lens. 
     The lens hood adds to the length of the lens when it is attached to the lens in an operative position. Being longer, the lens and hood (or camera with lens having hood attached) will not be accommodated in a carrier shaped to fit the lens (or camera with lens) without the hood attached in the operative position, unless the compartment is oversized to begin with or the lens or camera with lens projects out of the compartment. Having an oversized compartment means that the carrier is oversized. This is usually not desirable in order to avoid excess movement and especially in carriers that are meant to be carried on the photographer&#39;s body by a belt, harness, sling or the like. On the other hand, allowing the lens or camera with lens to project out of the compartment exposes it to hazards such as rain and other moisture, dust, theft, and the chance of simply falling out of the compartment. 
     Usually the lens hood can be reversed on the lens so that it does not project beyond the light-gathering element of the lens. The lens will be wider where the hood surrounds it. A carrier with a compartment shaped to fairly closely fit the lens (or camera with lens) can usually accommodate the lens (or camera with lens) with a reversed hood. 
     Photographers such as sports and combat photojournalists must be ready to take pictures of short-lived and unpredictable events. They will prefer to keep their equipment as ready for use as possible. This may require leaving the lens hood in a deployed or operative position on the lens so that the photographer does not have to take the time to attach a lens hood to the lens or, if one is attached to the lens in a reversed position, to remove the reversed lens from the lens, turn it around, and reattach it. 
     A need exists, therefore, for a carrier for a lens or a camera with a lens that can accommodate the lens or the camera with a lens wherein the lens has no hood attached, has a hood is in a deployed position or has a hood reversed on the lens. The carrier should be able to accommodate the lens or a camera with lens in a fully enclosed or secure way in all of these conditions and it should do so without being permanently oversized. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure provides, in one aspect, a carrier for carrying photographic gear, such as a lens or a camera with a lens, the carrier comprising a wall and a bottom joined by an expanding gusset region to define a variable-length compartment. The expanding gusset region may comprise a gusset and a device at least partially secured to or adjacent to each of the wall and the bottom for reversibly engaging the bottom adjacent the wall. The gusset may have a contracted configuration in which the wall is adjacent the bottom and an expanded configuration in which the wall is spaced from the bottom. The device may be a zipper. The wall may define an opening for access to the variable length compartment. The opening may be secured by a flap or a top. 
     Without limitation, it is an object and advantage of the present invention to provide a carrier for a lens or a camera having a lens that can securely accommodate the lens or the camera having a lens wherein a lens hood is in a deployed position, is reversed on the lens or no lens hood is on the lens at all. 
     Another object and advantage is to provide a carrier for a lens or a camera having a lens that can securely accommodate the lens or the camera having a lens wherein the lens is of different lengths. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings. The accompanying drawings, which constitute part of this specification, help to illustrate embodiments of the disclosure. In the drawings, like numerals are used to indicate like elements throughout. The drawings are described below. 
         FIG. 1  is a left side perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of a carrier according to the disclosure, in the first or non-extended configuration; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic of a sectional view of the carrier shown in  FIG. 1 , taken along the line  2 - 2 , with a lens indicated in phantom; 
         FIG. 3  is a left side perspective view of the carrier shown in  FIG. 1 , but in the second or extended configuration; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic of a sectional view of the carrier shown in  FIG. 3 , taken along the line  4 - 4 , with a lens indicated in phantom; 
         FIG. 5  is a top side perspective view of the carrier shown in  FIG. 1 , in the first configuration; 
         FIG. 6  is a elevated perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of a carrier according to the disclosure, in the first or non-extended configuration; 
         FIG. 7  is a front side perspective view of the carrier shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a back side perspective view of the carrier shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a top perspective view of the carrier shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a bottom perspective view of the carrier shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a right side perspective view of the carrier shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a left side perspective view of the carrier shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a schematic of a sectional view of the carrier shown in  FIG. 12 , taken along the line  13 - 13 , with a camera and lens indicated in phantom; 
         FIG. 14  is a front side perspective view of the carrier shown in  FIG. 6 , but in a second or extended configuration; 
         FIG. 15  is a back side perspective view of the carrier shown in  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a right side perspective view of the carrier shown in  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 17  is a left side perspective view of the carrier shown in  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 18  is a schematic of a sectional view of the carrier shown in  FIG. 17 , taken along the line  18 - 18 , with a camera and lens indicated in phantom; 
     
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS 
     
         
           1  carrier, first embodiment 
           2  lens, shown in phantom 
           2 A lens hood, shown in phantom 
           10  wall 
           12  foam padding 
           14  body contacting portion of wall 
           15  compartment 
           16  non-body contacting portion of wall 
           17  mesh 
           20  top 
           22  opening in top 
           25  cord 
           26  toggle lock 
           30  bottom 
           32  foam padding 
           40  belt connection sleeve 
           50  expansion gusset region 
           52  gusset 
           54  zipper 
           54 A upper half of zipper 
           54 B lower half of zipper 
           56  zipper tape 
           56 A upper zipper tape 
           56 B lower zipper tape 
           58  zipper slider 
           100  carrier, second embodiment 
           105  camera body 
           107  lens 
           107 A lens hood 
           110  wall 
           111  foam padding 
           112  front wall 
           115  compartment 
           114  back wall 
           116  left wall 
           117  zippered left side compartment 
           118  right wall 
           120  top 
           121  foam padding 
           122  handle 
           123  hinge 
           124  top opening 
           126  top opening zipper 
           128  top opening zipper slider 
           130  bottom 
           131  foam padding 
           140  belt connection sleeve 
           150  expansion gusset region 
           152  gusset 
           154  zipper 
           154 A upper half of zipper 
           154 B lower half of zipper 
           156  zipper tape 
           156 A upper zipper tape 
           156 B lower zipper tape 
           158  zipper pull 
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     For the purposes of this specification, unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of ingredients and so forth used in the specification are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about.” Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the following specification are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by the present disclosure. 
     Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as possible. Any numerical value, however, inherently contains certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements. Moreover, all ranges disclosed herein are to be understood to encompass any and all sub ranges subsumed therein, and every number between the end points. Additionally, any reference referred to as being “incorporated herein” is to be understood as being incorporated in its entirety. 
     It is further noted that, as used in this specification, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless expressly and unequivocally limited to one referent. 
     Referring now to the drawings,  FIGS. 1-5  depict a first preferred embodiment of a carrier  1  according to the disclosure. The carrier  1  is essentially a pouch designed to carry an essentially cylindrical elongated object with a varying length, in this case a telephoto lens that may have its lens hood either reversed (see  FIG. 2 ) or extended (see  FIG. 4 ). 
     The carrier  1  has a wall  10  attached by an expansion gusset region  50  to a bottom  20 . The wall  10  and the bottom  20  together define a compartment  15  that has an opening  22  at the top  20 . 
     The wall  10  and the bottom  30 , as shown in the drawings, are each formed of two pieces of fabric that sandwich a foam sheet  12  and  32 , respectively. The wall  10  and the bottom  30  are each sewn to the expansion gusset region  50  (described below). It will be understood by those of skill in the art how to make and join the wall  10  and the bottom  30  to the expansion gusset region, as well as the variations in the materials and manner of construction that may be employed. 
     The wall  10  in the embodiment shown in the drawings has two portions: a body contacting wall  14  and a non-body contacting wall  16  joined to each other. The body contacting wall  14  has attached to it a belt connection sleeve  40  that permits the user to connect the carrier  1  to a belt (not shown). A preferred form of a belt connection sleeve is shown in the co-pending PCT application no. PCT/US2005/034036 of one of the current inventors, Douglas H. Murdoch, for a “Carrier System,” published as WO/2006/034421, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein, to the extent permitted by law. A preferred form of a belt is shown in the co-pending PCT application no. PCT/US2006/061357 of the current inventors, Douglas H. Murdoch and Michael Sturm, for a “Carrier System,” the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein, to the extent permitted by law. 
     The non-body contacting wall  16  is shown with an elastic mesh panel  17  sewn thereon that forms a pocket for small articles such as lens caps, food bars, sun lotion containers, and the like. 
     The top  20  of the wall  10  is equipped with a cord  25  in a tunnel at the top  20 . The cord  25  may be drawn tight and cinched in place by the toggle lock  26 . Those of skill in the art will understand that other means of closing the opening  22  to secure the contents of the compartment  15  may be employed, such as a zippered lid and the like. 
     The construction of the carrier  1 , as described to this point and excluding the expansion gusset region  50 , is known. For example, Think Tank Photo offers a soft-sided lens carrier of the general construction described thus far (but excluding the expansion gusset region  50 ) under the name “Lens Changer [size number].” See, for example http://www.thinktankphoto.com/ttp_product_LnsChngr80.php (accessed Feb. 7, 2007). 
     Although a “soft” construction of the carrier  1  is described in this specification, it could have a “hard” construction, which means that the wall and bottom would be made of materials harder or more rigid than fabric and foam sheets sewn together. For example, the wall and bottom could be made of a thermoplastic material such as the hard-sided cases sold by Pelican products, Inc. and the like. A hard-sided carrier preferably may have a different closure than a cord and toggle lock closure, which is easier to accomplish with a soft-sided carrier  1 . 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show the carrier  1  in the unextended configuration. As shown in the schematic cross-section of  FIG. 2 , this would be appropriate for carrying a lens  2  with the hood  2 A reversed on the lens. In this configuration the expansion gusset region  50  is not extended. Instead, it is in its contracted form. 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  show the carrier  1  in the extended configuration. As shown in the schematic cross-section of  FIG. 2 , this would be appropriate for carrying a lens  2  with the hood  2 A attached to the lens  2  and extending from it in the deployed configuration. Alternatively, the extended configuration would permit the carrier to securely contain a longer lens. 
     As noted before, the expansion gusset region  50  joins the bottom  30  to the wall  10 . A gusset  52 , preferably comprised of fabric, is sewn to both the wall  10  and the bottom  30 . The gusset  52  will keep the bottom  30  joined to the wall  20  when the expansion gusset region  50  is in the expanded configuration and will keep dust, water, and other undesired elements out of the compartment  15 . The gusset  52  may be padded with foam sheeting or the like although this is not shown in the drawings. 
     The gusset preferably should have a vertical dimension sufficiently great to cause a vertical expansion of the compartment  15  that will permit the compartment  15  to completely accommodate the lens  2  with a lens hood  2 A in the operative position as shown in  FIG. 4 . The lens  2  will be securely contained in the compartment  15  without extending from it any more than it did in the configuration of  FIG. 2 , which is preferably not at all. 
     Alternatively, a single carrier  1  may accommodate securely lenses of different length as long as the circumference of the lens does not increase beyond the inner circumference of the compartment  15 . This conveniently provides a single carrier that can fit more than one lens. 
     A zipper  54  having zipper halves  54 A and  54 B joined and separated by the movement of zipper slider  56  is arranged so as to contract the gusset  52  and move the bottom  30  against the wall  10  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The zipper halves  54 A and  54 B are attached to zipper tapes  56 A and  56 B, respectively. The upper and lower zipper tapes  56 A and  56 B are sewn or otherwise attached to the wall  10  and the bottom  30 , respectively, for a full circumference of the wall  10  or bottom  30 , as the case may be (the circumferences will be about the same). However, the zipper  54  and the zipper tapes  56 A and  56 B are longer than the full circumferences of the wall  10  or bottom  30 , as the case may be. The portions of the zipper tapes  56 A and  56 B that exceed the lengths of the circumferences may have a length of about a quarter of a circumference (as shown in the drawings). The portions of the zipper tapes  56 A and  56 B that exceed the lengths of the circumferences are not sewn or attached to the wall  10  or the bottom  30 , respectively. Instead, they are sewn to the gusset  52  so that they converge together (see  FIG. 3 ). Accordingly, when the zipper  54  is unzipped (the zipper slider  58  is maneuvered so as to separate the zipper halves  54 A and  54 B), the wall  10  is separated from the bottom  30  and the gusset  52  is extended from its contracted or stored position shown in  FIG. 2  to its full vertically extended position shown in  FIG. 4 . When the zipper  54  is zipped up (the zipper slider  58  is maneuvered so as to join the zipper halves  54 A and  54 B), the wall  10  is brought to be adjacent the bottom  30  and the gusset  52  is placed in its contracted or stored position shown in  FIG. 2  from its full vertically extended position shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     It will be understood by those of skill in the art that other means for extending and contracting the gusset  52  may be employed. For example, hook-and-loop tape might be employed to secure the bottom  30  to the wall  10 . 
       FIGS. 6-18  depict a second preferred embodiment of a carrier  100  according to the disclosure. The carrier  100  is essentially a container for a substantially rectangular parallelopipedal object with a cylindrical object of varying length attached on one side, such as, as shown in  FIGS. 13 and 18 , a single lens reflex camera  105  and a telephoto lens  107  that may have its lens hood  107 A either reversed ( FIG. 13 ) or extended ( FIG. 18 ). 
     The carrier  100  has a wall  100  composed of a front wall  112  joined by a left wall  116  and a right wall  118  to a back wall  114 . A top  120  is attached by hinge  123  to the front wall  112  and joined by a zipper  126  with zipper sliders  128  to the left wall  116 , the right wall  118 , the back wall  114 , and portions of the front wall  112 . A bottom  130  is connected by an expansion gusset region  150  to the wall  110 . 
     The top  120 , the wall  110 , the expansion gusset region  150 , and the bottom  130  define a compartment  115  that is accessed through the top opening  124  that is covered by the top  120  when the zipper  126  is closed. 
     The carrier  100  shown in the drawings is a soft-sided case designed to hold and protect photographic gear and it is therefore padded. The top  120  has a foam padding  121  in the form of a foam sheet sandwiched by fabric layers; the wall  110  has foam padding  111 , and the bottom has foam padding  131 . The general manner of construction of the carrier  100  out of fabric, foam sheeting, zippers, zipper sliders, strapping, D-rings, and the like sewn together will be known to those of skill in the art although the design will not. The wall  110 , top  120 , and the bottom  130  could be made of harder materials to provide a hard-sided case, if needed, as mentioned above in connection with the carrier  1  of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-5 . 
     A belt connection sleeve  140  is provided on the back wall  114 . The belt connection sleeve  140  may be the same as the one disclosed in connection with the carrier  1  and the same comments apply. The top  120  is provided with a handle  122  for holding the carrier  100  with the hand when the carrier  100  is not supported on a belt or by a shoulder strap (the belt and the shoulder strap are not shown in the drawings). The left wall  116  is shown with a sleeve or flap zippered thereon to form a left side zippered compartment  117 . Those of skill in the art will be aware that many variations in the position, form, and structure of the belt connection sleeve  140 , the handle  122 , and the left side zippered compartment  117  are possible. 
     The expansion gusset region  150  has generally the same construction as the expansion gusset region  50  in the carrier  50  and provides a gusset  152  that can be contracted or expanded so as to displace the bottom  130  away from the wall  110  so as to accommodate variations in the length of the article or device enclosed in the compartment  115  of the carrier  100 . In other words, the article or device may be enclosed in the compartment  115  with the top  120  zippered shut over the opening  124  even though the length of the article or device may change. In the drawings, one will see that the article is an SLR camera body  105  attached to a lens  107  (a telephoto lens in the drawings). The lens  107  changes its length when the lens hood  107 A changes orientation from being reversed on the lens ( FIG. 13 ) to being extended for ready use ( FIG. 18 ). Alternatively, the expansion gusset region  150  may allow the compartment  115  of the carrier  100  to accommodate a camera  105  having a longer lens attached. The carrier  100  can thus be useful for securely containing cameras with lenses of different lengths as long as the circumference of the lens does not increase beyond the inner circumference of the compartment  115 . 
     While illustrative embodiments of the carriers disclosed herein have been shown and described in the above description, numerous variations and alternative embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art and it should be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. Such variations and alternative embodiments are contemplated, and can be made, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.