Abstract:
Disclosed herein are embodiments of a device for transferring the weight of an optical device to the body of the person using that optical device. In some devices, a support harness with shoulder straps is used to bear the weight of the optical device transferred by a support frame. The support frame may be temporarily attached to the optical device and/or support harness for easy assembly and disassembly. In some embodiments, the support harness is collapsible into a compact size.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority as a non-provisional perfection of prior filed U.S. provisional application No. 61/587,444, filed Jan. 17, 2012, and incorporates the same by reference in its entirety herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The disclosure relates to optical systems and elements, in particular to supports for optical devices. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Enjoying the outdoors is a pastime for many individuals. Users of optical devices, such as binoculars or cameras, at times desire to support those devices at eye level without using their hands, especially when the optics are used for an extended period of time, such as while bird-watching or hunting. Extended use of optics can lead to fatigue which causes shaky hands and arms, degrading the image being viewed through the optics. Even without fatigue some hands and arms are less steady than others, and a personal, portable mechanism is desired that provides a steady image and better enables extended viewing through the optics. 
         [0004]    The present invention is an article support, primarily for optical equipment like binoculars or cameras, whereby the weight of the supported article is transmitted onto the torso of the user while the article itself is held proximate the face of the user. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention&#39;s general purpose is to provide a support for articles, such as optical devices, that will hold the articles in a vicinity of the user&#39;s face while placing at least a majority of the weight of the article on the user&#39;s torso. It is also desirable that the support be hands-free when fully deployed and that the article will be held in a secure and stable manner. To accomplish these objectives, the present invention comprises a harness worn by the user. The harness may be a backpack adapted to the purposes of the invention or may be a specialized harness. The invention also comprises a frame attachable to the article and to the harness. An exemplary frame consists of a plurality of legs extending from an adapter fitted to the article and positioned in pockets or similar structures on the harness. Support straps also connect the adapter (or article itself) to the harness at a location above the legs, thereby providing the stability necessary to hold the article in place. Specialized adapters are provided for binoculars and cameras, though it is conceivable that any article desired to be so held could have an appropriate adapter constructed to accommodate use with the invention. 
         [0006]    The more important features of the invention have thus been outlined in order that the more detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may better be appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter and will form the subject matter of the claims that follow. 
         [0007]    Many objects of this invention will appear from the following description and appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views. 
         [0008]    Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0009]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a front elevation of an embodiment with a support harness and a support frame including two support legs. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of support legs for the support frame of  FIG. 1 , alternately attached to a camera support and a binocular support. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  illustrates the embodiment of the mechanism for attaching the support frame to binoculars shown in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  illustrates a bottom view of the attachment mechanism from  FIG. 3 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a collection of views of the binocular support of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the attachment mechanism of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is two perspective views of a first leg adapter for use with the support frame of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a second leg adapter for use with the support frame of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  illustrates the back of the harness from  FIG. 1  equipped with a pack. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]      FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of the present invention for use in supporting binoculars  200 . This embodiment transfers the weight of the binoculars  200  to the user&#39;s  105  torso, which can more easily bear the weight of the binoculars  200  than the head, neck, or arms. Other embodiments may transfer the weight to other locations below the user&#39;s  105  neck. The support device  100  in this embodiment comprises a support frame  110  resting on a support harness  150  worn by the user  105 , such that the support device  100  transfers weight from the binoculars  200  to the torso of the user  105 . 
         [0020]    In this embodiment, the support frame  110  includes two supporting legs  120   a  and  120   b  that decline in an inverted ‘V’ shape from a vertical support element  130 . The top of the vertical support element comprises a means  140  of coupling the support frame  110  to the binoculars  200 . The legs  120  distribute the weight of the binoculars  200  down to the support harness  150 , on which they are resting. The legs  120  are attached to one another and to the vertical support element  130 , such that the legs  120  can be easily spread into an inverted V-shape when the system is in use or can be closed flush against one another for storage. 
         [0021]    In some embodiments, it is preferable that the support frame  110  be collapsible, so it can be stored in a small space. In the illustrated embodiment, the supporting legs  120  are foldable. Each supporting leg comprises three segments that are approximately evenly sized. On the first supporting leg  120   a , the segments are labeled  122   a ,  124   a , and  126   a . The second supporting leg  120   b  contains identical unlabeled segments. An elastic thread (not shown) holds the segments  122 ,  124 , and  126  together and prevents their separation, but the thread can be stretched to allow sufficient separation of the segments  122 ,  124 , and  126  for the legs to be folded down into a collapsed position. In alternative embodiments, the legs  120  are telescoping and can be collapsed into themselves, or modularly and manually attached to one another to achieve the desired length. These embodiments allow for the quick assembly of the support frame  110  when its use is desired and quick disassembly when its use is not. 
         [0022]    The support harness  150  of this embodiment has two shoulder straps  160  that are worn over the shoulders and under the arms of the user like ordinary backpack straps. Like ordinary backpack straps, the portions of the shoulder straps  160  in direct contact with the user&#39;s  105  body may be padded with other portions unpadded. Small support pockets  162  on each shoulder strap  160  hold the legs  120  in place and bear the weight of the binoculars  200  and support frame  110  when the support frame  110  is in use. An advantage of small pockets  162  is that the legs  120  can easily be slid into or removed from the small pockets  162 , but the legs  120  will remain in place when the binoculars  200  and support frame  110  are in use. This aids in the quick assembly and disassembly of the device. Another embodiment uses two or more D-rings attached to the shoulder straps  160  instead of small pockets  162  to bear the weight of the support frame  110 . 
         [0023]    In other embodiments, each shoulder strap  160  has a clip on the front and back that attaches the shoulder straps to the user&#39;s  105  belt or pants. In those embodiments, the length of the shoulder straps  160  may be adjustable where the straps clip onto the belt or pants. Alternatively, the length of the shoulder straps  160  may be adjustable at the point where the unpadded portion of the shoulder straps attaches to the padded portion. In these embodiments, the position where the legs  120  meet the shoulder straps  160  is adjustable up or down by tightening the strap in the back and loosening the strap in the front or vice versa. This adjustment enables the raising or lowering of the support frame  110  and binoculars  200 . 
         [0024]    A pair of adjusting straps  170  connect the shoulder straps  160  together. The adjusting straps  170  may be clipped together via the female  172  and male  174  clips threaded on to the adjusting straps  170 . The clips  172 ,  174  can be slid along the adjusting straps  170  to pull the shoulder straps  160  closer together or further apart. In this embodiment, the clips  172 ,  174  can be slid along the adjusting straps  170  towards the shoulder straps  160  by pulling on the adjusting straps  170  themselves. When the clips  172 ,  174  are connected to each other and are moved towards the shoulder straps  160 , the shoulder straps  160  are pulled closer together. This will raise the front of the binoculars  200  by shrinking the angle between the legs  120 . The user can then see higher objects with the same head position. Similarly, loosening the adjusting straps  170  will lower the front of the binoculars  200 . 
         [0025]    Attached to the top of the shoulder straps  160  are two holding straps  180 . The holding straps  180  hold the binoculars  200  flush against the users face when the support frame  110  is in use. When the support frame  110  is not in use, the holding straps  180  allow the binoculars  200  to lay against the user&#39;s  105  chest without any other support. Each strap  180  has a clip  182  that connects the strap  180  to the binoculars  200 . In some embodiments, the clip  182  can slide along the holding strap  180 . When the clip  182  is slid closer to the user&#39;s shoulders, and the support frame  110  is in use, the binoculars  200  will hold flush against the user&#39;s  105  face. Sliding the clip  182  away from the user&#39;s  105  shoulders allows room for the user  105  to remove the supporting legs  120  from the small pockets  162  to prepare for stowage. In other embodiments, the holding strap  180  will be adjustable to different lengths at the point where it  180  connects to the shoulder straps  160 . The binoculars  200  can still be adjusted to be flush with the user&#39;s  105  face or away from it. 
         [0026]    Some embodiments may have storage pockets  164  on one or both shoulder straps  160  that allow for the support frame  110  to be stowed when it is not in use. In the embodiment illustrated, the pockets  164  may be closed using a zipper  166 . Embodiments may also have camera straps (not shown) attached to the shoulder straps  160 . The camera straps would each have a clip or other means of attachment to a camera, so the camera does not need to be held when the binoculars  200  and support device  100  are in use. 
         [0027]    Sternum straps  190  attached to each shoulder strap are shown disconnected from each other. When the support frame  110  is not in use, the binoculars  200  lay against the user&#39;s chest supported by the holding straps  180 . The adjusting strap  170  then lays beneath the binoculars  200 . The sternum straps  190  may be fastened to each other over the binoculars  200  to hold the binoculars  200  against the user&#39;s  105  chest and prevent undesired movement. The sternum straps  190  are threaded through female  192  and male  194  clips that can connect the sternum straps  190  to each other. The clips  192 ,  194  can be slid along the adjusting straps  190  to hold the binoculars  200  tightly against the user&#39;s chest. 
         [0028]    The adjusting  170 , holding  180 , camera, and sternum straps  190  are sewn onto the shoulder straps  160  in some embodiments. In other embodiments, they may be attached using any method known in the art. It should be noted, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the support frame  110  may be connected to a connecting rod for a binocular support  410 , as is described below, or a camera support  411 . While the invention is, for the most part, described in reference to binoculars, both of these embodiments are within the purview of the invention, as is any embodiment later developed for other articles whereby it would be advantageous to support the article in a manner like that shown in this specification. 
         [0029]      FIGS. 3-8  show an embodiment of the connecting means  440 , vertical support  430 , and connecting rod  410 . This embodiment is described in more detail in co-pending application Ser. No. 13/743,537, entitled Article Supports and Adapters Therefor and filed on Jan. 17, 2013. This co-pending application is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. The connecting rod  410  is shown in detail in  FIG. 5 . The connecting rod  410  is cylindrical and includes a narrow end  412  that can be inserted into and attached to the binoculars  200  using any means known in the art such as by screwing if the narrow end  412  is threaded. A wider end  414  is exposed for connection to the support frame  110 . A notch  416  in the wider end  414  allows the connecting means  440  to be attached to the connecting rod  410 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 6  shows the connecting means  440  and vertical support element  430 . The connecting means  440  is designed to snap into the notch  416  of the connecting rod  410 . Accordingly, the connecting means  440  includes narrower  442  and wider  444  tabs extending from the vertical support element  430  in parallel with a gap  448  between them. The narrower tab  442  contains a trapezoidal shaped end  446 . Where the trapezoidal shape  446  is widest, the width of the narrower tab  442 , gap  448 , and wider tab  444  should be larger than the notch  416 . At the trapezoidal shape&#39;s  446  narrowest, the width of the narrower tab  442 , gap  448 , and wider tab  444  should be smaller than the notch. The non-trapezoidal section  447  of the narrower tab  442  should be slightly longer than the depth of the notch  416 . 
         [0031]    The connecting means  440  may be made from a rigid material such that the narrower tab  442  is still somewhat flexible and may be squeezed towards the wider tab  444  to allow the connecting means  440  to fit into the notch  416 . The notch  416  may apply the pressure to squeeze the narrower tab  442  closer to the wider tab  444  as the notch  416  is slid along the trapezoidal end  446  in the direction of increasing width. This will allow the connecting means  440  to enter the notch  416 . Once in the notch  416 , the connecting means  440  will be too wide to be removed without pressing the narrower tab  442  towards the wider tab  444 . The material for the tabs  442  and  444  should be rigid enough to prevent the narrower tab  442  from moving towards the wider tab  444  without being squeezed. This will prevent the connecting means  440  from being unintentionally dislodged from the connecting rod  410 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 7  shows a first leg adapter  450  that connects one leg  120  of the support frame  110  with the vertical support element  430 . The first leg adapter  450  contains a hole  452  corresponding with a similarly sized hole  432  in the vertical support element  430 . A screw, bolt, or any similar affixing means may be placed through the holes  432  and  452  to hold the first leg adapter  450  and vertical support element  430  together. The first leg adapter  450  has a rigid sleeve  454  that encompasses a leg  120   a . The leg  120   a  is permanent affixed  456  with any means known in the prior art. The first leg adapter  450  has an additional connecting sleeve  458  that allows it to be connected to a second leg adapter  460 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 8  shows a second leg adapter  460 . The second leg adapter  460  also has a rigid sleeve  464  that encompasses the other leg  120   b . This leg  120   b  may be permanently affixed to the second leg adapter  460  in the same manner that the first leg adapter  450  was connected to the first leg  120   a  or by any other means known in the art. The second leg adapter  460  also has a connecting sleeve  468  that allows it to be connected to the first leg adapter  450 . A bolt  470 , screw, or any other means known in the art may be inserted into the connecting sleeves  458  and  468  to hold the leg adapters  450  and  460  together. 
         [0034]      FIG. 9  shows the back of a user wearing the support harness  150 . In this embodiment, the support harness  150  has a pack  710  that can be used to stow the user&#39;s  105  belongings. In some embodiments, the pack is permanently affixed to the support harness by means known in the art. In other embodiments, the pack  710  is temporarily affixed to the support harness  150  using clips (not shown) or any other means known in the art. The pack  710  can then be removed by the user  150  if not needed or desired. The pack  710  shown is similar to that of an everyday backpack. In other embodiments, a pack of any shape known in the art may be attached (permanently or temporarily) to the shoulder harness. 
         [0035]    It will be obvious to those having skill in the art that many changes may be made to the details of the above-described embodiments without departing from the underlying principles of the invention. The scope of the present invention should, therefore, be determined only by the following claims.