Patent Publication Number: US-6662984-B2

Title: Carrying device for photographic equipment and the like

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is in the field of carrying devices, in particular for carrying equipment hanging down in front of the body of the wearer (suspended over the chest), e.g. photographic and video equipment, binoculars, range-finders, etc. More particularly, the invention is concerned with a device which reduces the load and burden from the individual&#39;s neck while carrying such equipment. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is often a requirement to carry equipment in a readily accessible and operable position. Such equipment is, for example, photographic and video equipment, binoculars, compass, navigating equipment, etc. 
     Traditionally, such equipment is carried by neck straps such that the equipment is indeed readily accessible and easily brought into eyesight at demand. 
     This however, is at times extremely uncomfortable, in particular when the equipment is heavy and carried for long duration of time. Even more so, the problem becomes worse when several such articles of equipment are to be carried, where at times a person may have mounted around his neck several straps which are both cumbersome and uncomfortable. In some emergency situations this arrangement may be even hazardous. 
     Various solutions have been proposed for dealing with these problems. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,643,803 is directed to a supporting strap for cameras or binoculars and in fact comprises a pair of back straps secured to a torso strap extending under the armpits of the user and a hold-down strap for connecting to a belt of the user, where the binoculars are secured to the back straps by means of elastic cords. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,602,409 is directed to a camera harness including a neck band having spaced D-rings embedded in each end, and three pairs of straps having swivel spring closed hooks at both ends depending from the D-rings at each pair, adapted for supporting a camera at different levels over the wearer&#39;s chest. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,091,974 discloses a camera harness provided with a collar strap arranged around the back of the neck of the wearer and an elastic strap passing under the armpits with suitable arranging devices, such as D-rings, mounted on the collar strap for supporting camera equipment from suitable support straps connected to the D-rings. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,125,211 discloses an article supporting strap for supporting one or more cameras hanging down in front of the body of the wearer, where said strap extends downward behind the shoulders of the wearer and is connected with a stretchable or elastic part of the strap to a trouser band or belt. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,561,576 is concerned with a video equipment bag fitted with carrying handles, a shoulder harness that can be used with a camera harness attachable to the shoulder harness and a removable back strap so that the bag can be carried by hand, mounted as a backpack or carried as a shoulder bag depending upon the use then desired. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,942 discloses a carrying pack for photographic and similar equipment having a padded vest covering the chest of the user and secured to the user by detachable belt and straps extending to a lumbar member. The photographic equipment is secured to the shoulder area of the pack by floating adjustable straps. The pack is optionally provided with a weather cover to cover the equipment when not in use. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,440,761 is concerned with a multi-pocketed photographer&#39;s vest which amongst others, comprises one or more pairs of straps extending from the should area of the vest for supporting photographic equipment. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,545 refers to a universal strap having an adjustable length which may be easily manipulated to tighten around an object to be carried and then may be easily loosened up when the object is then laid down. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,657,917 is directed to a slipover carrying device for use by a wearer to carry possessions on the wearer&#39;s back and comprising a movable pouch supported adjacent a back panel of the device which pouch is attached in a position such that it is graspable by the wearer for moving it between a back and front position, respectively. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel carrying device for use in conjunction with a backpack fitted at least with a pair of back straps (at times referred to as shoulder straps) and wherein the user is not compelled to wear an additional harness or similar device. Rather, the device is engaged with the backpack and the equipment to be suspend down in front of the body of the wearer&#39;s chest is linked by suitable straps to said device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides a carrying device for supporting articles over a person&#39;s chest while wearing a backpack, such that the load of the articles is in fact transferred to the back straps of the backpack, thus borne by the user&#39;s shoulders. The device in accordance with the present invention is modular for attachment at several locations of a typical backpack and may easily be removed from one backpack to another or stored. An important feature of the invention is that it does not interfere with the normal function and operation of the backpack. 
     In accordance with the present invention there is provided an elongate yoke member made of rigid material extending between two ends thereof, and a clamping member adapted for engagement with the yoke member so as to clampingly fix the device on a supportive member of a backpack; and where at least both ends of the yoke member laterally project from said supportive member; each of said ends is formed with at least one strap-engaging element for connecting thereto a strap to support equipment. When the backpack is then carried over the shoulders of a wearer, the equipment/gear hangs down in front of the body of the wearer. 
     The term “supportive member” or “supportive portion” denotes any of three possible locations of a backpack, namely a pair of back straps of the backpack, a carrying handle fitted at the top of the backpack adapted for carrying the backpack by hand and a flap-type cover of a backpack, typically a top such cover. 
     Preferably the yoke member spans longer than the neck width of an adult individual. In accordance with one embodiment, one of the yoke member and the clamping member is formed with an indented portion extending at least the span of the flap of a backpack, where in accordance with one particular embodiment, the indented portion is in the range of between about 15 cm to 30 cm. 
     In accordance with one embodiment, the yoke member is engaged with the clamping member by at least a pair of fastening members fitted adjacent the ends of the clamping member. Optionally, the yoke member is engaged with the clamping member by a centrally positioned bolt, whereby the device is configured to be attached to a carrying handle of the backpack. Typically but not necessarily, the fastening members are bolts. In accordance with other embodiments, the fastening members are clamps. 
     The invention is also concerned with a carrying system comprising a backpack formed with at least one supportive portion and at least one carrying device as defined by the present invention, with at least a pair of straps associated with each of the at least one carrying device and attached to the strap-engaging elements for suspending over the shoulders of the individual and articulating thereto the gear. 
     According to a feature of the invention, the straps are fitted at their end with quick-release type fasteners engageable with the equipment or corresponding straps attached thereto. By one embodiment of the invention, one strap is fitted with a male-component and the other strap is fitted with a female-component of the quick-release fastener, thereby being engageable with one another. 
     In order to prevent the gear suspended from the straps to dangle freely, the straps supporting the gear are engageable with the back straps of the backpack. This may be for example by providing a Velcro™ fastener or a hook, etc. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, some embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of non-limiting examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric, exploded view of a carrying device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a device in accordance with the present invention mounted on a flap-type cover of a backpack and supporting a camera for hanging over an individual&#39;s chest; 
     FIG. 3 illustrates the hanging device of FIG. 1 attached to back straps of a backpack; 
     FIG. 4 illustrates the carrying device of FIG. 1 attached to a carrying handle of a backpack; 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a backpack fitted with a first carrying device fitted on a flap-type cover of a backpack and a second carrying device attached to back straps of the backpack; 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded, isometric view of an embodiment of the carrying device in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is still another embodiment of a carrying device in accordance with the present invention, wherein: 
     FIG. 7A is an exploded, isometric view of the device; and 
     FIG. 7B is a section through the device along line VII—VII in FIG. 7A, in an assembled position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS 
     Turning first to the embodiment of FIG. 1, there is illustrated a first embodiment of a carrying device according to the present invention generally designated  10 , comprising a yoke member  12  and a corresponding clamping member  14 , both made of rigid material, e.g., polycarbonate, light metal, etc. 
     Yoke member  12  and clamping member  14  are each formed with three through going bores, of which two bores  16  are formed adjacent ends thereof, there is one central bore  20 , and two bores  21  disposed intermediate. Additional bores/holes may be provided, to correspond with different widths of carrying handles. 
     The arrangement is such that the yoke member  12  and the clamping member  14  may be clampingly fixed to one another by screws/bolts  26  and nuts  28 . 
     It is further noted that yoke member  12  and clamping member  14  are formed with indented portions  32 , giving rise to projecting portions  33  at the ends of the yoke member. 
     Yoke member  12  is formed adjacent each of its ends with strap receiving slits  30 . Each of the slits  30  is suitable for receiving a strap  34  fitted with a length adjusting buckle  36  and, the free end of the straps is fitted with a quick release fastener male-component  38  (left-hand side) and a quick release fastener female-component  40  (right-hand side), respectively. 
     Turning now also to FIG. 2, device  10  is illustrated in an assembled position in conjunction with a backpack designated  50  of the type comprising a compartment closable by a flap-type top cover  52 , a pair of back straps  56  and a carrying handle  58 . 
     Carrying device  10  is clampingly attached to the cover  52  adjacent its hinging portion to the backpack  50 , and is secured by the screws/bolts  26  extending through the bores  16  (FIG. 1) 
     It is noticeable that the cover portion  52  of the backpack  50  is received within the indented portion  32  of the carrying device  10  such that the projecting portions  33  laterally project from the cover  52 . 
     Straps  34  are engaged with the carrying device  10 , with a camera  62  being supported thereby. 
     The arrangement is such that a load, camera  62  in the present case, carried by the individual is in fact supported by back straps  56  without any burden on the individual&#39;s neck, making it possible to carry heavier gear for extended periods of time. 
     In the present example, camera  62  is fitted with two short straps  64  and  66 , the former fitted at its free end with a male-component  68  of a quick-release fastener couple adapted for engagement with female-component  40  of strap  34  whilst strap  66  is fitted with a female-component  72  of a quick-release fastener couple adapted for engagement with male-component  38  of strap  34  of device  10 . This arrangement enables also connecting male-component  68  and female-component  72  whereby the camera  62  may be used with the straps  64  and  66  when it is not desired to use the carrying device  10 . 
     It is appreciated that in the embodiment of FIG. 2, the screw/bolt  26  of the central bore  20  are removed unless a hole ifs formed in the cover  52  of backpack  50 . 
     In the embodiment of FIG. 3 the carrying device  10  is attached to the back straps  56  of backpack  50 . In accordance with this arrangement, the two bores  16  and the central bore  20  are occupied by fasteners (screws/bolts  26  and corresponding nuts  28 ). In accordance with this embodiment the carrying device  10  does not interfere in any way with the flap top cover  52  and even if a heavy load suspends from the device by means of straps  34 , the cover  52  may be easily opened. 
     A similar application is illustrated in FIG. 4 wherein carrying device  10  is articulated to backpack  50  over the carrying handle  58  wherein all bores  16  and  20  are occupied by fasteners (screws/bolts  26  and nuts  28 ). This arrangement has the same advantages of the previous embodiment. In order to prevent the device  10  from sliding with respect to the carrying handle  58 , the additional intermediate center holes  21  may be used. 
     The embodiment of FIG. 5 illustrates an application combining the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3 wherein a first carrying device  76  is clampingly articulated to cover  52  of the backpack, and a second carrying device  78  is articulated to back straps  56 . Carrying devices  76  and  78  are similar with those illustrated in the previous embodiments though they may be of different lengths, e.g. carrying device  78  may be slightly shorter than carrying device  76 , typically, the distance between strap engaging slits  30  is not less than about 15 cm so as not to interfere with the individual&#39;s neck. 
     It is noted in FIG. 5 that a first camera  82  is suspended from carrying device  76  and a second camera  84  is suspended from the second carrying device  78 . It is however understood that a variety of gear may be suspended from the carrying device, e.g. binoculars, range finder, telescope. etc. 
     The embodiment of FIG. 6 illustrates a variation of a carrying device in accordance with the present invention generally designated  90  comprising a yoke member  92  and a clamping member  94 . Yoke member  92  is similar to yoke member  12  of FIG. 1 with the exception that the end portions  98  are formed with two strap-engaging slits  100  and  102  for articulating thereto two pairs of straps  106  and  108 , respectively. 
     A further difference in the embodiment of FIG. 6 resides in that the clamping device  94  is merely a flat strip of material for clamping engagement with the yoke member  92 , without the end portions or strap-engaging slits  100 , 102  as in yoke member  92 . 
     The carrying device  90  of FIG. 6 is used in a similar manner as illustrated and explained in connection with a previous embodiment. 
     FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrates still another embodiment of the carrying device in accordance with the present invention, generally designed  116  comprising a yoke  118  and a clamping member  120 , both made of rigid strip material of suitable length for engagement with a backpack as illustrated in the previous embodiments. 
     Yoke member  118  is formed with saw-like twist portions  126 . Each end of yoke member  118  is formed with strap-engaging bulges  130  engageable with corresponding apertures  134  formed in corresponding straps  136 . 
     Yoke member  120  is formed with two recesses or grooves  140  each slidably accommodating a breach member  142  engagable with twist portion  126  of the yoke member  118 , as illustrated in the assembled position of FIG. 7B, clampinngly secured over back straps  152  of a backpack (not illustrated). However, this embodiment is in particular useful for attaching the carrying device to a flap-cover and straps. 
     In order to prevent the gear suspended from the straps to dangle freely, the straps supporting the gear are engageable with the back straps of the backpack. This may be for example by providing a Velcro™ fastener or a hook, etc. 
     Whilst some embodiments have been described and illustrated with reference to some drawings, the artisan will appreciate that many variations are possible which do not depart from the general scope of the invention, mutatis, mutandis.