The present application relates to a device and methods for securely mounting a camera to a strap. In particular, the present application relates to a device and methods for attaching a camera to a belt or strap that includes a quick release arrangement.
Many bags, straps, and various other sorts of carriers exist to transport cameras, specifically digital and analog SLR cameras. However, these devices typically have a number of drawbacks. Some devices do not adequately secure the camera during transport, causing a risk of damage to the camera if it is not stabilized by a user's hand. Other devices firmly secure the camera, but do not allow immediate accessibility, causing users to miss opportunities for photographs of events occurring during the time it takes to disengage the camera from the bag or strap.
For these and other reasons, improvements are desirable.
In accordance with the following disclosure, the above and other issues are addressed by the following:
In a first aspect, a camera mounting device is disclosed. The camera mounting device includes a chassis having a front surface and a rear surface, the chassis including a hinged connection to a lens support extension. The device includes a buckle arranged on a rear surface of the chassis and configured for connection to a strap of undetermined thickness. The device also includes a shoe mountable to the front surface of the chassis and including a fastener configured to securely fasten the shoe to a camera and a quick release actuator configured to release the shoe from the chassis.
In a second aspect, a method of attaching a camera to a strap is disclosed. The method includes affixing a shoe to a camera using a fastener associated with the shoe, and attaching a chassis of a camera mounting device to a strap using a buckle. The method also includes inserting the shoe into a shoe mounting location in the chassis to affix the shoe and camera to the chassis and strap.
In a further aspect, a camera mounting device is disclosed. The camera mounting device includes a chassis having a front surface and a rear surface. The device also includes a shoe which slides into a designated slot on the chassis. The shoe fastens to any camera utilizing the standard ¼″ diameter, 20 threads per inch mount (hereafter referred to as “¼-20” connection). The shoe and camera are locked into the designated slot in the chassis by means of the quick release device. The shoe and camera are released from the device by a user activated button on the side of the chassis.
In yet a further aspect, a method of attaching the device to a strap is disclosed. The method includes a third component of the device called the back plate. A strap of undetermined thickness is sandwiched between the chassis and the back plate. The chassis and the back plate are compressed together by means of two screws located on the horizontal extremities of the chassis and the back plate. The screws go through a clear hole in the chassis and thread into a female threaded receiver on the back plate. The screws are tightened to increase the compressive force between the chassis and the back plate and provided a cinched connection to any strap.
Various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views. Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the invention, which is limited only by the scope of the claims attached hereto. Additionally, any examples set forth in this specification are not intended to be limiting and merely set forth some of the many possible embodiments for the claimed invention.
In general terms, the present disclosure relates to a camera mounting device, usable primarily for securing cameras to backpack straps, other straps, or belts and utilizing a quick release attachment. Various embodiments of the camera mounting device can include a number of components including a structural chassis to attach to the strap and receive the “shoe”, a buckle which securely cinches the chassis to a strap of variable or undetermined thickness, a shoe which screws into the camera and slides into or otherwise engages a corresponding space in the chassis, a quick release mechanism for releasing the shoe from the chassis, and a hinged extension which allows a lens extending from a camera body (such as a lens of a SLR-type camera) to be securely fastened using straps.
A camera (e.g., camera 10 as illustrated in
In the embodiment shown, the wedge 107 retracts automatically when the shoe 102 is inserted into the shoe connection location, due to the inclined plane of the wedge 107. When the shoe 102 is far enough down into the shoe connection location of the chassis 101, a cavity formed in a rear surface of the shoe 102 and corresponding to the shape of the wedge 107 allows the wedge to spring up into the cavity and lock the shoe in place. To remove the shoe, the quick release actuator 104 is depressed, causing the wedge 107 to retract into the chassis 101 and freeing the shoe 102. In certain embodiments, a compression spring beneath the center of the wedge 107 biases the wedge into an engaged position to prevent the wedge from accidentally disengaging from the shoe 102.
Although in
Overall, it can be seen that the camera mounting device can be used to fasten a camera to a backpack or belt, allowing it to be securely maintained while allowing its user to quickly release the camera from the strap (using the quick release actuator 104) for access.
A camera can be mounted to the shoe 1103 by threading the camera connection screw into the tripod receiver on the bottom of most cameras. This connection is obtained by using the standard “¼” diameter-20 thread per inch screw found on the bottom of most cameras. Other fasteners could be used as well. In the embodiment shown, the camera connection screw 1106 is sized and selected to screw into the bottom of a camera, as is typically found in most tripod systems for cameras. This is shown on both
Separately from the shoe, the rest of the components of the camera mounting device 1100 are mountable to any strap, horizontal or vertical. This is accomplished by sandwiching the strap between the chassis 1101 and the backplate 1102, and tightening the cinching screws until the device is securely affixed to the strap. Gripping of any given strap is aided by the offset ridges which are on the backplate 1102 and the chassis 1101. In order to get the strap between the chassis 1101 and the backplate 1102, one of two methods can be employed. One method involves completely unscrewing both cinching screws from the backplate 1102 and then screwing them back in when the backplate 1102 has been correctly placed between the chassis 1101 and the backplate 1102. The other more common method of attaching the device 1100 to a strap is to unscrew the left cinching screw 1102 as depicted in
Once the camera mounting device 1100 is mounted to the strap and the shoe 1103 is mounted to the camera, the device is ready for use and the user can now mount his or her camera to their device. This is accomplished by sliding the shoe 1103 (with camera attached) into the corresponding slot on the chassis 1101.
A secondary locking screw 1108 has been included and functions as follows. When the shoe 1103 is engaged with the chassis 1101 and locked into place, the secondary locking screw 1108 can be turned clockwise so that it protrudes into the shoe 1103. The shoe 1103 has a small notch cut in it to receive the shape of the secondary locking screw 1108. The secondary locking screw 1108 is an additional measure to prevent the shoe 1103 from being removed from the chassis 1101. To disengage the secondary locking screw 1108, it is simply turned counterclockwise far enough to remove it from the slot in the chassis 1101 where it resides within the body of the chassis 1101.
The camera mounting device also includes additional features aside from the main purpose of mounting a camera to a strap. In both
Although certain attachment systems are described herein, it is understood that any method of attaching a camera carrying device to a strap by means of cinching and/or compression (be it buckles, screws, etc.) are encompassed. Furthermore, other locking devices could be used, such as a screw turned and inserted into a groove in the shoe which prevents the shoe from being ejected.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications or variations may be made in the present disclosure without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein.
The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the composition of the invention. Since many embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/US2011/001055 | 6/9/2011 | WO | 00 | 3/16/2012 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2011/156004 | 12/15/2011 | WO | A |
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