Harness system for attaching camera to user

• US 6,955,484 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2004
• Issued: 10/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nicholas D. Woodman
• Inventors: Woodman, Nicholas D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gray, David M.
• Application Number:
  US10/777,287
• Publication Number:
  US 20040200868A1
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 224/575, 224/585, 224/586, 224/183, 224/267, 396/419, 396/420, 396/423, 396/424
• US Class Current: 396/423
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/38 Camera cases, e.g. of ever-ready type
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2003/006 Sacks or packs carried on the body by means of straps passing around an arm or a leg
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2005/006 comprising a suspension strap or lanyard
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2005/008 Hand articles fastened to the wrist or to the arm or to the leg
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0508 Portable audio devices, e.g. walkman, discman, radio, MP3 player, headphones
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 3/00 Travelling or camp articles travelling rugs A47G9/06; Sacks or packs carried on the body convertible into other articles A45F4/00
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/00 Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/02 Fastening articles to the garment
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/04 for supporting on, or holding steady relative to, a person, e.g. by chains , e.g. rifle butt or pistol grip supports, supports attached to the chest or head apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs or for projecting or viewing them G03B
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/561 Support related camera accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/563 Camera grips, handles means in general for steadying hand-held apparatus F16M13/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/908 Carrier for camera or other photographic equipment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/93 Attached to animate bearer

Abstract

A configurable wrist or arm worn camera harness (1a) that facilitates convenient carry, access, and secure use of a camera during participation in a physical activity. Camera harness (1a) is comprised of an adjustable strap system for attaching harness (1a) to operator wrist or arm and a coupling system for attaching, one at a time, cameras of various shapes and sizes to aforementioned harness (1a) in a either a manner that allows camera to be moved pivotably while attached to harness (1a) and operator or in a manner that secures camera in a fixed, non-pivoting position. A clasping system is incorporated to harness (1a) to secure camera in a first secure flat carry position on operator wrist or arm. Clasping system can be released by operator to allow camera to be pivotably moved upright into a second secure position for the purpose of taking a photograph. Regardless of pivotal orientation of camera or closure state of clasping system or manner of camera attachment to user, harness (1a) maintains attachment of camera to operator in any event.

Claims

1. An apparatus for securing a camera, the apparatus comprising:

a housing structured to receive the camera;

a strap structured to pivotally secure a first location of the housing in a first secured position; and

a releasable catch mechanism coupled with one of the strap and the housing, the releasable catch mechanism structured to releasably couple the one of the strap and a second location of the housing in a second secured position,

wherein the housing is in the first secured position when the releasable catch mechanism uncouples from the one of the strap and the second location of the housing and is in the second secured position when the releasable catch mechanism couples the one of the strap and the second location of the housing.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises one from a group consisting of a flexible housing and a rigid housing.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the flexible housing comprises one from a group consisting of leather, cotton, vinyl, nylon, neoprene, canvas, synthetic fabric, natural fabric, plastic, and rubber.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the rigid housing comprises one from a group consisting of rigid plastic, rigid rubber, metal, fiberglass, resin, and metal composite.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the releasable catch mechanism comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the releasable catch mechanism coupled with the housing and the second portion of the releasable catch mechanism coupled with the strap.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first portion and the second portion of the catch mechanism comprises reciprocal portions of one from the group consisting of a button assembly, a buckle assembly, a clip assembly, a hook and loop assembly, a hook and catch assembly, a ball and catch assembly, a magnet assembly, and an adhesive assembly.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing and the strap comprise a unibody construction.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the strap is configured to secure an object.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the object comprises a user appendage.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the strap comprises a first portion of a hook and loop fastener and a second portion of a hook and loop fastener, wherein the first portion of the hook and loop fastener releasably couples the second portion of the hook and loop fastener.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the strap comprises a closed loop.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing includes an access area for at least one of manipulating camera controls and viewing a display screen.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the access area comprises a see-through flexible panel.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the access area comprises a window opening.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a back portion of the housing includes an opening for a display screen.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a fit point for coupling at least one of the strap and the releasable catch mechanism.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing is configured for integration with an article of clothing.