Harness system for attaching camera to user

• US 7,273,321 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2005
• Issued: 09/25/2007
• 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): MAHONEY, CHRISTOPHER E
• Application Number:
  US11/220,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20060008269A1
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: 396/419, 396/420, 396/423, 396/424, 224/575, 224/585, 224/586, 224/183, 224/267
• US Class Current: 396/420
• 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 or a camera housing, the apparatus comprising:

a strap having a coupling band structured to secure around a body of the camera or camera housing, the coupling band structured to pivotally secure a first location of the camera or camera housing to the strap; and

;

a releasable catch mechanism coupled with the strap, the releasable catch mechanism structured for releasably coupling a second location of the camera or camera housing,

wherein the apparatus secures the camera or camera housing in a first secured position when the second location of the camera or camera housing is uncoupled with the releasable catch mechanism and the apparatus secures the camera or camera housing in a second secured position when the second location of the camera or camera housing is coupled with the releasable catch mechanism.

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

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the object comprises one of a user arm, wrist, leg, or ankle.

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

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the strap comprises a first portion of a securing mechanism that is a reciprocal of a second portion of the securing mechanism, the second portion of the securing mechanism coupled with the camera or camera housing.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the securing mechanism includes one from a group consisting of a button assembly, a hook and loop fastening assembly, a buckle assembly, a clip assembly, a hook and loop assembly, a hook and catch assembly, a magnet assembly, a ball and catch assembly, and an adhesive assembly.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the releasable catch mechanism includes a first portion of a securing mechanism structured to couple a second portion of a securing mechanism on the camera or camera housing, the second portion of the securing mechanism being a reciprocal of the first portion of the securing mechanism.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the securing mechanism includes one from a group consisting of a button assembly, a hook and loop fastening assembly, a buckle assembly, a clip assembly, a hook and loop assembly, a hook and catch assembly, a magnet assembly, a ball and catch assembly, and an adhesive assembly.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a loop coupled with the strap and the releasable catch mechanism.

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

11. A harness configured for use with a handheld device, the harness comprising:

a strap having a coupling band structured to secure around a body of the handheld device, the strap configured to pivotally secure a first portion of the handheld device; and

a releasable catch mechanism coupled with the strap and structured to releasably couple a second portion of the handheld device to the strap,

wherein, the harness secures the handheld device in a first secured position when the second portion of the handheld device is uncoupled with the releasable catch mechanism and the harness secures the handheld device in a second secured position when the second portion of the handheld device is coupled with the releasable catch mechanism.

12. The harness of claim 11, wherein the strap comprises a flexible material.

13. The harness of claim 11, wherein the catch mechanism for releasably coupling with the handheld device comprises one of a group of a hook and loop assembly, a magnet assembly, a ball and catch assembly, a clip assembly, a buckle assembly, a button assembly, and hook and catch assembly.

14. The harness of claim 11, wherein the strap comprises a closed loop.

15. A harness configured for use with a camera or camera housing, the harness comprising:

a strap configured to secure the harness to an object;

a catch mechanism having at least a portion connected to the strap; and

a coupling mechanism structured to secure around a body of the camera or camera housing, the coupling mechanism structured to secure the camera or camera housing to the strap, the coupling mechanism including a first location and a second location, the first location pivotally connected to the strap and the second location configured to releasably couple the catch mechanism, wherein the coupling mechanism secures the camera or camera housing in a first secured position when uncoupled from the catch mechanism and secures the camera or camera housing in a second secured position when coupled with the catch mechanism.

16. The harness of claim 15, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a coupling band configured to secure the camera or housing of the camera.

17. The harness of claim 15, wherein the catch mechanism comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the catch mechanism coupled with the coupling mechanism and the second portion of the catch mechanism coupled with the strap.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, 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.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises one from a group consisting of rubber, plastic, leather, hook and loop fastener, synthetic fabric, natural fabric, metallic material, an adhesive material and a magnetic material.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises one from a group consisting of a flexible material and a rigid material.

21. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the strap comprises a first portion of a hook and loop fastening structure and a second portion of a hook and loop fastening structure, wherein the first portion of the hook and loop fastening structure releasably couples the second portion of the hook and loop fastening structure.

22. The harness of claim 15, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a magnet configured to secure the camera or housing of the camera.