Harness for attaching camera to user

• US 8,079,501 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2008
• Issued: 12/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
• Original Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
• Inventors: Woodman, Nicholas D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Larson, Justin
• Application Number:
  US12/268,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20090057356A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,135 Days
• Field of Search: 224/581, 224/219, 224/221, 224/267, 224/250, 224/255, 224/272, 224/908, 224/930, 224/196, 224/218, 224/222, 224/242, 396/420, 396/423, 396/428, D32/19, D32/67, 24/32
• US Class Current: 224/222
• 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, comprising:

a camera having a lens and a view finder;

a camera housing structured to house the camera, the camera housing having a back, a front, a top, a bottom, and sides, the bottom of the camera housing having a first securing structure and the top of the camera housing having a second securing structure, the back of the camera housing having a transparent area aligned with the view finder of the camera and the front of the camera housing having a transparent area aligned with the lens of the camera, and the camera housing including at least one access area for manipulating camera controls such that the camera is operational while enclosed in the camera housing;

a harness structured to secure to a user appendage and to secure to the first securing structure on the bottom of the camera housing such that the housing is pivotally moveable about the first securing structure; and

a releasable catch mechanism coupled with the harness, the releasable catch mechanism structured for releasably coupling the second securing structure on the top of the camera housing, wherein the apparatus secures the camera in an upright position pivotable about the first securing structure when the second securing structure on the top of the camera housing is uncoupled with the releasable catch mechanism and the apparatus secures the camera in a flattened secured position when the second securing structure on the top of the camera housing is coupled with the releasable catch mechanism.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user appendage is an arm.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the harness is integrated with the housing.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the harness 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 harness comprises a first portion of a securing mechanism that structured to mate with a second portion of the securing mechanism.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the harness comprises a closed loop.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a clear plastic.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the camera housing is permanently affixed to the harness.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user appendage comprises one of a wrist, leg, or ankle.

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

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first securing structure comprises a first portion of a first securing mechanism, the first securing structure comprising one from a group consisting of an attachment bar, a first portion of a button assembly, a first portion of a hook and loop fastening assembly, a first portion of a magnet assembly, a first portion of a clip assembly and an adhesive.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the harness comprises a second portion of the first securing mechanism, wherein the second portion is configured to detachably secure to the first portion.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second securing structure comprises a first portion of a second securing mechanism, the second securing structure comprising one from a group consisting of a first portion of a button assembly, a first portion of a hook and loop fastening assembly, a first portion of a buckle assembly, a first portion of a clip assembly, a first portion of a hook assembly, a first portion of a ball and catch assembly, a first portion of a magnet assembly, and an adhesive.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the releasable catch mechanism comprises a second portion of the second securing mechanism, wherein the second portion is configured to detachably secure to the first portion.

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

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the flexible housing comprises one from the group consisting of leather, cotton, vinyl, nylon, neoprene, synthetic fabric, natural fabric, plastic, and rubber.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the rigid housing comprises one from the group consisting of rigid plastic, rigid rubber, metal, fiberglass, resin, and metal composite.