US3790049A

US3790049A - Adjustable carrying strap

Info

Publication number: US3790049A
Application number: US00250971A
Authority: US
Inventors: A Bohanec
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-05-08
Filing date: 1972-05-08
Publication date: 1974-02-05
Anticipated expiration: 1991-02-05

Abstract

A pair of straps are arranged to form a carrying handle having relatively narrow opposite ends for connection to an article such as a camera. Each strap has a portion frictionally embraced by a loop secured to the other so as to space the straps apart in substantially edge-to-edge relationship so that the handle has a relatively wide intermediate portion. Each strap is slidable through the loop embracing it for adjusting the length of the handle.

Description

United States Patent 1 1 A I A 1 3,790,049 I Boha nec Feb. 5, 1974 ADJUSTABLE CARRYING STRAP [76] Inventor: August Bohanec, 44 N. Mentor 'm Exam'7er Gerald Forlenza Ave" Pasadena Cant 91 101 Asszstqnt Exammer-Kenneth Noland 1 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Christie, Parker & Hale [22] Filed: May 8, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 250,971

57 I ABSTRACT 52 us. c|..[. 224/45 P 224/5 v A P of Straps are arranged to form a carrying 51 Int. Cl. AlSc 11/38 dle having relatively narrow Opposite ends for connec- [58] Field of Search 224/5 N 5 P 5 S 5 V 5 BC tion to an article such as a camera. Each strap has a 224/5 Z 45 P S i 52 portion frictionally embraced by a loop secured to the other so as to space the straps apart in substantially 56] References Cited edge-to-edge relationship so that the handle has a rela- UNITED STATES PATENTS t1vely wide intermediate port on. Each strap 1s slidable through the loop embracing it for ad usting the length 2,291,089 7/1942 Okun 224 55 f the handle p I FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 812,150 8/1951 Germany 150 521 5 2 Drawlng F'gures ADJUSTABLE CARRYING STRAP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention In general, this invention relates to carrying handles for articles such as cameras. In particular, it relates to carrying handles that are adjustable in length.

2. Description of the Prior Art Double strap handles are known that are adjustable in length. Generally, a longitudinally extending portion of the flat surface of one strap overlies a similar portion of the other. Accordingly, the handles have a uniform width throughout their length.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION opposite end. Accordingly, when the relatively wide intermediateportion is wrapped around a persons neck and a relatively heavy article like a camera attached to the handle hangs in front of his chest, the pressure exerted against his neck is distributed and therefore he is more comfortable. A first loop is securedto the first strap and frictionally embraces the second strap. A second loop is secured to the second strap and frictionally embraces the first strap. Each strap is slidable through the loop embracing it for adjusting the length of the handle. i

A feature of the handle resides in the fact that the handle, in use, does not change from a desired length to which it has been adjusted despite the relatively strongpull exerted by the weight 'of the heavy camera.

Preferably, each loop is pivotally movable relative to the'strap to which it is attached. In adjusting the handle, a loop is oriented ina first position and the strap which it embraces is pulled in a desired direction. In

this first position, an axis defined by the loop is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the portion ofthe strap to .which it is attached. In use, the pullexerted by the camera on each strap tends to pivot each loop away from the first position and abinding effect is produced which eliminates undesired changes in length.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a camera and an adjustable carrying handle for it, the handle embodying the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a planview 'of an intermediate portion of the handle. I

DETAILED DESCRIPTION A carrying handle 1 embodying this invention is flexible and, in use, assumes a generally downwardly open- .a portion of the face '18.

his waist and chest where, in use, a camera 9 hangs from the handle.

The strap 5 has an elongatedflat face 13, a portion of which, in use, overlies the back of a persons neck. An elongated marginal edge 15 bounds the flat face 13 and an opposite flat face 17 of the strap 5. Similarly, the strap has opposite

flat faces

18 and 19, each bounded by an elongated marginal edge 21.

A loop 23 secured to the strap 5 adjacent the terminal end of the fish hook frictionally embraces a portion of the strap 7. Preferably, the loop 23 is a web piece folded in a horseshoe-shaped configuration. Preferably, a buckle 25 secures the tips of the horseshoe to the strap 5. In this arrangement, the loop 23 is pivotally movable relative to the strap 5. The loop 23 orients the portion of the strap embraced by it so that the face 18 of that portion is substantially coplanar with the portion of the face 13 .to which the loop 23 is secured. I-Iowever, preferably, these two portions are not exactly coplanar. Instead, the edge 15 has a portion overlaying Similarly, a loop 27 secured to 'the strap 7 frictionally embraces a portion of the strap 5.

Preferably, connectors 30 and 31 are secured to straps S and 7 at opposite ends of the'handle. The connectors serve to' attach the handle to the pair of eye connectors 33 and 35 provided as a standard feature on many camera bodies. The connectors 30 and 31 shown in FIG. 1 embody an invention made by me and disclosed and claimed in copending patent application Ser. No. 225,774, filed Feb. 14, 1972, and entitled" CAMERA STRAP RETRACTOR, now US. Pat. No. 3,707,109. Each connector includes a body 32 and a retaining pin 33 which fits through ahole in the body and the hole of the eye connector and secures the connec'tor to the camera.

FIG. 2 illustrates the intermediate portion of the handle in an aspect wherein the handle is lying flat. As shown, the straps are held in substantially edge-to-edge relationship by virtue of the loops 23 and 27. And, the

faces

17 and 19 are substantially coplanar.For this reason, the intermediate portion of the handle is wider than either opposite end. Moreover, the straps tend to bow apart further widening the intennediate portion. This bowing occurs because theportionof edge 15 embraced by loop 27 overlies face 19 and the portion of edge 21 embraced by loop 23 overlies face 13.

Each strap is slidable through the loop embracing it for adjusting thelength of the handle. In adjusting the tion. Next, the other loop is so oriented and the other strap is pulled in the opposite direction. In this first position, an axis defined by the loop is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the portion of thestrap to which it is attached. In use, the pull exerted by the camera on each strap tends to pivot each loop away from the first position and a binding effect is produced which eliminates undesired changes in length.

Preferably, each strap and the web pieces forming the loops are made of materials that facilitate sliding the straps through the loops. For example, leather straps and leather web pieces are satisfactory. However, preferably, both of the straps and the web pieces are made of polymeric material having a plasticizer therein. The plasticizers tend to exude to the surface on v a continuous basis and make the surface relatively slippery.

I claim:

1. An adjustable carrying handle for an article, which comprises:

first and second flexible straps each having an elongated, flat face bounded by a longitudinal marginal edge, a portion of each strap forming an opposite end of the handle for connection to the article; and

means for spacing the straps in substantially edge-toedge relationship along a portion of their length to form an intermediate portion of the handle which is wider than either opposite end, the means comprising a first loop secured to the first strap and frictionally embracing a portion of the second strap and a second loop secured to the second strap and frictionally embracing a portion of the first strap;

each strap being slidable through the loop embracing it for adjusting the length of the handle; and

the first loop being pivotally movable about an axis perpendicular to the fiat face of the first strap and wherein, while the first loop is held in a first position, it is relatively. easy to slide the second strap through the first loop and, while the first loop is not so held, it is relatively difficult to slide the second strap through the first loop.

2. A handle as defined in claim 1 wherein each loop is pivotally secured to its respective strap.

3. A handle as defined in claim 1 for a camera having a pair of eye connectors, and further comprising means at each opposite end of the handle for connecting a respective eye connector to the handle.

4. A handle as defined in claim 1 wherein the portion of the first strap which is frictionally embraced by the second loop has its edge overlying the face of the second strap and the portion of the second strap which is frictionally embraced by the first loop has its edge overlying the face of the second strap, and the portions of the straps spaced in edge-to-edge relationship tend to bow away from each other and further widen the intermediate portion of the handle.

5. A handle as defined inclaim 1 wherein each loop comprises a web piece folded to define a generally horseshoe-shaped configuration and having the tips of 'the horseshoe secured to the corresponding strap.

Claims

1. An adjustable carrying handle for an article, which comprises: first and second flexible straps each having an elongated, flat face bounded by a longitudinal marginal edge, a portion of each strap forming an opposite end of the handle for connection to the article; and means for spacing the straps in substantially edge-to-edge relationship along a portion of their length to foRm an intermediate portion of the handle which is wider than either opposite end, the means comprising a first loop secured to the first strap and frictionally embracing a portion of the second strap and a second loop secured to the second strap and frictionally embracing a portion of the first strap; each strap being slidable through the loop embracing it for adjusting the length of the handle; and the first loop being pivotally movable about an axis perpendicular to the flat face of the first strap and wherein, while the first loop is held in a first position, it is relatively easy to slide the second strap through the first loop and, while the first loop is not so held, it is relatively difficult to slide the second strap through the first loop.

5. A handle as defined in claim 1 wherein each loop comprises a web piece folded to define a generally horseshoe-shaped configuration and having the tips of the horseshoe secured to the corresponding strap.