GB2182552A - Protective case - Google Patents

Abstract

A first web 20 is attached along its opposing edge margins to the exterior of a receptacle 10, e.g. for accommodating a camera, so as to provide a first passageway 21 through which a strap may be inserted. A second web 30 is also secured along its opposing edges, but the passageway 31 it provides is transverse to the first passageway 21. Thus the receptacle 10 can be adjustably mounted either on a horizontally disposed hip belt, waist band or chest strap or on a vertically disposed rucksack shoulder strap 37. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Protective case This invention relates to a case which is suitable for accommodating and protectively enclosing items such as a camera, or binoculars, or spectacles or not ebook and writing implements.

When hiking, hill climbing or mountaineering it is often desirableto have items such as a camera, or notebook and pencil close at hand so that they can be used at appropriate moments to take photographs or make notes respectively to keep a record of a trip or expedition. However, such items are customarily packed in the body of a user's rucksack so are not readily accessible. Itwould in many instances be desirableto retain such items in a separate relatively small case, which can be attached in some way to the rucksack or the user's body. It will, of course, be appreciated thatthe case will have to be located in a position where it will not impede the user in the aforesaid activities and where it is readily accessible, yet not especially prone to receiving knocks which might damage the items housed therein.

When hiking or hill climbing, many photographers' attach their camera case to a waist band or hip belt and position it centrally at the front oftheir body, or above their hip orthey may attach itcen trally of their chest by a strap located there. For mountaineering, such locations are notverysuitable as the case would be likelyto be knocked against rocks. Thus, the best place for mounting a camera case when mountaineering is probably atthefront of one ofthe shoulders.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a protective case which is adapted for location on a rucksack or a user's body in any of the positions mentioned above.

Pursuant hereto, the present invention provides a protective case comprising a first web of material attached along its opposing edge margins to the exterior of a receptacle so as to provide a first passage way for insertion therethrough of a strap or the like, and a second web of material which is secured along its opposing edge margins so asto provide a second passagewayforinsertion therethrough of a strap or the like, the second passageway being arranged transversely to the first passageway.The case in ac cordancewith the invention may therefore be located on a substantially horizontally disposed strap, such as the hip belt of a rucksack, or a waist band of some type, or, alternatively on a substantiallyvertically disposed strap, such as a rucksack shoulder strap, whichever is preferred by the user depending on the activity to be undertaken.

Preferably, the second web is attached to and superimposed upon the first web so that the case is held in substantiallythe same orientation wherever it is located. With this arrangement both are conveni ently located on the rear face of the receptacle exterior,the rearface being defined as the face having a lid intheform of flap attached along its upper edge.

The first web is preferably attached along its upper and lower edge margins so thatthe first passageway extends generally horizontally. Obviously, with this arrangement the second web will be attached along its respective side edge margins so that the second passageway extends generally vertically.

The invention will be describedfurther, byway of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 'is a rear perspective view of a preferred practical embodiment of the case of the invention shown mounted on a generally horizontal strap; Figure2 is a rear perspective view of the same case as in Figure 1, but shown mounted on a generally vertical strap; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of a rucksackwith two cases of the type shown in Figures 1 and 2 attached thereto.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2, a preferred practical embodiment of the protective case ofthe invention comprises a fabric receptacle 10 shaped to accommodate a camera. This receptacle 10 consists of a rectangular rear panel 11, respective, approximately trapezoidal side panels 12,13, a combined underside and front panel 14 (not visible in Figures 1 and 2) and a top cover 15. Thetop cover 15 is in form of a flap which is attached along the upperedge ofthe rear panel 11 and has overhanging side pieces 16fixed intothe upper region ofthe seam between the rear panel 11 and each side panel 12,13.Thefree edge ofthetop cover 15 is trimmed with binding 17 and atthefront ofthe casethe cover 15 is securedto the front panel by a conventional fastener 18, which is readily releasable to allow the cover 15 to be lifted to give access to the interior of the receptacle 10.

The receptacle 10 is provided with a waterproof lining (not shown) which separates from the outerfabric aroundthetop and is gathered inwardly by means of a draw-string.

Superimposed on the rear panel 11 of the receptacle 10 is a firstfabricweb 20 which is attached thereto along its upper and lower edge margins by being fixed into the seams between the rear panel 11 and thetop cover 15 andthe rear panel 11 andthe underside ofthe receptacle 10 respectively. A generally horizontally arranged tunnel or passageway 21 is thus provided between thefirstweb 20 andthe rear ofthe receptacle 10. Mutually connectable means in the form offacing strips of Velcro (registered Trade Mark) are provided on the external surface of the rear panel 11 and the facing surface ofthe web 20so that these can be held togetherwhen there is nothing extending through said passageway 21.

Asecond fabric web 30 is superimposed on the firstfabricweb 20 at its side remote from the receptacle 10 and is attached thereto, by stitching, along opposing side edges.A generally vertically arranged tunnel or passageway 31 is thus provided between thefirstweb 20 and the second web 30.

Straps 32,33 are stitched to the surface of the first web 20 remote from the receptacle 10 and project from the upper and lower ends of the passageway 31 respectively, as shown in Figure 2. The upper strap 32 is supported by a fabrictab 34, to which it is secured by stitching. Each strap 32,33 has a respective dog clip 42,43 (that isto say a hook member with a retractable ordepressable closure element) attached thereto for securementto a vertically disposed strap, as will be described shortly. The tab 34 and the straps 32,33 can be folded into the passageway 31, as shown in Figure 1,when not required forfastening the case onto a vertically disposed strap 37, as indicated in Figure 2 by dot-dash lines.

A respective slotted tab or loop 33 of plastics material is sewn in approximately mid way up the seam between the rear panel 11 and each side panel 12,13, adjacentthe ends of the first tunnel or passageway 21. A respective ring 23 is also attached by means of a short strap to each side panel 12, 13 slightly above the location ofthe respective loops 22.

The practical purpose of the webs 20,30 will readily be apparent from the drawings. The camera case can be mounted on the padded wing 35 ofa rucksack hip belt 36, by the belt 34 being slotted through the tunnel or passageway 21 formed between the first web 20 and the rear panel 11 of the receptacle, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. The tab 34 and straps 32 and 33 will in this instance be folded tidily away into the vertical tunnel 32. Alternatively, the camera case can be mounted on a narrowwaist band or chest strap 38 which may extend through the passageway 21 and also through the loops 22 at each end thereof. In the aforesaid applications, the case can be slid along horizontally on the belt 36 orthe band or strap 38 until located exactly where required by the user.The case will, of course, remain substan tiallywhere it is placed provided that the belt, band or strap 36,38 is firmly pressed against the user's body.

The camera case may also, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, be mounted on a rucksack shoulder strap 37, with the strap 37 extending through the second tunnel or passageway 31 formed between the first and second webs 20,30. In this instance the case is advantageously fastened to the strap 37 by means of the dog clips 42,43 attached to the straps 32,33 engaging behind floating sections of webbing 39, which is only sewn onto the strap 37 at intervals. The position ofthe case may be adjusted to some extent by drawing the upper strap 32 through its associated buckle. In this instance also, the Velcro strips will be pressed together to hold the first web 20 close againsttherearpanel 11 of the receptacle 10 so that the receptacle 10 does not hang loosely or dropfor- wards from the strap 37.

The aforesaid camera case is therefore versatile in that it is specifically adapted for mounting on both horizontal and vertical straps.

A conventional shoulder strap, for the camera case itself can also be attached to the respective rings 23 so thatthe case can be carried separately when detached from the rucksack 40.

The invention is not limited to the details of the foregoing embodiment, which is given merely byway of example. The principle can equally well be applied to receptacles specifically designed to accommodate other items such as binoculars or spectacles and to non-specific receptacles which may be used for example to hold a notebook and writing implements or perhaps a small radio transmitter/receiver. Also many variations in the design and positioning of the webs and the various fastening means are possible within the scope of the invention.

Claims (10)

1. A protective case comprising a first web of material attached along its opposing edge margins to the exterior of a receptacle so as to provide a first passageway for insertion therethrough of a strap or the like, and a second web of material which is secured along its opposing edge margins so as to provide a second passageway for insertion therethrough of a strap ofthe like, the second passageway being arranged transverselyto the first passageway.

2. A protective case as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second web is attached to thefirstweb.

3. Aprotectivecase as claime in claim 1 or2 whereinthefirstweb is attached along itsupperand lower edge margins so that the first passageway extends generally horizontally.

4. A protective case as claimed in claim 1,2 or3 wherein the exterior of the receptacle and the facing surface of the first web are provided with mutually connectable means.

5. A protective case as claimed in any preceding claim wherein fastening means are provided at each end ofthefirstand/orsecond passageways.

6. A protective case as claimed in claim wherein the fastening means are in the form of straps and dog clips.

7. A protective case as claimed in claim Swherein the fastening means are in the form of slotted tabs or loops.

8. A protective case as claimed in any preceding claim wherein rings are provided on the exterior of the receptacle.

9. A protective case as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the receptacle is provided with a waterproof lining.

10. A protective case substantially as here inbeforedescribedwith referencetoand asillustra- ted in the accompanying drawings.