GB2537112A

GB2537112A - Securing strap

Info

Publication number: GB2537112A
Application number: GB1505606.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Draper Thomas
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-03-31
Filing date: 2015-03-31
Publication date: 2016-10-12
Anticipated expiration: 2035-03-31
Also published as: GB2537112B; GB201505606D0

Abstract

A securing strap 101 for attachment to a portable device such as a camera 109 comprises a support member 102 and a length of webbing 105 extending from the support member 102. A buckle 106 adjacent a free end of the webbing 105 is configured to be inserted into and threaded through an aperture (104, fig.1) in the support member 102 prior to passing through a loop 103 on the support member 102. The strap 101 is configured to be worn around the neck or wrist. Gravity and the weight of the device tighten the securing strap 101 should the attached device fall. A cover 107 may be provided on a portion of the webbing, and the free end of the web may be passed through the cover 107.

Description

SECURING STRAP

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a securing strap for carrying portable devices, and in particular to a strap for carrying cameras.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Many people use standard neck straps with their cameras, these can be limiting as the camera may not only bounce around while walking and require a hand to be kept on the camera to stop it from doing so, but may be uncomfortable. Some people prefer to keep their camera in their hand as it may be less obvious to thieves, easier and less limiting to maneuver while in use and feel more secure. There are also wrist straps available, but they are often thin and loose, so would not provide reassurance to people using larger cameras such as DSLRs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To overcome this, the present invention proposes a securing strap, comprising: a support member having a loop at a first end and a length of webbing extending from the support member at a second end; and securing means located at a free end of the webbing; wherein the support member has an aperture for receiving and threading the free end through prior to attaching the securing means to the loop.

Preferably the aperture is located near the second end of the support member, which may be formed from a padded material. Preferably a portion of the webbing is enveloped by a cover, which is slidably mounted on a portion of the webbing.

Preferably the free end is passed through the cover after insertion through the aperture and prior to attachment to the loop.

Preferably one of the loop or free end is threaded through a receiving means on a device for carrying prior to attaching the securing means to the loop. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the loop may be located the free end of the webbing and the securing means may be located at the first end of the support member.

Preferably the securing means is a buckle, and preferably the strap is configured to be worn around the neck or the wrist of a user.

This strap uses gravity and the camera's weight to automatically tighten the strap when the camera falls. The securing strap is simple and requires little user input to activate. When a camera attached to the strap is dropped, the strap will automatically tighten. This is because the camera's weight pulls the strap tighter as it falls. The invention may use a loop system, in which there is a loop used within the strap. This loop of material would be loose in normal operation, but should the attached device, such as a camera, fall then it would tighten.

An alternative embodiment of the invention would utilise a pulley system, this is similar to the loop system, except that it uses multiple pieces of material. These would be pulled if an attached device were to fall, resulting in the strap securing. The pulley system is more likely to be implemented on a neck strap embodiment, as it would be safer for the user. The loop system would be preferred for a wrist strap.

DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a plan view of the strap prior to attachment to a device for carrying around, and Figure 2 shows an embodiment of the invention attached to a DSLR camera.

Figure I shows the strap 10 I in disassembled form and prior to attachment to a device (not shown) for carrying. The strap 101 comprises a support member 102 formed from a padded material having a loop 103 at a first end, and an aperture 104 located at a second opposing end of the support member 102. Attached to and extending away from a second end is a length of webbing 105 having a buckle 106 located adjacent the free end of the webbing 105. A cover 107 envelops and surrounds a portion of the webbing 105.

In use, the strap is assembled by inserting the free end of the webbing 105 through the aperture 104 of the support member 102, further feeding the free end of the webbing 105 through the cover 107 enveloping the webbing 105, and attaching the buckle 106 on the free end to the loop 103 of the support member 102 after passing either the free end or the loop 103 through a retaining means, e.g. a fixed bar, on the device to be carried. An opening 108 (Figure 2) is created by the webbing 105 fed through the aperture 104 and cover 107 to allow a user to insert the securing strap 101 over their neck or wrist.

Figure 2 shows the strap 101 of the invention attached to a DSLR camera 109. The strap 101 is attached to the camera 109 by inserting the free end of the webbing 105 through a retaining means (not shown) on the camera 109 and connecting the buckle 106 to the loop 103 on the support member 102.

In the event that the camera 109 is dropped while being carried by a user, the opening 108 that the user has inserted their wrist or neck through self-tightens and contracts as the webbing 105 is pulled through the aperture 104 in the strap 101, and cover 107. The strap 101 can be manually loosened to its original state once the camera 109 is safe.

Claims

CLAIMS: I. A securing strap, comprising: a support member having a loop at a first end and a length of webbing extending from the support member at a second end; and securing means located at a free end of the webbing; wherein the support member has an aperture for receiving and threading the free end through prior to attaching the securing means to the loop.
2. A securing strap according to claim 1, wherein the aperture is located near the second end.
3. A securing strap according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the support member comprises a padded material.
4. A securing strap according to any of claims I to 3, wherein a portion of the webbing is enveloped by a cover.
5. A securing strap according to claim 4, wherein the cover is slidably mounted on a portion of the webbing.
6. A securing strap according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the free end is passed through the cover after insertion through the aperture and prior to attachment to the loop.
7. A securing strap according to claim 6, wherein one of the loop or free end is threaded through a receiving means on a device for carrying prior to attaching the securing means to the loop.
8. A securing strap according to any preceding claim, wherein the securing means is a buckle.
9. A securing strap according to any preceding claim, wherein the strap is configured to be worn around the neck or the wrist of a user.
10. A securing strap substantially as described herein and with reference to the drawings.AMENDMENTS TO CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED AS FOLLOWS: 100 CLAIMS: I. A securing strap, comprising: a support member having a retaining loop at a first end and a length of webbing extending from the support member at a second end; and securing means located adjacent to the free end of the webbing; wherein the support member has an aperture for receiving and threading the free end through prior to feeding the free end through the retaining loop and securing it with the securing means.2. A securing strap according to claim 1, wherein the aperture is located near the second end.cr) 3. A securing strap according to claim I or claim 2, wherein the support member comprises a padded material. u115O 4. A securing strap according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein a portion of the webbing is enveloped by a cover.5. A securing strap according to claim 4, wherein the cover s slidably mounted on a portion of the webbing.6. A securing strap according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the free end of the webbing is passed through the cover after insertion through the aperture and prior to attachment to the retaining loop.7. A securing strap according to claim 6, wherein the retaining loop or free end of the webbing is threaded through a receiving means on a device for carrying prior to the straps assembly.8. A securing strap according to any preceding claim, where n the securing means s a buckle.9 A securing strap according to any preceding claim, wherein the strap is configured to be worn around the neck or the wrist of a user.10. A securing strap substantially as described herein and with reference to the drawings. LC) O