NZ584536A - Support for optical device, typically camera, in form of flexible body to engage uneven surface, with storage compartment - Google Patents

Abstract

The disclosure provides a support for an optical device which includes a flexible body which is filled with a malleable material to allow a base of the flexible body to be moulded onto a surface on which the flexible body is placed thereby providing a stable platform from which a user of the optical device can operate the optical device. Typically a camera (not shown) is supported on top of the support.

Description

RECEIVED at IPONZ on 16 July 2010 584536 FORM 5 NEW ZEALAND Patents Act 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INVENTION TITLE: SUPPORT FOR OPTICAL DEVICE I, Stephanie KENNEDY of 2/28 Turner Avenue, Haberfield, NSW, 2045, Australia, being an Australian citizen, hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to 35 me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: RECEIVED at IPONZ on 16 July 2010 584536 SUPPORT FOR OPTICAL DEVICE Field of the Invention This invention generally relates to supports and in particular is concerned with supports used in conjunction with optical devices.

Background to the Invention Photography is a popular pastime for many people. As with many pastimes, there are many peripheral accessories to provide extra functionality to the core item, which in this case is a camera. Some devices that are a common peripheral accessory for many people who enjoy photography are those that provide stability to a camera 10 when taking a picture.

When taking a picture with a camera, it is usual for a person to grip the camera in their hands, line up their target and press the trigger to take the picture without letting go of the camera. This can result in a blurred image if the camera is moved at the very last moment. Also, if the person wishes to take a picture including themselves 15 and there is not another person close by to take the picture for them, they need a self supporting camera.

One way of achieving this is to set the camera down onto a stable surface, set the timer on the camera and then enters the frame before the picture is taken when the timer reaches zero. This can lead to problems if there is not a suitable surface 20 available at the right height or one that can not support the camera at the correct angle. Further if the camera is placed on a surface that is rough, it may damage the finish of the camera, or vice versa damage the surface supporting the camera. This is not a desired result.

Many people make use of a tripod or other multi legged device that can provide 25 stability. These devices allow a camera to be mounted there to typically on a mounting plate so that the tripod feet extending from the mounting plate can rest on the ground. These devices are not always suitable for every terrain, and can be bulky. Further those that enable adjustment can be awkward to manipulate with multiple screw fasteners or the like which are required to be loosened in order to 30 allow for adjustment of the tripod. The multiple screw fasteners must then be re-tightened to secure the tripod in the adjusted configuration. 584536 RECEIVED at IPONZ on 16 July 2010 It should be noted that other optical devices, such as telescopes, also can make use of these methods for stabilisation. In the telescope example, they are almost always used in conjunction with a stabilising device such as a tripod.

Summary of the Invention Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the disadvantages of the prior art by providing an improved support for an optical device.

The present invention provides a support for an optical device including a flexible body; an attachment means located on the flexible body for releasably securing the 10 optical device to the flexible body; and at least one storage means located on, in or formed by the flexible body; wherein the flexible body is capable of engaging an uneven surface such that the optical device is substantially stable and can be used at a desired usage angle.

The flexible body includes at least one handle means for allowing carrying of the 15 support when not in use.

The flexible body includes an inserted material that is capable of allowing the body to be moulded to an uneven surface to provide a stable platform for an optical device.

The inserted material can be a particulate material.

The particulate material is capable of flowing over itself when within the flexible body. 20 The particulate material can be a resilient material.

The particulate material can be rubber particles.

The inserted material can allow a resultant aspect of malleability of the support as a whole.

The attachment means can include a threaded elongate portion for engaging a 25 matching female thread located on the optical device.

The attachment means includes a disc that will be located between the optical device and the flexible body to provide extra stability to the optical device when attached to the attachment means by providing a rigid member that abuts the bottom of the optical device.

RECEIVED at IPONZ on 16 July 2010 584536 The disc includes an aperture such that the threaded elongate portion can pass through the aperture to locate the disc on the support.

The aperture is threaded for releasably securing the disc to the elongate threaded portion, resulting in a stable platform that engages a face of the optical device and 5 the outer face of the flexible body to provide stability to the optical device.

The disc is made from a polymer.

A primary one of the at least one storage means can be for storing the optical device.

The primary one of the at least one storage means for storing the optical device can be located on an underside of the support opposite the attachment means so as to 10 be out of the way when the support is in use supporting an optical device but accessible when not in use. Preferably the handle means is spaced from the primary one of the at least one storage means to allow ready carrying of the support when holding the optical device therein.

The at least one storage means can be a plurality of storage means for storing 15 peripheral items related to the optical device.

The storage means for storing the peripheral items related to the optical device can be located on an upper or side of the support relative to the attachment means so as to be accessible when the support is in use supporting an optical device.

The plurality of storage means each includes individual fastening means such that 20 the plurality of storage means can be opened or closed.

The flexible body is made from a resilient material to prevent damage.

The present invention also provides a support for an optical device including an elongate flexible body having a base and a top; an attachment means located on the top of flexible body for releasably securing the optical device to the support; a 25 plurality of peripheral storage means located on the top of the flexible body; an optical device storage means located on the base of the flexible body; and at least one handle means located on the flexible body wherein the flexible body is capable of engaging an uneven surface such that the optical device is substantially stable and allow stable use of the optical device and can be used at a desired usage angle and 30 wherein the peripheral storage means are able to be accessed when the optical device is releasably secured to the attachment means.

RECEIVED at IPONZ on 16 July 2010 584536 The length of the top and base is longer than the height of the flexible body.

The optical device storage means is accessible when the support is not sitting on its base.

The flexible body includes an inserted material that is capable of allowing the body to 5 be moulded to an uneven surface to provide a stable platform for an optical device.

The inserted material can be a particulate material which is a resilient material and capable of flowing over itself when within the flexible body such that the inserted material allow a resultant aspect of malleability of the support as a whole.

The particulate material can be rubber particles.

The optical means will be retained in the optical device storage by gravity when handle means is being gripped by a user.

The base includes at least one rubber padding.

It can be seen that the invention in at least one form includes a support for an optical device that can releasably secure an optical device to a flexible body to allow the 15 camera be supported on uneven surfaces at a desired usage angle. The body is filed with a malleable material that allows changeable deformation according to the surface the body is rested upon. An attachment means is permanently fixed to the body that allows an optical device such as a camera to be releasably mounted to the support via a threaded elongate portion. The attachment means includes a polymer 20 disc that abuts against the bottom of the mounted camera and also the outer surface of the flexible body to provide extra stability to the mounted camera when the body is being used. Also the support includes a plurality of storage means for holding various items related to the optical device, keeping them close to hand. One storage means is specially adapted to contain the camera when it is not in use.

Brief Description of the Drawings In order that the invention can be more readily understood embodiments of the invention will be described by way of non-limiting example with reference to the Figures wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic front view of a support for an optical device according 30 to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows a schematic plan view of the support for the optical device according; RECEIVED at IPONZ on 16 July 2010 584536 Figure 3 shows a schematic bottom view of the support for the optical device; Figure 4 is an isometric top view of a support according to a different embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 is an isometric bottom view of the support shown in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a plan view of the support of Figure 4; Figure 7 is a front view of the support of Figure 4; Figure 8 is a side view of the support of Figure 4; and Figure 9 is an isometric view of a fastener used in the support of Figure 4 Description of the Illustrated Embodiments of the Invention In this illustrated embodiment, the invention provides a support device for optical devices. Although the support device can be used for any number of optical devices, it shall herein be described with reference to being a support for an optical device that is a hand held camera.

The support includes a flexible body 10 that is made from sheet material that is 15 formed into a pocket or pouch with walls and an opening. The body is then filled with an inserted material that has properties that allow the body to be moulded into shapes that would allow it to sit on uneven surfaces and provide a stable platform for a camera. The base includes rubber padding that is used to provide grip and some protection to the flexible body when used on a rough surface.

The inserted material is a malleable homogenous material in the form of mouldable foam. The mouldable foam can be changed in shape through deformation. The deformation of the mouldable foam allows the shape of the flexible body to be adjusted according to the surface on which the flexible body is placed. This deformation can provide a substantially complementary representation of the surface 25 the flexible body is being placed on, thereby allowing the flexible body to adapt to the surface on which it is placed so that the flexible body fits snugly on the surface thereby improving the stability of the flexible body on the surface. An example of such a surface would be a large rock or a fallen tree trunk. The flexible body would be able to be moulded to interact with the notches and grooves of the uneven 30 surface, providing a level of grip for the body on the surface. Another example would be if the surface is at an angle to the horizon, the flexible body and the inserted material can be moulded and deformed in such a way such that the camera being supported is substantially horizontal and stable when the camera and support are RECEIVED at IPONZ on 16 July 2010 584536 placed on an uneven surface. The camera can then be aligned to take a picture at the desired usage angle.

The top and bottom of the support are substantially the same size and shape and are elongate. The longest length of the top and base are longer that the overall height of 5 the support when the support is placed on its base on a horizontal surface.

While the inserted material can be deformed to allow use on uneven surfaces, a force greater than a gravitational force is required to deform the flexible body. This will result in the inserted material being resilient enough to not be deformed when a camera is mounted to the flexible body containing the inserted material.

The body is made from a resilient, tough material, such as leather or durable fabric.

This is of particular use as the support may be placed on surfaces that are rough; the resilient material used will provide a resistance to tearing when using the support and will then protect the inserted material.

The opening, 11, on the body includes a fastening means that prevents the inserted 15 material from being removed from the interior of the body either by a user or accidently when the opening is closed.

In some cases, the homogenous material is in a particulate form. This particulate form allows for a certain amount of flow of the particulate material inside the flexible body. This ability to flow provides the malleable properties to the flexible body. The 20 particulate material can be of the form, but not limited to, sand, ball bearings, beads or the like. However the particulate material is generally rubber particles to provide weight and resilience and flow and form a resultant aspect of malleability of the support as a whole.

The flexible body and the fastening means on the opening of the body can be water 25 proof and watertight. This could allow for the inserted material to be replaced with a high viscosity liquid if desired.

The body has an attachment means located on it that allows the camera to be releasably secured to the flexible body 10. This can provide a user with hands free use of the camera, such as setting the timer and walking away allowing the camera 30 to take a picture without the user interacting any further with the camera.

The attachment means includes a male threaded elongate portion 12 similar to a bolt or screw shank. This threaded portion can engage a matching female thread that is RECEIVED at IPONZ on 16 July 2010 584536 located somewhere on the camera body, generally on a bottom surface of the camera.

The attachment means also includes a polymer disc 13 that is located between the camera and the surface of the flexible body 10. This disc can provide a level of 5 stability to the camera when attached to the attachment means by the threaded portion. This stability is achieved by providing a substantially rigid member that the bottom of the camera abuts to. The disc 13 includes an aperture which is large enough to allow the threaded portion 12 to pass through to locate the disc on the support.

The aperture on the disc 13 includes a thread which can engage the thread on the elongate threaded portion 12. This means the disc can be releasably secured to the elongate threaded portion. The disc can move all the way down the elongate threaded portion such that it will engage with the outer surface of the flexible body 10. When the camera is releasably mounted to the elongate threaded portion, the 15 disc will abut against both the camera and the body locking it in place and providing a stable, static platform for the camera.

Located on the flexible body is a plurality of storage means including an optical device storage pocket. Some of the storage means are peripheral storage means 14 with an opening, which are accessible even when the support has the camera 20 releasably secured to the attachment means and is resting on an uneven surface.

There are a plurality of the peripheral storage means and can be used to store items useful for photography such as batteries for use with the camera, extra film, lens caps when using SLR cameras or, in the case of digital cameras, they can also be adapted to hold memory devices that store images.

At least one of the storage means can be used as an optical device storage means 15 with an opening to store the camera. This optical device storage means is located on the base of the support and is inaccessible when the support is placed its base on an uneven surface.

The peripheral storage means 14 are in the form of a pocket or pouch, and each can 30 include a fastening means 16 which allows the peripheral storage means to be selectively opened and closed. These fastening means can be of any suitable type, such as a zipper, hook and loop fastener, press stud or other fasteners. These fasteners allow a person to open or close the storage means. When open the person 584536 RECEIVED at IPONZ on 16 July 2010 will be able to remove or insert a peripheral into the peripheral storage means 14 and when closed the peripheral will be held in place and prevented from being removed from the storage means on purpose or otherwise. The optical device storage means 15 also includes a fastening means 17 that will allow the optical device storage 5 means to be opened and closed selectively. The fastening means therefore allow each associated instance of the optical device storage means to be secured in a closed position.

For ease of handling, the flexible body 10 also includes a handle means in the form of a grippable handle 18. This handle is located around the peripheral edge of the 10 flexible body and projects substantially perpendicularly relative to the elongate threaded portion 12. The grippable handle includes moulded indentations that act as guides for a user's fingers when carrying the support device. When being carried, the support will be orientated substantially at ninety degrees to the orientation if the support were laid out on its base on a horizontal surface. This orientation allows the 15 person carrying the support by the handle to have easy access to the optical device storage means through the opening in the optical device storage means. Since the opening on the optical device storage means will be near the highest point on the optical device storage means when the support is carried by the handle, the camera will be retained in the optical device storage means by gravity which reduces the 20 likelihood of the camera falling out of the optical device storage means.

The size of the body depends on the camera being used. If a point and shoot style camera is being used, the body will not be required to be as large as a support that would be used with a SLR camera with a large lens attached. Further the body can have protrusions to support such lenses when a SLR camera is attached.

Figures 4 to 9 show a variation 100 of the support in accordance with the invention. Like reference numerals are used to designate lock components between the support shown in Figures 1 to 3 and the support 100. The support 100 has a flexible body 112 which is filled with a malleable material 114 which may be in the form of mouldable foam, sand, ball bearings, beads, rubber particles or the like. The flexible 30 body is manufactured from a flexible material which allows the shaped of the flexible body, for example as shown in Figure 4, to be manipulated according to requirement. However, although the flexible material allows some degree of flexibility, the flexibility is not such that it allows the flexible body to be stretched by a substantial extent.

RECEIVED at IPONZ on 16 July 2010 584536 The flexible body 112 has a side pocket 116 and a bottom pocket 118 (see Figure 5) which allow equipment used with a camera to be stored on the support 100 (with the embodiment of the support shown in Figures 1 to 3 the pockets were referred to as peripheral storage means 14). The side pocket 116 has a mouth portion 120 which 5 allows a device, for example a replacement battery, storage disks, or the like, to be stored inside the side pocket 116. The side pocket has a base or lower portion 124 and a top or upper portion 126 which allows the device placed inside the side pocket to be substantially covered by the side pocket. The side pocket is also formed from a suitable flexible material which allows the upper and lower portions to move relatively 10 to each other so that the mouth portion can be opened to facilitate placement of a device inside the pocket. The mouth portion may be formed in the side pocket in any suitable way so that the risk is reduced of the material used to form the mouth portion from being worn out relatively easily due to the use of the side pocket. For example, the mouth portion may have a stitched lining to improve the durability of the mouth 15 portion. The bottom pocket overlies a substantial part 128 of a bottom portion 130 of the flexible body 112. However, unlike the side pocket 116, the bottom pocket only has one portion 132 so that a mouth portion 134 of the bottom pocket is only defined by the portion 132. However, the mouth portion is defined at a position 136 on the bottom portion 130 of the flexible body 112 so that a cavity 138 is defined inside the 20 bottom pocket which covers more than half of the part 128. This reduces the likelihood of a device placed inside the bottom pocket from falling transversely out of the bottom pocket.

The flexible body 112 also has a side clip 140 of which opposed ends 142 are secured to the flexible body. This allows components used with the camera which typically will be difficult to fit either into the side or bottom pockets 116 in 118, to be slotted through the side clip thereby allowing such devices also to be carried by the support 100. The side clip can also perform a different function to allowing components used with the camera to be supported by the support. The side clip can be used as a handle by a user of the support 100 to carry the flexible body 112. The side clip is also manufactured from a flexible material which will allow one or more fingers of the user to be slotted through the side clip so that the support 100 can be carried in one of the hands of the user. Referring in particular to Figures 5 and 8, the mouth portion 134 of the bottom pocket 118 faces the side clip thereby allowing the component placed inside the cavity 138 to be drawn further into the cavity due to gravitational forces when the support is carried by the user using the side clip 140.

RECEIVED at IPONZ on 16 July 2010 584536 The side clip my also in be strengthened, for example, by using stitching (see Figure 7).

Figure 9 shows a fastener 142 (referred to in the embodiment of the support illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 as a male threaded elongate portion 12) which is used 5 with the support 100. The fastener is threaded through a washer 144 before the washer is secured to a top part 146 of the flexible body 112. Any suitable technique can be used to secure the washer and can faster to the flexible body including using adhesive, stitching, or the like. A free and 148 of the fastener can then be secured when required to a female threaded formation carried by the camera. The fastener 10 142 and the washer 144 together form an attachment means 150 which is used to secure the flexible body to an optical device such as a camera or telescope.

The invention provides a support which allows an optical device such as a camera to be positioned on a support structure, for example a wall or a piece of rock, in order for a user of the camera to take pictures with the camera. The camera can be 15 mounted to the support to provide extra stability to the camera, for example when a telescopic lens is mounted to the camera, or when the user wants to take a picture which includes the user. The flexible body is filled with a malleable material which allows the shape of the flexible body to be adjusted to accommodate a profile of a surface on which the support is placed to support the camera. A number of pockets 20 and clips have been formed on the flexible body to allow components used with the camera or articles carried by the user to be fitted to the support.

While we have described herein a particular embodiment of a support for an optical device, it is further envisaged that other embodiments of the invention could exhibit any number and combination of any one of the features previously described. 25 However, it is to be understood that any variations and modifications which can be made without inventiveness or departing from the spirit and are included within scope of the invention.

Dated: 15 July 2010 ACTUATE IP For and on behalf of the Applicant

Claims (21)

RECEIVED at IPONZ on 16 July 2010 584536 - 12- What we claim is:

1. A support for an optical device including a flexible body; an attachment means located on the flexible body for releasably securing the optical device to the flexible body; and at least one storage means located on, in or formed by the flexible body; and wherein the flexible body is capable of engaging an uneven surface such that the optical device is substantially stable and can be used at a desired usage angle.

2. A support according to claim 1 wherein the flexible body includes at least one handle which allows the flexible body to be carried when not use.

3. A support according to claiml or 2 wherein a material is used to fill the flexible body; and wherein the material is capable of allowing the flexible body to be moulded onto an uneven surface to provide a stable platform for the optical device.

4. A support according to claim 3 wherein the material is a particulate material.

5. A support according to claim 3 wherein the material is capable of flowing over itself when within the flexible body.

6. A support according to claim 3 wherein the material is as a resilient material.

7. A support according to claim 3 wherein the material is rubber particles.

8. A support according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the attachment means includes a threaded elongate portion for engaging with a matching female thread formation located on the optical device.

9. A support according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the attachment means includes a disc which is located between the optical device and the flexible body once the optical device is secured to the flexible body; and wherein in use the disc provides extra stability to the optical device by providing a rigid member on which a bottom of the optical device rests.

10. A support according to claim 9 wherein the disc includes an aperture; and wherein the disc is positioned on the flexible body by inserting the threaded elongate portion into the aperture. RECEIVED at IPONZ on 16 July 2010 584536 - 13-

11. A support according to claim 10 wherein the aperture is threaded thereby allowing the disc to be threaded onto the threaded elongate portion.

12. A support according to claim 1 wherein the at least one storage means includes an optical device storage pocket which is suitably dimensioned to allow the optical device to be stored inside the pocket.

13. A support according to claim 12 wherein the optical device storage pocket is located on a side of the flexible body which opposes a side which carries the attachment means so that the optical device storage pocket is covered by the flexible body when the support is in use.

14. A support according to claim 12 or 13 wherein the flexible body includes a handle which is positioned on the body so that the optical device is drawn into the optical device storage pocket when the flexible body is carried by a user with the handle.

15. A support according to claim 1 wherein the at least one storage means includes a number of pockets and at least one clip which allows components used with the optical device to be stored on the flexible body.

16. A support according to claim 15 wherein at least some of pockets are located on an upper side and on a side of the flexible body thereby allowing these pockets to be accessible when the optical device is fitted to the flexible body.

17. A support according to claim 1 wherein the at least one storage means includes a fastening means so that the at least one storage means can be locked in a closed position.

18. A support according to claim 1 wherein the flexible body has a base and a top;; a plurality of peripheral storage means is located on the top of the flexible body; an optical device storage means is located on the base of the flexible body; and at least one handle means located on the flexible body; and wherein the base of the flexible body is capable of moulding to a profile of a surface on which the flexible body is placed whereby to provide stable support to the optical device; and wherein the plurality of peripheral storage means are accessible when the optical device is secured to the flexible body.

19. A support according to claim 18 wherein in use the optical device storage means is covered by the flexible body. 584536 - 14- RECEIVED at IPONZ on 16 July 2010

20. A support according to claim 18 or 19 wherein the flexible body is filled with a material which is capable of allowing the body to be moulded to an uneven surface to provide a stable platform for the optical device.

21. A support for an optical device substantially as illustrated in the accompanying representations.