Stabilizing lanyard for optical equipment
Disclosed is a lanyard, utilized in addition to a traditional neck strap, for securing or stabilizing personal optical equipment, such as photography equipment, video equipment, binoculars and the like, against a wearer's body. The lanyard of the invention can also be utilized to stabilize the optical equipment, for example a camera, while in use.
The present invention relates to a lanyard, utilized in addition to a conventional neck strap, for securing or stabilizing personal optical equipment, such as photography equipment, video equipment, binoculars and the like, against a wearer's body when the optical equipment is not in use, such as, for example, when a user is walking. Additionally, the lanyard of the invention may be used to stabilize the optical equipment while in use, such as for example, when taking a picture.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONPersonal optical equipment such as photography equipment, video equipment, binoculars and the like are often attached to a neck strap and worn about the neck of a user while not in use. However, neck straps, when utilized alone, do not prevent the equipment from swinging or bouncing uncomfortably while the wearer is walking or leaning. In addition, neck straps alone are not efficient in stabilizing the equipment while in use.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,620,653 discloses a holder to tightly retain a stereo player therein and thereby prevent the player from inadvertently falling or bouncing out of the pocket comprising an adjustable belt sized to be securely but comfortably affixed about the waist of a person engaging in vigorous athletic activity.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,738,328 discloses a stabilizing lanyard with stirrup for use with cameras and other devices requiring stabilizing firmly free of body movement
U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,558 discloses a harness type securing system adapted for use in association with personal equipment which comprises an adjustable harness assembly having pouches coupled to the harness and allowing users to carry the personal equipment in a suspended orientation from the harness.
Despite the advances of the prior art there is still a need for an efficient, lightweight, compact and inexpensive device to stabilize optical equipment against a user's body while the user is walking, and for stabilizing the equipment, especially cameras, while the user is taking a picture. These and other embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon review of this patent specification, claims and drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is an object of the present invention to provide a stabilizing lanyard which does not suffer from the disadvantages of the prior art.
According to one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a lanyard for stabilizing optical equipment which includes a strap to encircles a user's midsection and which attaches to the optical equipment. The lanyard is utilized in addition to a conventional neck strap to stabilize the optical equipment against the user's body.
According to another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a method of stabilizing optical equipment against a user. The method includes encircling the midsection of a user with lanyard including an elastic strap which is connected to each side of the optical equipment. The strap is utilized in addition to a conventional neck strap and exerts a resistance to keep the optical equipment against the user.
These and other embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon review of this patent specification, claims and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The lanyard of the invention is of a lightweight simple design and allows the wearer to comfortably stabilize optical equipment against his or her body while walking, as well as to stabilize the equipment, especially cameras, while taking pictures.
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In one embodiment, still referring to
Suitable examples of materials for strap 12 include braided, knitted or woven elastic, cords, and/or webbing which may be made of natural or synthetic fibers such as cotton, polyester, nylon, polypropylene and the like. The width or diameter of strap 12 is of a width or diameter comfortable to the user and no specific width or diameter is required. In a preferred embodiment, however, strap 12 is an elastic cord. In another preferred embodiment, strap 12 is an elastic cord which is about 1/16 of an inch or more in diameter.
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While the illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described with particularity, it will be understood that various other modifications will be apparent to and can be readily made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the scope of the claims appended hereto be limited to the examples and descriptions set forth herein, but rather that the claims be construed as encompassing all the features of patentable novelty which reside in the present invention, including all features which would be treated as equivalents thereof by those skilled the art to which this invention pertains.
Claims
1. A lanyard for stabilizing optical equipment for a user wherein the lanyard comprises a strap which encircles the user's midsection, wherein the strap has at least two connectors for attachment to the optical equipment, and wherein the lanyard is utilized in addition to a conventional neck strap to stabilize the optical equipment against the user's body.
2. The lanyard of claim 1 comprising an elastic material.
3. The lanyard of claim 2 comprising an elastic cord 1/16 of an inch or more in diameter.
4. The lanyard of claim 1 wherein the strap further comprises a length adjustment means.
5. The lanyard of claim 1, wherein the optical equipment comprises a camera or binoculars.
6. A method of stabilizing optical equipment against a user comprising
- encircling the midsection of a user with an elastic strap having two ends and a connector at each end, and
- connecting each connector to a side of the optical equipment,
- wherein the strap is utilized in addition to a conventional neck strap and exerts a resistance to keep the optical equipment against the user.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the resistance keeps the optical equipment from swinging or bouncing while the use is walking or leaning.
8. The method of claim 6 wherein the resistance keeps the optical equipment steady while it is being utilized.
9. The method of claim 6 wherein the optical equipment comprises binoculars or a camera.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 15, 2004
Publication Date: Sep 15, 2005
Inventor: Berner Johnson (Houston, TX)
Application Number: 10/800,464