Enhanced camera transport system and method

Abstract

An enhanced camera transport system and method includes a strap and coupler. The coupler is configured to engage with an attachment point on a camera otherwise reserved by engagement with a camera stand such as a tripod, monopod, or the like. Following general camera construction, the attachment point is found on the bottom of the camera. In some implementations, the coupler is slideably attached to the strap to assist with repositioning of the camera from a transport position to a picture taking position. Other implementations include an enclosure for storage of the camera while not being used.

1 . For a camera having at least one engagement portion and carried by a user, a system for coupling with the engagement portion of the camera, the system comprising:
 an elongated strap having first and second portions, the first portion of the strap sized to be positioned over a shoulder of the user and extend downward therefrom toward a hip of the user; and   a coupler having a first portion, a second portion, a third portion and a fourth portion, the first portion sized and shaped to engage with the engagement portion of the camera, the second portion being releasably couplable with the first portion, the fourth portion sized and shaped to slidably engage with the second portion of the strap and slide along a length of the second portion of the strap, and the third portion being a flexible member engaged with and extending between the second and fourth portions.   
     
     
         2 . A camera system comprising:
 a camera having at least one engagement portion;   an elongated strap having first and second portions, the first portion of the strap sized to be positioned over a shoulder of the user and extend downward therefrom toward a hip of the user; and   a coupler having a first portion, a second portion, a third portion and a fourth portion, the first portion being engaged with the engagement portion of the camera, the second portion being releasably couplable with the first portion, the fourth portion being slidably engaged with the second portion of the strap and slidable along a length of the second portion of the strap, and the third portion being a flexible member engaged with and extending between the second and fourth portions.   
     
     
         3 . For a camera having first and second spaced apart engagement portions and carried by a user, a system for coupling with the engagement portions of the camera, the system comprising:
 an elongated strap having first and second portions, the first portion of the strap sized to be positioned over a shoulder of the user and extend downward therefrom toward a hip of the user; and   a coupler having a first portion, a second portion, a third portion, a fourth portion, a fifth portion and a sixth portion, the first portion sized and shaped to engage with the first engagement portion of the camera, the second portion sized and shaped to engage with the second engagement portion of the camera, the third portion being a flexible member engaged with and extending between the first and fifth portions and the fourth portion being a flexible member engaged with and extending between the second and fifth portions, the fifth portion being releasably couplable with the sixth portion, and the sixth portion sized and shaped to slidably engage with the second portion and slide along a length of the second portion.   
     
     
         4 . A camera system comprising:
 a camera having first and second spaced apart engagement portions;   an elongated strap having first and second portions, the first portion of the strap sized to be positioned over a shoulder of the user and extend downward therefrom toward a hip of the user; and   a coupler having a first portion, a second portion, a third portion, a fourth portion, a fifth portion and a sixth portion, the first portion being engaged with the first engagement portion of the camera, the second portion being engaged with the second engagement portion of the camera, the third portion being a flexible member engaged with and extending between the first and fifth portions and the fourth portion being a flexible member engaged with and extending between the second and fifth portions, the fifth portion being releasably couplable with the sixth portion, and the sixth portion being slidably engaged with the second portion and slidable along a length of the second portion.   
     
     
         5 . For a camera having first and second spaced apart engagement portions and carried by a user, a system for coupling with the engagement portions of the camera, the system comprising:
 an elongated strap having first and second portions, the first portion of the strap sized to be positioned over a shoulder of the user and extend downward therefrom toward a hip of the user; and   a coupler having a first portion, a second portion, a third portion, a fourth portion and a fifth portion, the first portion sized and shaped to engage with the first engagement portion of the camera, the second portion sized and shaped to engage with the second engagement portion of the camera, the third portion being a flexible member engaged with and extending between the first and fifth portions and the fourth portion being a flexible member engaged with and extending between the second and fifth portions, and the fifth portion sized and shaped to slidably engage with the second portion of the strap and slide along a length of the second portion   
     
     
         6 . A camera system comprising:
 a camera having first and second spaced apart engagement portions;   an elongated strap having first and second portions, the first portion of the strap sized to be positioned over a shoulder of the user and extend downward therefrom toward a hip of the user; and   a coupler having a first portion, a second portion, a third portion, a fourth portion and a fifth portion, the first portion being engaged with the first engagement portion of the camera, the second portion being engaged with the second engagement portion of the camera, the third portion being a flexible member engaged with and extending between the first and fifth portions and the fourth portion being a flexible member engaged with and extending between the second and fifth portions, and the fifth portion being slidably engaged with the second portion and slidable along a length of the second portion.   
     
     
         7 . For a camera having at least one engagement portion located on the bottom of the camera and carried by a user, a system for coupling with the engagement portion of the camera, the system comprising:
 an elongated strap having first and second portions, the first portion of the strap sized to be positioned over a shoulder of the user and extend downward therefrom toward a hip of the user; and   a coupler having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the coupler sized and shaped to releasably engage with the engagement portion of the camera located on the bottom of the camera, and the second portion of the coupler sized and shaped to slidably engage with the second strap portion and slide along a length of the second strap portion.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the first portion of the coupler is releasably couplable with the second portion of the coupler. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7  for use with a camera having the engagement portion being one of a ball lock socket and a ball lock pin, wherein the first portion of the coupler is the other of the ball lock socket and the ball lock pin, the ball lock pin and ball lock socket being releasably couplable together. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the first portion of the strap includes a shoulder pad. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the second portion of the coupler is rotatably couplable to the first portion of the coupler. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the coupler further includes a flexible member engaged with and extending between the first and second portions of the coupler. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the second portion of the coupler includes a strap loop to slidably receive the second strap portion therethrough. 
     
     
         14 . A camera system comprising:
 a camera having at least one engagement portion located on the bottom of the camera;   an elongated strap having first and second portions, the first portion of the strap sized to be positioned over a shoulder of the user and extend downward therefrom toward a hip of the user; and   a coupler having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the coupler being releasably couplable with the engagement portion of the camera located on the bottom of the camera, and the second portion of the coupler being slidably engaged with the second strap portion and slidable along a length of the second strap portion.   
     
     
         15 . For a camera having a recessed engagement portion including a recess located on the bottom of the camera and carried by a user, a system for coupling with the engagement portion of the camera, the system comprising:
 an elongated strap having first and second portions, the first portion of the strap sized to be positioned over a shoulder of the user and extend downward therefrom toward a hip of the user; and   a coupler having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the coupler sized and shaped to be releasably received at least partially within the recess of the engagement portion of the camera located on the bottom of the camera, and the second portion of the coupler sized and shaped to slidably engage with the second strap portion and slide along a length of the second strap portion.   
     
     
         16 . A method for use by a user with opposite first and second lateral side shoulders, arms, hips and hands, and a front side and a rear side, the method comprising:
 positioning an elongated strap having first and second strap portions forming together a single continuous loop defining a single unobstructed opening with the first strap portion over a first lateral side shoulder of the user;   positioning a front side length of the first strap portion on the front side of the user and a rear side length of the first strap portion on the rear side of the user;   positioning the front and rear side lengths of the first strap portion to extend diagonally downward from the first lateral side shoulder of the user toward the second lateral side hip of the user with the second strap portion extending between end portions of the front and rear side lengths of the first strap portion positioned toward the second lateral side hip of the user;   positioning the second lateral side arm of the user to extend through the single unobstructed opening formed by the first and second strap portions with the second strap portion extending under the second lateral side arm of the user;   providing a coupler having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the coupler sized and shaped to engage with an engagement portion of a camera, and the second portion of the coupler sized and shaped to slidably engage with the second strap portion and slide along the length of the second strap portion;   providing a camera having an engagement portion;   attaching the first portion of the coupler to the engagement portion of the camera;   sliding the second portion of the coupler along the second strap portion, with the first portion of the coupler engaging the engagement portion of the camera and the second portion of the coupler slidably engaging the second strap portion, to move the camera along the second strap portion to a lowered transport position for the camera; and   grabbing the camera with the hand of the second lateral side arm of the user, and while maintaining the second lateral arm of the user extending through the single unobstructed opening formed by the first and second strap portions and the second strap portion extending under the second lateral side arm of the user, sliding the second portion of the coupler forward and upward along the second strap portion, with the first portion of the coupler engaging the engagement portion of the camera and the second portion of the coupler slidably engaging the second strap portion, to move the camera along the second strap portion to a raised picture taking position for the camera.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein after grabbing the camera with the hand of the second lateral side arm of the user, and while maintaining the second lateral arm of the user extending through the single unobstructed opening formed by the first and second strap portions and the second strap portion extending under the second lateral side arm of the user, sliding the second portion of the coupler forward and upward along the second strap portion to position the camera in a raised central location between the first and second lateral shoulders of the user for picturing taking. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the coupler provided has the second portion of the coupler releasably couplable with the first portion of the coupler, and further including decoupling the second portion of the coupler from the first portion of the coupler while the first portion of the coupler is engaging the engagement portion of the camera, whereby the camera is disconnected from the strap. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein providing a camera having an engagement portion comprises providing the camera with the attachment point at a bottom of the camera, and wherein the camera is moved along the second strap portion to the lowered transport position for the camera with the camera hanging from the first lateral side shoulder of the user for transport in a top-side down orientation, and wherein the camera is subsequently moved along the second strap portion to the raised picture taking position for the camera with the camera held by the hand of the second lateral side arm of the user for picture taking in a top-side up orientation. 
     
     
         20 . A method for use by a user with a shoulder, arm, hip, hand, front side and rear side, the method comprising:
 positioning an elongated strap having first and second strap portions forming together a single continuous loop defining a single unobstructed opening with the first strap portion over the shoulder of the user;   positioning a front side length of the first strap portion on the front side of the user and a rear side length of the first strap portion on the rear side of the user with the front and rear side lengths of the first strap portion extending downward from the shoulder of the user toward the hip of the user with the second strap portion extending between end portions of the front and rear side lengths of the first strap portion positioned toward the hip of the user;   positioning the arm of the user to extend through the single unobstructed opening formed by the first and second strap portions with the second strap portion extending under the arm of the user;   providing a coupler having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the coupler sized and shaped to engage with an engagement portion of a camera, and the second portion of the coupler sized and shaped to slidably engage with the second strap portion and slide along the length of the second strap portion;   providing a camera having an engagement portion;   attaching the first portion of the coupler to the engagement portion of the camera;   sliding the second portion of the coupler along the second strap portion, with the first portion of the coupler engaging the engagement portion of the camera and the second portion of the coupler slidably engaging the second strap portion, to move the camera along the second strap portion to a lowered transport position for the camera; and   grabbing the camera with the hand of the user, and while maintaining the arm of the user extending through the single unobstructed opening formed by the first and second strap portions and the second strap portion extending under the arm of the user, sliding the second portion of the coupler forward and upward along the second strap portion, with the first portion of the coupler engaging the engagement portion of the camera and the second portion of the coupler slidably engaging the second strap portion, to move the camera along the second strap portion to a raised picture taking position for the camera.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  where the user has left and right shoulders, wherein after grabbing the camera with the hand of the user, and while maintaining the arm of the user extending through the single unobstructed opening formed by the first and second strap portions and the second strap portion extending under the arm of the user, sliding the second portion of the coupler forward and upward along the second strap portion to position the camera in a raised central location between the left and right shoulders of the user for picturing taking. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the coupler provided has the second portion of the coupler releasably couplable with the first portion of the coupler, and further including decoupling the second portion of the coupler from the first portion of the coupler while the first portion of the coupler is engaging the engagement portion of the camera, whereby the camera is disconnected from the strap. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein providing a camera having an engagement portion comprises providing the camera with the attachment point at a bottom of the camera, and wherein the camera is moved along the second strap portion to the lowered transport position for the camera with the camera hanging from the shoulder of the user for transport in a top-side down orientation, and wherein the camera is subsequently moved along the second strap portion to the raised picture taking position for the camera with the camera held by the hand of the user for picture taking in a top-side up orientation.