Camera body with integral strap connector

Abstract

Couplers that are configured to engage with an attachment point on a camera or lens. Following general camera construction, the attachment points are typically found on the bottom of the camera or lens. The attachment points may be specifically configured to engage with the couplers. The couplers may be freely rotatable relative to the camera to prevent binding or tangling of a camera strap to which the couplers are connected.

1 .- 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A connection system for coupling a camera and a camera strap together, the connection system comprising:
 a camera having a mounting member secured to the camera and projecting from a surface of the camera; and   a connector having a camera connector portion and a camera strap coupling portion, the camera strap coupling portion being couplable to the camera strap, and the camera connector portion having a receiver portion sized to removably receive and releasably retain the mounting member therein.   
     
     
         11 . The connection system of  claim 10 , wherein the camera includes a recess within which the mounting member is located. 
     
     
         12 . The connection system of  claim 10 , wherein the mounting member has a head portion and a neck portion, the neck portion being positioned between the head portion and the surface of the camera from which the mounting member projects and having a transverse size smaller than the transverse size of the head portion, and wherein the camera connector portion has a receiver cavity with a first cavity portion sized to receive therein the head portion of the mounting member and a second cavity portion sized to receive therein the neck portion of the mounting member, the second cavity portion having at least a portion thereof with a transverse size smaller than the transverse size at least a portion of the head portion of the mounting member to limit movement of the camera connector portion away from the surface of the camera from which the mounting member projects when the mounting member is positioned within the receiver cavity of the camera connector portion, the receiver cavity further having a laterally facing opening with a first opening portion sized to allow the head portion to pass laterally therethrough and a second opening portion sized to allow the neck portion to pass laterally therethrough, the mounting member further including a lock opening and the camera connector portion further including a lock member selectively movable into and out of the lock opening when the head portion of the mounting member is received within the first cavity portion of the camera connector and the neck portion of the mounting member is received within the second cavity portion of the camera connector, wherein when the mounting member is within the receiver cavity and the locking member is in the locking opening of the mounting member, the mounting member cannot fully pass laterally through the laterally facing opening of the receiver cavity for disconnection of the camera connector from the mounting member, and when the mounting member is within the receiver cavity and the locking member is out of the locking opening of the mounting member, the mounting member can fully pass laterally through the laterally facing opening of the receiver cavity for disconnection of the camera connector from the mounting member. 
     
     
         13 . The connection system of  claim 12 , wherein the camera connector portion has an locking member support portion positioned adjacent to the receiver cavity with an aperture extending therethrough and communicating with the receiver cavity, and wherein the lock member is supported by the locking member support portion for movement between a locked position where an end portion of the locking member extends into the receiver cavity and into the lock opening when the head portion of the mounting member is received within the first cavity portion of the camera connector and the neck portion of the mounting member is received within the second cavity portion of the camera connector, and an unlocked position where the end portion of the locking member is out of the locking opening when the head portion of the mounting member is received within the first cavity portion of the camera connector and the neck portion of the mounting member is received within the second cavity portion of the camera connector. 
     
     
         14 . The connection system of  claim 13 , wherein the lock member is slidably disposed within the aperture of the locking member support portion for movement between the locked position and the unlocked position. 
     
     
         15 . The connection system of  claim 12 , wherein the lock member of the camera connector portion is a manually operable plunger such that the mounting member cannot fully pass laterally through the lateralling facing opening of the receiver cavity for disconnection of the camera connector from the mounting member. 
     
     
         16 . The connection system of  claim 15 , further including a spring engaging the plunger to bias the plunger toward the lock opening of the mounting member 
     
     
         17 . The connection system of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second cavity portions are sized and shaped to permit the rotation of the camera connector portion about the mounting member when the mounting member is within the receiver cavity and the locking member is in the locking opening of the mounting member and thereby preventing the disconnection of the camera connector from the mounting member. 
     
     
         18 . The connection system of  claim 10 , wherein the mounting member has a mounting member shoulder portion, and wherein the camera connector portion has a receiver portion sized to receive and releasably retain the mounting member therein, the receiver portion having a receiver shoulder portion positionable between the mounting member shoulder portion and the surface of the camera from which the mounting member projects, the receiver shoulder portion being sized and positioned to engage the mounting member shoulder portion to limit movement of the camera connector portion away from the surface of the camera from which the mounting member projects when the mounting member is positioned within receiver portion, the receiver portion further having a side opening sized to allow the mounting member to pass laterally therethrough, the mounting member further including a lock opening and the camera connector portion further including a lock member selectively movable into and out of the lock opening when the mounting member is received within the receiver portion, wherein when the mounting member is within the receiver portion and the locking member is in the locking opening of the mounting member, the mounting member cannot fully pass laterally through the side opening of the receiver portion for disconnection of the camera connector from the mounting member, and when the mounting member is within the receiver portion and the locking member is out of the locking opening of the mounting member, the mounting member can fully pass laterally through the side opening of the receiver portion for disconnection of the camera connector from the mounting member. 
     
     
         19 . The connection system of  claim 18 , wherein the receiver portion is sized and shaped to permit the rotation of the camera connector portion about the mounting member when the mounting member is within the receiver portion and the locking member is in the locking opening of the mounting member and thereby preventing the disconnection of the camera connector from the mounting member. 
     
     
         20 . The connection system of  claim 10 , wherein the mounting member has a mounting member shoulder portion, and wherein the camera connector portion has a receiver portion sized to receive and releasably retain the mounting member therein, the receiver portion having a receiver shoulder portion positionable between the mounting member shoulder portion and the surface of the camera from which the mounting member projects, the receiver shoulder portion being sized and positioned to engage the mounting member shoulder portion to limit movement of the camera connector portion away from the surface of the camera from which the mounting member projects when the mounting member is positioned within receiver portion, the receiver portion further having a side opening sized to allow the mounting member to pass laterally therethrough, the camera connector portion further including a lock member selectively movable into and out of locking engagement with the mounting member when the mounting member is received within the receiver portion, wherein when the mounting member is within the receiver portion and the locking member is in locking engagement with the mounting member, the mounting member is restrained from fully passing laterally through the side opening of the receiver portion for disconnection of the camera connector from the mounting member, and when the mounting member is within the receiver portion and the locking member is out of locking engagement with the mounting member, the mounting member is not restrained from fully passing laterally through the side opening of the receiver portion for disconnection of the camera connector from the mounting member. 
     
     
         21 . The connection system of  claim 20 , wherein the receiver portion is sized and shaped to permit the rotation of the camera connector portion about the mounting member when the mounting member is within the receiver portion and the locking member is in locking engagement with the mounting member. 
     
     
         22 . A connection system for coupling a camera and a camera strap together, the connection system comprising:
 a mounting member attachable to the camera with the mounting member projecting from a surface of the camera at which attached; and   a connector having a camera connector portion and a camera strap coupling portion, the camera strap coupling portion being couplable to the camera strap, and the camera connector portion having a receiver portion configured to rotatably and removably receive the mounting member therein.   
     
     
         23 . The connection system of  claim 22 , wherein the mounting member has a mounting member shoulder portion, and wherein the camera connector portion has a receiver portion sized to receive and releasably retain the mounting member therein, the receiver portion having a receiver shoulder portion positionable between the mounting member shoulder portion and the surface of the camera from which the mounting member projects, the receiver shoulder portion being configured to engage the mounting member shoulder portion to limit movement of the camera connector portion away from the surface of the camera from which the mounting member projects when the mounting member is positioned within receiver portion, the receiver portion further having a side opening sized to allow the mounting member to pass laterally therethrough, the camera connector portion further including a lock member selectively movable into and out of locking engagement with the mounting member when the mounting member is received within the receiver portion, wherein when the mounting member is within the receiver portion and the locking member is in locking engagement with the mounting member, the mounting member is restrained from fully passing laterally through the side opening of the receiver portion for disconnection of the camera connector from the mounting member, and when the mounting member is within the receiver portion and the locking member is out of locking engagement with the mounting member, the mounting member is not restrained from fully passing laterally through the side opening of the receiver portion for disconnection of the camera connector from the mounting member. 
     
     
         24 . A connection system for coupling a camera and a camera strap together, the connection system comprising:
 a camera having a connection cavity in a surface portion of the camera, the connection cavity having a locking portion; and   a connector having a camera connector portion and a camera strap coupling portion, the camera strap coupling portion being couplable to the camera strap, and the camera connector portion being sized to be inserted into the connection cavity and releasably secured within the connection cavity by the locking portion.   
     
     
         25 . The connection system of  claim 24 , wherein the camera connector portion is pivotably coupled to the camera strap coupling portion. 
     
     
         26 . The connection system of  claim 24 , wherein the camera connector portion is rotatable relative to the camera when the camera connector portion is secured within the connection cavity by the locking portion. 
     
     
         27 . The connection system of  claim 24 , wherein the locking portion comprises spaced-apart end members of the connection cavity defining a connection cavity opening therebetween, the camera connection portion being adjustable between a first position having a larger footprint than the connection cavity opening and a second position having a smaller footprint than the connection cavity opening. 
     
     
         28 . The connection system of  claim 27 , wherein the camera connection portion is automatically moved from the first position to the second position in response to the camera connection portion engaging the spaced-apart end members of the connection cavity as being moved into the connection cavity. 
     
     
         29 . The connection system of  claim 28 , wherein the camera connection portion is automatically moved from the second position to the first position when the camera connection portion is substantially fully positioned inside the connection cavity and clear of the space-apart end members of the connection cavity. 
     
     
         30 . The connection system of  claim 24 , wherein the locking portion comprises spaced-apart end members of the connection cavity defining a connection cavity opening therebetween, and the camera connection portion includes spaced-apart end members being movable between a first position having a larger footprint than the connection cavity opening and a second position having a smaller footprint than the connection cavity opening, and a biasing member configured to bias the spaced-apart end members of the camera connection portion toward the first position. 
     
     
         31 . The connection system of  claim 24 , further comprising a sliding plate disposed for displacement between a locked position whereat the sliding plate is positioned in alignment with the connection cavity to restrict the movement of the camera connector portion away from the camera when the camera connector portion is positioned inside the connection cavity, and an unlocked position whereat the sliding plate is not aligned with the connection cavity and permits the camera connector portion to be inserted into and removed from the connection cavity.