The present invention relates to holders for carrying cameras, especially single-use cameras.

Photography is a very popular hobby, especially for adults, for whom the range and sophistication of cameras knows no bounds. Photographic equipment is, however, often expensive and can easily be damaged if care is not taken. Introducing children to the delights of photography can therefore be quite nerve-wracking if the parent's camera is to be used. Much better to provide the child with a simple and cheap camera where it does not matter too much if the camera gets lost or broken. In this regard, single-use cameras are ideal for youngsters to get used to handling a camera - they are inexpensive and readily available to buy, they are reasonably robust and, if the child subsequently shows no aptitude for or interest in photography, little money has been wasted.

Single-use cameras are very simple in appearance and operation; they normally comprise a 35mm film housed in a compact, rectangular plastic box having a lens, a viewfinder, a shutter button, a manual wind-on mechanism for advancing the film, a counter for displaying how many shots have been taken and frequently a flash facility.

The plastic box is usually retained in a cardboard case onto which is printed instructions for using the camera. These instructions are generally to be found on the rear face of the cardboard case so that they are easily referred to when pointing the camera towards the subject to be photographed.

The cardboard case additionally has apertures corresponding to the lens, viewfinder, shutter button, wind-on mechanism and counter so as not to interfere with any of their functions. After taking each photograph the film is wound on manually and, once all the film has been used, the whole camera is sent for developing. At the developers, the film is removed from the plastic box which is then disposed of or recycled. The film is then processed and prints or slides produced.

In keeping with their simplicity, and to keep manufacturing and storage costs to a minimum, single-use cameras are not usually provided with carrying means, for example, in the form of wrist-straps or the like. In addition, there is no readily identifiable place on the cardboard case for attaching a strap or the like and, even if this could satisfactorily be achieved, there would be a danger of the cardboard tearing and the strap becoming detached. However, without such carrying means, the cameras are easily dropped and children are liable to put them down when not in use and then forget to pick them up again.

A further drawback exists in that the cardboard housings for the cameras are usually quite glossy making them slippery to hold, especially for young fingers trying to grip the camera while taking a photograph.

The applicant has therefore recognised a need for a camera holder for a single-use camera to which a carrying strap, chain or the like can be attached. In order not to complicate the use of such a camera, it is also a requirement that any such holder does not interfere with its operation. Furthermore, as well as providing functional benefits, it is important that the camera holder is visually appealing in keeping with the intention of fostering an attitude that photography is fun. Preferably, the camera holder should provide an improved grip to help young children grasp the camera when in use.

Accordingly, the present invention resides in a camera holder for a single-use camera comprising means for retaining a camera, the retaining means having a front face provided with a graphic representation, a rear face, one or more apertures between the front and rear face corresponding at least to positions of the camera lens and viewfinder, and means for holding the camera adjacent the rear face in alignment with the or each aperture, the front face extending in use beyond the boundary of the front of the camera in at least one direction and the retaining means permitting the camera to be operated while retained in the holder.

Ideally, the camera holder according to the invention is provided with a carrying means, preferably in the form of a flexible elongate member such as a band, ribbon, strap,

elastic thread or the like, by means of which the camera can be carried around while retained in the holder. Such carrying means can be in the form of a wrist strap, for example, but is more conveniently arranged to allow the camera and holder to be worn around the neck thus leaving both hands free when the camera is not in use. This can be easily achieved by attaching a strap, band on the like to opposite lateral edges of the holder.

In one of its simplest forms, the holding means comprises an elastic band, strap or the like affixed to the rear face for retaining the camera in correct alignment with the apertures. Alternatively, the holding means may be an adhesive, such as a pressure sensitive adhesive in which a backing strip is normally provided and peeled off prior to use or, as another example, a plurality of flexible arms which can be snap-fitted over the camera.

However, in order to provide an alternative surface to grip than the cardboard case of the camera, the holding means preferably comprises a recess into which the camera can be received. Preferably, the recess is of complementary shape to that of the camera, usually rectangular. The recess may simply be a rectangular frame affixed to or integral with the rear face of the retaining means in which case the bottom of the recess will comprise the rear face of the retaining means. Alternatively, the recess may comprise a separate member having a bottom face and upstanding sides, the bottom face being affixed by any suitable manner to the rear face of the retaining means. In the latter case, the bottom face should be provided with apertures corresponding to the apertures extending between the front and rear faces of the retaining means. The sides of the recess should allow access to at least the shutter button and wind-on mechanism of the camera and preferably also to the counter.

The top of the recess may be closed, for example, by means of a hinged lid, but since the camera holders according to the invention are primarily intended for use by children or for people unfamiliar with single-use cameras, it is clearly advantageous that none of the operating instructions which are usually provided on the rear face of the camera are obscured.

When in use, the camera is normally held in the hand by the sides of the recess. Depending on the material used to form the sides, these may present an easier surface to grip than the cardboard case of the camera. Alternatively, or in addition, the exterior sides of the recess may be featured, for example by knurling or embossing, to provide a roughened surface for improving grippability.

The camera needs to be secured so that it does not fall out of the recess and securing means in the form of straps, elastic bands, ties or the like may therefore be used to hold the camera in place. Alternatively, and more preferably, the camera is retained in position by means of a friction fit with the recess. The camera may be retained by frictional contact between each of the sides of the camera and substantially the entire lengths of each of the upstanding sides of the recess.

More preferably, the internal dimensions of the recess may be such that the length of one or more upstanding sides of the recess exceeds the length of a corresponding side of the camera, in which case one or more of the upstanding sides is provided with at least one projection or "pinch bar" against which the camera is push fitted to retain it in the recess. The projections may be formed integrally with the upstanding side wall or may be formed separately and affixed thereto. Advantageously, such projections are made from a resilient material to facilitate insertion of the camera into the recess and provide a good grip once inserted. A further benefit offered by the use of such projections is that a gap is created between at least one interior side wall and an adjacent side of the camera thereby making it easier to grip the camera to withdraw it after use.

The interior of the sides of the recess, or the projections if present, may additionally be featured such as by knurling to improve the grip on the camera. Other securing means which may be provided in addition to or instead of a friction grip may comprise one or more lugs which protrude into the recess from the upstanding sides, such lugs engaging with complementary recesses on the sides of the camera, for example, in the form of cut-outs in the cardboard case.

It is not necessary for the camera to be retained wholly within the recess; for example,

when the camera is a friction fit, the depth of the recess need only be sufficient to enable the camera to be gripped without danger of it falling out.

Generally, the shutter button is located on the upper face of the camera and often the film counter lies in the near vicinity. Thus when the holding means is in the form of a recess for receiving the camera, access to the shutter button (and the film counter if close by) can be achieved by indenting the side of the recess which will lie adjacent to the shutter button. Alternatively, but less preferred, an aperture can be cut out of the relevant side of the recess to give access to the shutter button.

Of course, one or more further apertures may be provided between the front face and rear faces of the retaining means to accommodate other features which may be present on the camera, for example, an aperture may be provided for alignment with a flash facility.

It is preferred for the front face of the retaining means to extend beyond the boundary of the front of the camera in more than one direction, most preferably, in all directions. The graphic representation can extend across the whole of the front face or only across a part thereof. However, the appearance of the holder is enhanced when the representation extends across the whole of the front face.

By extending the front face in the manner described, not only does it provide scope for a larger representation to be carried thereon, but more importantly it encourages the person or child using the camera to look only through the viewfinder. In the early stages of learning to use a camera a child will often have difficulty in closing the eye which is not looking through the viewfinder thereby giving the child a false impression of the subject of his or her photograph. Advantageously therefore the front face should extend in such a manner as to block out any view from the eye not looking through the viewfinder.

While the graphic representation may be an integral part of the retaining means, it is more convenient for it to be provided separately and attached to the retaining means

during assembly of the holder. Attachment may be achieved by any suitable means, lor example, by stapling, adhesive or spot welding.

Clearly, when the graphic representation is formed separately from the retaining means, it is essential that the representation is also provided with apertures corresponding to the apertures in the front and rear faces of the retaining means.

For ease of manufacture and to add rigidity and strength to the camera holder, it is preferable that the front face of the retaining means which carries the graphic representation is formed separately from the rear face and the two are thereafter secured together, for example by means of an adhesive or other conventional means. Preferably, the component which comprises the front face and the component which comprises the rear face are provided with complementary engaging means. An example of one such complementary engaging means is the provision of a recess or hollow on the reverse side of the front face into which the component which comprises the rear face may be press fitted.

When formed separately, both of the components comprising the front face and the rear face of the camera retaining means must be provided with apertures which are in alignment when secured together and which correspond at least to the positions of the camera lens and viewfinder and, where provided, the flash facility.

The subject of the graphic representation provided on the front face of the retaining means is not limited, for example, it may be any artistic work such as an abstract design, a photograph, a painting or a drawing. Alternatively, the representation could be in the form of an advertisement. Preferably the representation is one that will appeal to children such as a representation of an animal or a cartoon character. A picture of a face, whether it be the face of an animal, a real or imaginary person or a cartoon character, is especially preferred since these give the appearance of a mask when the camera is being used. To add further interest, the picture is preferably three- dimensional, for example, which follow the contours of a face. When the representation is in the form of a face, the face may be offset with respect to the apertures so that the

apertures do not fall within the face itself.

Additional features for entertaining children may be incorporated into the camera holder of the invention. A blow-up tongue protruding through the mouth of a face is one such example, or a simple sound device which reproduces the sound of a recognised character or animal may be included. Such a sound device may be in the form of a pressure- actuated semiconductor chip which is normally of such small dimensions that it may be comfortably housed between the layers of a double-skinned recess.

In order to stimulate repeated interest in single use cameras, the camera holders according to the invention may depict a whole range of characters, one such character being supplied with each camera purchased. By this method, a child will have the opportunity to collect a set of characters.

Since the camera holders are primarily intended to be used in conjunction with single use cameras, it is preferred to keep their cost to a minimum by making such holders from widely available and generally inexpensive materials. However, the materials should preferably be such as to make holders sturdy enough to allow repeated use.

One relatively inexpensive material which may be used is cardboard but this has several drawbacks. In particular, it is not very easy to produce three dimensional pictures from cardboard without resorting to expensive cutting, folding and gluing steps. Moreover, cardboard is liable to disintegrate if it gets too wet and, since children will often be using the cameras outdoors, possibly at theme parks where there is usually water entertainment, there is a danger that the holder will deteriorate quickly to such an extent that it cannot fulfil its function. Compressed cardboard which is of superior quality can overcome these problems to a large extent.

Ideally, the holder is made from a polymeric material, the polymer being chosen to provide the desired strength and water resistance. Polyvinylchloride (PVC) is particularly suitable because it is lightweight and can be easily formed into the desired shape.

Although not essential, it is preferred for both the retaining means and the representation not integral with the retaining means to be made from polymeric materials. The material used when the camera is to be retained in a recess by a friction fit should if possible result in the retaining side walls having resilient properties to enable the camera to be pushed into the recess against a resilient pressure. On the other hand, the material to which the representation is applied should preferably have rigidity to provide stronger anchorage points for attaching carrying straps or the like thereto. PVC is particularly preferred since it is capable of fulfilling the requirements for both the retaining means and the representation.

In order to provide resilience in the side walls of the recess and to keep the quantity of materials used to a minimum, the walls are advantageously double-skinned thereby enabling each wall to be very thin. Such a recess can be readily manufactured using conventional techniques such as injection or vacuum moulding or plastic forming. PVC, for example, can be easily processed using such techniques. When it is desired to provide a three-dimensional representation, the material to which the representation is applied may also be processed by these conventional shaping techniques.

A further advantage resulting from the use of a double-skinned recess is that the edge of the recess which bridges the two skins and is formed integrally therewith is substantially rigid. Thus despite the small amount of material required to form the recess, there remains sufficient strength not only to allow a camera to be push-fitted into the recess without distorting the same but also to withstand repeated handling, especially by young children.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a camera holder in the form of an imaginary character.

Fig. 2 is a front view of a camera holder similar to Fig. 1 but adapted for a flash camera.

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the camera holder of Fig. 1 and Fig. 4 shows a similar view with a camera being inserted.

Fig. 5 is a rear view of the camera holder of Fig. 2 with a camera inserted.

Fig. 6 is a side view of the camera holder of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 are rear views of alternative camera holders for a daylight camera and flash camera respectively.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, a camera holder 1 has retaining means of which front face 5 carries a graphic representation in the form of an imaginary character having eyes, a nose and a mouth each shown in contoured relief. The face 5 is provided with two apertures 7 and 9 which correspond respectively to the positions of a viewfinder and lens of a particular model of a single-use camera.

Fig. 2 shows a similar camera holder to that of Fig. 1 but has an additional aperture 11 for alignment with a flash facility on the same or different model of camera.

Fig. 3 shows a rear view of the camera holder of Fig. 1. The rear face 13 of the retaining means is provided with a recess 15 into which a single-use camera 17 can be received. The recess 15 has upstanding sides 19 which are double-skinned to provide resilient flexibility. The bottom face 21 of the recess 15 has apertures 23, 25 which are in alignment with apertures 7, 9 extending between the front and rear faces 5, 13 of the retaining member. The side 19 of the recess which in use will be adjacent the shutter button of the camera is provided with an indentation 35 to allow unobstructed access to the shutter button. The front of the bottom face 21 is affixed to the rear face 13 by spot welding. A carrying ribbon 27 is attached to opposing upstanding sides 19 although it could easily be attached instead to the lateral edges of the retaining member. A blow-up tongue device 31 protrudes from the front face 5 and extends behind the rear face 13 from where the user can operate it.

Fig. 4 shows a camera 17 about to be inserted into the holder. The camera has a viewfinder 37 which will be aligned with apertures 23, 7 in the bottom face of the recess and the retaining member respectively once inserted. The lens of the camera (not visible) will similarly align with apertures 25, 9. The shutter button (not visible) on the camera is normally situated on the upper face of the camera adjacent the wind-on mechanism 39 and the indentation 35 therefore permits the shutter button to be operated while the camera is retained in the holder. As will be appreciated, the recess 15 does not obscure the rear face 41 of the camera onto which written or pictorial instructions may be printed.

Fig. 5 shows a camera 43 retained in the holder of Fig. 2. The camera 43 has a flash facility 45 which on the front of the camera aligns with aperture 11 of the holder.

Fig. 6 illustrates a side view of the camera holder of Fig. 1 and from which it can be seen that the front face 5 of the retaining means is contoured. The blow-up tongue device 31 extends through to project beyond the front face 5.

Fig. 7 shows a modified form of camera holder in which the front face 5 carrying a graphic representation is formed separately from the rear face 13. The reverse side 47 of the front face is provided with an upstanding edge portion 49 to create a cavity 51 adapted to receive and retain the rear face 13. The recess 15 is able to retain a single-use daylight camera 53 by means of a friction fit against upstanding side walls 55, 57 and pinch bars 59, 61, 63 and 65.

Fig. 8 shows a camera holder of similar construction to that shown in Fig. 7, the differences lying in the shape of the front and rear faces 5, 13 and in the dimensions of the recess 15 which is adapted to retain a single-use flash camera 67.

While particular embodiments have been described, it should be appreciated that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, while the invention has been described with particular reference to single-use cameras, the camera holders may be used or adapted for use with any other type of

camera.