video-photographic equipment

Description

Technical field

The present invention concerns a portable container, such as a backpack or a bag, for the storage and transport of video-photographic equipment having the features of the preamble of the main claim.

Background art

Portable containers, such as backpacks and bags, having one or more chambers specifically designed for storage and transport of video-photographic equipment are generally known and commonly used by photographers.

In particular, sling backpacks and sling bags are appreciated because they may be easily allow access to the video-photographic equipment housed in the chambers, without the need to take the backpack or the bag off from shoulders.

In order to prevent possible fall and damages of the video-photographic equipment, it is desirable to provide a system which allow the video-photographic equipment to be always safely fastened to the portable container also during shooting. This also allows to leave the video-photographic equipment hung on the portable container without holding it with hands and without putting it back in the portable container. US 9164362 discloses a sling bag having a tether attached to a camera and slidingly connected, at the opposite end of the tether, to a sling band of the bag. However, this type of solution makes the use of the photo-camera quite uncomfortable. Indeed, when the user walks, the camera, if not positioned inside the bag, will swing and bump against the body of the user, bothering the user's movement and also causing possible damages to the camera.

In addition, when the camera is lifted up to the face for a shoot, the same sling bag will be also partially lifted. Disclosure of the invention

It is a main aim of the present invention to provide a portable container for the storage and transport of video-photographic equipment which is structurally and functionally designed so as to overcome the drawbacks mentioned above with reference to the cited prior art.

It is a further aim of the invention to provide a portable container wherein the video-photographic equipment may be always safely kept attached to the portable container both during shooting and during transport.

In addition, it is desirable that the use of the video-photographic equipment during shooting will not be hindered by the safe attachment to the portable container.

It is also desirable that the portable container provides for a system which allows to keep the video-photographic equipment as close as possible to the body when not in use, avoiding as much as possible any swinging and bumping against the body of the user when he walks.

It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a portable container which is comfortable in wearing and allows easy and fast access to the video-photographic equipment.

The above aims and needs are achieved by a portable container realized in accordance with the appended claims.

In a first aspect thereof, the present invention is therefore directed to a portable container for the storage and transport of a video-photographic equipment, comprising :

- a shell wherein the video-photographic equipment is housed,

- a carrying band extended from the shell to form a loop so as to allow the portable container to be worn by a user,

- an auxiliary strap extended along the carrying band, and

- at least one fastener for fastening the video-photographic equipment to the auxiliary strap, the fastener being capable to slide along the auxiliary strap, wherein the auxiliary strap is fixed at a first end thereof to the carrying band or to the shell, is passed through a ring provided at the carrying band and comprises an adjusting member for adjusting the length of the portion of the auxiliary strap extended between the first end and the ring.

In the above aspect, the present invention may have at least one of the preferred optional features set out below.

In a preferred embodiment, the first end of the auxiliary strap is fixed at the bottom side of the shell. It may be fixed directly to the bottom side of the shell it may be fixed to a point of the carrying band close to the bottom side of the shell Preferably, the auxiliary strap extends from the first end as far as the ring and after passing through the ring it turns back towards the first end, up to the adjusting member.

Preferably, the adjusting member comprises a buckle, fixed at a second end of the auxiliary strap and through which said auxiliary strap is passed

Preferably, the adjusting member comprises a locking element to lock the auxiliary strap on the buckle.

Preferably, the adjusting member limits the sliding motion of the at least one fastener along the auxiliary strap.

Preferably, the ring is fixed at a predefined distance from an end of the carrying band, so as to be positioned in a front side of the body of a user when the portable container is worn by a user.

Preferably, the ring is fixed at a padded portion of the carrying band.

Preferably, the at least one fastener may slide between the first end of the auxiliary strap and the adjusting member.

Preferably, the shell comprises a first chamber, for housing the video-photographic equipment, which is accessible from an opening provided at the shell, and the first end of the auxiliary strap is close to the opening, so that the video-photographic equipment may be housed in the first chamber keeping it connected to the auxiliary strap by means of the at least one fastener.

In one embodiment, the portable container is a backpack, more preferably a sling backpack.

In an alternative embodiment, the portable container is a sling bag.

Brief description of the drawings

Features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description of some preferred embodiments thereof, illustrated in a non-limiting way with reference to the attached drawings, in which :

- Figure 1 is a front view of a sling backpack, representing a first example of a portable container for the storage and transport of video-photographic equipment realised in accordance with the present invention;

- Figure 2 is a partially sectioned side view of the backpack of Figure 1 with a video-photographic equipment housed in the backpack;

- Figure 3 is a view analogous to Figure 2, with the video-photographic equipment outside the backpack;

- Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a detail of the backpack of Figure 1 ;

- Figure 5 is a front view of a sling bag, partially sectioned, representing a second example of a portable container for the storage and transport of video-photographic equipment realised in accordance with the present invention;

- Figure 6 is a side view of the bag of Figure 5;

- Figures 7 is a perspective view of the bag of Figure 5 with the video- photographic equipment outside the bag.

Description of some preferred embodiments

With initial reference to figures 1 to 4, with reference number 1 is indicated, as a whole, a backpack for the storage and transport of a video-photographic equipment, for instance a camera 50, made according to the present invention.

The backpack 1 comprises a shell 2, in which there are defined a front side 4, an opposite rear side 5, two lateral sides 6, a top side 7 and a bottom side 8.

At the top side 7 of the shell 2, a handle 9 is also provided.

The shell 2 is preferably a soft shell, made of polymeric fabric material, for instance in polyamide fabric or polyester fabric or other suitable material, and is conveniently padded to protect from accidental hits any video-photographic equipment housed therein.

In the soft shell 2, are defined a first chamber 10, configured to accommodate the camera 50, and a second chamber 11, configured to accommodate other video- photographic equipment such as lenses, light filters, batteries and other accessories. Other auxiliary chambers or pockets may be provided in the soft shell 2.

The first chamber 10 is preferably arranged in the lower portion of the soft shell 2 and is accessible through an aperture 12 obtained at the bottom side 8 and provided with a zip closure. A handle 13 is also provided to help a quick opening of the aperture 12.

The second chamber 11 is preferably arranged in the upper portion of the soft shell 2 and is preferably accessible through an aperture 14 obtained at one lateral side 6 of the soft shell 2. Also the aperture 14 is provided with a zip closure.

A carrying band 3 is extended from the shell to form a loop, allowing for the backpack 1 to be worn by a user.

In particular, the carrying band 3 is extended between the top side 7 and the bottom side 8 of the soft shell 2.

Backpack 1 is preferably a sling backpack, with only one carrying band, however, in other embodiments of the invention, it may have two carrying bands arranged to rest the backpack on both shoulders of a user.

The carrying band 3 comprises a padded portion 15, extended from the top side 7 of the soft shell 2 to a free end 15a, and a main strap 16 extended from the free end 15a of the padded portion 15 to the bottom side 8 of the soft shell 2.

The padded portion 15 of the carrying band 3 has a width decreasing from the top side 7 towards the free end 15a and it is conveniently padded in order to provide a comfortable rest on the shoulder of a user.

The main strap 16 is fixed at a first end 16a thereof to the padded portion 15 and has a buckle 17 fixed at a second end thereof, opposite the first end. The main strap 16 is passed through the buckle 17 and then through a ring 18 fixed to the bottom side 8 of the soft shell 2. In this way, the length of the main strap 16 from the padded portion 15 to the ring 18 may be properly adjusted. In figure 1 the carrying band 3 is shown opened, while in Figures 2 and 3 carrying band 3 is closed.

According to a first aspect of the invention, the backpack 1 comprises an auxiliary strap 20, extended along the carrying band 3, and a pair of fasteners 30 which are connected to the camera 50 and to the auxiliary strap 20 with the possibility to slide along the auxiliary strap 20.

The auxiliary strap 20 is positioned close to the carrying band 3, on the side opposite the soft shell 2.

The auxiliary strap 20 is fixed at its first end 21 to the bottom side 8 of the soft shell 2, is passed through a ring 22 fixed to the carrying band 3 and comprises an adjusting member 23 arranged to adjust the length of the portion of the auxiliary strap 20 which is extended between the first end 21 and the ring 22.

In particular, the adjusting member 23 comprises a buckle 24, fixed at a second end 25 of the auxiliary strap 20 and through which the auxiliary strap 20 is passed. The adjusting member 23 further comprises a locking element 26, formed for instance by a cam lever hinged to the buckle 24, which can be operated to lock the auxiliary strap 20 onto the buckle 24 or, alternatively, to allow the auxiliary strap 20 to slide through the buckle 24. A latch 27 is preferably connected to the locking element 26 in order to allow the user to open and close quickly the locking element 26.

Fasteners 30 are removably connected at one end thereof to the camera 50 and to the auxiliary strap 20 at the opposite end.

Length of fasteners 30 is preferably selected so as to allow the camera 50 to be housed inside the first chamber 10 while remaining connected to the fasteners 30, and, therefore, to the auxiliary strap 20.

As previously mentioned, fasteners 30 may slide along the auxiliary strap 20, thanks to the provision of respective rings 31 through which the auxiliary strap 20 is passed. In particular, fasteners 30 may slide along the auxiliary strap 20 between the first end 21 and the adjusting member 23, which, as being too large to pass through the rings 31, limits the sliding motion of the fasteners 30 along the auxiliary strap 20.

In the preferred embodiment here described, the ring 22 through which is passed the auxiliary strap 20, is attached at a predefined distance from the end of the carrying band 3 fixed to the top side 7 of the shell 2.

In this way, when the backpack 1 is worn by a user, the ring 22 is positioned in the front side of the body, preferably just below the shoulder.

In use, the soft shell 2 is positioned on the back of the user and the carrying band 3 extends on the chest of the user passing over the shoulder.

In a transport configuration, camera 50 may be housed inside the first chamber 10, while being connected to the fasteners 30 which come out of the aperture 12 and are attached to the auxiliary strap 20.

In this transport configuration (shown in Figure 2), the length of the auxiliary strap 20 is adjusted by the adjusting member 23 so as to result tightly close to the carrying band 3. In particular, the length of the auxiliary strap 20 from the first end 21 to the ring 22 is substantially identical to the length of the carrying band 3 between the same two points. In this transport configuration the adjusting member 23 is at a certain distance from the ring 22, for instance 10 to 20 cm away.

When the user needs to use the camera 50, he can simply open the aperture 12 and take the camera out of the first chamber 10. Connection to the auxiliary strap 20 by means of fasteners 30 prevents any possibility of undesired fall of the camera.

Then the user can advantageously operate the locking element 26 so as to unlock the auxiliary strap 20 (for instance by lifting up the cam lever) and to allow the free sliding thereof the through buckle 24. Auxiliary strap 20 may therefore be pulled through the ring 22 until buckle 24 stops against ring 22. In this operative configuration, the length of the auxiliary strap 20 from the first end 21 to the ring 22 is the maximum possible, substantially equal to the full length of the auxiliary strap 20.

In this way, the camera 50 may be easily brought up to the face of the user for framing and taking pictures, without any hindrance or considerable additional weight caused by the auxiliary strap.

If deemed appropriate, carrying band 3 may also be slid around the shoulder, so as to bring the soft shell 2 in the front side of the user, without taking the backpack off. This allows, for instance, to access the second chamber 11 through the opening 14 which is advantageously provided in the lateral side 6 of the soft shell 2.

This provision allows the user to take out some accessories out of the second chamber 11 and, if needed, to operate on the camera 50 (for instance for changing a lens or a light filter) using the soft shell 2 as a shelf, while the camera is always safely connected to the auxiliary strap 20.

When the user wants to leave the camera without putting it back inside the first chamber 10, he can simply let it hang to the auxiliary strap 20 and then pull the buckle 24 towards the first end 21 so as to pull the auxiliary strap 20 through the ring 22 until the auxiliary strap 20 becomes tightly close to the carrying band 3 and then locking the auxiliary strap 20 onto the buckle 24 by means of the locking element 26 (for instance by lowering the cam lever).

In this configuration, camera 50 is hung on the auxiliary strap 20 close to the first end 21 and fasteners 30 are tightened between the auxiliary strap 20 and the carrying band 3, so as to hinder the movement of the fastener along the auxiliary strap 20. It shall be noted that, in any case, movement of fasteners 30 along the auxiliary strap 20 is limited by the buckle 24.

In this configuration, camera 50 will have reduced swinging movement even if the user walks.

Finally, camera 50 may be definitely housed inside the first chamber 10, coming back to the transport configuration described above.

In Figures 5 to 7 is shown a sling bag, indicated as whole with the reference number 100, representing a second embodiment of a portable container realized according to the invention.

Sling bag 100 is analogous to backpack 1 of the previous embodiment, and comprises a shell 102 and a carrying band 103 extended from the shell 102 to form a loop, so as to allow the sling bag 100 to be worn by a user.

Preferably the shell 102 is a soft shell and is conveniently padded to protect from accidental hits any video-photographic equipment housed therein.

In the shell 102, there are defined a front side 104, an opposite rear side 105, two lateral sides 106, a top side 107 and a bottom side 108.

In the soft shell 102, are defined a first chamber 110, configured to accommodate a camera 150, and a second chamber 111, configured to accommodate other video- photographic equipment such as lenses, light filters, batteries and other accessories.

Both the first and the second chamber 110, 111 are accessible from the top side 107 through a main opening 101a of the bag 100, which is closable by means of a main flap 101. Other auxiliary chambers or pockets may be provided in the soft shell 102.

The first chamber 110 is also accessible through an aperture 112 obtained at a lateral side 106 and provided with a zip closure 113.

The carrying band 103 comprises a main strap 116 extended from the two lateral flaps 109 edges formed by the junction between the rear side 105 and the lateral sides 106, and a padded portion 115, positioned in a median portion of the main strap 116.

The padded portion 115 has a larger width than the main strap 116 and it is conveniently padded in order to provide a comfortable rest on the shoulder of a user.

The main strap 116 has a pair of buckles 117 fixed at its opposite ends and is passed through the buckles 117 and then through respective rings 118 fixed to the lateral flaps 109 of the soft shell 102. In this way, the length of the main strap 116 may be properly adjusted.

The sling bag 100 comprises an auxiliary strap 120, extended along the carrying band 103, and a pair of fasteners 130 which are connected to the camera 150 and to the auxiliary strap 120 with the possibility to slide along the auxiliary strap 120, analogous to the auxiliary strap 20 and to the fasteners 30 of the backpack 1 described above.

The auxiliary strap 120 is positioned close to the carrying band 103, on the outside when worn by the user.

The auxiliary strap 120 is fixed at its first end 121 to a lateral side 106, close to the opening 112, is passed through a ring 122 fixed to the carrying band 103 and comprises an adjusting member 123 arranged to adjust the length of the portion of the auxiliary strap 120 which is extended between the first end 121 and the ring 122.

The ring 122 is preferably attached to the padded portion 115, more preferably to an end of the padded portion 115 facing towards the first end 121 of the auxiliary strap 120.

In this way, when the sling bag 100 is worn by a user, the ring 122 is positioned in the front side of the body, preferably just below the shoulder.

The adjusting member 123 is substantially identical to the adjusting member 23 of the previous embodiment and comprises a buckle 124, fixed at a second end 125 of the auxiliary strap 120, a locking element 126, formed by a cam lever hinged to the buckle 124.

A latch 127 is preferably connected to the locking element 126 in order to allow the user to open and close quickly the locking element 126.

Fasteners 130 are substantially identical to fasteners 30 and are connected at one end thereof to the camera 150 and to the auxiliary strap 120 at the opposite end by means of rings 131 which allow the fasteners 130 to slide along the auxiliary strap 120.

In particular, fasteners 130 may slide along the auxiliary strap 120 between the first end 121 and the adjusting member 123.

In use, the carrying band 103 is passed over the shoulder of the user and it extends on the chest of the user while the soft shell 102 is positioned, for instance, at a hip of the user.

In a transport configuration, camera 150 may be housed inside the first chamber 110, while being connected to the fasteners 130 which come out of the aperture

112 and are attached to the auxiliary strap 120.

In this transport configuration (shown in Figure 5), the length of the auxiliary strap 120 is adjusted by the adjusting member 123 so as to result tightly close to the carrying band 103, and the adjusting member 123 results at a certain distance from the ring 122, for instance 10 to 20 cm away.

When the user needs to use the camera 150, he can take the camera out of the first chamber 10 through the aperture 112 and operate the locking element 126 so as to unlock the auxiliary strap 120 (by lifting up the cam lever) and to allow the free sliding thereof the through buckle 124.

Auxiliary strap 120 may therefore be pulled through the ring 122 until buckle 124 stops against the ring 122, so that the length of the portion of the auxiliary strap 120 from the first end 121 to the ring 122 is the maximum possible and the camera 150 may be easily brought up to the face of the user, while the camera is always safely connected to the auxiliary strap 120.

If the user wants to leave the camera 150 without putting it back inside the first chamber 110, he can simply let it hang to the auxiliary strap 120 and then pull the buckle 124 towards the first end 121 so as to pull the auxiliary strap 120 through the ring 122 until the auxiliary strap 120 becomes tightly close to the carrying band

103 and then locking the auxiliary strap 120 onto the buckle 124 by means of the locking element 126 (for instance by lowering the cam lever).

In this configuration, camera 150 is hung on the auxiliary strap 120 close to the first end 121 and fasteners 130 are tightened between the auxiliary strap 20 and the carrying band 13, so as to hinder the movement of the fastener along the auxiliary strap 120 and swinging movements of the camera 150.

Finally, camera 150 may be definitely housed inside the first chamber 110, coming back to the transport configuration described above.