Secure optical device holder operable by one hand

Abstract

Embodiments herein describe a secure handheld device holder for securely holding handheld devices such as binoculars, a telescope, a range finder, or any other handheld device. The holder is held adjacent to the torso of a person using straps with buckles. The straps may go around the torso and around the shoulders. The holder allows placement into the holder and removal from the holder of the handheld device using only one hand.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A secure handheld device holder, comprising:
 a base so dimensioned to allow a first end of a handheld device to be placeable on a surface of the base;   a side component having a first end region having a first end coupled to the base, wherein the first end region extends away from the base and towards a second end region of the side component, wherein the second end region has a second end, wherein the second end region is shaped to place the second end above the base when the secure handheld device holder is in an upright position; and   a cap so dimensioned to allow a second end of the handheld device to be placeable in the cap, wherein the cap is coupled to the second end of the side component, wherein a distance between the cap and the base allows the handheld device to be holdable in compression between the base and the cap when the handheld device is placed in the secure handheld device holder.   
     
     
         2 . The secure handheld device holder of  claim 1 , wherein the first end region of the side component is a rigid side component coupled to the base and the second end region of the side component is a flexible side component coupled between the rigid side component and the cap, wherein the compression is provided by resistance to flexing by the flexible side component when the handheld device is placed in the secure handheld device holder. 
     
     
         3 . The secure handheld device holder of  claim 1 , wherein the second end region of the side component is comprised of a flexible material, wherein the compression is provided by resistance to flexing by the flexible second end region when the handheld device is placed in the secure handheld device holder. 
     
     
         4 . The secure handheld device holder of  claim 1 , wherein the second end of the side component is rotateably coupled off center to a centerline on a top of the cap, wherein the cap is rotated outwards from the side component to receive the second end of the handheld device when the secure handheld device holder is in an upright position. 
     
     
         5 . The secure handheld device holder of  claim 1 , wherein the second end of the side component and the cap have a spring component coupled between the second end of the side component and the cap, wherein the spring component allows the handheld device to be holdable in compression between the base and the cap when the handheld device is placed in the secure device holder. 
     
     
         6 . The secure handheld device holder of  claim 1 , wherein the base is a plate having sides to receive and secure the first end of the handheld device, wherein the cap has a concave region to receive and secure the second end of the handheld device. 
     
     
         7 . The secure handheld device holder of  claim 1 , wherein the base and the cap are so dimensioned for receiving and holding securely a set of binoculars, a telescope, or a range finder. 
     
     
         8 . The secure handheld device holder of  claim 1 , wherein the cap has an angle relative to the base to allow the second end of the handheld device to be placeable in the cap when the secure handheld device holder is in an upright position, wherein the angle allows the first end of the device to clear the base when the second end of the device is to be placed in the cap or to be removed from the cap, wherein the angle is about zero degrees when the handheld device is secured between the base and the cap, the angle being changeable by flexing of the side component or rotation at the coupling between the cap and the second end of the second region of the side component. 
     
     
         9 . The secure handheld device holder of  claim 1  further comprising receptacles for receiving one or more straps, wherein the straps include buckles for coupling of the straps to a torso of a person or to shoulders of a person, or to the torso at one or more places and the shoulders of the person, wherein the secure handheld device holder is held upright and firmly against a front of the torso of the person standing upright. 
     
     
         10 . The secure handheld device holder of  claim 9  further comprising a tether receptacle to receive a tether coupleable between the handheld device and the secure handheld device holder. 
     
     
         11 . The secure handheld device holder of  claim 1 , wherein one or more straps having buckles are coupled to the side component or the base, wherein the straps having buckles are coupleable to the torso or shoulders of a person. 
     
     
         12 . The secure handheld device holder of  claim 11 , wherein a tether is coupled to the side component or the base, wherein the tether is coupleable to the handheld device. 
     
     
         13 . A secure handheld device holder, comprising:
 a base dimensioned to receive a first end of a handheld device, the first end of the handheld device being covered by a top surface of the base, the base having one or more sides extending up from the top surface to secure the first end of the handheld device to the top surface of the base;   a side plate having a first side plate end coupled to the base, the side plate extending away from the base at an angle of about 90 degrees as measured relative to the top surface of the base, the side plate having a second side plate end opposite to the first side plate end;   a flexible component having a first component end coupled to the second side plate end and extending away from the base, the flexible component having a shaped region and having a second component end opposite the first component end, the shaped region is shaped to place the second component end over and above the base when the secure handheld device holder is in an upright position; and   a cap so dimensioned to allow a second end of the handheld device to be placeable in a cavity of the cap, wherein the cap is rotateably coupled on a top cap surface of the cap at a location off axis from a centerline of the cap to the second component end of the flexible component, wherein the cap has an angle relative to the base to allow the second end of the handheld device to be placeable in the cavity of the cap, wherein a distance between the cap and the base allows the handheld device to be holdable in compression between the base and the cap when the handheld device is placed in the secure handheld device holder, the compression being provided by the flexible component resisting flexing resulting from the handheld device being between the base and the cap.   
     
     
         14 . The secure handheld device holder of  claim 13 , wherein the base and the cap are so dimensioned for receiving and holding securely a set of binoculars, a telescope, or a range finder. 
     
     
         15 . The secure handheld device holder of  claim 13  further comprising receptacles for receiving one or more straps, wherein the straps include buckles for coupling of the straps to a torso of a person or to shoulders of a person, or to the torso at one or more places and the shoulders of the person, wherein the secure handheld device holder is held upright and firmly against a front of the torso of the person standing upright. 
     
     
         16 . The secure handheld device holder of  claim 15  further comprising a tether receptacle to receive a tether coupleable between the handheld device and the secure handheld device holder. 
     
     
         17 . The secure handheld device holder of  claim 13 , wherein one or more straps having buckles are coupled to the side component or the base, wherein the straps having buckles are coupleable to the torso or shoulders of a person. 
     
     
         18 . The secure handheld device holder of  claim 17 , wherein a tether is coupled to the side component or the base, wherein the tether is coupleable to the handheld device. 
     
     
         19 . A secure binocular holder, comprising:
 a base plate dimensioned to receive a first end of binoculars, the first end of the binoculars being covered by a top surface of the base plate, the base plate having one or more sides extending up from the top surface to secure the first end of the binoculars to the top surface of the base plate;   a side plate having a first side plate end coupled to the base plate, the side plate extending away from the base plate at an angle of about 90 degrees as measured relative to the top surface of the base plate, the side plate having a second side plate end opposite to the first side plate end;   a flexible component having a first component end coupled to the second side plate end and extending away from the base plate, the flexible component having a shaped region and having a second component end opposite the first component end, the shaped region is shaped to place the second component end over and above the base plate when the secure binocular holder is in an upright position;   a cap so dimensioned to allow a second end of the handheld device to be placeable in a cavity of the cap, wherein the cap is rotateably coupled on a top cap surface of the cap at a location off axis from a centerline of the cap to the second component end of the flexible component, wherein the cap rests at an angle relative to the base plate to allow the second end of the binoculars to be placeable in the cavity of the cap when the secure binocular holder is in an upright position, wherein a distance between the cap and the base plate allows the binoculars to be holdable in compression between the base plate and the cap when the binoculars are placed in the secure binocular holder, the compression being provided by the flexible component resisting flexing resulting from the binoculars being between the base plate and the cap; and   one or more straps having buckles, wherein the straps are coupled to the side plate or the base plate, wherein the straps include buckles to provide for coupling of the secure binocular holder to a torso or shoulders of a person, wherein a tether is coupled to the side plate or the base plate, wherein the tether is coupleable to the binoculars.