U.S. patent application number 10/645466 was filed with the patent office on 2004-02-26 for quick-attach arrangement for thigh rig.
Invention is credited to Cragg, James Victor.
Application Number | 20040035900 10/645466 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27609380 |
Filed Date | 2004-02-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040035900 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cragg, James Victor |
February 26, 2004 |
Quick-attach arrangement for thigh rig
Abstract
A thigh rig includes a carrier and a quick-attach arrangement.
The carrier includes a pad body, having a front side and a rear
side, for detachably attaching on a user's body and a pouch panel
overlappedly provided on the front side of the pad body to define a
storage compartment, for receiving a pistol-like weapon therein,
between the pad body and the pouch panel. The storage compartment
has a top opening having a holding portion formed by a top edge of
the pouch panel. The quick-attach arrangement includes a pair of
reinforcing elements spacedly provided at the top opening of the
storage compartment for selectively adjusting a width of the
holding portion of the top opening, so as to securely hold a wrist
of the weapon in the storage compartment in position.
Inventors: |
Cragg, James Victor; (Los
Angeles, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Raymond Y. Chan
Suite 128
108 N. Ynez Ave.
Monterey Park
CA
91754
US
|
Family ID: |
27609380 |
Appl. No.: |
10/645466 |
Filed: |
August 18, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10645466 |
Aug 18, 2003 |
|
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10057120 |
Jan 28, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
224/661 ;
224/684; 224/911 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F 2003/006 20130101;
F41C 33/046 20130101; F41C 33/0218 20130101; Y10S 224/911 20130101;
A45F 5/021 20130101; F41C 33/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/661 ;
224/684; 224/911 |
International
Class: |
A45C 001/04; A45F
003/00; F41C 033/02; F42B 039/02 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A thigh rig, comprising: a carrier comprising a pad body, having
a front side and a rear side, for detachably attaching on a user's
body and a pouch panel overlappedly provided on said front side of
said pad body to define a storage compartment, for receiving a
pistol-like weapon therein, between said pad body and said pouch
panel, wherein said storage compartment has a top opening, having a
holding portion, formed by a top edge of said pouch panel and said
front side of the pad body; and a quick-attach arrangement
comprising a pair of reinforcing elements spacedly provided at said
top opening of said storage compartment for selectively adjusting a
width of the holding portion of said top opening, so as to securely
hold a wrist of said weapon in said storage compartment in
position.
2. The thigh rig, as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said
reinforcing elements, which is an elongated strap, has an affixing
end affixed on said front surface of said pad body and a control
portion extended across said top opening of said storage
compartment to fasten on said pouch panel for selectively adjust
said holding portion of said top opening, so as to tighten said
weapon at said wrist thereof.
3. The thigh rig, as recited in claim 2, wherein said quick-attach
arrangement further comprises a first fastener provided on an inner
side of said control portion of each of said reinforcing elements
and a second fastener provided on an outer side of said pouch panel
such that said control portion of each of said reinforcing elements
is adapted to securely attach on said pouch panel by detachably
fastening said first fastener with said second fastener.
4. The thigh rig, as recited in claim 1, wherein said carrier
further comprises a shielding flap, having a predetermined size and
shape, is overlappedly extended from said pad body for enclosing
said top opening of said storage compartment so as to cover a butt
of said weapon.
5. The thigh rig, as recited in claim 3, wherein said carrier
further comprises a shielding flap, having a predetermined size and
shape, is overlappedly extended from said pad body for enclosing
said top opening of said storage compartment so as to cover a butt
of said weapon.
6. The thigh rig, as recited in claim 5, wherein said carrier
further a securing unit which comprises a first and second securing
straps extended from said pouch panel and said shielding flap
respectively, a buckle plug provided at a free end of said first
securing strap, and a corresponding buckle socket provided at a
free end of said second securing strap, so that said shielding flap
is adapted for substantially protecting said weapon by detachably
buckling up said buckle plug and said buckle socket.
7. The thigh rig, as recited in claim 5, wherein said pouch panel,
having a triangular shaped, has two side edges firmly affixed on
said front side of said pad body to from said storage compartment
which has a cross section area gradually reducing from a top
portion to a bottom portion thereof.
8. The thigh rig, as recited in claim 3, wherein said carrier
further comprises a shielding flap, having a predetermined size and
shape, is overlappedly extended from said pad body for enclosing
said top opening of said storage compartment so as to cover a butt
of said weapon.
9. The thigh rig, as recited in claim 8, wherein said carrier
further a securing unit which comprises a first and second securing
straps extended from said pouch panel and said shielding flap
respectively, a buckle plug provided at a free end of said first
securing strap, and a corresponding buckle socket provided at a
free end of said second securing strap, so that said shielding flap
is adapted for substantially protecting said weapon by detachably
buckling up said buckle plug and said buckle socket.
10. The thigh rig, as recited in claim 8, wherein said pouch panel,
having a triangular shaped, has two side edges firmly affixed on
said front side of said pad body to from said storage compartment
which has a cross section area gradually reducing from a top
portion to a bottom portion thereof.
11. The thigh rig, as recited in claim 2, wherein said top edge of
said pouch panel has a curved shape gradually descending from a
mid-portion of said top edge to two side edges thereof, so as to
enhance a retention of weapon in said storage compartment.
12. The thigh rig, as recited in claim 3, wherein said top edge of
said pouch panel has a curved shape gradually descending from a
mid-portion of said top edge to two side edges thereof, so as to
enhance a retention of weapon in said storage compartment.
13. The thigh rig, as recited in claim 8, wherein said top edge of
said pouch panel has a curved shape gradually descending from a
mid-portion of said top edge to two side edges thereof, so as to
enhance a retention of weapon in said storage compartment.
14. The thigh rig, as recited in claim 2, wherein said carrier
further comprises a belt hanger, which is upwardly extended from a
top edge of said pad body, comprising an elongated durable belt
having an affixing end affixed to said pad body and a free end,
wherein said belt hanger is formed by folding said durable belt
overlappedly to form a hanging loop, a pair of fasteners being
provided at said affixing end portion and said free end portion of
said durable belt such that said free end portion of said durable
belt is adapted to detachably attach to said affixing end portion
thereof to form said hanging loop by attaching said pair of
fasteners with each other.
15. The thigh rig, as recited in claim 8, wherein said carrier
further comprises a belt hanger, which is upwardly extended from a
top edge of said pad body, comprising an elongated durable belt
having an affixing end affixed to said pad body and a free end,
wherein said belt hanger is formed by folding said durable belt
overlappedly to form a hanging loop, a pair of fasteners being
provided at said affixing end portion and said free end portion of
said durable belt such that said free end portion of said durable
belt is adapted to detachably attach to said affixing end portion
thereof to form said hanging loop by attaching said pair of
fasteners with each other.
16. The thigh rig, as recited in claim 2, wherein said carrier
further comprises two leg straps affixed to two opposed side edges
of said pad body, wherein a leg buckle plug and a leg buckle socket
are provided at free ends of said two leg straps respectively and
detachably connected with each other, so that said carrier is
adapted for firmly mounting on a thigh of said user by wrapping
said leg straps around said thigh of said user and buckling up said
leg buckle plug and said leg buckle socket.
17. The thigh rig, as recited in claim 8, wherein said carrier
further comprises two leg straps affixed to two opposed side edges
of said pad body, wherein a leg buckle plug and a leg buckle socket
are provided at free ends of said two leg straps respectively and
detachably connected with each other, so that said carrier is
adapted for firmly mounting on a thigh of said user by wrapping
said leg straps around said thigh of said user and buckling up said
leg buckle plug and said leg buckle socket.
18. The thigh rig, as recited in claim 15, wherein said carrier
further comprises two leg straps affixed to two opposed side edges
of said pad body, wherein a leg buckle plug and a leg buckle socket
are provided at free ends of said two leg straps respectively and
detachably connected with each other, so that said carrier is
adapted for firmly mounting on a thigh of said user by wrapping
said leg straps around said thigh of said user and buckling up said
leg buckle plug and said leg buckle socket.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a Divisional Application of a non-provisional
application Ser. No. 10/057,120, filed Jan. 28, 2002.
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a thigh rig, and more
particular to a quick-attach arrangement for a thigh rig, which
provides a quick-attachable holster on the user's body with
ambidextrous ability.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Arts
[0005] The duty of a police officer is to keep the public order.
During the protest movement, such as protest march, demonstration,
or even riot, the police officers must be on the alert and usually
armed to prevent an unexpected incident since any one of the
demonstrators can be a potential offender. Sometimes, the officer
may put down the riot by force. In order to minimize an unwanted
injury and against attack, the police officer will not only carry
the pistol but also carry other kinds of weapons such as taser or
stagger gun at the same time.
[0006] In other words, the officer must carry many rigs in one
single action, which may reduce the mobility of the officer. Thus,
in order to load the weapons quickly, a holster is usually used to
carry the weapon such that the officer can quickly load up the
holster with the weapon within seconds during such crucial
situation. As the officer's belt is already cluttered, the holster
needs to be versatile in its mounting systems and comfortable.
However, the conventional holster is specifically designed for
either a right-hand user or a left-hand user that allows the user
to effectively withdraw the weapon in a quick responding manner.
Therefore, the officer must carefully to pick the corrected holster
that fits his or her preference.
[0007] The major drawback of the conventional holster is that the
holster is tailor-made to fit the corresponding weapon. Since there
are different kinds and sizes of weapon, the conventional holster
having a predetermined shape and size may not fit for other size of
the weapon. It is a hassle for the user to find the corresponding
holster which can not only be quickly loaded on the user's body but
also securely hold the weapon. If an unmatched holster is used, the
holster cannot protect the weapon from close quarters
grappling.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0008] A main object of the present invention is to provide a
quick-attach arrangement for thigh rig, which provides a
quick-attachable holster on the user's body without reducing the
mobility of the user.
[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
quick-attach arrangement for thigh rig, which provides an
ambidextrous ability to fit both the right-hand user and the
left-hand user.
[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
quick-attach arrangement for thigh rig, which comprises a pair of
reinforcing elements for selectively adjusting a width of the top
opening of the storage compartment such that any size of the
pistol-like weapon can be fittedly held in the storage compartment
in a secure manner.
[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
quick-attach arrangement for thigh rig, which can protect the
weapon from public sight, damaging abrasions, and close quarters
grappling.
[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
quick-attach arrangement for thigh rig, which provides full flapped
protection and retention for law enforcement use.
[0013] Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the
present invention provides a thigh rig, which comprises:
[0014] a carrier comprising a pad body, having a front side and a
rear side, for detachably attaching on a user's body and a pouch
panel overlappedly provided on the front side of the pad body to
define a storage compartment, for receiving a pistol-like weapon
therein, between the pad body and the pouch panel, wherein the
storage compartment has a top opening defined at a top edge of the
pouch panel and the front side of the pad body; and
[0015] a quick-attach arrangement comprising a pair of reinforcing
elements spacedly provided at the top opening of the storage
compartment for selectively adjusting a width of the top opening,
so as to securely hold the weapon in the storage compartment in
position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a thigh rig with a
quick-attach arrangement according to a preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the thigh rig with the
quick-attach arrangement according to the above preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0018] FIGS. 3A through 3D illustrate a utility of the quick-attach
arrangement according to the above preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a thigh rig 1
employed with a quick-attach arrangement 20 according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, which
is adapted for securely holding a pistol-like weapon such as
pistol, taser, stagger gun or the like.
[0020] The thigh rig 1 comprises a carrier 10 which comprises a pad
body 11, having a front side 111 and a rear side 112, for
detachably attaching on a user's body and a pouch panel 12
overlappedly provided on the front side 111 of the pad body 11 to
define a storage compartment 13, for receiving a pistol-like weapon
therein, between the pad body 11 and the pouch panel 12, wherein
the storage compartment 13 has a top opening 131, having a holding
portion, formed by a top edge of the pouch panel 12 and the front
side 111 of the pad body 11.
[0021] The quick-attach arrangement 20 comprises a pair of
reinforcing elements 21 spacedly provided at the top opening 131 of
the storage compartment 13 for selectively adjusting a width of the
holding portion of the top opening 131, so as to securely hold a
wrist of the weapon in the storage compartment 13 in position.
[0022] The weapon generally comprises an elongated tubular portion,
a trigger guard portion, and a gripping portion wherein the wrist
of the weapon is defined between the trigger guard portion and the
gripping portion. It is worth to mention that any conventional
holster must hold the wrist of the weapon tightly in order to hold
the weapon in position, so as to prevent an unwanted movement of
the weapon with respect to the conventional holster.
[0023] Each of the reinforcing elements 21, which is an elongated
strap, has an affixing end 211 affixed on the front surface 111 of
the pad body 11 and a control portion 212 extended across the top
opening 131 of the storage compartment 13 to fasten on the pouch
panel 12 for selectively adjust the holding portion of the top
opening 131, so as to tighten the weapon at the wrist thereof.
[0024] In order to securely hold the reinforcing elements 21 in
position, the quick-attach arrangement 20 further comprises a first
fastener 22 provided on an inner side of the control portion 212 of
each of the reinforcing elements 21 and a second fastener 23
provided on an outer side of the pouch panel 12 such that the
control portion 212 of each of the reinforcing elements 21 is
adapted to securely attach on the pouch panel 12 by detachably
fastening the first fastener 22 with the second fastener 23.
[0025] Accordingly, the first and second fasteners are hoop and
loop fasteners affixed on the inner side of the control portion 212
of each of the reinforcing elements 21 and the outer side of the
pouch panel 12 respectively. Therefore, by adjusting various
fastening positions of the control portion 212 of the reinforcing
element 21 on the pouch panel 12, the width of the top opening 131
of the storage compartment 13 can be altered to hold various sizes
and shapes of the weapon.
[0026] As shown in FIG. 3A, when the first reinforcing element 21
is attached on the pouch panel 12 while the second reinforcing
element 21 is remain unattached, the thigh rig 1 of the present
invention can hold the weapon for a right-hand user. Similarly,
when the second reinforcing element 21 is attached on the pouch
panel 12 while the first reinforcing element 21 is remain
unattached, the thigh rig 1 of the present invention can hold the
weapon for a left-hand user, as shown in FIG. 3B.
[0027] The thigh rig 1 of the present invention can also hold
different sizes of the weapon by manipulating with the two
reinforcing elements 21. As shown in FIG. 3C, when both the two
reinforcing elements 21 are attached on the pouch panel 12, the top
opening 131 of the storage compartment 13 will be substantially
reduced to hold the weapon having a smaller size. When none of the
two reinforcing elements 21 are attached on the pouch panel 12, the
top opening 131 of the storage compartment 13 will retain its
maximum width for holding the weapon having a bigger size, as shown
in FIG. 3D. In other words, the present invention provides not only
an ambidextrous ability to fit both the right-hand user and the
left-hand user but also a self-adjusting configuration to securely
hold the weapon with various sizes.
[0028] According to the preferred embodiment, the carrier 10
further comprises a shielding flap 100, having a predetermined size
and shape, is overlappedly extended from the pad body 11 for
enclosing the top opening 131 of the storage compartment 13 so as
to cover a butt of the weapon. The shielding flap 111 has a
longitudinal edge affixed to the pad body 11 by stitching wherein
the shielding flap 100 is adapted to overlappedly fold down to
enclose the top opening 131 of the storage compartment 13 so as to
cover on the pouch panel 12. Therefore, the shielding flap 100 can
minimize the exposure of the weapon in public.
[0029] The pad body 11 is made of durable material such as nylon
wherein a cushioned layer is provided between the front side 111
and the rear side 112 of the pad body 11 so as to provide a comfort
touching when the pad body 11 is fastened on the user's body.
[0030] The pouch panel 12, having a triangular shaped, has two side
edges firmly affixed on the front side 111 of the pad body 11 by
stitching to form the storage compartment 13 between the pouch
panel 12 and the pad body 11 wherein the storage compartment 13 has
a cross section area gradually reducing from a top portion to a
bottom portion, such that the storage compartment 12 is shaped and
sized to fit the weapon receiving therein.
[0031] It is worth to mention that two sloping sidewall of the
storage compartment 13 will support the weapon in a canting
position with respect to the pad body 11. When the weapon is
received in the storage compartment 13 and locked up by the
reinforcing element 21, a top side of the weapon is forced to bias
against the respective sidewall of the storage compartment 13, so
as to support the weapon in an inclined position. Therefore, the
weapon in such canting position is adapted to enhance the
withdrawing action for the user.
[0032] The top opening 131 of the storage compartment 13 is defined
by a top edge of the pouch panel 12 and the front side 111 of the
pad body 11 wherein the top edge of the pouch panel 12 has a curved
shape gradually descending from a mid-portion of the top edge to
two side edges thereof, so as to enhance a retention of weapon in
the storage compartment 13.
[0033] The carrier 10 further comprises a securing unit 16
comprising a first and second securing straps 161 extended from the
pouch panel 20 and the shielding flap 100 respectively, a buckle
plug 162 provided at a free end of the first securing strap 161,
and a corresponding buckle socket 163 provided at a free end of the
second securing strap 161, so that the shielding flap 100 is
substantially protect the weapon by detachably buckling up the
buckle plug 162 and the buckle socket 163. Therefore, the securing
unit 16 enhances the shielding flap 100 to protect the weapon from
close quarters grappling. It is worth to mention that the buckle
plug 162 and the buckle socket 163 can be replaced by other
fasteners such as hoop and loop fasteners, snap fasteners, straps
with cinch or such similar attachment for fastening two members
together.
[0034] The carrier 10 further comprises a belt hanger 14 upwardly
extended from a top edge of the pad body 11 and a pair of leg
straps 15 extended from two opposed side edges of the pad body
11.
[0035] Accordingly, the belt hanger 14 comprises an elongated
durable belt 141 having an affixing end affixed to the pad body 11
and a free end, wherein the belt hanger 14 is formed by folding the
durable belt 141 overlappedly to form a hanging loop 142. A pair of
fasteners 143, 144 are provided at the affixing end portion and the
free end portion of the durable belt 141 such that the free end
portion of the durable belt 141 is adapted to detachably attach to
the affixing end portion thereof to form the hanging loop 142 by
attaching the pair of fasteners 143, 144 with each other.
Therefore, the user is able to hang the carrier 10 at the waist
portion by passing the user's waist belt through the hanging loop
142 of the belt hanger 14.
[0036] In order to substantially hold the shielding flap 100 in
position, a first pair of holding elements 31 is provided on the
pouch panel 12 and the shielding flap 100 respectively and a second
pair of holding elements 32 is provided on the shielding flap 100
and the belt hanger 14 respectively.
[0037] Accordingly, the first pair of holding elements 31 is a pair
of hoop and loop fasteners 311, 312 provided on an outer side of
the pouch panel 12 and an inner side of the shielding flap 100
respectively in such a manner that the shielding flap 100 is
adapted to securely enclose the storage compartment 13 in a closed
position by detachably fastening the first pair of holding elements
31 together, as shown in FIG. 2.
[0038] The second pair of holding elements 32 is a pair of hoop and
loop fasteners 321, 322 provided on an outer side of the shielding
flap 100 and an outer side of the belt hanger 14 in such a manner
that the shielding flap 100 is adapted to fold upward and hold by
the belt hanger 14 in an opened position by detachably fastening
the second pair of holding element 32 together so as to communicate
the storage compartment 13 with outside, as shown in FIG. 3. In
other words, in the opened position, the shielding flap 100 is held
by the carrier 10 such that the user is able to withdraw the weapon
from the thigh rig 1 of the present invention efficiently without
interfering by the shielding flap 100, especially when the user is
in an alert situation.
[0039] It is worth to mention that the first holding element 311 is
embodied as the same as the second fastener 23 of the quick-attach
arrangement 20 since the first holding element 311 and the second
fastener 2 3 are provided on the outer side of the pouch panel 12
of the carrier 10 for fastening purpose, as shown in FIG. 1.
[0040] The belt hanger 14 further comprises hanging ring 145 and a
belt adapter 146. The hanging ring 145 is provided at the top edge
of the pad body 11 such that the carrier 110 can be detachably
mounted on the user's uniform by detachably connecting the hanging
ring 145 with a uniform buckle or waist belt provided on the user's
uniform.
[0041] The belt adapter 146 comprises a hanging belt 1461
overlappedly folded by detachably attaching two end portions
thereof with each other to form a holding loop 1462, a first
adapter 1463 having a through slot for the hanging belt 1461
slidably passing through, and a second adapter 1464 having a
through slot for the durable belt 141 slidably passing through and
arranged to detachably attach to the first adapter 1463. Therefore,
the user is able to pre-mount the belt adapter 146 on his or her
waist portion by passing the user's waist belt through the holding
loop 1462 and then simply attach the second adapter 1464 to the
first adapter 1463 so as to quickly and securely mount the carrier
10 at the waist portion of the user.
[0042] As shown in FIG. 1, the two leg straps 15 are affixed to two
opposed side edges of the pad body 11 wherein a leg buckle plug 151
and a leg buckle socket 152 are provided at free ends of the two
leg straps 15 respectively and detachably connected with each
other, so that the carrier 10 can be further firmly mounted on the
thigh of the user by wrapping the leg straps 15 around the thigh of
the user and buckling up the leg buckle plug 151 and the leg buckle
socket 152. Each of the leg straps 15 further comprises an
auxiliary pouch 153 affixed to the leg strap 15 for carrying weapon
accessories such as cartridge or bullet.
[0043] The thigh rig 1 further comprises an attaching unit 40 for
detachably attaching the pad body 11 to the user's body, wherein
the attaching unit 40 comprises at least a fastening element 41
provided on the rear side 112 of the pad body 11 for detachably
attaching to the user's uniform. Accordingly, the fastening element
41 can be a hoop fastener, loop fastener, or both hoop and loop
fasteners, as shown in FIG. 2, affixed to the rear side 112 of the
pad body 11. The attaching unit 40 further comprises at least a
fastening strap 42 having two ends affixed to the rear side 112 of
the pad body 11 such that the user's uniform having a corresponding
thigh strap is adapted to fasten to the fastening strap 42 by
passing the thigh belt between the fastening strap 42 and the pad
body 11. In other words, the thigh rig 1 of the present invention
having various attaching modes can be detachably mount on the
user's thigh position by fastening the attaching unit 40 to the
corresponding fastening element or thigh strap provided on the
thigh portion of the user's uniform.
* * * * *