U.S. patent application number 11/445739 was filed with the patent office on 2007-12-06 for pivoting magazine holster.
This patent application is currently assigned to Prezine, LLC. Invention is credited to Matthew E. McKendrick, William H. Rogers.
Application Number | 20070278269 11/445739 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38788930 |
Filed Date | 2007-12-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070278269 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rogers; William H. ; et
al. |
December 6, 2007 |
Pivoting magazine holster
Abstract
A magazine holster includes an elongated hollow housing for
carrying a spring-loaded magazine carrier therein. A pivot body is
mounted by a pivot to the lower part of the housing for movement of
the housing to at least one position away from body armor worn by a
user. Movement of the housing may be selectable at various
locations along an arc from the pivot. A clamp bracket attaches the
pivot body to a duty belt. A lockable strap fits over a magazine
carried downwardly to secure it in a stored position.
Inventors: |
Rogers; William H.; (St.
Augustine, FL) ; McKendrick; Matthew E.;
(Jacksonville, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ARTHUR G. YEAGER, P.A.
245-1 EAST ADAMS STREET
JACKSONVILLE
FL
32202-3336
US
|
Assignee: |
Prezine, LLC
|
Family ID: |
38788930 |
Appl. No.: |
11/445739 |
Filed: |
June 2, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/239 ;
224/245; 224/666; 224/931; 42/49.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41A 9/65 20130101; F42B
39/00 20130101; F42B 39/02 20130101; F41C 33/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/239 ;
42/49.1; 224/666; 224/245; 224/931 |
International
Class: |
A45C 1/04 20060101
A45C001/04; F42B 39/02 20060101 F42B039/02; F41A 9/61 20060101
F41A009/61 |
Claims
1. A magazine holster comprising an elongated hollow housing having
an upper open end for carrying an ammunition magazine therein in a
first upward position and a downward stored position, a pivot body
having upper and lower portions, a horizontal pivot mounted between
said lower portion and said housing for pivotally mounting said
housing to said body for adjustable movement of said housing about
said pivot to dispose said upper open end in at least one location
being closely adjacent a body of a user to at least one other
position spaced from a body of a user, a clamp bracket for
attaching said pivot body to a belt worn by a user to locate said
housing upper open end away from body armor or the like worn by a
user.
2. The holster as defined in claim 1 further including cooperating
fasteners mounted between said housing and said pivot body for
selectively adjusting the horizontal distance between said housing
and said pivot body.
3. The holster as defined in claim 2 wherein said cooperating
fasteners include a plurality of adjustment openings formed in said
upper portion of said housing and a post element mounted on said
upper portion of said pivot body, said post element being
selectively positionable in one said adjustment opening to adjust
the distance between said housing and said pivot body.
4. The holster as defined in claim 1 wherein said pivot body
includes a pair of spaced pivot posts on said lower portion and a
pair of spaced pivot openings formed in said lower end of said
housing, said pivot axle posts positioned in respective said pivot
openings for pivotally mounting said housing to said pivot
body.
5. The holster as defined in claim 1 wherein said cover includes a
strap having an elongated body and opposite end portions, said end
portion of said strap being affixed to said lower portion of said
housing member at a first location, said elongated body being
disposed over a magazine in said stored position, other said end
portion of said strap releasably attached to said upper portion of
said housing at a second location to secure such magazine in said
stored position.
6. The holster as defined in claim 5 further including releasable
locking elements attached between said other end portion of said
strap and said upper portion of said housing at said second
location said elements being closeable together to a first secured
position to secure such magazine in said stored position and being
openable to a second unsecured position to allow such magazine to
be moved to said upward position to dispose said other end portion
of said strap to an unobstructed magazine position adjacent a body
of a user, a spring supported by said housing for biasing such
magazine upwardly to said first upward position when said
releasable locking elements are opened to said second unsecured
position.
7. A magazine holster comprising an elongated hollow housing having
an open upper end and a closed lower portion and a releasably
locking top cover for securing a magazine inside said housing in a
downward stored position, a magazine carrier having an open upper
end and a closed lower end slideably movable upwardly and
downwardly within said housing for frictionally carrying a single
magazine therein, a spring biased between said closed lower portion
of said housing and said closed lower end of said magazine carrier
to urge upward motion of a magazine carried in said magazine
carrier, a pivot body for pivotally mounting said housing having
upper and lower portions and a horizontal pivot to said body for
adjustable movement of said housing about said pivot to dispose
said upper end in at least one location being closely adjacent a
body of a user to at least one other position spaced from a body of
a user, a clamp bracket for attaching said pivot body to a belt
worn by a user.
8. The holster as defined in claim 7 further including cooperating
fasteners mounted between said housing and said pivot body for
selectively adjusting the horizontal distance between said housing
and said pivot body.
9. The holster as defined in claim 8 wherein said cooperating
fasteners include a plurality of adjustment openings formed in said
upper portion of said housing and a post element mounted on said
upper portion of said pivot body, said post element being
selectively positionable in one said adjustment opening to adjust
the distance between said housing and said pivot body.
10. The holster as defined in claim 7 wherein said pivot body
includes a pair of spaced pivot posts on said lower portion and a
pair of spaced pivot openings formed in said lower end of said
housing, said pivot axle posts positioned in respective said pivot
opening for pivotally mounting said housing to said pivot body.
11. The holster as defined in claim 7 wherein said cover includes a
strap having an elongated body having opposite end portions, one
said end portion of said strap affixed to said lower portion of
said housing member at a first location, said elongated body being
disposed over a magazine in said stored position, other said end
portion of said strap releasably attached to said upper portion of
said housing at a second location to secure such magazine in said
stored position, and a pair of cooperating releasable locking
elements, one said locking fastener affixed to said other end of
said strap, other said locking fastener affixed to said housing
adjacent said second location to releasably attach said other end
of said strap to said housing at said second location, said
elements being attachable together to form a first secured position
to secure such magazine in said stored position and being
releasable to a second unsecured position to allow such magazine to
be moved to said upward position to dispose said other end portion
of said strap adjacent a body of a user.
12. The holster as defined in claim 7 wherein said pivot body
includes a pair of pivot axle posts mounted on and projecting
outwardly and a pair of pivot openings formed in said housing,
respective said pivot axle post being positioned in corresponding
said one pivot opening for pivotally mounting said pivot body to
said housing.
13. The holster as defined in claim 11 wherein said housing
includes an outside shell element having upper and lower portions
and an inside shell element having upper and lower portions, said
shell elements affixed together to define said interior space.
14. The holster as defined in claim 13 wherein said one end portion
of said strap is affixed between said lower portions of said shell
elements.
15. The holster as defined in claim 14 wherein said other end
portion of said strap is affixed to said upper portion of said
outside shell element.
16. A magazine holster comprising an elongated housing member
having an interior space including an open upper end and a closed
lower portion and a closeable top cover member for securing a
magazine inside said housing member in a downward stored position,
a magazine carrier having an open upper end and a closed lower end
slideably movable upwardly and downwardly within said housing
member for snugly carrying a single magazine therein, a spring
biased between said closed lower portion of said housing member and
said closed lower end of said magazine carrier to urge upward
motion of a magazine carried in said magazine carrier, a pivot body
member having upper and lower portions and a horizontal pivot
member for pivotally mounting said housing to said body for
adjustable movement of said housing member about said pivot to
dispose said upper end in at least one location closely adjacent a
body of a user to selected positions spaced from a body of a user,
a bracket and at least one fastener for attaching said pivot body
member to a belt worn by a user.
17. The holster as defined in claim 16 further including
cooperating fasteners mounted between said housing member and said
pivot body member for selectively adjusting the horizontal distance
between said housing member and said pivot body member.
18. The holster as defined in claim 17 wherein said cooperating
fasteners include a plurality of adjustment openings formed in one
said member and a post element mounted on other said member, said
post element being selectively positionable in one said adjustment
opening to adjust the distance between said members.
19. The holster as defined in claim 16 wherein one said member
includes at least one pivot axle post mounted on and projecting
outwardly form said lower portion and at least one pivot opening
formed in said lower end of other said member, said at least one
pivot axle post positioned in said at least one pivot opening for
pivotally mounting said members together.
20. The holster as defined in claim 16 wherein said cover member
includes a strap having an elongated body and first and second end
portions, said first end portion of said strap affixed to said
housing member at a first location, a portion of said second end
portion of said elongated body being disposed over a magazine in
said stored position, said second end portion of said strap
releasably attached to said housing at a second location to secure
such magazine in said stored position.
21. The holster as defined in claim 20 further including a pair of
cooperating releasable locking elements, one said locking fastener
affixed to said first end of said strap, other said locking
fastener affixed to said housing adjacent said second location to
releasably attach said second end of said strap to said housing at
said second location, said spring moving such magazine upwardly
when said locking elements are released to force said portion of
said second portion of said strap over such magazine away from such
magazine and adjacent a body of a user.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] Not Applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable.
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX
[0003] Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] 1. Field of the Invention
[0005] The present invention relates to magazine holsters used for
carrying magazines for pistols and other firearms and particularly
to holsters that are pivotal to allow for use by a person wearing
body armor.
[0006] 2. Relevant Art
[0007] A wide variety of magazine clip holders are known to the
prior art and include pop-up magazine carriers such as U.S. Pat.
No. 5,174,482. However, the increasing use of heavy and thick body
armor may interfere with the quick access to holstered magazines.
What is desired is a holster including an improved pop-up magazine
carrier that may pivot outwardly (horizontally) to allow for use
with body armor. None of the holders of the prior art are
completely satisfactory.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In one aspect of the present invention there is provided a
magazine holster comprising an elongated hollow housing having an
upper open end for carrying an ammunition magazine therein in a
first upward position and a downward stored position, a pivot body
having upper and lower portions, a horizontal pivot mounted between
the lower portion and the housing for pivotally mounting the
housing to the body for adjustable movement of the housing about
the pivot to dispose the upper open end in at least one location
being closely adjacent a body of a user to one or more positions
spaced from a body of a user. A clamp bracket is used for attaching
the pivot body to a belt worn by a user to locate the housing upper
open end away from body armor or the like worn by a user. Also
included are cooperating fasteners mounted between the housing and
the pivot body for selectively adjusting the horizontal distance
between the housing and the pivot body. The cooperating fasteners
include a plurality of adjustment openings formed in the upper
portion of the housing generally horizontally and a post element
mounted on the upper portion of the pivot body, the post element
being selectively positionable in one opening to adjust the
distance between the housing and the pivot body. The pivot body
includes a pair of spaced pivot posts on the lower portion and a
pair of spaced pivot openings formed in the lower end of the
housing, the pivot axle posts are positioned in respective pivot
openings for pivotally mounting the housing to the pivot body.
[0009] The cover includes a strap having an elongated body and
opposite end portions. One end portion of the strap affixed to the
lower portion of the housing member at a first location, the
elongated body being disposed over a magazine in the stored
position, the other end portion of the strap is releasably attached
to the upper portion of the housing at a second location to secure
a magazine in the stored position.
[0010] In another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a magazine holster comprising an elongated hollow housing
having an open upper end and a closed lower portion and a
releasably locking top cover for securing a magazine inside the
housing in a downward stored position, a magazine carrier for
carrying a single magazine and having an open upper end and a
closed lower end and a pair of laterally extending tabs in contact
with said housing for frictional engagement therewith slideably
movable upwardly and downwardly within the housing, a spring biased
between the closed lower portion of the housing and the closed
lower end of the magazine carrier to urge upward motion of a
magazine carried in the magazine carrier, a pivot body is included
for pivotally mounting the housing having upper and lower portions
and a horizontal pivot to the body for adjustable movement of the
housing about the pivot to dispose the upper end in at least one
location being closely adjacent a body of a user to a position
spaced from a body of a user, a clamp bracket for attaching the
pivot body to a belt worn by a user. Cooperating fasteners are
mounted between the housing and the pivot body for selectively
adjusting the horizontal distance between the housing and the pivot
body. The cooperating fasteners include a plurality of
substantially horizontally disposed openings formed in the upper
portion of the housing and a post element mounted on the upper
portion of the pivot body, the post element being selectively
positionable in one opening to adjust the distance between the
housing and the pivot body. The pivot body includes a pair of
spaced pivot posts on the lower portion and a pair of spaced pivot
openings formed in the lower end of the housing, the pivot axle
posts positioned in respective pivot opening for pivotally mounting
the housing to the pivot body.
[0011] The housing includes an outside shell element having upper
and lower portions and an inside shell element having upper and
lower portions, the shell elements affixed together to define the
interior space. One end portion of the strap is affixed between the
lower portions of the shell elements. The other end portion of the
strap is affixed to the upper portion of the outside shell
element.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The novel features which are believed to be characteristic
of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended
claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization
and method of operation, together with further objects and
advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the
following description taken in connection with the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the magazine holster in accord
with the present invention illustrating the major components;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the magazine holster housing
of FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the pivot body of FIG.
1;
[0016] FIGS. 4-6 are perspective views of the holster of FIG. 1
showing the magazine in an upward released position;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the holster of FIG. 1
showing the magazine in a downward stored position;
[0018] FIG. 8 is a simplified and enlarged cross-sectional view of
FIG. 7 taken on the lines 8-8;
[0019] FIG. 9 is an enlarged detail of a portion of FIG. 8;
[0020] FIG. 10 is an enlarged side view of the clip latch of FIG.
1; and
[0021] FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the use of the
holster of FIG. 1 with user wearing body armor.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] Referring now to the drawings, an exploded view of major
components of the pivoting magazine holster is shown at 10. A
multi-shell magazine 11 fits within a magazine carrier 12 that is
biased via spring 13. A housing or pouch 15 is used for carrying
the magazine 11 and is movable with respect to the body of a user
by way of a pivot body 14 that is attached to a belt of a user via
a base plate 19, including weld nuts 20 and a belt width adjustment
bar 21.
[0023] A strap 18 is attached to the housing 15 via clip 16 and
clip latch 17 as will be discussed hereinbelow.
[0024] Strap 18 is made from webbing and consists of a body 22,
lower hook portion 23, upper engagement strip portion 24 and a top
cover or wall portion 25 and will be discussed in more detail
hereinbelow.
[0025] Magazine carrier 12 has four vertical walls 26, two opposed
lands 27 with a tapered lower end 28, provide frictional engagement
with housing 15. Ledge 29 is used for engagement with spring 13.
The bottom of carrier 12 is a closed end portion 30 with a lower
rib 31. Carrier 12 may be sized to provide frictional engagement
with a magazine 11 carried therein. Inserts 31 may be used to
provide frictional engagement with magazine 11. Preferably, inserts
31 are made for the specific magazine 11 that is carried and are
secured within carrier 12. Magazine carrier 12 is formed by walls
26 and has tab slots 26A at the upper and lower corners into which
fit the pairs of tabs 31A of inserts 31. The inserts 31 are a snap
fit into carrier 12 and can be removed and replaced with other
inserts 31 that are adapted for use with a specific magazine
11.
[0026] As shown in more detail in FIGS. 2 and 3, pivot body 14 has
a pair of oppositely disposed pivot axles 32 to which housing 15 is
mounted as will be discussed below. Weld nuts 20 are mounted in
recesses 33 and fit through openings 34.
[0027] A pair of spaced bosses 35 is used to adjust the distance of
the housing 15 from pivot body 14. Panels 38, 39 of side walls 41,
and openings 36 and screw holes 40A are formed through outside wall
40.
[0028] With respect to additional FIGS. 4-6 housing 15 includes
lower openings 32B into which fit a respective pivot axle 32 which
are compressed via slots 32A and heads 32C to snap fit into
position to pivotally mount body 14.
[0029] Housing 15 includes an outside wall 42 with arcuate slots 43
that allow air out of body 15 when magazine 11 and carrier 12 is
depressed downward. Recess 44 is surrounded by arcuate wall
portions 48 includes a transverse slot 45 and upper spaced walls 46
separated via slot 47 that functions as an indentation to prevent
inadvertent opening of the device.
[0030] Housing 15 is made of outside shell potion 50 and inside
shell portion 51 secured together with pin 52 and flanges 52A.
Cooperating fasteners between housing 15 and the pivot body 14
include adjustment openings 53 which are illustrated as being five
in number. One slot 53 is selected for respective posts 35 to
adjust the distance housing 15 is moved from the pivot body 14.
Preferably, the entire distance is about one inch providing a
displacement tilt from vertical of approximately 200 as shown in
FIG. 6.
[0031] FIG. 7 illustrates the housing 15 with the magazine 11 fully
inserted therein. Strap 22 is secured over the magazine 11. A
cross-sectional view of FIG. 7 is shown in FIG. 8. Bosses 56 and 57
are used to secure the hook portion 23 of strap 18.
[0032] The operation of the device 10 is as follows. When the strap
flap 18 is pulled open, magazine 11 will be pushed upward forcing
the upper portion of strap unobstructed magazine position adjacent
the user's body and therefore out of the way (FIGS. 4-6). Tabs or
lands 27 on magazine carrier 12 frictionally engage the interior
surface of housing 15 to keep the magazine 11 secure in the up
position ready for immediate use. Inserts 31 in carrier 12 are
preferably used to frictionally engage magazine 11 therein.
[0033] Many users employing magazine pouches unsnap a covering
flap, bend it backwards and push/it under their belts if they
expect that they may need the magazine in a particular
situation.
[0034] The problem with such a carrying device is the fact that
removing a pouch cover does not itself move the magazine to a
better position and does nothing to secure the magazine in a
desirable position. The present device (1) automatically pushes the
strap 18 out of the way; (2) moves the magazine 11 upwardly into
position where it can be immediately grasped by a user; and (3)
secures the magazine 11, by frictional engagement between the
carrier 12 and the magazine 11 and secures the magazine as desired
via engagement between the carrier 15 and the housing 15.
[0035] In addition, many of the magazine pouches use snaps or
Velcro for magazine securement and thus the pouch may be
inadvertently opened by an operator's actions. The present device
10 employs an indentation around the release mechanism to prevent
accidental opening because only an object the size and shape of a
finger can release strap 18. The construction of the present device
requires deliberate action to open the device 10.
[0036] FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG. 8
illustrating details of the clip 16 and clip latch 17. Respective
teeth 58 and 59 grip the webbing of flap portion 24. Upward
movement of a user's finger on ribs 60 will cause locking ledge 61
to be released from lip 45A thereby unlocking strap 18 allowing
removal of magazine 11 from housing 15 (see also FIG. 10).
[0037] FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic view of the use of holder 10. The
user's clothed torso 62 is protected by vest or other body armor
63. Holder 10 is tilted downward to allow the magazine 11 to be
easily removed from housing 15. Base clamp 19 is attached to belt
64 that fits within space 19B (FIG. 8).
[0038] While the invention has been described with respect to
certain specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that many
modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art
without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended
therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications
and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the
invention.
* * * * *