U.S. patent application number 11/758570 was filed with the patent office on 2008-01-31 for magazine holder.
Invention is credited to Michael V. Lowe.
Application Number | 20080023509 11/758570 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38985151 |
Filed Date | 2008-01-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080023509 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lowe; Michael V. |
January 31, 2008 |
MAGAZINE HOLDER
Abstract
Presented is a accessory holder for use on a belt for holding
accessories normally carried on a belt, and for providing quick on
handed attachment and release of such accessories. The accessories
include ammunition clips, flashlights, tasers, mace spray, hand
cuffs, laser sighting equipment and ammunition magazines.
Inventors: |
Lowe; Michael V.; (Garden
City, ID) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DYKAS, SHAVER & NIPPER, LLP
P.O. BOX 877
BOISE
ID
83701-0877
US
|
Family ID: |
38985151 |
Appl. No.: |
11/758570 |
Filed: |
June 5, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60803962 |
Jun 5, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
224/240 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F 5/021 20130101;
A45F 5/02 20130101; A45F 2200/0591 20130101; F42B 39/02
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/240 |
International
Class: |
A45F 5/02 20060101
A45F005/02 |
Claims
1. A belt mounted accessory holster for securing an accessory to a
user's belt with the accessory having a top edge, said holster
comprising: a belt attachment means, for securing said holster to a
user's belt; a holster body, with a bottom side, a top side, and a
left and right side, and an inner chamber surrounded by said sides,
for insertion of said accessory; a biased locking tab attached to
the bottom side of the holster body, for engagement with the top
edge of the accessory, with the locking tab configured to be
displaced by the accessory when the accessory is inserted, and then
to snap into position behind the accessory and to engage the top
edge of the accessory and block its removal unless the locking tab
is displaced; the locking tab further including a thumb tab on a
first side of locking tab for displacing the locking tab, allowing
one handed insertion and removal of the accessory; wherein the
holster provides for one handed insertion and removal of the
accessory, and locks the accessory into place when inserted.
2. The accessory holster of claim 1 in which said locking tab
second side defines a cut-out opposite the thumb tab, so that the
user's fingers can grip the accessory in opposition to the user's
thumb on the opposite side of the accessory.
3. The accessory holster of claim 1 in which said locking tab has a
locking hook on a distal end, for engaging a top edge of said
accessory.
4. The accessory holster of claim 1 in which said locking tab is an
extension of said bottom side of said holster body, attached at
part but not all of its length to the left and right sides.
5. The accessory holster of claim 1 in which said left side is
adjacent to thumb tab, and shorter than said right side, to provide
space for users thumb on left side, and so users index finger can
press against the right side to oppose the pressure of users
thumb.
6. The accessory holster of claim 1 in which said holster body may
be held in place on belt at an angle to facilitate cross body
draw.
7. The accessory holster of claim 1 in which said belt attachment
is a loop angled to facilitate cross body draw.
8. The accessory holster of claim 1 in which said accessory is a
can be pistol magazine for holding ammunition.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the priority date of the provisional
application entitled MAGAZINE HOLDER filed by Mike Lowe on Jun. 5,
2007, with application Ser. No. 60/803,962.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention generally relates to an apparatus for
securing accessories to a belt, and more particularly to securing
ammunition magazines to a belt.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Police officers are required to carry quite a few items on
their belt, including flashlights, ammunition for their handgun,
tasers, laser sites for their handgun, pepper spray, knives and
other items. Some of theses items have to be rapidly accessible to
an officer even when he/she is occupied with a dangerous situation
with a criminal. For instance the officer may have to have a gun in
his right hand (for right handed officers), while at the same he
may need to access one of the accessories on his belt such as an
ammunition clip, hand cuffs, flashlight or other accessories. To
facilitate accessing one of these belt accessories, an accessory
holder is needed which allows an officer to remove an accessory
with one hand without looking at it, and to insert an accessory
into its position on a belt to that it remains securely attached to
the belt until needed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] These and other goals are accomplished by the accessory
holder of the invention.
[0005] The invention is a belt-mounted holster for securing
accessories on the belt. The holster is designed for one-handed
insertion of an accessory, and one-handed withdrawal of the same
accessory. The accessories can include the ammunition clip or
pistol magazine of a semi-automatic pistol, a flashlight, a tube of
mace, a tube of pepper spray, handcuffs, batteries, a knife, or any
other accessory which may be advantageous to carry on a belt. Each
of the accessories has a common feature and that is that they have
a top edge. A locking tab of the holster engages the top edge of
each of these and holds it securely in place.
[0006] The holster of the invention includes a belt attachment
means. The belt attachment means is preferably able to hold the
holster body in place at an angle on the user's belt. The angle is
to facilitate cross body draw of the accessory from the holster.
For instance the holster could be mounted on a Police Officer's
right side, and the accessory could be inserted and removed using
the Officer's left hand. This would be in the case of a
right-handed Officer, and would allow him to keep his right hand
free for accessing a handgun; the left-handed version would be the
mirror image of the right. When used with a handgun, the Officer
could be holding the handgun in his right hand, reach for the
accessory holster with his left hand, remove an ammunition clip,
and insert it with his left hand into the handgun held by the right
hand. While in the holster the ammunition clip or other accessory
would also be secured in place so that it would not fall out during
a scuffle, or any other act, which would typically dislodge an
ammunition clip.
[0007] The holster includes a holster body with a bottom side, a
top side, a left side, and a right side. One side would be open for
insertion of the accessory, and a side opposite the open side could
either be closed over or left open. The sides define an inner
chamber into which the accessory is inserted.
[0008] Attached to the bottom side of the holster body is a biased
locking tab. The locking tab is configured to engage the top edge
of the accessory. The locking tab is displaced by the accessory
when the accessory is inserted into the inner chamber, and once the
accessory is inserted, the locking tab snaps into position behind
the top edged of the accessory and engages the top edge of the
accessory to block its removal unless the locking tab is displaced.
The locking tab includes a thumb tab on the first side of the
locking tab. The thumb tab is for the user to use in displacing the
locking tab. This allows for one handed insertion and removal of
the accessory.
[0009] The locking tab also has a cutout on the second side of the
locking tab, opposite the thumb tab, so that the user's middle
finger can grip the accessory and assist in removing it.
[0010] The locking tab can further have a hook on a distal and for
engaging the top end of the accessory. The locking tab can be an
extension of the bottom side attached to part of but not all of its
length to the left and its right side. If the holster body is made
up of high impact plastic, the locking tab being partially but not
fully attached to the left and right sides allows it to have some
flex, and provides the biasing capability to the locking tab. The
left side of the holster body is adjacent to the thumb tab, and is
preferably configured to be shorter than the right side this allows
space for the users thumb on the left side and also with the right
side being longer provides a space for the users index finger to
press against the right side in opposition to pressure of the users
thumb on the left side.
[0011] The purpose of the foregoing Abstract is to enable the
public, and especially the scientists, engineers, and practitioners
in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or
phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection, the
nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.
The Abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the
application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to
be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
[0012] Still other features and advantages of the present invention
will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the
following detailed description describing preferred embodiments of
the invention, simply by way of illustration of the best mode
contemplated by carrying out my invention. As will be realized, the
invention is capable of modification in various obvious respects
all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings
and description of the preferred embodiments are to be regarded as
illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive in nature.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the accessory holder of the
invention, showing a user's thumb and hand in position to release
an ammunition clip.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] While the invention is susceptible of various modifications
and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments
thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below
in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no
intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed,
but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications,
alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the
spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.
[0015] In the following description and in the figures, like
elements are identified with like reference numerals. The use of
"or" indicates a non-exclusive alternative without limitation
unless otherwise noted. The use of "including" means "including,
but not limited to," unless otherwise noted.
[0016] FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the accessory holster
of the invention. Although the accessory shown is an ammunition
clip or an ammunition magazine for a pistol it is to be understood
that other accessories which are commonly held on a police office's
belt would also be accessories which could be held by the accessory
holster of the invention. This includes tasers, handcuffs, mace
cans, flashlights, laser sighting devices and other accessories
that are commonly used by a police officer, S.W.A.T. team member,
security guard, or military police or other similar
professions.
[0017] The accessory holster 10 of the invention includes a belt
attachment means 12, which can be a simple, or can also be a
rotating belt loop which allows the accessory holder 10 to be
placed on a belt at an angle. The belt attachment means can also be
compatible with utility belts which have a rail or other means of
attaching accessories. The device includes a holster body 14 which
is preferably made of thermal molded plastic. The device can also
be made by injection molding or by other manufacturing techniques
which provide suitable rigidity and durability in the holster body,
with adequate results in the locking tab. The holster body includes
a bottom side 16, top side 18, a left side 20 and a right side 22.
The sides, bottom and top define in inner chamber 24 and accessory
26 is inserted into the inner chamber 24 for carrying and storage
on an officer's utility belt. The accessory holder tab includes a
locking tab 28 which in a preferred embodiment of the bottom side
of the holster body. It is bias by the shape of the lock tab and
the bottom side and then a preferred embodiment continuous with the
bottom side 16 of the holster body. The biasing effect is provided
by the resilience of the plastic of which the holster 14 is made
off. The locking tab 28 includes a hook 38 on the distal end of the
locking tab. The hook 38 configured to engage the top edge 30 of an
accessory such as the ammunition clip shown. The locking tab 28
includes a first side 34 and a second side 40. On the first side 34
is located is from the thumb tab 32 provides a feature which the
user can press against with his thumb 42. When depressed with
sideways pressure of the thumb 42, the hook 38 on the locking tab
28 is moved to disengage with the top edge 30 of the accessory held
within the accessory holster 10. Once released form the hook 38,
the accessory 26 may be removed form the accessory holster 10. To
facilitate remove of the accessory form the accessory holster, the
left side 20 of the holster body may be shorter then the right side
22. This provides extra service of the accessory which is exposed
for clipping the user's thumb 42. Another way that the removal 36
holster 10, is facilitated is by the second side 40 of the locking
tab, defining a cut out 36, which facilitates the user, gripping
the side of the accessory opposite from the user's thumb 42, to be
able to get a better grip on the accessory an to facilitate
removal.
[0018] While there is shown and described the present preferred
embodiment of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that
this invention is not limited thereto, but may be variously
embodied to practice within the scope of the following claims. From
the foregoing description, it will be apparent that various changes
may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention as defined by the following claims.
* * * * *