U.S. patent application number 11/538143 was filed with the patent office on 2008-04-03 for tactical mirror case.
Invention is credited to Kevin L. Parsons.
Application Number | 20080078796 11/538143 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39260134 |
Filed Date | 2008-04-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080078796 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Parsons; Kevin L. |
April 3, 2008 |
Tactical Mirror Case
Abstract
A case for housing and protecting a tactical mirror having an
attachment clip so that the mirror can be removably attached to a
user's belt or other type of strap using the mirror's attachment
clip. The case is closely contoured to the shape of the enclosed
mirror and is preferably comprised of a lightweight design having a
resilient outer material to withstand harsh treatment and a soft
inner material to prevent the mirror from being scratched. The back
of the case has an opening permitting the attachment clip of the
mirror to extend through the case so that the mirror can be
fastened to the user's belt. The opening on the back side and the
closely contoured shape of the case enable the case to securely
hold the mirror without having to employ snaps or other fastening
devices.
Inventors: |
Parsons; Kevin L.;
(Appleton, WI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WELSH & KATZ, LTD
120 S RIVERSIDE PLAZA, 22ND FLOOR
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Family ID: |
39260134 |
Appl. No.: |
11/538143 |
Filed: |
October 3, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/668 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F42B 33/02 20130101;
A45F 5/021 20130101; A45F 5/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/668 |
International
Class: |
F42B 39/02 20060101
F42B039/02; F41C 33/02 20060101 F41C033/02 |
Claims
1. A case for housing a tactical mirror having an attachment clip,
the case comprising: a front panel and a rear panel, each defining
a perimeter, the front panel and rear panel being attached together
near the edges of their respective perimeters to form a pocket
having a closed bottom area and an open top area and an interior
surface and an exterior surface; the rear wall panel further having
an opening, situated to permit the attachment clip of the mirror to
extend through the rear wall panel of the case when the mirror is
placed within the case such that the clip can be fastened to a belt
or other type of strap.
2. The tactical mirror case of claim 1, wherein the case is sized
and shaped to correspond to the size and shape of the mirror for a
relatively snug fit.
3. The tactical mirror case of claim 1, wherein the exterior
surface of the case is comprised of a cross-lock woven ballistic
nylon material having a protective trim around its edges.
4. The tactical mirror case of claim 1, wherein the interior
surface of the pocket is comprised of a soft non-abrasive
material.
5. The tactical mirror case of claim 2, wherein the case is
clam-shaped in order to receive and house a circular mirror.
6. The tactical mirror case of claim 2, wherein the case has a
circular shape in order to receive and house a circular shaped
mirror.
7. The tactical mirror case of claim 2, wherein the pocket is
rectangular shaped in order to receive and house a
rectangular-shaped mirror.
8. A case for housing a tactical mirror having an attachment clip,
the case comprising: a front panel and a rear panel, each defining
a perimeter, the front panel and rear panel being attached together
near the edges of their respective perimeters to form a pocket
having a closed bottom area and an open top area and an interior
surface and an exterior surface, the pocket sized and shaped to
correspond to the size and shape of the mirror such that the case
is closely fit around the mirror, the exterior surface of the
pocket comprised of a cross-lock woven ballistic nylon material
having a protective trim around its edges and the interior surface
of the pocket comprised of a soft non-abrasive material. the rear
wall panel further having an opening, situated to permit the
attachment clip of the mirror to extend through the rear wall panel
of the case when the mirror is placed within the case such that the
clip can be fastened to a belt or other type of strap.
9. The tactical mirror case of claim 8, wherein the case is
clam-shaped in order to receive and house a circular mirror.
10. The tactical mirror case of claim 8, wherein the case has a
circular shape in order to receive and house a circular shaped
mirror.
11. The tactical mirror case of claim 8, wherein the pocket is
rectangular shaped in order to receive and house a
rectangular-shaped mirror.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a device for
housing a mirror, and is specifically directed to a lightweight
tactical case for protecting a mirror having an attachment clip for
affixing the mirror to a belt or other type of strap. The case is
closely contoured to the shape of the enclosed mirror and has an
opening which allows the attachment clip of the mirror to extend
through the case so that it can be fastened to a user's belt. The
opening and the closely contoured shape of the case enable the case
to securely hold the mirror without having to employ snaps or other
fastening devices. The present invention enables the user to safely
transport the enclosed mirror while facilitating its quick removal,
from a convenient location, for utilization in police or security
work.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In many tactical, investigative or security operations,
police officers need to look around corners, over ledges, and
generally in areas which are inaccessible due to physical or safety
considerations. For example, frequently in a combat situation, an
officer may be required to look around the corner of a building in
order to check for the presence of an armed perpetrator or to
determine whether it is safe to move in a particular direction.
Additionally, police and security officers are often required to
search areas of a vehicle or premise for objects such as weapons,
explosives or contraband. Such areas include attics, cabinet tops,
overhanging ledges, heating and air ducts and the undersides of
furniture, automobiles and the like.
[0003] In carrying out these searches, police and security officers
will often times use a mirror such as the one disclosed by U.S.
Pat. No. 5,386,322, which can be fastened to the end of the
officer's baton in order to view the inaccessible area. Since an
officer's need to use a mirror in certain combat or investigative
situations can sometimes arise unexpectedly, it is advantageous for
the officer to be able to fasten the mirror to their belt in order
to enable the officer to carry the mirror with them as part of
their tactical gear. It is generally known that some such mirrors
utilize an attachment clip which the officer can unfasten from
their belt and then refasten to the end of their baton or other
gear in order to utilize the mirror in conducting their tactical or
investigative duties.
[0004] Due to the fact that mirrors are typically comprised of
glass and/or other reflective material that are fragile and can be
easily damaged, it is almost a necessity to have a case to house
such mirrors, particularly for personnel working in the field. It
would however, be extremely beneficial to have a case that could
not only house and protect the mirror but be light weight and
provide a means to attach the mirror and case to the user's belt.
Since the duties of a police or security officer can often be
physically demanding, it is important that such a case have a
compact design and be made of a rugged lightweight material so as
not to be unduly cumbersome or an interference to the officer while
in the line of duty. In addition, user's of such mirrors are often
in combat or security situations that are conducted under urgent
circumstances that require that the user be able to access and
employ the mirror immediately. It is therefore important that the
mirror case be contoured to secure the mirror without the need for
snaps or other fasteners which would take time to unfasten and
could distract the user from more immediate and dangerous
tasks.
[0005] Accordingly, there is a need for a lightweight mirror case
that can house and protect a mirror and that can be quickly and
easily fastened to a police or security officer's belt. The mirror
must be readily accessible and easily and quickly placed into
use.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0006] In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a
mirror case for housing a tactical mirror is provided. The mirror
used in the present invention is of the type having an attachment
clip by which the mirror can be attached to an elongated member,
such as an extended baton or pole, so that a tactical advantage can
be had in the use of the mirror. For example, such a mirror can be
attached to an elongated police baton, such as the Tactical Batons
made by Armament Systems and Procedures, Inc. of Appleton, Wis.
[0007] The present invention is directed to a case for a tactical
mirror. The case is closely contoured to the size and shape of a
mirror for use in security situations. Such a mirror typically has
an attachment clip, on the side obverse to the reflective side, so
as to allow it to be fastened to a belt, strap or other tactical
gear commonly used by police or security officers in the field,
such as those conducting combat, investigative or security
operations.
[0008] In the mirror case of the present invention, the case
includes a front and a rear wall section each defining a perimeter
and connected together near their respective perimeter edges so as
to form a pocket. In one embodiment, the panels are generally
rectangular in shape and three of four perimeter edges of each
panel are attached together such that the case has a closed bottom
and side area and an open top area. The pocket thus formed,
provides a housing for a mirror. In another embodiment, the case
has a more curvilinear shape and the front and rear panels are
attached together in a similar fashion and to a degree that an
opening for insertion and removal of a mirror is created.
[0009] Further, at least one of the panels, of the mirror case of
the present invention, includes an opening, within the perimeter of
the panel, through which the attachment clip of the mirror can be
accessed from outside of the pocket. The opening within the
perimeter of the panel is advantageously located so that the clip
of the mirror extends outside of the panel when the mirror is
placed therein. The pocket thus formed has a closed bottom area and
an open top area and interior and exterior surfaces, the panel
adjacent to the mirror clip having an opening located to permit the
attachment clip of the mirror to protrude through the case when the
mirror is placed within the case such that the clip can be fastened
to a belt or other type of strap.
[0010] In embodiments of the present invention, the tactical mirror
case is contoured to match the size and shape of the mirror. In
another embodiment, the exterior surface of the case is comprised
of a cross-lock woven ballistic nylon material having a protective
trim around its edges. In one embodiment, the interior surface of
the mirror case is comprised of a soft non-abrasive material so as
to protect the mirror within.
[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the tactical mirror case is
clam-shaped and/or circular shaped so as to receive and house a
circular mirror. The case of the present invention, in one
embodiment, comprises a front panel and a rear panel, defining a
perimeter, with the panels being assembled together at or near a
sufficient portion of the perimeter edges to form a pocket within
which the mirror can be placed. In one embodiment, the panels are
generally rectangular in shape and three of four perimeter edges of
each panel are attached together such that the case has a closed
bottom and side area and an open top area. The pocket thus formed,
provides a housing for the mirror. Further, one of the panels of
the case of the present invention, includes an opening in the side
of the panel through which connection means of the mirror can be
accessed from outside of the pocket while the mirror is fastened to
the officer's belt and is to be closely contoured to the size and
shape of the mirror that it is intended to house so that the mirror
fits snugly inside the pocket. The snug fit between the mirror and
case enables the case to securely hold the mirror without having to
use snaps or other types of fasteners.
[0012] When a mirror is placed inside the case and the case is worn
by the officer, the front wall section of the case is intended to
face away from the officer's body, and the rear wall section is
intended to face inward towards the belt that the attachment clip
of the mirror is fastened to. The rear wall section of the case has
an opening that is centrally located to permit the attachment clip
of the mirror to protrude through the case when the mirror is
placed within the case such that the clip can be fastened to the
belt.
[0013] In order to withstand the harsh activity and conditions that
police and security officers occasionally encounter, the exterior
surface of the tactical mirror case is intended to be comprised of
a rugged, flexible material such as leather or cross-lock woven
ballistic nylon. The exterior surface of the case also features a
protective trim around its outside edges and around the edges of
the opening located on the rear wall section in order to increase
the strength and durability of the case. The interior surface of
the case's pocket is comprised of a soft non-abrasive material that
is intended to protect the mirror and to prevent the glass or other
fragile reflective material form becoming scratched or
shattered.
[0014] The present invention provides a case for protecting the
type of mirror typically carried by a police or security officer.
Further, the case permits the user to easily fasten the mirror in a
convenient and readily accessible place on the user's belt. The
case provides adequate protection to the mirror without the use of
snaps, hook and eye closures or other locking means.
Advantageously, the holder is contoured to hold the mirror within
the holder and is sufficiently small, thin and light weight as to
be stored in a pocket, or other containment means when the mirror
is removed therefrom and is in use.
[0015] The mirror case, further, is lightweight and of a compact
design, yet is sufficiently durable to withstand harsh treatment
typical of security work.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front of a mirror case
of the present invention showing the placement of a mirror
therein
[0017] FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the mirror case of the
present invention attached to a belt and having a tactical mirror
therein.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the back of a mirror
case and the back of a tactical mirror, of the present invention
showing the mirror prior to placement therein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in
various forms, there is shown in the drawings a number of presently
preferred embodiments that are discussed in greater detail
hereafter. It should be understood that the present disclosure is
to be considered as an exemplification of the present invention,
and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific
embodiments illustrated. It should be further understood that the
title of this section of this application ("Detailed Description of
the Drawings") relates to a requirement of the United States Patent
Office, and should not be found to limit the subject matter
disclosed herein.
[0020] Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1,
there is illustrated a case 10 for housing and protecting a
tactical mirror 20. As shown in FIG. 1, the shape of the mirror
case 10, in a preferred embodiment is made so as to be shaped, by
close contours, to match the shape of the mirror 20. In this way
the case 10 can securely hold the mirror 20 without the necessity
of snaps or other types of fasteners typically found on prior art
mirror cases and other types of equipment cases. The case 10 is
comprised of a front wall panel 11 and a rear wall panel 12 which
when attached together, as described below, can form a pocket 13
into which a mirror can be housed. Pocket 13 is designed to
securely house the mirror 20 when it is placed therein.
[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the lining 10i of the pocket 13
comprises a soft non-abrasive material, such as a combed cotton,
microfiber or other soft material as know to persons having
ordinary skill in the art, in order to help protect the mirror's
glass or other reflective surface 21 from becoming scratched or
broken.
[0022] As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, in an embodiment of the
mirror case of the present invention, the rear wall panel 12 of the
case 10 has an opening 14, In this embodiment, the opening 14 is
centrally located on the panel 12. It will be understood, by
persons having ordinary skill in the art, that the opening 14, as
explained below, can be placed in any location on the panel as
needed. Opening 14 is designed to permit access to attachment clip
23, mounted or otherwise attached onto the rear surface of mirror
20 through case 10 so that the mirror and case combination can be
fastened to a belt or other type of strap 30.
[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the exterior surface 10e of case
10 is finished by providing, in a manner or manners well known to
persons having ordinary skill in the art, a protective trim 15
around its outside edges and around the edges 14e of the opening 14
located on the rear wall section 12. It will be understood that the
protective trim 15 can be applied on or near the outside edges 14e
of opening 14 in any manner known to persons having ordinary skill
in the art. It will also be understood that similar protective trim
15 can be applied to the edges of the exterior surface 10e of the
case 10, so as to provide a more finished and better sealed case
for the protection of a mirror 20.
[0024] In the use of the device of the present invention, a user,
such as a police officer or a security officer, will place a
tactical mirror, such as ones sold by Armament Systems and
Procedures, Inc. of Appleton, Wis., within the pocket formed in the
case 10 of the present invention. The mirror is placed within the
case such that its clip 23 extends out of the panel opening 14. The
combination of the mirror and case can then be attached, via clip
23, to the user's belt, thereby holding the mirror, within the
case, on the user's belt in a convenient location for use. When the
user needs a tactical mirror, such as in situations when the
underbody of a vehicle needs inspection, or other periscoptic
situations, the user will secure an elongated rod or extend fully a
tactical baton and secure the mirror from its case for attachment
to the distal end of the baton (or other elongated rod). The mirror
case 10 can further be placed in a pocket or other location for
storage either alone or while the mirror 20 is housed within.
[0025] The present disclosure includes that which is contained in
the appended claims, as well as that of the forgoing description.
Although, this invention has been described in its preferred form
with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the
present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way
of example, and that numerous changes in the details of the
elements, compositions and the combination of individual
ingredients may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or
scope of the invention.
* * * * *