U.S. patent application number 13/765775 was filed with the patent office on 2014-08-14 for holster.
The applicant listed for this patent is Jared Mitchell Miller. Invention is credited to Jared Mitchell Miller.
Application Number | 20140224847 13/765775 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51296800 |
Filed Date | 2014-08-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140224847 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Miller; Jared Mitchell |
August 14, 2014 |
Holster
Abstract
A firearm holster using a magnet to secure the firearm on or
within the holster.
Inventors: |
Miller; Jared Mitchell; (Oak
Harbor, WA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Miller; Jared Mitchell |
Oak Harbor |
WA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
51296800 |
Appl. No.: |
13/765775 |
Filed: |
February 13, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/183 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41C 33/0263 20130101;
F41C 33/02 20130101; F41C 33/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/183 |
International
Class: |
F41C 33/04 20060101
F41C033/04 |
Claims
1. A firearm holster comprising a magnet, wherein the firearm
holster is adapted to retain a firearm by supplying a retaining
force, and wherein a magnet provides a substantial amount of the
retaining force.
2. The holster of claim 1 wherein a magnet provides 50% or more of
the retaining force.
3. The holster of claim 1 wherein a magnet provides 95% or more of
the retaining force.
4. The holster of claim 3 wherein the magnet comprises magnetized
iron, Alnico iron alloys, ferrite, manganese aluminum carbide
alloys, NdFeB, or SmCo.
5. The holster of claim 4 wherein the magnet comprises NdFeB.
6. The holster of claim 5 comprising at least two magnets.
7. The holster of claim 6 further comprising a back plate having a
surface, and a slot or a sleeve for receiving a strap disposed in
or on the back plate.
8. The holster of claim 7 wherein the strap is a belt.
9. The holster of claim 8 wherein a magnet is disposed on the
surface.
10. The holster of claim 9 wherein the holster comprises a strong
and durable material.
11. The holster of claim 10 wherein the strong and durable material
is ballistic nylon.
12. The holster of claim 11 wherein the strong and durable material
is leather.
13. The holster of claim 8 wherein a magnet is disposed beneath the
surface.
14. The holster of claim 13 wherein the holster comprises a strong
and durable material.
15. The holster of claim 14 wherein the strong and durable material
is ballistic nylon.
16. The holster of claim 15 wherein the strong and durable material
is leather.
17. The holster of claim 1 wherein the magnet comprises NdFeB.
18. The holster of claim 2 further comprising a back plate having a
surface a slot or a sleeve for receiving a strap disposed in or on
the back plate wherein the strap is a belt and wherein the magnet
comprises NdFeB.
19. The holster of claim 3 further comprising a back plate having a
surface a slot or a sleeve for receiving a strap disposed in or on
the back plate wherein the strap is a belt and a magnet is disposed
beneath the surface.
20. A firearm holster comprising a magnet, a back plate having a
surface, and a slot or a sleeve disposed in or on the back plate
wherein the firearm holster is adapted to retain a firearm by
supplying a retaining force, wherein the magnet comprises NdFeB,
provides 95% or more of the retaining force, and is disposed
beneath the surface, wherein the slot or sleeve is for receiving a
belt, and wherein the back plate, slot, or sleeve comprise a strong
and durable material.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] A holster is defined as a case for carrying a usually small
item on the person. There are holsters for flashlights, hand tools,
medical devices, firearms, etc. These various holsters are similar
in that they secure the small item on the person until the item is
to be used and they have a size and shape somewhat matched to the
size and shape of the item. They differ in that a holster designed
for a medical device is unlikely to function adequately in carrying
a flashlight.
[0002] Holsters are typically customized to fit the item they are
designed for. This brings us to firearm holsters. Holsters designed
to carry very small firearms are unusable with large firearms
because the large firearm cannot fit into the holster. Likewise,
holsters designed to carry large firearms are unlikely to carry a
small firearm in a manner conducive to easy retrieval. Some firearm
holsters are adjustable over a range of sizes, but none is
adjustable to accommodate a large range of sizes. Moreover, firearm
holsters are typically expensive items. An individual with a
collection of firearms needs a holster for each of the firearms.
What is needed is a holster that secures the firearm, but allows
convenient access, and is usable for all sizes and shapes of
firearms.
SUMMARY
[0003] Various invention embodiments comprise a firearm holster
comprising a magnet, wherein the firearm holster is adapted to
retain a firearm by supplying a retaining force, and the magnet
provides a substantial amount of the retaining force, such as
greater than 50% or greater than 95%.
[0004] Various embodiments use a magnet or magnets comprising
magnetized iron, Alnico iron alloys, ferrite, manganese aluminum
carbide alloys, NdFeB, or SmCo.
[0005] The embodiments comprise a back plate having a surface with
a magnet or magnets mounted on the front or backside of the surface
or within the back plate and the back plate comprises a slot or a
sleeve for receiving a strap disposed in or on the back plate. IN
some embodiments, the strap is a belt.
[0006] Various embodiments of holsters comprise a strong and
durable material such as ballistic nylon or leather.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0007] FIG. 1 is a plan view of an invention holster
embodiment.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a plan view of another invention holster
embodiment.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a plan view of another invention holster
embodiment.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a plan view of another invention holster
embodiment.
[0011] FIG. 5 is a plan view of another invention holster
embodiment.
[0012] FIG. 6 is a plan view of another invention holster
embodiment.
[0013] FIG. 7 is a plan view of another invention holster
embodiment.
[0014] FIG. 8 is a plan view of another invention holster
embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] The following description of several embodiments describes
non-limiting examples that further illustrate the invention. No
titles of sections contained herein, including those appearing
above, are limitations on the invention, but rather they are
provided to structure the illustrative description of the invention
that is provided by the specification.
[0016] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms
used in this document have the same meanings that one skilled in
the art to which the disclosed invention pertains would ascribe to
them. The singular forms "a", "an", and "the" include plural
referents unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Thus, for
example, reference to "fluid" refers to one or more fluids, such as
two or more fluids, three or more fluids, etc. Any mention of an
element includes that element's equivalents as known to those
skilled in the art.
[0017] Any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those
described in this document can be used in the practice or testing
of the present invention. This disclosure incorporates by reference
all publications mentioned in this disclosure all of the
information disclosed in the publications.
[0018] This disclosure discusses publications only to facilitate
describing the current invention. Their inclusion in this document
is not an admission that they are effective prior art to this
invention, nor does it indicate that their dates of publication or
effectiveness are as printed on the document.
[0019] The features, aspects, and advantages of the invention will
become more apparent from the following detailed description,
appended claims, and accompanying drawings.
[0020] FIG. 1 shows a prior art firearm mounted on an invention
holster 10.
[0021] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of an invention holster 10.
Holster 10 comprises a back plate 15 that has cutouts 20 (slits,
slots, etc.), a magnet pouch 25, and a magnet 30. The magnet pouch
25 encases magnet 30 in this embodiment. In this figure, holster 10
is being viewed from the front or outward facing side of back plate
15. Unless otherwise noted, this arrangement in the figure applies
to each of the figures.
[0022] Back plate 15 and magnet pouch 25 comprise leather,
ballistic nylon, Kydex, plastic (such as polycarbonate, polyolefin,
or other plastics), Kevlar, Carbon fiber, polymer-based, or any
other strong and durable material. Moreover, any material typically
used for constructing firearm holsters is suitable for composing
back plate 15 or magnet pouch 25. Back plate 15 can be integral
with magnet pouch 25 or back plate 15; back plate 15 and magnet
pouch 25 can be separate pieces. Back plate 15 and magnet pouch 25
are constructed of the same material in some embodiments. In other
embodiments, magnet pouch 25 and back plate 15 are constructed of
different materials. In some embodiments in which magnet pouch 25
and back plate 15 are constructed of different materials, magnet
pouch 25 connects to back plate 15 using stitching, riveting,
gluing, stapling, or any other bonding or connecting manner as
known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
[0023] Cutouts 20 are sized to accommodate mounting on a belt, on a
harness, or on some other strap-type object.
[0024] Magnet 30 may comprise any magnetic material such as
magnetized iron, Alnico iron alloys, ferrite, manganese aluminum
carbide alloy, neodymium iron boride (NdFeB), samarium cobalt
(SmCo), or any other magnetic material. One of ordinary skill in
the art would recognize that the size of magnet 30 depends in part
on the magnetic strength of the magnetic material composing magnet
30.
[0025] In operation, holster 10 mounts on the wearer's body such as
on a belt. The belt laces through cutouts 20 to affix holster 10 to
the belt. This mounting places holster 10 on the body in a manner
similar to that of prior art holsters. As mounted, holster 10
presents magnet pouch 25 and magnet 30 flat on back plate 15 or in
back plate 15 causing the magnetic field from magnet 30 to emanate
outwards from the body. To this, the wearer places a prior art
firearm that is held in place on holster 10 by the magnetic
interaction between magnet 30 and ferromagnetic material contained
within the firearm. This interaction is sufficient to allow the use
of all polymer-framed firearms or at least all popular ones with
invention holsters.
[0026] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of an invention holster 10.
Holster 10 comprises a back plate 15 that has cutouts 20 (slits,
slots, etc.), and a magnet pouch 25. This embodiment and others
like it employ a pair of magnets 31, 32 situated vertically with
respect to back plate 15. The magnet pouch 25 encases magnet 30 in
this embodiment. In this figure, the holster is being viewed from
the back. Thus, this figure depicts the magnets 31, 32 and the
magnet pouch on the rear of back plate 15. This is an alternative
available to all invention embodiments. The magnet and, when
present, the magnet pouch can be mounted on either side of back
plate 15 in various embodiments.
[0027] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of an invention holster 10.
Holster 10 comprises a back plate 15 that has cutouts 20 (slits,
slots, etc.), and a magnet pouch 25. This embodiment and others
like it employ 2, 3, or more, circular magnets 33, 34, 35 situated
vertically with respect to back plate 15. Magnet pouch 25 encases
magnet 30 in this embodiment.
[0028] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of an invention holster 10.
Holster 10 comprises a back plate 15 that has cutouts 20 (slits,
slots, etc.), and a magnet pouch 25. This embodiment and others
like it employ a multiplicity of magnets 36 situated vertically
with respect to back plate 15. Magnet pouch 25 encases magnet 30 in
this embodiment.
[0029] FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of an invention holster 10.
Holster 10 comprises a back plate 15 that has cutouts 20 (slits,
slots, etc.). This embodiment and others like it employ a pair of
magnets 131, 132 but any other magnet arrangement will function in
invention holsters 10. For embodiments without a magnet pouch,
magnets 131, 132 are mounted to back plate 15 using a mounting
method such as gluing or another method known to those of ordinary
skill in the art. In some of these embodiments or in other
embodiments, the magnet is coated with material that prevents
direct contact between the magnet surface and the firearm
surface.
[0030] FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of an invention holster 10.
Holster 10 comprises a back plate 15 that has cutouts 20 (slits,
slots, etc.), and a magnets 61, 62. In this embodiment, magnets 61,
62 are embedded into back plate 15. This embodiment and other like
it present a substantially flat surface upon which the firearm
sits.
[0031] FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of an invention holster 10.
Holster 10 comprises a back plate 15 that has cutouts 20 (slits,
slots, etc.), and a magnets 61, 62. In this embodiment, magnets 61,
62 are embedded into back plate 15. The magnets in this figure show
yet another arrangement of magnets useful in this invention. This
embodiment and other like it present a substantially flat surface
upon which the firearm sits.
[0032] While various magnet arrangements have been shown in the
described embodiments, one of ordinary skill in the art will
recognize that the specific arrangement of magnets can be varied to
virtually any conceivable arrangement.
[0033] Various embodiments of the invention partially affix the
firearm to the holster using a magnet. The term partially affix
means that the magnet provides a substantial amount of the force
needed to retain the firearm on the holster, but it need not
provide all of the force. In various embodiments, the magnet
provides 50% or greater, 75% or greater, 95% or greater, or 99% or
greater of the force needed to retain the firearm on the holster.
The force needed to retain the firearm on the holster is defined as
the force necessary to remove the firearm from the holster. That
is, the force needed to draw the firearm from or move it off the
back plate. The magnet can be chosen to provide some of that force
or all of that force. For instance, the magnet can be chosen such
that it pulls the firearm against the back plate firmly enough that
the friction between the firearm and the back plate retain the
firearm in place against the force of gravity. The magnet can be
chosen so that it supplies more or much more pulling force so that
the user can select how firmly they would like the gun to be held.
For instance, lower holding power may favor faster drawing of the
firearm, while higher holding power may favor higher security
against unwanted removal.
[0034] In some embodiments, a magnet sits on a prior art holster
and provides a substantial amount of the force needed to affix or
retain the firearm within the holster.
[0035] While particular embodiments of the present invention have
been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in
the art that changes and modifications can be made without
departing from the embodiments of this invention in its broader
aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are to encompass within
their scope all such changes and modifications as fall within the
true, intended, explained, disclose, and understood scope and
spirit of this invention's multitudinous embodiments and
alternative descriptions.
[0036] Additionally, various embodiments have been described above.
For convenience's sake, combinations of aspects composing invention
embodiments have been listed in such a way that one of ordinary
skill in the art may read them exclusive of each other when they
are not necessarily intended to be exclusive. But a recitation of
an aspect for one embodiment is meant to disclose its use in all
embodiments in which that aspect can be incorporated without undue
experimentation. In like manner, a recitation of an aspect as
composing part of an embodiment is a tacit recognition that a
supplementary embodiment exists that specifically excludes that
aspect. All patents, test procedures, and other documents cited in
this specification are fully incorporated by reference to the
extent that this material is consistent with this specification and
for all jurisdictions in which such incorporation is permitted.
[0037] Moreover, some embodiments recite ranges. When this is done,
it is meant to disclose the ranges as a range, and to disclose each
and every point within the range, including end points. For those
embodiments that disclose a specific value or condition for an
aspect, supplementary embodiments exist that are otherwise
identical, but that specifically exclude the value or the
conditions for the aspect.
* * * * *