The present disclosure relates to devices for carrying articles. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an adjustable carrier device for an ammunition magazine.
Ammunition magazine carrying pouches are typically fabric walled and can thus be used to carry various types of articles by conforming somewhat to any inserted article. While such flexibility is useful, in order to secure a carried article, some sort of manually released closure means is needed. For example, a closure flap may overlay the opening of the pouch to secure an enclosed article, with the flap being secured in a closed configuration with a button or hook-and-loop fabric patches. An entirely soft-walled pouch surrounded by a cinching cord may collapse when emptied, and may gather at its opening. Thus typical ammunition carrying pouches may delay access to ammunition or other carried article at a critical moment.
Hard-shell carriers, on the other hand, are typically less flexible as to their use, and may be sized and shaped for a specific article type. While a hard-shell carrier having fixed dimensions such as a box may not collapse when empty, a manually released closure means may be needed as with a soft-walled pouch. Thus, again, access to a needed article such as an ammunition magazine may be delayed at a critical moment as the closure is manually released.
This summary is provided to briefly introduce concepts that are further described in the following detailed descriptions. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it to be construed as limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.
In at least one embodiment, a carrier device includes: a body member including a first section, a second section parallel to the first section, and a central section to which the first section and second section are attached, the first section and second section each having a terminal end, the terminal end of the first section and the terminal end of the second section extending away from the central section in a common direction. A bracket includes a central base plate, a first lateral side member attached to a first end of central base plate, and a second lateral side member attached to a second end of central base plate, the first lateral side member and second lateral side member each having a respective terminal end and a respective loop proximate the respective terminal end defining a respective hole, the terminal end of the first lateral side member and the terminal end of the second lateral side member extending away from the base plate in the common direction, wherein the bracket is nested with the body member with the base plate proximate the central section such that an interior of the carrier device is defined between the first section and second section of the body member and between the first lateral side member and second lateral side member. A binding member engages the first section and the second section, the binding member passing through each said respective hole defined by said respective loop of the first lateral side member and second lateral side member of the frame. A retention member, for retaining a magazine when inserted into the carrier device, has a respective portion passing through each said respective hole defined by said respective loop of the first lateral side member and second lateral side member of the frame.
The terminal ends of the lateral side members may extend in the common direction beyond the terminal ends of the first section and second section of the body member.
The terminal ends of the lateral side members and the terminal ends of the first section and second section of the body member may together define an opening into the interior of the carrier device.
The respective terminal end of each lateral side member may include a ramped inward contact surface such that the opening into the interior of the carrier device is tapered.
The respective terminal end of each of the first section and second section of the body member may include a ramped inward contact surface.
An upper tip of the loop of each lateral side member may define the terminal end thereof.
An interior face of the loop of each lateral side member may define the ramped inward contact surface thereof.
A laterally outward portion of the loop of each lateral side member may extend generally parallel to the side member thereby defining the hole as an elongate slot.
Each lateral side member, along an exterior side thereof, may include at least one pair of parallel spaced ribs.
A portion of the binding member may be held in a space between the ribs by at least on other portion of the binding member.
The ribs may have alternating high portions and low portions to guide the binding member.
Each lateral side member, along an exterior side thereof, may include multiple pairs of parallel spaced ribs, wherein each pairs is spaced from at least one other by a gap that receives a respective portion of the binder member.
The body member may be a unitary materially contiguous item of which the first section, second section and central section are materially contiguous portions.
The body member may include polymer.
The first section of the body member may include hooks for releasably engaging the binding member.
The second section of the body member may include hooks for releasably engaging the binding member.
The body member may include a flexible and foldable rectangular assembly comprising fabric.
The body member may include multiple band portions attached to the first section defining loops to engage respective portions of the binding member.
The body member may include bands attached to the second section to engage respective portions of the binding member.
The binding member may include a stretchable cord having an adjustable loop portion and an adjuster.
The above summary is to be understood as cumulative and inclusive. The above described embodiments and features are combined in various combinations in whole or in part in one or more other embodiments.
The previous summary and the following detailed descriptions are to be read in view of the drawings, which illustrate particular exemplary embodiments and features as briefly described below. The summary and detailed descriptions, however, are not limited to only those embodiments and features explicitly illustrated.
These descriptions are presented with sufficient details to provide an understanding of one or more particular embodiments of broader inventive subject matters. These descriptions expound upon and exemplify particular features of those particular embodiments without limiting the inventive subject matters to the explicitly described embodiments and features. Considerations in view of these descriptions will likely give rise to additional and similar embodiments and features without departing from the scope of the inventive subject matters. Although steps may be expressly described or implied relating to features of processes or methods, no implication is made of any particular order or sequence among such expressed or implied steps unless an order or sequence is explicitly stated.
Any dimensions expressed or implied in the drawings and these descriptions are provided for exemplary purposes. Thus, not all embodiments within the scope of the drawings and these descriptions are made according to such exemplary dimensions. The drawings are not made necessarily to scale. Thus, not all embodiments within the scope of the drawings and these descriptions are made according to the apparent scale of the drawings with regard to relative dimensions in the drawings. However, for each drawing, at least one embodiment is made according to the apparent relative scale of the drawing.
Like reference numbers used throughout the drawings depict like or similar elements. Unless described or implied as exclusive alternatives, features throughout the drawings and descriptions should be taken as cumulative, such that features expressly associated with some particular embodiments can be combined with other embodiments.
A carrier device 100 according to at least one embodiment is shown in
In use as shown in
A first exterior surface 112 (
Retention of the magazine 50 by the carrier device 100 against unintended removal, for example as a user or gear on which the device is mounted moves about, is assured by the elastically self-adjusting performance of the carrier device. A binding member 120 is stretched among front, side, and back panels of the device 100 thereby adjustably circumferentially tightening the device around the magazine to maintain frictional engagement of an inserted magazine with interior contact points of the carrier device. This frictionally secures an inserted magazine while permitting sliding entry and removal of the magazine by force applied by hand at the outward extending end of the magazine, such as the floor plate end 52 of the magazine.
The first exterior surface 112 and opposite second exterior surface 114 of the carrier device 100 in the illustrated embodiment are defined by the outer surfaces of corresponding sections of a unitary materially contiguous body member 130 (
The first panel 132 and second panel 134 are each attached to a central base section 136 (
Contours and operative features of the body member 130 rigidify the first panel 132, second panel 134, and base plate 146. For example, with reference to rigidifying contours of the body member 130, the inward side 133 of the first panel 132 has an inside channel 150 (
The inward side 135 (
Along each lateral edge 152, the first panel 132 has laterally inwardly directed hooks 170 defined by slots 180 formed through the first panel. Each hook 170, at an end 176 thereof, has an inwardly extending tooth 172 (
Along each lateral edge 153 thereof, the second panel 134 has a respective laterally inwardly directed hook 170 defined by slots 180 similarly as for the hooks 170 of the first panel 132. Each hook 170 of the second panel 134, however, in the illustrated embodiment does not have a tooth. The hook 170 retains a portion of the binding member 120 in the assembled carrier device 100, and an angled face 174 of the hook opposite the tooth by which the end 176 of the hook is thereby sunken relative to the second exterior surface 114. Each hook 170 is approximately trapezoidal, having a base 178 connected to a corresponding lateral edge 153 and tapering trapezoidally therefrom to the end 176 of the hook 170.
A laterally spaced pair of tabs 190 (
In the illustrated embodiments, the first panel 132 has an opposing first pair 194 of hooks proximal the first end 102 (
The binding member 120 is illustrated (
Opposite lateral side members of the assembled carrier device 100 (
Respective terminal ends 206 of the side members 204, in cooperation with the terminal ends 142 and 144 of the body member 130, define the first end 102 of the assembled carrier device 100. A respective ramped inward contact surface 108 adjacent the terminal end 206 of each side member 204 of the bracket 200 cooperates with the contact surfaces 106 to define the tapered opening 110 of the assembled carrier device 100.
Each lateral side member 204, along an exterior side thereof, has a pair of parallel ribs 210 extending longitudinally from proximal the base plate toward the terminal end thereof. The ribs 210 are spaced from each other in the width dimension in that one rib 210 extends along a front edge of the side member 204 and a second rib extends along a back edge of the side member 204. The ribs 210 rigidify the side members and provide guiding and retention of the binding member 120. The ribs 210 have alternating high portions 212 and low portions 214 to guide and stabilize the binding member 120 in a binding arrangement with portions of the binding member received in the low portions. Particularly in the binding arrangement of the drawings (
Each lateral side member 204 has a loop 230 surrounding and defining a through opening 232 for passage and retention of the binding member 120, for example as shown in
The loop 230 and opening 232 thereof are dimensioned to receive multiple binding lines, for example as shown in
Outer edges of the loop 230 and ribs 210 are generally beveled to minimize snagging or catching when carried with other gear. For example, thickness 228 of the loop, measured in the depth dimension, at the terminal end 206 is greater than the thickness 208 of lower portions of the side member 204, such that upper end of the side member overall tapers from the thickness 228 at the terminal end 206 to a uniform lower thickness 208. The tapering transition occurs along the ramped inward contact surface 108 such that the ramped inward contact surface 108 has the thickness 208 at the terminal end 206 and the thickness 228 at its base 248. The laterally outward portion 236 of the loop 230 also tapers from the thickness 208 at the terminal end 206 to a lesser thickness as it extends downward from the end 206.
The retention member 240 is illustrated as a stretchable cord, for example having one or more elastic strands forming a core covered in a woven fibrous sheath, for example made of polypropylene. Such binding members are known, for example, as shock cords and bungee cords. The retention member 240 may be formed as a continuous loop by fusing terminal ends of a length of such cod material, or may be knotted form a loop.
Each lateral side member 204, at its junction with the central base 202, has an arcuate laterally outwardly extending shoulder 220 in which a notch 222 is defined. The shoulders 220, in cooperation with proximal low portions of the ribs, guide and stabilize the binding member 120 in a binding arrangement, for example as shown in
In the binding arrangement of the drawings, the binding member 120 is retained by its passage through holes 162 in the second panel 134, openings 192 at the base plate 146 of the body member 130, and openings 232 of the loops 230 of the bracket 200. The binder member 120 also engages the hooks in both the first panel 132 and second panel 134. Advantageously, the engagement of the binding member 120 with the first panel 132 is by way of the first pair 194 and second pair 196 of hooks 170 without passing through any hole in the first panel 132. By this advantageous feature, the first panel 132 can be disengaged from the binding member 120 without necessitating delacing of the carrier device overall. Such disengagement can, for example, permit opening of the carrier device by hinging the first panel 132 relative to the second panel 134 by flexure of the strip portions 140 of the base section 136 as a living hinge. By such disengagement, the carrier device 100 can be effectively opened for inspection, clearing, or cleaning. Re-engagement can be achieved by re-hooking the binding member 120 in any preferred binding arrangement. In the illustrated binding arrangement, a twist is introduced in the binding member 120 when engaging the third pair 198 of hooks 170 (
Even where adjustment of the carrier device 100 is wanted without opening, use of the hooks 170, instead of holes, permit considerable convenience and ease in adjusting the binding member 120, avoids kinks, and facilitates tension uniformity along the serpentine path of the loop portion of the binding member 120 in any binding arrangement that utilizes the hooks. The hooks further serve to avoid full winding of the binding member 120 around the first panel 132 and second panel 134. The binding member 120 in the illustrated binding engagement with the hooks is sunken within the slots 180 and under the hooks 170 relative to the first exterior surface 112 and second exterior surface 114. This protects the binding member 120 from snagging, direct collision, or crushing along the first exterior surface 112 and second exterior surface 114, which are expected to be the front and back of the carrier device 100 in typical use and thus are expected to see the highest likelihood of contact and striking with other objects. The binding member 120, when taut, urges the lateral edges 152 of the first panel 132 toward the lateral edges 153 of the second panel 134 to maintain frictional engagement of the inward sides 133 and 135 with an inserted magazine or other carried article.
Retention of an inserted magazine 50 or other article, such as a tactical light, a knife, or other gear item is assured against unintended removal by the frictional engagement provided to the interior of the carrier device 100 by the taut binding member 120 that urges the edges of the first panel 132 and second panel 134 together. The semirigid panels and side members 204 of the bracket 200, cooperatively acting with the binding member 120 as a self-adjusting frame, prevent closure of the opening 110 to maintain access to the interior of the carrier device 100 and assure the carrier device, when empty, is ready to rapidly receive an article such as a magazine. This is beneficial over, for example, a soft-walled pouch surrounded by a cinching cord, which may collapse when emptied, and may gather at its opening to delay withdrawal of an enclosed magazine at a critical moment. As shown in
The magazine 50 particularly shown in
The bracket 400 of
A carrier device utilizing the bracket 400 is accordingly laterally wider, relative to the carrier device 100. The wider second panel 334 in
The wider body member 330 of the carrier device, relative to the body member 130 of the carrier device 100, accommodates additional rigidifying features. The first panel 332 is further contoured by longitudinally extending inward grooves 340 (two in the illustrated embodiment) along the exterior surface (
Longitudinal ridges 354 extend inward from the inward side 333 of the first panel 332 (
The first panel 332 has an opposing first pair 194 of hooks 170 proximal the first terminal end 302 and an opposing second pair 196 of hooks 170 proximal the second end 304 longitudinally spaced from the first pair. The second panel 334 has an opposing pair of hooks 170, referenced in the drawings as the third pair 198 rearwardly offset from, and longitudinally positioned between, the first pair 194 and second pair 196 in the assembled carrier device 300. The hooks 170 of the carrier device 300, in cooperation with the binding member 120, provide the same of similar function as those described above with reference to the carrier device 100 such the above descriptions apply as well to both carrier devices.
The above-described body members and brackets, and similar embodiments within the scope of these descriptions and referenced drawings, can be injection molded of thermoset plastic that, when set, is durable, semi-rigid, and resilient to flexures. The above expressly described embodiments, and others within the scope of these descriptions and drawings, are advantageous over hard-shell carriers having fixed dimensions. By use of the brackets as described above, nested with a folded hard-shell body member and assembled with a binding member, hard-shell benefits as to protection of a carried article and a persistently open entry are provided with a degree of size flexibility and article retention by internal friction.
In other embodiments, brackets are semi-rigid, and resilient, whereas the body members are made of, or include, fabric or other flexible or pliable material as in the carrier device 500 of
The bracket 600 of
Respective terminal ends 606 of the side members 604, in cooperation with the terminal ends 542 and 544 of the body member 530, define the first end 502 of the assembled carrier device 500. A respective ramped inward contact surface 608 adjacent the terminal end 606 of each side member 604 of the bracket 600 defines a tapered opening 510 at the first end 502 of the assembled carrier device 500.
Each lateral side member 604, along its laterally outward face, has longitudinally spaced (in the length dimension) pairs of parallel ribs, referenced in
The ribs 610, 612 and 614 rigidify the side members 604 and provide guiding and retention of the binding member 120. The ribs and gaps define alternating high portions (ribs) and low portions (gaps) to guide and stabilize the binding member 120 in a binding arrangement with portions of the binding member received in the gaps.
Each lateral side member 604 has a loop 630 surrounding and defining a hole 632 for passage and retention of the binding member 120, for example as shown in
The loop 630 and hole 632 thereof are dimensioned to receive multiple binding lines, for example as shown in
An opening 510 (
A first exterior side of the carrier device 500 may be generally directed outward when the carrier device is mounted on a host structure, and can thus be nominally termed the front side 512. (
Retention of the magazine 60 by the carrier device 500 against unintended removal, for example as a user or gear on which the device is mounted moves about, is assured by the elastically self-adjusting performance of the carrier device. A binding member 120 is stretched between the front side 512, and back side 514 of the device 500, crossing and capturing the lateral sides of the device 500 defined by the lateral side members 604 of the bracket 600. This adjustably circumferentially tightens the device around the magazine to maintain frictional engagement. This frictionally secures an inserted magazine while permitting sliding entry and removal of the magazine by force applied by hand at the outward extending end of the magazine.
The exterior front side 512 and opposite exterior back side 514 of the carrier device 500 in the illustrated embodiment are defined by the outer surfaces of corresponding sections of the single body member 530, which in the illustrated embodiment, is a flexible and foldable rectangular assembly having pliable components constructed of flexible pliable materials such as durable fabric and pliable band portions. The body member 530 is folded in the assembled device 500 (
A sectioned member 536 of pliable material is mounted to the outward side of the first section 532, for example by stitching. The sectioned member 536 has multiple band portions 538 defined between slots 539, such that the band portions 538 act as loops to receive and retain respective portions of the binding member 120. Similarly, pliable bands 540 are mounted to the outward side of the second section 534, for example by stitching, such that the pliable bands 540 act as loops to receive and retain respective other portions of the binding member 120. Border strips 544 that strengthen outer lateral edges 542 of the body member 530 are attached to the main body section 532, for example by stitching.
The bracket 700 of
Similarly, the bracket 800 of
Particular embodiments and features have been described with reference to the drawings. It is to be understood that these descriptions are not limited to any single embodiment or any particular set of features, and that similar embodiments and features may arise or modifications and additions may be made without departing from the scope of these descriptions and the spirit of the appended claims.
This application is a continuation of U.S. non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 18/146,129, titled “ADJUSTABLE CARRIER DEVICE,” filed on Dec. 23, 2022, which is a continuation of U.S. non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 17/519,155, titled “ADJUSTABLE CARRIER DEVICE,” filed on Nov. 4, 2021, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,536,550 issued on Dec. 27, 2022, each of which is hereby incorporated in their entireties by this reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 18146129 | Dec 2022 | US |
Child | 18466273 | US | |
Parent | 17519155 | Nov 2021 | US |
Child | 18146129 | US |