Implements, such as tools, weapons, and the like, may be encased in a holster for protection of the implement and/or the user, while providing access to the implement. For example, a holster may allow a user to conveniently carry the implement, safely retaining the implement until needed. When the implement is to be used, the user may withdraw the implement from the holster, and then return it to the holster when finished. In some cases, such as with a handgun for example, the holster may allow the user to conceal the implement, or to conceal the fact that the user is carrying the implement.
Holsters or other cases may be worn on a user (attached to an article or garment of the user) for convenience of carrying the tool or implement. In various examples, a holster can be worn on a belt or strap, for instance, either in public view or concealed from view. In some cases, the holster is temporarily or permanently attached to the belt or strap using an attachment device, such as a clip, strap, loop, or the like. However, in many situations it may be desirable for the user to be able to determine the ride height and orientation of the holster, including the cant angle of the holster, for convenience of withdrawing the implement and for comfort or utility while wearing the holster.
The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The use of the same reference numbers in different figures indicates similar or identical items.
For this discussion, the devices and systems illustrated in the figures are shown as having a multiplicity of components. Various implementations of devices and/or systems, as described herein, may include fewer components and remain within the scope of the disclosure. Alternately, other implementations of devices and/or systems may include additional components, or various combinations of the described components, and remain within the scope of the disclosure. Shapes and/or dimensions shown in the illustrations of the figures are for example, and other shapes and or dimensions may be used and remain within the scope of the disclosure, unless specified otherwise.
Representative implementations of devices and techniques provide an adjustable clip that may be adjusted in overall length. In various embodiments, the adjustable clip may be used to temporarily or permanently attach an item (such as a handgun holster, for example) to a support location (such as a belt of a user, for example). While hanging from or attached to the support, the clip can hold the holster, or any other type of load. In alternate implementations, the adjustable clip may be used to attach various items to varying locations as desired.
The clip is configured to be easily adjusted in overall length (or effective length) for adjusting a distance of the load item from the support location. For example, the clip may be mounted to a holster (see
In various implementations, a user can adjust the adjustable clip while the clip is mounted to the item, via an actuator on the clip, or by other techniques. For instance, the actuator may be any mechanism that allows the adjustable clip to increase or decrease in overall length (or effective length) when actuated and prevents the adjustable clip from changing in overall length (or effective length) when not actuated (at rest). In some implementations, the clip may have multiple discrete length adjustment positions. In other implementations, the clip may be adjusted in length in an infinitely variable sense.
Techniques and devices are discussed with reference to example handgun holsters illustrated in the figures. However, this is not intended to be limiting, and is for ease of discussion and illustrative convenience. The techniques and devices discussed may be applied to a holster or to any of various cases, case designs, combinations, and the like, (e.g., holsters, sheaths, covers, cases, carriers, scabbards, etc.) for encasing tools, weapons, or other implements, and remain within the scope of the disclosure.
Further, the techniques and devices are illustrated generally with reference to an inside waistband (IWB) holster. This is also not intended to be limiting. In various implementations, the techniques and devices may be employed with inside waistband (IWB) holsters, outside waistband (OWB) holsters, as well as holsters or cases that may be worn in various ways using a belt, strap, or other article. In alternate implementations, the techniques and devices may be employed in other ways or with other devices, systems, instruments, or the like.
Implementations are explained in more detail below using a plurality of examples. Although various implementations and examples are discussed here and below, further implementations and examples may be possible by combining the features and elements of individual implementations and examples.
An example clip 100, as shown in
In various embodiments, the lower clip portion 104 is moveably coupled to the upper clip portion 102 and is arranged to extend away from the upper clip portion 102 or to retract towards the upper clip portion 102 to adjust an overall length (or an effective length) of the adjustable clip 100. For example, in some embodiments, the lower clip portion 104 is slideably coupled to the upper clip portion 102. In various embodiments, the upper clip portion 102 includes one or more interface features (e.g., cavity, channel, rail, slot, tab, guide, etc.) for interfacing with the lower clip portion 104 and for adjusting an overall length (or an effective length) of the adjustable clip 100.
In an implementation, the lower clip portion 104 is arranged to fit within a cavity 106 in the upper clip portion 102. The lower clip portion 104 can travel (e.g., slide, screw, etc.) within the cavity 106 to extend out of the upper clip portion 102 to increase the overall length of the clip 100, or to retract into the upper clip portion 102 to decrease the overall length of the clip 100. In another implementation, the upper clip portion 102 is arranged to fit within a cavity 106 in the lower clip portion 104. The lower clip portion 104 can travel (e.g., slide, screw, etc.) with respect to the upper clip portion 102 to extend from the upper clip portion 102 to increase the overall length (or an effective length) of the clip 100, or to retract toward the upper clip portion 102 to decrease the overall length (or an effective length) of the clip 100.
In an embodiment, the lower clip portion 104 includes a beveled end 116 (see
In various embodiments, the lower clip portion 104 includes at least one mounting hole 108 for coupling the lower clip portion 104 to the load object (e.g., a holster, etc.). For example, a mounting hole 108 may be disposed at an end of the lower clip portion 104 to allow for minimum and maximum overall lengths of the adjustable clip 100. The load object may be coupled at the mounting hole 108 using a fastener that allows the lower clip portion 104 to pivot with respect to the load object, if desired.
In various embodiments, an actuator 110 may be coupled to a portion of the clip 100 to control movement of the lower clip portion 104 with respect to the upper clip portion 102, and thus, control the overall length of the clip 100. For example, the actuator 110 may be coupled to or integral with the lower clip portion 104 or the upper clip portion 102, and user-activated to control the movement. In an embodiment, the actuator 110 allows the lower clip portion 104 to travel (i.e., extend or retract) with respect to the upper clip portion 102 when the actuator 110 is in a first position (i.e., actuated), and prevents the lower clip portion 104 from travelling with respect to the upper clip portion 102 when the actuator 110 is in a second position (i.e., at rest, not actuated). The actuator may be spring loaded (either with a discrete or an integral spring-type device) such that the spring is unloaded when the actuator 110 is in the first or second position, as desired.
In an implementation, when the upper clip portion 102 includes a cavity 106 and the lower clip portion 104 is inserted into the cavity 106 (see
In several example embodiments, as shown in
In the example of
In an implementation, as shown in
In another example embodiment, as shown in
In various implementations, as shown in
In some embodiments, such as the example shown in
In alternate implementations, the detents 114, protrusions 502, and openings 604 may be disposed along one or both side edges of the lower clip portion 104. Further, in some variations, the detents 114, protrusions 502, and openings 604 (e.g., stops) may comprise fine or coarse pitch teeth, slots, or the like, or tabs and the like. In one variation (not shown), the channel 112 and/or edges of the lower clip portion 104 and/or upper clip portion 102 include a textured surface that provides friction to the actuator 110. In the variation, the lower clip portion 104 has unlimited stop positions along its length.
In an implementation, as shown in
As shown in
As shown in the example of
The example shown in
In various implementations, the adjustable clip 100 is comprised of various plastics, composites, metals, combinations of the same, or the like. For example, the clip 100 may be comprised of a polyamide, or similar material. In various embodiments, the clip 100 has rigidity and stability properties based on a particular material selected for the clip 100. For example, some materials that may be used include styrenic block copolymers (TPE-s), polyolefin blends (TPE-o), elastomeric alloys (TPE-v or TPV), thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), Thermoplastic copolyesters, thermoplastic polyamides, various metals and alloys, fiber composites, combinations of the same, and the like. Additionally, in some embodiments, the stability properties are also based on a thickness of the clip 100.
The order in which the process is described is not intended to be construed as a limitation, and any number of the described process blocks can be combined in any order to implement the process, or alternate processes. Additionally, individual blocks may be deleted from the process without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter described herein. Furthermore, the process can be implemented in any suitable hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof, without departing from the scope of the subject matter described herein.
At block 1002, the process includes moveably coupling an upper clip portion (such as upper clip portion 102, for example) to a lower clip portion (such as lower clip portion 104, for example). In an embodiment, the upper clip portion and the lower clip portion include one or more interface features arranged to adjust a relative position of the upper clip portion to the lower clip portion. The relative position determines an overall length of the adjustable clip comprising the upper clip portion and the lower clip portion.
In some embodiments, the process includes slideably coupling the lower clip portion to the upper clip portion. In other embodiments, the process includes moveably coupling the lower clip portion to the upper clip portion via a screw-type mechanism. Alternately, other moveable coupling techniques may be used with the lower clip portion and the upper clip portion.
At block 1004, the process includes moving an actuator (such as actuator 110, for example) into a first position to allow the lower clip portion to move relative to the upper clip portion. In various implementations, the adjustable clip may include more than one actuator. In the implementations, the multiple actuators may be operable independently or in groups. For example, just one of a plurality of the actuators may be used at a time in some cases, and in other cases multiple actuators may be used together.
In some embodiments, moving the actuator into the first position includes putting the actuator into a state of tension. This can include bending a portion of the actuator, compressing or stretching a spring component associated with the actuator, or the like. For instance, in some examples, the actuator includes a button to be pressed by a user to actuate the actuator.
In another implementation, moving the actuator into the first position comprises removing the actuator from its locked position. In the implementation, the actuator may be a discrete component, separable from the upper and lower clip portions, or an integral or coupled component to one or both of the upper and lower clip portions. Removing the actuator from its locked position allows the lower clip portion to move relative to the upper clip portion.
At block 1006, the process includes extending the lower clip portion from the upper clip portion while the actuator is in the first position to increase an overall length of the adjustable clip.
At block 1008, the process includes retracting the lower clip portion towards the upper clip portion while the actuator is in the first position to decrease the overall length of the adjustable clip.
At block 1010, the process includes moving the actuator into a second position to prevent the lower clip portion from moving relative to the upper clip portion. For instance, the lower clip portion can be locked into position once moved to a desirable position relative to the upper clip portion. In one example, moving the actuator into a second position comprises releasing the actuator, so that it returns to a state of rest from a state of tension. In another example, moving the actuator into a second position comprises placing the actuator into a locked position. Placing the actuator into the locked position may include inserting the actuator into an opening, a slot, a detent, or the like.
In an implementation, the process includes coupling the adjustable clip (or a plurality of the adjustable clips) to an implement holster, or the like. In one example, the process includes fine tuning a ride height and a cant angle of the implement holster by extending or retracting the lower clip portion relative to the upper clip portion while the adjustable clip is coupled to the implement holster.
In alternate implementations, other techniques may be included in the process in various combinations, and remain within the scope of the disclosure.
The techniques, components, and devices described herein with respect to the implementations are not limited to the illustrations of
Although various implementations and examples are discussed herein, further implementations and examples may be possible by combining the features and elements of individual implementations and examples.
Although the implementations of the disclosure have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the implementations are not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as representative forms of implementing the claims.
This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e)(1) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/359,301, filed Jul. 7, 2016, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62359301 | Jul 2016 | US |