Implements, such as tools, weapons, and the like, may be temporarily encased in a carrier (such as a holster, for instance) for protection of the implement and/or the user, while providing access to the implement. For example, a carrier 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 carrier, and then return it to the carrier 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.
A carrier may be worn on a person for convenience of the user. In some examples, the carrier may be coupled to an item of the user's clothing, such as to a belt or the waistband of trousers, for instance. In other examples, the carrier may be coupled to an accessory item, such as to a strap or a harness worn on the back or shoulders of the user, or worn on a leg of the user. Further, the carrier may be coupled to a utility pack or bag, it may be coupled to an item of tactical gear, or to various other locations on the person.
However, it may not be desirable for the user to wear the implement and holster at all times. For example, it may be desirable to move the implement and holster from a worn position on the user to a temporary location not on the user's person for a time (such as when driving an automobile, sitting at a desk, sleeping in a bed, etc.), and still have ready and convenient access to the implement.
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.
Overview
Representative implementations of devices and techniques provide a duty mount assembly to mount and to support an implement (such as a handgun, for example) or an implement holster (such as a handgun holster, for example), or the like, in a variety of configurations. The duty mount assembly is arranged to be mounted in various locations for temporarily and safely mounting the implement, while making the implement easily accessible to the user.
In some examples, the duty mount assembly may be mounted to user-wearable supports for carrying the implement. For example, a portion of the duty mount assembly (the adapter, for instance) may be mounted to a handgun holster and another portion of the duty mount assembly (the receiver, for instance) may be mounted to (or integral with) a wearable device, such as a paddle, a belt slide, etc., that may be worn by a user (e.g., on a user's belt, waistband, shoulder rig, ankle rig, etc.). The duty mount assembly can couple the holster to the paddle, belt slide, or the like, for carrying the holster (in an outside-the-waistband (OWB) configuration, for example). Alternately, the receiver may be mounted directly to a tool belt, gun belt, shoulder rig, ankle rig, or other wearable item or accessory.
In another example, the receiver for instance, may be mounted (using one or more mounting holes) to a convenient surface, such as within a vehicle, on a portion of a desk or other furniture, on a bedframe, on a portion of a wall, or the like, either within view or concealed from view. The receiver may be removed from one location and mounted to another location if desired, or multiple receivers may be mounted at various locations. Another portion of the duty mount assembly (the adapter, for instance) may be mounted to a handgun holster. The duty mount assembly can couple the holster to the convenient surface, within the vehicle, on a desk or other furniture, on a bedframe, on a portion of a wall, or the like, for storing or mounting the holster.
In various implementations, a user can remove the implement or implement holster from their person, and mount the implement or implement holster to a receiver (using an adapter coupled to the implement or implement holster) for temporary storage with easy access. For example, when preparing to use a vehicle, the user may remove a holster from a receiver on the user's person, and mount the holster to a receiver located inside the vehicle. The receiver may be coupled to the vehicle in a convenient location, within easy reach of the user while in the vehicle. The user can easily and quickly dismount the implement or implement holster from the receiver in the vehicle and mount it to a receiver on their person when desired (such as when leaving the vehicle). Alternately, the user can withdraw the implement from the holster for use while the holster remains mounted to the receiver within the vehicle. The implement may be returned to the holster while the holster is mounted to the receiver within the vehicle.
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, carriers, containers, implements, tools, objects, and the like, and remain within the scope of the disclosure. For the purposes of this disclosure, the generic term “carrier” is used to indicate any or all of the above.
Further, the shape and quantity of the duty mount components illustrated in the figures may vary to accommodate the various objects to be docked, as well as to accommodate various applications. In alternate embodiments, fewer, additional, or alternate components may be used and/or combined to form a duty mount assembly having an equivalent function and operation.
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.
Example Duty Mount
An example duty mount assembly (“mount”) 100, as shown in
The adapter 104 is arranged to be temporarily or permanently fixed to a carrier (e.g., a holster, a case, an enclosure, a sheath, etc.) which may be configured to hold an implement (e.g., a tool, a weapon, an instrument, etc.), or the like, using one or more mounting holes 108 in the adapter 104 and permanent or temporary fasteners. The adapter 104 may also be temporarily or permanently fixed to an implement. Alternately, the functional roles of the receiver 102 and the adapter 104 may be reversed—the receiver 102 may be configured to be coupled to a carrier and the adapter 104 may be configured to be coupled to an article or a convenient surface.
Referring to
The receiver 102 is arranged to receive an adapter 104 at the pocket 110, and to support a carrier or an implement attached to the adapter 104. As illustrated at
The constituents of the duty mount assembly 100 are removably coupled together by inserting the adapter 104 into the receiver pocket 110 of the receiver 102. As shown at
In some embodiments, the adapter 104 may be inserted into the receiver pocket 110 from the “front” of the receiver 102. For example, the perimeter of the adapter 104 may be lined up with the perimeter of the receiver pocket 110, and the adapter 104 pressed into the receiver pocket 110 until engaging with the receiver 102.
In other embodiments, the adapter 104 may be inserted into the receiver pocket 110 from the “top” of the receiver 102. For example, the frame 114 of the receiver 102 may be open or not present at the top portion of the receiver 102. This opening 117 in the frame 114 can be an opening to the pocket 110 for the adapter 104. The adapter 104 may be lined up with the receiver pocket 110, with the adapter 104 above the receiver 102 (as shown in
In some embodiments, one or more edges of the adapter 104 engage with one or more portions of the groove 116 of the receiver pocket 110. For instance, the one or more edges of the adapter 104 may slide behind the one or more portions of the frame 114 when the adapter 104 is moved down into the receiver pocket 110, guided by the groove 116.
In various embodiments, the adapter 104 comprises a substantially planar component having a perimeter shape that is the same or nearly the same as the shape of the receiver pocket 110. For example, at least a majority (more than 50%) of the perimeter shape of the adapter 104 is the same as the perimeter shape of the receiver pocket 110. In an embodiment, the adapter 104 includes an adapter rim 118 around at least a portion of the perimeter edge of the adapter 104. The rim 118 may comprise a thinner edge than the thickness of the adapter 104. For instance, the rim 118 may have a thickness that matches (e.g., is substantially the same as) the thickness of the groove 116 of the receiver pocket 110.
The rim 118 may be configured to slide into the groove 116, which extends around at least a portion of the perimeter of the receiver pocket 110. For instance, the groove 116 can be a guide for the adapter 104 (and particularly the rim 118) to slide into place within the receiver pocket 110 to engage with the receiver 102. The groove 116 and the receiver frame 114 also provide added security, holding the adapter 104 in place within the receiver pocket 110.
Referring to
In one example, as shown at
Engaging the feature 122 or the portion of the adapter 104 blocks the adapter 104 from being removed from the receiver 102, trapping the adapter 104 in the receiver pocket 110. In some examples, the duty mount assembly 100 may include two or more catch mechanisms 302, engaging multiple features 122 of the adapter 104 to lock the adapter 104 into the receiver pocket 110.
The post 120 of the catch mechanism 302 may be operated using a user-operated actuator 124, for example. The actuator 124 can be a lever (as shown in
As shown in
In the example shown, moving the catch mechanism 302 into the unlocked configuration includes pressing on an upper portion of the actuator 124 (which may include a textured surface at the upper portion of the actuator 124 as an indication of an area to depress), which moves the upper portion of the actuator 124 toward the receiver 102 as the actuator 124 pivots on the upper pivot point 306. This rotation of the actuator 124 causes the lower portion of the actuator 124 to move away from the receiver 102, pulling the post 120 outward, at the lower pivot point 304. Consequently, the post 120 moves away (i.e., retracts) from the adapter 104, clearing the adapter 104.
As shown in
In the example shown, moving the catch mechanism 302 into the locked configuration includes pivoting the actuator 124 on the upper pivot point 306 in an opposite direction and moving the upper portion of the actuator 124 away from the receiver 102. This rotation of the actuator 124 causes the lower portion of the actuator 124 to move toward the receiver 102 at the lower pivot point 304, and the post 120 moves toward the adapter 104 (i.e., extends), engaging the adapter 104.
In one example, the post 120 and/or the actuator 124 may be spring-loaded, biased, or the like, such that moving the actuator 124 in the first direction loads the spring, and the actuator 124 and post 120 moves in the second direction, into the locked configuration, when the spring tension is released (e.g., when the actuator lever 124 is released).
In an implementation, the post 120 may include a ramped portion 308, for instance, so that the adapter 104 can be inserted into the receiver 102 while in the locked configuration. For example, moving the adapter 104 against the ramped portion 308 (while the post 120 is extended) causes the post 120 to be moved out of the way of the adapter 104 (retracts the post 120), and puts the spring device (if present) of the post 120 into tension, until the adapter 104 is fully within the receiver pocket 110. The spring-action of the post 120 (or a manual action by the user on the actuator 124) can move the post 120 back into its extended position, engaging the feature 122 of the adapter 104 once the adapter 104 is fully in place in the pocket 110.
As shown at
The lock covers 202 can partly or fully cover the actuators 124, protecting the actuators 124 from unintentional contact, while the actuators 124 are in the locked configuration. For instance, the lock covers 202 may be pivotally or slideably coupled to the body of the receiver 102, and may be moved into the covered position (as shown in
In various examples, the lock covers 202 comprise a pivotally coupled rigid covering, and may include one or more features 402 (such as one or more teeth, ridges, grooves, and so forth) configured to engage a mating feature 404 (such as one or more matching teeth, ridges, grooves, and so forth) on a portion of the receiver 102. The features 402 of the lock covers 202 may be engaged to the features 404 of the receiver 102 to secure the lock covers 202 into the locked position. For instance, the lock covers 202 may be snapped in place, or the like (as shown in
To remove the adapter 104 from the receiver 102, the lock covers 202 (if present) are moved into the unlocked position (as shown in
The duty mount assembly 100 is discussed in terms of securing a holster, but the duty mount assembly 100 may be used to secure or mount any of various items, where secure mounting is desired. 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.
In various implementations, components of the duty mount assembly 100 are comprised of various plastics, composites, metals, combinations of the same, or the like. For example, the receiver 102 and/or the adapter 104 may be comprised of a polyamide, or similar material. For example, the duty mount assembly 100 components may be injection molded, stamped, formed, or the like. In various embodiments, the duty mount assembly 100 components have rigidity and stability properties based on a particular material selected for the duty mount assembly 100 components. 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 duty mount assembly 100 components.
In various implementations, the duty mount assembly 100 may include fewer, more, or alternate components, and remain within the scope of the disclosure. In various embodiments, the shape and configuration of the duty mount assembly 100 components may vary to accommodate different implements or applications. In an example, the receiver 102 and/or the adapter 104 may be formed to closely fit a particular implement. In other examples, the receiver 102 and/or the adapter 104 may be more generally formed to fit multiple implements.
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.
Conclusion
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. 62/819,258, filed Mar. 15, 2019, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
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5850996 | Liang | Dec 1998 | A |
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6286737 | Whitley | Sep 2001 | B1 |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20200292273 A1 | Sep 2020 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62819258 | Mar 2019 | US |