The present invention relates to grenade pouches, and more particularly to a grenade pouch lid that protects a grenade primer from impact and secures the grenade in a grenade pouch.
Grenade pouches are desirable for enabling law enforcement and military personnel to carry grenades on their person. Grenade pouches are frequently designed to attach to tactical vests so the grenade pouches can be worn. Grenade pouches are designed with flaps that secure the grenades within the grenade pouches while still enabling quick access to the grenades contained therein.
Although grenade pouches provide obvious advantages to the wearer, conventional approaches have also suffered from significant disadvantages. Conventional grenade pouches used with 40 mm grenades, which is a military grenade caliber for grenade launchers, are capable of preventing the grenade from falling out of the grenade pouch through use of a removable strap over the base of the grenade. However, the securing strap of a conventional grenade pouch does not meaningfully protect the percussion primer at the base of the grenade from strong impacts, which could cause catastrophic unintentional discharge of the grenade if an object struck the primer with sufficient force.
In addition, existing grenade pouches suffer from other disadvantages. The speed of deployment may be limited when a simple hook and loop fastener strap is used because of the possibility of a misaligned strap making immediate locating and grasping difficult. Such straps also generate noise when opened, and the loose strap dangling after one grenade has been removed may impair access to other grenades or gear, or may tangle with other items.
Therefore, a need exists for a new and improved grenade pouch lid that protects a grenade primer from impact and secures the grenade in a grenade pouch. In this regard, the various embodiments of the present invention substantially fulfill at least some of these needs. In this respect, the grenade pouch lid according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of protecting a grenade primer from impact and securing the grenade in a grenade pouch.
The present invention provides an improved grenade pouch lid, and overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide an improved grenade pouch lid that has all the advantages of the prior art mentioned above.
To attain this, the preferred embodiment of the present invention essentially comprises a planar body having an arcuate periphery, the arcuate periphery including a rim engagement feature, and the rim engagement feature is operable to secure the planar body to an object having a disc-shaped rim when the rim engagement feature is urged against the rim. The rim engagement feature may include at least two spaced apart elements defining a space therebetween for receiving the rim. The planar body may include a slot, the slot being operable to receive one end of a strap. The planar body may include a wedge shaped portion, the wedge-shaped portion being opposed to the rim engagement feature. The rim engagement feature and the rim may have the same radius. The planar body may cover the center of the rim when the planar body is secured to the object. The object having a disc-shaped rim may be a 40 mm grenade. A grenade pouch is also disclosed. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims attached.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.
The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various figures.
An embodiment of the grenade pouch lid of the present invention is shown and generally designated by the reference numeral 10.
A front skirt 24 extends perpendicularly downwards from the top front of the grenade pouch lid, and a left skirt 26 and a right skirt 28 extend perpendicularly downwards from the left and right sides, respectively, of the grenade pouch lid. The front skirt extends downwards further than do the left and right skirts (about 2½ times in the current embodiment). The skirts match the contours of the top of the grenade pouch lid. The rear of the left and right skirts tapers upwards to match the contour of the wedge surface 34.
The front skirt 24 defines a generally rectangular slot 36 immediately below the top 12 of the grenade pouch lid 10. The wedge surface 34 in the rear of the grenade pouch lid defines a generally rectangular slot 38 immediately below the top 12 of the grenade pouch lid. The front and rear slots are axially registered and are both in communication with the rectangular opening 32 in the top of the grenade pouch lid.
The front skirt 24 has a rearward-facing interior surface 46. The bottom 44 of the front skirt 24 has an attached flange 40. The flange matches the contour of the bottom of the front skirt and extends rearward. A slot 42 is defined between the bottom 14 of the top 12 of the grenade pouch lid 10 and the flange 40.
Although the grenade pouch lid 10 of the current invention has been described as being composed of a plurality of discrete elements, a preferred embodiment of the grenade pouch lid is a unitary construction made of molded plastic.
An elastic strap 110 has opposed ends with one end attached to the rear 108 of the grenade pouch 200. The elastic strap extends downward through the aperture 106 into the pouch. The other end of the elastic strap is passed through the rear slot 38, extends across the grenade pouch lid 10 beneath the rectangular opening 32, and exits through the front slot 36. A gripping tab 112 is attached thereto, which prevents the elastic strap from disengaging from the grenade pouch lid and facilitates grasping of the end of the elastic strap by a user. In the current embodiment, the gripping tab is made of fabric.
When the grenade pouch lid 10 secures a grenade 200 within the grenade pouch 100, the rim 204 is received within the slot 42 between the flange 40 and the bottom 14 of the grenade pouch lid. The elastic strap 110 is distended when the grenade pouch lid is engaged with a grenade and urges the grenade pouch lid rearward such that the interior surface 46 of the front skirt 24 closely abuts the outer periphery 210 of the rim. In the current embodiment, the interior surface has the same radius (0.82 inch) as the rim, and the slot 42 has a width of 0.11 inch, which is slightly larger than the thickness of the rim, so the grenade pouch lid can easily engage and disengage from the grenade.
The continuous surface of the bottom 14 of the grenade pouch lid 10 covers the primer 208 (visible in
As is shown in
The front of the grenade pouch lid has two forwardly extending arms 426, 428. Each of the arms is offset by 60° relative to the front and define a 60° angle between them. Each has a non-arcuate front skirt (424 is shown). The front skirts each have a rearward-facing interior surface (446 is shown). The bottom (444 is shown) of the front skirts has an attached flange (440 is shown). The flanges match the bottom of the front skirts and extend rearward. A slot (442 is shown) is defined between the bottom 414 of the top 12 of the grenade pouch lid 400 and the flanges.
Although the grenade pouch lid 400 of the current invention has been described as being composed of a plurality of discrete elements, a preferred embodiment of the grenade pouch lid is a unitary construction made of molded plastic.
When the grenade pouch lid 400 secures a grenade 200 within a grenade pouch 100 utilizing an elastic strap 110 that is passed through the rear slot, extends across the grenade pouch lid beneath the rectangular opening 432, and exits through the front slot, the rim 204 is received within the slots between the flanges and the bottom 414 of the grenade pouch lid. The interior surfaces of the front skirts tangentially abut the outer periphery 210 of the rim. In the current embodiment, the slots have a width of 0.11 inch, which is slightly larger than the thickness of the rim, so the grenade pouch lid can easily engage and disengage from the grenade.
The continuous surface of the bottom 414 of the grenade pouch lid 400 covers the primer 208 on the base 212 of the grenade 200. As a result, the force generated by an object impacting the grenade pouch lid, even if centered over the primer, is not transmitted directly to the primer. Instead, the impact force is distributed by the grenade pouch lid over a substantial portion of the rim 204 of the grenade, thereby greatly decreasing the chance of unintentional discharge of the grenade.
The front of the grenade pouch lid forms three sides of an octagon in the current embodiment. Each has a non-arcuate front skirt extending downwardly. The front skirts each have a rearward-facing interior surface. The bottom of the front skirts has an attached flange. The flanges extend rearward. A slot (542 is shown) is defined between the bottom of the top 12 of the grenade pouch lid 500 and the flanges.
Although the grenade pouch lid 500 of the current invention has been described as being composed of a plurality of discrete elements, a preferred embodiment of the grenade pouch lid is a unitary construction made of molded plastic.
When the grenade pouch lid 500 secures a grenade 200 within a grenade pouch 100 utilizing an elastic strap 110 that is passed through the rear slot, extends across the grenade pouch lid beneath the rectangular opening 532, and exits through the front slot, the rim 204 is received within the slots between the flanges and the bottom 414 of the grenade pouch lid. The interior surface of the front skirts tangentially abuts the outer periphery 210 of the rim. In the current embodiment, the slots have a width of 0.11 inch, which is slightly larger than the thickness of the rim, so the grenade pouch lid can easily engage and disengage from the grenade.
The continuous surface of the bottom of the grenade pouch lid 500 covers the primer 208 on the base 212 of the grenade 200. As a result, the force generated by an object impacting the grenade pouch lid, even if centered over the primer, is not transmitted directly to the primer. Instead, the impact force is distributed by the grenade pouch lid over a substantial portion of the rim 204 of the grenade, thereby greatly decreasing the chance of unintentional discharge of the grenade.
The grenade pouch lid is a planar plate that is solid throughout. The bottom 644 of the skirt 624 tapers upwards to form a wedge surface 634 below the interior surface 646 of the skirt. The wide surface increases the diameter of the bottom of the skirt to facilitate insertion of the base 210 of a grenade 200. The interior surface of the skirt is sized to closely receive the base of the grenade.
Although the grenade pouch lid 600 of the current invention has been described as being composed of a plurality of discrete elements, a preferred embodiment of the grenade pouch lid is a unitary construction made of molded plastic.
When the grenade pouch lid 600 secures a grenade 200 within a grenade pouch 100, the elastic strap 710 is distended and urges the grenade pouch lid downwards onto the base 212 of the grenade. The interior surface 646 of the skirt 624 tangentially abuts the outer periphery 210 of the rim 204. In
The continuous surface of the bottom 614 of the grenade pouch lid 600 covers the primer 208 on the base 212 of the grenade 200. As a result, the force generated by an object impacting the grenade pouch lid, even if centered over the primer, is not transmitted directly to the primer. Instead, the impact force is distributed by the grenade pouch lid over a substantial portion of the rim 204 of the grenade, thereby greatly decreasing the chance of unintentional discharge of the grenade.
While current embodiments of a grenade pouch lid have been described in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. For example, any object having a cylindrical base can be retained by the grenade pouch lid instead of the 40 mm grenade described.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
5752687 | Lynch | May 1998 | A |
5944238 | Stark | Aug 1999 | A |
6206223 | Wicker | Mar 2001 | B1 |
6991829 | Bergman | Jan 2006 | B2 |
7669742 | Rush | Mar 2010 | B2 |
8172101 | Giusti | May 2012 | B2 |
8523030 | Molcho | Sep 2013 | B1 |
8820572 | Miller | Sep 2014 | B2 |
9085379 | Cummins | Jul 2015 | B2 |