Holster with variable depth pocket

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6305540
  • Patent Number
    6,305,540
  • Date Filed
    Friday, May 19, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, October 23, 2001
    23 years ago
Abstract
A holster (100) includes an adjustable depth pocket (101) for receiving at least a portion of a portable radio (102) in the pocket (101). The portable radio (102) includes an interface, such as a user interface (120, 122), and the holster (100) includes access openings (124, 126). An adjustable false bottom (130) in the pocket (101) is adjustable to provide a variable depth in the pocket (101). When the portable radio (102) is received in the pocket (101) the user interface (120, 122) and the access openings (124, 126) are substantially aligned thereby the user interface (120, 122) is accessible from outside the holster (100) via the access openings (124, 126).
Description




TECHNICAL FIELD




This invention relates in general to the field of holsters and carrying cases, and more particularly to an adjustable depth holster or carrying case for carrying different size and/or dimension articles therein.




DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART




Holsters and carrying cases are commonly used for storing articles contained therein. The articles typically are contained in a pocket or enclosure within the holster or carrying case such that the article is protected from external hazards, and in certain applications the article is easily accessible from access opening in the holster or carrying case. For example, a user interface such as a keypad or a display may be accessible from outside of a holster or carrying case when the portable communication device is stored therein. Typically, the access opening or openings in a holster or carrying case are closely aligned with a user interface of a portable communication device that will be stored in the holster or carrying case. When a user inserts the portable communication device into the holster or carrying case the portable communication device is disposed on an inner bottom surface of the holster or carrying case such that the height of the portable communication device brings the user interface in close alignment with the access openings in the side wall of the holster or carrying case. The height of the user interface on the radio is closely matched with the depth of the pocket in the holster or carrying case.




It is common for portable communication devices to have variable dimensions according to certain features included with particular products. For example, a large battery pack may be included with a portable communication device such as to provide very long battery life and extended use. On the other hand, certain users may wish to have a smaller form factor and would appreciate a smaller battery pack being included with the portable communication device. In another example, a speaker may be larger for certain products than for others depending on an application. This variable size speaker may require a variable form factor and/or height dimension for a portable communication device.




Conventionally, a holster and/or carrying case is customized for each product embodiment. Accordingly, when two separate products have two different height dimensions and/or form factors a different holster and/or carrying case will be offered for each of the product embodiments. The only relevant difference between the two product embodiments with respect to the holster and/or carrying case is the height dimension and/or form factor that varies from product-to-product. Unfortunately, by customizing holster and/or carrying case to a particular embodiment of a product with a particular height dimension and/or form factor requires increased inventory of different holsters and/or carrying cases where the primary difference is in the depth of a pocket in the holster and/or carrying case. The additional inventory, regrettably, consumes additional costs in a manufacturing and marketing operation. Additionally, if a user of a portable communication device desires to alternate between two product form factors and/or height dimensions it would normally require utilizing two different holsters and/or carrying cases.




For example, a user of a portable communication device under certain application may require a large long life battery pack while in other applications may prefer a smaller lighter weight product to carry around. If a user would use only a single large holster or carrying case the smaller portable communication device would likely bounce around in the larger pocket, and may even spill out of a top because the device is not secured into the pocket. This dual device application would require the user to store two holsters and/or carrying cases for the two different height dimensions and/or form factor products, the primary difference being in the combination of the portable communication device with the large or smaller battery pack for a particular application. In this case, the user is burdened with the unnecessary additional cost of purchasing a second holster and/or carrying case for the alternative height dimension and/or form factor.




Therefore, there is a need to simplify and reduce the inventory of holsters and/or carrying cases that a manufacturing and/or marketing operation or a user must maintain to be able to carry product of different height dimension and/or form factor in a respective holster and/or carrying case.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a front planar view of a portable communication device stored in a holster and/or carrying case, with a portion of the holster and/or carrying case being broken away to expose the inside features, according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 2

is a front planar view of a portable communication device stored in an alternative arrangement of the holster and/or carrying case of

FIG. 1

with a portion of the holster and/or carrying case being broken away to expose the inside features.





FIG. 3

is a front planar view of a holster and/or carrying case, with a portion of the holster and/or carrying case being broken away to expose the inside features, according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 4

is a front planar view of a holster and/or carrying case, with a portion of the holster and/or carrying case being broken away to expose the inside features, according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 5

is a front planar view of a holster and/or carrying case, with a portion of the holster and/or carrying case being broken away to expose the inside features, according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention.











DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




This invention utilizes a new and novel holster and/or carrying case, (hereinafter generally referred to as a “holster”), to securely carry devices of different sizes in various dimensions and/or devices of different form factors. Generally, the holster is adjustable to securely accommodate a device in a pocket of the holster, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As will be discussed in detail below, a preferred holster includes at least one adjustable strap that serves to provide a variable depth of a pocket in the holster to securely receive a device or article in the pocket.




Referring to

FIG. 1

, an exemplary holster


100


is illustrated according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. A holster


100


, in this example, contains a pocket


101


for carrying an object, such as a wireless communication device


102


. In this example, the wireless communication device comprises a portable radio


102


. The portable radio


103


includes a battery pack


103


for power source. The battery pack


103


is oversized, in this example, to provide extended battery life to the portable radio


102


. The portable radio


102


includes an antenna


104


to facilitate wireless communication via the radio


102


.




The portable radio


102


, according to this example, is secured in the pocket


101


and additionally held in place by a strap


106


that extends across a top surface of the portable radio


102


. The strap


106


is mechanically coupled to the holster


100


at a joint


107


about one end of the strap


106


and at a snap closure


108


about the other end of the strap


106


. The snap closure


108


on the strap


106


mates to a snap catch


110


on the holster


100


to fasten the end of the strap


106


to the holster


100


. The strap


106


, of course, can be mechanically coupled to the holster


100


in other ways that are obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the discussion above. For example, hooks and eyelets or other types of fasteners can be used in place of the snap closure


108


and snap catch


110


in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Also, a binding, stitching, or other form of fastening could be used about the other end of the strap


106


to mechanically couple that end to the holster


100


. The strap


106


makes sure that an object, such as a portable radio


102


is securely received in the pocket


101


, and that it does not bounce around loose in the pocket


101


possibly causing damage to the portable radio


102


, discomfort to a wearer of the holster


100


, and a possible opportunity to spill the portable radio


102


out of the top opening of the holster


100


.




The portable radio


102


includes an interface, such as a user interface. The user interface, a shown, provides a keypad


122


, e.g., a collection of keys or buttons, and a display


120


, for a user of the portable radio


102


to communicate, such as to send and receive voice audio messages and view displayable information with the portable radio


102


. The holster


100


includes a set of access openings


124


,


126


that is substantially aligned with the user interface of the portable radio


102


. Specifically, a first set of access openings


126


in the holster


100


are aligned with the keys of the keypad


122


on the portable radio


102


when the portable radio


102


is received in the pocket


101


of the holster


100


. A separate access opening


124


, in this example, is provided for the display


120


of the portable radio


102


. When the portable radio


102


is located in the pocket


101


of the holster


100


, the depth of the pocket


101


is substantially conforming with the height of the user interface of the radio


102


such that the set of access openings


124


,


126


, of the holster


100


is substantially aligned with the keys of the keypad


122


and the display


120


. In this way, a user of the portable radio


102


can continue to use the portable radio


102


from the outside of the holster


100


while the radio


102


is contained in the pocket


101


of the holster


100


.




According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a strap


130


is fitted inside the pocket


101


of the holster


100


. One end of the strap


130


is secured to the holster


100


at a joint


132


. This joint


132


preferably comprises a stitching-or binding to mechanically couple the strap


106


to the holster


100


. However, other fastening or retaining mechanism may be used here, as may be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art after the discussion presented above. A length of the strap


130


inside the pocket


101


of the holster


100


runs about the outer surface of the portable radio


102


device and a portion of the strap


130


exits through a slot


133


in the side wall of the holster


100


. An end of the strap


106


is captured to the outer surface of the holster


100


by a fastener or retainer. In this example, the fastener or retainer comprises a snap closure


134


that mates to a snap catch


136


on the outer surface of the holster


100


. However, other fastening or retaining mechanisms may be used to capture and hold in place the end of the strap


130


to the outer surface of the holster


100


.




As can be seen in this example, the strap


130


inside the pocket


101


of the holster


100


extends on the bottom inner surface of the pocket


101


in the holster


100


. The portable radio


102


rests on top of the strap


130


on the bottom of the holster


100


. Therefore, the full depth of the pocket


101


in the holster


100


is available to receive a portable radio


102


. The user interface of this portable radio


102


is located at a predetermined first height on the portable radio


102


relative to the bottom of the portable radio


102


. A set of access openings


124


,


126


, in the holster


100


is located at a predetermined first depth in the pocket


101


in the holster


100


. When the portable radio


102


is received in the pocket


101


in the holster


100


, a shown, the user interface, such as the display


120


and the keypad


122


, substantially aligns with the set of access openings


124


,


126


, in the holster


100


. The user interface is therefore accessible by a user from outside the holster


100


. The predetermined first height of the user interface on the portable radio


102


is substantially conforming to the predetermined first depth of the access openings


124


,


126


, in the pocket


101


in the holster


100


.




The user interface of the portable radio


102


is accessible by a user through the access openings


124


,


126


, in the holster


100


such that a user of the portable radio


102


is able to manipulate the keypad


122


, for example, and view the display


120


. Additionally, other exemplary configurations of a portable radio


102


may include other interfaces that would be accessible via substantially aligned access openings in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. For example, an audio jack interface (not shown) on the portable radio


102


would be accessible for mating with and external microphone, ear piece, or headset plug (not shown) via an access opening (not shown) in the holster


100


. As a second example, an infrared IrDA interface (not shown) on the portable radio


102


may be accessible through an access opening (not shown) in the holster


100


such that the portable radio


102


may be able to send and receive infrared data while being located in the pocket


101


in the holster


100


. As a third example, a power input jack (not shown) on the portable radio


102


can be accessible by an external power source cable plug (not shown) via a substantially aligned access opening (not shown) in the pocket


101


in the holster


100


. In this way, an external power source can provide power to a portable radio


102


even when the portable radio


102


is secured in the holster


100


. This arrangement of access openings, as discussed above, can significantly increase the available functions and associated value added to a user when the portable radio


102


is inserted into the holster


100


.




Referring to

FIG. 2

, a portable radio


102


is shown located in the holster


100


with the strap


130


forming a false bottom in the pocket


101


of the holster


100


. In this example, the portable radio


102


has dimensions including a predetermined second height of an interface, such as a user interface


120


,


122


. Access openings,


124


,


126


, in the holster


100


, substantially aligned with the user interface


120


,


122


when the false bottom created by the strap


130


supports the portable radio


102


within the pocket


101


of the holster


100


as shown. The set of access openings


124


,


126


, in the holster


100


is located at a predetermined second depth in the pocket


101


in the holster


100


, the predetermined second depth substantially conforming with the predetermined second height thereby substantially aligning the access openings,


124


,


126


, in the holster


100


, with the user interface


120


,


122


. As shown in

FIG. 2

, the oversized battery pack


103


(see

FIG. 1

) has been removed in this configuration of the portable radio


102


. This configuration, for example, may be desirable by a user when a lighter weight product (with a smaller and lighter battery power source) is more important than having the maximum extended battery life provided by the oversized battery pack


103


.




In this example, the snap closure


134


about an end of the strap


130


is unsnapped from the first position snap catch


136


on the holster


100


and the end of the strap


130


with the snap closure


134


is extended to a second position snap catch


138


on the outer surface of the holster


100


, such that when the snap closure


134


is snapped and secured to the snap catch


138


the stretched strap


130


creates a false bottom in the pocket


101


of the holster


100


as shown. This false bottom creates a predetermined second depth in the pocket


101


which is in conformance with a predetermined second height for an interface of a portable radio


102


device, as shown. The interface, such as a user interface


120


,


122


, on the portable radio


102


is substantially aligned to the access openings


124


,


126


, in the pocket


101


of the holster


100


such that the user interface


120


,


122


, is accessible by a user via the access openings


124


,


126


.




In this example, with the extended strap


130


creating a predetermined second depth “false bottom” in the pocket


101


, besides a user interface, such as a keypad


122


and a display


120


, the portable radio


102


may include other types of interfaces (not shown) that are accessible via other access openings (not shown) in the holster


100


. Access openings (not shown) can be located in the holster


100


to provide external access to these other interfaces (not shown). For example, an external microphone or ear piece or head set may be plugged in, through an access opening, to an interface, such as audio jack, on the portable radio


102


. Additionally, for example, an IrDA interface on the portable radio


102


may be communicatively coupled to an external IrDA equipped device that is enabled to communicate via IrDA data communication with the portable radio


102


. As another example, an external power supply (not shown) may be coupled to the portable radio


102


via an access opening (not shown) in the holster


100


, where the access opening has been substantially aligned with a power supply interface, such as a power jack, (not shown) on the portable radio


102


. As discussed above, many different configurations of interfaces can be substantially aligned to access openings in the holster


100


, according to preferred embodiments of the present invention. The ability to substantially align many different interfaces with access openings provides significant value to a user of the new and novel holster


100


and of at least one portable radio


102


. The adjustable depth of the pocket


101


, compare for example the two exemplary pocket depths of the pocket


101


shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

, allows different portable radio


102


configurations and/or form factors to be used with the same holster


100


according to preferred embodiments of the present invention.




One end of the strap


130


has been shown coupled to an interior wall of the holster


100


with the other end of the strap


130


exiting at a slot in an opposing wall in the holster


100


and then being secured by a snap closure


134


to a catch, such as the snap catch


138


, on an external surface of the holster


100


. However, the adjustable false bottom mechanism for the pocket


101


of a holster


100


can vary significantly within the scope and spirit of the present invention, as will be discussed below with respect to a number of alternative preferred embodiments.




As illustrated in

FIG. 3

, a holster


300


includes a pocket


301


of adjustable depth for receiving at least a portion of an object such as a portable radio


102


(not shown in

FIG. 3

) in the pocket


301


. A first end of a strap


320


exits via a first slot


308


in the holster


300


and a second end of the strap


320


exits via a second slot


310


in the holster


300


. Each end of the strap


320


includes a snap closure


322


,


324


, as shown. A set of snap catches, such as four snap catches


330


,


332


,


334


,


336


, is located about an outer wall of the holster


300


to provide four snap positions for the snap closure


322


about the first end of the strap


320


. Similarly, a set of snap catches, such as four snap catches


340


,


342


,


344


,


346


, is located about an outer wall of the holster


300


to provide four snap positions for the snap closure


324


about the second end of the strap


320


. The four snap positions on the two outer walls of the holster


300


, as shown, provide significant flexibility for the strap


320


to be progressively adjusted in the pocket


301


to provide a variety of predetermined depths for the pocket


301


. These predetermined depths can be substantially conforming to a variety of predetermined heights of interfaces in different portable radios


102


or other objects that can be received in the pocket


301


. In this way, by adjusting the depth of the pocket


301


, for example, the access openings


302


,


306


, may be substantially aligned to a user interface


120


,


122


, on the portable radio


102


when the portable radio


102


is received in the pocket


301


.




When the portable radio


102


is received in the pocket


301


in the holster


300


, as shown, the user interface, such as the display


120


and the keypad


122


, substantially aligns with the set of access openings


302


,


306


, in the holster


300


. The user interface is therefore accessible by a user from outside the holster


300


. By further adjusting the depth of the pocket


301


, such as by repositioning the first snap closure


322


across the snap catches


330


,


332


,


334


,


336


, and the second snap closure


324


across the snap catches


340


,


342


,


344


,


346


, the pocket


301


may receive other objects, such as other portable radios


102


with varying dimensions while allowing interfaces in the portable radios


102


to be substantially aligned with a set of access openings in the holster


300


. This is a significant advantage of the present invention.




As illustrated in

FIG. 4

, according to an alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention, a holster


400


includes a pocket


401


having adjustable depth. A set of access openings


402


,


406


, in the holster


400


are substantially aligned to an interface (not shown) of an object, such as a portable radio


102


, when the portable radio


102


is received in the pocket


401


. The adjustable depth of the pocket


401


is provided by a strap


420


having a first snap closure


422


about one end of the strap


420


and a second snap closure


424


about a second end of the strap


420


. The first snap closure


422


mates to one of first at least one snap catch


430


,


432


,


434


, located inside the holster


400


, and the second snap closure


424


mates to one of second at least one snap catch


440


,


442


,


444


, located inside the holster


400


. By repositioning the first snap closure


422


across the first at least one snap catch


430


,


432


,


434


, and repositioning the second snap closure


424


across the second at least one snap catch


440


,


442


,


444


, the false bottom and depth of the pocket


401


can be adjusted. The first and second at least one snap catch


430


,


432


,


434


,


440


,


442


,


444


, are preferably located in a recess or channel (not shown) portion in the wall of the holster


400


. This recess or channel portion allows the snap closures and catches to snap securely while preventing a sliding object, such as a portable radio


102


, being inserted in, or being removed from, the pocket


401


from being scratched or damaged by any protruding snap catch in the holster


400


.




The variable depth of the pocket accommodates different dimensions for an object, such as a portable radio


102


, to substantially align an interface in the portable radio


102


with access openings


402


,


406


, in the holster


400


. By utilizing the snap features inside the holster


400


, as discussed above, the exterior surfaces of the holster


400


can remain a smooth finish. This may be useful, in particular applications, to provide a smooth external surface of the holster


400


for a user to wear without concern that an externally located snap catch may damage another object coming in contact with the holster


400


. Additionally, a user may prefer to wear an externally smooth holster


400


, for example, to increase wearing comfort against user's skin, and to decrease the possibility of damaging clothes or other objects.




As shown in

FIG. 5

, according to an alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention, a holster


500


includes a pocket


501


having adjustable depth. A rigid, or semi-rigid, panel


510


provides a false bottom for the pocket


501


. The false bottom is adjustable to vary the depth of the pocket


501


. The panel


510


comprises a polycarbonate material. The panel


510


is fitted within the dimensions of the side walls of the pocket


501


in the holster


500


providing a false bottom inside the pocket


501


in the holster


500


. The dimensions of the panel


510


preferably extend substantially to the dimensions of the inner walls of the pocket


501


. However, the dimensions of the panel


510


can be significantly smaller than the dimensions of the inner walls of the pocket


501


while providing the false bottom for the pocket


501


.




The panel


510


, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is mechanically coupled to at least one strap


512


,


514


, that can extend from the panel


510


upwardly in the pocket


501


and can be secured to an inner wall or to an outer wall of the holster


500


. The at least one strap


512


,


514


, includes a snap closure


524


,


528


, about the end of the at least one strap


512


,


514


. A snap catch (not shown in

FIG. 5

) can be located at a desired depth along an inner wall of the pocket


501


in the holster


500


. Alternatively, at least one snap catch


526


,


532


,


530


,


534


, is located on the outer wall of the holster


500


. The at least one strap


512


,


514


, exits the holster


500


through respective at least one slot


520


,


522


. The snap closure


524


,


528


, about the end of the at least one strap


512


,


514


, mates with respective at least one snap catch


526


,


532


,


530


,


534


, to position the false bottom at a plurality of predetermined depths in the pocket


501


. In this example, as shown in

FIG. 5

, a first strap


512


includes a snap closure


524


that can be snapped to one of two snap catches


526


,


532


, to provide two positions for varying the depth of the pocket


501


. A second strap


514


similarly includes a snap closure


528


that can be snapped to one of two snap catches


530


,


534


, to provide two positions for varying the depth of the pocket


501


. The first and second straps


512


and


514


, as shown, are mechanically coupled to first and second dimensions of the panel


510


providing the adjustable false bottom in the pocket


501


. The first and second dimensions are substantially perpendicular to each other.




When the end of the at least one strap


512


,


514


, is snapped and secured to the holster


500


, the panel


510


forms a false bottom that can support, for example, the portable radio


102


at a predetermined depth in the pocket


501


. When the portable radio


102


is received in the pocket


501


, an interface (not shown in

FIG. 5

) in the portable radio


102


is substantially aligned with the access openings


502


,


506


. The interface is therefore accessible from outside the holster


500


via the access openings


502


,


506


.




Although the examples discussed above illustrate incremental steps of adjustment for the variable depth pocket


101


of a holster


100


it may be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a variable depth pocket


101


can be adjusted in very coarse steps or very fine steps, or alternatively, in a continuously variable adjustment that would allow the variable depth pocket


101


in a holster


100


to be used in many different applications. For example, a pressure catch feature that does not require mating to any particular predetermined position on a strap can be utilized on an outside wall of the holster


100


to provide continuously variable adjustment to the length of the strap along the outer wall and thereby adjusting continuously the inner depth of the pocket


101


according to the position of the false bottom.




By being able to adjust the depth of a pocket


101


to match different dimensions, form factors, and heights of particular interfaces of devices that are to be located in the pocket


101


of the holster


100


, the present invention provides significant advantages. Specifically, an interface can be substantially aligned to access openings in the walls of the holster


100


for varying dimensions of products to be received in a pocket


101


in the holster


100


. Therefore, a single holster


100


can conveniently serve different product dimensions, form factors, and heights for interfaces on the product to be used in combination with the holster


100


. This is a significant advantage not available in any known prior art holster.




Although specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, it will be understood by those having ordinary skill in the art that changes can be made to the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is not to be restricted, therefore, to the specific embodiments, and it is intended that the appended claims cover any and all such applications, modifications, and embodiments within the scope of the present invention.



Claims
  • 1. A holster comprising:a pocket for receiving at least a portion of an electronic device in the pocket, the holster comprising at least one access opening associated with the pocket; an adjustable false bottom in the pocket to provide an adjustable depth in the pocket, the adjustable false bottom being adjustable to provide a plurality of depths in the pocket relative to the at least one access opening, the plurality of depths substantially conforming to a respective plurality of heights of a plurality of interfaces of electronic devices, respectively, such that one of the plurality of interfaces is substantially aligned with the at least one access opening of the holster when an electronic device is received in the pocket, thereby the one interface being accessible from outside the holster via the at least one access opening; and wherein at least one strap mechanically coupled to the adjustable false bottom and to the holster to provide support for the adjustable false bottom in the pocket where the at least one strap is used to continuously adjust the relative position of the adjustable false bottom in the pocket and further wherein the at least one strap comprises first and second straps, and the first and second straps are mechanically coupled to the adjustable false bottom at first and second dimensions of the adjustable false bottom, respectively, and the first dimension is substantially perpendicular to the second dimension, and the first and second straps are mechanically coupled to the holster, thereby providing support for the adjustable false bottom in the pocket.
  • 2. The holster of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a portable radio and the interface comprises a user interface, and wherein the user interface is accessible by a user from outside the holster via the at least one access opening to operate the portable radio in the holster.
  • 3. The holster of claim 1, further comprising:at least one slot on at least one wall of the holster, the at least one strap being guided through the at least one slot, respectively, and being mechanically coupled to the adjustable false bottom in the pocket and to an outer at least one surface of the holster to provide support for the adjustable false bottom in the pocket.
  • 4. The holster of claim 1, wherein an outer at least one surface of the holster comprises first and second fasteners located at first and second positions for mechanically coupling the at least one strap at the first and second positions and thereby positioning the adjustable false bottom in the pocket to a first and second depth, respectively.
  • 5. The holster of claim 1, wherein the at least one strap comprises a single strap mechanically coupled to the adjustable false bottom and to the holster, and the adjustable false bottom comprises an at least semi-rigid panel, to provide support for the adjustable false bottom in the pocket.
  • 6. A method comprising the steps of:adjusting a location of a false bottom in a pocket of a holster thereby providing a depth for at least one access opening in the holster, the depth substantially conforming with a height of an interface of an electronic device such that when at least a portion of the electronic device is received in the pocket the interface is accessible from outside of the holster via the at least one access opening; securing the false bottom to the holster to provide support for the electronic device in the pocket; and wherein the false bottom comprises at least one strap, and wherein the adjusting step comprises the step of positioning the at least one strap along a surface of the holster, and further wherein the securing step comprises the step of securing the at least one strap to the holster at the positioned location on the surface of the holster and providing a depth to the false bottom for at least one access opening in the holster where the at least one strap comprises first and second straps, and wherein the first and second straps are mechanically coupled to the adjustable false bottom at first and second dimensions of the adjustable false bottom, respectively, and wherein the first dimension is substantially perpendicular to the second dimension, and the first and second straps are mechanically coupled to the holster, thereby providing support for the adjustable false bottom in the pocket.
  • 7. A holster for receiving a portable radio having a user interface, the holster comprising:a pocket for receiving at least a portion of a portable radio in the pocket, the holster comprising at least one access opening associated with the pocket; and an adjustable false bottom in the pocket to provide an adjustable depth in the pocket, the adjustable false bottom being adjustable to provide a plurality of depths in the pocket relative to the at least one access opening, the plurality of depths substantially conforming to a respective plurality of heights of a plurality of interfaces of portable radios, respectively, such that one of the plurality of interfaces is substantially aligned with the at least one access opening of the holster when a portable radio is received in the pocket, thereby the one interface being accessible from outside the holster via the at least one access opening; and at least one strap mechanically coupled to the adjustable false bottom and to the holster to provide support for the adjustable false bottom in the pocket wherein the at least one strap comprises first and second straps, and wherein the first and second straps are mechanically coupled to the adjustable false bottom at first and second dimensions of the adjustable false bottom, respectively, and wherein the first dimension is substantially perpendicular to the second dimension, and the first and second straps are mechanically coupled to the holster, thereby providing support for the adjustable false bottom in the pocket.
  • 8. The holster of claim 7, wherein the interface comprises a user interface, and wherein the user interface is accessible by a user from outside the holster via the at least one access opening to operate the portable radio in the holster.
  • 9. The holster of claim 7, wherein the adjustable false bottom is continuously adjustable to a plurality of depths in the pocket.
  • 10. The holster of claim 7, wherein the at least one strap continuously adjust the relative position of the adjustable false bottom in the pocket.
  • 11. The holster of claim 7, further comprising:at least one slot on at least one wall of the holster, the at least one strap being guided through the at least one slot, respectively, and being mechanically coupled to the adjustable false bottom in the pocket and to an outer at least one surface of the holster to provide support for the adjustable false bottom in the pocket.
  • 12. The holster of claim 7, wherein the outer at least one surface of the holster comprises first and second fasteners located at first and second positions for mechanically coupling the at least one strap at the first and second positions and thereby positioning the adjustable false bottom in the pocket to a first and second depth, respectively.
  • 13. The holster of claim 7, wherein the adjustable false bottom comprises an at least semi-rigid panel, to provide support for the adjustable false bottom in the pocket.
US Referenced Citations (11)
Number Name Date Kind
1206124 Meyers Nov 1916
2197066 Brody Apr 1940
2281251 Simmons Apr 1942
3395787 Plaskan Aug 1968
3589505 Burniski Jun 1971
3968874 Corey Jul 1976
5025921 Gasparaitis et al. Jun 1991
5092459 Uljanic et al. Mar 1992
5330056 de la Rocha Jul 1994
5819944 Terrasi Oct 1998
5967321 Sigl Oct 1999