The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring now to the drawings, an exploded view of major components of the pivoting magazine holster is shown at 10. A multi-shell magazine 11 fits within a magazine carrier 12 that is biased via spring 13. A housing or pouch 15 is used for carrying the magazine 11 and is movable with respect to the body of a user by way of a pivot body 14 that is attached to a belt of a user via a base plate 19, including weld nuts 20 and a belt width adjustment bar 21.
A strap 18 is attached to the housing 15 via clip 16 and clip latch 17 as will be discussed hereinbelow.
Strap 18 is made from webbing and consists of a body 22, lower hook portion 23, upper engagement strip portion 24 and a top cover or wall portion 25 and will be discussed in more detail hereinbelow.
Magazine carrier 12 has four vertical walls 26, two opposed lands 27 with a tapered lower end 28, provide frictional engagement with housing 15. Ledge 29 is used for engagement with spring 13. The bottom of carrier 12 is a closed end portion 30 with a lower rib 31. Carrier 12 may be sized to provide frictional engagement with a magazine 11 carried therein. Inserts 31 may be used to provide frictional engagement with magazine 11. Preferably, inserts 31 are made for the specific magazine 11 that is carried and are secured within carrier 12. Magazine carrier 12 is formed by walls 26 and has tab slots 26A at the upper and lower corners into which fit the pairs of tabs 31A of inserts 31. The inserts 31 are a snap fit into carrier 12 and can be removed and replaced with other inserts 31 that are adapted for use with a specific magazine 11.
As shown in more detail in
A pair of spaced bosses 35 is used to adjust the distance of the housing 15 from pivot body 14. Panels 38, 39 of side walls 41, and openings 36 and screw holes 40A are formed through outside wall 40.
With respect to additional
Housing 15 includes an outside wall 42 with arcuate slots 43 that allow air out of body 15 when magazine 11 and carrier 12 is depressed downward. Recess 44 is surrounded by arcuate wall portions 48 includes a transverse slot 45 and upper spaced walls 46 separated via slot 47 that functions as an indentation to prevent inadvertent opening of the device.
Housing 15 is made of outside shell potion 50 and inside shell portion 51 secured together with pin 52 and flanges 52A. Cooperating fasteners between housing 15 and the pivot body 14 include adjustment openings 53 which are illustrated as being five in number. One slot 53 is selected for respective posts 35 to adjust the distance housing 15 is moved from the pivot body 14. Preferably, the entire distance is about one inch providing a displacement tilt from vertical of approximately 200 as shown in
The operation of the device 10 is as follows. When the strap flap 18 is pulled open, magazine 11 will be pushed upward forcing the upper portion of strap unobstructed magazine position adjacent the user's body and therefore out of the way (
Many users employing magazine pouches unsnap a covering flap, bend it backwards and push/it under their belts if they expect that they may need the magazine in a particular situation.
The problem with such a carrying device is the fact that removing a pouch cover does not itself move the magazine to a better position and does nothing to secure the magazine in a desirable position. The present device (1) automatically pushes the strap 18 out of the way; (2) moves the magazine 11 upwardly into position where it can be immediately grasped by a user; and (3) secures the magazine 11, by frictional engagement between the carrier 12 and the magazine 11 and secures the magazine as desired via engagement between the carrier 15 and the housing 15.
In addition, many of the magazine pouches use snaps or Velcro for magazine securement and thus the pouch may be inadvertently opened by an operator's actions. The present device 10 employs an indentation around the release mechanism to prevent accidental opening because only an object the size and shape of a finger can release strap 18. The construction of the present device requires deliberate action to open the device 10.
While the invention has been described with respect to certain specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.