Patent Application
20170051999
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.
In some situations, the user may desire to carry the implement while wearing athletic or leisure type clothing. In these situations, the user may desire to carry the implement at the waistband of the clothing, to conceal the implement or for other reasons (such as for easy access, for example). In many cases, the athletic or leisure type clothing worn by the user may not provide sufficient rigidity or stability to support the holster and the implement. Further, the weight of the implement and the holster may pull on the clothing, causing the clothing to sag or to move to an undesired position.
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 a holster belt (“belt”) for carrying a weapon, tool, or other implement. The belt includes one or more attachment devices that may be used to temporarily or permanently attach one or more interchangeable holster components (i.e., holsters, holster backers, etc.) for carrying an implement. In an example, the attachment devices removeably attach an interchangeable holster component to the belt, which can be exchanged with another holster component by the user as desired.
In various implementations, the belt portion is comprised of multiple layers. The layers may be combined to provide various desired characteristics for the belt, such as strength, comfort, resilience, utility, weight, and so forth. For instance, outer layers may provide strength and utility while inner layers may provide comfort. For example, the user may desire to wear the belt next to the skin. In many examples, all layers may contribute to desired light weight characteristics and resilience.
In an implementation, the belt includes a tension portion to provide retention of the belt to the user. For example, the tension portion is coupled to a belt portion and will at least partially flex when the belt portion is wrapped around the user, to provide retention of the belt portion to the user. This is advantageous when the user is wearing clothing (such as many types of athletic or leisure clothing) that has no belt loops or that would not be able to support the weight of the holster and implement. The tension portion allows the belt to be retained on the body of the user, rather than relying on the user's clothing for support. In an implementation, the tension portion is located within a gap formed in one or more layers of the belt portion.
In another implementation, the belt includes a closure portion coupled to at least one end of the belt portion. In the implementation, the closure portion temporarily couples together the ends of the belt portion when the belt portion is wrapped around the user. In one example, the closure portion comprises hook and loop fasteners, or the like.
Techniques and devices are discussed with reference to example handgun belts and 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 belt arranged to be coupled 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 discussed and illustrated generally with reference to a concealed carry style 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 that may be worn in various ways using a belt. 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.
Referring to
In an implementation, the belt portion (102 and 104) is wrapped around the body of a user. For instance, the belt portion (102 and 104) may be wrapped around the midsection of the body of the user when the belt 100 is worn by the user (e.g., when the belt 100 is worn at the waist of the user). In other examples, the belt portion (102 and 104) may be wrapped around another body portion of the user (e.g., around the hips, across the chest and/or shoulder, etc.) as desired.
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In an implementation, one or both of the first 102 and second 104 portions are comprised of multiple layers, including at least an outer layer 202 and an inner layer 204. In the example, the first 102 and/or second 104 portions may include one or more layers between the outer layer 202 and the inner layer 204, or none. In one implementation, at least one layer of the multiple layers comprises a substantially non-elastic material (e.g., a nylon material, a para-aramid or aramid material, a fiberglass material, a metallic material, an animal hide, or the like).
In one implementation, the outer layer 202 and the inner layer 204 are comprised of different materials. For example, the inner layer 204 may be comprised of a resilient material that is more comfortable to be worn against skin. In contrast, middle layer(s) or the outer layer 202 may be comprised of a material that is highly durable, without as much consideration to comfort. In one example, the outer layer 202 is comprised of a robust nylon material (or the like) and the inner layer is comprised of a more comfortable, yet resilient, neoprene material (or the like).
In an implementation, the tension portion 106 is coupled to the belt portion (102 and 104) and is arranged to at least partially flex, so as to be under tension, when the belt portion (102 and 104) is wrapped around the user. In the implementation, the tension portion 106 provides retention of the belt portion (102 and 104) to the user through the flexing. For example, when wearing the belt 100, the user may pull the belt portion (102 and 104) tight around the user's body, at least partially flexing the tension portion 106, and couple the ends of the belt portion (102 and 104) with the tension portion 106 under tension. Doing so can increase the grip or retention of the belt 100 on the user.
In one implementation, as shown in
For example, in one implementation, as shown in
For instance, in one implementation, the tension portion 106 is located within a gap in the outer layer 202 of the belt portion (102 and 104). In the implementation, the inner layer 204 spans across the belt portions (102 and 104) and the tension portion 106. For example, the inner layer 204 spans across the first portion 102, across the tension portion 106, and across the second portion 104. In such an implementation, the inner layer 204 may be comprised of a flexible or semi-flexible material. In alternate implementations, one or more middle layers (if present) may include the gap or may span across the belt portions (102 and 104) and the tension portion 106.
In various implementations, the tension portion 106 comprises a resilient flexible or semi-flexible material (e.g., spandex, rubber, synthetic rubber, or the like). In the implementations, the thickness of the material used for the tension portion 106 may be chosen based on a desired flexibility and durability, and may include a single layer or multiple layers. In multiple layer implementations, the multiple layers may comprise the same material, or two or more different materials.
In an implementation, the closure portion (108 and 110) is coupled to at least one end of the belt portion (102 and 104), to temporarily couple together the ends of the belt portion (102 and 104) when the belt portion (102 and 104) is wrapped around the user. For instance, in various examples, the closure portion (108 and 110) may be coupled to one or both of the first portion 102 and the second portion 104.
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In an implementation, the one or more attachment devices 112 include multiple attachment locations 114 to couple the implement holster component 116 to the belt portion (102 and 104). In various examples, one or more of the mounting locations 114 of the attachment devices 112 can be used with one or more of the mounting locations 118 of the holster component 116 when coupling the holster component 116 to the belt portion 102.
In the implementation, the multiple attachment locations 114 can be used to provide multiple configurations for carrying or wearing the holster component 116. For example, the implement holster component 116 is adjustable via the multiple attachment locations 114 to change a relative position of the implement holster component 116 with respect to the belt portion (102 and 104). For instance, the ride height and/or the cant of the holster component 116 may be configured or adjusted by moving a mounting location 118 of the holster component 116 from a first attachment location 114 to a second attachment location 114. Making such adjustments on one or both sides of the holster component 116 can adjust the relative position of the holster component 116, including providing forward, neutral, and reverse carry positions.
In one implementation, the attachment devices 112 include features 208 to temporarily attach the belt portion (102 and 104) to an article or garment of the user. In the implementation, the features 208 comprise hooks, clips, or the like, for temporarily coupling the belt portion (102 and 104) to an article of clothing. For example, the belt 100 can be worn inside of a pair of trousers. The features 208 can be hooked, clipped, etc. to a waistband of the trousers to maintain a position of the holster belt 100 to the trousers, for instance. This can improve ease of access to a holstered implement carried by the holster belt 100.
The components and techniques discussed herein with respect to the holster belt 100 are intended to be used in the production of new holster belts or in the retro-fitting of existing holsters. In various embodiments, existing holsters may be upgraded or re-fitted with one or more of the components (e.g., belt portion (102 and 104), tension portion 106, closure portion (108 and 110), attachment portions 112, etc.) and/or using one or more of the described techniques either individually or in various combinations. In an embodiment, the use of the described components and techniques result in modular holster belts 100 that are capable of coupling to interchangeable holster components 116, or the like. Further, such modular holster belts 100 may be configured and/or adjusted for various user wearing or carry options and locations.
As discussed above, the techniques, components, and devices described herein with respect to the implementations are not limited to the illustrations of
While various discreet embodiments have been described throughout, the individual features of the various embodiments may be combined to form other embodiments not specifically described. The embodiments formed by combining the features of described embodiments are also within the scope of the disclosure.
