Patent Application
20240426570
The present specification relates generally to a fanny pack system and more specifically a fanny pack system that easily conceals a firearm and allows for easy access and quick access to the firearm.
Fanny packs are well known in the art and have been widely used for years. Fanny packs have been used for hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, and the like. The usage of fanny packs allows the user to easily carry readily accessible items around the user's waist. Fanny packs typically have an adjustable waste strap that is adjustably coupled to a female and male buckle on the fanny pack's backside, and it has a holster mount on its front. The holster mount varies in size and shape to fit the specific activity or the user's requirements and the user's daily need such as, cell phone, wallet, or keys. Most of these fanny packs are for holding loose light weight items.
So, users have developed more heavy-duty fanny pack for holding heavier items such as firearms. These types of fanny packs have a zipper system that conceals and allows the user to access the firearm. The zipper is usually attached to a segregated pouch that can contain the firearm by a hook and loop or strap system. This type of system limits the user's access to the firearm during a draw and engage situation and with the zipper system requires the user to unzip the holster mount to gain access to the firearm which makes it difficult for the user to quickly access the firearm. Firearm accessories are stored within the fanny packs holster mount in a similar fashion as the firearm which can allow the user to loosely store magazines, ammunition or other firearm accessories. Some fanny packs come with a removable holster within the holster mount but require additional steps for the user to gain access to the firearm.
Furthermore, current systems that allow the user to carry and conceal a firearm off the body do not allow the user to rapidly access the firearm. The time between the user identifying a threat, accessing their firearm, gaining positive control of their firearm and then being postured to engage the threat is significantly long when using current off the body systems. Current systems do not consider real-world demands and are not designed with a user's in-combat needs or reality and current off the body carry systems do not allow for larger weapons to be quickly accessed. Men and women who conceal carry do not always have the appropriate outfit that allows on-body carry and current off-body solutions are slow, in effective and cumbersome.
In addition, conventional firearm carriers, which may include belt holsters, shoulder holsters, ankle holsters, or bag-concealed holsters, often fail to adequately balance concealment with accessibility. Frequently, these designs compromise on one of these aspects: a holster may be highly concealable yet cumbersome to access rapidly, or it may allow quick access at the expense of being discretely hidden. In some scenarios, the design element of the concealment portion can cause discomfort or hinder functionality when worn for extended periods, which is a critical factor for users who need to carry their firearms daily.
Moreover, firearms holstered using traditional means may lack adequate security, thereby increasing the risk of accidental firearm discharge or unauthorized access. This is exacerbated in dynamic environments where users are physically active. Furthermore, the materials used in existing carriers may not withstand considerable physical stress or adverse environmental conditions, thereby deteriorating rapidly and losing functionality.
Therefore, it would be desirable to have a system that the user can quickly access their firearm and accessories without any extra steps and for the user to be able to draw and engage quickly and easily and set the firearm at the optimal angle for their quick draw situation.
The present invention is a carrier system designed for a user to discretely carry a firearm. The carrier comprises a storage portion with at least one pouch and a holster mount. The holster mount includes a semi-rigid panel with a front side, a back side, a top edge, and a bottom edge. A weapon holster is secured to the panel at an adjustable angle relative to the top edge of the panel. The panel fastener is coupled to the front side of the panel to couple the storage portion to the holster mount, allowing the space between the storage portion and the panel to be accessible to the user when the storage portion is coupled to the holster mount. A belt is coupled to at least one of the storage portion and the holster mount for securing the holster mount to a person's waist.
The carrier may further comprise at least one magazine holster secured to the panel. The weapon holster and the magazine holster can be detachably secured to the panel by a holster fastener, which can be a hook and loop, snaps, buttons, rivets, or magnets. The storage portion can be detached from the holster mount and the panel fastener interacts with a corresponding storage fastener coupled to the storage portion. The panel fastener and storage fastener can be metal bars or magnets that are removably coupled to each other.
The holster mount may further comprise at least one flap extending from at least one of the top edge and the bottom edge of the panel, and the panel fastener is secured to at least one of the flaps. The belt may comprise at least one grip coupled to the belt. The storage portion may comprise at least one grab flap that allows the user to quickly remove the storage portion from the holster mount. The pouch can be a primary pouch and at least one smaller secondary pouch wherein the secondary pouch is coupled to the primary pouch by a zipper.
The storage portion and holster mount are primarily composed of MOLLE, nylon, polyester, canvas, or denim. The angle of the weapon holster is adjustable and is coupled to the panel by a plate that may be rotated and locked in a desired draw angle.
Aspects and applications of the invention presented here are described below in the drawings and detailed description of the invention. Unless specifically noted, it is intended that the words and phrases in the specification and the claims be given their plain, ordinary, and accustomed meaning to those of ordinary skill in the applicable arts. The inventors are fully aware that they can be their own lexicographers if desired. The inventors expressly elect, as their own lexicographers, to use only the plain and ordinary meaning of terms in the specification and claims unless they clearly state otherwise and then further, expressly set forth the. Absent such clear statements of intent to apply a “special” definition, it is the inventor's intent and desire that the simple, plain, and ordinary meaning to the terms be applied to the interpretation of the specification and claims.
The inventors are also aware of the normal precepts of English grammar. Thus, if a noun, term, or phrase is intended to be further characterized, specified, or narrowed in some way, then such noun, term, or phrase will expressly include additional adjectives, descriptive terms, or other modifiers in accordance with the normal precepts of English grammar. Absent the use of such adjectives, descriptive terms, or modifiers, it is the intent that such nouns, terms, or phrases be given their plain, and ordinary English meaning to those skilled in the applicable arts as set forth above.
Further, the inventors are fully informed of the standards and application of the special provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112 (f). Thus, the use of the words “function,” “means” or “step” in the Detailed Description or Description of the Drawings or claims is not intended to somehow indicate a desire to invoke the special provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112 (f), to define the invention. To the contrary, if the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112 (f) are sought to be invoked to define the inventions, the claims will specifically and expressly state the exact phrases “means for” or “step for” and will also recite the word “function” (i.e., will state “means for performing the function of . . . , without also reciting in such phrases any structure, material or act in support of the function. Thus, even when the claims recite a “means for performing the function of molding a . . . , step for performing the function of molding a . . . ,” if the claims also recite any structure, material or acts in support of that means or step, or that perform the recited function, then it is the clear intention of the inventors not to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112 (f). Moreover, even if the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112 (f) are invoked to define the claimed inventions, it is intended that the inventions not be limited only to the specific structure, material or acts that are described in the preferred embodiments, but in addition, include any and all structures, materials or acts that perform the claimed function as described in alternative embodiments or forms of the invention, or that are well known present or later-developed, equivalent structures, material or acts for performing the claimed function.
Additional features and advantages of the present specification will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiment exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present specification will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:
Elements and acts in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and have not necessarily been rendered according to any particular sequence or embodiment.
In the following description, and for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various aspects of the invention. It will be understood, however, by those skilled in the relevant arts, that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, known structures and devices are shown or discussed more generally in order to avoid obscuring the invention. In many cases, a description of the operation is sufficient to enable one to implement the various forms of the invention, particularly when the operation is to be implemented in software. It should be noted that there are many different and alternative configurations, devices and technologies to which the disclosed inventions may be applied. The full scope of the inventions is not limited to the examples that are described below.
Referring initially to
The dimensions of the panel can be any dimensions suitable for a fanny pack type carrier, typically between about 6 and about 13 inches wide and between about 3 and about 9 inches tall. The panel 13 may have a liner or may be enclosed in fabric such as, for example, MOLLE, nylon, polyester, canvas, denim, or the like. The front side 14 can be any suitable size and shape but in the preferred embodiment the preferred shape is as shown in
The front side 14 can have at least one panel fastener 21 coupled to it that allows a storage portion 26 to be coupled to the holster mount 12. The panel fasteners 21 may be spaced around a perimeter of the front side 14. In a particular embodiment, the panel fastener 21 is stitching along or near the side edges 15 of the panel 13. In other embodiments, the storage portion 26 is detachable from the holster mount 12 and the panel fastener 21 can be such as, for example, hook and loop, snaps, buttons, magnets, or the like.
In embodiments, the holster mount 12 can further comprise at least one flap 22 on at least one of the top side 18 and the bottom side 20 wherein the flap can have a flap fastener 24 partially or fully lining the length of and coupled to the flap. In the preferred embodiment, the holster mount 12 can have a flap 22 on the top side 18 and the bottom side 20 that can extend from the front side 14. The flap fastener 24 can be such as, for example, hook and loop, snaps, buttons, magnets, or the like. In certain embodiments the flaps 22 can be omitted.
In embodiments, the holster mount 12 front side 14 can have at least one weapon holster 38 and at least one magazine holster 40 that can be attached or removably coupled to the front side 14. hol not limited to, .22 pistol, 9 mm piston, .45 pistol, .357 magnum, .380 acp pistol or the like. The magazine holster 40 can be sized to fit any size or type of magazine such as, for example, .22 rounds, 9 mm rounds, .45 rounds, .357 rounds, .380 rounds or the like. The front side 14 can fit more than one weapon holster and can fit more than one magazine holster or the weapon and magazine holsters 38, 40 can be omitted. The weapon holster 38 can be angled to optimize the draw angle for the user wherein in certain embodiments the weapon holster's angle can be set by the user and coupled to the front side 14 by a fastener such as, for example, hook and loop, snaps, buttons, rivets, or the like. The draw angle can be such as, for example, between 5 and 35 degrees and even more preferably between 10 and 30 degrees and still more preferably between 15 and 25 degrees. In certain embodiments, the weapon holster 38 can be attached to the holster mount 12 by a plate and magnets wherein the weapon holster can have at least one of the plate or magnet wherein the user can set the angle for the optimized draw angle for the weapon holster and lock the weapon holster in position. In other embodiments, the weapon holster 38 can be on a dial that can lock into place at a certain angle which can coupled to the front side 14 and can rotate around an axis allowing the user to set the angle. The draw angle can be perpendicular to the top edge of the panel 13 or may be at an angle between about 10 and about 25 degrees off perpendicular.
In embodiments, the utility fanny pack system 10 can further comprise a storage portion 26 that can have a first side 28 and a second side 30 with at least one primary pouch 32 that can be coupled between the first side and the second side. The second side 30 can have at least one second magnet 34 coupled to the perimeter of the second side 30 which can mate with and be removably coupled to the first magnets 21. The storage portion 26 can be made from such as, for example, MOLLE, nylon, polyester, canvas, denim, or the like.
The storage portion 26 can have at least one grab flap 46 that allows the user to quickly remove the pouch from the holster mount 12 and enables the user to have a secure grip to remove the storage portion 26. The grab flap 46 can be such as, for example, built into the storage portion as flaps, a pocket between the pouch and holster mount 12, hook and loop flaps that attach to the storage portion 26, or the like that allows the user to grab a hold of the storage portion 26 and pull it off from the holster mount 12. The storage portion 26 can have at least one secondary pouch 36 on its first side 28 wherein the secondary pouch is coupled to the primary pouch 32 by such as, for example, a zipper 37, partially sewn, snaps, hook and loop, or the like. The storage portion 26 can have a second fastener 44 that can be removably coupled to it and can be removably coupled to the first fastener 24 on the holster mount 12 wherein when the storage portion 26 is attached to the holster mount 12 it creates a seamless transition between the storage portion 26 and holster mount 12. The first fastener 24 and the second fastener 44 can be such as, for example, hook and loop, button, snaps, rivets, or the like.
In other embodiments the secondary pouch 36 can be coupled to and/or fastened to the storage portion 26 by such as, for example, partially sewn with zipper, partially sewn with buttons or snaps, integrated into the pouch with zipper or buttons or hook and loops, or the like.
In embodiments, the first magnets 21 and the second magnets 34 can be such as, for example, at least one of ferromagnetic bars, magnets, iron bars, steel bars, manganese bars, or the like which can be removably coupled to each other keeping the pouch attached to the holster mount and allowing the user to easily remove the storage portion 26 from the holster mount 12. The storage portion 26 can conceal the holster mount 12 hiding the weapon and the magazines from other individuals. The first magnet 21 and the second magnet 34 can be coupled to the holster mount 12 and the storage portion 26 by such as, for example, sewn, snaps, hook and loop, or the like.
In certain embodiments the storage portion 26 can have a third pouch on its second side 30 wherein the third pouch can be hidden between the holster mount 12 wherein the utility fanny pack system can have a hidden pouch for the user to hide wallet, passport, or the like within the third pouch.
In embodiments, a belt 42 can be coupled to the holster mount 12 for securing the holster mount to a person's waist. The belt 42 can comprise at least one grip 48 coupled to the belt wherein the grip can be such as, for example, rubber, plastic, neoprene, latex, or the like. The belt 42 can be coupled to at least one buckle wherein the buckle can be such as, for example, webbing buckles, squeeze release, feed through, flip lock, slide bar, clip on, or the like. The belt 42 can be adjusted by the user to fit the user's waist size. The belt 42 can be made of such as, for example, MOLLE, nylon, polyester, canvas, denim, or the like.
In other embodiments, all the components listed above can be incorporated into a such as, for example, a purse as shown in
In closing, it is to be understood that although aspects of the present specification are highlighted by referring to specific embodiments, one skilled in the art will readily appreciate that these disclosed embodiments are only illustrative of the principles of the subject matter disclosed herein. Therefore, it should be understood that the disclosed subject matter is in no way limited to a particular methodology, protocol, and/or reagent, etc., described herein. As such, various modifications or changes to or alternative configurations of the disclosed subject matter can be made in accordance with the teachings herein without departing from the spirit of the present specification. Lastly, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, which is defined solely by the claims. Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to those precisely as shown and described.
Certain embodiments are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the methods and devices described herein. Of course, variations on these described embodiments will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. Accordingly, this disclosure includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described embodiments in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the disclosure unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
This application claims the benefit from currently pending U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/521,917 titled “UTILITY FANNY PACK SYSTEM” and having a filing date of Jun. 20, 2023, and all of which is incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63521917 | Jun 2023 | US |
