Waistband Holster Support

Abstract

The waistband supports securely support a holstered firearm without the need for a separately worn belt. The waistband supports form part of the construction of any type or style of trousers or shorts, and provide a sturdy interface for conventional holster clips used with conventional inside-the-waistband firearm holsters. The waistband supports generally take the form of a length of nylon webbing, but may be lengths of leather or other heavy sturdy fabric sewn to the waistband of the trousers or shorts. The waistband supports are sewn to the exterior of the waistband along the side and top edges with the bottom edge “open”, i.e. not stitched to receive the hook end of the holster clips. The “open” bottom edge of the waistband support allows the clip hook to engage the bottom edge of the waistband support to secure the holster in place within the trousers or shorts.

Description

This invention relates to clothing articles, and in particular pants and shorts having a waistband support for firearm holsters.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Side arms, revolvers and pistols are commonly carried in holsters worn about a user's waist. Generally, a sturdy belt is required to support and secure a holstered firearm, when using either an outside the waist band or inside the waistband style holster. While trousers and shorts generally have a waistband or similar structure that extends around the wearer's hips and waist, the waistbands of conventional trousers and shorts are not suited to support or secure a firearm holster without a separate exterior belt.

Outside-the-waistband holsters are mounted directly to a separate exterior belt worn about the waistband of the trousers or shorts. Inside-the-waistband holsters use a variety of holster clips to securely engage a separate exterior belt worn over the outside of the trouser's or short's waistband. Holster clips come in two general configurations: over hooks, which extend over the belt and waistband to engage the bottom edge of the belt; and under hooks, which extend between the belt and waistband to engage the bottom edge of the belt. Both styles of holsters generally require the use of a separate exterior belt as a secure interface in combination with the trousers or shorts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The waistband supports of this invention are used to securely support a holstered firearm without the need for a separately worn belt. The waistband supports form part of the construction of any type or style of trousers or shorts, and provides a sturdy interface for conventional holster clips used with conventional inside-the-waistband firearm holsters. The waistband supports generally take the form of a length of nylon webbing, but may be lengths of leather or other heavy sturdy fabric sewn to the waistband of the trousers or shorts. The waistband supports are sewn to the exterior of the waistband along the side and top edges with the bottom edge “open”, i.e. not stitched to receive the hook end of the holster clips. The “open” bottom edge of the waistband supports allow the clip hook to engage the bottom edge of the waistband supports to secure the holster in place within the trousers or shorts.

The above described features and advantages, as well as others, will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention may take form in various systems, methods, components and arrangement of systems, methods and components. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating exemplary embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. The drawings illustrate the present invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the waistband holster support of this invention shown in a conventional trouser with a conventional holster;

FIG. 2 is a partial side view of the waistband support of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the waistband support of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial exploded view of the waistband support of FIG. 2 with a second conventional holster;

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of the waistband holster support of this invention shown in a conventional trouser;

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of a third exemplary embodiment of the waistband holster support of this invention shown in a conventional trouser with a conventional holster; and

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of the waistband support of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific preferred embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, structural, mechanical, electrical, and chemical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. To avoid detail not necessary to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.

The waistband supports of this invention are used to securely support a holstered firearm without the need for a separately worn belt. The waistband supports are designed and intended to provide a sturdy interface for conventional holster clips used with conventional inside-the-waistband firearm holsters. The various embodiments of the waistband support of this invention are illustrated incorporated into the construction of an exemplary simplified trouser 10, but may be adapted for use in any type or style trousers or shorts. As shown, trousers 10 include a conventional waistband 20 about which the waistband support of this invention is sewn. It should be understood that waistbands 20 may be either elastic or inelastic and does not effect the function of the waist band support of this invention. As illustrated in different embodiments of the waistband support, the trouser may or may not include belt loops 30 to accommodate a separate external belt 40.

In addition, the various embodiments of the waistband supports of this invention are illustrated for use with an exemplary inside-the-waistband holster 50 using exemplary holster clips 60. The waistband supports of this invention can be adapted for use with either over-hook or under-hook holster chips, and are particularly suited for metal holster clips, such as the ones available from Discreet Carry Concepts, inc. of Milford Connecticut.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a first embodiment of the waistband supports of this invention, which is designated as reference numeral 100. Waistband support 100 is adapted for use with over-hook style holster clips 60, such as metal clips from Discreet Carry Concepts (FIGS. 1 and 2) and conventional polymer clips (FIGS. 3 and 4). Waistband supports 100 take the form of multiple elongated sections of sturdy material sewn at spaced locations around the circumference of waistband 20. Generally each section is a length of nylon webbing, but may be lengths of leather or other heavy sturdy fabric, such as Cordura® Nylon. Each section of support 100 is sewn to waistband 20 by horizontal stitching 112 along the top edge and spaced vertical stitching 114 along the side edges of each section. The bottom edge of each section is “open”, i.e. not stitched to receive the hook end of holster clip 60. As shown, holster 50 is seated between waistband 20 and the wearer's body (not shown) with holster clip 60 and 60′ extending over the waistband support 100 and waistband 20. Clip hooks 62 and 62′ engage the bottom edge of waistband support 100 to secure holster 50 in place. Each individual section of waistband support 100 provides a different location along waistband 20 that a wearer can support a holstered firearm.

FIG. 5 illustrates a second exemplary embodiment of the waistband support, which is designated as reference numeral 200. Waistband support 200 is similar in construction and function to waistband support 100, but takes the form of a single length of material sewn almost entirely around the circumference of waistband 20′. Again waistband support 200 is a length of nylon webbing, leather or other heavy sturdy fabric. Waistband support 200 is sewn to waistband 20 by horizontal top stitching 212 and multiple spaced vertical side stitching 214. Again, the bottom edge of waistband support 200 is “open”, i.e. not stitched to form multiple sections around the trouser that receive the hook end of the holster clip. Waistband support 200 also includes an integrated cinch belt and buckle 220 to assist the conventional waistband button fastener (not shown).

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a third exemplary embodiment of the waistband support, which is designated as reference numeral 300. Again, waistband support 300 is similar in construction and function to waistband support 100, but is adapted for use with underhook holster clips. Again each section of waistband support 300 is a length of nylon webbing, leather or other heavy sturdy fabric. Waistband support 300 is sewn to waistband 20″ without horizontal top stitching, but retains the vertical side stitching 314. Waistband support 300 has both open top and bottom edges that allows holster clips 60″ to pass behind the waistband support and over waistband 20″.

It should be apparent from the foregoing that an invention having significant advantages has been provided. While the invention is shown in only a few of its forms, it is not just limited but is susceptible to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof. The embodiments of the present invention herein described and illustrated are presented to explain the invention so that others skilled in the art might utilize its teachings. The embodiment of the present invention may be modified within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. In trouser, a waistband support for supporting a firearm holster having holster clips, the waistband support comprising: a length of material sewn to the exterior of the waistband, the length of material having side edges sewn to the waistband and an open bottom edge for receiving the holster clips.

2. The waistband support of claim 1 wherein the length of material also having a top edge sewn to the waistband.

3. The waistband support of claim 1 wherein the length of material also having an open top edge sewn so that the holster clips can be inserted between the waistband support and waistband.