Holster Support Assembly

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an apparatus for adjustably supporting a holster on a user's belt or on another structure or surface. In particular, the invention relates to an apparatus that enables a user to adjust the holster to set it in varying positions along a track member such as a belt loop.

One prior art apparatus of this type is the Safariland brand QUBL belt loop. This apparatus includes a slider that can slide between three locking positions on the belt loop. A separate QLS receiver is mounted on the slider. A lock bar is also provided, which is movable with the slider and which can lock into the belt loop at both ends of the lock bar. Vertical sliding movement of the slider and receiver on the belt loop is enabled by grasping and pulling out the lock bar, sliding the parts up or down to the desired locking position, then pushing in the lock bar to lock. The QLS receiver is a standard item that is as a separate piece from the slider, and that is secured to the slider with fasteners. This prior art device typically requires two-handed operation. Also, it must be exactly set at a locking position in order to be lockable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features of the invention will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains from a reading of the following Description, together with the accompanying Drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a holster support assembly that is a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the holster support assembly of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3A-3D are a series of perspective views illustrating locking and release of the holster support assembly;

FIGS. 4A-4D are a series of elevational views illustrating locking and release of the holster support assembly;

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a portion of the holster support assembly; and

FIG. 5B is an exploded perspective view of the parts shown in FIG. 5A.

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to apparatus for adjustably supporting a holster on a user's belt or on another structure or surface. The invention is applicable to apparatus of varying and different configurations. As representative of the invention, the Figures illustrate a holster support assembly 10 that is a first embodiment of the invention.

The holster support assembly 10 is shown assembled in FIG. 1, and in an exploded view in FIG. 2. A holster is shown schematically at 12 in FIG. 2; the construction and configuration of the holster are not limiting herein. Also, a user's belt is shown schematically at 14.

The assembly 10 includes generally a track member 20 and a holster mount device 70 for supporting the holster 12 on the track member. The holster mount device 70 is slidable along the track member 20. The assembly 10 also includes a release mechanism 80 that is operable to lock the holster mount device 70 in position on the track member 20, or to release the holster mount device for sliding movement along the track member.

In the illustrated embodiment, the track member 20 is a belt loop, for supporting the holster support assembly 10 on the user's belt 14. Other types of items can serve as the track member. The track member can be a different style belt loop, or a surface or structure on a user or on a vehicle, for example. Thus, wherever a holster is desired to be mounted, a suitable track member can be provided for that purpose, so long as it provides the required track.

The belt loop 20 supports the assembly 10 on the user's belt 14. The belt loop 20 has an upper end portion 22 that may be curved or contoured to fit the curved configuration of the user's torso. The upper end portion 22 includes two belt slots 24 for receiving the user's belt 14. The belt loop 20 can thus be hung from the user's belt 14, and slid (positioned) laterally along the belt, so that the assembly 10 is in the desired position on the user.

A main body portion 26 of the belt loop 20 extends down from the upper end portion 22. The main body portion has outer and inner major side surfaces 28, 30. A laterally central section 32 of the main body portion 26, having a generally rectangular configuration, projects from the outer side surface 28 of the belt loop 20 and forms a vertically extending track 40. The track 40 as illustrated comprises two rails 42 and 44 on opposite sides of a central slot 46. The slot 46 extends completely through the belt loop 20 between the outer and inner side surfaces 28 and 30 of the belt loop. The slot 46 is defined by the two rails 42 and 44 that are on opposite sides of the slot 46. The slot 46 as illustrated has a uniform width along its entire length, although that could be different in other embodiments.

The two rails 42 and 44 are configured differently from each other. The first rail 42 has continuous laterally inner and outer side surfaces extending lengthwise along the first rail. The second rail 44 has a laterally inner side surface which is continuous, and which defines the opposite side of the slot 46. On the second rail 44, however, the outer side surface is formed with a series of openings in the form of notches 60 extending laterally inwardly. Each notch 60, together with its surrounding rail surfaces, forms a “detent” 62 on the track 40. Thus, the illustrated belt loop 20 has three detents 62. In the illustrated embodiment, the detents are three detents 62 are provided; spaced equally along the track.

Each detent 62 defines a locking position 64 on the belt loop 20. In the illustrated embodiment, there are three detents 62 and thus three vertically spaced locking positions 64. In other embodiments, a holster support assembly in accordance with the invention could have detents defining more than three locking positions or fewer than three locking positions. In addition, a holster support assembly in accordance with the invention could have detents on both side rails, and/or locking positions that are not spaced equally along the track.

The holster mount device 70 serves two purposes. First, it supports the holster 12 either directly or indirectly on the track 40. Second, it cooperates with the track 40 to enable the user to set (lock) the position of the holster 12 at various positions along the track 40.

In the illustrated embodiment, the holster mount device 70 is a modified QLS receiver which is configured to support, on the track 40, a QLS fork 71 (shown in FIG. 2) that is fixable to a holster and that is configured to fixedly but removably engage with a QLS receiver. The QLS fork 71 is a standard part which is fixed to a holster. The QLS receiver 70 illustrated is not standard, but rather is specially configured to interact directly with the track 40. This is in contrast to the prior art QUBL product discussed above, in which the QLS receiver is a standard item that requires fixing to a separate slider in order to be operable on the included belt loop.

The receiver 70 has a generally planar main body portion 72. On its laterally outer edges, on the side 74 facing away from the belt loop 20, the receiver 70 has C-shaped flanges 76, 78 that face laterally inward each other to define between them a fork space for receiving the QLS fork 71. A central fastener opening 80 is provided.

On the opposite side 76 of the main body portion 72, facing toward the belt loop 12, the receiver 70 has two outer rails 82, 84 that extend along the length of the receiver 70. The two rails 82, 84 on the receiver 70 are positioned outside of and ride along the two rails 42 and 44 on the belt loop 20. The main body portion 72 of the receiver 70 is generally flat in between, where it slides along the track 40. In this way, the receiver 70 is easily slidable along the track 40. Thus, once a QLS fork is connected with the receiver 70, the QLS fork is slidable along the track 40 (and along the belt loop 20) to different locking positions 64 as described below.

The release mechanism 90 is operable to either lock the receiver 70 in position on the belt loop 20, or release the receiver for sliding movement along the belt loop. The release mechanism 90 Includes a lock bar 92 and a spring 94. The lock bar 92 is molded as one piece from a plastic material. The lock bar 92 has a relatively thin central section 96 extending between two larger or thicker end portions 98 and 100. The central section 96 has an elongate slot 102 with a spring support pin 104 at one end.

The proximal or outer end portion 98 of the lock bar 92 is configured as a thumb or finger operable handle. It is located laterally outward of the assembly 10, in an easily user-accessible position. The opposite distal or inner end portion 100 of the lock bar 92 is configured as a locking block that extends toward the belt loop 20. The block 100 has a longitudinal extent and depth that are substantially the same as that of the notches 60. Thus, the locking block 100 is configured to fit closely in any selected one of the notches 60.

In the illustrated embodiment, the spring 94 is a compression coil spring. The spring 94 is located in the elongate slot 102 of the lock bar 92, extending laterally across the assembly 10. One end of the spring 94 is positioned on the spring support pin 104 of the lock bar 92. The opposite end of the spring 94 is positioned against the shank of the T-nut 124 as can be seen in FIG. 5A. Other forms of biasing members might be used in place of a coil spring, for example, a leaf spring.

A fastener assembly 120 helps to secure together the several pieces of the holster support assembly 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the fastener assembly 120 includes a screw 122 and a T-nut 124. The screw 122 extends from the rear side of the belt loop 20, through the slot 46 in the belt loop, and through the slot 102 in the lock bar 92, into the T-nut 124. A washer 126 may be provided under the head of the screw 122. The T-nut 124 is located in a recess in the outer side surface of the receiver 70 in a manner so as to block rotation of the T-nut on the receiver 70. The screw 122 and the T-nut 124 are tightened down enough so that sufficient clamping force is provided to hold together the pieces of the holster support assembly 10, while still allowing sliding movement of the holster along the belt loop 20 when so desired.

The three locking positions 64 noted above with reference to the belt loop 20 provide three different drop positions for the holster 12 on the belt loop 20. The user can select and lock in any one of the three available locking positions 64. The lock bar 92 is normally in a lock position, biased laterally outward by the spring 94, as shown in FIGS. 3A, 3D, 4A, and 4D. The handle 98 is at the outer side of the receiver 70, accessible by a thumb or finger of the user. When the lock bar 92 is in this position, the block 100 at the other end of the lock bar is in one of the detents 62 on the belt loop 20.

To set or change the drop position, the user presses laterally inward on the lock bar handle 98. This action moves the lock bar 92 from the position shown in FIGS. 3A and 3D. against the bias of the spring 94, to the position shown in FIGS. 4A and 4D. The spring 94 is compressed. This is the release position of the lock bar 92 and of the release mechanism 90.

When the lock bar 92 is thus in the release position, as shown in FIG. 7, the block 100 on the end of the lock bar 92 moves laterally outward, out of the notch 60 and detent 62. The receiver 70 is thereby free to move vertically along the track 40 of the belt loop 20. The user can then apply sufficient manual force to move (slide) the holster 12, the receiver 70, and the lock bar 92 vertically, to the desired locking position 94.

The lock bar 92 can then be released and it will move back to the starting position (locking position), under the influence of the spring 94. Because the lock bar 92 is spring loaded, it easily and automatically finds the next detent 62 during a position change without the user needing to hunt exactly for it.

The lock bar 92 is securely held vertically by the detent 62 in the belt loop 20. This engagement ensures that the drop position of the holster 12 is not inadvertently changed. If, during the adjustment process, the user releases the lock bar 92 when the block 100 is not in or adjacent to one of the locking positions, the user can simply move the receiver 70 up or down easily until the lock bar engages, and the lock bar 92 will then automatically snap back out.

A holster support assembly in accordance with the present invention has numerous advantages as compared to the prior art. Activation of the release mechanism (movement of the lock bar) by pushing rather than pulling, is much easier and more intuitive for a user. Because the lock bar is spring loaded, it easily and automatically finds the next detent during a position change without the user needing to hunt for it. Also, use of the release mechanism is more likely to be capable of one-handed operation rather than needing two-handed operation.

As discussed, the entire holster support assembly is primarily three pieces: the track member, the receiver, and the lock bar. Each one of these three pieces is separately molded from a plastic material, which may be the same material. A preferred material is a glass-filled nylon for increased strength and part stability. The only other pieces needed are the spring and the fastener assembly, which are common pieces. Incorporation of the receiver into the slider (that is, forming the receiver to work directly on the track) as one molded plastic part, significantly reduces manufacturing complexity, number of parts, etc. This simplicity makes for ease of manufacture and assembly.

As discussed, the release mechanism is shown in conjunction with a QLS system; however, it can be used together with another holster support system. Also as discussed above, the track is shown as being incorporated into a belt loop. It could be incorporated into other mounting surfaces or structures, such as a car, a vest, a pack, etc., wherever users want to support a holster. This particular QLS receiver 70 is not standard, but rather is configured so interact directly with the track. This is in contrast to the prior art product discussed above, in which the QLS receiver requires a separate slider to be co-operable with the track.