Abstract:
A carrier for releasably securing an object, such as an ammunition magazine, a PDA, a mobile phone, an MP3 player, and the like, having a latching pin and an opposed biasing member. The latching pin is positioned on an interior wall of the housing of the carrier to mate with a corresponding aperture or the like formed on the interior surface of an object when the object is inserted in the carrier, to enable rapid insertion of the object into the carrier, to provide secure retention of the object in the carrier, and to enable the rapid and easy retrieval of the object from the carrier.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates generally to carriers for releasably securing an object, such as an ammunition magazine, a PDA, a mobile phone, an MP3 player, and the like, and, more specifically, a carrier having a latching pin and an opposed biasing member. The latching pin is positioned within the carrier to mate with a corresponding aperture or the like formed on the interior surface of an object when the object is inserted in the carrier, to enable rapid insertion of the object into the carrier, to provide secure retention of the object in the carrier, and to enable the rapid and easy retrieval of the object from the carrier. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Detents have long been used to releasably secure one object to another. In many cases, the detent comprises a latching pin formed on one object that is biased by a spring into an aperture, slot, or the like formed on the surface of a second object. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,462,380, for example, two tubes are secured together by a detent formed by a detent pin mounted on an inner tube which extends through openings in both the inner tube and an outer tube&#39;s walls when these openings are properly aligned. The detent pin is releasably held in place by a leaf spring attached to the detent pin. Pushing a button causes a countervailing force to be applied to the leaf spring to cause the detent pin to withdraw from the two openings, to thereby enable the two tubes to be separated. 
         [0003]    An example of a carrier that uses a detent to releasably secure an object in the carrier is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,323. This patent discloses an ammunition magazine carrier which releasably holds the ammunition magazine securely in the carrier by means of a claw that is positioned to extend into a chamber formed by the carrier and to engage an aperture or slot (notch  102 ) formed on the surface of the magazine positioned in the chamber. The claw is biased by a spring to seat within the notch until the user moves a lever attached to the claw to apply a countervailing force that causes the claw to unseat and allow the magazine to be removed from the carrier. 
         [0004]    An example of a carrier that uses either springs or friction blocks on each side of an object to secure the object in the carrier is shown in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2010/0176174. 
         [0005]    There is no known prior art reference, however, where a biasing member is on the opposite interior wall of the carrier from a latching pin for releasably securing an object positioned between these structures. Nor is there a carrier that enables an object secured in the carrier to be released by applying a twisting or torque force to the object. These and other distinguishing features of the various embodiments of the present invention are described below. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0006]    The following summary of the invention is included in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects and features of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention and, as such, it is not intended to particularly identify key or critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented below. 
         [0007]    Broadly stated, one embodiment of the invention is a carrier for releasably securing an object having an aperture or the like formed on one surface of the object, the carrier comprising: a housing having four walls and defining an opening at one end for receiving said object; a first biasing member positioned on the interior surface of one of said walls of said housing; and a first latching pin positioned on the interior surface of the wall of said housing opposite to the wall on which said first biasing member is positioned, said first latching pin operable to mate with said aperture when said object is inserted into the housing, said first biasing member operable to apply a constant force against the adjacent surface of said object to cause said first latching pin to seat in said aperture to releasably retain said object in said housing, a portion of said object extending from said housing when said object is releasably retained in said housing for enabling an external force to be applied to said object to counteract the force applied by said biasing member to enable disengagement of said first latching pin from the aperture and removal of said object from said housing. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, exemplify the embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain and illustrate principles of the invention. The drawings are intended to illustrate major features of the exemplary embodiments in a diagrammatic manner. The drawings are not intended to depict every feature of actual embodiments nor relative dimensions of the depicted elements, and are not drawn to scale. The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numbers refer to like parts throughout the several views. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a carrier with an object secured inside according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the carrier and object shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is an end view of the carrier and object shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the carrier and object shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a side view of an object, e.g., a conventional ammunition magazine, having an aperture, slot, or the like formed in the surface of the object. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the object shown in  FIG. 5  taken along the line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the object shown in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a first perspective view of a carrier according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a second perspective view of the carrier according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a top view of the carrier shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the carrier of  FIG. 10  taken along the line  11 - 11  in  FIG. 10 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the carrier of  FIG. 10  taken along the line  12 - 12  in  FIG. 10 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  is a top view of another embodiment of a carrier with an object secured inside according to the invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view of the carrier and object shown in  FIG. 13  taken along the line  14 - 14  in  FIG. 13 , and  FIG. 14A  is a detailed view of one portion of  FIG. 14 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the carrier of  FIG. 13  with the object removed. 
           [0024]      FIG. 16  is a top view of the carrier of  FIG. 14 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a carrier according to one embodiment of the invention with inserts removed. 
           [0026]      FIG. 18  is a top view of the carrier of  FIG. 17 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional view of the carrier of  FIG. 18  taken along the line  19 - 19  in  FIG. 18 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 20  is an exploded view of the carrier of  FIG. 8  showing how inserts are inserted into front wall of the housing of the carrier according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 21  is an exploded view of the carrier of  FIG. 9  showing how inserts are inserted into rear wall of the housing of the carrier according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 22  is perspective view of the front of a latching pin insert according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0031]      FIG. 23  is a perspective view of the back of the latching pin insert shown in  FIG. 22 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 24  is a perspective view of the front of a biasing member insert according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0033]      FIG. 25  is a perspective view of the back of the biasing member insert shown in  FIG. 24 . 
           [0034]      FIG. 26  is a side view of the biasing member insert shown in  FIG. 24 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0035]    With reference initially to  FIGS. 1-7 , one embodiment of a carrier according to the invention is shown at  10 . Carrier  10  functions to releasably secure an object  20  having an aperture or the like  22  formed on one surface  54  of the object  20 . Carrier  10  includes a housing  30  having four walls, a front wall  32 , two side walls  34  and  36 , and a rear wall  38 , walls  32 - 38  defining an interior chamber  39  with an opening  40  at one end of housing  30  for receiving said object  20 . In one embodiment, housing  30  also includes a base  42  at the end of housing  30  opposite to opening  40 . Also in the embodiment shown, carrier  20  includes a clip  44 . Clip  44  is shaped to fasten carrier  20  onto a belt. Clip  44  can be any device for enabling the carrier  20  to be retained on a belt, vest, backpack, or the like, including a belt receiving slot, one or more straps or hooks, fingers for fitting into a Molle vest, etc. 
         [0036]    Interior chamber  39  is sized to receive the object  20  to be secured in carrier  10 . For example, the carrier  10  can be sized, as shown in the figures, to releasably retain an ammunition magazine. Interior chamber  39  is sized such that a portion of the object  20  extends from housing  30  when the object is releasably retained in carrier  10 . 
         [0037]    As best seen in  FIG. 4 , a first biasing member  46  is positioned on the interior surface of one of said walls of said housing  30 . A first latching pin  48  is positioned on the interior surface of the wall of said housing  30  opposite to the wall on which said first biasing member is positioned. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , first biasing member  46  is positioned on the interior surface of front wall  32  and the first latching pin  48  is positioned on the interior surface of rear wall  38 . Acting in conjunction with the aperture  22  formed on the object to be secured in housing  30 , first latching pin  48  and first biasing member  46  act as a detent to hold the object  20  in a fixed location until it is released by a user of carrier  10 . As seen in  FIG. 4 , both first latching pin  48  and first biasing member  46  are positioned on one side of the center of interior chamber  39  and closer to side wall  34 . This is because the aperture  22  of object  20  is preferably offset from the axis of insertion and removal of the object  20  from carrier  10 , shown at  24  in  FIG. 5 . In order to be able to mate with aperture  22 , the first latching pin  48  is offset the same distance from the center of interior chamber  39 . The first biasing member  46  is also positioned a predetermined distance from the axis of insertion of said housing so that, when the object  20  is being retained in carrier  10 , a twisting or torque force applied to the adjacent surface of object  20  in the opposite direction to the torque applied to object  20  by said first biasing member enables removal of object  20  from housing  30 . In other words, to release object  20 , a user grips the portion of object  20  that extends out from the housing  30  and applies a twisting or torque force to the object  20  in a direction that counteracts the constant force applied to the object  20  by first biasing member  48 , to remove the first latching pin  48  from aperture  22 . The user then is enabled to withdraw the object  20  from housing  30 . 
         [0038]    As also seen in  FIG. 4 , opposed blocks or spacers  50  and  52  are preferably also positioned on the interior surfaces of front wall  32  and rear wall  38 , respectively. These spacers are sized to provide support for the object  20  at two other points in interior chamber  39  besides the points where the first biasing member  46  and first latching pin  48  are contacting the object  20 , when the object  20  is being secured in housing  30  by these other components. In one embodiment, spacers  50  and  52  are positioned on the other side of the center of interior chamber  39  from the first latching pin  48  and first biasing member  46  and closer to side wall  36 . In another embodiment, the interior walls  32  and  38  of housing  30  can be shaped to provide structural support for object  20  to better retain object  20  in housing  30  without rattling or other movement while latching pin  48  is mated with aperture  22  of object  20 . 
         [0039]      FIGS. 5-7  illustrate one exemplary aperture for the object that is retained in carrier  10 . As seen in  FIG. 5 , in this ammunition magazine example, the aperture  22  is a hole formed in a side surface  54  of object  20 . The first latching pin is positioned on wall  38  where it is operable to mate with said aperture  22  when object  20  is inserted into the housing  30 . The first biasing member  46  is operable to apply a constant force against the opposite side surface  56  of object  20 , to cause said first latching pin to seat in said aperture  22  to releasably retain object  20  in housing  30 .  FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the object  20  shown in  FIG. 5  taken along the line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the object  20  shown in  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 6  illustrates the two side surfaces  54 ,  56  of object  20  and the aperture  22  formed in side surface  54 . 
         [0040]    It is within the ordinary skill in the art for the aperture  22  to alternatively be a slot, a dimple, a cleft, a v-shaped indentation, or some other structure formed in or on the side surface  54  of object  20  that is shaped to mate with first latching pin  48 . First latching pin  48  can also be any shape sufficient to act with the aperture  22  to provide a detent function. 
         [0041]      FIG. 8  is a first perspective view of a carrier  10  according to one embodiment of the invention with object  20  removed (and with clip  44  omitted for clarity).  FIG. 8  is a first view of the interior chamber  39  and shows the interior of front wall  32  of housing  30 .  FIG. 9  is a second perspective view of the carrier  10  and interior chamber  39  according to one embodiment of the invention and shows the interior of wall  38  of housing  30  that faces wall  32 .  FIG. 10  is a top view of the carrier shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . As seen in  FIG. 8 , positioned on the interior surface of front wall  32  is the first biasing member  46 . In one embodiment, biasing member  46  comprises two leaf or cantilever springs  58  and  60  positioned one above the other that extend out into interior chamber  39  from front wall  32 . A benefit of two spaced apart leaf springs  58 ,  60  is that they provide a biasing force on object  20  at two different locations on the side surface  56  of object  20 . As seen in  FIG. 9 , positioned on the interior surface of rear wall  38  is the first latching member  48 .  FIG. 10  shows that the first biasing member  46  is positioned in this embodiment directly across interior chamber  39  from first latching pin  48 . Spacers  50  and  52  are also shown in this embodiment, with spacer  50  positioned on wall  32  and spacer  52  positioned on wall  38 . As best seen in  FIG. 10 , spacers  50  and  52  are positioned directly across interior chamber  39  from each other. 
         [0042]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the carrier of  FIG. 10  taken along the line  11 - 11  in  FIG. 10 .  FIG. 11  is a side view of rear wall  38  and shows the orientation of the first latching pin  48  and spacer  52  on the interior surface of wall  38  according to the embodiment of carrier  10  shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 .  FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the carrier of  FIG. 10  taken along the line  12 - 12  in  FIG. 10 .  FIG. 12  is a side view of front wall  32  and shows the orientation of spacer  50  and biasing member  46 , comprising leaf springs  58  and  60 , on the interior surface of wall  32  according to the embodiment of carrier  10  shown in  FIGS. 8 and 10 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 13  is a top view of a carrier  10 ′ with an object  20  secured inside according to another embodiment of the invention. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 13 , the spacers  50  and  52  are replaced with a second latching pin  48 ′ and a second biasing member  46 ′ on the walls opposite to the walls on which the first latching pin  48  and first biasing member  46  are positioned. As seen in  FIG. 13 , second latching pin  48 ′ is positioned on wall  32  and second biasing member  46 ′ is positioned on wall  38  opposite to second latching pin  48 ′. Second biasing member  46 ′ applies a constant force to the opposite side of object  20  from where the constant force from the first biasing member is applied. As seen in  FIG. 13 , first biasing member  46  applies a constant force against surface  56  of object  20 , while second biasing member  46 ′ applies a constant force against surface  54  of object  20 . In one example of object  20 , there is no aperture adjacent where second latching pin  48 ′ is positioned. Consequently, the constant force applied by second biasing member  46 ′ causes the surface  56  of object  20  to be held against second latching pin  48 ′. The result is that second biasing member  46 ′ and second latching pin  48 ′ provide at least two additional points of contact on the surfaces of object  20  to increase the holding force on object  20  as well as to lessen the tendency of object  20  to wobble or rattle in housing  30 . As also seen in  FIG. 13 , object  20  may seat in interior chamber  39  in a slightly offset orientation with respect to its axis of insertion  24  as a function of the operation of the detent comprising the seating of first latching pin  48  in aperture  22  as a function of the force applied by biasing member  46 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view of the carrier  10 ′ and object  20  shown in  FIG. 13  taken along the line  14 - 14  in  FIG. 13  (with clip  44  omitted for clarity). As seen in  FIG. 14 , object  20  is retained in carrier  10 ′ through the mating or seating of first latching pin  48  in aperture  22 . First latching pin  48  is retained in aperture  22  due to the constant force applied on surface  56  of object  20  by first biasing member  46 . As seen in this embodiment, with first biasing member  46  comprising two spaced apart leaf springs  58  and  60 , these leaf springs contact surface  56  of object  20  at two different points. This spaces apart the applied holding force on object  20  to further increase the stability of the retention of object  20  in carrier  10 ′. 
         [0045]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the carrier  10 ′ of  FIG. 13  with the object removed.  FIG. 15  illustrates the respective positions of the first and second latching pins  48  and  48 ′ and the first and second biasing members  46  and  46 ′. In one embodiment, as shown, both the first and second biasing members include two leaf springs, with first biasing member  46  having leaf springs  58  and  60  and second biasing member  46 ′ having leaf springs  58 ′ and  60 ′. As perhaps best seen in this figure, the carrier  10 ′ embodiment provides a plurality of points of contact on the surfaces  54  and  56  of an object  20 , to better releasably retain object  20  in carrier  10 ′. These contact points including two contact points by the two leaf springs  58  and  60  of first biasing member  46  and two contact points by the two leaf springs  58 ′ and  60 ′ of second biasing member  46 ′. First latching pin  48  and second latching pin  48 ′ provide two additional contact points on object  20 , with first latching pin mating in aperture  22  and second latching pin  48 ′ contacting surface  56  of object  20 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 16  is a top view of the carrier  10 ′ of  FIG. 13  with object  20  removed.  FIG. 16  illustrates the position of the two biasing members  46  and  46 ′ and the two latching pins  48  and  48 ′ in internal chamber  39  and with respect to the axis of insertion  24  of object  20 . As also seen in the carrier  10 ′ embodiment shown inn  FIG. 16 , the placement of the second latching pin  48 ′ and second biasing member  46 ′ enables the object  20  to be inserted with surface  54  of object  20  facing the opposite wall  32  of carrier  10 ′. This enables the aperture  22  of object  20  to mate with second latching pin  48 ′ rather than first latching pin  48 . In this orientation, second biasing member  46 ′ applies the necessary constant force to cause second latching pin  48 ′ to seat in aperture  22 . 
         [0047]    In a second alternate embodiment of a carrier  10 , the first and second biasing members, first and second latching pins, and/or spacers  50  and  52 , are separate inserts that are each removably fastened to the walls of housing  30 . These inserts each have elongated fingers along each side of the inserts that fit in parallel tracks formed on the interior surfaces of walls  32  and  38 . In the carrier  10  embodiment shown in  FIGS. 8-10 , the inserts comprise first latching pin  48 , first biasing member  46 , and spacers  50  and  52 . In the carrier  10 ′ embodiment shown in  FIGS. 13-16 , the inserts comprise first and second latching pins  48  and  48 ′ and first and second biasing members  46  and  46 ′.  FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a carrier according to one embodiment of the invention with its inserts removed.  FIG. 18  is a top view of the carrier of  FIG. 17 , and  FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional view of the carrier of  FIG. 18  taken along the line  19 - 19  in  FIG. 18 . As best seen in  FIG. 18 , surfaces  32  and  38  of housing  30  each include two sets of opposed parallel tracks  62  and  64  formed by rails  66 ,  68  and  70 . As described below, each insert is preferably retained in the tracks  62 ,  64  of walls  32 ,  38  by a detent comprising a ridge formed on the rear of each insert positioned to mate with a corresponding recess formed in the walls  32 ,  38 . These detent recesses are best seen in  FIGS. 17 and 19  at  84 . As shown in these figures, each set of parallel tracks  62 ,  64  includes a recess  84  for releasably retaining an associated insert on a corresponding wall  32 ,  38 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 20  is an exploded view of the carrier  10  of  FIG. 8  showing how inserts are inserted into the tracks  62 ,  64  formed in the front wall  32  of the housing  30  of the carrier  10  according to one embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 21  is an exploded view of the carrier of  FIG. 9  showing how inserts are inserted into the tracks  62 ,  64  formed in the rear wall  38  of the housing  30  of the carrier  10  according to one embodiment of the invention. Referring first to  FIG. 20 , biasing member  46  is mounted on a biasing member insert  72 . Similarly, each spacer  50 ,  52  is mounted on a spacer insert  76 . Each insert includes elongated fingers  78  and  80 . These fingers are sized to slidably fit within respective tracks  62  and  64  formed by rails  66 ,  68 , and  70  in either front wall  32  or rear wall  38 . As seen in  FIG. 20 , fingers  78  and  80  of biasing member insert  72  are sized to slidably fit in parallel tracks  62  and  64  formed respectively by rails  66  and  68  on wall  32 . 
         [0049]    Referring to  FIG. 21 , latching pin  48  is mounted on a latching pin insert  74 . Each latching pin insert  74  also include elongated fingers  78  and  80  and are sized to slidably fit in parallel tracks  62  and  64  formed by rails  66 ,  68 , and  70  in either front wall  32  or rear wall  38 . As seen in  FIG. 21 , fingers  78  and  80  of latching pin insert  74  are sized to slidably fit in parallel tracks  62  and  64  formed respectively by rails  68  and  70  on wall  38 . 
         [0050]    Inserts  72 ,  74 , and  76  are releasably retained on respective walls  32 ,  38  of housing  30  by a detent comprising a ridge  82  formed on each insert  72 ,  74 , and  76  positioned to mate with a retaining recess  84  formed in the walls  32 ,  38 . As seen in  FIGS. 19 and 20 , two recesses  84  are formed in front wall  32  for releasably retaining a selected two of inserts  72 ,  74 , and  76  in that wall. As seen in  FIG. 21 , two recesses  84  are also formed in rear wall  38  for releasably retaining a selected two inserts  72 ,  74 , and  76  in that wall.  FIG. 14A  is a detailed cross-sectional view of a portion  100  of the carrier  10 ′ and object  20 .  FIG. 14A  is an enlarged view of one of the recesses  84  formed in wall  38  of carrier  10 ′ with the ridge  82  of insert  74  seated in this recess. 
         [0051]      FIG. 22  is perspective view of the front of a latching pin insert  74  according to one embodiment of the invention, and  FIG. 23  is a perspective view of the back of latching pin insert  74  shown in  FIG. 22 . As seen in  FIG. 22 , latching pin  48  is mounted on the front surface of insert  74 . Elongated fingers  78  and  80  are formed on each side of insert  74 . A ledge  86  is formed on one end of insert  74  to facilitate a user grasping the insert  74  for removal and insertion of insert  74  into one set of tracks  62 ,  64  in housing  30 . 
         [0052]      FIG. 24  is a perspective view of the front of a biasing member insert  72  according to one embodiment of the invention,  FIG. 25  is a perspective view of the back of the biasing member insert  72  shown in  FIG. 24 , and  FIG. 26  is a side view of the biasing member insert  72  shown in  FIG. 24 . As seen in  FIG. 24 , biasing member  46  is mounted on the front surface of insert  72 . Elongated fingers  78  and  80  are formed on each side of insert  72 . A ledge  86  is formed on one end of insert  72  to facilitate a user grasping the insert  72  for removal and insertion into one set of tracks  62 ,  64  housing  30 . 
         [0053]    As seen in  FIGS. 20 and 21 , spacers  50  and  52  have the same elongated fingers  78  and  80  as well as a ridge (not shown) for mating with a recess  84  to provide a detent for retaining each spacer on a respective wall  32 ,  38  of housing  30 . 
         [0054]    It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the invention. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. In addition, many suitable sizes and shapes or type of elements or materials could be used. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.