Belt attachment device for carrying handguns

A handgun carrying device which is for attachment to a standard garment belt and which includes a strap forming a retaining loop or holster with the belt to accept the gun. The strap has a fixed loop attached at one end and carries a cinch loop which is slidably adjustable along the length of the strap. The belt is inserted through the loops so that the strap is worn on the inside of the belt. The gun is inserted between the strap and belt, and the cinch loop is adjusted toward the gun to constrict the strap and belt around the gun, thereby forming a holster.

The present invention relates to a device for attachment to a standard 
garment belt which forms an adjustable retaining loop or holster for 
carrying objects such as a handgun. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
It is desirable to tote objects, such as handguns, in a manner that 
provides quick and easy and access to the objects for use. Heretofore, 
devices such as holsters, many of which are attachable to a standard belt, 
have enabled wearers to carry such objects. These conventional carrying 
devices, however, are often bulky and unattractive. Accordingly, during 
times throughout the day that the wearer decides to temporarily remove the 
handgun, the wearer may also desire to remove the carrying device because 
it is obtrusive or otherwise easily detectable by others. Also, because 
these devices are frequently designed to hold specific objects of a 
certain size in a certain orientation, they lack adjustability. As such, 
there exists a need for an unobtrusive, adjustable device for carrying 
objects such as handguns. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides a device for attachment to a standard belt 
which forms an adjustable retaining loop or holster with the belt to 
secure objects, such as handguns, to the body of the wearer. The device 
includes a strap with a fixed loop at one end and a cinch loop encircling 
the strap which is slidably adjustable along its length. A belt is 
inserted through both the fixed loop and the cinch loop with the strap 
being held against the inside surface of the belt. As such, the device is 
substantially concealed behind the belt. Only the portion of each loop 
overlying the belt is visible to the observer. Furthermore, since the 
strap and loops may be constructed of material which matches or closely 
resembles the belt, even the exposed loops may be difficult to distinguish 
from the belt. In operation, the handgun to be held is then inserted 
between the belt and the strap, and the cinch loop is slid toward the 
handgun to tighten the strap around the object, thereby holding the gun 
securely in place at any desired angle relative to the belt. Additionally, 
since the device can be attached at any location along the belt's length, 
the handgun can be carried, for example, at either side of the wearer's 
waist or at the wearer's back. 
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a device for 
carrying objects which is attachable to a standard belt. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a belt attachment 
device for carrying handguns which is unobtrusive and substantially 
concealed behind the belt. 
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a belt attachment device 
for carrying handguns which is adjustable to retain handguns of various 
sizes in various orientations and locations relative to the wearer's belt.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The preferred embodiment disclosed below is not intended to be exhaustive 
or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Rather, the 
embodiment is chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may 
utilize its teachings. 
FIG. 1 shows the carrying device 10 of the present invention attached to a 
standard belt 12 and retaining a handgun 14 (shown in broken lines). 
Carrying device 10 includes a strap 16 having a fixed loop or band 18 
attached at one end 20. The fixed loop or band 18 extends across the width 
of the strap 16 in substantially perpendicular relationship with respect 
to the length thereto. A continuous cinch loop 22 freely encircles strap 
16 and is slidable along its length. A stop 24 is provided at the opposite 
end 26 of strap 16 to prevent cinch loop 22 from sliding off of the strap. 
Stop 24 may be formed in a variety of shapes and configurations, for 
example by return bending the strap at its end 26 and sewing or gluing the 
return bent end to the strap. The strap may be formed from a variety of 
materials, preferably leather. 
Mode of Operation 
Carrying device 10 is attached to belt 12 by inserting the belt through 
fixed loop 18 and cinch loop 22 with the strap 16 being located at the 
inside surface of the belt, between the belt and the wearer's body. The 
belt may be inserted first through either fixed loop 18 or cinch loop 22. 
The carrying device 10 so secured to belt 12 can then be slid along the 
belt and positioned at a desired location about the wearer's waist. As 
best shown in FIG. 4, strap 16 between loops 22 and 18 is separated from 
belt 12 to form a holster or retaining loop 28. A handgun 14 is then 
inserted barrel first into retaining loop 28 behind belt 12 and along side 
the body of the belt wearer. The handgun may be inserted so that the butt 
of the gun faces forward or backward. Handgun 14 is then tightly secured 
between belt 12 and strap 16 by sliding cinch loop 22 toward the gun, 
thereby reducing the size of retaining loop 28 and causing strap 16 and 
belt 12 to constrict around the gun as shown in FIG. 5. 
As should be apparent from the above description, fixed loop 18 and cinch 
loop 22 are advantageously sized to fit snugly around belt 12 so that 
device 10 remains substantially in its original position about the waist 
of the belt wearer during use. Also, strap 16 may be produced in various 
widths to approximate standard belt widths. When carrying device 10 is 
attached to a belt having a similar width, strap 16 is substantially 
concealed between the belt and the wearer's body, thereby providing an 
unobtrusive carrying device when either in use or not in use. Thus, the 
wearer can wear device 10 continuously throughout the day, even when the 
wearer temporarily removes the handgun. 
Additionally, since device 10 may be worn at any location around the waist 
of the wearer, with cinch loop 22 forward or back, and the handgun 14 may 
be inserted butt forward or back, the present invention permits left or 
right hand drawing of the handgun using either a cross draw or straight 
draw, depending upon the preference of the wearer. Also, since strap 16 
constricts around handgun 14 and conforms to the portion of the gun 
located between belt 12 and strap 16, the handgun may be secured to the 
wearer at a variety of angles relative to vertical. This not only provides 
a more comfortable draw, the wearer can improve the comfort of carrying 
the gun by adjusting its angle when, for example, the wearer assumes a 
sitting position. 
While this invention has been described as having exemplary embodiments, 
the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope 
of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any 
variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general 
principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures 
from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in 
the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits 
of the appended claims.