Method and apparatus for selectively attaching a first item to a second item

An attaching apparatus includes a first member which has an axle member. A second member has a slot having a center plane and a cylindrical channel having a longitudinal centerline. The longitudinal centerline of the cylindrical channel lies within said center plane of said slot. The second member has a grip operatively associated with a spring and moveable between a first extended position and a second compressed position. The grip can selectively secure the axle member of said first member within the cylindrical chamber.

A. Field of the Invention

This invention generally relates to methods and apparatuses for selectively attaching and detaching, or engaging and disengaging, a first item to a second item, and more specifically to a simple apparatus and method for attaching and engaging attachments such as belt loops, holster backers, molle straps, magazine pouches, shoulder holster straps, belly bands, etc. to a holster or pouch without the use of screws and posts.

B. Description of Related Art

There are variety of apparatuses and methods for attaching one item, or article, to another item or article. The invention disclosed herein has wide applicability and not just to holsters for firearms but an attachment apparatus and method for attaching items to a firearm holster will be the primary context in which the invention is shown.

In the area of firearm holsters, attachments, such as for selectively attaching a belt loop or any other attachment to a holster or a magazine pouch, are often desired. However, the process of attaching and detaching these attachments usually involves the use of tools (such as a screwdriver) and fasteners, such as a screw or bolt and nut. This is sometimes burdensome and inconvenient, as the tools may not be conveniently available and the screw or bolt or nut may fall and be lost.

Therefore, what is needed is a new method and apparatus for easily attaching attachments to a holster. This invention, as disclosed herein, will provide numerous other advantages as will be readily understood by a person of skill in the art.

According to some embodiments of this invention, an attaching apparatus has a first member which has an attaching apparatus which includes A first member, said first member having an axle member, said axle member having first, second and third portions, a diameter of said first and second portions being equal and being greater than a diameter of said third portion; and, a second member, said second member having slot, said slot having a center plane, said slot being defined by a first sidewall and second sidewall, said first and second sidewalls each lying in planes which are not parallel; said second member having a cylindrical channel having a longitudinal centerline, said longitudinal centerline of said cylindrical channel lying within said center plane of said slot, said second member having a grip operatively associated with a spring and moveable between a first extended position and a second compressed position, said grip operatively associated with said third portion of said axle member of said first member and biased by said spring to said first extended position, said spring being compressible by manually-generated forces to a second, compressed position, said cylindrical channel capable of selectively receiving said axle member

A method of attaching a first item to second item, the method comprising the steps of providing a first member, said first member having an axle member; providing a second member, said second member having slot, a cylindrical channel, and a grip operative associated with a spring and moveable between a first extended position and a second compressed position; aligning said axle member of said first member with said slot; depressing said spring to said second depressed position, inserting said axle member into said cylindrical channel; releasing said spring so that it returns to said first extended position; positioning said grip onto said axle member to secure said axle member within said cylindrical channel.

IV. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating embodiments of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting the same, and wherein like reference numerals are understood to refer to like components,FIGS. 1-28illustrate the inventive attachment apparatus and method for using same. As described previously, the attachment apparatus and method for using it, is applicable to a wide variety of attachment opportunities but will be disclosed herein in the context of a firearms holster. The reader should understand that the invention is not limited to the application of a holster for firearms but in fact is much broader.

With reference toFIGS. 1 and 2, two view of a firearms holster with the attaching apparatus10,10A as shown. In the preferred holster application, the attaching apparatus10is mounted on either side of the holster14but for clarity, one attaching apparatus10,10A has been labeled with reference number10, while the other has been labeled with reference number10A. However, the two attaching apparatuses10,10A are identical other than their location on the holster14.

For reference sake, with reference toFIGS. 3 and 4, the prior art holster and apparatus method as shown, note the prior art attachment mechanism20is secured to the holster14via screws22and24. While a variety of attachments might be desirable to selectively attach to a holster, in the prior art, the way such attachments were made was by conventional fasteners, such as the screws22,24, as shown, or bolts and nuts (not shown) and the application of a associated tool, such as a screwdriver or wrench (not shown) to loosen the screws, replace or add the attaching apparatus, and then refastening the screws. One of the advantages of the present invention is the ability to attach and detach an attachment100without the use of tools, quickly and selectively.

With reference toFIGS. 5-8andFIG. 13, the attaching apparatus10will be described. The attaching apparatus10includes a first member30and a second member34. With reference to specially toFIGS. 5 and 6, note that the first member30is shown in a first position inFIG. 5and a second position inFIG. 6. Note that the second member34has a slot40to defined by a first sidewall42and a second sidewall44. The slot40has a center plane120. In the preferred embodiment, the first and second sidewalls42,44line in planes124,126, respectively, and the planes124,126are not parallel, but are configured so that near the outer surface48of the second member34, the distance between the first sidewall42and the second sidewall44is larger than at a position more toward the interior of the second member34.

With reference toFIGS. 9-16, the attaching apparatus10will be further described. Second member34is illustrated in different orientations.

With reference toFIGS. 17-18, the attaching apparatus10will be further described. First member30and second member34is illustrated in different orientations in the context of being used on an associated holster14.

With reference toFIG. 19, the attaching apparatus10will be further described, with a holster14and container96being shown in a first, detached position. Second members34A,34B are shown in the contexts of being attached to an associated holster14and to an associated container96for receiving an ammunition clip (not shown). The associated container, however, could be any sort of attachment100the user would desire to attach to another item, such as the holster. The invention should be understood to not be limited to attaching associated containers96for ammunition clips to holsters14, but rather a method and apparatus for selectively attaching and detaching a first associated item106to a second associated item108.

With continuing reference toFIG. 19, the holster14has a second member34attached at one end. At another end, the holster14has as a connector114B that can receive an associated belt and thereby attach the holster to the hip of an associated user. The container96also has a second member34A attached at one end and at another end the container96has a connector114A that can receive an associated belt (not shown) and thereby attach the holster14to the hip of an associated user.

With continuing reference toFIG. 19, a first member30is shown, but in this embodiment, the first member30A is configured to selective attach and detach with both second members34,34A of the holster14and the container96. In this embodiment of the first member30A, first member30A features an axle member52A which comprises first and second cylinder portions56A and58A as well as60A. In addition, first member30A features an axle member52B which comprises first and second cylinder portions56B and58B as well as60B.

With reference toFIG. 20, the holster14and container96are shown in a second, attached position, via the operative connection of first members30,30A and second members34A,34B.

With reference toFIGS. 21-28, the first member30will be further described. The first member30has an axle member52. The axle member52has a generally constant diameter and cylindrical shape except for a portion near the middle which has a reduced diameter. With reference especially toFIG. 23, the axle member52has a first cylindrical portion and a second cylindrical portion58. The diameters of the first cylindrical portion56and second cylindrical portion58are approximately equal. However, fits therebetween the first cylindrical portion56and the second cylindrical portion58is a third portion60.

With continuing reference toFIG. 23, the first member30provides exemplary information as to how an attachment may be conveniently attached to a holster14or other member, via inventive apparatus. For example, the first member30features an outer member64, which is illustrated as basically flat and planar but could be attached to anything desired to be attached to the holster14. For example, the outer member64could be a surface of an auxiliary gun clip. In the preferred embodiment shown herein, the first member30features the axle member52which comprises first and second cylinder portions56and58as well as60. The axle member52is connected to the outer member64via first and second side members66and68.

With reference toFIGS. 5-8 and 25-28, the interaction and operation of the first member30and the second member34, as well as the method of using the attaching apparatus as well as using the attaching apparatus, will be described. With reference toFIG. 25, the second member34is attached to the holster14via conventional fasteners, such as screws72,74. Screws72,74fit into holes92,94. A grip80is shaped somewhat like a claw or a hook or a “C” and selectively and operatively engages third portion60. In the preferred embodiment, the grip80is biased into a first position82by spring86.

With reference toFIGS. 27 and 28, the process of attaching the first member30to the second member34is illustrated. InFIG. 27, the first member30is in the process of being inserted into its position within the second member30. Note that the grip80is into a second, non-engaged position and the spring86is depressed. The grip80is being displaced by the second cylindrical portion58of the axle member52. The diameter of the first and second cylindrical portions of the axle member52are greater than the diameter of third portion60.

With continuing reference toFIGS. 25-28, as the grip80is depressed, such as with the user's fingertip, and the first member30is slid within the cylindrical channel98of the second member34, the first cylindrical portion56slides by the grip80until the third portion60is positioned at the same position occupied by the grip80. Then, the grip is released (by removing the fingertip pressure which depresses the spring86) and the grip moves from a second, depressed position to the first position82as shown inFIGS. 25 and 28. InFIG. 25, the first member30is not located within the cylindrical channel98but inFIG. 28, the first member30is so positioned. Thereby, the grip80fits into the area between an outer diameter of a first cylindrical portion56and the second cylindrical portion58and the outer surface of the third portion60of the axle member52. When the grip slides into an operable engagement with the third portion60, the first member30is selectively attached to the second member34. While in this attached position, the first member30can freely rotate around its axle member52while the axle member52is contained rotatably within the cylindrical channel98.

Therefore, a method of selectively attaching and detaching attachment to a first member, includes the steps of attaching a first item to second item, the method comprising the steps of providing a first member, said first member having an axle member; providing a second member, said second member having slot, a cylindrical channel, and a grip operative associated with a spring and moveable between a first extended position and a second compressed position; aligning said axle member of said first member with said slot; depressing said spring to said second depressed position, inserting said axle member into said cylindrical channel; releasing said spring so that it returns to said first extended position; positioning said grip onto said axle member to secure said axle member within said cylindrical channel.

Numerous embodiments have been described herein. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above methods and apparatuses may incorporate changes and modifications without departing from the general scope of this invention. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations in so far as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof. Further, the “invention” as that term is used in this document is what is claimed in the claims of this document. The right to claim elements and/or sub-combinations that are disclosed herein as other inventions in other patent documents is hereby unconditionally reserved.

Having thus described the invention, it is now claimed: