Abstract:
A belt mounting system includes a main body, a device coupled to the main body, a belt mount configured to be coupled to a belt, and a locking element, wherein the locking element is reusable so that the locking element is removable to selectively decouple the main body from the belt mount and insertable to fix the main body to the belt mount through the interconnection of the main body, the belt mount, and the locking element.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/593,798, filed Jan. 9, 2015, which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/925,906, filed Jan. 10, 2014, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     On traditional sheathes, such as for a knife, gun, or other tool, there is often only one mounting option for user to attach the sheath to a piece of gear or clothing. For example, the sheath may have a belt loop that allows for a belt mount, or the sheath may have a strip secured by a snap or a locking clip that allows for mounting to a webbing system, such as on modular lightweight load-carrying equipment (MOLLE) and compatible gear. 
     SUMMARY 
     One embodiment of the invention relates to a belt mounting system including a main body, a device coupled to the main body, a belt mount configured to be coupled to a belt, and a locking element, wherein the locking element is reusable so that the locking element is removable to selectively decouple the main body from the belt mount and insertable to fix the main body to the belt mount through the interconnection of the main body, the belt mount, and the locking element. 
     Another embodiment of the invention relates to a belt mounting system including a main body, a knife sheath coupled to the main body, a knife configured to be stored in the knife sheath, a belt, a belt mount configured to be coupled to the belt, and a locking element, wherein when the main body and the belt mount are positioned adjacent one another, the main body and the belt mount cooperate to form a slide track and the locking element is inserted into the slide track to couple the main body and the belt mount to one another, and wherein the locking element may be repeatedly inserted into or removed from the slide track. 
     Another embodiment of the invention relates to a belt mounting system including a main body, a device coupled to the main body, wherein the device is at least one of a sheath, a pouch, a pocket, and a holster, a belt, a belt mount configured to be coupled to the belt, and a locking element, wherein when the main body and the belt mount are positioned adjacent one another, the main body and the belt mount cooperate to form a slide track and the locking element is inserted into the slide track to couple the main body and the belt mount to one another, and wherein the locking element may be repeatedly inserted into or removed from the slide track. 
     Alternative exemplary embodiments relate to other features and combinations of features as may be generally recited in the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will become more fully understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a knife mounted to the belt of a user with a mounting system. 
         FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of a mounting system coupled to a belt, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the mounting system of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view of the mounting system of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the mounting system of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of a belt mount for the mounting system of  FIG. 2 , according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the mounting system of  FIG. 2   
         FIG. 8  is a rear perspective view of a mounting system coupled to a belt, according to another exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is front perspective view of a belt mount for the belt mounting system of  FIG. 8 , according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view of the mounting system of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic view of a knife mounted to a webbing system with a mounting system. 
         FIG. 12  is a rear perspective view of a mounting system, according to another exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Before turning to the figures, which illustrate the exemplary embodiments in detail, it should be understood that the application is not limited to the details or methodology set forth in the description or illustrated in the figures. It should also be understood that the terminology is for the purpose of description only and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     Referring in general to  FIGS. 1-12 , a mounting system  10  is shown according to various embodiments to mount a device, shown in general as a knife sheath  12 , to a piece of clothing or equipment, shown in  FIG. 1  as a belt  14  worn by a user  16 . In various embodiments, the mounting system  10  may be utilized to mount a knife sheath  12  such that the belt  14  is threaded through the mounting system  10  or such that the mounting system  10  hangs from the belt  14 . The mounting system  10  is configured such that it may also be utilized to mount a knife sheath  12  or another device to a webbing system  102 , as shown in  FIG. 11 . In other embodiments, the mounting system  10  may be configured to mount another device, such as a holster for a gun, a holster for a tool (e.g., an axe), a pocket or pouch for a radio, a magazine, a cell phone or other mobile device, etc. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2-4 , the mounting system  10  is shown according to one exemplary embodiment to mount the knife sheath  12  parallel to the belt  14 . The mounting system  10  includes a main body  20  that is coupled to the knife sheath  12 , a belt mount  22  that is slidably coupled to the belt  14 , and locking element, shown as a slider  24 , that couples the belt mount  22  to the main body  20 . In one embodiment, the knife sheath  12  may be a sheath for a fixed-blade knife. The knife sheath  12  includes a cavity  25  that receives a knife blade while the knife handle extends out of the knife sheath  12 . In another embodiment, the knife sheath  12  may be a sheath for a folding blade knife and the knife sheath  12  may contain both the knife blade and the knife handle. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , an exploded view of the mounting system  10  is shown. The knife sheath  12  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) or other device to be mounted is positioned on a front side  30  of the main body  20 . In one embodiment, the main body  20  may be integrally formed with the knife sheath  12  (e.g., as a single injection molded component). In other embodiments, the main body  20  may be a separate body from the knife sheath  12  that is permanently or removably coupled to the knife sheath  12 . The main body  20  may be permanently coupled to the knife sheath  12 , for example, with rivets, threaded fasteners, an adhesive, a weld, or any other suitable permanent fastening mechanism. In other embodiments, the main body  20  may be removably coupled to the knife sheath  12 , for example, with a snap, clip, or any other mechanism that allows the user  18  to easily decouple the knife sheath  12  from the main body  20 . 
     The main body  20  includes multiple protrusions  34  (e.g., bosses, blocks, extensions, etc.) extending from the back side  32 , opposite the knife sheath  12 . According to an exemplary embodiment, the main body  20  includes three protrusions  34 , separated by spaces  35 . The protrusions  34  define slots  36  that are sized to receive the slider  24 . The slots  36  are oriented and aligned such that the slider  24  may pass through the slots  36  to engage multiple protrusions  34 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the belt mount  22  is shown. The belt mount  22  is configured to be coupled to the main body  20  and provides a structure to couple the main body  20  to the belt  14  or piece of webbing such that the belt  14  is threaded through the main body  20  (see  FIG. 2 ). The belt mount  22  includes a center portion  40  and a pair of end portions  42  that are offset (e.g., raised, elevated, extended, outthrust, etc.) from the center portion  40  in a direction away from main body  20  when the belt mount  22  is coupled to the main body  20 . The end portions  42  are connected to the center portion  40  by slanted transitional portions  41 . The belt mount  22  includes a protrusion  44  (e.g., boss, block, extension, etc.) extending from the center portion  40  in a direction opposite the end portions  42 . The protrusion  44  defines a slot  46  that is sized to receive the slider  24 . The protrusion  44  further defines a central opening  48  that is sized to receive the middle protrusion  34  of the main body  20 . The transitional portions  41  define end openings  49  that are configured to receive at least one thickness of the belt  14  or webbing to which the belt mount  22  is mounted. Alternatively, the mounting structures of the main body  20  (i.e., the protrusions  34  and the spaces  35 ) and the mounting structures of the belt mount  22  (i.e., the protrusion  44  and the central opening  48 ) may be switched so that mounting structures like those of the belt mount  22  are found on the main body and vice versa. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 5 , the slider  24  is an elongated structure that is configured to engage both the main body  20  and the belt mount  22  to couple the main body  20  to the belt mount  22 . According to an exemplary embodiment, the slider  24  includes a body  50 , a head  52  on one end of the body  50 , and a pair of locking tabs  54  (e.g., barbs, catches, etc.) opposite the head  52 . The locking tabs  54  are provided on the ends of flexible arms  56 . The flexible arms  56  form cantilever springs that allow the locking tabs  54  to be defected inward toward one another. The body  50  has a width that is less than or equal to the width of the slots  36  and  46 . The head  52  has a width that is greater than the width of the slots  36  and  46 . The tabs  54  extend to a width that is greater than the width of the slots  36  and  46  and can deflect inward via the flexible arms  56  to a width less than the width of the slots  36  and  46 . According to an exemplary embodiment, the head  52  includes a slot  58  that facilitates the grasping of the head  52  or the engagement of the head  52  by a tool, such as a flat-head screwdriver. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the main body  20  is shown coupled to the belt mount  22 . The protrusion  44  is sized to fit between the outer protrusions  34  of the main body  20  when the middle protrusion  34  is received in the central opening  48 . When the belt mount  22  is in position relative to the main body  20 , the slots  46  are aligned with the slots  36  to form a continuous slide track  60  that receives the slider  24 . The slider  24  is inserted into the slide track  60  locking tab-side first. Slanted surfaces  57  of the locking tabs  54  contact the protrusion  34 , forcing the arms  56  to flex inward until the locking tabs  54  can enter the slide track  60 . The slider  24  is advanced into the slide track  60  until the locking tabs  54  emerge from the opposite end of the slide track  60 . The arms  56  bias the locking tabs  54  outward. With the slider  24  fully seated in the slide track  60 , the belt mount  22  is fixed to the main body  20  through the interconnection of the main body  20 , the belt mount  22 , and the slider  24 . The lateral movement of the slider  24  is prevented by contact between contact surfaces  55  of the locking tabs  54  and a contact surface  62  of one of the protrusions  34  and by the contact between contact surfaces  53  of the head  52  and a contact surface  64  of the opposite protrusion  34 . 
     The slider  24  may be removed from the slide track  60  by deflecting (e.g., squeezing, compressing, pinching, etc.) the locking tabs  54  inward until they can be moved into the slot  36  to disengage the protrusion  34 . The head  52  of the slider  24  can be grasped to allow the user  16  to pull the slider  24  out of the slide track  60 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 8-10 , the mounting system  10  is shown according to another exemplary embodiment to mount the knife sheath  12  such that it hangs vertically from the belt  14 . The mounting system  10  includes the main body  20  that is coupled to the knife sheath  12 , a belt mount  72  that hangs from the belt  14 , and the slider  24  that couples the belt mount  72  to the main body  20 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the belt mount  72  is shown. The belt mount  72  is configured to be coupled to the main body  20  and provides a structure to couple the main body  20  to the belt  14  or piece of webbing such that the main body  20  hangs vertically from the belt  14  or piece of webbing. The belt mount  72  includes a base portion  80  and hook portion  82  that is generally parallel to and offset from the base portion  80  in a direction away from main body  20  when the belt mount  72  is coupled to the main body  20 . The hook portion  82  is connected to the base portion  80  by a curved connecting portion  81 . The belt mount  72  includes a protrusion  84  (e.g., boss, block, extension, etc.) extending from the base portion  80  in a direction opposite the hook portion  82 . The protrusion  84  defines a slot  86  that is sized to receive the slider  24 . The protrusion  84  further defines a central opening  88  that is sized to receive the middle protrusion  34  of the main body  20 . A second opening  85  is defined in the base portion  80  that is sized to receive an outer protrusion  34  of the main body  20 . The hook portion  82  is separated from the base portion  80  by a space defining a slot  89 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , the main body  20  is shown coupled to the belt mount  72 . The belt mount  72  is configured to be coupled to the main body  20  in a manner similar to the belt mount  22  described above. The protrusion  84  is sized to fit between the outer protrusions  34  of the main body  20  when the middle protrusion  34  is received in the central opening  88 . One of the outer protrusions  34  is received in the opening  85  in the base portion  80 . The slots  86  are aligned with the slots  36  to form a continuous slide track  90  (see  FIG. 8 ) that receives the slider  24 . The slider  24  is inserted into the slide track  90  locking tab-side first. Slanted surfaces  57  of the locking tabs  54  contact the protrusion  34 , forcing the arms  56  to flex inward until the locking tabs  54  can enter the slide track  90 . The slider  24  is advanced into the slide track  90  until the locking tabs  54  emerge from the opposite end of the slide track  90 . The arms  56  bias the locking tabs  54  outward. With the slider  24  fully seated in the slide track  90 , the belt mount  72  is fixed to the main body  20  through the interconnection of the main body  20 , the belt mount  72 , and the slider  24 . The lateral movement of the slider  24  is prevented by contact between contact surfaces  55  of the locking tabs  54  and a contact surface  62  of one of the protrusions  34  and by the contact between contact surfaces  53  of the head  52  and a contact surface  64  the opposite protrusion  34 . 
     Referring back to  FIG. 8 , the mounting system  70  is shown coupled to the belt  14 . The mounting system  10  is hooked onto the belt  14  by sliding the hook portion  82  onto the belt  14 . The slot  89  is configured to receive at least one thickness of the belt  14  or webbing to which the knife sheath  12  is mounted. The connecting portion  81  may be configured to flex, allowing the hook portion  82  to move away from the base portion  80 . In some embodiments, the slot  89  may be narrower than the thickness of the belt  14  or webbing to which the knife sheath  12  is mounted such that the hook portion  82  is biased outward and applies a pressure on the belt  14  or webbing to more securely mount the knife sheath  12  via the mounting system  70 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 11-12 , the mounting system  10  is shown according to another exemplary embodiment. The mounting system  10  is configured to couple a knife sheath  12  or another device to a webbing system  102  supported by a piece of clothing or equipment, such as Pouch Attachment Ladder System (PALS) webbing, which is utilized on some military gear (e.g., MOLLE rucksacks, tactical vests, etc.) as well as on commercial clothing and backpacks. The webbing system  102  includes parallel rows of webbing  104  that are attached to the piece of clothing or equipment at regular intervals, forming a series of webbing loops. As shown in  FIG. 11 , in one embodiment, the webbing system  102  is provided on a backpack  106 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , the mounting system  10  includes the main body  20  and the slider  24 , described above, without the belt mount  22  or the belt mount  72 . The mounting system  10  is positioned such that the webbing  104  of the webbing system  102  is received in the spaces  35  between the protrusions  34  of the main body  20 . The slider  24  is inserted into the slide track formed by the slots  36  and between the webbing  104  and the backpack  106 , trapping the webbing  104  between the slider  24  and the main body  20 . The slider  24  is then locked into place with the locking tabs  54  to secure the mounting system  10  to the webbing system  102 . In other embodiments, the mounting system  100  may be utilized to mount the knife sheath to any piece of equipment with the standardized webbing system  102 , such as vests, duffel bags, hydration packs, pouches, gun bags, etc. 
     By using a common main body  20  and locking slider  24 , a user may mount the sheath  12  or other device to the belt  14 , a single piece of webbing, or the webbing system  102  either horizontally with belt mount  22  or vertically with belt mount  72  for mounting or by foregoing either of the belt mounts for mounting directly to the webbing system  102 . While the mounting system  10  is described as being used to mount a knife sheath  12 , in other embodiments, the mounting system  10  may be used to mount a wide variety of devices (e.g., a gun holster, ammunition pouch, gear pouch, etc.) to either a belt, a single piece of webbing, or a webbing system, depending on the needs of the user. In embodiments where the sheath  12  is removably coupled to the main body  20 , the user can also change the type of device (e.g., sheath, holster, pouch, pocket, etc. for various tools or gear) coupled to the main body  20 . 
     The terms “coupled,” “connected,” and the like as used herein mean the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary (e.g., permanent) or moveable (e.g., removable or releasable). Such joining may be achieved with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being attached to one another. 
     The construction and arrangement of the elements of the mounting system as shown in the exemplary embodiments are illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements. Some like components have been described in the present disclosure using the same reference numerals in different figures. This should not be construed as an implication that these components are identical in all embodiments; various modifications may be made in various different embodiments. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the enclosure may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures, and combinations. Furthermore, other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangements of the exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.