Abstract:
A holster mounting device is an apparatus used to secure a gun holster to the handlebar of a vehicle, a flat surface, or another object. The apparatus includes a holster setting which receives and secures a gun holster. The holster setting includes a setting plate, a first bracket, and a second bracket. The first bracket and the second bracket both include a clip rail. The clip rails allow the spring clip of a gun holster to be attached to the apparatus. The apparatus also includes a mount which is connected to the setting plate. One kind of mount includes a first clamping jaw and a second clamping jaw, which together may grip a handlebar. Another kind of mount includes a base plate which may be secured to a surface. A third kind of mount includes a decorative and stabilizing bezel and may be directly connected to an object or surface.

Description:
[0001]    The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 62/131,323 filed on Mar. 11, 2015 and a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 62/161,727 filed on May 14, 2015. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to holster securing devices. More specifically, the present invention is a holster mounting device which allows for a gun holster to be mounted to a flat surface, a handlebar or cylindrical object, and various other objects. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Common holster mounts are generally designed to secure a gun holster to a single object or surface. This may be the handlebar of a vehicle, a wall, a piece of furniture, or various other objects. Common holster mounts lack versatility, limiting the user to a small set of objects or surfaces which may be compatible with a specific holster mount. Moreover, common holster mounts can inconveniently mount a gun holster too close to a surface, or at an angle which is awkward for the user to access. 
         [0004]    Accordingly, there is a present need for a holster mount which provides increased versatility in terms of mounting capabilities. Further, there is a present need for a holster mount which is easy and convenient for users to install and access. The present invention is a holster mounting device which includes various types of mounts that can be used for varying situations. The present invention includes mounts which allow a gun holster to be mounted to a handlebar, for use on an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) or motorcycle. Further, the present invention includes a mount which may be used to secure a holster at an angle relative to a surface. A third mount type allows the present invention to secure a gun holster directly to an object or surface. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a front right perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein the first embodiment comprises a proximal clamping jaw and a distal clamping jaw. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a front left perspective view of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a left side view of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a section view of the first embodiment of the present invention taken along line  5  in  FIG. 4 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a front right perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein the second embodiment comprises a base plate. 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of the second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a left side view of the second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  is a section view of the second embodiment of the present invention taken along line  9  in  FIG. 8 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  is a front right perspective view of a third embodiment of the present invention, wherein the third embodiment comprises a bezel. 
           [0015]      FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective view of the third embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 12  is a left side view of the third embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 13  is a section view of the third embodiment of the present invention taken along line  13  in  FIG. 12 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. 
         [0019]    With reference to  FIGS. 1-2 , the present invention is a holster mounting device which is used to secure a gun holster to the handlebar of a vehicle, a wall, or a number of other objects or surfaces. The present invention comprises a holster setting  1  and a mount  9 . The holster setting  1  is used to removably mount a gun holster to the present invention. The holster setting  1  comprises a setting plate  2 , a first bracket  3 , and a second bracket  4 . The first bracket  3  and the second bracket  4  are used to brace the gun holster from opposite sides. The first bracket  3  and the second bracket  4  each comprise a clip rail  5  and a bracket body  6 . The clip rail  5  is designed so that a spring clip may be attached to the clip rail  5 . The bracket body  6  is connected onto the setting plate  2  and is used to elevate and support the clip rail  5  so that the spring clip of the gun holster may slide in between the clip rail  5  and the setting plate  2 . The bracket body  6  of the first bracket  3  and the bracket body  6  of the second bracket  4  are positioned opposite to each other about the setting plate  2 . The clip rail  5  is connected adjacent to the bracket body  6  and is positioned parallel to the setting plate  2 . The clip rail  5  of the first bracket  3  and the clip rail  5  of the second bracket  4  are oriented towards each other and are positioned parallel to each other. This arrangement allows the first bracket  3  and the second bracket  4  to prevent the spring clip of the gun holster from sliding on the clip rail  5 . The mount  9  is used to secure the present invention, along with a gun holster to a surface or the handlebar of a vehicle. The mount  9  is connected onto the setting plate  2 , opposite to the first bracket  3  and the second bracket  4 . When a gun holster is attached to the present invention, the positioning of the mount  9  orients the gun holster away from the object or surface that the gun holster is being mounted to. This allows the gun holster to be easily removed if needed. 
         [0020]    In reference to  FIGS. 2-3 , the bracket body  6  comprises a proximal end  7  and a distal end  8 . The proximal end  7  is positioned adjacent to the setting plate  2  and the distal end  8  is positioned opposite to the proximal end  7  along the bracket body  6 . The clip rail  5  is positioned in between the proximal end  7  and the distal end  8 . This arrangement is advantageous because by offsetting the clip rail  5  from the proximal end  7 , the spring clip of the gun holster is able to slide in between the setting plate  2  and the clip rail  5 . Further, offsetting the clip rail  5  from the distal end  8  helps to limit the movement of the gun holster when attached to the present invention. 
         [0021]    In a first embodiment of the present invention, shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the mount  9  comprises a proximal clamping jaw  10  and a distal clamping jaw  11 . Together, the proximal clamping jaw  10  and the distal clamping jaw  11  are used to clamp about a handlebar or similar cylindrical object. The proximal clamping jaw  10  is fastened adjacent to the setting plate  2 . The distal clamping jaw  11  is fastened adjacent to the proximal clamping jaw  10 , opposite to the setting plate  2 . The proximal clamping jaw  10  and the distal clamping jaw  11  may be tightened or loosened with respect to each other in order to fix the present invention in place or to adjust the position of the present invention. 
         [0022]    In reference to  FIGS. 3-5 , the present invention further comprises a main hole  28 , a threaded mount hole  29 , and an elongated fastener  30 . The main hole  28  traverses normal and through the setting plate  2 . The main hole  28  also traverses through the clip rail  5  of the first bracket  3  and the clip rail  5  of the second bracket  4 . This is done so that the elongated fastener  30  may be inserted through the main hole  28  without being obstructed by the clip rail  5  of the first bracket  3  and the clip rail  5  of the second bracket  4 . The threaded mount hole  29  traverses into the proximal clamping jaw  10  and is used to secure the elongated fastener  30 . The main hole  28  and the threaded mount hole  29  are concentrically aligned with each other so that the elongated fastener  30  can be positioned through the main hole  28  and engage to the threaded mount hole  29 . When the elongated fastener  30  is engaged to the threaded mount hole  29  and tightened, the holster setting  1  and the proximal clamping jaw  10  become fastened to each other. 
         [0023]    In reference to  FIG. 1 , the proximal clamping jaw  10  and the distal clamping jaw  11  each comprise a bar-receiving groove  12 . The bar-receiving groove  12  of the proximal clamping jaw  10  and the bar-receiving groove  12  of the distal clamping jaw  11  are positioned adjacent to each other and are oriented towards each other. This allows the bar-receiving groove  12  of the proximal clamping jaw  10  and the bar-receiving groove  12  of the second jaw to be clamped about a handlebar or a similar cylindrical object. 
         [0024]    In reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , the mount  9  further comprises a first jaw fastening feature  13  and a second jaw fastening feature  14 . Together, the first jaw fastening feature  13  and the second jaw fastening feature  14  are used to clamp the proximal clamping jaw  10  and the distal clamping jaw  11  together. The first jaw fastening feature  13  and the second jaw fastening feature  14  each comprise a proximal hole  15 , a distal threaded hole  16 , and a clamping fastener  17 . The first jaw fastening feature  13  and the second jaw fastening feature  14  are positioned opposite to each other along the mount  9 . The first bar-receiving groove  12  and the second bar-receiving groove  12  are positioned equidistant from the first jaw fastening feature  13  and from the second jaw fastening feature  14  so that the mount  9  may be evenly clamped onto a handlebar. The proximal hole  15  traverses through the proximal clamping jaw  10 , and the distal threaded hole  16  traverses into the distal clamping jaw  11 . The proximal hole  15  and the distal threaded hole  16  are concentrically aligned with each other so that the clamping fastener  17  may be positioned through the proximal hole  15  and engaged to the distal threaded hole  16 . When the clamping fastener  17  of the first jaw fastening feature  13  and the clamping fastener  17  of the second jaw fastening feature  14  are each engaged to their corresponding distal threaded hole  16  and tightened, the proximal clamping jaw  10  and the distal clamping jaw  11  become fastened to each other. In some embodiments of the present invention, a distal threaded hole  16  is a female-threaded hole, and a clamping fastener  17  is a male-threaded fastener. 
         [0025]    In a second embodiment of the present invention, shown in  FIGS. 6-7 , the mount  9  comprises a base plate  18  and a plurality of fastening holes  22 . The base plate  18  is used to secure the present invention to any flat surface. The base plate  18  is fastened adjacent to the setting plate  2 , opposite to the first bracket  3  and the second bracket  4 . The plurality of fastening holes  22  traverses through the base plate  18  and are peripherally distributed on the base plate  18 . The plurality of fastening holes  22  provides a means of screwing or bolting the base plate  18  to the surface in which the present invention is to be mounted. 
         [0026]    Instead of traversing into the proximal clamping jaw  10 , in the second embodiment of the present invention, the threaded mount hole  29  traverses through the base plate  18 . This is shown in  FIGS. 7-9 . Similar to the first embodiment of the present invention, the threaded mount hole  29  is designed to engage with the elongated fastener  30 . The elongated fastener  30  is positioned through the main hole  28  and is engaged to the threaded mount hole  29 . When the elongated fastener  30  is engaged to the threaded mount hole  29  and tightened, the holster setting  1  and the base plate  18  become fastened to each other. 
         [0027]    The mount  9  further comprises a plurality of base fastening features  23 . The plurality of base fastening features  23  is used to mount the base plate  18  to a surface. Each of the plurality of base fastening features  23  comprises a base fastener  24  and a base fastening anchor  25 . The base fastener  24  is positioned through a corresponding hole from the plurality of fastening holes  22 . The base fastener  24  is engaged to the base fastening anchor  25  and is positioned adjacent to the base plate  18 , opposite to the setting plate  2 . In this configuration, the base fastener  24  may be inserted through the surface in which the present invention is to be mounted. The base fastening anchor  25  may then be engaged to the base fastener  24  such that the base plate  18  and the base fastening anchor  25  are pressed against opposite sides of the mounting surface. In some embodiments of the present invention, the base fastener  24  is a bolt, and the base fastening anchor  25  is a nut. 
         [0028]    In reference to  FIGS. 6-7 , the base plate  18  comprises a first surface  19  and a second surface  20 . The first surface  19  is positioned adjacent to the setting plate  2 . The first surface  19  and the second surface  20  are oriented at an acute angle  21  with each other. This arrangement allows the holster setting  1  to be oriented at an angle relative to the mounting surface. By doing this, when a gun holster is attached to the present invention, the gun holster may be positioned in a way that is convenient for the user. 
         [0029]    In a third embodiment of the present invention, shown in  FIGS. 10-11 , the mount  9  comprises a bezel  26  and a bezel fastening anchor  27 . The bezel  26  is positioned adjacent to the setting plate  2  and gives the present invention a decorative look, while also creating a stable interface for the setting plate  2  to be secured to an object or surface. The main hole  28  traverses normal and through the setting plate  2  and the bezel  26 . This is shown in  FIGS. 12-13 . The elongated fastener  30  is positioned through the main hole  28  and the bezel  26  and is engaged to the bezel fastening anchor  27 . The bezel fastening anchor  27  is positioned adjacent to the bezel  26 , opposite to the setting plate  2 , and is used to secure the present invention to a surface or object. In this configuration, the elongated fastener  30  may be inserted through the surface in which the present invention is to be mounted. The bezel fastening anchor  27  may then be engaged to the elongated fastener  30  such that the bezel  26  and the bezel fastening anchor  27  are pressed against opposite sides of the mounting surface. In doing this, the bezel  26  is secured in place between the setting plate  2  and the mounting surface. 
         [0030]    Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.