Abstract:
A system for carrying and rapidly accessing implements carried on a belt, especially implements used by law enforcement officers. The system uses a hinged floor carried on a flatplate having a belt loop. The hinged floor is held perpendicular to the flat plate by a strap or cover having a quick-release latch at the top. When the strap or cover is released the floor drops to form an angle with the flat plate, allowing the user to quickly remove the implement using one hand.

Description:
[0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/961,775 filed 18 Sep. 2001. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Police officers have seen great changes in their equipment in recent years, with but one constant problem. They struggle most times with the removal of the equipment from the belts and placing them into action in a quick and easy fashion. This invention relates generally to an easy and quick access to the items held on a police officer&#39;s belt, more particularly to the non-lethal weapons and ammunition clips, but not limited to these in anyway. Hereinafter the term officer refers to a police officer.  
       BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART  
       [0003]     The modern police officer carries a variety of implements that reflect new technologies and new policing philosophies. The police officer of a generation ago wore a belt having a holster for a 0.38 caliber revolver, a ring to carry his hand-carved espontoon and a loop to carry handcuffs. Today the belt is used to carry a variety of devices, including a semiautomatic pistol, an additional ammunition magazine, an expandable “ASP®” tactical baton (an extendable baton, usually in three sections, available in various lengths and made by Armament Systems and Procedures, Appleton, Wis.), a flashlight and a pepper spray canister in addition to handcuffs and a radio. The magazine, baton, flashlight and pepper spray must be readily accessible with one hand when needed, but otherwise securely mounted.  
         [0004]     Since police departments converted from the traditional espontoon to the ASP® baton, numerous designs have been put forward for holstering the baton.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,076 is directed to a reconfigurable article holder formed from strips of hook and loop material (Velcro™).  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,217,151 discloses a belt mountable scabbard having a “front pocket” having an open top and a closed bottom for holding a baton in the closed position and a “back pocket” for holding a baton in the extended position.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,263,619 is directed to a tubular holder for a telescoping baton characterized by a shoulder ring into which the outer baton section seats in either the folded or open positions.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,551,610 is directed to a holster for a truncheon having a handle grip and a cross guard characterized by a clamshell shape swivally mounted on a belt so that the elongated staff of the truncheon may be worn upwardly or downwardly depending whether the police office is seated or standing.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,591 describes a pin and socket bayonet-type connection mechanism for connecting police accessories to an ASP® baton but does not disclose use of the connection mechanism for attaching the accessories to a belt.  
         [0010]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,699,943 discloses a belt-mounted flashlight holder using a flexible moveable jaw and cradle which can be rotated to several detented positions and allows for a breakaway when jerked strongly.  
         [0011]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,630 discloses a holster for a “side-handled” baton which has a cradle for the side handle and a shaft cradle. Snap and hook and loop fasteners secure holding tabs projecting vertically above the side handle.  
         [0012]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,906,303 is addressed to a ring-type baton holder having a resilient coating to hold the baton in place.  
         [0013]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,352 describes a baton holder of the scabbard type which attaches to belt and suspenders and allows the wearer to release the baton with a single upward hand motion.  
         [0014]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,279 describes a holster for elongated hand weapons using a standardized track structure in the holster and complimentary slides on opposite faces of the device to be holstered.  
         [0015]     Armament System and Procedures Inc. also sells a snap out flexible holster for their baton which is a slotted tapered tubular carrier sold under the name ASP Sidebreak Holster.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0016]     Rapid Access Technology (R.A.T.), as it relates to weapons and items carried on the belt of an officer or into a combat situation, enhances the need and ability to quickly and easily bring weapons, such as ASP® baton or pepper spray containers into action, or the ability to insert an ammunition clip into an automatic pistol using only (if need be) one hand with no loss of speed or control of the weapon. Other commonly used items such as flashlight and handcuffs can also be carried using this system.  
         [0017]     R.A.T. works on the need to keep these items secure until the weapon or ammunition clip is needed. When the officer unlatches the holder, the R.A.T. activates the carrier allowing gravity or spring assist to swing down pulling a locking hinge into position where it rests at an angle of 20-60°. The item inside is held in place by a slip fitting, a dovetail, or any other locking device to allow easy retrieval of the needed item. A different holder may be used for each item.  
         [0018]     Using R.A.T. for the reloading of the automatic pistol, the office unlatches the ammunition clip holder latch and the drop bottom swings down (this can also be pushed outward with a spring), pulling the locking hinge into place at an angle just away from the body. After expelling the used clip the officer aligns his weapon over the fresh ammunition clip and slams it into his weapon, pushing forward or backward to release the clip without the need to first remove the ammunition clip from his belt or turn over the new clip. The ammunition clip is held in a base down position. The access attachment holds the ammunition clip securely while allowing for the handle of the weapon to slide over the ammunition clip until it locks into place. This arrangement can be used by both left or right handed officers. When used for the other items, ASP® baton and the pepper spray container, the R.A.T. carrier holds the items securely and when engaged, the items are held at an angle where the officer can grasp, hold the item and place it into action in a fraction of the time from case holders used today and/or described in the prior art described supra.  
         [0019]     Profile of R.A.T. carrier, which can be made of many materials and shapes depending on what holder is being used, will have a metal or plastic backing plate with an angled lock on the hinge where the back will stop the hinged floor at an angled position. The hinged floor, also made of metal or plastic, with a connection means attached to the floor, holds the item in the carrier until the officer removes it. A latch strap or cover is wrapped around the item holding it in a secure position in a normal manner. When the latch is released the weight of the held item uses gravity or a spring assist to fall and pulls the floor down until its stop hits the backing plate which will hold it at the angle needed to allow access to the items. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]      FIG. 1  shows the carrier in perspective view in the partially opened position.  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  shows the carrier in cross-section in the closed position holding an ammunition clip.  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  shows the carrier in cross-section in the opened position.  
         [0023]      FIG. 4  shows details of the clip holder attached to the carrier.  
         [0024]      FIG. 5  shows the clip holder removed from the carrier.  
         [0025]      FIG. 6  shows a holder for a circular item attached to the carrier in the closed position.  
         [0026]      FIG. 7A  shows the carrier with a holder for handcuffs.  
         [0027]      FIGS. 7B and 7C  show an alternative carrier with a holder for handcuffs.  
         [0028]      FIG. 8  shows an ammunition clip holder in exploded view according to a second embodiment of this invention.  
         [0029]      FIG. 9  shows a flashlight holder in exploded view according to a second embodiment of this invention.  
         [0030]      FIG. 10  shows a closed ASP® baton holder in exploded view according to a second embodiment of this invention.  
         [0031]      FIG. 11  shows a pepper spray canister carrier in exploded view according to a second embodiment of this invention.  
         [0032]      FIG. 12  shows the use of the attachment method from the second embodiment of this invention as a means for attachment of an implement on another piece of police equipment, in this case a hat. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0033]     The invention is directed to systems which secure weapons and other accessory items to an officer&#39;s belt and which allow rapid, singe-handed access to those weapons and accessory items. The rapid access technology, R.A.T., uses systems for attaching items to the belt which allows for interchangeability of items in the same holder and which are adaptable to both left and right-handed persons.  
         [0034]     As it relates to the weapons and items carried on the belt of an officer or into a combat situation where the need and ability to quickly and easily bring weapons, such as but not limited to ASP® baton or pepper spray canister, into action, or the ability to insert an ammunition clip into an automatic pistol using only one hand with no loss of speed or control of the weapon.  
         [0035]     When closed, the system keeps these items secure until the weapon or ammunition clip is needed. When the officer unlatches the holder, R.A.T. activates. The carrier allows gravity or spring assist to cause the holder to swing down pulling a locking hinge into position where it rests at an angle between 20-60 degrees to the vertical. The item inside is held in place by a quick release attachment means to allow easy retrieval of the item the officer needs. A different holder is used for each item based on its shape.  
         [0036]      FIG. 1  illustrates the basic components of the R.A.T. system. The carrier  1  consists of a substantially flat, stiff rectangular plate  3  with a belt loop  5  for attachment to a standard service belt. A rectangular floor  7  is attached to plate  3  using a hinge  9 . A stop  11  limits the free rotation of floor  7 . Attached to the floor  7  at the end away from hinge  9  is strap  13  which is formed from a semi-rigid material. At the end of strap  13  is an attachment means  14  which cooperates with latch  15  to hold the strap  13  securely to the plate  3  until released. In the embodiment shown, a plurality of slots  17  are present in floor  7  as one means for providing attaching means or holders for securing accessories to the floor of the device.  
         [0037]      FIG. 2  illustrates the carrier in the closed position with the latch opened. In this illustration, an ammunition clip  21  is inserted into a holder  22 . The holder has a base  23  which is attached to floor  7  using prongs  25  inserted into slots  17 . A plurality of spring loaded clasps holds the clip  21  in place. Element  27  represents clasps for the broader side of the clip; element  29  represents the clasps for the front and rear of the clip which has a rectangular plan view.  
         [0038]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation of the carrier of  FIG. 2  in the open position.  FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the carrier of  FIG. 2  in the closed position showing the attachment of base  23  to floor  7  using prongs  25  inserted through slots  17 .  
         [0039]      FIG. 5  shows the holder  22  as a separate element. The clasps  27 ,  29  and prong  25  must be resilient and preferably formed from spring steel or a very resilient engineering plastic.  
         [0040]      FIG. 6  illustrates the use of the R.A.T. system with a cylindrical accessory such as an ASP® baton, pepper spray canister or flashlight. The cylindrical item  31  is retained in attaching means such as a base  23  having multiple clasps  33  which may be shorter than clasps  27 ,  29  used with a rectangular ammunition clip. Unlike the circumstance with a rectangular item such as an ammunition clip, the number of clasps needed for a cylindrical object is variable and may be from 2 to less than a complete cylinder.  
         [0041]      FIG. 7A  illustrates the use of the R.A.T. with an ubiquitous law enforcement item, handcuffs. A base  43  similar to holder base  23  of  FIG. 5  is attached to floor  7  as in the previous drawings. Base  43  supports two cups,  45 , which have a closed forward position  47  and an open rearward aspect  49 . As shown in this embodiment, the base  43  is attached to floor  7  using fasteners such as screws  41  or rivets. The bottom is extended at  51  to hold handcuffs  53  in position when strap  13  is secured.  
         [0042]     An alternative embodiment of a holder for handcuffs as shown in  FIGS. 7A , is shown in  FIGS. 7B and 7C . Unlike the embodiment of  FIG. 7A , this embodiment holds the handcuffs in linear arrangement. A flat plate  203  having belt loops  205  has a floor  207  attached mounted rigidly at an angle to serve as a stop. A base  241  is attached to flat plate  203  through a hinge pin  209  inserted through bore hole  242  and bore hole  210 . Spring  206  may be used to preload base  241  away from flat plate  203 . Post  243 , which carries cup  245 , is secured to the base  241  using screws  252  passing through untapped holes  256 . Handcuffs  53  are cradled in cup  245  and held in place by strap  214  held in place on plate  203  by rivets  213  and having fastener means  215  attaching to fastener means  250 .  
         [0043]      FIG. 8  shows an alternative embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, a dovetail connector is employed in the attaching means in lieu of clasps. The dovetail socket or dovetail pin  104  may be mounted on the implement  121  and corresponding socket or pin mounted on the holder. As shown in  FIG. 8 , a flat plate  103  having a belt holder  105  has a stop  107  mounted rigidly at an angle. Optionally, a spring  106  may urge the dove tail socket  102  floor to the open position. As in the previous embodiment, the stop  107  is a stop to limit the downward movement. A latch  115  and cover  113  and attachment means  114  operate as do items  13 ,  14 , and  15  of the first embodiment.  
         [0044]     The floor containing the dovetail socket  102  is attached to flat plate  103  through a hinge pin  109  inserted through bore hole  110  and the bore hole  210  of  102  as in the previous embodiments. As shown in  FIG. 8 , a dovetail pin  104  is attached to or formed into the implement such as ammunition clip  121 .  
         [0045]      FIG. 9  illustrates an adaptation to the dovetail attachment system with particular utility for a flashlight. A backing plate  163  carries a dovetail pin  104  which mates to a dovetail socket  102  which may by securely mounted to flashlight  131 . A swivel pin  165  secures the dovetail pin to the backing plate  163  using socket  166 . A plurality of magnets  167  may be inserted into the dovetail pin. A spring washer  164  maintains tension between pin  104  and backing plate  163  so that the flashlight may be rotated and holds in the rotated position. When the backing plate  163  is metal and/or the dovetail socket is metal, the magnets eliminate any looseness in the connection while allowing quick removal of the flashlight or rotation of the flashlights to allow no-hands lighting of an area. A strap  169  secures the backing plate  163 , preferably passing through and secured to slot  120  and snapping into place.  
         [0046]      FIGS. 10 and 11  illustrate an alternative use of the dovetail connection in which the dovetail pin is molded into the floor. The flat plate  103  carries a hinged floor  171  articulated at pin  109  is formed to serve as a dovetail pin. A latch  115  secures a cover  179 . A dovetail socket  173  having screws  175 , rivets, or made a part thereof, is secured to the implement, such as ASP® baton  169 . In the case of a pepper spray canister  183 , the dovetail socket may be molded into a ring mount  181 .  
         [0047]     Finally, the dovetail connection may be used with other types of police equipment. As shown in  FIG. 12 , a dovetail pin  205  may be mounted on a hat  201  or helmet and the dovetail socket  203  attached to flashlight  131  becomes a moveable spotlight similar to a miner&#39;s lantern. Alternatively, the socket  203  may be slid onto dovetail pin  104  at the base of an ammunition clip  121  to illuminate where a firearm is pointed.  
         [0048]     In a further utility, the ASP® may be used to steady the weapon by sliding the socket  173  of the baton onto dovetail pin  104 . Such an arrangement reduces fatigue in standoff situations.  
         [0049]     In each embodiment, the implement can be accessed with one hand with a minimum of motions and quickly re-secured when no longer needed.  
         [0050]     The flat plate  3 ,  103  and floor  7 ,  107  may be formed from a metal or an engineering plastic such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride and polycarbonate. The attaching means or holder should be an engineering plastic. Strap  13 , cover  113  and latch  15 ,  115  may be a flexible plastic such as polyethylene or polypropylene.  
         [0051]     The invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments which illustrate in a non-limiting way, the concept of the invention. Additions and modifications of the invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art and are included within the scope and spirit of the invention.