Abstract:
A wearable item carrier includes a first container having a first side including a belt receiver and a second side opposite the first side including a container receiver.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The invention relates to a device for holding ammunition, and more specifically a device for holding an ammunition magazine that can be carried on a utility belt. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    An individual such as a police officer, a member of the military, or a security guard often carries numerous items including handcuffs, an electroshock weapon (e.g., a Taser), a handgun, a walkie-talkie or other communication device, a baton, spare ammunition and/or other items. Such an individual typically uses a separate item carrier, such as a holster or ammunition pouch, to carry each item, and the item carriers may be disposed along the length of a utility belt that is worn around the waist of the individual. As a result, the item carriers are spaced circumferentially about the waist of the individual when the individual wears the utility belt. For example, the individual may carry an ammunition pouch at one location on a utility belt, a handcuff container adjacent the ammunition pouch along the length of the utility belt, a pistol holster adjacent the handcuff container along the length of the utility belt, and so on. 
         [0003]    Additionally, it is becoming increasingly common for individuals such as police officers, military personnel, and security guards to carry rifles or other firearms that accept ammunition stored in magazines. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    Due to the large amount of space often occupied on a utility belt by item carriers designed to carry items other than rifle magazines, a rifle-carrying individual may not have ample room on his utility belt to add one or more magazine pouches. As a result, many rifle-carrying individuals have resorted to carrying rifle ammunition magazines on their rifles or at other locations besides on their utility belts. However, carrying rifle ammunition magazines at locations other than on a utility belt can be problematic. For example, one carrying an ammunition magazine on his rifle may take longer to reload his weapon than if he were carrying the magazine in his utility belt. As another example, carrying a rifle ammunition magazine on a rifle can increase the likelihood that the rifle will malfunction. 
         [0005]    A wearable item carrier, examples of which are described herein, can reduce the problems associated with carrying additional items by, for example, increasing the carrying capacity of a utility belt. For example, a magazine pouch as described herein can allow an individual wearing the pouch to carry more than one item while only occupying a length of a belt typically reserved for carrying just one item. The exemplary magazine pouch can allow an item carrier to be attached to an outboard side of the magazine pouch. 
         [0006]    According to one example, a wearable item carrier includes a first container. A first side of the first container includes a belt receiver, and a second side of the first container opposite the first side includes a container receiver. 
         [0007]    According to another example, a magazine pouch includes a main body defining an opening of sufficient size to receive an ammunition magazine. A belt receiver on a first side of the main body at least partially defines at least one first slot sized to receive a belt. A container receiver is on a second side of the main body opposite the first side. 
         [0008]    According to yet another example, an ammunition magazine pouch includes means for receiving an ammunition magazine, means for applying a force to a received ammunition magazine in a direction opposing removal of the magazine, means for coupling a first side of the ammunition magazine pouch to a belt, and means for removeably coupling a second side of the ammunition magazine pouch opposite the first side to an item carrier. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a user wearing a utility belt carrying an example of a magazine pouch and another ammunition pouch attached to an outboard side of the magazine pouch; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an inboard side of the magazine pouch of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an outboard side of the magazine pouch of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the magazine pouch of  FIG. 1  and another ammunition pouch; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a cross-section of the magazine pouch of  FIG. 1  without a magazine along line A-A as shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a cross-section of the magazine pouch of  FIG. 1  with a magazine along line A-A as shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is cross-sectional view of another example of a magazine pouch from the same location shown by line A-A; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is yet another example of a magazine pouch. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]      FIGS. 1-8  illustrate examples of magazine pouches. In the example illustrated in  FIG. 1 , an individual  10  such as a police officer, a member of the military, or a security guard is wearing a utility belt  12 . One end of the belt  12  can include a buckle  12   a , clip, a hook-type Velcro strip or another attachment structure, while the other end of the belt  12  can define an aperture for receiving the buckle  12   a , or include a clip receiving member or a loop-type Velcro strip, such that the ends of the belt  12  can be attached to one another. As a result, the individual  10  can wear the belt  12  around his or her waist. 
         [0019]    Also as shown in  FIG. 1 , the utility belt  12  can hold various item carriers or containers  14   a ,  14   b  and  14   c  that are configured to receive and carry different items, such as handcuffs, an electroshock weapon (e.g., a Taser), a handgun, a walkie-talkie or other communication device, a baton, or spare ammunition. The utility belt  12  can be integral with at least some of the item carriers  14   a ,  14   b  and  14   c , such as by stitching the item carriers  14   a ,  14   b  and  14   c  to the utility belt  12 . Also, the belt  12  and some or all of the item carriers  14   a ,  14   b  and  14   c  can be separate, in which case the item carriers  14   a ,  14   b  and  14   c  can each define a belt receiving slot through which the belt  12  can be inserted, a clip for attachment to the belt  12 , or some other structure for attachment to the belt  12 . 
         [0020]    Still referring to  FIG. 1 , the utility belt  12  can also hold other types of containers, such as a magazine pouch  16  and another ammunition pouch  18  outboard of the magazine pouch  16 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the magazine pouch  16  can have four sidewalls  16   a ,  16   b ,  16   c  and  16   d  extending generally perpendicularly from a bottom wall  16   e , with sidewall  16   a  being an inboard sidewall whose outer surface faces the individual  10  when the magazine pouch  16  is attached to the belt  12 , sidewall  16   c  being an outboard sidewall whose outer surface faces away from the individual  10  when the magazine is attached to the belt  12 , and sidewalls  16   b  and  16   d  facing generally tangentially relative to a circumference defined by the belt  12  when the belt  12  is attached around the waist of the individual  10 . Alternatively, the magazine pouch  16  can have a different shape, as an oval or octagon when viewed from above. Also, the pouch  16  can be coupled to a strap other than the belt  12 , such as a suspender strap or an elastic waistline in a pair of pants. 
         [0021]    The walls  16   a - 16   e  can define a cavity  22  having an open top as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The cavity  22  can be sized to receive a magazine  24  containing ammunition as shown in  FIG. 4 . For example, the width and thickness of the cavity  22  can be slightly larger than the width and thickness of the magazine  24  such that the magazine  24  can be inserted into the cavity  22 , and the depth of the cavity  22  can be less than the length of the magazine  24  such that a portion of the magazine  24  extends out of the pouch  16  when fully inserted therein. For example, the cavity  22  can be sized to receive a 5.56/0.233 military magazine by spacing the sidewalls  16   a - 16   d  such that the 5.56/0.233 military magazine can be inserted therebetween, and the depth of the cavity  22  can be determined to achieve a balance between providing stability to the 5.56/0.233 military magazine when inserted into the cavity  22  and allowing the 5.56/0.233 military magazine to be easily gripped for removal from the magazine pouch  16 . While the magazine pouch  16  is shown and described as having an open top cavity  22 , the magazine pouch  16  can include a cover, such as a foldable flap that can be folded to extend over an exposed end of the magazine  24  when the magazine  24  is inserted into the pouch  16 . Also, while the magazine pouch  16  is shown and described as being configured to receive a magazine  24 , the pouch  16  can alternatively be configured to receive a different item (e.g., a pistol magazine, handcuffs, or another item), in which case the walls  16   a - e  of the pouch  16  can have different shapes such that the cavity  22  is sized to receive the different item. 
         [0022]    Additionally, sidewalls  16   b  and  16   d  can define finger cutouts  16   f  and  16   g , respectively. The cutouts  16   f  and  16   g  can be wider than a finger and thumb of an ordinary individual  10 , such that the individual  10  can grip the magazine  24  when it is inserted into the cavity  22 . For example, the cutouts  16   f  and  16   g  can have a maximal width of between 1.5″ and 0.5″ and can have a tapered end. The depth of the cutouts  16   f  and  16   g  can be a function of the difference between the depth of the cavity  22  and the length of the magazine  24 , with the cutouts  16   f  and  16   g  having a larger depth as the depth of the cavity  22  approaches or exceeds the length of the magazine  24 . For example, the cutouts  16   f  and  16   g  can have a depth of 1.0″ to 3.0″. As another example, if the length of the magazine  24  is sufficient for the magazine  24  to be easily gripped even when fully inserted into the cavity  22 , the cutouts  16   f  and  16   g  need not be included. 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , biasing members such as resilient springs  26  can be disposed in the cavity  22  of the magazine pouch  16 . Each spring  26 , can have a linear portion  26   a  and a curvilinear portion  26   b . The linear portion  26   a  of each spring  26  can include a nub  26   c . The magazine pouch  16  can define a pair of slots  28  in the cavity  22 , with one side of each slot defined by one of the sidewalls  16   b  or  16   d  and an opposing side of each slot  28  defined by a partition  31 . Each partition  31  can define an aperture  30 , and the partitions  31  can be spaced from their respective sidewalls  16   b  and  16   d  by a distance greater than a thickness of the linear portions  26   a  of the springs  26  and less than the thickness of the linear portions  26   a  plus the length of the nub  26   c . The linear portion  26   a  of each spring  26  can be inserted into one of the slots  28  such that the curvilinear portion  26   b  of each spring  26  extends into the cavity  22 . 
         [0024]    Still referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the nub  26   c  of each spring  26  can project into the aperture  30  defined by one of the partitions  31 , thereby increasing the force required to remove the springs  26 . Thus, the retention force applied to the springs  26  due to engagement between the springs  26  and slots  28  can be greater than friction forces on the springs  26  from removal of the magazine  24  from the magazine pouch  16 , and the springs  26  can be securely engaged in the cavity  22 . While the springs  26  are shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  as being inserted into slots  28  and held in place due to engagement between nubs  26   c  and apertures  30 , the springs  26  can alternatively be held in place using clips, glue, or another structure. 
         [0025]    With the springs  26  inserted into the slots  28 , the distance between the curvilinear portions  26   b  of the springs  26  when the springs  26  are in an unbiased state can be less than the width of the magazine  24  as shown in  FIG. 5 . However, as shown in  FIG. 6 , inserting the magazine  24  into the cavity  22  can bias the curvilinear portions  26   b  of the springs  26  toward the sidewalls  16   b  and  16   d  by deforming the curvilinear portions  26   b  of the springs. As a result, the distance between the curvilinear portions  26   b  of the springs  26  when the springs  26  are in a biased state can be equal to the width of the magazine  24  as shown in  FIG. 4 . In the biased state, the springs  26  can exert pressure on the magazine  24  such that the frictional force between the springs  26  and magazine  24  is greater than the force of gravity, thereby preventing the magazine  24  from falling out of the pouch  16 . The shape of the curvilinear portion  26   b  of each spring  26  can provide a large contact area between the each spring  26  and the magazine  24 , thereby increasing the amount of friction between the two. However, the springs  26  can have an alternative shape than as shown in  FIGS. 5-7 , such as being formed of two angled linear portions or being blocks of resilient material (e.g., rubber). 
         [0026]    Also, instead of springs  26 , the magazine  24  can be held in the cavity  22  by a friction fit, a flap extending over the cavity  22 , a magnet, or another magazine retainer. For example,  FIG. 7  shows two rubber blocks  50 , each having a beveled upper end  50   a , disposed in the cavity of the magazine pouch  16 . The blocks  50  can alternatively be made from a different material that can generate a sufficient amount of friction between the magazine  24  and blocks  50  to overcome the force of gravity on the magazine  24  in the event the pouch  16  is inverted. Each block  50  can define one or more apertures, such as apertures  50   b  and  50   c  as shown, and a threaded insert  52  can be disposed in each aperture  50   b  and  50   c . The sidewalls  16   b  and  16   d  can also define apertures  16 i and  16 j spaced equally to apertures  50   b  and  50   c . The blocks  50  can be inserted into the cavity  22  with a spring  54  disposed in each aperture  50   b  and  50   c  between the insert  52  and sidewall  16   b  or  16   d . A bolt  56  can be inserted through one of the apertures  16   i  or  16   j , then through a center of one of the springs  54 , and then be engaged with one of the threaded inserts  52  in one of the apertures  50   b  or  50   c . With this configuration, the blocks  50  can be biased laterally (relative to the orientation of the pouch  16  as shown in  FIG. 7 ) toward their respective sidewalls  16   b  and  16   d  due to insertion of the magazine  24  into the cavity  22 . That is, the magazine  24  can initially contact the beveled upper end  50   a  of each block  50 , creating a lateral force on each block  50 . In response, the block  50  is moved laterally toward its sidewall  16   b  or  16   d , generating a force in each spring  54 . Thus, removal of the magazine  24  requires overcoming the frictional force between the blocks  50  and the magazine  24 . The blocks  50  can be replaced by removing bolts  56 , and blocks  50  of different sizes can be installed to accommodate different sized magazines  24 . 
         [0027]    Referring back to  FIG. 2 , the inboard side  16   a  of the magazine pouch  16  can define a belt receiver, such as two perpendicular closed-loop slots  32  and  34 , for receiving the belt  12 . The inboard side  16   a  can include a plate  36  spaced from the inboard side  16   a , with the slots  32  and  34  being the space between the plate  36  and inboard side  16   a . Pillars  38  at each corner of the plate  36  can attach the plate  36  to the inboard side  16   a  of the magazine pouch  16 . The distance between the pillars  38  can be at least the width of the belt  12  and the length of the pillars  38  can be at least the thickness of the belt  12  such that the belt  12  can be inserted between any two adjacent pillars  38  and between the plate  36  and sidewall  16   a . Since the magazine pouch  16  defines two parallel slots  32  and  34 , the pouch  16  can be attached to the belt  12  in four different orientations spaced at 90° intervals by inserting the belt  12  through one of the slots  32  and  34 . 
         [0028]    While the slots  32  and  34  are shown in  FIG. 2  as being partially defined by the plate  36 , slots for receiving the belt  12  can alternatively be formed with a different structure. For example, as shown in  FIG. 8 , another magazine pouch  60  can include four flanges  60   a - d  angled obliquely relative to an inboard side  62  of the pouch  60 . The flanges  60   a - d  can be connected at their ends, as shown in  FIG. 8 , though the flanges  60   a - d  need not be connected. Each flange  60   a - d  can define a belt receiving slot  64 . The slots  64  defined by flanges  60   a  and  60   c  can define a first belt receiving path, while the slots  64  defined by flanges  60   b  and  60   d  can define a second belt receiving path perpendicular to the first belt receiving path. Thus, the pouch  60  can be attached to the belt  12  in four different orientations at 90° intervals. 
         [0029]    Referring back to  FIG. 3 , the outboard side  16   c  of the magazine pouch  16  can include a container receiver, such as slot  40  defined by the pouch  16 , for receiving the ammunition pouch  18 . For example, the outboard side  16   c  can include a clip  42  spaced from the outboard side  16   c . The clip  42  can be pivotable relative to the outboard side  16   c . For example, the clip  42  can be formed integrally with the outboard side  16   c , with a lower end  42   a  of the clip  42  fixed to the outboard side  16   c . The clip  42  can be made from a resilient material, such that the clip  42  can be bent away from the outboard side  16   c  for rotation. Alternatively, the lower end  42   a  of the clip  42  can be coupled to the outboard side  16   c  by a hinge or another pivoting structure. 
         [0030]    To secure the clip  42  to the outboard side  16   c , the upper end  42   b  of the clip  42  can be fastened to the outboard side  16   c . For example, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the upper end  42   b  of the clip  42  can define one or more through-bores  42   b  and the outboard side  16   c  can define a through-bore  16   h.  Due to the connection as described above between the lower end  42   a  of the clip  42  and the outboard side  16   c , the clip  42  can be naturally be biased toward a closed or container retaining position (shown in  FIG. 3 ) in which the bores  42   c  defined by the clip  42  align with the bore  16   h  defined by the outboard side  16   c . Alternatively, if the clip  42  is hingedly connected to the magazine pouch  16 , a spring can be used to bias the clip  42  toward the closed position. A pin  44  can be inserted into the bores  16   h  and  42   c  when they are aligned (i.e., when the clip  42  is in a closed position), thereby coupling the upper end  42   b  of the clip  42  to the outboard side  16   c  to retain the clip  42  in the closed position. 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the pin  44  can be removed and the clip  42  can be biased away from the outboard side  16   c  to an open or container receiving position. The ammunition pouch  18  can include a strap  18   a  secured at its four corners  18   b  and defining two slots  46  and  48 , and the ammunition pouch  18  can be coupled to the magazine pouch  16  by sliding the clip  42  into one of the slots  46  or  48  defined by the ammunition pouch  18 . As a result, the ammunition pouch  18  can be coupled to the outboard side  16   c  of the magazine pouch  16  in four orientations oriented 90° from one another. Once the ammunition pouch  18  is coupled, the clip  42  can be positioned in the closed position as shown in  FIG. 3  and the pin  44  can be inserted to retain the clip  42  in the closed position. As a result, the individual can carry the both the magazine pouch  16  and the ammunition pouch  18  on the utility belt. 
         [0032]    While the clip  42  is shown as a container receiver, an alternative structure can be used for attaching the ammunition pouch  18  or other item carrying container to the magazine pouch  16 . For example, a J-shaped bracket can project from the outboard side  16   c  of the magazine pouch  16  to receive the ammunition pouch  18 , or one or more straps can have one end fixed to the magazine pouch  16  and the other end passed through one of the slots  46  and  48  in the ammunition pouch  18  before being snapped or otherwise attached to the magazine pouch  16 . Also, while  FIGS. 1 and 4  show the ammunition pouch  18  being coupled to the outboard side  16   c  of the magazine pouch  16 , another type of pouch or item carrier (e.g., a handcuff holder) can alternatively be attached to the magazine pouch  16 . 
         [0033]    Also, while examples of a magazine pouch that is removeably couplable to another item carrier are shown in the FIGS., an alternative magazine pouch can be formed integrally with another item carrier. For example, a belt receiving slot can be formed in a sheet of material, such as leather, which can then be sewn or otherwise attached to an inboard side of an item carrier on three sides. The fourth side of the sheet, i.e., the side not attached to the item carrier, can provide an opening for inserting a magazine. 
         [0034]    The above-described embodiments have been described in order to allow easy understanding of the invention and do not limit the invention. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structure as is permitted under the law.