Patent Publication Number: US-6702165-B1

Title: Support device for an elongated weapon

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a Continuation-in-Part of patent application Ser. No. 09/813,061, filed Mar. 20, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,497,349. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a novel and useful support or holster for an elongated weapon. 
     Police and security forces are often required to carry weapons such as batons or nightsticks in the line of duty. These elongated weapons are normally carried in a sheath or loop connected to a belt which surrounds the peace officer. In certain cases, loops or tabs hold the weapon in the sheath or holster to prevent the same from being freed unexpectedly when the peace officer is moving. 
     One such weapon is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,454,656 depicts an elongated type weapon which is typically used by enforcement personnel. 
     In the past, sheaths and holsters, although satisfactory in holding elongated type weapons, often prevent the immediate access to such weapons when needed. That is to say, elongated weaponds such as Yawara sticks, nightsticks, batons, and the like must be drawn to the ready in immediate fashion. 
     The device for storing and permitting ready access to an elongated weapon would be a notable advance in the law-enforcing field. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention a novel and useful support device for an elongated weapon is herein provided. 
     The support device of the present invention utilizes a housing having a bottom and a wall portion which extends from the bottom. The housing is shaped such that the wall portion follows the dimension of elongation of the elongated weapon. In this manner, the wall portion forms an open chamber for accommodating the elongated weapon permitting positioning of the weapon in an upright manner. The weapon rests on the bottom of the housing within the chamber of the housing. The housing may be manufactured of any suitable material such as plastic, metal, wood, composite compounds, and the like. 
     A slot is formed in the wall portion of the housing and extends along most of or a majority of the dimension of elongation of the elongated weapon in order to permit removal of the weapon from the housing. In other words, when the weapon is drawn or removed, it passes through the slot in the wall portion of the housing. The slot may include a shortened wall portion or may extend directly to the bottom of the housing. Also, the slot may be oriented such that a force away from the belt or the user of the weapon must be applied to a certain degree in order to remove the weapon. Such force would be in contrast to a tangent force. The slot, of course, would be oriented such that it faces outwardly from the belt or user of the weapon to a certain degree. 
     A clamp is also employed in the present invention for releasably securing a portion of the elongated weapon positioned in an upright manner within the housing. The clamp is capable of releasing the weapon for removal from the housing upon the application of prior mentioned force on the weapon outwardly from the housing. Again, when the slot is angled away from the belt or user, such force would have a component which vectors outwardly from the belt or from the user of the weapon. 
     A wall portion adjacent the slot is found in the embodiment of the invention, a lip may be formed to offer some support to the weapon, also, the wall portion adjacent the slot is formed as a continuation of the slot and may be skewed to further ease the removal of the weapon without resistance from the housing structure. 
     In addition to the structure of the device hereinabove described, a strap may be used to surround the weapon. Such strap may extend from the belt and include fastening means for releasably holding the same in such surrounding relationship relative to the weapon. 
     Moreover the structure of the device of the present application may include a sheath which is capable of supporting a baton or similar weapon. The support for the baton is provided by a rim of the sheath which engages an enlarged portion of the baton. Also, the sheath may include a clamp which releases the weapon upon the application of an outward force. The sheath is capable of pivoting to allow the person supporting the weapon to assume various positions such as standing, sitting, kneeling, and the like. Such pivoting may further include a releasable lock to permit assumption and release from certain radial orientations. 
     Further, the structure of the support apparatus may be formed first and second end portions as a open sheath. The first end portion terminates in a rim while the second end portion possesses a pair of mitred edges. 
     It may be apparent that a novel and useful support device for an elongated weapon has been hereinabove described. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a support device for an elongated weapon which secures the weapon to the belt of a user and permits the quick release of the weapon for use. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a support device for an elongated weapon which includes a clamp mechanism that releases the weapon from a housing by the use of an outward force relative to the housing. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a support device for an elongated weapon which is compatible with weapon carrying paraphernalia normally used by law enforcement personnel. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a support device for an elongated weapon which is easily attachable to a belt employed by law enforcement personnel. 
     Another object of the present application is to provide a support device for a weapon which is capable of accommodating weapons of different sizes. 
     A further object of the present application is to provide a support device for a baton weapon which may be used with baton weapons of different configurations. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a support device for an impact weapon which includes means for rotating a sheath relative to a carrying belt and selectively locking or releasing the sheath in its rotational movement. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a support device for an impact weapon which includes a sheath having a structure which greatly minimizes resistance to removal of the impact weapon from the sheath. 
     The invention possesses other objects and advantages especially as concerns particular characteristics and features thereof which will become apparent as the specification continues. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a top left side perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention in use with a belt and an elongated weapon shown in phantom. 
     FIG. 1 a  is a sectional view taken along line  1   a — 1   a  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of an embodiment of a clamp used in conjunction with a device of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of another clamp useable with the device of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a top, left side, perspective view of another embodiment of the device of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a top, left side, perspective view of a further embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the present invention illustrating a skewed slot in the housing portion thereof. 
     FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of the present application with a depiction of the rotational motion of the sheath. 
     FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line  8 — 8  of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line  9 — 9  of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 10 is a partial, side elevational view of embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 11 is a partial front elevational view of the embodiment of FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 12 is sectional view taken along line  12 — 12  of FIG. 11 of the sheath portion only. 
     FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of a releasable ratchet mechanism and with the sheath of the present invention. 
     FIG. 14 is a schematic view depiction of the rotational movement of the ratchet mechanism shown in FIG.  13 . 
    
    
     For a better understanding of the invention reference is made to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof which should be referenced to the prior described drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Various aspects of the present invention will evolve from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments which should be taken in conjunction with the hereinbefore-referenced drawings. 
     The invention as a whole is shown in the drawings by reference character  10  and an upper case letter to denote various embodiments of the same. FIG. 1 shows embodiment  10 A of the present invention where a housing  12  is depicted. Housing  12  includes a bottom  14  which is rounded. Wall portion  16  extends upwardly from bottom  14  and terminates in an upper opening  18 . Housing wall portion  16  and bottom  14  forms an open chamber  20  for accommodating an elongated weapon  22  such as that depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 5,454,565. As shown in FIG. 1, weapon  22  is elongated and rests in an upright manner within chamber  20  of housing  2 . Specifically, weapon  22  rests on bottom  14  of housing  12 . 
     Housing  12  is constructed with a slot  24  formed in wall portion  16 . Slot  24  extends along a majority of the dimension of elongated weapon  22 . In the embodiment  10 A depicted in FIG. 1, wall portion  16  possesses a shortened portion  26  having a lip  28  at its terminus. With reference to FIG. 1A, it may be observed that shortened portion  26  of wall portion  16  is skewed or angled outwardly when compared to the remaining part of wall portion  16 . In this manner, weapon  22  is easily removed from chamber  24  of housing  12 . 
     Returning to FIG. 1, it may be observed that device  10  includes a loop  30  which accommodates a belt or webbing  32  normally encircling the waist of the user. Strap  34  extends from loop  30  and belt  32  and encircles weapon  22  when closed. Fastening means  36  in the form of male and female snaps serves to releasably hold strap  34  in a surrounding relationship relative to weapon  22 . Directional arrow  38  indicates the movement of the force which would be required to move weapon  22  from chamber  24  of housing  12  for use. 
     Turning to FIGS. 2 and 3, it may be observed that embodiments  10 B and  10 C are shown of the present invention. Embodiment  10 B includes a housing  12 B having a bottom  14 B forming a chamber  20 B. Weapon  22  is supported in an upright position as that shown in FIG. 1, but includes the addition of a clamp  40  to retain weapon  22  in such position. Clamp  40  includes a pair of jaws  42  and  44  but snap open when weapon  22  is pushed away from housing  12 B. Such clamp is commercially available and known in the art. 
     FIG. 3 shows a similar embodiment as that depicted in FIG. 2 except that a clamp  46  of a different configuration is employed. Clamp  46  includes arms  48  and  50  which are sprung open when weapon  22  is dislodged according to directional arrow  38  on FIG.  1 . Arms  48  and  50  are connected to a flexible wishbone base  52  which itself is connected to a flexible yoke  54 . Rivet  56  holds housing  12 C to loop  30  as does rivet  58  with respect to embodiment  10 A. Again, rivet  60  performs the same function with respect to embodiment  10 B. 
     Turning now to FIG. 4, another embodiment  10 D of the device of the present invention is shown.  10 D includes a housing  12 D having a bottom  14 D slot  62  extends the entire length of housing  12 , eliminating a shortened wall portion  26  of the type shown in embodiment  10 A. Strap  64  again surrounds housing  12 D and fastens in such surrounding relationship by the use of snap members  66 . Rivet  68  holds housing  12 D to loop  30 . Thus, a weapon such as weapon  22  would be held in an upright position in a chamber  20 D by strap  64 . 
     FIG. 5 shows embodiment  10 E of the present invention in which a housing  12 E includes a chamber  20 E having a bottom  14 E. Strap  70  and snap member  72  releasably surround and hold a weapon such as weapon  22  placed in chamber  20 E. Adjacent loop  32  a shield or partition  74  is placed which further supports device  10 E behind belt  32 . 
     Embodiment  10 F of FIG. 6 is depicted in which a housing  76  is shown having a slot  78  that is oriented outwardly from belt  32 . Strap  80  and snap fasteners  82  are intended to hold a weapon  22  in releasable fashion if weapon  22  were placed in chamber  84  of housing  76 . The force required to remove weapon  22  from chamber  84  would lie along axis  86 , which includes a component that extends outwardly from belt  32 , in addition to the tangential force normally required with the prior embodiments. 
     With respect to FIGS. 7-9, embodiment  10 G of the present invention is depicted. Embodiment  10 G is used in conjunction with belt  32  of embodiments  10 A-F. In addition, a hip support  88  loops over belt  32  as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. It should be noted, that hip support  88  may include a closed aperture which would require the threading of belt  32  therethrough. Strap  90  lies against hip support  88  and includes a releasable end portion  92  having a thumb tab  94  to facilitate movement of the same. Snap mating pairs  96  and  98  are found on strap  90  in a manner similar to that depicted in FIG. 1 with respect to fastening means  36 . 
     Support  10 G is intended to be employed with elongated weapons of varying sizes, such as batons, nightsticks, collapsible batons, and the like. For example, full-length baton  100  is shown as being employed with support  10 G. In this regard, support  10 G includes a sheath  102 . Sheath  102  possesses an upper portion  104  and a lower portion  106 . Upper portion  104  and lower portion  106  of sheath  102  includes a common inner wall  108 . Inner wall  108  is intended to at least partially rest against baton  100 . Upper portion  104  is thicker in cross-sectional configuration than portion  106  to support clamp  40  and strap  90  against impact forces. It should be noted that clamp  40  rides on rim  107  of upper portion  104  of sheath  102 , but may be constructed to lie within sheath  102  against an extension of inner wall  108 . Baton  100  may be formed with a gripping member or grommet  110  such that the upper edges of clamp  40  and belt  90  would contact grommet  110  to gain additional support for baton  100  within sheath  102 , in addition to that afforded by clamp  40 . 
     Returning to FIG. 1, and viewing FIG. 8, it should be realized that baton  100  is capable of rotating about axis  113 according to directional arrow  112  such rotation is due to rivet  114  which extends through belt  32 , hip support  88 , strap  90 , and clamp  40 . Such rotation would allow the person using support  10 G with a long baton  100  to assume other positions such as kneeling or sitting. 
     With reference to FIG. 10, embodiment  10 H is depicted. Device  10 A includes a loop  116  which extends along belt  32 . Sheath  118  is fixed to loop  116  in the same manner as sheath device  10  of FIG.  1 . Strap  120  extends around sheath  118  and terminates in a tab  122  to permit the easy removal of the same. Snaps  124  and  126  (shown in phantom) are the same as fastening means  36  depicted in FIG.  1 . Long baton  128  is illustrated as lying within sheath  118 , FIGS. 10-12, and extending downwardly from the lower portion of sheath  118 . Mitred edges  130  and  132  provide the lower terminous of sheath  118  and minimize resistance to removal of baton  128  from sheath  118 . In addition, insert  134  is formed of a reduced friction material such as plastic to aid in removal of baton  28  from sheath  118 . Of course, the clamping mechanisms depicted in the prior embodiments  10 A- 10 G may also be employed in the sheath depicted in FIGS. 10-12. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 13 and 14, a ratchet mechanism  136  may be used with embodiment  10 H of the present invention. FIG. 10 represents ratchet mechanism  136  in phantom as being located between loop  116  and strap  120  used with sheath  118 . In any case, a rotational pin  138  rotates about axis  113 . Of course, pin  138  is connected to belt  32  and strap  120  of embodiment  10 H. Ratchet wheel  140  rotates about axis  113  within ratchet mechanism  136 . Detent button  142  is capable of engaging any of the plurality of grooves  144  within ratchet wheel  140 . Spring mechanism  146  holds detent button  142  in plurality of grooves  144  yet permits removal of detent button  142  by pulling upwardly of the same. Of course, other detent mechanisms may be employed such as ones releasing detent  142  by pressing the same inwardly. Directional arrow  148  indicates the upward and downward movement of detent button  142  in this regard. Directional arrow  150  illustrates the rotational movement of ratchet  136  about axis  113 , as well as the rotational movement of baton  128 . FIG. 14 represents a plurality of axial orientations  152  of baton  128  about ratchet  136 . That is to say, baton  128  may be rotated into a fixed position about axis  113  and easily released from that position to accommodate use of long baton  128  during walking, sitting, bike riding and other activities in which a peace officer may engage. 
     In operation, the user fastens any one of the devices  10 A- 10 E to a belt  32  by the use of loop  30 . Weapon  22  is placed in the chamber of any of the housings of any of the embodiments above described. For example, with respect to embodiment  10 A weapon  22  is placed in chamber  20  of housing  12  to lie on bottom portion  14 . Strap  34  releasably holds weapon  22  in an upright position by the interaction of snaps  36 . To release and remove weapon  22 , a force is applied along directional arrow  38  after strap  34  is unfastened. Slot  24  of housing  12 , as well as the slots of the other embodiments, permits the easy removal of weapon  22  for use. It should be noted that embodiment  10 E requires a slightly different force, somewhat outwardly, to remove weapon  22 , because slot  28  is oriented slightly outwardly. Thus, the embodiments found in devices  10 - 10 E support an elongated weapon in an upright position and allow the easy removal of the same by a forward or outward force, obviating the need for pulling the weapon from a sheath or loop found in the prior art. 
     While in the foregoing, embodiments of the present invention have been set forth in considerable detail for the purposes of making a complete disclosure of the invention, it may be apparent to those of skill in the art that numerous changes may be made in such details without departing from the spirit and principles of the invention.