Patent Publication Number: US-8109420-B2

Title: Flashlight deployment system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority of provisional application 60/981,201. 
    
    
     STATEMENTS REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The embodiments of the present invention satisfy the needs of providing a way of holding a wide variety of tactical and utility flashlights securely and placing them in ideal custom ready-to-draw positions, of providing an improved holder for a flashlight, and of providing a variably positionable sheath for a flashlight. 
     Information relevant to attempts to address these problems can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,817,499, and patent application 60/987745, both by the present inventor; which are not admitted to be prior art with respect to the present invention by its mention in this Background Section. U.S. Pat. No. &#39;499 has a locking tongue in a chamber adjacent to the cavity and not in the cavity, and it has no unshaped flexible grasping member. Patent application &#39;7745 has a c-shaped flexible grasping member and not a unshaped flexible grasping member, and it has no locking tongue. Moreover the peg and o-ring configurations differ between the inventions. In &#39;7745 and &#39;499 the o-rings attach the locator disk to the leverage back. In the present application the o-rings attach the locator disk to the sheath or the locator disk base. 
     SUMMARY 
     The embodiments of the present invention are directed to an apparatus that satisfies the needs set out in the Background section. 
     The embodiments of the present invention comprise a holder for a flashlight, comprising a sheath formed with a cavity, wherein the cavity comprises at least one unshaped flexible grasping member, said sheath having a proximal end and a distal end, said sheath formed in a cross shape having a horizontal member terminating at both of its ends in a lateral member, said lateral members each terminating in two hinge knuckles having axial bores; a means for variably positioning the sheath during use; and a means for securing the sheath to a user. They further comprise a variably positionable sheath for a flashlight comprising a sheath, wherein the sheath is formed with an interior and exterior, having at least one unshaped flexible grasping member in the sheath interior and an axial post on the sheath exterior, said sheath having a proximal end and a distal end, said sheath formed in a cross shape having a horizontal member terminating at both of its ends in a lateral member, said lateral members each terminating in two hinge knuckles having axial bores; a rotatable disk mountable on an axial post on a disk base on the sheath; at least one o-ring demountably positionable on each disk peg and on a disk base peg; and a means for detachably securing said sheath to a user. They further comprise a method for manufacturing a sheath for a flashlight comprising providing a sheath; including at least one unshaped flexible grasping member and an axial post, said sheath having a proximal end and a distal end, said sheath formed in a cross shape having a horizontal member terminating at both of its ends in a lateral member, said lateral members each terminating in two hinge knuckles having axial bores; configuring a disk for rotatable mounting on the axial post; disposing on the sheath a means for returning the sheath to a zero position; and furnishing means for securing the sheath on a user. 
     Briefly, the present invention provides an apparatus and a method for manufacturing a variably positionable sheath for a flashlight that includes a sheath having a cavity. At least one u-shaped flexible removable grasping member is formed in the cavity. The u-shaped member has bent arms that apply pressure to the flashlight bell when it is inserted into the cavity. Also provided are means for variably positioning the sheath during use by a user. The variably positioning means includes a disk. A disk with a plurality of pegs is rotatably mounted on an axial post on a disk base on the sheath, with o-rings demountably positionable around pegs on the disk and around pegs on a disk base, allowing the sheath to be rotated by the user and causing it to return automatically to its original position. The present invention also includes means for securing the sheath to a user during use of the invention. The securing means includes a clamp, band, or lap-over band, one end of which is engagable with the block, the other end of which maybe attached to the user of the present invention by inserting the lap-over band over, for example, a belt. The present invention, therefore, is particularly, but not exclusively, useful for allowing the sheath to return to a zero position after a flashlight has been removed from or reinserted in the sheath. 
     The advantages of the embodiments of the invention include but are not limited to the feature that, upon removing the flashlight from the sheath, when grasping the handle of the sheathed flashlight no matter how aggressively, the locator disk rotates in a clock-wise or counter clock-wise direction around its collar, and the o-rings are distended in one or more directions. When the sheathed object is removed from the sheath, because the o-rings are elastic the sheath rotates back to the original start position ready for reinsertion of the flashlight into the sheath. The o-rings allow for up to 32 degrees rotation parallel to the direction of the flashlight pull. Approximately 75% of the draws require only 18 degrees rotation. Approximately 12% of the draws require 24 degrees rotation. Only a few skilled draws require the full 32 degrees rotation. Moreover, the resting sheath angle is adjustable to the desired draw position, and can be rotated to any of eight different locator positions by simply adjusting the locator disk; the number or weight of o-rings may be changed to customize the tension of the draw or to suit the weight of the flashlight; and different sizes of bell membranes are available to accommodate different sizes of flashlights. Using the embodiments of the present invention, a drawing action becomes a single action that takes less than a second. They allow for multiple carry placements and draw positions per the preference and need of the user, such as left or right, on the belt, front or back, high (on a shoulder holster, webbing, suspenders or tactical vest or pack) or low (on a thigh pocket or boot). 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects and advantages of the embodiments of the device and/or methods will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claim and accompanying drawings where: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the variably positionable sheath for a flashlight in an operative manner; 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective unassembled view of the sheath comprising front, back and bell membranes; the locator disk and locator disk base; the leverage back; the belt clip; and screws and o-rings; 
         FIG. 3  shows an exploded perspective view of the sheath comprising front, back and bell membranes; the locator disk and locator disk base; the leverage back; the belt clip; and screws and o-rings; 
         FIG. 4  shows an end view of the sheath; and 
         FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5B  show front and side views of the sheath, respectively. 
     
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS FOR DRAWINGS 
     
         
           11  bell membrane; 
           15  front horizontal membrane; 
           16  fin; 
           17  bell cradle; 
           20  locator disk base; 
           21  recess; 
           22  axial post; 
           23  locator disk base hole; 
           24  monolithically extending base pegs; 
           25  o-ring; 
           30  locator disk; 
           31  monolithically extending posterior pegs; 
           32  collar; 
           33  locator disk center hole; 
           35  cone-head set screws; 
           36  monolithically extending anterior pegs; 
           34  groove 
           40  belt clip; 
           41  leverage back peripheral hole; 
           42  leverage back center hole; 
           45  king screw; 
           50  Sam Brown screw; 
           55  leverage back; 
           60  back horizontal membrane; 
           63  foot; 
           64  hinge knuckle; 
           65  hinge screw; 
           66  foot hole; 
           70  bell membrane screw; 
           75  horizontal membrane screw; 
           76  back horizontal membrane hole; 
           77  cavity; and 
           80  sheath. 
       
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     Definitions 
     As used in this document, elastic means that the o-ring  25  is manufactured of synthetic rubber or similar material, is capable of recovering size and shape after deformation, is also capable of recovering quickly after expansion or retraction, is easily stretched or expanded, resumes it original or former shape, resists deformation by stretching, and may be bent twisted or folded without any perceptible sign of injury. 
     Zero position means the position the thing was originally at before it was displaced to a second position. 
     Description of the Preferred Embodiment 
     In overview, the embodiments of the present invention consist of: a sheath means  80 ; a means for variably positioning the sheath  80 ; and a means for securing the sheath  80  to a user. The sheath means comprise at least one u-shaped flexible removable grasping member or bell membrane  11  that is formed in a cavity  77  in the sheath  80 . In the preferred embodiment, the grasping members comprises arms of the u-shaped member  11  that bend inwardly medially to apply pressure to the flashlight bell when it is inserted into the cavity  77 . Also provided are means for variably positioning the sheath  80  during use by a user. The variably positioning means includes a disk  30  with a plurality of posterior pegs  31  and anterior pegs  36  which disk  30  is rotatably mounted on the sheath  80 . At least one o-ring  25  is demountably positionable both around a posterior peg  31  on the disk  30  and around a base peg  24  on the locator disk base  20 , allowing the sheath  80  to be rotated by the user and causing it to return automatically to its original position. The embodiments of the present invention also include means for securing the sheath  80  to a user during use of the invention. The securing means includes a clamp, band, or lap-over band  40 , one end of which is engagable with a leverage back  55 , the other end of which maybe attached to the user of the present invention by inserting the lap-over band  40  over, for example, a belt. The embodiments of the present invention, therefore, are particularly but not exclusively useful for allowing the sheath to return to a zero position after a flashlight has been removed from or reinserted in the sheath  80 . 
     Means for Variably Positioning the Sheath 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , the embodiments of the invention include a means for variably positioning the sheath  80 , comprising a locator disk  30  with monolithically extending posterior pegs  31  and monolithically extending anterior pegs  36 , a collar  32 , means for fastening  45 , o-rings  25 , a locator disk base  20  with recess  21  and axial post  22  and monolithically extending base pegs  24 , and a leverage back  55 . 
     Leverage Back 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the leverage back  55  is formed with an anterior side, a posterior side, a top and bottom, a leverage back center hole  42 , and a plurality of leverage back peripheral holes  41 . In the preferred embodiment there are eight leverage back peripheral holes  41  symmetrically arranged around the leverage back center hole  42  (hence “center” hole), and the leverage back center hole  42  is laterally positioned in the top of the leverage back  55 . 
     The leverage back  55  is fixedly mounted to the clip  40  by a fastening means selected from the group consisting of screws, nails, rivets, staples, nuts and bolts, which fastening means extend through the leverage back into the clip  40 . In the preferred embodiment the fastening means is a plurality of “cone-head set screws”  35 . 
     Locator Disk 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the locator disk  30  is formed with an anterior side, a posterior side, and a wall extending between the anterior side and the posterior side. 
     The locator disk  30  further comprises a plurality of posterior pegs  31  extending at substantially right angles from posterior side of the locator disk  30 , and a plurality of anterior pegs  36  extending at substantially right angles from the anterior side of the locator disk  30 . Each anterior peg  36  fits into a leverage back peripheral hole  41 . In the preferred embodiment, the plurality of posterior pegs  31  and anterior pegs  36  extend monolithically from the locator disk  30 . 
     The locator disk  30  further comprises a locator disk center hole  33  that is formed through the locator disk  30  substantially in the middle of the locator disk  30  and extending between the anterior side and the posterior side of the locator disk  30 . 
     The locator disk  30  further comprises a collar  32  that monolithically extends from the posterior of the locator disk  30  as a shallow tube from the circumference of the locator disk center hole  33 . The collar  32  is formed with an exterior side, an interior side, and a wall extending between the exterior side and the interior side. The collar  32  is provided for rotatable engagement with an axial post  22  extending from the recess  21  that is in the anterior side of the locator disk base  20 . 
     The locator disk  30  further comprises two adjacent grooves  34  in the wall that extends between the anterior side and the posterior side. The grooves  34  may be semi-circular. The purpose of the grooves  34  is to enable or facilitate tactile recognition for disk rotational orientation. 
     The locator disk  30  is rotatably mountable on the anterior side of the locator disk base  20  by the elastic action of a plurality of elastic o-rings  25 , which o-rings  25  demountably positionably engage the posterior pegs  31  of the locator disk  30  and the base pegs  24  of the locator disk base  20 . The o-rings  25  bring the locator disk  30  back to its original resting position after it is rotated on the collar  32 . 
     Locator Disk Base 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the locator disk base  20  is formed with an anterior side, a posterior side, a wall extending between the anterior side and the posterior side, a top and a bottom. 
     The locator disk base  20  further comprises a recess  21 . The recess  21  accommodates the collar  32  of the locator disk  30 . An axial post  22  in the recess  21  for receiving the king screw  45  extends monolithically and perpendicularly along the center axis of the locator disk base  20  towards the locator disk  30 . One or more base pegs  24  extend at substantially right angles from the recess  21 . 
     The locator disk base  20  functions in part as a platform to which the locator disk  30  is fastened with a plurality of elastic o-rings  25  that are each demountably positionable around one of the posterior pegs  31  that extend from the locator disk  30  and around one or more base pegs  24  that extend from the locator disk base  20 . 
     The locator disk base  20  is connected to the back horizontal membrane  60  by a fastening means  75  selected from the group consisting of screws, nails, rivets, staples, nuts and bolts, preferably by a screw. In the preferred embodiment, the fastening means  75  is screwed into the posterior side of a back horizontal membrane hole  76  in the bottom of the back horizontal membrane  60  and then into the posterior side of a locator disk base hole  23  in the bottom of the locator disk base  20 . 
     Means for Securing Sheath to User 
     The means for securing the sheath  80  to the user comprises a belt clip  40 . 
     Belt Clip 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the lap-over bad or belt clip  40  is fixedly attached to the leverage back  55  by a fastening means selected from the group consisting of screws, nails, rivets, staples, nuts and bolts, and in the preferred embodiment by a plurality of “Sam Brown” screws  50  and by the king screw  45 . 
     Sheath Means 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the sheath  80  comprises a back horizontal membrane  60 , a front horizontal membrane  15 , a bell membrane  11 , and means for fastening. 
     Back Horizontal Membrane 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the back horizontal membrane  60  comprises an anterior side, a posterior side, a wall connecting the anterior side and the posterior side, a top and a bottom. It further comprises approximately a cross shape formed by two lateral members  61  and a horizontal member  62 , additionally comprising a foot  63  extending perpendicularly to the posterior from its bottom. 
     The two lateral members  61  of the back horizontal membrane  60  each terminate in two hinge knuckles  64  having axial bores. The foot  63  has a foot hole  66  in the bottom for receiving a fastening means  70 . 
     Front Horizontal Membrane 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the front horizontal membrane  15  comprises approximately an elongated rectangle, having an anterior side, a posterior side, a wall connecting the anterior side and the posterior side, a top and a bottom. 
     The terminal ends of the front horizontal membrane  15  each terminate in a hinge knuckle  64  having an axial bore. 
     To hingedly attach the back horizontal membrane  60  with the front horizontal membrane  15 , the knuckle  64  of the front horizontal membrane  15  is received between the two knuckles  64  of the back horizontal membrane so that the axial bores of each of the knuckles  64  are disposed in longitudinal, axial alignment for receipt of the fastening means  65  therethrough. The fastening means  65  includes an enlarged head to stop the fastenings means  65  once fully inserted, to thereby prevent the fastenings means  65  from passing through the knuckles. 
     The front horizontal membrane  15  further comprises a fin  16  on its posterior and a cradle  17  on its top. As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  4 ,  5 A and  5 B, the cradle  17  is slanted towards the posterior to facilitate accepting the bell of the flashlight. 
     Bell Membrane 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5B , the bell membrane  11  comprises a generally u-shaped flexible grasping member, having a top and a bottom. It comes in a variety of sizes for accommodating flashlight belts in a variety of sizes. As shown in  FIG. 4 , in the preferred embodiment the two vertical arms of the u-shape are formed to bend inward medially and outward distally, which bends apply pressure to the flashlight bell when it is inserted into the cavity  77  of the sheath  80 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the bell membrane  11  is connected to the back horizontal membrane  60  by a means selected from the group consisting of screws, nails, rivets, staples, nuts and bolts, preferably by a threaded screw  70 . The screw enters from the bottom through a hole in the bottom of the bell membrane  11  and then a hole in the foot of the back horizontal membrane  60 . 
     The combination of the membranes form a cavity  77  that accepts the flashlight bell. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the membranes  11   15   60 , the locator disk  30  and locator disk base  20 , and leverage back  55  are manufactured preferably of a material such as an acrylic/PCB thermoplastic with high impact and abrasion resistant qualities. Preferably, the materials used would be impervious to most chemicals, solvents, petroleum-based products, and moisture, including salt water. The material, when heated and manipulated, should retain its shape without shrinking or cracking, even under repeated stress. Preferably, such a material would be a synthetic resinous compound in the form of powder or pellets for use in the manufacture of molded parts. In addition, preferably the material would be fire retardant. The material should no decay, rot, dry out or absorb moisture. Despite repeated use, material used in manufacturing the present invention should hold its shape so as to allow safe one-handed removal of a flashlight from sheath  80 , as well as reholstering flashlight. In a preferred embodiment, the aforementioned parts are manufactured of KYDEX or CONCEALEX, both products of the KLEERDEX company. 
     Method for Manufacturing the Embodiments of the Invention 
     The method for manufacturing the embodiments of the invention comprise: providing a sheath with a cavity and having an axial post; providing at least one u-shaped flexible removable grasping member in the cavity; configuring a disk for rotatable mounting on the sheath; and disposing on the sheath means for returning the sheath to a zero position. 
     Some Advantages of the Embodiments of the Invention 
     As previously mentioned, the embodiments of the present invention are designed to hold a wide variety of tactical and utility flashlights securely and place them in ideal custom ready-to-draw positions. Using the embodiments of the present invention, a drawing action becomes a single action that takes less than a second. They allow for multiple carry placements and draw positions per the preference and need of the user, such as left or right, on the belt, front or back, high (on a shoulder holster, webbing, suspenders or tactical vest or pack) or low (on a thigh pocket or boot). They can be rotated to any of eight different locator positions by simply adjusting the locator disk  30 . 
     Method for Using the Embodiments of the Invention 
     To adjust the resting sheath  80  angle to the desired draw position, the king screw  45  is removed, and the leverage back  55  is separated from the locator disk  30 . The anterior pegs  36  on the locator disk  30  are then placed into the leverage back peripheral holes  41  in the leverage back  55  that correspond to the desired sheath  80  angle. The leverage back  55  and the king screw  45  are then replaced. 
     Using a similar procedure, the number or weight of o-rings  25  may be changed to customize the tension of the draw or to suit the weight of the flashlight. The king screw  45  is removed, and the locator disk  30  is separated from the locator disk base  20 . The o-rings are strung around or removed from one of the posterior pegs  31  and the base pegs  24 . 
     Different sizes of bell membranes  11  are available to accommodate different sizes of flashlights. The bell membrane  11  may be removed or installed by removing or installing the bell membrane screw  70 . 
     To use the embodiments of the invention, a flashlight is inserted by securely gripping with the hand, and then laying the bell of the flashlight into the bell cradle  17 . The handle of the flashlight is then simultaneously pushed down into the backstop and rotated inwardly. Upon removing the sheathed flashlight, when grasping the handle of the sheathed flashlight no matter how aggressively, the locator disk  30  rotates in a clock-wise or counter clock-wise direction around its collar  32 , and the o-rings  25  are distended in one or more directions. When the sheathed object is removed from the sheath  80 , because the o-rings  25  are elastic the sheath  80  rotates back to the original start position ready for reinsertion of the flashlight into the sheath  80 . The o-rings  25  allow for up to 32 degrees rotation parallel to the direction of the flashlight pull. Approximately 75% of the draws require only 18 degrees rotation. Approximately 12% of the draws require 24 degrees rotation. Only a few skilled draws require the full 32 degrees rotation. 
     Some advantages of the embodiments of the apparatus were previously enumerated in the Summary section. Every advantageous feature does not need to be incorporated into every embodiment of the apparatus and/or methods. 
     Although these versions of the invention have been described in considerable detail, other versions are possible. For example, the bell membrane may utilize features other than inwardly bent arms to grip the flashlight. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the versions contained therein.