Patent Publication Number: US-2022220779-A1

Title: Carrying Case for a Pair of Two Handcuffs

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention generally relates to a carrying case for a pair of two handcuffs. 
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY 
     In general, a pair of two handcuffs comprises two handcuffs and a coupler. Each one of the two handcuffs comprises a lockset portion and an oval portion, the oval portion comprising a bow rotatably mounted between two cheek arms for encircling a wrist. The coupler connects the respective lockset portions of each one of the two handcuffs to each other. The coupler is typically two sets of hinges or a chain with two links. The present disclosure describes and claims a carrying case in which a pair of two handcuffs may be carried conveniently. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       While embodiments can take many different forms, specific embodiments are shown in the drawings and will be described with the understanding that the present disclosure is an exemplification of the principles of the present invention and the best mode of practicing it. No limitation to a specific embodiment illustrated is intended. The following drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
         FIG. 1  shows the disassembled components of an exemplary carrying case. 
         FIG. 2  shows a pair of chain handcuffs inserted into an exemplary carrying case. 
         FIG. 3  shows a pair of hinge handcuffs inserted into an exemplary carrying case of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  shows the empty exemplary carrying case of  FIG. 2  and two alternative bottom pads and which have not been inserted into the carrying case. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the inside of the front surface of a retention protrusion that engages with a lock switch of an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged side view of a clip on the rear side of an exemplary carrying case. 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of an adjustable spacer shown in  FIG. 6 , and of a portion of a mounting plate into which the adjustable spacer is installed as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the clip of  FIG. 6 , with the clip open. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an outer surface of the retention protrusion of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 10  shows a rear view of an exemplary carrying case. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows the disassembled components of an exemplary carrying case  100 . It includes two alternative bottom pads  51  and  52 , which are interchangeable. As discussed below, bottom pad  51  is shaped and sized for accommodating chain handcuffs, and bottom pad  52  is shaped and sized for accommodating hinge handcuffs.  FIG. 2  shows a pair of chain handcuffs inserted into a carrying case  200  that has an alternative retention protrusion  220  as discussed below.  FIG. 3  shows a pair of hinge handcuffs inserted into a carrying case  100 , with the hinge handcuffs having two hinge sets  60 .  FIG. 4  shows an empty carrying case  200  and two alternative bottom pads  51  and  52  which have not been inserted into the carrying case  200 . 
     As best seen in  FIG. 1 , an exemplary carrying case  100  comprises a rigid frame  110 . A front side of the frame  110  is adapted to receive a pair of two handcuffs. 
     In the example of  FIG. 1 , a retention cup  130  is affixed to the bottom of the front side of the frame  110 . The retention cup  130  is structured and dimensioned to receive a coupler of a pair of two handcuffs, with the two handcuffs being positioned overlappingly adjacent to each other with a side of one of the two handcuffs facing and touching a side of the other one of the two handcuffs (as seen, for example, in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). The retention cup  130  is structured and dimensioned to block removal of the coupler from the retention cup  130  except in a direction substantially toward the top end of the carrying case  100  or  200 , as seen, for example, in  FIGS. 1-4 . 
     In the example of  FIG. 1 , a retention protrusion  120  is affixed to the top of the front side of the frame  110 . The retention protrusion  120  is structured and dimensioned to receive and be surrounded by oval portions of each one of a pair of two handcuffs that are positioned overlappingly adjacent to each other (as seen, for example, in  FIG. 3 ). In the example of  FIG. 1 , the retention protrusion  120  is substantially oval-shaped as best seen in  FIG. 1 . 
     In some examples, the frame  110 , the retention cup  130 , and the retention protrusion  120  or  220  are precision molded from a high strength polymer. 
     In some examples, the inside of the retention cup  130  comprises a bottom pad  51  or  52 , that may be removable. The bottom of bottom pad  51  or  52  is shaped and sized to fit securely adjacent an inner surface of the retention cup  130  into which the bottom pad  51  or  52  is inserted. The top of bottom pad  51  is broad enough to accommodate two chain links of a pair of chain handcuffs, regardless of how the two chain links lie in the retention cup  130  when the oval portions of the two handcuffs of a pair of chain handcuffs are received over the retention protrusion  120  or  220 . The top of bottom pad  52  is substantially U-shaped to accommodate two hinge sets  60  when the oval portions of the two handcuffs of a pair of hinge handcuffs are received over the retention protrusion  120  or  220 . The base pad  51  or  52  cushions, and diminishes any rattle resulting from, a pair of two handcuffs being carried in the carrying case  100  or  200 . In some examples, removable bottom pads  51  and  52  are interchangeable, so that either one can be inserted in the same carrying case  100  or  200  to optimize that carrying case  100  or  200  for chain handcuffs or for hinge handcuffs, respectively. In some examples, bottom pad  51  or  52  is molded from silicon. 
     In some examples, the carrying case  100  or  200  comprises a retaining mechanism  122  that impedes removal of a pair of two handcuffs from the carrying case  100  or  200  unless the retaining mechanism  122  is released. In some examples, the retaining mechanism  122  is positioned in the retention protrusion  120  or  220 . In some examples, the carrying case  100  or  200  comprises a lock switch  125  that controls whether the retaining mechanism  122  is in an extended position impeding removal of a pair of two handcuffs from the carrying case  100  or  200  (as seen, for example, in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ), or whether the retaining mechanism  122  is in a retracted position not impeding removal of a pair of two handcuffs from the carrying case  100  or  200  (as seen, for example, in  FIG. 4 ). In some examples, the lock switch  125  is positioned in the retention protrusion  120  or  220 . In the example of  FIG. 1 , the lock switch  125  is integral with the retaining mechanism  122 , and the lock switch  125  is accessible through an opening  129  on the front of the retention protrusion  120 . 
     The retaining mechanism  122  is in the extended position when the lock switch  125  is in a locked position, and is in the retracted position when the lock switch  125  is in an unlocked position. As illustrated in the example of  FIG. 1 , projections  126  on opposite sides of the lock switch  125  keep the lock switch  125  depressed when in the unlocked position, and allow the lock switch  125  to slide up to a locked position in a single sliding movement, moving the retaining mechanism  122  to its extended position. However, when the lock switch  125  is in the locked position, spring  128  is biased to push the lock switch  125  out so that the projections  126  engage recessions  127  on the inside of the front surface of retention protrusion  120  or  220  (as shown in the example of  FIG. 5 ), and block the lock switch  125  from moving down to the unlocked position. Only after depressing the lock switch  125  against the force of spring  128  (thereby disengaging projections  126  from recessions  127 ) can the lock switch  125  be slid down to the unlocked position, moving the retaining mechanism  122  to its retracted position. 
     As seen in the examples of  FIGS. 1, 6-8 and 10 , there is a clip  140  adjoined to the rear side of the frame  110 , such as for clipping the carrying case  100  or  200  to one&#39;s clothing, for example. As some examples, the clip  140  can be used to attach the case  100  or  200  to a user&#39;s belt or to a MOLLE (Modular Lightweight Load-Carrying Equipment) vest. In some examples, the clip  140  is an injection molded polymer. 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged side view of the clip  140 ,  FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of an adjustable spacer  160  to accommodate attachment of the clip  140  to a plurality of different size items. For example, spacer  160  may be adjusted to accommodate attachment of the clip  140  to 1.25″, 1.50″, 1.75″, 2.00″ or 2.25″ belts.  FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the clip  140  in an open position.  FIG. 10  is a rear view of the carrying case  100 . The clip  140  comprises a mounting plate  141  and a cover plate  150  that are joined at a first longitudinal end by a hinge  151 . A resilient locking arm  142  that is located at an opposite second longitudinal end of the mounting plate  141  releasably engages with an aperture  152  at the second longitudinal end of the cover plate  150  to lock the clip  140  closed. In some examples, a mounting plate  141  is integral with the frame  110 . 
     In the illustrated example, a number of slots  143  extend across the mounting plate  141 , and an adjustable spacer  160  is releasably installed in one of the slots  143 . The width w r  at a root of each slot  143  is greater than the width w o  at the opening of each slot  143 , and width of an engaging portion  161  of the adjustable spacer  160  varies similarly and is sized to fit snugly into any of the slots  143 . The adjustable spacer  160  also is held in place because a dimple  164  at the end of the engaging portion  161  engages with one of the bumps  144  that are located at the blind end of each slot  143 , respectively, and because a peg  163  on the top of the adjustable spacer  160  engages with one of the apertures  153  in the cover plate  150 . 
     In some examples, as seen in  FIGS. 1, 6 and 10 , the cover plate  150  includes a key pocket  154  that is structured and dimensioned to receive a key for the pair of two handcuffs. A top of a key is visible above key pocket  154  in  FIGS. 6 and 10 . 
       FIG. 9  shows an alternative retention protrusion  220 , as illustrated in the examples of  FIGS. 2 and 4 . A lock switch can extend through opening  229  in retention protrusion  220 . The outside of the front surface of retention protrusion  220  includes a plurality of raised portions  224  that extend higher than the lock switch when the lock switch is in the locked position. This inhibits inadvertent depression and sliding of a lock switch and, consequently, inadvertent moving of a retaining mechanism to its retracted position. 
     It will be understood that the disclosed carrying case for a pair of two handcuffs can be modified without departing from the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is only to be limited as necessitated by the accompanying claims.