Patent Publication Number: US-9844257-B2

Title: Clip-on air gun holster

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Application Ser. No. 62/001,663, “Clip-On Air Gun Holster,” filed May 22, 2014, and U.S. Application Ser. No. 61/942,854, “Hand Tool Toolbelt,” filed Feb. 21, 2014, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to clip-on air gun holsters. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Air guns are common tools used in many fields, such as, for example, construction, manufacturing, and automotive production. Examples of air guns include nail guns, staple guns, impact guns, pneumatic tools, and other air-operated equipment. Air guns may have significant weight and must be carried by workers over extended shifts. Workers frequently secure air guns to hammer holders or other improvised devices, which can lead to accidents where the air gun falls or causes the worker to lose his balance. 
     SUMMARY 
     In various embodiments, a clip-on air gun holster is disclosed. The clip-on air gun holster includes a support arm, having a first end spaced apart from a second end. A first leg extends generally perpendicular to the first end. A second leg extends generally perpendicular to the second end. A bracing arm is spaced apart from the support arm and extends from the first leg to said second leg. The first leg and the second leg each comprise a front piece and a back piece opposite the front piece. Each front piece-back piece pair is connected at an upper end by a loop, so that each front piece-back piece pair is biased toward a resting position. 
     In some embodiments, a clip-on air gun holster is disclosed. the clip-on air gun holster includes a support arm having a first end spaced apart from a second end. A first leg extends generally perpendicular to the first end. A second leg extends generally perpendicular to the second end. A bracing arm is spaced apart from the support arm and extends from the first leg to the second leg. The first leg and the second leg each comprise a front piece and a back piece opposite the front piece. Each front piece-back piece pair is connected at an upper end by a loop, so that each front piece-back piece pair is biased towards a resting position. The air gun holster is symmetric along a vertical axis. The support arm comprises a first support arm side extending generally perpendicular from the first leg and a second support arm side extending generally perpendicular from the second leg. The support arm includes a support arm strip having a uniform thickness. The support arm strip extends perpendicularly from a first end of the first support arm side to a first end of the second support arm side. 
     These and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to one skilled in the art from the following description and claims when read in light of the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front, perspective view of an embodiment of the clip-on air gun holster as described herein. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the clip-on air gun holster. 
         FIG. 3  is a back view of the clip-on air gun holster. 
         FIG. 4  is a left side view of the clip-on air gun holster. 
         FIG. 5  is a right side view of the clip-on air gun holster. 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of a clip-on air gun holster where the support arm strip is the transverse member. 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the clip-on air gun holster of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is an environmental view showing an air gun supported from a clip-on air gun holster as disclosed herein. 
         FIG. 9  is a front, perspective view of an embodiment of a clip-on air gun holster as described herein, where the support arm strip extends continuously from the first leg to the second leg of the holster. 
         FIG. 10  is a front, perspective view of an embodiment of a clip-on air gun holster as described herein, where the support arm strip is coupled to the first leg by a first projection and the second leg by a second projection. 
         FIG. 11  is a back view of a clip-on air gun holster where the support arm includes a continuous support arm bar. 
         FIG. 12  is a top view of the clip-on air gun holster of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  is a bottom view of the clip-on air gun holster of  FIG. 11 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-13 , a clip-on air gun holster  10  adapted for attachment to a piece of material, such as a belt, a waist band, a pocket, or another strip or sheet or material, is disclosed. The clip-on air gun holster  10  can be removably attached to the piece of material by sliding the independent leg clips onto or off of the material. This enables a worker to clip the air gun holster  10  over the waist of their pants, their belt, or over a pocket of a tool pouch or tool box. The clip-on air gun holster  10  can include a support arm  12  that is specially adapted for supporting an air gun adapted with a mounting bracket (e.g., attached at a base of the handle). 
     In some embodiments, the clip-on air gun holster  10  includes a support arm  12 , having a first end  14  spaced apart from a second end  16 ; a first leg  18  extending generally perpendicular to the first end  14 ; a second leg  20  extending generally perpendicular to the second end  16 ; and a bracing arm  22  spaced apart from the support arm  12  and extending from the first leg  18  to the second leg  20 . In some embodiments, the first leg  18  and the second leg  20  each comprise a front piece  24   a ,  24   b  and a back piece  26   a ,  26   b  opposite the front piece  24   a ,  24   b , respectively. 
     Each front piece-back piece pair  24 ,  26  can be connected at an upper end by a loop  28   a ,  28   b , so that each front piece-back piece pair  24 ,  26  is biased toward a resting position. In some embodiments, the front piece  24   a ,  24   b  of the leg  18 ,  20  can contact the back piece  26   a ,  26   b  of the leg  18 ,  20  in the resting position. An example of a resting position is shown in  FIGS. 4 &amp; 5 . 
     In some embodiments, the legs  18 ,  20  can clip over a material, such as a pocket of the fabric tool bags that are ubiquitous in the industry.  FIG. 5  shows the clip-on tool holster  10  attached over a fabric pocket sheet (P) with a binding (B), with the pocket in cross-section. As can be seen the binding (B) fits within the loop  28   b  and is held in place, in part, because the narrowest gap (g min ) between the front and back portions  24   b ,  26   b  is narrower than the thickness of the binding (B). In some embodiments, in the resting position, the interior (height and width) of the loop can be large enough to receive a binding or belt, while the narrowest gap (g min ) can be less than a horizontal thickness (t bind ) of a pocket binding or, as in  FIG. 4 , the horizontal thickness (t belt ) of a belt. This allows the clip-on air gun holster  10  to clip over or onto articles, including, but not limited to, belts and pocket bindings. 
     In some embodiments, the minimum gap (gmin) can be 0 (i.e., the front portion and back portion touch), while the minimum gap (gmin) can be greater than 0 in other embodiments. In some embodiments, the minimum gap (gmin) can be at least 1/16″, or at least ⅛″. In some embodiments, the minimum gap (gmin) can be ½″ or less, or ⅓″ or less, or ¼″ or less. 
     In some embodiments, the first loop  28   a , the second loop  28   b , or both, are formed from an elastic material. In some embodiments, the first leg  18 , the second leg  20 , or both, are formed by an elastic material. Examples of elastic materials useful for use in the clip-on air gun holster  10  described herein include pre-hardened metal (e.g., steel), annealed metal (e.g., annealed steel), plastic, and other similar materials, such as those useful for making springs. 
     In some embodiments, the front piece  24   a ,  24   b , loop  28   a ,  28   b , and back piece  26   a ,  26   b  of a leg  18  and/or  20  are formed from a strip of elastic material. In some embodiments, the legs  18 ,  20  and the bracing arm  22  are formed from separate strips of elastic material. In such embodiments, an intermediate portion of each leg  18 ,  20  can be welded to an opposite end of the bracing arm  22  (e.g., along edges of the components  18 ,  20 ,  22 ). 
     In some embodiments, both legs  18 ,  20  and the bracing arm  22  are formed from a single piece of elastic material. For example, the legs  18 ,  20  and the bracing arm  22  can be formed (e.g., cast or molded) as a single piece. In some embodiments, the legs  18 ,  20  and the bracing arm  22  can be cast with a loop. In other embodiments, the legs  18 ,  20  and the bracing arm  22  can be cast as a flat piece, then bent to form the loop, before being annealed to create the elastic clip structure described herein. 
     In some embodiments, the material forming the first leg  18  and the material forming the second leg  20  have a uniform leg thickness (t). In some embodiments, the bracing arm  22  is formed of a material that has a uniform strip thickness (t BA ). In some embodiments, the thickness (t leg ) of the first and second legs  18 ,  20  is approximately the same as the thickness of the bracing arm  22 . In some embodiments, the average thickness of the first and second legs  18 ,  20  and the bracing arm  22  varies by less than 20% from the mean thickness of the three, or by less than 10% from the mean thickness of the three. As used herein, “uniform thickness” refers to an average thickness plus or minus a tolerance of less than 10% or less than 0.1″. 
     In some embodiments, a height (h clip ) from the top of the loop  28  to the support arm sides  40 ,  42  is at least ¼ inch, or at least ¾ inch, or at least 1 inch, or at least 1.25 inches. In some embodiments, a height (h clip ) from the top of the loop  28  to the support arm sides  40 ,  42  is 2 inches or less, or 1.75 inches or less, or 1.5 inches or less, or 1.25 inches or less. 
     In some embodiments, the first leg  18  is coupled to the first end  14  at a lower end  30  of the front piece  24   a  of the first leg  18 , and the second leg  20  is coupled to the second end  16  at a lower end  32  of the front piece  24   b  of the second leg  20 . In some embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the bracing arm  22  is coupled to and extends from the front piece  24   a  of the first leg  18  to the front piece  24   b  of the second leg  20 , and the bracing arm  22  is vertically between the support arm  12  and the loops  28   a ,  28   b.    
     In some embodiments, the bracing arm  22  can be 0.5 to 3 inches wide (w brace ). In some embodiments, the bracing arm  22  can be 0.75 to 2.25 inches wide, while the bracing arm can be 1 to 2 inches with in other embodiments. 
     In some embodiments, the back pieces  26   a ,  26   b  of the first and second legs  18 ,  20  are not connected. As best shown in  FIG. 3 , the back pieces  26   a ,  26   b  are not connected, while the front pieces  24   a ,  24   b  of the first and second legs  18 , 20  are connected by the bracing arm  22  and the support arm  12 . More specifically, in some embodiments, the lower ends  34   a ,  34   b  of the back pieces  26   a ,  26   b  of the first and second legs  18 ,  20  are not connected. 
     In some embodiments, the gap (g) between the front and back pieces  24 ,  26  of each leg is narrowest (g min ) at the transition between the loop  28  and the front and back pieces  24 ,  26 . In some embodiments, the gap (g) between the front and back pieces  24 ,  26  of each leg  18 ,  20  is narrowest (g min ) between the loop and said support arm. 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the air gun holster  10  is symmetric along a vertical axis (Z axis ). Examples of such embodiments are shown in  FIGS. 1-13 . 
     In some embodiments, the support arm  12  comprises a support arm strip  36  having a uniform support arm strip thickness (t SAS ). The support arm strip  36  includes support arm sides  40 ,  42 . 
     In some embodiments, the support arm  12  includes a first support arm side  40  extending generally perpendicular from the first leg  18 , a second support arm side  42  extending generally perpendicular from the second leg  20 . The support arm strip  36  extends from a distal end of the first support arm side  40  to a distal end of the second support arm side  42 . The support arm strip  36  can be perpendicular to both the first support arm side  40  and the second support arm side  42 . In some embodiments, the first support arm side  40 , the support arm strip  36 , and the second support arm side  42  are formed of a continuous strip of material. 
     In some embodiments, the length (L proj ) of the first support arm side  40  and the second support arm side  42  can, independently, be between 0.25 inches and 2.5 inches. In some embodiments, the length (L proj ) of the first support arm side  40  and the second support arm side  42  can, independently, be at least 0.25 inches, at least 0.5 inches, at least 0.75 inches, or at least 1 inch. In some embodiments, the length (L proj ) of the first support arm side  40  and the second support arm side  42  can, independently, be 3 inches or less, 2.5 inches or less, 2 inches or less, 1.75 inches or less, 1.5 inches or less, or 1.125 inches or less. 
     In some embodiments, the first support arm side  40  and the second support arm side  42  can, independently, have a greater height, h side1 , closer to the front pieces  24   a ,  24   b  of the legs  18 ,  20  and a smaller height, h side2 , closer the support arm strip  36 . In some embodiments, the bottom edges  56  of the first support arm side  40  and the second support arm side  42  can, independently, be horizontal and the top edge  74  of the support arm strip  36  can also be horizontal. In some embodiments, the top edges  58  of the first support arm side  40  and the second support arm side  42  can, independently, be angled with respect to the top edge  74  (and/or horizontal) of the support arm strip  36 . The angle ( 8 ) between the top edge  74  of the support art strip  36  (or horizontal) and either of the first and second support arm sides  40 ,  42  can be at least 5°, or at least 10°, or at least 15°, or at least 20°. 
     In some embodiments, as best seen in  FIGS. 6 &amp; 7 , the support arm strip  36  and the support arm sides  40 ,  42  have a uniform support arm strip thickness (t SAS ). In some embodiments, the support arm sides  40 ,  42  may have a greater thickness than the support arm strip  36 . In some embodiments, the support arm strip  36  extends generally perpendicular to the first support arm side  40 , the second support arm side  42 , or both  40 ,  42 . In some embodiments, as best shown in  FIGS. 6 &amp; 7 , the first support arm side  40 , the second support arm side  42 , and the support arm strip  36  are formed from a single continuous strip of material. 
     As best shown in  FIG. 7 , in some embodiments, the support arm  12  includes a first support arm side  40  extending generally perpendicular from the first leg  18  and a second support arm side  42  extending generally perpendicular from the second leg  20 , where the support arm strip  36  extends from a distal end of the first support arm side  40  to a distal end of the second support arm side  42 . In some embodiments, the first support arm side  40 , the second support arm side  42 , and the support arm strip are not formed from a single continuous strip with a generally uniform cross-section, but the support arm strip  36  is a sheet of material with a generally uniform thickness (t SAS ). In such embodiments, the support arm strip  36  may be welded to or otherwise joined to the distal ends of the first support arm side  40  and the second support arm side  42 . 
     In some embodiments, a first support arm strip side  46  can extend at least partially along the first support arm side  40  and a second support arm strip side  48  can extend at least partially along the second support arm side  42 . The first support arm strip side  46  and the second support arm strip side  48  can be continuously formed with the support arm strip  36 . 
     In some embodiments, a first projection  50  can extend along the first support arm side  40 . In some embodiments, a second projection  52  can extend along the second support arm side  42 . The first projection  50  and the second projection  52  can, independently, be formed of bar with uniform cross section. In some embodiments, the first projection  50  and the second projection  52  can extend, independently, any length less than or equal to the length of the respective first support arm side  40  and the second support arm side  42 . 
     As shown in the figures, the support arm strip  36  can be generally flat. The support arm strip  36  can have a height (h SAS ) of 0.5 to 6 inches, in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the support arm strip height (h SAS ) can be at least 0.5 inches, or at least 0.75 inches, or at least 1 inch, or at least 1.125 inches, or at least 1.25 inches. In some embodiments, the support arm strip height (h SAS ) can be 5 inches or less, or 4 inches or less, or 3 inches or less, or 2 inches or less. In some embodiments, the support arm strip height (h SAS ) can be generally uniform between the first support arm side  40  and the second support arm side  42 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1, 4, 5, 8 &amp; 9 , the support arm strip sides  40 ,  42  can include angled edges. This can be particularly helpful for maintaining an air gun attached to the clip-on air gun holster  10  in a readily accessible position. 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the support arm sides  40 ,  42  can be attached directly to the first and second legs  18 ,  20 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , in some embodiments, the support arm strip  36  can be the support arm  12 , where the support arm sides  40 ,  42  and the support arm strip  36  have a continuous even top edge  58 . The clip-on air gun holster of  FIG. 9  is symmetric around a vertical axis. In some embodiments, the support arm sides  40 ,  42  are thicker than the support arm strip  36 . In other embodiments, the support arm strip  36  has a uniform thickness (t SAS ) equal to the thickness of the first and second support arm sides  40 ,  42 . 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 10-13 , the projections  50 ,  52  serve as the support arm sides  40 ,  42  and are connected to the support arm strip  36 . In some embodiments, the support arm  12  comprises a first projection  50  extending generally perpendicular from the first leg  18  and a second projection  52  extending generally perpendicular from the second leg  20 , and a transverse member  44  extending from a distal end of the first projection  50  to a distal end of the second projection  52 . The portion of the transverse member  44  extending from the first projection  50  to the second projection  52  can be perpendicular to both the first projection  50  and the second projection  52 . 
     In some embodiments, the support arm  12  includes a support arm bar  38  extending from a lower end  30  of the front piece  24   a  of the first leg  18  to a lower end  32  of the front piece  24   b  of the second leg  20 , where the support arm strip  36  extends down from the support arm bar  38 . The support arm bar  38  can be formed of a bar with a uniform cross-section (e.g., circular), which may deviate from a uniform cross-section where the support arm bar is bent. 
     In some embodiments, the length (L proj ) of the first projection  50  and the second projection  52  can, independently, be between 0.25 inches and 2.5 inches. In some embodiments, the length (L proj ) of the first projection  50  and the second projection  52  can, independently, be at least 0.25 inches, at least 0.5 inches, at least 0.75 inches, or at least 1 inch. In some embodiments, the length (L proj ) of the first projection  50  and the second projection  52  can, independently, be 3 inches or less, 2.5 inches or less, 2 inches or less, 1.75 inches or less, 1.5 inches or less, or 1.125 inches or less. 
     In some embodiments, as best shown in  FIGS. 11, 12 , &amp;  13 , the first projection  50 , the second projection  52 , and the transverse member  44  are all formed from a single bar  38 , while the support arm strip  36  extends down from the first projection  50 , the second projection  52 , and the transverse member  44 . 
     As best shown in  FIG. 13 , in some embodiments, the support arm  12  includes a first projection  50  extending generally perpendicular from the first leg  18  and a second projection  52  extending generally perpendicular from the second leg  20 , where the support arm strip  36  extends from a distal end of the first projection  50  to a distal end of the second projection  52 . In some embodiments, the first projection  50 , the second projection  52 , and the transverse member  44  are not formed from a bar with a generally uniform cross-section, rather the transverse member  44  is the support arm strip  36 , which is a sheet of material with a generally uniform thickness (t SAS ). In such embodiments, a first support arm strip side  46  can extend along the first projection  50 , a second support arm strip side  48  can extend along the second projection  52  and an intermediate portion of the support arm strip  36  can form the transverse member  44 . 
     In order to appreciate the benefits of the clip-on air gun holster  10  described herein, it is important to understand how the device works. Current air guns are sold with plastic clips that quickly break off. These hooks are generally used in connection with hooks and conventional hammer holder loops or rings. 
     The clip-on air gun holster  10  is designed to be used with an air gun  70  with a bracket  72  (such as an L-shaped bracket) attached to it. The bracket  72  can be attached to a distal end of the handle of the air gun, as shown in  FIG. 8 . The bracket  72  can include a hole at a first end and, as shown in  FIG. 8 , an air supply line connector can pass through the hole to secure the bracket  72  to the air gun when the air supply line connector is attached to an air supply line input of the air gun (generally at the distal end of the handle). A free end of the bracket  72  can extend generally parallel to the air gun handle and can be generally tapered. In some embodiments, the air gun holster pouch  2  can be sold with such a bracket  72  for attachment to an air gun supply line. 
     In use, the clip-on air gun holster  10  can be secured to an object, such as the user&#39;s belt, as shown in  FIG. 8 . When the user is not using the air gun, the user simply slides the free end of the bracket  72  into the support arm opening  50 . The support arm opening  50  is designed to provide a relatively tight fit for the L-shaped bracket. The flat shape and height (h SAS ) of the support arm strip  36  are designed to limit the air gun from sliding around when being worn by a worker and prevent accidental releases when the user moves (e.g., bends down to adjust a truss. The length (L proj ) of the first and second projections  40 ,  42  is also limited to prevent the air gun from sliding around when being worn by a worker. Finally, the length of the legs  18 ,  20  is designed so that, when worn, the air gun  70  will rest against the user&#39;s leg above the knee. This allows the worker to control the air gun without using their hands when walking high up on a truss or other elevated structure. 
     The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, and describing embodiments of this invention. Modifications and adaptations to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of this invention.