Patent Publication Number: US-2023145980-A1

Title: Tourniquet holder

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/228,188, filed Aug. 2, 2021. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     A tourniquet is a device for stopping the flow of blood through a vein or artery, typically by compressing a limb with a cord or tight bandage. Tourniquets are important first aid equipment where there is a substantial risk of injury resulting in vein or artery damage and subsequent blood loss. 
     There is predictable potential for such injury in situations where there are deployed weapons which, when used, cause physical injury to the target. Such weapons may include those common to hunting, fishing, military applications, and police applications. As a consequence, the weapon users may desire to have ready access to and the ability to readily deploy a tourniquet. 
     Therefore, it remains desirable to provide apparatus, means, methods or some combination thereof to provide a weapon user with ready access to and the ability to readily deploy a tourniquet. 
     SUMMARY 
     The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
     Accordingly, the present subject matter is directed to a tourniquet holder that substantially obviates one or more problems resulting from the limitations and deficiencies of the related art. 
     In accordance with a first non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a tourniquet holder comprising a mounting base adapted to be operationally engaged with a handguard of an associated weapon, said mounting base having a substantially flat plate defining a first base face, and a second base face facing oppositely from said first base face, said second base face offset from said first base face by a base thickness, said plate further having a first base side edge and a second base side edge opposite said first base side edge and offset from said first base side edge by a base width, said plate further having a base top edge and a base bottom edge offset from said base top edge by a base height; one or more fastener apertures adapted to operationally engage with a mechanical faster, each said mechanical fastener being further adapted to operationally engage with said handguard, one or more retention slots; and a first tang extending in a direction substantially normal to said first base face; a second tang extending in a direction substantially normal to said first base face; wherein said first tang and said second tang define therebetween a margin adapted to accommodate therein an associated tourniquet; and an elongated retention strap passing through said one or more retention slots, said elongated retention strap having a first end and a second end, said second end being selectably engagable with said first end to selectably define a loop, said loop being adapted to retain therein said associated tourniquet. 
     Also provided is a method for using a tourniquet holder comprising providing the above referenced first embodiment of a tourniquet holder; providing a weapon having a handguard; providing a tourniquet; engaging said mounting base with the handguard; and using said retention strap to retain said tourniquet. 
     It is to be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present subject matter are merely exemplary and explanatory in nature. As such, the foregoing general description and the following detailed description should not be construed to limit the scope of the appended claims in any sense. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various exemplary embodiments of the present subject matter will be described in detail, wherein like reference numerals refer to identical or similar components, with reference to the following figures, wherein: 
         FIG.  1    is a top view of a blank for a tourniquet holder, according to a first embodiment thereof; 
         FIG.  2    is a top view of the first embodiment of a tourniquet holder formed from the blank of  FIG.  1    with the retention strap removed for visibility; 
         FIG.  3    is a front view of the first embodiment of a tourniquet holder of  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  4    is a view of a second embodiment of a tourniquet holder with the retention strap and an associated tourniquet shown on a scale being massed; 
         FIG.  5    is a view of the second embodiment of a tourniquet holder of  FIG.  4    with the retention strap open and an associated tourniquet; 
         FIG.  6    is a view of the second embodiment of a tourniquet holder of  FIG.  4    with the retention strap open; 
         FIG.  7    is a view of the second embodiment of a tourniquet holder of  FIG.  4    with the retention strap open and the tourniquet holder engaged with an associated weapon being grasped by an associated hand of an associated user; 
         FIG.  8    is a view of the second embodiment of a tourniquet holder of  FIG.  4    with the retention strap open and the tourniquet holder engaged with an associated weapon; 
         FIG.  9    is a view of the second embodiment of a tourniquet holder of  FIG.  4    the retention strap closed and retaining a tourniquet, the tourniquet holder engaged with an associated weapon; 
         FIG.  10    is a view of the second embodiment of a tourniquet holder of  FIG.  9    with the retention strap in the process of being opened to remove the retained tourniquet; 
         FIG.  11    is a view of the second embodiment of a tourniquet holder of  FIG.  9    with the retention strap opened to permit the removal of the tourniquet; 
         FIG.  12    is a view of the second embodiment of a tourniquet holder of  FIG.  9    with the retention strap opened and the retained tourniquet in the process of being removed; and 
         FIG.  13    is a view of the second embodiment of a tourniquet holder of  FIG.  9    with the retention strap opened. 
     
    
    
     Throughout the figures, the same parts are denoted using the same reference characters so that, as a general rule, they will only be described once. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The claimed subject matter is now described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the claimed subject matter. It may be evident, however, that the claimed subject matter may be practiced with or without any combination of these specific details, without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention and the claims. 
     An illustrative first embodiment of a blank  6  usable to form the tourniquet holder  10  (see  FIGS.  2 - 3   ) is seen in  FIG.  1   . The blank  6  may be a thin sheet of metal or polymer that may then be bent or otherwise subsequently proceed to form the tourniquet holder  10 . In some non-limiting embodiments, the blank  6  is cut or stamped from sheet metal, such as and without limitation, from stainless steel. 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  2 - 3   , the tourniquet holder  10  comprises a mounting base  20  adapted to be operationally engaged with a handguard  7  of an associated weapon  8 , a first tang  40 , a second tang  60 , and an elongated retention strap  80 . 
     In the first non-limiting embodiment the mounting base  20  may be a substantially flat plate  22  defining a first base face  24 , and a second base face  26  facing oppositely from said first base face  24 , with the second base  26  face offset from said first base face by a base thickness  28 . In the first non-limiting embodiment the mounting base  20 , the flat plate may be substantially rectangular with the flat plate  22  having a first base side edge  31  and a second base side edge  32  opposite said first base side edge  31  and offset from said first base side edge  31  by a base width  33 , and further having a base top edge  35  and a base bottom edge  36  offset from said base top edge  35  by a base height  37 . In other acceptable non-limiting embodiments of the mounting base  20 , the flat plate  22  may be substantially square, or hexagonal or octagonal or other shape chosen with good engineering judgment. 
     In the first non-limiting embodiment the mounting base  20  may comprise one or more fastener apertures  21  adapted to operationally engage with a mechanical fastener  23 , each said mechanical fastener  23  being further adapted to operationally engage with said handguard  7 . The mechanical fasteners  23  may be any fastener chosen with good engineering judgment but in some non-limiting embodiments are Picatinny, M-lok, or KeyMod. 
     In the first non-limiting embodiment the mounting base  20  may comprise a retention slot  29  or two or more retention slots  29 , such as a first retention slot  29 A and a second retention slot  29 B. 
     The first tang  40  may extend in a direction substantially normal to the first base face  24 . In the non limiting embodiments shown in  FIGS.  2 - 13   , first tang  40  extends outwardly from first base face  24  and also may curve or otherwise extend over first base face  24 . 
     The second tang  60  may extend in a direction substantially normal to the first base face  24 . In the non limiting embodiments shown in  FIGS.  2 - 13   , second tang  60  extends outwardly from first base face  24  and also may curve or otherwise extend over first base face  24 . 
     In the non limiting embodiments shown in  FIGS.  2 - 13   , first tang  40  and second tang  60  may define therebetween a margin  50  adapted to accommodate therein an associated tourniquet  9 . 
     In the non limiting embodiments shown in  FIGS.  4 - 13    the tourniquet holder  10  may comprise an elongated retention strap  80 . The retention strap  80  may be engaged with the mounting base  20  by passing through said one or more retention slots  29 . The elongated retention strap  80  may have a first end  82  and a second end  84  opposite the first end  82 . The second end  84  may be selectably engagable with the first end  82  to selectably define a loop  86 . In one embodiment and without limitation, the first end  82  and the second end  84  each comprise parts of hook and loop fastener adapted to selectable fastent the first end  82  the second end  84  to form a loop  86 . The loop  86  may be adapted to retain therein the associated tourniquet  9 . 
     In some non limiting embodiments of the tourniquet holder  10 , the second end  84  is optionally adapted for one-handed disengagement from said first end  82 . In some embodiments in which the second end  84  is adapted for one-handed disengagement from said first end  82 , the first end  82  and the second end  84  each comprise parts of hook and loop fastener. 
     In some non limiting embodiments, the tourniquet holder  10  is operationally engaged with the handguard  7  of an associated weapon  8 . In some such embodiments, said weapon  8  is a rifle or a crossbow. 
     In some non limiting embodiments of the tourniquet holder  10 , the first tang  40  is substantially adjacent to said base top edge  35 . 
     In some non limiting embodiments of the tourniquet holder  10 , the second tang  60  is substantially adjacent to said base bottom edge  36 . 
     In some non limiting embodiments of the tourniquet holder  10 , the fastener apertures  21  comprise a first fastener aperture  21 A substantially adjacent to the first base side edge  31 , and a second fastener aperture  21 B substantially adjacent to the second base side edge  32 . 
     In some non limiting embodiments of the tourniquet holder  10 , the one or more retention slots  29  comprise a first retention slot  29 A and a second retention slot  29 B. In come embodiments comprising first retention slot  29 A and second retention slot  29 B, the elongated retention strap  80  passes through both said first retention slot  29 A and said second retention slot  29 B. 
     Also provided here is a method for using a tourniquet holder  10 . One non-limiting method of using a tourniquet holder  10  comprises providing the above referenced first embodiment of a tourniquet holder  10 , providing a weapon  8  with a handguard  7 , providing a tourniquet  9 , engaging the mounting base  20  of the tourniquet holder  10  with the handguard  7 ; and using the retention strap of the tourniquet holder  10  to retain the associated tourniquet  9 . 
     It is to be understood that engagement of the tourniquet holder  10  is only one application of interest. It is also of interest that the tourniquet holder  10  be engaged with other instruments, vehicles, or structures. For example, a tree worker or other party may wish to have a tourniquet holder  10  engaged to a chain saw. A police officer, or emergency medical technician, or fireman might engage the tourniquet holder  10  with his personally carried gear, or might engage it at a handy location in his work vehicle. It would be possible to mount tourniquet holder  10  to desired instruments, vehicles, or structures by straps, mechanical fasteners, adhesives, or other means chosen with good engineering judgment. In some embodiments, removal of a tourniquet stored in a tourniquet holder  10  triggers an alarm, alert lamp, telephones an emergency contact, such as, in the US, 9-1-1, or otherwise activates a signal for medical aid. 
     Any of the features or attributes of the above described embodiments and variations can be used in combination with any of the other features and attributes of the above described embodiments and variations as desired. 
     Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to a certain embodiment or embodiments, it is apparent that this invention can be embodied in many different forms and that many other modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. 
     Moreover, while exemplary embodiments have been described herein, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that the exemplary embodiments set forth above are merely illustrative in nature and should not be construed as to limit the claims in any manner. Rather, the scope of the invention is defined only by the appended claims and their equivalents, and not, by the preceding description.