Abstract:
A holder for a revolver speed loader which produces minimal outward bulk while simultaneously protecting the speed loader&#39;s release mechanism from contacting the user&#39;s belt, and which eliminates any retention devices which require a step other than simply pulling the speed loader free from the holder.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is based upon and claims the benefit of US Provisional Application No. 62/023,805, filed Jul. 11, 2014, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates to a holder of a speed loader for revolver-type firearm. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    On the current market involving firearm reloading accessories, there are numerous types of revolver reloading devices, commonly called “speed loaders.” These devices hold cartridges in a circular arrangement so that the cartridges may be swiftly and concurrently loaded into the cylinder of a revolver-type firearm. Such a device will be referred to herein as a “speed loader” and a typical version is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . A speed loader  1  involves a metal or plastic body  10  incorporating tubular compartments arranged in a radial configuration to hold the required cartridges for reloading a revolver (not shown). Generally a revolver&#39;s cylinder holds six cartridges, but speed loaders are available for revolvers whose cylinder holds anywhere from five to ten cartridges. In  FIG. 1 , six cartridges  11  sit within the tubular compartments of the body  10  with the bullet end  14  of each cartridge  11  projecting upward. Cartridges  11  are held in place by the action of an upper retainer  12  and a lower retainer  13 . When the speed loader  1  of  FIG. 1  is used to reload a revolver, the user must align the bullet ends  14  of the cartridges with the tubular compartments of the revolver&#39;s cylinder. When the cartridges  11  are inserted deep enough into the revolver&#39;s cylinder, a central pin on the ejector star of the revolver&#39;s cylinder presses against a release mechanism  15  on the speed loader  1 , causing the upper and lower retainers  12  and  13  to release the cartridges  11  from the body  10 . Once released from the body  10 , the cartridges  11  drop freely from the speed loader  1  and fully seat themselves into the cylinder of the revolver. Different types of revolver speed loaders achieve the same result through different means. 
         [0006]    The revolver has proven itself to be a functionally reliable and simple to use sidearm for both law enforcement and lawfully armed citizens with an appropriate concealed weapons permit. Although generally replaced by the semi-automatic pistol in the law enforcement community, the revolver is still a popular sidearm for many plainclothes and off-duty law enforcement personnel. The increase, country wide, over the last 20 years in concealed weapons permits has also allowed the revolver to remain popular with lawfully armed citizens, who turn to the revolver as a reliable tool for self-defense. The revolver&#39;s popularity in competition shooting has increased, as well, over the last decade, as an ever-increasing number of shooting organizations have created shooting divisions to accommodate it. 
         [0007]    Those who carry a revolver for self-defense, uniformed or plainclothes duty, and competition tend to carry spare ammunition somewhere on their person—the most popular place being on the belt. A “speed loader” is the most popular device for reloading a revolver. Speed loaders hold cartridges in a circular arrangement so that said cartridges may be swiftly and concurrently loaded into the cylinder of a revolver-type firearm. Traditional methods for carrying a speed loader on one&#39;s belt include a speed loader holder (also referred to as a speed loader carrier or speed loader pouch). Such devices generally place the speed loader on the outside of the belt, causing a distinctive visual bulge on the beltline (otherwise known as “printing”). This is problematic, for the visual printing of a firearm and any accompanying reloading device(s) should be virtually non-existent. 
         [0008]    Most speed loader holders secure the speed loader by using a flap which originates on the belt-side of the holding device and runs over the top of the speed loader, being secured on the outward side of the holder by a snap or Velcro. This method of retaining the speed loader adds not only more outward bulk, but it requires an extra step (i.e., using an index finger to unsnap the flap) when one needs to retrieve the speed loader from the holder. Eliminating the extra step of unsecuring the speed loader is beneficial in an emergency situation or in competition where time is of the essence. 
         [0009]    Due to the above mentioned problems of bulk and retention involving traditional speed loader holders, the best place to position a speed loader is above one&#39;s belt. While this is not a new concept, speed loader holders (such as the one shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,408,707) that hold the speed loader above the belt still utilize a retention flap secured by a snap or Velcro to secure the speed loader, thus requiring the extra time-consuming step of unsnapping the flap prior to speed loader removal. Another design flaw involving speed loader holders (such as that in U.S. Pat. No. 4,408,707) is that the holder positions the speed loader&#39;s release mechanism only a fraction of an inch above the user&#39;s belt. Any downward force upon the holding device will cause the speed loader&#39;s release mechanism to contact the top of the belt, resulting in a premature release of the cartridges from the speed loader itself. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    Some aspects of the present invention are: to provide a holder for a revolver speed loader which produces minimal outward bulk while simultaneously protecting the speed loader&#39;s release mechanism from contacting the user&#39;s belt; and to eliminate any retention devices which require a step other than simply pulling the speed loader free from the holder. 
         [0011]    Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a prior art revolver speed loader containing six cartridges. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the prior art revolver speed loader and cartridges of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is an illustration of a holder for a speed loader of a revolver-type firearm standing upright in ¾ view (perspective view) according to a first embodiment. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is an illustration of the holder of  FIG. 3  lying on its back in ¾ view (perspective view). 
           [0017]      FIG. 5   a  is an illustration of the holder of  FIG. 3  as seen from front elevation view. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5   b  is an illustration of the holder of  FIG. 3  as seen from rear elevation view. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5   c  is an illustration of the holder of  FIG. 3  as seen from a right side elevation view. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5   d  is an illustration of the holder of  FIG. 3  as seen from a left side elevation view. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is an illustration of  FIG. 3  as seen from a top plan view. 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is an illustration of the holder of  FIG. 3  as seen from a bottom plan view (worm&#39;s-eye view). 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is an illustration of the holder of  FIG. 3  standing upright in ¾ view (perspective view) as it would sit on a belt. 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is an illustration of the holder of  FIG. 3  as seen from right side elevation view as it would sit on a belt. Belt is seen in elevation view as a cross-section. 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is an illustration of the holder of  FIG. 3  as seen top plan view as it would sit on a belt. 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  is an illustration of the holder of  FIG. 3  standing upright in ¾ view (perspective view) in a typical location on a user&#39;s belt with rest of the waistline as context.  FIG. 12  is a cross-section view of the holder of  FIG. 3  as seen from right side elevation view as it would sit on a belt, with the speed loader situated therein.  FIG. 13  is an illustration of the holder of  FIG. 3  standing upright in ¾ view (perspective view), with the speed loader situated therein. 
           [0027]      FIG. 14  is a cross-section view of the holder for the speed loader as seen from right side elevation view as it would sit on a belt, with the speed loader being situated therein and a hand grasping the speed loader.  FIG. 15  is a cross-section view of the holder for the speed loader as seen from right side elevation view as it would sit on a belt, with the speed loader being situated therein and a hand grasping the speed loader, and leaning it out away from user&#39;s body, preparing for removal of said speed loader. 
           [0028]      FIG. 16  is a cross-section view of the holder for the speed loader as seen from right side elevation view as it would sit on a belt, with the speed loader being situated therein and a hand grasping the speed loader, and pulling the speed loader out of the holder.  FIG. 17  is a cross-section view of the holder for the speed loader as seen from right side elevation view as it would sit on a belt, with the speed loader being situated therein and a hand grasping the speed loader as the speed loader is completely removed from the holder for insertion into a cartridge cylinder of a revolver-type firearm. 
           [0029]      FIG. 18  is an illustration of a holder of a speed loader for a revolver-type firearm standing upright in ¾ view (perspective view). 
           [0030]      FIG. 19  is a cross-section view of the holder of  FIG. 18  as seen from right side elevation view as it would sit on a belt, with the speed loader situated therein.  FIG. 20  is an illustration of the holder of  FIG. 18  with two slits as seen from a top plan view. 
           [0031]      FIG. 21  is an illustration of the holder of  FIG. 18  with two slits as seen from a bottom plan view (worm&#39;s-eye view). 
           [0032]      FIG. 22  is a cross-section view of the holder of  FIG. 18  as seen from a right side elevation view as it would sit on a belt, with the speed loader situated therein, with a hand grasping the speed loader. 
           [0033]      FIG. 23  is a cross-section view of the holder of  FIG. 18  as seen from a right side elevation view as it would sit on a belt, with the speed loader partially removed, with the hand pulling the speed loader upward. 
           [0034]      FIG. 24  is a cross-section view of the holder of  FIG. 18  seen from a right side elevation view as it would sit on a belt, with the hand grasping the speed loader, the speed loader being fully removed from the holder and ready for insertion into a cartridge cylinder of a revolver-type firearm. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0035]    Reference will now be made in detail to the present embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present invention by referring to the figures. 
         [0036]    Aspects of the present invention utilize a device (herein referred to as “holder”) which is employed to house a speed loader and is shown in an embodiment in  FIGS. 3-24 . A holder  17  comprises a cylindrical body  18  conforming to the general shape of a revolver reloading speed loader  1  (shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 ). The cylindrical body  18  may be designed to a height and diameter to accommodate a variety of speed loaders  1 . The dimensions are defined by the caliber, ammunition type, and size of the speed loaders  1  that the holder  17  is intended to hold. 
         [0037]    The cylindrical body  18  has two concave curved walls  21  and  22 . The out-board wall  21  serves to retain the speed loader while the in-board wall  22 , which rests against the body of a user, secures the speed loader  1  with a half-moon retention lip  23 . The cylindrical body  18  has a narrow opening on each side  24  (see  FIGS. 5   a - 5   d ) sufficiently wide enough to permit fingers  30  (such as a thumb on one side and index and middle fingers on the other side) of a hand  28  of a user to grip the speed loader  1  in order to remove it from the holder  17  (see  FIGS. 14-17 ). The narrow openings  24  are above lower walls  32 , are between the outboard and inboard walls  21  and  22 , and the lower walls have heights lower than those of the outboard and inboard walls  21  and  22 . 
         [0038]    The cylindrical body  18  contains a slit  25  (see  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  5   a ,  5   c ,  6 ,  7 , for example) on one side to allow the out-board retaining wall  21  to flex out enough to enable the user  28  to tilt the speed loader  1  away from the half-moon retention lip  23  on the in-board wall  22  when the user needs to remove the speed loader  1  from the holder  17  (see  FIGS. 14-17 ). 
         [0039]    On the bottom of the cylindrical body  18  is a flat floor  26  (see  FIGS. 6 and 7 ) on which the speed loader  1  sits. Because the holder  17  positions the speed loader  1  above the user&#39;s belt  16 , the use of a floor prevents the speed loader&#39;s release mechanism  15  from coming in contact with the top of the belt  16  which would cause the speed loader  1  to inadvertently release its cartridges  11 . Although illustrations of the floor  26  conform to the description given above, the invention is not so limited. Variations on the amount to which the floor  26  is fully enclosed at the bottom of the cylindrical body  18  have been anticipated, contemplated and possible. For example, the floor  26  may be fully enclosed if so required, instead of only partially enclosed. 
         [0040]    Formed as part of the cylindrical body  18  is a J-hook  19  (see  FIGS. 5   a - 5   d ,  9  and  12 ). The J-hook  19  a flat appendage  20 , extending vertically down from the cylindrical body  18 , and a hook  27  at the bottom of the appendage  20  which makes a 180 degree curve back up toward the cylindrical body  18 . The dimensions of the J-hook  19  are defined by the height and thickness of the belt  16  on which the speed loader holder  17  is designed to sit but can be sized to fit belts of different thicknesses and widths. Other known ways to attach holsters, accessory cases, and other similar articles such as, for example, snaps for directly snapping onto the user&#39;s belt  16 , are equally suitable for use with the holder  17  instead of the J-hook  19 . 
         [0041]    The transition from the cylindrical body  18  into the flat appendage  20  of the J-hook  19  is such that it positions the J-hook  19  closer to the central axis of the cylindrical body  18  than the inside edge of the inboard wall  22  as seen best in  FIGS. 9 ,  10 , and  12 . This unique design significantly reduces the bulge on the outside of the belt  16  as a portion of the holder  17  sits both directly above the user&#39;s belt  16  and on the in-board side of the belt  16  against the user&#39;s body. 
         [0042]    With reference to  FIGS. 14-17 , in use, to remove the speed loader  1  from the holder  17 , the user&#39;s hand  28  grasps the opposite sides of the speed loader  1  with a thumb on one side in one opening  24  and index and/or middle finger on the other side in the other opening  24  ( FIG. 14 ), leans the speed loader  1  away from the half-moon retention lip  23  thus releasing the holder&#39;s retention on said speed loader  1  ( FIG. 15 ), and draws the speed loader  1  up at an angle from the user&#39;s  28  side and away cleanly from the holder  17  ( FIG. 17 ) for insertion into the cartridge cylinder of a revolver. 
       Description of New Embodiment (FIG.  18 ) 
       [0043]      FIGS. 18-24  show a holder  37  for a speed loader  1  according to a second embodiment. In this embodiment, the cylindrical body  18  possesses two concave curved walls  21  and  22 . The outboard wall  21  and the inboard wall  22  serve to hold the speed loader  1  within the cylindrical body  18 . Two retention lips  29  secure the speed loader  1  within the cylindrical body  18 , preventing the speed loader  1  from becoming loose from the holder  37  during physical activities such as running. Each retention lip  29  sits on top of the respective outboard wall  21  and the inboard wall  22 . The retention lips angle upward and project in toward the central axis of the cylindrical body  18 . The angle and length of each retention lip  29  depend on both the shape and diameter of the speed loader body  10 . Although  FIG. 18  illustrates a holder  37  with two retention lips  29 , thus conforming to the description given above, the holder  37  is not so limited. Variations on the number of retention lips have been anticipated, contemplated and are possible. For example, a number other than two may be used, if so required, depending on the shape and diameter of the speed loader body  10 . This also means that, in regards to the retaining walls (such as inboard wall  22  and outboard wall  21 ), a number other than two may be used if so required, depending on the shape and diameter of the speed loader body  10 . Again, lower walls  32  are situated between the outboard and inboard walls  21  and  22 . 
         [0044]    As the user applies an upward force essentially parallel to the axis of the cylindrical body  18  (or angled like before) to lift the speed loader  1  out of the holder  37 , the speed loader  1  rides up against the underside of the retention lips  29 , forcing them to spread apart (see FIG.  23 ). The spreading out of the retention lips  29  forces the out-board wall  21  to flex away from the central axis of the cylindrical body  18 , thus releasing the speed loader  1  from the holder  37 . The inboard wall  22  may also flex out and away from the central axis of the cylindrical body and relative to the floor  26 , but generally, if it does, the amount of flex is significantly less than that of the outboard wall  21 . The cylindrical body  18  contains a slit  25  (see  FIG. 18 ) on one side of the outboard wall  21  which allows the outboard wall  21  to flex out and away from the central axis of the cylindrical body  18  (see  FIG. 23 ). Variations on the number of slits  25  have been anticipated, contemplated and are possible. For example, two slits may be used (see  FIGS. 20-21 ), if so required. Further, the number of slits  25  may more than  2 , in the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  18 ,  20  and  21 , such as additional slits being situated between the other sides of the lower walls  32  and the adjacent other sides of the outboard and inboard walls  21  and  22 . 
         [0045]    The preferred material used to make the holder  17  or  37  is a glass-fiber reinforced plastic. Glass-fiber reinforced plastics are strong and rigid yet have a certain amount of natural flexibility. Other materials may be used in the manufacture of this invention so long as the material used exhibits excellent tensile strength and flexural strength. The holder  17  or  37  may be integrally formed and of a single material, for ease of manufacture and/or durability. 
         [0046]    With reference to  FIGS. 22-24 , in use, to remove the speed loader  1  from the holder  37 , the user&#39;s hand  28  grasps the opposite sides of the speed loader  1  with the thumb on one side in the one opening  24  and the index and/or middle finger on the other side in the other opening  24  ( FIG. 22 ) and pulls the speed loader  1  upward (or angled like in the first embodiment) and away cleanly from the holder  37  ( FIGS. 23-24 ) for insertion into the cartridge cylinder of a revolver. 
         [0047]    Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in this embodiment without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.