Abstract:
A device for carrying a handgun in a concealed manner includes a stabilizer key capable of being secured to and/or carried on the handgun. A clip is capable of being secured to apparel of a user. The clip includes a receiver for releasably engaging the stabilizer key, and allowing the stabilizer key to slide into and out of the receiver of the clip for insertion and withdrawal of the handgun.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/130,078, filed on Mar. 9, 2015 (pending), the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention is specifically intended for civilians, off duty police, plain clothes police, detectives, and anyone else who wants to carry a concealed subcompact, compact, or, full size hand gun without a holster while enhancing features such as concealability, security, and comfort under the least amount of clothes. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    For many years and to this present day there have been many ways and different systems for concealing a handgun for personal protection. Options currently include: holsters outside the waistband under an over coat, under the arm shoulder holsters, inside the waist band holsters, and the list goes on. With many of these systems the object is to not have your gun “print,” or to show through your clothes so no one knows you are carrying a gun. At the present time the number one choice to carry a concealed handgun is in a holster inside the waist band, referred to herein as “IWB”. With IWB holsters comes bulk, discomfort, and the possibility of purchasing additional pants with a larger waist size to accommodate the holster, not to mention adding even more thickness to your gun, which in turn will make it “print” more. As a result, many people will carry a smaller gun. The vast majority of these IWB holsters do not have any means of securing the gun. Others will have some sort of lock or strap, or other device for further securing the weapon. An IWB is not intended for a fast withdrawal from the holster when the gun is needed in a life and death situation. Most of today&#39;s IWB holsters have a tension grip on the hand gun to keep it from falling out of the holster, but no means of preventing an unauthorized use of your hand gun. IWB holsters are limited to either one angle for holstering the weapon, or they are very limited as to the adjustability for individual needs, and each IWB holster is specific to a particular hand gun, i.e., they are not universal. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    Generally, the invention provides a device for carrying a handgun in a concealed manner. The device includes a stabilizer key capable of being secured to and/or otherwise carried on the handgun as an integrated or separate unit, and a clip capable of being secured to apparel of a user. The clip includes a receiver for releasably engaging the stabilizer key, and allowing the stabilizer key to slide into and out of the receiver of the clip for insertion and withdrawal of the handgun. The device can include other features and options, such as summarized below. 
         [0005]    A lock is provided and is movable between locked and unlocked positions for locking the stabilizer key in the receiver in the locked position and allowing withdrawal of the stabilizer key from the receiver in the unlocked position. A magnet is secured to the clip for providing further securement of the handgun to the clip when the stabilizer key is engaged with the receiver. The stabilizer key further comprises a raised rail element and the receiver further comprises an elongate slot. It will be appreciated that the receiver and stabilizer key may take many other forms instead. The elongate slot or other receiver is contained in an adjustable element that allows an orientation of the elongate slot or receiver to be angularly adjusted to adjust the angular orientation of the handgun when the raised rail element is contained in the elongate slot. The stabilizer key and therefore the handgun are capable of being locked in the adjusted angular orientation. The clip further comprises a U-shaped element capable of being clipped over a waistband and/or belt of a user. The U-shaped element further includes a curved slot. A fastening element couples the receiver to the curved slot allowing the angular orientation of the elongate slot to be adjusted relative to the U-shaped element for adjusting an angular orientation of the handgun as mentioned above. 
         [0006]    The invention further provides a method for carrying a handgun in a concealed manner. The method includes securing a clip to apparel of a user, the clip including a receiver for releasably engaging a stabilizer key on a handgun. The stabilizer key is slid into the receiver of the clip to releasably secure the handgun on the apparel of the user. The method can include further features and/or steps as options such as summarized below. 
         [0007]    The method further comprises locking the stabilizer key in the receiver with a locking element, and moving the locking element to an unlocked position to allow withdrawal of the stabilizer key from the receiver. The handgun is secured to the clip with a magnet when the stabilizer key is engaged with the receiver. The stabilizer key further comprises a raised rail element and the receiver further comprises an elongate slot, and the method further comprises inserting the raised rail element into the elongate slot. An angular orientation of the elongate slot is changed or adjusted to change the angular orientation of the handgun when the raised rail element is contained in the elongate slot. The receiver is locked in the adjusted angular orientation. The clip further comprises a U-shaped element and the method further comprises clipping the U-shaped element over a waistband and/or belt of a user. The U-shaped element further includes a curved slot, and a fastening element couples the receiver to the curved slot. The method further comprises adjusting an angular orientation of the elongate slot relative to the U-shaped element for adjusting an angular orientation of the handgun. 
         [0008]    Various additional advantages and features will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1A  is an exploded perspective view showing all components/hardware, along with receiver/rail relationship to each other in accordance with one embodiment of the device. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1B  is a perspective view illustrating connection of the raised rail into the receiver. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view illustrating connection of an alternative embodiment of a raised rail into the receiver. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  depicts all components/hardware in exploded view, along with the receiver and the alternative embodiment of the raised rail. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are perspective views showing an embodiment of a receiver, magnet, clip, and lock portion of the device from an inside, or rear view. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are perspective views showing an embodiment of a receiver, magnet, and clip portion of the device from an inside, or rear view and without a lock portion installed. 
           [0015]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  are perspective views showing an embodiment including the receiver, magnet, clip, and a lock portion from an outside, or front view. 
           [0016]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  are perspective views showing the receiver, magnet, and clip portion of the device from an outside, or front view without a lock portion installed. 
           [0017]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  are perspective views showing the receiver, clip, and lock portion of the device from an inside, or rear view without any magnet. 
           [0018]      FIGS. 8A and 8B  are perspective views showing the receiver and clip portion of the device from an inside, or rear view without any lock or magnet. 
           [0019]      FIGS. 9A and 9B  are perspective views showing the receiver, clip and lock portion from an outside, or front view. 
           [0020]      FIGS. 10A and 10B  are perspective views showing the receiver and clip portions of the device from an outside, or front view without the lock portion. 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view showing the stabilizer key portion of the device separate, and attached to a firearm in the form of a handgun. 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an alternative raised rail portion of a device both separated from, and attached to a firearm in the form of a handgun. 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  shows the device in working form attached to apparel in the form of the waistband of a pair of pants and a belt, with the firearm at an extreme angle. 
           [0024]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a handgun with an alternative embodiment of a raised rail. 
           [0025]      FIG. 14A  is a perspective view illustrating insertion of a raised rail or key element into a receiver of the device. 
           [0026]      FIG. 15  is an exploded perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a clip having a receiver, and being angularly adjustable to adjust the angle of a firearm as desired by a user. 
           [0027]      FIG. 16  is an assembled perspective view of the clip and receiver of  FIG. 15 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line  17 - 17  of  FIG. 16  but also showing the raised rail. 
           [0029]      FIG. 18A  is an elevational view of the clip and receiver of  FIG. 16 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 18B  is an elevational view similar to  FIG. 18A , but with a slotted portion of the receiver removed for clarity and showing angular adjustment with respect to the clip portion of the device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0031]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrate a first embodiment of the device  1 . In  FIG. 1A , the device  1  is comprised of a stabilizer key  40  in the form of an elongate rail. In this embodiment, the elongate rail  40  comprises an assembly of two outer pieces  40   a,    40   c  and an inner piece  40   b  secured together by, for example, threaded fasteners  90 . The rail  40  is secured to the side of the firearm  2 , such as a handgun, by any convenience or desired manner, e.g., adhesive. Alternatively, the stabilizer key  40  may be integrally formed with the firearm  2 . The stabilizer key  40  may take other forms, such as raised elements of other shapes. The device  1  is further comprised of a receiver  10 , a U-shaped clip  20 , and a lock  30 . The lock  30  aligns with the elongate slot portion  10   a  in the receiver  10  and is secured by threaded fasteners  80  and nuts  70  to a curved slot  20   a  in the U-shaped clip  20 . This will be described further below. 
         [0032]      FIG. 1B  illustrates how the stabilizer key  40  or elongate rail in this embodiment slides into the elongate slot  10   a  of the receiver  10 . As shown in  FIG. 13 , the U-shaped clip  20  fits over the waistband and/or belt  22  of a user and the handgun  2  may then be secured to the outer side of the U-shaped clip  20  by sliding the elongate rail  40  into the elongate slot  10   a  of the receiver  10 . The lock  30  is used to optionally further secure the end of the rail  40  and thereby prevent inadvertent withdrawal or removal of the handgun  2 . In this regard, a tab  30   a  of the lock engages the end of the rail  40 . To remove the handgun  2 , the user lifts up slightly on the outer end portion  30   b  or bent portion of the lock  30  to release the rail  40  and allow the rail  40  to be slid out of the elongate slot  10   a.  For this purpose, the lock  30  is resilient and springs back to its original locked position. 
         [0033]      FIGS. 2 and 2A  illustrate another embodiment in which an elongate rail  50  is a single integral element again adhered to the outside of the handgun  2  by any desired manner, such as using any suitable adhesive. It may instead comprise an element integral with the firearm  2 . This embodiment further includes a magnet  60  that is retained between the receiver  10  and the lock  30  and held in place by the lock  30  as best shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B . The rail  50  may be formed from magnetic material, such as carbon steel, and the magnet  60  is a strong permanent magnet (e.g., neodymium) such that the magnetic force will hold the rail  50  within the elongate slot  10   a  without the need for a mechanical lock system. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are similar to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , but illustrate the device  1  without the lock  30 . In this case, the magnet  60  may be secured in any desired manner. 
         [0035]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  are rear views illustrating the assembly of the lock  30 , the magnet  60 , and the receiver  10 , together with the U-shaped clip  20 . 
         [0036]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  are similar views to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , but illustrate the assembly without the lock  30  and, for example, the magnet  60  secured to the receiver  10  in any other desired manner. 
         [0037]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate the assembly as shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B  without the magnet  60 , but including the lock  30  secured with fasteners  80 . 
         [0038]      FIGS. 8A and 8B  are similar to  FIGS. 7A and 7B , but illustrate the device  1  without the lock  30  and without the magnet  60 . It will be appreciated that in various designs or embodiments, the elongate slot  10   a  itself may hold the elongate raised rail  40 ,  50  or other key in place in any suitable manner, such as by way of a friction fit. 
         [0039]      FIGS. 9A and 9B  are similar to  FIGS. 8A and 8B , but illustrate a rear view of the device  1 , including the lock  30  secured by fasteners  70 ,  80  to the curved slot  20   a.    
         [0040]      FIGS. 10A and 10B  are respective rear views of the device  1 , without any lock  30  secured in place and without any magnet  60 , but with only the receiver  10  secured to the U-shaped clip  20  by way of threaded fasteners  70 ,  80  received in the curved slot  20   a.  It will be appreciated that when these fasteners  70 ,  80  are tightened, the receiver  10  will be locked at a desired angular orientation, such as the orientation shown. The range of adjustment angles may vary, such as from about 20° to horizontal to about 90° to horizontal. This sets the angular orientation of the handgun  2  as desired by the user, depending on their preferences for that angle, as well as preferences for the location at which the U-shaped clip  20  will be secured to the apparel of the user. 
         [0041]      FIGS. 11 and 12  are respective views illustrating the two embodiments of the elongate rail  50 ,  40  secured to the side of the handgun  2 . As mentioned previously,  FIG. 13  illustrates the handgun  2  secured to the device  1  from a perspective inside the waistband  20  of a pair of pants. 
         [0042]      FIGS. 14 and 14A  illustrate another possible embodiment for an elongate, raised rail  100  secured to the side of a handgun  2  and insertion of the rail  100  within a receiver  110  comprising an elongate hole  110   a.    
         [0043]      FIGS. 15 through 18  illustrate another embodiment of the invention comprising a receiver  10  that engages a rail  40  ( FIG. 17 ). The receiver  10  again is a plate assembled to align a slot  10   a  with a curved slot  20   a  in a U-shaped clip  20 ′, and the device  1 ′ further includes an elongate plate  120  aligned with the slot  10   a  for essentially allowing the rail  40  to be slid between the receiver plate  10  and the elongate plate  120  with a snug fit as the rail  40  slides into the elongate slot  10   a,  as best shown in  FIGS. 16 and 17 . The receiver plate  10  is fastened to the elongate plate  120  and the clip  20 ′ by a pair of threaded fasteners  130 , nuts  140  and washers  150  such that the receiver plate  10  and the attached elongate plate  120  may be oriented as desired along with curved slot  20   a  as shown in  FIGS. 18A and 18B . The various components of the device  1 ′ may be formed from any material or combinations of materials, such as metal(s) and/or nonmetals (e.g., polymers). As previously mentioned, the angular orientation will determine the angular orientation of the handgun  2  ( FIG. 1 ) that is engaged with the receiver plate  10  and elongate plate  120  as the rail  40  slides into the slot  10   a.  The orientation of the receiver plate  10  and elongate plate  120  is locked by tightening the fasteners  130  at the desired location along the curved slot  20   a.    
         [0044]    Devices made with accordance with the various aspects described herein may be secured to any type of apparel worn by a user, such as pants and/or belts of any suitable design. The device is also ambidextrous and may even be positioned at any point along the user&#39;s waist, including the left, the right, or the front or rear. By utilizing the angular orientation that is most extreme, e.g., approximately 20° from horizontal, the user can make the firearm appear smaller, and produce a better angle from which to draw the firearm. Of course, the same benefits are realized for smaller firearms as well. With a lock, as disclosed herein for example, or using other manners of firmly securing the stabilizer key, the firearm will be secure within the device but still easily drawn. The device may be used inside or outside the waistband, and alternatively may be clipped onto any vertical belt as in backpacks or other shoulder-type straps. The device allows the user to withdraw their firearm in one swift move, reaching for the firearm and withdrawing in the same desired direction. Many other systems require the user to unlock in one direction and then proceed to withdraw the firearm in another direction. As mentioned above, the various components of the device may be formed of any desired materials or combinations of materials. Some examples include polypropylene, Kydex® (acrylic PVC), PVC, acrylic or other polymers, and various types of metals, such as steel, stainless steel, titanium, cold rolled steel, hot rolled steel, etc. One manner of wearing the device will position the receiver inside the waistband of the user&#39;s pants with a portion of the clip extending over the upper edge of the user&#39;s pants and engaging with the user&#39;s belt. Another manner will position the receiver outside the user&#39;s pants. In essence, the clip will contain the upper edge of the pants and belt. 
         [0045]    While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of specific embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not intended to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. The various features discussed herein may be used alone or in any combination. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the scope or spirit of the general inventive concept.