Abstract:
A system for securing a device to a person by way of their clothing. Method of use is to deploy a ferromagnetic strip coupled with the device on one side of an article of clothing, and a magnet on the opposite side of the article of clothing. The ferromagnetic strip may include a recessed area to receive the magnet. The strip may be coupleable with holsters or cases for guns, phones, or other devices, such as medical devices, radios, or cameras. Some methods of use include two or more ferromagnetic strips and a magnet, wherein one strip is disposed on the surface of the device, one or more strips are disposed with the device inside a pocket or on one side of an article of clothing, and the magnet is disposed outside the pocket or on the other side of an article of clothing. Designed for low profile.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/121,683, filed Feb. 27, 2015 (our ref BENN-1-1001). The foregoing application is incorporated in its entirety as if fully set forth herein. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to holsters, and, more specifically, to systems and methods for carrying a device. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    There are many methods of securing valuable products available. However, historically, each known method has pitfalls. The security of some items is necessary for the protection of one&#39;s identity or even one&#39;s personal safety. For example, if a cell phone, tablet or passport is lost, the risk of identity theft and the resulting fraudulent use can result in many thousands of dollars and it can take years to reestablish credit. If a passport is lost or stolen due to a lack of secured carry, the owner may be stranded offshore, unable to board transportation home. Moreover, it could require hundreds of dollars in replacement charges and addition travel to a US embassy or consul, as well as time lost in obtaining a new passport and reapplying for visas in the passport. A mobile radio loss may result in tactical inability in emergencies as well as the owner being isolated or lost. The loss of a digital scanner may result in the loss of critical and confidential inventory information and the loss of the time taken to compile the information. Loss of a medical monitor may lead to data critical to a patient&#39;s health. Loss of a digital camera may, at the very least, rob the owner of memories, but at worst could cause law enforcement to lose valuable evidence as well as be liable to civil litigation. The loss of an audio player may cost the owner irreplaceable live recordings as well as time to download the material on the player. 
         [0004]    Additionally, current methods of securing a firearm in existing holsters which employ snaps, strapping, hook-and-loop, and other restraint methods reduces access time to the firearm and may result in the firearm becoming entangled, leading to lost reaction time and increasing the risk of death or injury. These are just some of the problems overcome by the invention disclosed herein. 
         [0005]    The present invention does not reduce access time to a firearm or pose an added risk of entanglement for the fire arm as it is drawn from an existing holster. Furthermore, the present invention makes it possible to secure a fire arm within a holster and secure an existing holster, with or without a fire arm, virtually anywhere on a person&#39;s clothing, apparel, accessories or other material for the purpose of concealed fire arm carry. Additionally, the present invention greatly reduces the loss of either an existing holster or fire arm due to an existing holster or fire arm accidentally exiting the wearer&#39;s clothing, apparel, accessories or other materials during normal, vigorous or even confrontational activity, any of which may result in accidental fire arm discharge, injury or death. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    This invention relates generally to holsters, and, more specifically, to systems and methods for carrying a device. 
         [0007]    The present invention does not reduce access time to a firearm or pose an added risk of entanglement for the firearm as it is drawn from an existing holster. Furthermore, the present invention makes it possible to secure a firearm, phone, medical device, or other apparatuses as discussed above, within a holster and secure the holster, with or without the device, virtually anywhere on a person&#39;s clothing, apparel, accessories or other material for the purpose of concealed, secure carry. Additionally, the present invention greatly reduces the loss of either a holster or device due to normal, vigorous or even confrontational activity, any of which may result in accidental firearm discharge, injury, or death, or the loss of valuable or irreplaceable items. 
         [0008]    The device can be easily fitted without tools to a holstered handgun, cell phone, tablet, mobile radio, audio player, digital camera, medical monitor, digital scanner, passport or other portable item and provides unrestricted access to an item placed at any angle at a secure fixed point for open and concealed carry anywhere on the wearer&#39;s clothing material, accompanying accessory cloth material and accompanying accessory ferromagnetic material. 
         [0009]    To secure a holstered handgun for open and concealed carry, a ferromagnetic strip may be placed directly opposite a magnet with the ferromagnetic strip and magnet separated by clothing material. The magnetic attraction between the ferromagnetic strip and the magnet may be sufficient to secure the ferromagnetic strip and the magnet at a fixed point by compressing the clothing material between the magnet and ferromagnetic strip. A second ferromagnetic strip may be attached to the holster. The magnetic attraction between the second ferromagnetic strip attached to the holster and the first ferromagnetic strip and the magnet may be sufficient to secure the holster at a fixed point on the clothing material. The magnetic attraction between the magnet, first and second ferromagnetic strips, and the ferromagnetic material in the handgun may be sufficient to secure the handgun within the holster at any angle at the same fixed point on the clothing material. A holstered handgun may be secured to a ferromagnetic surface at any angle using the magnetic attraction between the device magnet, the device ferromagnetic strip attached to the holster, the ferromagnetic properties of the handgun and the ferromagnetic surface. 
         [0010]    To secure a cell phone, tablet, mobile radio, audio player, digital camera, medical monitor, digital scanner, passport or other portable item for open and concealed carry, a ferromagnetic strip may be placed directly opposite a magnet with the ferromagnetic strip and magnet separated by clothing material. The magnetic attraction between the ferromagnetic strip and the magnet may be sufficient to secure the ferromagnetic strip and the magnet at a fixed point by compressing the clothing material between the magnet and the ferromagnetic strip. A second ferromagnetic strip may be attached to portable item. The magnetic attraction between the second magnetic strip attached to the portable item and the first ferromagnetic strip and the magnet may be sufficient to secure the portable item at any angle at a fixed point on the clothing material. A portable item may be secured to a ferromagnetic surface at any angle using the magnetic attraction between the device magnet, the ferromagnetic strip attached to the portable item and the ferromagnetic surface. If the portable item is in a case, a third ferromagnetic strip may be attached to the case. The magnetic attraction between the magnet, first ferromagnetic strip, second ferromagnetic magnetic strip attached to the portable item and the third ferromagnetic strip attached to the case may be sufficient to secure the portable item within the case and the case and portable item in the case at the same fixed point on the clothing material. A portable item in a case may be secured to a ferromagnetic surface at any angle using the magnetic attraction between the device magnet, the ferromagnetic strip attached to portable item, the ferromagnetic strip attached to the case and the ferromagnetic surface. 
         [0011]    In addition to the foregoing, various other methods, systems and/or program product embodiments are set forth and described in the teachings such as the text (e.g., claims, drawings and/or the detailed description) and/or drawings of the present disclosure. 
         [0012]    The foregoing is a summary and thus contains, by necessity, simplifications, generalizations and omissions of detail; consequently, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the summary is illustrative only and is NOT intended to be in any way limiting. Other aspects, embodiments, features and advantages of the device and/or processes and/or other subject matter described herein will become apparent in the teachings set forth herein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    Certain embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a side plan environmental view of one embodiment of the POCKET HOLSTER. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view thereof. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a side plan view thereof. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view thereof. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is an exploded environmental view thereof. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a rear plan view thereof. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is an exploded environmental view of one different embodiment of the POCKET HOLSTER. 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is an exploded environmental view of another different embodiment of the POCKET HOLSTER. 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is an exploded environmental view of another different embodiment of the POCKET HOLSTER. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    This invention relates generally to holsters, and, more specifically, to systems and methods for carrying a device. 
         [0024]    Specific details of certain embodiments of the invention are set forth in the following description and in  FIGS. 1-9  to provide a thorough understanding of such embodiments. The present invention may have additional embodiments, may be practiced without one or more of the details described for any particular described embodiment, or may have any detail described for one particular embodiment practiced with any other detail described for another embodiment. 
         [0025]    Importantly, a grouping of inventive aspects in any particular “embodiment” within this detailed description, and/or a grouping of limitations in the claims presented herein, is not intended to be a limiting disclosure of those particular aspects and/or limitations to that particular embodiment and/or claim. The inventive entity presenting this disclosure fully intends that any disclosed aspect of any embodiment in the detailed description and/or any claim limitation ever presented relative to the instant disclosure and/or any continuing application claiming priority from the instant application (e.g. continuation, continuation-in-part, and/or divisional applications) may be practiced with any other disclosed aspect of any embodiment in the detailed description and/or any claim limitation. Claimed combinations which draw from different embodiments and/or originally-presented claims are fully within the possession of the inventive entity at the time the instant disclosure is being filed. Any future claim comprising any combination of limitations, each such limitation being herein disclosed and therefore having support in the original claims or in the specification as originally filed (or that of any continuing application claiming priority from the instant application), is possessed by the inventive entity at present irrespective of whether such combination is described in the instant specification because all such combinations are viewed by the inventive entity as currently operable without undue experimentation given the disclosure herein and therefore that any such future claim would not represent new matter. 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  is a side plan view of one embodiment of the pocket holster. The present invention is comprised essentially of a ferromagnetic area  100  and a magnet  200 . In some embodiments, the system may be configured for use with a custom or standard holster  300 . In some embodiments, the device  400  may be disposed within a holster  300 , or may be kept within the user&#39;s pocket via a ferromagnetic nature of the device. In other embodiments, the device  400  may be permanently or removably coupled with another ferromagnetic or magnetic area, which will be discussed further with  FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 . 
         [0027]    In its essential elements, the system for carrying a device is comprised of a ferromagnetic area  100 . The ferromagnetic area  100  may, in some embodiments, be disposed directly on the device  400 . In other embodiments, the ferromagnetic area  100  may be disposed near the device  400 . In some embodiments, the ferromagnetic area  100  may be a piece of ferromagnetic material designed to be removably coupled with the device  400  or with a case  300  designed for carrying the device. In one preferred embodiment, the ferromagnetic area  100  is a somewhat elongated strip of ferromagnetic material configured to receive a magnet  200 . 
         [0028]      FIGS. 2 and 3  demonstrate this configuration more clearly.  FIG. 3  illustrates that, in some embodiments, ferromagnetic area  100  is constructed with a first portion  101 , a second portion  102 , and a third portion  103 . The embodiment shown, wherein second portion  102  is disposed approximately in the middle one-third of the upper portion of the ferromagnetic area  100 , is a preferred embodiment. However, it should be noted that second portion  102  can be disposed off-center within the ferromagnetic area  100  without altering the function of the device.  FIG. 3  also demonstrates that, in a preferred embodiment, second portion  102  may be recessed relative to first portion  101  and third portion  103 . One purpose of the recess is to easily receive magnet  200 , enabling the user to easily and quickly find the correct portion of ferromagnetic area  100  with which to pair the magnet. Another purpose of the recess is to allow the upper portion of magnet  200  to be substantially flush with the line formed by ferromagnetic area  100 . The present invention may be worn with the device inside an article of clothing and the magnet  200  disposed outside the article of clothing. Recessed portion  102  allows the user to wear the device without an obvious bulge where magnet  200  is coupled with ferromagnetic strip  100 . A third purpose is to form an edge against which magnet  200  can resist, preventing the ferromagnetic area  100  from moving when a device  400  is drawn from the case  300  or the ferromagnetic area. 
         [0029]    In some embodiments, ferromagnetic area  100  ends at the ends of portions  101  and  103 , where  FIG. 3  shows a curve to the ferromagnetic area. In other embodiments, ferromagnetic area  100  includes grip areas  104  and  105 , respectively. In such an embodiment, ferromagnetic area  100  can be disposed around the upper and lower portions of a case  300 , such as a gun holster or case for a phone or medical device, by inserting the upper edge into one of grip  104  or  105 , and the lower edge into the other of grip  104  or  105 . See  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 5 , and  FIG. 6  for examples of such an embodiment. In some embodiments, grips  104  and  105  may be removably coupled with ferromagnetic area  100 . In other embodiments, grips  104  and  105  may be formed by curving ferromagnetic area  100  under itself to form recesses, as shown in  FIG. 3 . In some embodiments, grips  104  and  105  may include a higher friction material, such as a rubber or plastic coating, to enable better coupling with a case  300 . In some embodiments, the entirety of ferromagnetic area  100  may be coated with a higher friction material in order to better grip the device  400 , or with other coatings such as a noncorrosive coating or a color coating. 
         [0030]      FIGS. 4 and 5  show one preferred embodiment of the present invention as it is coupled with a case  300 .  FIG. 4  is an exploded view showing magnet  200 , ferromagnetic area  100 , and case  300 .  FIG. 5  shows that the ends of case  300  are disposed within grips  104  and  105 , allowing the ferromagnetic area  100  to be snugly disposed around case  300 .  FIG. 5  also shows one method of employing the present invention. Here it can be seen that ferromagnetic area  100  is disposed around case  300 , and then a piece of material  500 , such as a piece of clothing, is disposed between magnet  200  and the ferromagnetic area. One non-limiting example of this might be when a user wishes to conceal his or her weapon in a pocket. The user would insert the device  400  into case  300 , insert case  300  into ferromagnetic area  100 , and put the case and ferromagnetic area into a pocket. Then the user would place magnet  200  into the recessed portion of ferromagnetic area  100 , holding the case  300  firmly within the pocket. If the user then decided to draw his or her weapon, magnet  200  would hold case  300 , and ferromagnetic area  100  in place within the pocket.  FIG. 6  is a rear view example of such a method, showing that ferromagnetic area  100 , when properly disposed around case  300 , does not interfere with the placement or drawing of a device (weapon)  400 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 7  is an illustration of a similar method with a device such as a phone, music player, or medical device. The device  400  is coupled with first ferromagnetic area  100 , and is inserted into case  300 , which is coupled with second ferromagnetic area  106 . While the ferromagnetic area  106  is shown here as a single flat area, it should be noted that, as above, the area may be a flat area, but it may also be an area with at least one recessed portion. Case  300  is inserted into a pocket or tucked within a jacket, for example, causing a piece of material  500  to come between ferromagnetic area  106  and magnet  200 . This secures the device  400  to the clothing  500  without restricting access to the device. Ferromagnetic area  100  holds the device within the case, and ferromagnetic area  106  allows removal of the device without causing magnet  200  to fall away from the user. It should be noted that, in some embodiments, case  300  may be customized. For instance, if device  400  is something with which magnets would interfere, case  300  may be configured to protect the device from the magnetic field created by magnet  200 . Alternatively,  FIG. 8  shows a method with a third ferromagnetic area  107 , wherein the third ferromagnetic area  107  allows removal of the device  400  and the case  300 , without magnet  200  falling away. 
         [0032]      FIG. 9  is an illustration of such a method without use of a case. In this method, first ferromagnetic area  100  may be disposed directly onto device  400 . In some embodiments, this may be a permanent coupling. In some embodiments, it may be a removable coupling, such as with a temporary adhesive. In some embodiments, the ferromagnetic area may actually be two separate portions of ferromagnetic material, a first  100  coupled directly with the device, and a second  106  configured to interact with the first, coming between the device  400  and the fabric  500 . This type of embodiment would prevent the magnet  200  from falling away when device  400  is removed from the clothing  500 . 
         [0033]    While particular aspects of the present subject matter described herein have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and modifications may be made without departing from the subject matter described herein and its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are to encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as are within the true spirit and scope of this subject matter described herein. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention is defined by the appended claims. It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “ a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). 
         [0034]    While preferred and alternative embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of these preferred and alternate embodiments. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.