Patent Description:
When a user carries a handgun in a holster on the user's belt, and is standing up, the handgun needs to be in a position to enable rapid and accurate drawing of the handgun from the holster. The holster mounts the handgun at a height near the waist or hip of the user and, in some adjustable holsters, in a selected position of cant. But when the holster is in this "use" position, and the user thereafter sits down in a vehicle, the holster and gun are awkwardly positioned. <CIT> describes a holster for a gun comprising a pouch for receiving a gun. The pouch is mounted on a belt-receiving member that has an elongate slot. The pouch is mounted to the belt-receiving member by a means of a fastening passed through the elongate slot. The fastening is able to be selectively released to allow the pouch to be moved axially relative to the belt-receiving member to a desired relative location by moving the fastening along the slot and then tightening the fastening to retain the pouch in the desired relative location. The pouch is able to rotate about the fastening.

A holster support assembly for use by a user wearing a belt in accordance with the invention is defined in claim <NUM>. Some preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

The present invention relates to a holster support assembly for adjustably supporting a holster on a user. The invention is applicable to holster mount assemblies of various configurations. As representative of the invention, <FIG> illustrate a holster support assembly that is a first embodiment of the invention. The holster support assembly <NUM> is usable for supporting a holster, shown schematically at <NUM>, on a user's belt shown partially at <NUM>.

The holster support assembly <NUM> includes generally five components, each described below in detail: a belt support <NUM> that is carried on the user's belt; a slider <NUM> that is slidable vertically on the belt support; a holster mount <NUM> that is connected with the slider (to adjust drop) and also is pivotable relative to the slider (to adjust cant); a lock bar <NUM> for locking the parts in a selected vertical (drop) and rotational (cant) position; and a screw assembly <NUM> for securing together the other components of the holster support assembly <NUM>.

The belt support <NUM> (<FIG> and <FIG>) supports the assembly <NUM> on the user's belt <NUM>. The belt support <NUM> has an upper end portion <NUM> that is curved or contoured to fit the curved configuration of the user's torso. The upper end portion <NUM> includes two belt slots <NUM> for receiving the user's belt <NUM>. The belt support <NUM> can thus be hung from the user's belt <NUM>, and slid (positioned) laterally along the belt, so that the holster assembly <NUM> is in the desired position adjacent to the user's hip.

A main body portion <NUM> of the belt support <NUM> extends down from the upper end portion <NUM>. A laterally central section of the main body portion <NUM> forms a vertically extending track <NUM>, which comprises two rails <NUM> on opposite sides of a central slot <NUM>. The rails 32a and 32b have a generally planar, plate-like configuration. As described below in detail, the slider <NUM> and holster body are movable vertically along the track <NUM> to adjust the drop of the holster <NUM>.

The central slot <NUM>, which is also part of the track <NUM>, extends completely through the belt support <NUM> between the inner and outer side surfaces <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively, of the belt support. The central slot <NUM> is defined by the two rails <NUM> that are on opposite sides of the central slot. For each rail <NUM> its outer side surface is part of the outer side surface <NUM> of the belt support <NUM>, and its inner side surface is part of the inner side surface <NUM> of the belt support.

The central slot <NUM> has a relatively narrow lower section <NUM> that is a constant width along its entire length. The central slot <NUM> has an upper section <NUM> that is significantly wider than the lower section <NUM> and that has a generally square configuration. As a result, the slot <NUM> has a generally keyhole-shaped configuration. At the top of the lower section <NUM> of the central slot <NUM>, just at the bottom edge of the upper section <NUM>, are located two bump stops <NUM>, one on each rail <NUM>.

The wall thickness of the track rails <NUM> (from inside to outside, or left to right as viewed in <FIG>) is different, over three different sections of the track <NUM>. Specifically, in a locking section 30a of the track <NUM>, starting at the bottom end of the central slot <NUM>, the rails <NUM> have a constant, first wall thickness. At the top of the locking section 30a of the track <NUM>, the wall thickness of the rails <NUM> decreases to form a ramp section 30b of the track that has a tapering second wall thickness. Above the ramp section 30b, in a release section 30c of the track <NUM>, and adjacent to the enlarged upper section <NUM> of the central slot <NUM>, the rails <NUM> have a constant reduced third wall thickness that is the same as the thinnest part of the ramp section.

Because the central slot <NUM> is located between and defined by the rails <NUM>, the depth of the slot varies in the same manner as does the wall thickness of the rails. Specifically, the slot <NUM> is deeper in the locking section 30a of the rails <NUM>, tapers in depth in the ramp section 30b, and is shallowest in the release section 30c.

As described below in detail, the slider <NUM> is slidable vertically along the track <NUM> of the belt support <NUM>. In that regard, the belt support <NUM> has a number of features for helping to set the vertical orientation of the slider <NUM> on the belt support. Specifically, on one side of the track <NUM> are formed three notches <NUM>. On the opposite side of the track <NUM> are four rib segments <NUM> spaced apart with gaps <NUM> between them. The notches <NUM> and the gaps <NUM> are located along the lower portion (constant wall thickness) 30a of the track <NUM>. The notches <NUM> are located laterally opposite and thus paired with the gaps <NUM>.

Each associated pair of notch <NUM> and gap <NUM> defines a detent (or locking position) <NUM> on the belt support. In the illustrated embodiment, there are three vertically spaced locking positions 62a, 62b, 62c. In other embodiments, an assembly <NUM> in accordance with the invention could have more than three locking positions <NUM> or fewer than three locking positions.

The slider <NUM> (<FIG>) engages with the belt support <NUM> and supports the holster mount <NUM> for vertical and rotational (pivotal) movement relative to the belt support. The slider <NUM> is a disc-shaped member having generally planar inner and outer major side surfaces <NUM> and <NUM> connected by an annular outer peripheral surface <NUM>.

The inner major side surface <NUM> of the slider <NUM> is engageable with and slidable along the outer major side surface <NUM> of the belt support <NUM>. Several features are present on the inner major side surface <NUM> of the slider <NUM>. First, there is a horizontally extending groove <NUM> having dimensions selected to closely receive the lock bar <NUM> in a manner as described below. The groove <NUM> extends horizontally for the full width of the slider <NUM>. Two detent notches <NUM> are formed at one position along the length of the groove <NUM>.

Second, there is a vertical groove <NUM> at one side of the slider <NUM>. When the slider <NUM> is mounted on the belt support <NUM>, the groove slidably <NUM> receives the ribs <NUM> of the belt support. This engagement of the ribs <NUM> in the groove <NUM> secures the slider <NUM> against rotation about the transverse axis <NUM>. Third, two generally triangular restraint tabs <NUM> are disposed along the length of the vertical groove <NUM>, on opposite sides of the groove. The restraint tabs <NUM>, as well as two shorter ribs <NUM> diametrically opposite the groove <NUM>, assist in maintaining the positioning of the slider <NUM> on the belt support <NUM>.

On the outer major side surface <NUM> of the slider <NUM>, facing away from the belt support <NUM>, there is formed a circular array of wedge-shaped locking teeth <NUM>. The teeth <NUM> extend radially outward from a centrally located through hole <NUM> that defines a transverse axis <NUM> of the holster assembly <NUM>.

The holster mount <NUM> is a member that is configured to directly engage and support the holster <NUM> itself on the slider. As a result, and as described in detail below, the holster <NUM>, the holster mount <NUM>, and the slider <NUM> are movable vertically, together, along the track <NUM> of the belt support <NUM>.

The holster mount <NUM> is a plate-like member that in the illustrated embodiment has a generally teardrop-shaped configuration including a wider upper end portion and a narrower lower end portion to accommodate the similar configuration of a typical holster. Two holster connection openings <NUM> are located in the upper end portion of the holster mount <NUM> and one holster connection opening <NUM> is provided in the lower end portion of the holster mount. The holster connection openings <NUM> receive fasteners shown schematically at <NUM> (<FIG>) for securing the holster <NUM> to the holster mount <NUM>. The openings <NUM> may, as illustrated, be arcuate slots enabling mounting of the holster <NUM> at different pivotal (rotational) orientations on the holster mount <NUM>.

The holster mount <NUM> has a generally flat outer major side surface <NUM> that is presented outward and that is in abutting engagement with the holster <NUM> when the holster is secured on the holster mount. The holster mount <NUM> has an opposite inner major side surface <NUM> that is presented inward toward the user, and toward the slider <NUM>, when the holster mount is connected as part of the holster assembly <NUM>. On the inner major side surface of the holster mount <NUM> is a circular array of radially extending, wedge-shaped locking teeth <NUM>, effectively a mirror image of the array of locking teeth <NUM> on the slider <NUM>.

The holster mount <NUM> has a central opening <NUM> that is co-axial with the central opening <NUM> in the slider <NUM> when the holster assembly <NUM> is assembled. An internally threaded propeller nut or T-nut <NUM> is secured in the central opening <NUM> of the holster mount <NUM>, on the outside of the holster mount, to provide an internally threaded location for receiving the assembly screw <NUM>.

An annular boss <NUM> extends around the opening <NUM>, on the inner side surface <NUM> of the holster mount <NUM>. An annular spring chamber <NUM> extends around the boss <NUM>. The spring chamber <NUM> receives a circular compression spring <NUM>. The spring <NUM> acts outwardly between the slider <NUM> and the holster mount <NUM>, attempting to push them apart.

The holster <NUM> is secured to the holster mount <NUM> in a known manner, such as by the fasteners <NUM>. In this application, the actual configuration of the holster itself is not critical, and so the holster <NUM> is shown only in phantom.

The lock bar <NUM> is configured as an elongate bar that extends laterally across the track <NUM> of the belt support <NUM>, at a location captured (inside to outside) between the belt support and the slider <NUM>. The lock bar <NUM> is slidable laterally when in its position between the belt support <NUM> and the slider <NUM>. At one end of the of the lock bar <NUM> is a manually engageable tab or handle <NUM> that can be used to pull or push the lock bar across the track <NUM>. The lock bar <NUM> also has projections <NUM> that are engageable with the detent notches <NUM> on the slider <NUM>. An elongate screw passage <NUM> extends in a direction along the length of the lock bar <NUM>.

The screw assembly <NUM> includes a screw <NUM> that in the illustrated embodiment is a machine screw having a round head <NUM> and an externally threaded shank <NUM>. The screw <NUM> is assembled with a plastic washer <NUM> that is fitted under and around the screw head <NUM>. A plate <NUM> is secured onto the washer <NUM> by peening over four pins <NUM> on the washer.

The washer <NUM> is slightly smaller than the opening of the release section <NUM> of the central slot <NUM>, so as to be able to fit through the release section. The washer <NUM> is free floating on the screw <NUM>, that is, the washer and the screw are relatively rotatable.

The washer <NUM> has a generally square configuration with rounded corners. One of the four corners of the washer may be different from the other three, for assembly and orientation purposes. Also, the underside of the washer <NUM> (<FIG>) has two slots <NUM> that extend halfway up the washer. When the screw assembly <NUM> is connected in the holster assembly <NUM>, the slots <NUM> extend from the screw shank <NUM> in a direction toward the lower section <NUM> of the central slot <NUM> in the belt support <NUM>.

To assemble the parts of the holster assembly, the slider <NUM> is placed on and engaged with the outer side surface <NUM> of the belt support <NUM>. The vertical ribs <NUM> on the belt support <NUM> are received in the vertical groove <NUM> on the slider <NUM>, this engagement blocks rotation of the slider on the belt support. The tabs <NUM> on the slider <NUM> also assist in this regard. As a result, the slider <NUM> is supported on the belt support <NUM> for vertical sliding movement along the belt support, without rotation.

At the same time, the lock bar <NUM> is placed to extend laterally along the horizontal groove <NUM> in the slider <NUM>, at a position captured between the slider and the belt support <NUM>. The screw slot passage <NUM> in the lock bar <NUM> overlies the central opening <NUM> in the slider <NUM>, and also overlies the central slot <NUM> in the belt support <NUM>.

The holster mount <NUM> is positioned on the slider <NUM>, with the compression spring <NUM> between them in the spring chamber <NUM> that extends around the boss <NUM>.

The screw assembly <NUM> holds the other pieces together. Specifically, the screw head <NUM> and the washer <NUM> are positioned on the inner side surface <NUM> of the belt support <NUM>. The screw shank <NUM> extends through the central slot <NUM> in the belt support <NUM>, through the central opening <NUM> in the slider <NUM>, through the screw passage <NUM> in the lock bar <NUM>, and into the center of the boss <NUM> on the holster mount <NUM>. The nut <NUM> is lockingly engaged in the central opening <NUM> of the holster mount <NUM>, and receives the threaded screw shank <NUM>.

As a result, the parts of the holster assembly <NUM> are held together securely in the direction along the length of the screw <NUM>. The spring <NUM> acts outwardly between the slider <NUM> and the holster mount <NUM>, attempting to push them apart in a direction along the transverse axis <NUM>, that is, along the length of the screw <NUM>.

When the parts are assembled in this manner, it is done with the screw <NUM> extending through the lower section <NUM> of the central slot <NUM> in the belt support <NUM>. In this position, the rails <NUM> have a relatively large wall thickness and the central slot <NUM> is relatively deep. The screw <NUM> is tightened down on the holster mount <NUM> to a point at which there is little or no movement possible between the parts in a direction along the length of the screw <NUM>, the screw <NUM> and the nut <NUM> cooperate to hold the holster mount <NUM> in tight against the slider <NUM>.

The screw <NUM> is intentionally not tightened down enough to prevent all vertical movement of the parts along the track <NUM>. Rather, the parts can be moved vertically with the application of a reasonable amount of force, to enable the user to adjust the holster assembly <NUM>. This is because the lock bar <NUM> (<FIG>) is thinner at its inner end <NUM> than at its outer end <NUM>, so that when the lock bar is opened, the parts can be moved easily. The radial teeth <NUM> of the slider <NUM> are engaged with the radial teeth <NUM> of the holster mount <NUM>, preventing any rotation of the holster mount and the holster <NUM>, on the belt support <NUM>.

As noted above, the holster assembly <NUM> of the present invention is useful for adjustably supporting the holster <NUM> on the user's belt <NUM>. In a manner as described below, the user can place the holster <NUM> in a first position of drop and cant relative to the user while seated in a car or other vehicle, and then place the holster in a second, different position of drop and cant after exiting the vehicle.

The three locking positions <NUM> noted above with reference to the belt support <NUM>, provide three different drop heights for the holster <NUM> on the belt support. The holster assembly <NUM> may come from the manufacturer set in one of the three locking positions <NUM>. The user can select and lock in any one of the three available drop heights for use when the user is standing up and wearing the holster assembly <NUM>. The cant position (orientation), however, can be changed only when the holster assembly <NUM> is unlocked, as described below.

To set or change the drop height, the user withdraws the lock bar <NUM> to the open position shown in <FIG>. When this is done, the slider <NUM> is then free to move vertically along the track <NUM> of the belt support <NUM>. The user applies sufficient manual force to move the holster <NUM>, the holster mount <NUM>, and the slider <NUM> vertically, to the desired locking position <NUM>. The lock bar <NUM> is then moved back to the closed position shown in <FIG>. The lock bar <NUM> is securely held vertically by the detents in the belt support <NUM> that form the locking positions. Also, when the lock bar <NUM> is fully inserted (closed), the detent features <NUM> on the lock bar <NUM> engage in the notches <NUM> of the slider <NUM>. This engagement resists movement of the lock bar <NUM> out of the closed position, ensuring that the drop height of the holster <NUM> is not inadvertently changed.

When the holster assembly <NUM> is in this way placed in any one of the three locking positions <NUM>, the radial teeth <NUM> on the holster mount <NUM> continue to engage the radial teeth <NUM> on the slider <NUM>. This engagement blocks rotation of the holster mount <NUM> relative to the slider <NUM>. Because the slider <NUM> cannot rotate on the belt support <NUM>, this engagement also blocks rotation of the holster mount <NUM> relative to the belt support <NUM>. As a result, the cant position of the holster <NUM> is fixed, keeping the holster in a position for the user to quickly draw the weapon.

When the user wants to change the cant position of the holster <NUM>, for example to sit down, the holster mount <NUM> needs to be rotated relative to the belt support <NUM> and the slider <NUM>; consequently, the radial teeth <NUM> on the holster mount must be disengaged from the radial teeth <NUM> on the slider. To enable this disengagement to happen, the holster mount <NUM> and the slider <NUM> must be moved apart (separated) from each other in a direction along the transverse axis <NUM>. This axial separation movement cannot occur when the holster assembly <NUM> is in or near any of the three locking positions <NUM>, because the screw <NUM> and the nut <NUM> cooperate to hold the holster mount <NUM> in tight against the slider <NUM>.

In order to enable this axial separation movement to occur, the slider <NUM> is moved upward to the release section 30c of the track <NUM>. Specifically, the user unlocks the lock bar <NUM>, and pulls the holster <NUM>, holster mount <NUM>, slider <NUM>, and screw assembly <NUM> upward from the locking section 30a of the track <NUM>, past the ramp section 30b of the track, and into the release section 30c of the track. This movement is seen in a comparison of <FIG>.

The upward movement of the parts stops when the washer <NUM> engages the top of the central slot <NUM>. Specifically, when the parts move up far enough, the two bump stops <NUM> on the rails <NUM> move into the two slots <NUM> on the washer <NUM> and limit (stop) the upward movement of the washer at that point. Thus, the shank <NUM> of the assembly screw <NUM> stays in the narrow lower section <NUM> of the central slot <NUM>.

As the parts move upward in this manner, the washer <NUM> is sliding along the inner side surface <NUM> of the rails <NUM>. The slider <NUM> is sliding along the outer surface <NUM> of the rails <NUM>. The screw/nut combination <NUM>/<NUM> is a fixed length; but when the washer <NUM> is moved up past the ramp section 30b to the release section 30c, the rails <NUM> (between the screw head and the washer) are thinner, so there is some open space generated along the length of the screw shank <NUM>, between the washer <NUM> and the nut <NUM>.

This open space allows for expansion of the compression spring <NUM>, which all along is acting between the slider <NUM> and the holster mount <NUM> to attempt to push them apart transversely. The expanding spring <NUM> pushes the holster mount <NUM> outward (to the right as viewed in <FIG>). The extra space and movement that is provided, by virtue of the thinner rails <NUM> in the release section 30c, is enough to allow the radial teeth <NUM> of the holster mount <NUM> to disengage from the radial teeth <NUM> of the slider <NUM>. The holster mount <NUM> is then free to rotate relative to the slider <NUM>. The user can change the cant position of the holster mount <NUM> (and the holster <NUM>) to a more comfortable position for sitting.

When the user thereafter wants to return the holster assembly <NUM> to the original (standing) position, the user rotates the holster <NUM> and the holster mount <NUM> back to the original position, and then pushes the entire assembly down on the belt support <NUM>. As this downward movement occurs, the parts move past the ramp section 30b of the track <NUM> onto the locking section 30a of the track. The extra space between the washer <NUM> and the nut <NUM> is taken up by the increased wall thickness of the rails <NUM>. The holster mount <NUM> moves back toward the slider <NUM>, compressing the spring <NUM>. The radial teeth <NUM> of the holster mount <NUM> engage again with the radial teeth <NUM> of the slider <NUM>, blocking relative rotational movement between those two parts. The parts can be placed in any one of the available (in this case three) locking positions <NUM> and can be locked there by restoring the lock bar <NUM> to the closed position.

A holster assembly of the present invention can be configured to be supported on a user at a location other than the user's belt. For example, a holster assembly of the present invention can be configured to be supported on, for example, a user's vest or jacket.

To this end, the parts of the holster assembly <NUM> of <FIG>, other than the belt support <NUM>, are removable from the belt support <NUM>, to be positioned elsewhere. To effect this removal, the user unlocks the lock bar <NUM>, allowing the slider <NUM> and the holster mount <NUM> to be moved upward on the belt support <NUM>. The slider <NUM> is moved up to the release section 30c of the track <NUM>, as described above.

The upward movement of the slider <NUM> would normally stop when the washer <NUM> engages the bump stops <NUM> as described above. With the application of sufficient force, however, the user can move the parts past the bump stops <NUM>, pushing the holster mount <NUM> into slider <NUM> and thus compressing the spring <NUM>, allowing sufficient room for the washer/screw assembly to travel over the bump stops <NUM>. The washer <NUM> and screw head <NUM> then move into the enlarged upper section <NUM> of the central slot <NUM>. At that point, the washer <NUM> and screw head <NUM> can be moved past the belt support <NUM>, in a direction toward the slider <NUM> (to the left as viewed in <FIG>), and thus be disconnected from the belt support.

Claim 1:
A holster support assembly (<NUM>) for use by a user wearing a belt (<NUM>), the assembly (<NUM>) being adjustable for both drop and cant, the assembly (<NUM>) comprising:
a belt support (<NUM>) that is configured to engage and be supported by a user's belt (<NUM>), the belt support (<NUM>) having a track (<NUM>), the track (<NUM>) including walls having a varying wall thickness and portions defining a plurality of detents, said detents defining a plurality of drop positions spaced apart along the track (<NUM>) to enable the user to set the drop position of the holster;
a slider (<NUM>) supported on the belt support (<NUM>) for sliding movement along the track (<NUM>) between the plurality of drop positions;
a holster mount (<NUM>) supported on the slider and movable along the track (<NUM>) with the slider (<NUM>) between the plurality of drop positions, the holster mount (<NUM>) configured for supporting a holster; and
a fixed length securing assembly (<NUM>) that slides along the track and holds the holster mount (<NUM>) to the belt support (<NUM>);
the holster mount (<NUM>) being selectively engageable with and disengageable from the slider (<NUM>), the holster mount (<NUM>) being rotatable relative to the slider (<NUM>) about an axis when disengaged from the slider (<NUM>) to enable the user to set the cant position of the holster relative to the belt support (<NUM>);
wherein the track (<NUM>) has a lower section (30a), including the drop positions, and the holster mount (<NUM>) cannot be disengaged from the slider (<NUM>) when the slider (<NUM>) is on the lower section of the track (<NUM>);
wherein the track (<NUM>) has an upper section (30c) where the track walls are thinner than the track walls of the lower section (30a) and does not include the drop positions, at which the holster mount (<NUM>) is disengageable from and movable away from the slider (<NUM>) to enable rotation of the holster mount (<NUM>) relative to the slider (<NUM>) so as to enable the user to adjust the cant position of the holster relative to the belt support (<NUM>).