Methods and apparatus for a low-profile coupler

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11564481-B2
Application number	US-202017013240-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 4, 2020
Priority date	Apr 28, 2015
Publication date	Jan 31, 2023
Grant date	Jan 31, 2023

Abstract

A coupler for removeable coupling an object to a support. The coupler includes a cover, a ring, and a base. The cover couples to the support. The ring includes a first arm, a second arm, a third arm, a fourth arm, a first stop, and a second stop. Each arm of the ring is formed of a resilient material. The ring is positioned in a cavity of the cover. The base couples to the accessory. The base cooperates with the cover and the ring to couple to the cover and to rotate from a decoupled position to an intermediate position and further to a clocked position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for coupling a provided base to a provided support worn by a person, the system comprising:
a cover comprising a wall and a cavity, the wall having an opening therethrough, the cover configured for coupling to the provided support; and
a ring comprising an opening therethrough, a first pair of arms formed of a first resilient material, and a pair of stops, wherein:
the ring is positioned in the cavity of the cover;
a shape of the ring corresponds to a shape of the cavity to prevent rotation of the ring relative to the cavity;
the opening of the cover and the opening of the ring are shaped to receive a portion of the provided base;
the first pair of arms are configured to deflect from a center of the ring in response to a first force being applied to the first pair of the arms; and
the pair of stops are configured to limit a range of rotation of the ring relative to the provided base.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the cover comprises one or more bores configured to receive a screw to couple the cover to the provided support.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the cover is configured to couple the ring to the provided support.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein a depth of the cavity of the cover is greater than or equal to a thickness of the ring.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein an end portion of each arm of the first pair of arms comprises a bulbous shape.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the pair of stops comprises a first stop and a second stop, and wherein the first stop opposes the second stop.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the first pair of arms comprises a first arm that opposes a second arm.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the ring further comprises a second pair of arms.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the second pair of arms are formed of a second resilient material, and wherein the second resilient material is the same as the first resilient material.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the second pair of arms are configured to deflect away from the center of the ring in response to a second force applied to the second pair of arms.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein each arm of the first pair of arms is adjacent a respective arm of the second pair of arms.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein:
each arm of the first pair of arms comprises a first end portion including a first ramp;
each arm of the second pair of arms comprises a second end portion including a second ramp; and
a length of the first ramp is less than a length of the second ramp.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first force comprises
a first rotational engagement with the provided base.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein an end portion of each arm of the first pair of arms comprises a bulbous shape.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the first pair of arms comprises a first arm that opposes a second arm.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the ring further comprises a third arm and a fourth arm formed of the first resilient material.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein a first stop of the pair of stops is between the first arm and the fourth arm and wherein a second stop of the pair of stops is between the second arm and the third arm.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the first stop opposes the second stop.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein:
the third arm and the fourth arm are configured to deflect away from the center of the ring upon a second rotational engagement with the provided base; and
the second rotational engagement is different from the first rotational engagement.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein the first arm is adjacent the third arm, and wherein the second arm is adjacent the fourth arm.

Assignees

• Axon Entpr Inc

Inventors

• Hanchett Mark A
• Wilson John W
• Patulski Nathan A
• Soper William J

Classifications

• A45F2200/0516

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• A45F2005/025

  with a holder or item rotatably connected to the fastening device, e.g. having a rotation axis perpendicular to the garment · CPC title

• A45F2200/0508

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• A45F2005/026

  with a pin having an enlarged head detachably connected to a fastening device, e.g. to a pin receiving slot · CPC title

• A45F5/02 Primary

  Fastening articles to the garment · CPC title