Quick detach belt loop

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11638476-B2
Application number	US-202117501176-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 14, 2021
Priority date	Dec 14, 2018
Publication date	May 2, 2023
Grant date	May 2, 2023

Abstract

In embodiments, a belt clamp includes an inboard plate and an outboard plate that are pivotally coupled at their upper ends. The belt clamp may also include a spring biased locking mechanism that selectively and releasably connects the lower end of the inboard plate to the lower end of the outboard plate by way of locking posts in the inboard plate that are displaced upwardly from the lower edge of said plate. The outboard locking plate may have latch members that are entirely contained (except for opposing actuation buttons) within a compartment formed by two portions of the outboard plate connected by a living hinge. The opposing actuation buttons require a motion in a first direction, such as upwardly, to allow motion in a second direction, such as inwardly, to rotate the latching members inwardly to release the locking posts.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A belt clamp for securing a holster or accessories to a user's belt, the clamp comprising:
an inboard plate and an outboard plate that are pivotally coupled at respective first ends at respective hinge portions;
a spring biased locking mechanism configured to selectively and releasably connect a second end of the inboard plate to a second end of the outboard plate,
a belt width adjustment bar, wherein one of the inboard plate and outboard plate comprises a plurality of slots for receiving the belt width adjustment bar,
wherein the belt width adjustment bar further comprises at least two spaced apart slot engaging members configured to be received in the plurality of slots,
wherein the spring biased locking mechanism comprises at least two latching members positionable between a latched position and an unlatched position,
wherein the at least two latching members comprise finger buttons facing in opposite directions to one another, and the at least two latching members are configured to be slidably spring biased away from one another to the latched position;
wherein the inboard plate has two locking posts unitary with the inboard plate;
wherein the two locking posts are displaced from a lower margin of the inboard plate opposite the hinge portion of the inboard plate.

2. The belt clamp of claim 1 , wherein the compartment is defined by a containment portion of the outboard plate comprising unitary features therein configured for constraining movement of the one or more latching members between the latched position and the unlatched position, and
wherein each of the at least two latching members is configured to be slidably moved between the latched position and the unlatched position;
wherein the inboard plate has two locking posts unitary with the inboard plate;
wherein the two locking posts are displaced from a lower margin of the inboard plate opposite the hinge portion of the inboard plate.

3. The belt clamp of claim 2 ,
further comprising a coil spring urging each of the at least two latching members to the latching position, and
wherein the compartment is configured to substantially contain the at least two latch members and the coil spring.

4. The belt clamp of claim 1 , wherein each of the at least two locking posts has a respective ramp at a distal end of each respective locking posts.

5. The belt clamp of claim 1 , wherein each of the respective hinge portions comprises at least one knuckle.

6. The belt clamp of claim 1 , further comprising at least one marking display disposed on at least one of the inboard plate and the outboard plate, wherein the marking display comprises at least one marking matrix comprising recessed lines arranged in a seven-segment display configuration.

7. A belt clamp for securing a holster or accessories to a user's belt, the belt clamp comprising:
an inboard plate and an outboard plate each comprising a respective hinge portion at a respective first end, the inboard plate and the outboard plate pivotally coupled at the respective first ends at the respective hinge portions;
a spring biased locking mechanism configured to selectively and releasably connect a second end of the inboard plate to a second end of the outboard plate;
wherein the spring biased locking mechanism comprises two locking posts on the inboard plate, and two opposed latching members on the outboard plate, each latching member is configured to latchingly engage a locking post;
wherein the opposed latching members comprise finger buttons facing in opposite directions to one another, and the two opposed latching members are configured to be slidably spring biased away from one another to the latched position.

8. The belt clamp of claim 7 , wherein each of the respective hinge portions comprises a plurality of knuckles, wherein at least one of the knuckles comprises a detent portion that provides a favored and an unfavored region in a range of motion of the inboard plate and outboard plate, wherein the detent portion comprises a nub extending in a direction parallel to a hinge axis of the respective hinge portions.

9. The belt clamp of claim 7 , wherein the outboard plate has a lower mechanism compartment defined by a containment portion of the outboard plate,
wherein the outboard plate has an extension portion connected by a living hinge to a lower margin of the outboard plate opposite the hinge portion of the outboard plate, the extension portion conformingly sized to the compartment, and wherein the extension portion is configured to be foldable over into the compartment for closing the compartment with at least one latching member in the compartment.

10. The belt clamp of claim 9 , wherein the containment portion and the extension portion have unitary features therein configured for constraining movement of the opposed latching members between the latched position and the unlatched position, wherein each latching member is further configured to be both rotatably and slidably moved between a latched position and an unlatched position.

11. The belt clamp of claim 7 , wherein each locking post is unitary with the inboard plate and projecting in an outboard direction; and
wherein each locking post is displaced from a lower margin of the inboard plate opposite the hinge portion of the inboard plate and wherein each locking post has a respective ramp at a distal end thereof.

12. The belt clamp of claim 7 , further comprising at least one marking display disposed on at least one of the inboard plate and the outboard plate, wherein the marking display comprises at least one marking matrix comprising recessed lines arranged in a seven-segment display configuration.

13. A belt clamp for securing a holster or accessories to a user's belt, the belt clamp comprising:
an inboard plate and an outboard plate each comprising a respective hinge portion at a respective first end, the inboard plate and the outboard plate pivotally coupled at the respective first ends at the respective hinge portions;
a locking mechanism that selectively and releasably connects a second end of the inboard plate to a second end of the outboard plate;
wherein one of the inboard plate and outboard plate comprises at least one ramped rib, wherein each ramped rib incorporates a portion of the locking mechanism and is configured to guide the user's belt during installation of the belt clamp onto the belt.

14. The belt clamp of claim 13 , further comprising a belt width adjustment bar; wherein one of the inboard plate and outboard plate have comprises a plurality of openings for receiving a belt width adjustment bar;
wherein the belt width adjustment bar further comprises a pair of prongs spaced apart to be received in each of the plurality of openings by deflecting inwardly, and a central tongue member positioned between the pair of prongs, the tongue member limiting inward deflection of each of the pair of prongs,
wherein the openings are slots disposed on the inboard plate; and
wherein each slot has a pair of web portions at ends of the slot, each of the pair of web portions displaced from an outer surface of the respective plate.

15. The belt clamp of claim 13 , wherein the outboard plate has a lower mechanism compartment defined by a containment portion of the outboard plate,
wherein the outboard plate has an extension portion connected by a living hinge to a lower margin of the outboard plate opposite the hinge portion of the outboard plate, the extension portion conformingly sized to the compartment, and
wherein the extension portion is configured to be foldable over into the compartment for closi

Assignees

• Vista Outdoor Operations Llc

Inventors

• Michael Christopher J
• Sereday Daniel

Classifications

• A45F5/021 Primary

  to the belt · CPC title

• F41C33/041 Primary

  for connecting a holster to a belt, webbing or other object · CPC title