AU2013203057B2 - Holster - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract A holster adapted to be hung from a waist of a user, the holster comprising an elongate enclosure with an open 5 mouth, the enclosure being shaped to accommodate an elongate caulking gun inserted via the open mouth, and a locking clip pivotally secured to the enclosure adjacent the mouth of the enclosure to be displaceable to prevent escape of the gun from the enclosure. 4233867_1 (GHMaters) P90036.AU.2 Al

Description

- 1 HOLSTER Introduction This invention relates to a holster and in particular 5 a holster for a caulking gun. Background of the Invention Caulking guns are frequently used by tradesman and do it yourself practitioners. Caulking guns are quite 10 cumbersome and are prone to be messy. Thus, the transportation and storage of caulking guns is an issue. It is this issue that has brought about the present invention. 15 Summary of the Invention The invention provides a holster adapted to be hung from a waist of a user, the holster comprising: an elongate enclosure with an open mouth, the enclosure being shaped to accommodate an elongate caulking gun with a 20 projecting nozzle inserted via the open mouth, the enclosure having a directing means and an upstanding pin located in a base, wherein the directing means extends to taper inwardly of the enclosure to define an aperture above the pin, whereby, in use, when the caulking gun is 25 inserted into the holster the directing means directs the nozzle through the aperture and towards the projecting pin so that the nozzle of the gun sits on the projecting pin, and a locking clip pivotally secured to the enclosure adjacent the mouth of the enclosure to be displaceable to 30 prevent escape of the gun from the enclosure. According to one aspect described herein there is provided a holster adapted to be hung from a waist of the user, the holster comprising an open mouthed elongate enclosure, the enclosure being shaped to accommodate an 35 elongate caulking gun, and a locking clip pivotally secured to the enclosure adjacent the mouth of the enclosure to be displaceable to prevent escape of the gun 7342215_1 (GHMatters) P90036.AU.2 -2 from the enclosure. The enclosure is preferably moulded in substantially rigid plastics to define an open cylinder. The enclosure 5 is preferably hung by a hook from the belt of the user. The enclosure preferably incorporates a cut out adjacent the mouth of the enclosure to locate the trigger of the caulking gun. In a preferred embodiment the end of the enclosure is closed by a removable cap to prevent seepage 10 from the caulking gun escaping from the enclosure. The cap is preferably screw threaded to the end of the enclosure. In a preferred embodiment, the exterior of the enclosure includes means to support one or more nozzles of the caulking gun. 15 Description of the Drawings Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to: 20 Figure 1 which is a side elevational view of a holster for a caulking gun in accordance with a first embodiment, Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the holster, Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the holster 25 illustrating insulation of a caulking gun, Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the holster supporting a caulking gun, Figure 5 is a side elevational view of a holster in accordance with a second embodiment, 30 Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the holster illustrating the interior of the base of the holster, Figure 7 is a cross sectional view of the base of the holster, Figure 8 is a side elevational view of the holster 35 illustrating opposed hanging ears, and Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the holster supporting a caulking gun. 7342215_1 (GHMatters) P90036.AU.2 - 3 Description of the Embodiments As shown in Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying 5 drawings, in a first embodiment a holster 10 for a caulking gun C comprises an elongate cylindrical enclosure 11 moulded in plastics. The enclosure has an open mouth 12 at one end and is closed at the other end by a screw threaded end cap 14. In one embodiment the cylinder is 10 400mm in length with a diameter of 80mm. The open mouth 12 of the enclosure has an elongate substantially v-shaped cut out 13 on one side that in use accommodates the trigger grip T of the caulking gun C shown in Figure 4. A spring loaded clip 20 or carabiner is secured to the 15 exterior of the top of the enclosure 11 via a loop 21 that is secured to the enclosure to allow the holster 10 to be suspended from a belt or belt loop of the trousers of a wearer (not shown). 20 A wire frame 30 having arms 31 and 32 and a cross member 33 is positioned to extend across the mouth of the enclosure. The arms 31, 32 clip into apertures 34 in the side of the enclosure. 25 The frame 30 can pivot from an inoperative position shown in Figure 2 where the cross member 33 of the frame is adjacent the wall of the enclosure 11 to an operative position (Figure 4) where the cross member 33 extends across the top of the open mouth 12 thus preventing escape 30 of the caulking gun C from the enclosure 11. The exterior of the enclosure 11 also includes a pair of threaded lugs 25, 26 which are adapted to support in threaded engagement spare caulking nozzles N, as shown in 35 Figure 1. It is a simple exercise to lower the caulking gun C 7342215_1 (GHMatters) P90036.AU.2 - 4 into the enclosure 11 through the open mouth 12 with the trigger T resting on the cut out 13. The pivoting locking clip 30 holds the gun C in position. Should the gun leak into the base of the enclosure 11 the screw threaded end 5 14 can be removed to facilitate removal of excess caulking material. The spring loaded clip 20 or carabiner allows the holster 10 to be simply attached either to the belt or belt buckle of the user. 10 In a second embodiment shown in Figures 5 to 9 a caulking holster 100 has a modified base 114 that includes a portion of increased cross section 115 at the base to provide a broad foot that allows the holster to be free standing. The base 114 also includes a pair of spaced 15 apertures 116, 117 that provide access to the interior of the holster. An upstanding stainless steel pin 140 is secured within the base to extend upwardly within the holster 100 20 along the centreline of the holster. A plastics moulded funnel 150 is located within the interior of the holster above the pin 140 and the funnel 150 includes a frustoconical wall 151 that tapers inwardly to define an aperture 152 adjacent the tip of the pin 140. The funnel 25 150 directs the nozzle N of the caulking gun C (Figure 9) down through the aperture 152 at the end of the funnel 150 so that the nozzle locates over the stainless steel pin 140 with the pin providing an airtight seal that prevents the caulking product from drying out and setting. Thus 30 when the caulking gun is placed in the holster the funnel 150 causes the nozzle of the caulking gun to be directed over the pin 140 to ensure positive location on the pin. Although not shown in Figures 5 to 9, the base 114 could be a screw threaded attachment that can be removed to 35 facilitate cleaning of the pin 140 and its surrounds. Another feature of this embodiment is a use of a 7342215_1 (GHMatters) P90036.AU.2 - 5 plastics clip 133 instead of the wire clip 33 of the first embodiment. The plastics clip 133 has two arms 131, 132 pivotally secured about pins 134 on the side of the body. The arms 131, 132 are joined by a transverse flange 135 5 with a U-shaped cut out 136. The clip 133 can be pivoted from the closed position shown in Figure 5 in which the flange 135 impedes outward movement of the caulking gun (not shown) to the open position in Figure 6 which allows the caulking gun (not shown) to be removed from the 10 holster 100. The top of the body of the holster is provided with two diametrically opposed integrally formed ears 121, 122 with apertures 125 to locate a spring loaded clip or 15 carabiner. This allows the caulking gun to be attached to the belt of a user from either the right or left-hand side. Another feature not shown in the drawings is the provision of a tether adjacent the base 114 of the holster 20 100 which can be used to secure the base of the holster to the leg of the user. It is understood that the holster is moulded in durable impact resistant plastics. In the claims which follow and in the preceding 25 description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but 30 not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention. 7342215_1 (GHMatters) P90036.AU.2

Claims (13)

1. A holster adapted to be hung from a waist of a user, the holster comprising: 5 an elongate enclosure with an open mouth, the enclosure being shaped to accommodate an elongate caulking gun with a projecting nozzle inserted via the open mouth, the enclosure having a directing means and an upstanding pin located in a base, wherein the directing means extends 10 to taper inwardly of the enclosure to define an aperture above the pin, whereby, in use, when the caulking gun is inserted into the holster the directing means directs the nozzle through the aperture and towards the projecting pin so that the nozzle of the gun sits on the projecting pin, 15 and a locking clip pivotally secured to the enclosure adjacent the mouth of the enclosure to be displaceable to prevent escape of the gun from the enclosure. 20

2. The holster according to claim 1, wherein the directing means is a funnel.

3. The holster according to claim 2, wherein the funnel comprises a frustoconical wall. 25

4. The holster according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base provides a foot that allows the holster to be free standing. 30

5. The holster according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elongate enclosure tapers towards the base.

6. The holster of any one of the preceding claims, 35 wherein the elongate enclosure further comprises two diametrically opposed integrally formed ears, each ear having an aperture. 7342215_1 (GHMatters) P90036.AU.2 - 7

7. The holster according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the enclosure incorporates a cut out adjacent the mouth of the enclosure to locate the trigger 5 of the caulking gun.

8. The caulking gun according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the enclosure is moulded in a substantially rigid plastics to define an open cylinder. 10

9. The holster according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the enclosure is hung by a hook from the belt of the user. 15

10. The holster according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the end of the enclosure is enclosed by a removable cap to prevent seepage from the caulking gun escaping from the enclosure. 20

11. The holster according to claim 10, wherein the cap is screw threaded to the end of the enclosure.

12. The holster according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the exterior of the enclosure includes 25 means to support one or more nozzles of the caulking gun.

13. A holster substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 7342215_1 (GHMatters) P90036.AU.2