GB2283404A

GB2283404A - Holding means

Info

Publication number: GB2283404A
Application number: GB9420917A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Alan Littlewood; Anthony George Walters
Original assignee: PRICE WESTERN LEATHER CO Ltd
Current assignee: PRICE WESTERN LEATHER CO Ltd
Priority date: 1993-11-05
Filing date: 1994-10-17
Publication date: 1995-05-10
Also published as: GB9420917D0

Abstract

A holding means for holding a pair of handcuffs or a side handled baton comprises a two part assembly, one part (11) comprising an attachment device for securing to the user, and one part (12) comprising the holding part. The two parts are connected by a connecting member (20) enabling relative rotational movement between them thus providing for personal preference and comfort of the user depending on whether for example the user is standing or spending a long time seated. Means are provided by the holding means to hold the two parts together in one of a plurality of different relative positions (25), (26) (27). The means comprise releasable fastenings, preferably of a press-stud type. Preferably the holding part comprises an open loop assembly, being such as to enable rapid removal of the held article by the user, but including a securing device, such that accidental removal of the article is impeded. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: "An Improved Holding Means" Description of Invention The present invention relates to holding means, primarily but not exclusively holding means for holding an article relative to a person and may include attachment means whereby it may be attached to a belt or some other article of clothing worn by the person.

The holding means is primarily but not exclusively for holding a pair of handcuffs or a baton or some other article.

There are two types of handcuffs in fairly common use - one in which a pair of bracelets are attached by a chain or other flexible member and another type in which the bracelets are attached by a solid member and hence present an elongate rigid structure. A baton also presents an elongate rigid structure hence both present problems in that they present substantially rigid elongate articles.

The orientation of the handcuffs or baton held by the holding means relative to the user may depend upon the preference of the user and also depends on whether the user is standing or possibly spending a long time seated, as may be the case in a car for example.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means which enable the position of the article relative to the user to be altered.

According to the present invention, we provide holding means adapted for holding an article, said holding means comprising a first part having attachment means for attachment to a person or to an article of personal attire worn by the person and a second part adapted for holding an article, wherein said first part and said second part are connected by a connecting member, enabling relative movement between said first and second parts and wherein means are provided to secure said first part and said second part in fixed relative in a plurality of different relative positions.

Preferably, said relative movement is rotational movement.

Conveniently, the means for securing one part relative to the other comprises releasable fastening means, one provided on the first part and at least two complimentary parts provided on the second part to provide a plurality of different fixed positions on said first part and said second part.

Preferably, said attachment means provided on the first part comprises loops through which a belt worn by the user may extend.

Preferably, the releasable fixing means comprises a press-stud type fastening.

Since both a rigid handcuff and a baton present a fairly lengthy article, there is a danger that if they were not securely held by the holding means, they may be accidentally removed from the holding means. If the fastening means is made very secure, then it may be that the article cannot be readily released when required.

Preferably, the second part comprises an open loop comprising first and second loop elements, each of which is provided with one part of a two part releasable fastening, engageable to close said loop, one of said loop elements having secured thereto a securing member, said securing member being provided with one part of a second part releasable fastening, the other part of which is provided on the other of said loop elements.

Preferably, one of said loop elements is provided with an outer end part which extends in a direction away from said other loop element when the first releasable fastening means is in its secured position.

Preferably, said two part releasable fastening comprises a "press-stud" type fastening.

Said first part may be provided with a belt whereby it may be attached directly to the person rather than to an article of personal attire.

Where the holding means is adapted to hold a side handled baton, said second part may comprise a further loop through which the elongate part of the baton extends and said releasable first and second loop element may enclose around the side handle of the baton.

In the case where the holding means is specifically designed to hold a pair of rigid handcuffs, said second part may include a pocket element into which at least a part of said handcuffs is adapted to extend when held by said holding means.

The present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 2 is a sectional view through the holding means shown in an "open" position; FIGURE 3 illustrates the embodiment shown in Figure 2 in one fixed position; FIGURE 4 illustrates the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 in different fixed positions; FIGURE 5 illustrates the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 in a third fixed position.

FIGURE 6 illustrates a second embodiment of holding means, FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention adapted to hold a side handled baton.

FIGURE 8 illustrates the embodiment shown in Figure 7, with the holding means shown in a '1closed" position.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2. The holding means generally indicated at 10 comprises a first part 11 and a second part 12. The first part 11 comprises two pieces of material, for example leather, 13 and 14 which are joined together, for example by stitching shown at 15.

The part 14 is provided with elongate cut-outs 16 and 17 such that a belt shown at 18 may be passed through the cut-outs 16 and 17 so as to secure the first part to the belt 18.

The first part 11 is secured to the second part 12 by means of a rivet-like member 20 and corresponding washer-like members 59 which hold the first part 11 to the second part 12 in a manner that permits relative rotational movement of the first part 11 and the second part 12 about the axis of the rivet-like member 20.

In order to prevent undesired relative movement between the first part and the second part so that the orientation of the second part relative to the first part can be fixed in one of a plurality of different positions, the second part is provided with securing means in the form of a tab 23 which is provided with one part 24 of a press-stud type two-part releasable fastening.The other part 25 is secured to the member 13 of the first part and other second parts of the two-part fixing are shown secured at 26 and 27 which gives three alternative fixed positions of the first and second parts, thus the article 19 can be held in a substantially vertical position as shown in Figure 1 or, if the releasable fastening 24 was secured to the other part 27, the article would be in a substantially horizontal position, or if the part 24 was secured to the part 26 a position inclined at approximately 45" to the vertical, these three positions are illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 5.

The second part 12 comprises a first loop element 30 and a second loop element 31, the first loop element 30 comprises one part 32 of a two part releasable fastening, a complementary part 33 being provided on the second loop element 31. When the two parts 31 and 32 are secured together. as shown in Figure 1 for example, the second loop element 31 has an outer end part 34 that extends in a direction away from the first loop element 30. Said outer end part 34 is attached to second loop element 31 by means of a shaped plate-like member 60, of an inflexible material, for example metal. Said plate like member is rigid so as to maintain the orientation of outer end part 34 in a direction extending away from first loop element 30.

Secured to that outer end part 34 by a rivet-like member 36 is a securing strip 37, which may also be made from leather, having an outer end provided with one part 38 of a second two-part releasable fastening. The complementary part 39 of the second two-part releasable fastening is secured to the first loop element 30.

The securing means in the form of the securing strip 37 makes accidental release of the holding means almost impossible since the two-part releasable fastening 32 and 33 cannot be released until the second two part releasable fastening 38 and 39 is released.

Whilst the securing strip 37 prevents accidental release of the holding means, it is still very simple and fast for the person wearing the holding means to intentionally release the handcuffs 19 from the holding means. In order to intentionally release the handcuffs 19 the releasable fastening 38 and 39 on the securing means is first released by, for example, engaging a finger under the end part of strip 37 and pulling the press-stud like fastening 38 and 39 apart, the twopart releasable fastening 32 and 33 may then very simply be released by contact, by the heel of the thumb for example, on upstanding end part 34 provided on the second loop part 31.

Once the securing means and releasable fastening 38 and 39 is released, a reasonably sharp contact on the upstanding part 34 will cause the releasable fastening 32 and 33 to be quickly released thus enabling the user to remove the article 19 from the holding means in a rapid manner.

It will be appreciated that the security provided by the holding means in the form of the securing strip 37 with its own second two-part releasable fastening may be provided on alternative embodiments of holding means that do not need to include the alternative position fastening between the first part and the second part.

Referring now to Figure 6. The holding means may be modified to include a further securing means generally indicated at 40, wherein second part 12 is altered in that tab 23 of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 is enlarged so as to form the further securing means 40, said enlarged tab henceforth being referred to as tab 41.

Tab 41 is provided with one part 24 of a press-stud type two part releasable fastening, as aforedescribed.

Further securing means 40 comprises tab 41, formed from a material, for example leather, and a substantially semi-circular segment 42 formed from a similar material, both of which are partially joined together, for example by stitching shown at 15, leaving an aperture 43.

The depth of further securing means 40 and the aperture of said securing means should be sufficient to accommodate a further portion of the held article, for example a bracelet 44 of the handcuffs 19.

Referring now to Figure 7 and 8, another embodiment is shown suitable for holding a side handled baton.

A side handled baton shown and indicated at 50 is shown in dotted outline and comprises an upper handle part 51, a lower part 52 and a side handle part 53. The holding means comprises a first part 54 and a second part shown and indicated at 55.

The second part 55 is mounted for at least limited rotational movement relative to the first part 54 and can be secured in three different positions in a manner similar to that already described.

The second part of the holding means comprises a first closed loop 56 through which the elongate part of the baton can extend and a second loop 57 which can be closed, as shown in Figure 8, open as shown in Figure 7 so as to release the baton 50. The second loop 57 which closes around the side handle 53 has a double securement means generally indicated at 58 which is the same as that described in respect of the other two embodiments of holding means.

The securement means 58 ensures that the baton cannot be accidentally knocked out of its holding means, but the user of the baton is still able to rapidly release the securement means 58 and hence draw the baton out of the holding means.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in the terms or means for performing the desired function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. Holding means adapted for holding an article, said holding means comprising a first part having attachment means for attachment to a person or to an article of personal attire worn by the person and a second part adapted for holding an article, wherein said first part and said second part are connected by a connecting member, enabling relative movement between said first and second parts and wherein means are provided to secure said first part and said second part in fixed relative in a plurality of different relative positions.

2. Holding means according to Claim 1, wherein said relative movement is rotational movement.

3. Holding means according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, further comprising means for securing said first and second parts in a selected one of a plurality of angular positions relative to each other.

4. Holding means according to Claim 3, wherein said means for securing said first and second parts comprises releasable fastening means one provided on said second part and at least two complementary parts provided on said first part to provide said plurality of different fixed positions.

5. Holding means as claimed in Claim 4 wherein said releasable fastening means comprise press-stud type fasteners.

6. Holding means as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein said second part comprises an open loop comprising first and second loop elements, each of which is provided with one part of a two part releasable fastening, engageable to close said loop, one of said elements having secured thereto a securing member, said securing member being provided with one part of a second two part fastening, the other part which is provided on the other of said loop elements.

7. Holding means according to Claim 6, wherein one of said loop elements is provided with an outer end part which extends in a direction away from said other loop element when the first releasable fastening means is in its secured position.

8. Holding means according to Claim 6 or Claim 7 wherein said releasable fastening means are of a "press-stud" type.

9. Holding means according to any of the preceding claims wherein said attachment means provided on the first part for attachment to an item of personal attire comprises loops through which a belt may extend.

10. Holding means according to any of the preceding claims comprising the addition of a further part adapted to provide further securing means for said article.

11. Holding means according to Claim 10 wherein said further part comprises a pouch having an opening.

12. Holding means according to Claim 11 wherein the opening of said pouch extends in a direction substantially parallel with said open loop comprising said first and second loop elements.

13. Holding means according to Claims 11 or Claim 12, wherein said pouch accommodates a part of said handcuffs bracelets.

14. Holding means according to any of Claims 6 to 10, comprising a closed third loop on said second part substantially perpendicular to said first and second loops.

15. Holding means according to any of Claim 14, wherein said third loop accommodates a portion of a side handled baton.

16. Holding means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

17. Holding means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.

18. Holding means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.

19. Holding means including any novel feature or novel combination of features as disclosed herein and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.