US20080078796A1

US20080078796A1 - Tactical Mirror Case

Info

Publication number: US20080078796A1
Application number: US11/538,143
Authority: US
Inventors: Kevin L. Parsons
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Armament Systems and Procedures Inc
Priority date: 2006-10-03
Filing date: 2006-10-03
Publication date: 2008-04-03

Abstract

A case for housing and protecting a tactical mirror having an attachment clip so that the mirror can be removably attached to a user's belt or other type of strap using the mirror's attachment clip. The case is closely contoured to the shape of the enclosed mirror and is preferably comprised of a lightweight design having a resilient outer material to withstand harsh treatment and a soft inner material to prevent the mirror from being scratched. The back of the case has an opening permitting the attachment clip of the mirror to extend through the case so that the mirror can be fastened to the user's belt. The opening on the back side and the closely contoured shape of the case enable the case to securely hold the mirror without having to employ snaps or other fastening devices.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a device for housing a mirror, and is specifically directed to a lightweight tactical case for protecting a mirror having an attachment clip for affixing the mirror to a belt or other type of strap. The case is closely contoured to the shape of the enclosed mirror and has an opening which allows the attachment clip of the mirror to extend through the case so that it can be fastened to a user's belt. The opening and the closely contoured shape of the case enable the case to securely hold the mirror without having to employ snaps or other fastening devices. The present invention enables the user to safely transport the enclosed mirror while facilitating its quick removal, from a convenient location, for utilization in police or security work.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In many tactical, investigative or security operations, police officers need to look around corners, over ledges, and generally in areas which are inaccessible due to physical or safety considerations. For example, frequently in a combat situation, an officer may be required to look around the corner of a building in order to check for the presence of an armed perpetrator or to determine whether it is safe to move in a particular direction. Additionally, police and security officers are often required to search areas of a vehicle or premise for objects such as weapons, explosives or contraband. Such areas include attics, cabinet tops, overhanging ledges, heating and air ducts and the undersides of furniture, automobiles and the like.
In carrying out these searches, police and security officers will often times use a mirror such as the one disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,386,322, which can be fastened to the end of the officer's baton in order to view the inaccessible area. Since an officer's need to use a mirror in certain combat or investigative situations can sometimes arise unexpectedly, it is advantageous for the officer to be able to fasten the mirror to their belt in order to enable the officer to carry the mirror with them as part of their tactical gear. It is generally known that some such mirrors utilize an attachment clip which the officer can unfasten from their belt and then refasten to the end of their baton or other gear in order to utilize the mirror in conducting their tactical or investigative duties.
Due to the fact that mirrors are typically comprised of glass and/or other reflective material that are fragile and can be easily damaged, it is almost a necessity to have a case to house such mirrors, particularly for personnel working in the field. It would however, be extremely beneficial to have a case that could not only house and protect the mirror but be light weight and provide a means to attach the mirror and case to the user's belt. Since the duties of a police or security officer can often be physically demanding, it is important that such a case have a compact design and be made of a rugged lightweight material so as not to be unduly cumbersome or an interference to the officer while in the line of duty. In addition, user's of such mirrors are often in combat or security situations that are conducted under urgent circumstances that require that the user be able to access and employ the mirror immediately. It is therefore important that the mirror case be contoured to secure the mirror without the need for snaps or other fasteners which would take time to unfasten and could distract the user from more immediate and dangerous tasks.
Accordingly, there is a need for a lightweight mirror case that can house and protect a mirror and that can be quickly and easily fastened to a police or security officer's belt. The mirror must be readily accessible and easily and quickly placed into use.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a mirror case for housing a tactical mirror is provided. The mirror used in the present invention is of the type having an attachment clip by which the mirror can be attached to an elongated member, such as an extended baton or pole, so that a tactical advantage can be had in the use of the mirror. For example, such a mirror can be attached to an elongated police baton, such as the Tactical Batons made by Armament Systems and Procedures, Inc. of Appleton, Wis.
The present invention is directed to a case for a tactical mirror. The case is closely contoured to the size and shape of a mirror for use in security situations. Such a mirror typically has an attachment clip, on the side obverse to the reflective side, so as to allow it to be fastened to a belt, strap or other tactical gear commonly used by police or security officers in the field, such as those conducting combat, investigative or security operations.
In the mirror case of the present invention, the case includes a front and a rear wall section each defining a perimeter and connected together near their respective perimeter edges so as to form a pocket. In one embodiment, the panels are generally rectangular in shape and three of four perimeter edges of each panel are attached together such that the case has a closed bottom and side area and an open top area. The pocket thus formed, provides a housing for a mirror. In another embodiment, the case has a more curvilinear shape and the front and rear panels are attached together in a similar fashion and to a degree that an opening for insertion and removal of a mirror is created.
Further, at least one of the panels, of the mirror case of the present invention, includes an opening, within the perimeter of the panel, through which the attachment clip of the mirror can be accessed from outside of the pocket. The opening within the perimeter of the panel is advantageously located so that the clip of the mirror extends outside of the panel when the mirror is placed therein. The pocket thus formed has a closed bottom area and an open top area and interior and exterior surfaces, the panel adjacent to the mirror clip having an opening located to permit the attachment clip of the mirror to protrude through the case when the mirror is placed within the case such that the clip can be fastened to a belt or other type of strap.
In embodiments of the present invention, the tactical mirror case is contoured to match the size and shape of the mirror. In another embodiment, the exterior surface of the case is comprised of a cross-lock woven ballistic nylon material having a protective trim around its edges. In one embodiment, the interior surface of the mirror case is comprised of a soft non-abrasive material so as to protect the mirror within.
In a preferred embodiment, the tactical mirror case is clam-shaped and/or circular shaped so as to receive and house a circular mirror. The case of the present invention, in one embodiment, comprises a front panel and a rear panel, defining a perimeter, with the panels being assembled together at or near a sufficient portion of the perimeter edges to form a pocket within which the mirror can be placed. In one embodiment, the panels are generally rectangular in shape and three of four perimeter edges of each panel are attached together such that the case has a closed bottom and side area and an open top area. The pocket thus formed, provides a housing for the mirror. Further, one of the panels of the case of the present invention, includes an opening in the side of the panel through which connection means of the mirror can be accessed from outside of the pocket while the mirror is fastened to the officer's belt and is to be closely contoured to the size and shape of the mirror that it is intended to house so that the mirror fits snugly inside the pocket. The snug fit between the mirror and case enables the case to securely hold the mirror without having to use snaps or other types of fasteners.
When a mirror is placed inside the case and the case is worn by the officer, the front wall section of the case is intended to face away from the officer's body, and the rear wall section is intended to face inward towards the belt that the attachment clip of the mirror is fastened to. The rear wall section of the case has an opening that is centrally located to permit the attachment clip of the mirror to protrude through the case when the mirror is placed within the case such that the clip can be fastened to the belt.
In order to withstand the harsh activity and conditions that police and security officers occasionally encounter, the exterior surface of the tactical mirror case is intended to be comprised of a rugged, flexible material such as leather or cross-lock woven ballistic nylon. The exterior surface of the case also features a protective trim around its outside edges and around the edges of the opening located on the rear wall section in order to increase the strength and durability of the case. The interior surface of the case's pocket is comprised of a soft non-abrasive material that is intended to protect the mirror and to prevent the glass or other fragile reflective material form becoming scratched or shattered.
The present invention provides a case for protecting the type of mirror typically carried by a police or security officer. Further, the case permits the user to easily fasten the mirror in a convenient and readily accessible place on the user's belt. The case provides adequate protection to the mirror without the use of snaps, hook and eye closures or other locking means. Advantageously, the holder is contoured to hold the mirror within the holder and is sufficiently small, thin and light weight as to be stored in a pocket, or other containment means when the mirror is removed therefrom and is in use.
The mirror case, further, is lightweight and of a compact design, yet is sufficiently durable to withstand harsh treatment typical of security work.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front of a mirror case of the present invention showing the placement of a mirror therein

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the mirror case of the present invention attached to a belt and having a tactical mirror therein.

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the back of a mirror case and the back of a tactical mirror, of the present invention showing the mirror prior to placement therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings a number of presently preferred embodiments that are discussed in greater detail hereafter. It should be understood that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated. It should be further understood that the title of this section of this application (“Detailed Description of the Drawings”) relates to a requirement of the United States Patent Office, and should not be found to limit the subject matter disclosed herein.
Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a case 10 for housing and protecting a tactical mirror 20. As shown in FIG. 1, the shape of the mirror case 10, in a preferred embodiment is made so as to be shaped, by close contours, to match the shape of the mirror 20. In this way the case 10 can securely hold the mirror 20 without the necessity of snaps or other types of fasteners typically found on prior art mirror cases and other types of equipment cases. The case 10 is comprised of a front wall panel 11 and a rear wall panel 12 which when attached together, as described below, can form a pocket 13 into which a mirror can be housed. Pocket 13 is designed to securely house the mirror 20 when it is placed therein.
In a preferred embodiment, the lining 10 i of the pocket 13 comprises a soft non-abrasive material, such as a combed cotton, microfiber or other soft material as know to persons having ordinary skill in the art, in order to help protect the mirror's glass or other reflective surface 21 from becoming scratched or broken.
As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, in an embodiment of the mirror case of the present invention, the rear wall panel 12 of the case 10 has an opening 14, In this embodiment, the opening 14 is centrally located on the panel 12. It will be understood, by persons having ordinary skill in the art, that the opening 14, as explained below, can be placed in any location on the panel as needed. Opening 14 is designed to permit access to attachment clip 23, mounted or otherwise attached onto the rear surface of mirror 20 through case 10 so that the mirror and case combination can be fastened to a belt or other type of strap 30.
In a preferred embodiment, the exterior surface 10 e of case 10 is finished by providing, in a manner or manners well known to persons having ordinary skill in the art, a protective trim 15 around its outside edges and around the edges 14 e of the opening 14 located on the rear wall section 12. It will be understood that the protective trim 15 can be applied on or near the outside edges 14 e of opening 14 in any manner known to persons having ordinary skill in the art. It will also be understood that similar protective trim 15 can be applied to the edges of the exterior surface 10 e of the case 10, so as to provide a more finished and better sealed case for the protection of a mirror 20.
In the use of the device of the present invention, a user, such as a police officer or a security officer, will place a tactical mirror, such as ones sold by Armament Systems and Procedures, Inc. of Appleton, Wis., within the pocket formed in the case 10 of the present invention. The mirror is placed within the case such that its clip 23 extends out of the panel opening 14. The combination of the mirror and case can then be attached, via clip 23, to the user's belt, thereby holding the mirror, within the case, on the user's belt in a convenient location for use. When the user needs a tactical mirror, such as in situations when the underbody of a vehicle needs inspection, or other periscoptic situations, the user will secure an elongated rod or extend fully a tactical baton and secure the mirror from its case for attachment to the distal end of the baton (or other elongated rod). The mirror case 10 can further be placed in a pocket or other location for storage either alone or while the mirror 20 is housed within.
The present disclosure includes that which is contained in the appended claims, as well as that of the forgoing description. Although, this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example, and that numerous changes in the details of the elements, compositions and the combination of individual ingredients may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A case for housing a tactical mirror having an attachment clip, the case comprising:

a front panel and a rear panel, each defining a perimeter, the front panel and rear panel being attached together near the edges of their respective perimeters to form a pocket having a closed bottom area and an open top area and an interior surface and an exterior surface;

the rear wall panel further having an opening, situated to permit the attachment clip of the mirror to extend through the rear wall panel of the case when the mirror is placed within the case such that the clip can be fastened to a belt or other type of strap.

2. The tactical mirror case of claim 1, wherein the case is sized and shaped to correspond to the size and shape of the mirror for a relatively snug fit.

3. The tactical mirror case of claim 1, wherein the exterior surface of the case is comprised of a cross-lock woven ballistic nylon material having a protective trim around its edges.

4. The tactical mirror case of claim 1, wherein the interior surface of the pocket is comprised of a soft non-abrasive material.

5. The tactical mirror case of claim 2, wherein the case is clam-shaped in order to receive and house a circular mirror.

6. The tactical mirror case of claim 2, wherein the case has a circular shape in order to receive and house a circular shaped mirror.

7. The tactical mirror case of claim 2, wherein the pocket is rectangular shaped in order to receive and house a rectangular-shaped mirror.

8. A case for housing a tactical mirror having an attachment clip, the case comprising:

a front panel and a rear panel, each defining a perimeter, the front panel and rear panel being attached together near the edges of their respective perimeters to form a pocket having a closed bottom area and an open top area and an interior surface and an exterior surface, the pocket sized and shaped to correspond to the size and shape of the mirror such that the case is closely fit around the mirror, the exterior surface of the pocket comprised of a cross-lock woven ballistic nylon material having a protective trim around its edges and the interior surface of the pocket comprised of a soft non-abrasive material.

9. The tactical mirror case of claim 8, wherein the case is clam-shaped in order to receive and house a circular mirror.

10. The tactical mirror case of claim 8, wherein the case has a circular shape in order to receive and house a circular shaped mirror.

11. The tactical mirror case of claim 8, wherein the pocket is rectangular shaped in order to receive and house a rectangular-shaped mirror.