CONCEALED CARRY DEVICE FOR FIREARMS
A device for carrying a handgun in a concealed manner includes a stabilizer key capable of being secured to and/or carried on the handgun. A clip is capable of being secured to apparel of a user. The clip includes a receiver for releasably engaging the stabilizer key, and allowing the stabilizer key to slide into and out of the receiver of the clip for insertion and withdrawal of the handgun.
This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/130,078, filed on Mar. 9, 2015 (pending), the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention is specifically intended for civilians, off duty police, plain clothes police, detectives, and anyone else who wants to carry a concealed subcompact, compact, or, full size hand gun without a holster while enhancing features such as concealability, security, and comfort under the least amount of clothes.
BACKGROUNDFor many years and to this present day there have been many ways and different systems for concealing a handgun for personal protection. Options currently include: holsters outside the waistband under an over coat, under the arm shoulder holsters, inside the waist band holsters, and the list goes on. With many of these systems the object is to not have your gun “print,” or to show through your clothes so no one knows you are carrying a gun. At the present time the number one choice to carry a concealed handgun is in a holster inside the waist band, referred to herein as “IWB”. With IWB holsters comes bulk, discomfort, and the possibility of purchasing additional pants with a larger waist size to accommodate the holster, not to mention adding even more thickness to your gun, which in turn will make it “print” more. As a result, many people will carry a smaller gun. The vast majority of these IWB holsters do not have any means of securing the gun. Others will have some sort of lock or strap, or other device for further securing the weapon. An IWB is not intended for a fast withdrawal from the holster when the gun is needed in a life and death situation. Most of today's IWB holsters have a tension grip on the hand gun to keep it from falling out of the holster, but no means of preventing an unauthorized use of your hand gun. IWB holsters are limited to either one angle for holstering the weapon, or they are very limited as to the adjustability for individual needs, and each IWB holster is specific to a particular hand gun, i.e., they are not universal.
SUMMARYGenerally, the invention provides a device for carrying a handgun in a concealed manner. The device includes a stabilizer key capable of being secured to and/or otherwise carried on the handgun as an integrated or separate unit, and a clip capable of being secured to apparel of a user. The clip includes a receiver for releasably engaging the stabilizer key, and allowing the stabilizer key to slide into and out of the receiver of the clip for insertion and withdrawal of the handgun. The device can include other features and options, such as summarized below.
A lock is provided and is movable between locked and unlocked positions for locking the stabilizer key in the receiver in the locked position and allowing withdrawal of the stabilizer key from the receiver in the unlocked position. A magnet is secured to the clip for providing further securement of the handgun to the clip when the stabilizer key is engaged with the receiver. The stabilizer key further comprises a raised rail element and the receiver further comprises an elongate slot. It will be appreciated that the receiver and stabilizer key may take many other forms instead. The elongate slot or other receiver is contained in an adjustable element that allows an orientation of the elongate slot or receiver to be angularly adjusted to adjust the angular orientation of the handgun when the raised rail element is contained in the elongate slot. The stabilizer key and therefore the handgun are capable of being locked in the adjusted angular orientation. The clip further comprises a U-shaped element capable of being clipped over a waistband and/or belt of a user. The U-shaped element further includes a curved slot. A fastening element couples the receiver to the curved slot allowing the angular orientation of the elongate slot to be adjusted relative to the U-shaped element for adjusting an angular orientation of the handgun as mentioned above.
The invention further provides a method for carrying a handgun in a concealed manner. The method includes securing a clip to apparel of a user, the clip including a receiver for releasably engaging a stabilizer key on a handgun. The stabilizer key is slid into the receiver of the clip to releasably secure the handgun on the apparel of the user. The method can include further features and/or steps as options such as summarized below.
The method further comprises locking the stabilizer key in the receiver with a locking element, and moving the locking element to an unlocked position to allow withdrawal of the stabilizer key from the receiver. The handgun is secured to the clip with a magnet when the stabilizer key is engaged with the receiver. The stabilizer key further comprises a raised rail element and the receiver further comprises an elongate slot, and the method further comprises inserting the raised rail element into the elongate slot. An angular orientation of the elongate slot is changed or adjusted to change the angular orientation of the handgun when the raised rail element is contained in the elongate slot. The receiver is locked in the adjusted angular orientation. The clip further comprises a U-shaped element and the method further comprises clipping the U-shaped element over a waistband and/or belt of a user. The U-shaped element further includes a curved slot, and a fastening element couples the receiver to the curved slot. The method further comprises adjusting an angular orientation of the elongate slot relative to the U-shaped element for adjusting an angular orientation of the handgun.
Various additional advantages and features will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Devices made with accordance with the various aspects described herein may be secured to any type of apparel worn by a user, such as pants and/or belts of any suitable design. The device is also ambidextrous and may even be positioned at any point along the user's waist, including the left, the right, or the front or rear. By utilizing the angular orientation that is most extreme, e.g., approximately 20° from horizontal, the user can make the firearm appear smaller, and produce a better angle from which to draw the firearm. Of course, the same benefits are realized for smaller firearms as well. With a lock, as disclosed herein for example, or using other manners of firmly securing the stabilizer key, the firearm will be secure within the device but still easily drawn. The device may be used inside or outside the waistband, and alternatively may be clipped onto any vertical belt as in backpacks or other shoulder-type straps. The device allows the user to withdraw their firearm in one swift move, reaching for the firearm and withdrawing in the same desired direction. Many other systems require the user to unlock in one direction and then proceed to withdraw the firearm in another direction. As mentioned above, the various components of the device may be formed of any desired materials or combinations of materials. Some examples include polypropylene, Kydex® (acrylic PVC), PVC, acrylic or other polymers, and various types of metals, such as steel, stainless steel, titanium, cold rolled steel, hot rolled steel, etc. One manner of wearing the device will position the receiver inside the waistband of the user's pants with a portion of the clip extending over the upper edge of the user's pants and engaging with the user's belt. Another manner will position the receiver outside the user's pants. In essence, the clip will contain the upper edge of the pants and belt.
While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of specific embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not intended to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. The various features discussed herein may be used alone or in any combination. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the scope or spirit of the general inventive concept.
Claims
1. A device for carrying a handgun in a concealed manner, comprising:
- a stabilizer key capable of being secured to and/or carried on the handgun,
- a clip capable of being secured to apparel of a user, the clip including a receiver for releasably engaging the stabilizer key, and allowing the stabilizer key to slide into and out of the receiver of the clip for insertion and withdrawal of the handgun.
2. The device of claim 1, further comprising:
- a lock movable between locked and unlocked position for locking the stabilizer key in the receiver in the locked position and allowing withdrawal of the stabilizer key from the receiver in the unlocked position.
3. The device of claim 1, further comprising:
- a magnet secured to the clip for providing further securement of the handgun to the clip when the stabilizer key is engaged with the receiver.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein the stabilizer key further comprises a raised rail element and the receiver further comprises an elongate slot.
5. The device of claim 4, wherein the elongate slot is contained in an adjustable element that allows an orientation of the elongate slot to be angularly adjusted to change the angular orientation of the handgun when the raised rail element is contained in the elongate slot.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein an angular orientation between the stabilizer key and the receiver is adjustable, and capable of being locked in an adjusted angular orientation.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein the clip further comprises a U-shaped element capable of being clipped over a waistband and/or belt of a user.
8. The device of claim 7, wherein the U-shaped element further includes a curved slot, and the receiver further comprises an elongate slot for engaging the stabilizer key in a sliding manner, and a fastening element coupling the receiver to the curved slot allowing an angular orientation of the elongate slot to be adjusted relative to the U-shaped element for adjusting an angular orientation of the handgun.
9. A method for carrying a handgun in a concealed manner, comprising:
- securing a clip to apparel of a user, the clip including a receiver for releasably engaging a stabilizer key on a handgun, and
- sliding the stabilizer key into the receiver of the clip to releasably secure the handgun on the apparel of the user.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:
- locking the stabilizer key in the receiver with a locking element, and
- moving the locking element to an unlocked position to allow withdrawal of the stabilizer key from the receiver.
11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:
- securing the handgun to the clip with a magnet when the stabilizer key is engaged with the receiver.
12. The method of claim 9, wherein the stabilizer key further comprises a raised rail element and the receiver further comprises an elongate slot, and the method further comprising inserting the raised rail element into the elongate slot.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising adjusting an angular orientation of the elongate slot to change the angular orientation of the handgun when the raised rail element is contained in the elongate slot.
14. The method of claim 9, further comprising changing an angular orientation between the stabilizer key and the receiver and locking the receiver in the adjusted angular orientation.
15. The method of claim 9, wherein the clip further comprises a U-shaped element and the method further comprises clipping the U-shaped element over a waistband and/or belt of a user.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the U-shaped element further includes a curved slot, and the receiver further comprises an elongate slot for engaging the stabilizer key in a sliding manner, and a fastening element coupling the receiver to the curved slot, and the method further comprises adjusting an angular orientation of the elongate slot relative to the U-shaped element for adjusting an angular orientation of the handgun.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 8, 2016
Publication Date: Sep 15, 2016
Inventor: Jeff Young (Newport, KY)
Application Number: 15/064,133