Abstract: A length-adjustable strap has two plies joined together to form a channel therebetween. The channel generally does not extend the entire length of the strap. At least one extender slidably engages in the channel. The extender may have holes therethrough or recesses that engage elements of one or more fasteners at or near the proximal end of the strap in an adjustment region outside of the channel. Mating screws are joined to the fastener(s) to secure the extender in place. Optionally, the fastener(s) and mating screws are replaced by a tie that threads through holes formed through the first ply and optionally the second ply as well as the hole(s) formed through the extender to secure the extender in place. Multiple fastening connections more evenly distribute the load.

Abstract: A buckle including an auxiliary locking feature includes a female buckle part, including a strap-receiving portion and a body portion defining a recess for receiving a mating portion of a male buckle part and a pair of edge recesses. The male buckle part also has a strap-receiving portion and a pair of flexible female buckle-engaging prongs having catches which snap over mating recesses of female member. The male member also has a resilient cantilevered tongue carrying a release button extending through an opening in the front of the female part, the tongue including integral stop members. The prongs include bosses which engage the stop members. When the prongs are inserted into the recess of the female member, they snap over the mating recesses of the female member and the tongue is pressed downwardly to cause the release button to snap into the opening.

Abstract: A holster for carrying a handgun having a movable welt which reduces the likelihood that the handgun will be the subject of either an accidental or intentional dislodgment. The movable welt rotates about 10° to 15°, and as it rotates, the handgun is moved from a position where its hammer region is secured by a fixed strap and the weapon may not be removed to a position where the strap is no longer an issue and the weapon may be removed.

Abstract: A buckle including an auxiliary locking feature includes a female buckle part, including a strap-receiving portion and a body portion defining a recess for receiving a mating portion of a male buckle part and a pair of edge recesses. The male buckle part also has a strap-receiving portion and a pair of flexible female buckle-engaging prongs having catches which snap over mating recesses of female member. The male member also has a resilient cantilevered tongue carrying a release button extending through an opening in the front of the female part, the tongue including integral stop members. The prongs include bosses which engage the stop members. When the prongs are inserted into the recess of the female member, they snap over the mating recesses of the female member and the tongue is pressed downwardly to cause the release button to snap into the opening.

Abstract: A holster for a handgun having a trigger guard including a pouch having housing members secured to inside and outside faces of the pouch, the inside face being that closest to the wearer of the holster. A finger-operated, essentially vertical, lever including a blocking end is urged into the space within the trigger guard by means of a spring and is secured to an inside housing member such that it would not be readily apparent or operable by anyone attempting to remove the handgun from the holster. The holster may also include elongated upwardly extending straps and a snap fastener which can be wrapped around the butt of the handgun constituting a thumb break securing device. A second embodiment includes a horizontal double lever arrangement which blocks removal of the trigger guard as described. A third embodiment utilizes a blocking lever pinned to an outside housing member and having a vertical finger-operated button mounted flush with the surface of the outside housing member.

Abstract: A holster for a handgun having a trigger guard including a pouch having housing members secured to inside and outside faces of the pouch, the inside face being that closest to the wearer of the holster. A finger-operated, essentially vertical, lever including a blocking end is urged into the space within the trigger guard by means of a spring and is secured to an inside housing member such that it would not be readily apparent or operable by anyone attempting to remove the handgun from the holster. The holster may also include elongated upwardly extending straps and a snap fastener which can be wrapped around the butt of the handgun constituting a thumb break securing device. A second embodiment includes a horizontal double lever arrangement which blocks removal of the trigger guard as described. A third embodiment utilizes a lever pinned to an outside housing member and having a vertical finger-operated button mounted flush with the surface of the outside housing member.

Abstract: An ergonomic duty belt and ergonomic holster and belt loop assembly are disclosed which cooperate to provide a stable platform for a handgun in a holster and other accessories as well while providing superior comfort for the wearer. The ergonomic belt effectively has two widths, a narrow 1½ vertical effective width, which is against the wearer's body, and a traditional 2¼ inch exterior vertical width, which is sized to support the wearer's gear, such as a holster and a weapon. That portion of the ergonomic belt, which is against the wearer, is also padded for additional comfort. The ergonomic holster includes a belt loop assembly which is tapered and padded on its inner surface in the area where the assembly touches the wearer's body when worn as intended to better conform to the body of the wearer and minimize wearer discomfort.

Abstract: An improved belt-loop assembly for hanging goods from a belt primarily used in conjunction with a holster. The belt loop assembly has a tapered belt loop opening and a platform upon which the belt rests. The taper aids in fixedly positioning the assembly along the belt while the platform protects the belt from wear due to belt positioning screws commonly found in belt loop assemblies.

Abstract: A tactical rig to be worn by police and military personnel includes an accessory panel which is strapped to the thigh of an individual and which is secured to the belt of the wearer with an adjustable strap. The accessory panel includes three heavy straps secured to itself including a series of stitchings which define loops for attaching pouches. One of the pouches may be a holster, which is secured to the panel with a fastener, such as a spring clip passing through one of the loops. The holster is generally U-shaped in cross-section and includes extended portions having loop and pile fasteners which combine to provide a double wrap around a handgun with an attached tactical light or other object carried in the holster. Because of the extended portions and the loop and pile fasteners, there is considerable flexibility in the size and shape of an object, which can be safely carried in the holster.

Abstract: A tactical rig to be worn by police and military personnel includes an accessory panel which is strapped to the thigh of an individual and which is secured to the belt of the wearer with an adjustable strap. The accessory panel includes three heavy straps secured to itself including a series of stitchings which define loops for attaching pouches. One of the pouches may be a holster, which is secured to the panel with a fastener, such as a spring clip passing through one of the loops. The holster is generally U-shaped in cross-section and includes extended portions having loop and pile fasteners which combine to provide a double wrap around a handgun with an attached tactical light or other object carried in the holster. Because of the extended portions and the loop and pile fasteners, there is considerable flexibility in the size and shape of an object, which can be safely carried in the holster.

Abstract: An article carrier and process for making same made from a laminate material which is lightweight, durable, easy to clean, and easy to maintain. The article carrier has crisp, well-defined edges and contours with an outward appearance almost identical to hand-tooled leather. The process for making the article carrier comprises selecting the laminate, heating the laminate, configuring the laminate in a mold such that the laminate's plane of greatest direction stretch is parallel to the area of maximum deformation of the mold, compressing the laminate to define the article carrier, cooling, trimming the compressed laminate, adding component parts, and joining the compressed laminate together to complete the article carrier.

Abstract: An improved belt-loop assembly for hanging goods from a belt primarily used in conjunction with a holster. The belt loop assembly has a tapered belt loop opening and a platform upon which the belt rests. The taper aids in fixedly positioning the assembly along the belt while the platform protects the belt from wear due to belt positioning screws commonly found in belt loop assemblies.

Abstract: A handgun holster with an auxiliary or supplementary latching device is disclosed. The holster includes a body which defines a pouch for holding a handgun and includes a strap which extends over or around a portion of the handgun to hold it in place in the holster when the free end of the retention strap is secured to the holster as by a snap fastener. In the preferred embodiment the holster includes a thumbreak which is used to allow the wearer to separate the snap fastener by downward movement of the wearer's thumb to separate the snap fastener parts and allow the handgun to be withdrawn. A supplementary latching device is present which is movable from a latching to an unlatching position. Several different embodiments of the invention are illustrated including a molded plastic latch which encircles a holster thumbreak and is slidable longitudinally along the thumbreak.

Abstract: A paddle type holster including a holster body formed to provide a pouch for holding a handgun or other object and an inside the waistband formed holster support structure. The support structure is in the form of a curved broad surface which generally conforms to the human waist shape and includes a connector portion which extends between the curved portion of the support structure and the holster body. The holster body is rotatably adjustable with respect to the curved portion. The connector portion is likewise vertically adjustable with respect to the holster body to further control the relationship of the support structure. The adjustments are secured by fasteners and by mechanical interlocking of the parts of the holster. A holster or pouch for tall objects is disclosed with a "Z" shaped paddle member.

Abstract: A holster for a handgun having a trigger guard is formed of material such as leather or the like which is folded upon itself to make a pocket with an opening at the top. A pair of openings are located on opposite sides of the pocket adjacent the position of the trigger guard when the handgun is in the pocket. A retainer member of low friction material having resilient arms and clamp members with inwardly extending projections is fastened in the holster such that the arms and clamp members extend through the openings. When the handgun is placed in the holster, the trigger guard pushes past the projections on the clamp members which then latch around the trigger guard securing the handgun in the holster.

Abstract: A universal holster is designed to accommodate a number of different brands, sizes, and lengths of semi automatic handguns and includes a body formed of a layer or double layer of suitable material such as leather formed to define a pocket. Extensions along edges of the body form straps of unequal length with a snap fastener forming a channel the trigger guard of a handgun. One portion of the snap fastener is spaced a short distance from the end of the shorter strap forming a projection which may be contacted by the forefinger of the wearer to open the snap fastener to draw the handgun from the holster. Two additional extensions or bosses are positioned around a spacer near the front of the body. A pair of extensions at the opposite end of the body to define a portion of a pocket around the handgun hammer end of the handgun and to secure a pair of short straps carrying fastening devices for attachment to a shoulder strap.

Abstract: A holster is disclosed employing a formed composite of fabric-foam and fabric in which the outer face is formed to match the contour of a hand gun to carried in the holster while the inner face is generally flat. A belt loop assembly is secured to the inner face including a generally "Y" shape with an opening between the arms of the "Y". Hook or pile fastener fabric is located within the belt loop assembly. A thumb break or strap includes an end which extends through the opening into the belt loop and is held in place by contact with the hook and pile fastener. The thumb break is angularly adjustable within the belt loop and securable at various angles by the hook and pile fastener. The belt loop assembly, most importantly defines a belt loop and the thumb break and the hook and pile fastener cooperate to restrict the size of the belt loop and provide restriction against unwanted movement of the holster on a belt.

Abstract: A laminated pouch includes a layer of woven synthetic fabric, a layer of polyfoam and a layer of liner material, the layers being bonded together under heat and pressure. During the molding process selected areas of the laminate material is compressed under substantial heat and pressure to permanently deform the laminate into areas of substantially less thickness than uncompressed areas, the compressed areas being of substantial stiffness. The laminate is also formed with edges, and corners of substantial stiffness. The pouch is formed of two such laminate layers which are trimmed and fastened together at the edges. The resulting pouch retains its shape well and is not significantly deformed by the weight or pressure of its contents.

Abstract: An ambidextrous holster includes a pistol receiving pouch with an elongated sleeve on each side, each sleeve being lined with Velcro.RTM. loop material. Carried in one sleeve is a thumb break having Velcro.RTM. hook material on one end which joins with the Velcro.RTM. loop material in the sleeve to hold the thumb break securely in the sleeve. The pistol receiving pouch has two D-ring support members, one of which is carried in the same sleeve as the thumb break. The pistol receiving pouch is carried on one of two harness arrangements, one of which includes four straps, two of which carry the pistol receiving pouch and the other which carries a magazine pouch. The other harness includes a strap carried over the shoulder of the wearer. The pistol receiving pouch is reversible by placing a thin tool such as a butter knife into each sleeve, separating the Velcro.RTM.