Abstract
An ankle holster comprising a series of straps having an upper, middle, lower, and support straps and a holder further comprising a back plate having a removable elastic foam backing which overlaps the edge of the back plate and a removable pocket which is attachable to the back plate using a rail system. The rail system uses an upper and lower rail system where the upper rail system is integrally molded into the removable pocket and the lower rail system is attached to the back plate and the two connect using a latch system. The removable pocket is modular and can include any number of designs to hold any number of firearms or other accessories so long as the result is a comfortable, concealed ankle holster.
Claims
1. An ankle holster comprising: a series of straps further comprising an upper strap, middle strap, lower strap, and support strap; a holder attached to the middle strap and lower strap comprising a back plate, foam backing, and at least one rail system comprising a lower rail system further comprising a plurality of ridges and slots for engaging an upper rail system; a removable pocket made of durable and formable plastic comprising a front face, a back face having the upper rail system comprising walls and engaging arms, and at least one receiving pocket; and a rail locking mechanism attached to the lower locking rail portion comprising a latch having a handle and a locking piston which engages the slots of the lower locking rail portion when the firearm pocket is in a desired position.
2. The ankle holster of claim 1 wherein the removable pocket is made of thermoplastic acrylic-polyvinyl chloride.
3. The ankle holster of claim 1 wherein the rail locking mechanism uses a Picatinny rail.
4. The ankle holster of claim 1 wherein the rail locking mechanism uses a Weaver rail.
5. The ankle holster of claim 1 wherein the rail locking mechanism uses a Keymod rail.
6. The ankle holster of claim 1 wherein the rail locking mechanism uses a M-Lok rail.
7. The ankle holster of claim 1 wherein the foam backing is elastic.
8. The ankle holster of claim 7 wherein the foam backing is between 0.5 and 2.5 millimeters thick.
9. An ankle holster comprising: a series of straps; a holder attached to the series of straps, the holder further comprising a back plate, foam backing, and at least one rail system; a removable pocket further comprising a front face, a back face, and at least one receiving pocket; and a rail locking mechanism attached to the rail system further comprising a latch having a handle and a locking piston.
10. The ankle holster of claim 9 wherein the series of straps further comprises an upper strap, middle strap, lower strap, and support strap.
11. The ankle holster of claim 10 wherein the holder is attached to the middle strap and lower strap.
12. The ankle holster of claim 9 wherein the rail system further comprises a lower rail system further comprising a plurality of ridges and slots for engaging an upper rail system.
13. The ankle holster of claim 9 wherein the removable pocket is made of durable and moldable plastic.
14. The ankle holster of claim 13 wherein the plastic is thermoplastic acrylic-polyvinyl chloride.
15. The ankle holster of claim 9 wherein the removable pocket further comprises an upper rail system on its back face.
16. The ankle holster of claim 9 wherein the foam backing is between 0.5 and 2.5 millimeters thick.
17. The ankle holster of claim 9 wherein the rail locking mechanism is attached to the lower rail system which engages the slots of the lower locking rail portion when the firearm pocket is in a desired position.
18. The ankle holster of claim 17 wherein the removable pocket further comprises an upper rail system on its back face.
19. The ankle holster of claim 18 wherein upper rail system engages the lower rail system and is locked into place using the rail locking mechanism.
20. The ankle holster of claim 9 wherein the at least one rail system uses a Picatinny rail.
21. The ankle holster of claim 9 wherein the at least one rail system uses a Weaver rail.
22. The ankle holster of claim 9 wherein the at least one rail system uses a Keymod rail.
23. The ankle holster of claim 9 wherein the at least one rail system uses a M-Lok rail.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the ankle holster.
[0020] FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of the back plate of the ankle holster.
[0021] FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of the accessory pocket of the ankle holster.
[0022] FIG. 4 illustrates a front view of the ankle holster with the accessory pocket attached.
[0023] FIG. 5 illustrates a back view of the accessory pocket.
[0024] FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment where the accessory pocket has been replaced with a gun pocket of the wearer's choosing.
[0025] Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0026] The following description is of a preferred embodiment presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing one or more preferred embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims.
[0027] As shown in the accompanying drawings, for purposes of illustration, the present invention uses specific methods and technologies for an ankle holster to provide comfort and modularity so as to create a fully customizable and modular ankle holster.
[0028] As shown in FIG. 1, the ankle holster 10 comprises a series of straps 12, the straps 12 further comprising preferably an upper strap 14, middle strap 16, lower strap 18, and support strap 20, and the holder 22, the holder 22 further comprising a back plate 24 having a preferably elastic foam backing 26, a removable pocket 28, and a pair of rail systems 30. The removable pocket 28 can be customizable for anything properly sized to fit onto the holder 22. Such items may include, but are not limited to, magazines, cell phones, knives, and small pistols. The upper strap 14 and support strap 20 are optional and provide further support. The straps 12 are also detachable from the holder 22 itself allowing for different strap styles.
[0029] As can be seen in FIG. 2, the holder 22 further comprises a back plate 24 with an elastic foam backing 26. The elastic foam backing 26 can be removable using any number of methods in order to allow for cleaning after extended use. Preferably, the foam backing is between 0.5 and 2.5 millimeters thick but can be greater based on user's preference. The holder 22 also has part of the rail systems 30. The lower rail system 32 has a series of ridges 34 and slots 36 to receive the upper rails system 38, which is described below. These ridges 34 and slots 36 are generally of the Picatinny style but may be any type of rail system generally used to hold firearm accessories such as Weaver-style rails. Preferably, the lower rail system 32 is held in place by a series of screws 40 but attachment can be made through the use of bolts, buttons, lugs, nails, snaps, magnetic strips or any other means.
[0030] FIG. 3 shows the front of the removable pocket 28. In the embodiment shown, the removable pocket 28 has a plurality of receiving pockets 42 used to hold any number of accessories 64. The modular capabilities of the present invention are desired and the removable pocket 28 can be switched out to hold specific types of objects. Preferably, the removable pocket 28 is made out of a thermoplastic acrylic-polyvinyl chloride such as Kydex® but may be made out of any suitably durable and moldable hard plastic. Similarly, the back plate 24 may be made out of a similar material or a different material as the removable pocket 28. The removable pocket 28 has a front face 44 and back face 46. The upper rail system 38 is placed on the removable pocket 28 so as to line up with the lower rail system 32 located on the back plate 24. The upper rail system on the front face 44 features a quick detach latch system 50. The latch system 48 comprises a latch 50 having a handle 52 and a locking piston 54 (not shown). When the upper rail system 48 is in place on top of the lower rail system 32, the wearer can flip the handle 52 into a locked configuration. The locking piston 54 engages with the ridges 34 and slots 36 of the lower rail system 32 and prevents side-to-side movement. The rail systems 30 are of the Picatinny style (or any other style of rail that supports firearm accessories such as Weaver, Keymod, or M-Lok rails) and may be low profile or have a regular profile, depending on the preference of the wearer. The latch system is essentially described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,739,824 to Swan, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
[0031] FIG. 4 show the holder 22 fully assembled. The removable pocket 28 is laid on top of the back plate 24 and latched into place using the latch system 48. The removable pocket 28, when in position, includes at least one receiving pocket 42 to receive an object such as a magazine, knife, or gun. The receiving pockets 42 may be different styles so as to allow for different objects at the same time. For example, the left receiving pocket 42-1 may hold a small firearm and the right receiving pocket 42-2 could hold an ammunition magazine for said firearm. Another situation could include carrying one type of firearm having a first caliber in a waist holster and having a second type of firearm having a different caliber in a jacket pocket. The ankle holster 10 the left receiving pocket 42-1 could hold one type of ammunition magazine for the firearm in the waist holster and the right receiving pocket 42-2 could hold a magazine having a different caliber of ammunition for the firearm in the jacket pocket. The back plate 24 has an elastic foam backing 26 that covers the back plate edge 56 of the back plate 24 so as to prevent any sharp edges from contacting the wearer's skin and to provide cushioning and support. The elastic foam backing 26 is preferably Tempurpedic® material but may be any foam backing that generally conforms to the shape of the wearer's leg 58 for maximum comfortability.
[0032] FIG. 5 shows the back face 46 of the removable pocket 28. Integrally molded into the removable pocket 28 is a portion of the upper rail system 38. This portion of the upper rail system 38 allows for the removable pocket 28 to slide onto the lower rail system 32 or for the removable pocket 28 to be laid directly on top of the lower rail 32 and snap into place. The upper rail system 38 may feature a pair of arms 66 that grip onto lower rail system 32. Alternatively, the upper rail system 38 may have a series of magnets placed therein with corresponding magnets placed integrally within the back plate 24. Preferably, the upper rail system 38 is made of the same material as the firearm pocket 28 but may also be a less durable plastic so as to facilitate the attachment of the firearm pocket 28 to the back plate 24. The outer pocket edge 60 of the fire pocket 28 is preferably beveled as shown so as to provide a low profile when placed on the back plate 24, however the outer pocket edge 60 may be any configuration that allows for an aesthetic and functional fit with the back plate 24.
[0033] FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment where the removable pocket 28 provides for a firearm 62 as opposed to a gun accessory. The method of operating the holder 22 is the same. The removable pocket 28 is placed or slid into place on the back plate 24 through the use of the rail systems 30. The removable pocket is then latched into place using the latch system 50. The wearer can then conceal the firearm 62 using his pants leg or high socks.
[0034] The invention being described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.
