Abstract
A utility belt assembly for use in association with an article of clothing including a belt member, wherein the belt member includes a first end, a second end, an inner surface, an outer surface, an upper end, and a lower end; a first bracket, wherein the first bracket is positioned on at least one of the inner surface and the outer surface of the belt member; a second bracket, wherein the second bracket is positioned on at least one of the inner surface and the outer surface of the belt member; wherein the first bracket and the second bracket are spaced apart from one another to define a first track therebetween; a securement member, wherein the securement member contacts at least one of the upper end and the lower end of the belt member, and wherein the securement member releasably associates the utility belt assembly with the article of clothing; and an accessory member, wherein the accessory member includes a guide member slidably positioned on and/or within the first track.
Claims
1. A utility strap assembly for use in association with an article of clothing, comprising: a strap member, wherein the strap member includes a first end, a second end, an inner surface, an outer surface, an upper end, a lower end, a top, and a bottom; a first bracket, wherein the first bracket is positioned on the inner surface of the strap member; a second bracket, wherein the second bracket is positioned on the inner surface of the strap member; wherein the first bracket and the second bracket are spaced apart from one another to define a first inwardly facing and non-enclosed track therebetween; a securement member, wherein the securement member contacts at least one of the top and the bottom of the strap member, and wherein the securement member releasably associates the utility strap assembly with the article of clothing; and an accessory member, wherein the accessory member includes a guide member slidably positioned at least one of on and within the first inwardly facing and non-enclosed track.
2. A utility strap assembly in combination with an article of clothing, comprising: an article of clothing adorned by a human; a strap member, wherein the strap member includes a first end, a second end, an inner surface, an outer surface, an upper end, a lower end, a top and a bottom; a first bracket, wherein the first bracket is positioned on the inner surface of the strap member proximate the upper end thereof; a second bracket, wherein the second bracket is positioned on the inner surface of the strap member proximate the lower end thereof; wherein the first bracket and the second bracket are spaced apart from one another to define a first inwardly facing and non-enclosed open track therebetween; a securement member, wherein the securement member contacts at least one of the top and the bottom of the strap member, and wherein the securement member is releasably associated with the article of clothing; and an accessory member, wherein the accessory member includes a guide member slidably positioned at least one of on and within the first inwardly facing and non-enclosed open track.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) Certain embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by the accompanying figures. It will be understood that the figures are not necessarily to scale and that details not necessary for an understanding of the invention or that render other details difficult to perceive have been omitted. It will be further understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.
(2) The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein:
(3) FIG. 1 of the drawings is a fragmented perspective view of a utility belt assembly, fabricated in accordance with the present invention, showing the outside of the first end thereof;
(4) FIG. 2 of the drawings is a fragmented perspective view of a utility belt assembly, fabricated in accordance with the present invention, showing the outside of the second end thereof;
(5) FIG. 3 of the drawings is a fragmented perspective view of a utility belt assembly, fabricated in accordance with the present invention, showing the inside of the first end thereof;
(6) FIG. 4 of the drawings is a fragmented perspective view of a utility belt assembly, fabricated in accordance with the present invention, showing the inside of the second end thereof;
(7) FIG. 5 of the drawings is a fragmented perspective view of a utility belt assembly, fabricated in accordance with the present invention, showing the track, guide member, and securement member;
(8) FIG. 6 of the drawings is a fragmented perspective view of a utility belt assembly, fabricated in accordance with the present invention, showing the utility belt assembly secured to an article of clothing via the securement member;
(9) FIG. 7 of the drawings is a fragmented perspective view of a utility belt assembly, fabricated in accordance with the present invention, showing the guide member positioned within the track;
(10) FIG. 8 of the drawings is a perspective view of an accessory member fabricated in accordance with the present invention;
(11) FIG. 9 of the drawings is a perspective view of an article of clothing fabricated in accordance with the present invention;
(12) FIG. 10 of the drawings is a perspective view of an article of clothing fabricated in accordance with the present invention; and
(13) FIGS. 11A-11F of the drawings are cross-sectional views of utility belt assemblies, fabricated in accordance with the present invention, showing a plurality of bracket configurations.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(14) While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail, several specific embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated.
(15) It will be understood that like or analogous elements and/or components, referred to herein, may be identified throughout the drawings with like reference characters.
(16) Referring now to the drawings, and to FIGS. 1-5 collectively, a first embodiment of utility belt assembly 10 is shown that generally comprises belt member 12, first bracket 14, second bracket 16, securement member 18, and accessory member 20. It will be understood that utility belt assembly 10 facilities non-impaired and/or essentially infinitely variable positioning of accessory member 20 (e.g., a holster for a handgun, an ammunition magazine, a flashlight, a communication device such as a cellular phone and/or two-way radio, tools, etcetera) releasably secured thereto compared to a conventional belt and looped article of clothing configurations. Utility belt assembly 10 is also advantageously releasably securable to article of clothing 22 (FIGS. 6, and 9-10; e.g., pants, fatigues, capris, shorts, skirts, etcetera) without the use of belt loops. For purposes of the present invention, utility belt assembly 10 may be associated with, for example, the waist, arm, leg, shoulder, chest, and/or torso of an associated user. It will be further understood that FIGS. 1-11 provided herein are merely representations of utility belt assembly 10. As such, some of the components may be distorted from their actual scale for pictorial clarity and/or image enhancement.
(17) Referring now to FIGS. 1-4 collectively, in one embodiment, belt member 12 includes first end 24, second end 26, inner surface 28, outer surface 30, upper end 32, and lower end 34. Belt member 12 also preferably includes buckle 36 which is preferably positioned proximate first end 24, and one or more apertures 38 which are preferably positioned proximate second end 26 to, in turn, form a releasable coupling. Belt member 12 is preferably fabricated from leather, plastics, rubbers, natural and/or synthetic materials, and composites of the samejust to name a few.
(18) As is best shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 7 and 11, in one embodiment, first bracket 14 is positioned on inner surface 28 and/or outer surface 30 (See FIG. 1) of belt member 12. First bracket 14 preferably comprises a substantially L-shaped bracket. However, other bracket configurations that would be known to those with ordinary skill in the art having the present disclosure before them are likewise contemplated for use. First bracket 14 is preferably fabricated from metals, woods, natural and/or synthetic materials, and composites of the samejust to name a few.
(19) Second bracket 16 is positioned on inner surface 28 and/or outer surface 30 (See FIG. 1) of belt member 12. Second bracket 16 preferably comprises a substantially L-shaped bracket. However, other bracket configurations that would be known to those with ordinary skill in the art having the present disclosure before them are likewise contemplated for use. Similarly to first bracket 14, second bracket 16 is preferably fabricated from metals, woods, natural and/or synthetic materials, and composites of the samejust to name a few.
(20) As is best shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 7, and 11A, in one embodiment, first bracket 14 and second bracket 16 are spaced apart from one another to define first track 40 therebetween.
(21) As is best shown in FIGS. 1-4, 5, 7, and 11A, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, first bracket 14 is positioned on inner surface 28 of belt member 12 proximate upper end 32 and second bracket 16 is positioned on inner surface 28 of belt member 12 proximate lower end 34. First track 40 is positioned between first bracket 14 and second bracket 16.
(22) Referring now to FIG. 11B, in another single track configuration, first bracket 14 is positioned on outer surface 30 of belt member 12 proximate upper end 32 and second bracket 16 is positioned on outer surface 30 of belt member 12 proximate lower end 34. First track 40 is positioned between first bracket 14 and second bracket 16.
(23) As is shown in FIG. 110, in a dual track configuration, first bracket 14 is positioned on inner surface 28 of belt member 12 proximate upper end 32 and second bracket 16 is positioned on inner surface 28 of belt member 12 proximate lower end 34. Third bracket 42 is positioned on outer surface 30 of belt member 12 proximate upper end 32 and fourth bracket 44 is positioned on the outer surface 30 of belt member 12 proximate lower end 34. First bracket 14 and second bracket 16 are spaced apart from one another to define first track 40 therebetween, and third bracket 42 and fourth bracket 44 are spaced apart from one another to define second track 46.
(24) Referring now to FIG. 11D, in another dual track configuration, first bracket 14 is positioned on inner surface 28 of belt member 12 proximate upper end 32 and second bracket 16 is positioned on inner surface 28 of belt member 12 proximate midpoint 48. Third bracket 42 is positioned on inner surface 28 of belt member 12 proximate lower end 34, and fourth bracket 44 is positioned on inner surface 28 of belt member 12 proximate midpoint 48. First bracket 14 and second bracket 16 are spaced apart from one another to define 40 first track therebetween, and third bracket 42 and fourth bracket 44 are spaced apart from one another to define second track 46 therebetween.
(25) Referring now to FIG. 11E, in yet another dual track configuration, first bracket 14 is positioned on outer surface 30 of belt member 12 proximate upper end 32 and second bracket 16 is positioned on outer surface 30 of belt member 12 proximate midpoint 48. Third bracket 42 is positioned on outer surface 30 of belt member 12 proximate lower end 34 and fourth bracket 44 is positioned on outer surface 30 of belt member 12 proximate midpoint 48. First bracket 14 and second bracket 16 are spaced apart from one another to define 40 first track therebetween, and third bracket 42 and fourth bracket 44 are spaced apart from one another to define second track 46 therebetween.
(26) Referring now to FIG. 11F, in a quad track configuration, belt member 12, in addition to brackets 1-4 identified in FIG. 11E, also includes fifth bracket 50 positioned on inner surface 28 proximate upper end 32, sixth bracket 52 positioned on inner surface 28 of belt member 12 proximate midpoint 48, seventh bracket 54 positioned on inner surface 28 of belt member 12 proximate lower end 34, and eighth bracket 56 positioned on inner surface 28 of belt member 12 proximate midpoint thereof 48. Fifth bracket 50 and sixth bracket 52 are spaced apart from one another to define third track 58, and seventh bracket 54 and eighth bracket 56 are spaced apart from one another to define fourth track 60 therebetween.
(27) While first track 40 extends from approximately first end 24 of belt member 12 to approximately second end 26 of belt member 12, as is best shown in FIG. 6, first bracket 14 and second bracket 16 optionally comprise stop tab 64 (See FIG. 11A) for regulating displacement of accessory member 20 (not shown).
(28) In certain embodiments of the present invention, utility belt assembly 10 comprises conductive traces 66 that facilitate provision of electricity to and/or throughout the utility belt assembly. Conductive traces 66 include, for example, conductive metal, wire, ink, paint, etcetera. In one embodiment of the present invention, a power supply is associated with the utility belt assembly. More specifically, the power supply is preferably associated with conductive traces 66 and belt member 12.
(29) Referring now to FIGS. 11A and 11B, the present invention may also comprise a pair of utility belt assemblies 10, wherein the brackets of two utility belt assemblies face each other, and wherein the utility belt assemblies are associated with each other via a male/female securement member and/or other securement member.
(30) In another embodiment of the present invention, the brackets may oppose each other instead of face each other, as is shown in FIGS. 11A-11F. In this embodiment, the guide member preferably is positionable over each bracket which collectively form a generally t-shape configuration.
(31) Referring now to FIGS. 1-7 and 9-10, securement member 18 preferably contacts upper end 32 and/or lower end 34 of belt member 12. It will be understood that securement member 18 releasably associates utility belt assembly 10 with article of clothing 22. Securement member 18 preferably comprises, for example, a hook and loop fastener, a zipper, buttons, snaps, etcetera.
(32) Referring now to FIGS. 1-4 and 7-8, accessory member 20 includes guide member 62 which is slidably positioned within first track 40. Guide member 62 is preferably releasably associated with accessory member 20 via, for example, snaps, hook and loop fasteners, buttons, zippers, selective adhesives.
(33) In accordance with the present invention, accessory member 20 preferably includes, for example, a holster for a handgun, an ammunition magazine, a flashlight, a communication device such as a cellular phone and/or two-way radio, toolsjust to name a few.
(34) In operation, and after assembly using conventional techniques, utility belt assembly 10 is secured to article of clothing 22 via securement member 18. Article of clothing 22 is either adorned or will be adorned by a user. A user then is free to add one or more accessory members 20 to utility belt assembly 10 by sliding guide member 62 into first track 40 in a sing track configuration. It will be understood that guide member 62 and associated accessory members 20 are likewise compatible with dual track and quad track configurations. Accessory member 20 may be attached and/or secured to guide member 62 before and/or after being placed in first track 40.
(35) The foregoing description merely explains and illustrates the invention, and the invention is not limited thereto except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, as those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.
