Utility strap assembly

Abstract

A utility strap assembly for use in association with an article of clothing, for integration with an article of clothing, and/or to be worn by a user, including: a primary strap member, wherein the primary strap member includes a length, a height, a thickness, 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 track therebetween; wherein a hook fastener material is associated with at least a portion of the inner surface of the primary strap member; wherein a loop fastener material is associated with at least a portion of the outer surface of the primary strap member; and wherein the hook and loop fastener materials cooperate to releasably secure the primary strap member on, to and/or around a user.

Claims

1. An assembly, comprising: a first layer, wherein the first layer is an article of clothing worn by a user; a second layer secured to and positioned on the first layer, wherein the second layer is a hook or loop fastener material; a third layer secured to and positioned on the second layer, wherein the third layer is a primary strap member, wherein the primary strap member includes a length, a height, a thickness, a first end, a second end, an inner surface, an outer surface, a top end, and a bottom end; a fourth layer secured to and positioned on the third layer, wherein the fourth layer comprises first and second brackets; wherein the first bracket includes a first upright component and a second horizontal component, wherein the second component is orthogonal to the first component and parallel to the outer surface of the primary strap member, wherein the first bracket is L-shaped and positioned on the outer surface of the primary strap member at the top end thereof; wherein the second bracket includes a first upright component and a second horizontal component, wherein the second component is orthogonal to the first component and parallel to the outer surface of the primary strap member, wherein the second bracket is L-shaped and positioned on the outer surface of the primary strap member at the bottom end thereof; wherein the first bracket and the second bracket are spaced apart from one another to cooperatively form a singular inwardly facing track therebetween; wherein a hook or loop fastener material is present between the first end and the second end of the inner surface of the primary strap member; wherein a hook or loop fastener material is associated with at least a portion of the outer surface of the primary strap member; and wherein the hook and loop fastener present on the inner surface of the primary strap member is releasably secured to the second layer.

2. The utility strap assembly according to claim 1, further comprising an accessory member, wherein the accessory member includes a guide member slidably positioned at least one of on and within the track.

3. The utility strap assembly according to claim 2, wherein the accessory member comprises a holster.

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 top plan view of a primary strap member, fabricated in accordance with the present invention, showing the outer surface thereof;

(4) FIG. 2 of the drawings is a top plan view of the primary strap member of FIG. 1, showing the inner surface thereof;

(5) FIG. 3 of the drawings is a perspective view of the primary strap member of FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 4 of the drawings is a top plan view of a secondary strap member, fabricated in accordance with the present invention, showing the outer surface thereof;

(7) FIG. 5 of the drawings is a top plan view of the secondary strap member of FIG. 4, showing the inner surface thereof;

(8) FIG. 6 of the drawings is a perspective view of the secondary strap member of FIG. 5;

(9) FIG. 7 of the drawings is a top plan view of the primary strap member of FIG. 1 associated with the secondary strap member of FIG. 4;

(10) FIG. 8 of the drawings is a fragmented perspective view of a utility strap assembly associated with an accessory member;

(11) FIG. 9 of the drawings is a perspective view of an accessory member (e.g., a holster) fabricated in accordance with the present invention; and

(12) FIGS. 10-11 of the drawings show additional and/or alternative embodiments of a utility strap/belt assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(13) 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.

(14) 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.

(15) Referring now to the drawings, and to FIGS. 1-3 collectively, a first embodiment of utility strap assembly 10 is shown which generally comprises primary strap member 12, first bracket 14, and second bracket 16. It will be understood that utility strap assembly 10 facilities non-impaired and/or essentially infinitely variable positioning of accessory member 18 (See FIGS. 8-9; 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 strap assembly 10 is also advantageously releasably securable to articles of clothing (e.g., pants, fatigues, capris, shorts, skirts, shirts, jackets, etcetera) without the use of belt loops. For purposes of the present invention, utility strap 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. 1-9 provided herein are merely representations of utility strap assembly 10. As such, some of the components may be distorted from their actual scale for pictorial clarity and/or image enhancement.

(16) Referring once again to FIGS. 1-3 collectively, in one embodiment, primary strap member 12 includes first end 20, second end 22, inner surface 24, outer surface 26, upper end 28, lower end 30, length (L), height (H), and thickness (T). Primary strap member 12 is preferably fabricated from leather, plastics, rubbers, natural and/or synthetic materials, and composites of the samejust to name a few.

(17) As is best shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 8, in one embodiment, first bracket 14 is positioned on outer surface 26 of primary strap 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.

(18) Second bracket 16 is positioned on outer surface 26 of primary strap 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. Similar 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.

(19) As is best shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 8, in one embodiment, first bracket 14 and second bracket 16 are spaced apart from one another to define track 32 therebetween.

(20) As is also best shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 8, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, first bracket 14 is positioned on outer surface 26 of primary strap member 12 proximate upper end 28 and second bracket 16 is positioned on outer surface 26 of primary strap member 12 proximate lower end 30. Track 32 is positioned between first bracket 14 and second bracket 16.

(21) While track 32 extends from approximately first end 20 of primary strap member 12 to approximately second end 22 of primary strap member 12, it may also extend continuously and/or intermittently for any portion of length (L) of primary strap member 12.

(22) As is best shown in FIG. 8, track 32 may optionally comprise one or more stop tabs 34 for regulating displacement of accessory member 18.

(23) As is best shown in FIGS. 1-3 a hook fastener material is preferably associated with at least a portion of inner surface 24 of primary strap member 12, and a loop fastener material is preferably associated with at least a portion of outer surface 26 of primary strap member 12. During normal operation, these hook and loop fastener materials cooperate to releasably secure primary strap member 12 on, to and/or around a user. Primary strap member 12 may be used with or without secondary strap member 40 (See FIGS. 4-7).

(24) Referring now to FIGS. 4-6 collectively, in one embodiment, secondary strap member 40 includes first end 42, second end 44, inner surface 46, outer surface 48, upper end 50, lower end 52, length (L), height (H), and thickness (T). Secondary strap member 40 is preferably fabricated from leather, plastics, rubbers, natural and/or synthetic materials, and composites of the samejust to name a few.

(25) In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a hook fastener material is preferably associated with at least a portion of inner surface 46 of secondary strap member 40, and a loop fastener material is preferably associated with at least a portion of outer surface 48 of secondary strap member 40. During normal operation, these hook and loop fastener materials cooperate to releasably secure secondary strap member 40 on, to and/or around a user.

(26) As is best shown in FIG. 4, a decorative and/or aesthetic layer may be releasably secured to at least a portion of the outer surface of the secondary strap member. This decorative layer preferably includes an outer surface that looks like a conventional belt and in inner surface that includes hook type fastener material.

(27) As is best shown in FIG. 7, utility strap assembly 10 preferably includes the inner surface of primary strap member 12 releasably secured to the outer surface of secondary strap member 40.

(28) In certain embodiments of the present invention, utility strap assembly 10 comprises conductive traces that facilitate provision of electricity to and/or throughout the utility strap assembly. These conductive traces may include, for example, conductive metal, wire, ink, paint, etcetera. In one embodiment of the present invention, a power supply is also associated with the utility strap assembly. More specifically, the power supply is preferably associated with the conductive traces and primary strap member 12.

(29) Referring now to FIGS. 8-9, accessory member 18 preferably includes a guide member which is slidably positioned within track 32. The guide member is preferably releasably associated with accessory member 18 via, for example, snaps, hook and loop fasteners, buttons, zippers, selective adhesives.

(30) In accordance with the present invention, accessory member 18 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.

(31) 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.