Rotatable accessory attachment platform

• US 8,251,266 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2008
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vista Outdoor Operations LLC (Vista Outdoor Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Incorporated (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Gregory, Thomas M., Kincaid, Robert A., Marx, Thomas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): LARSON, JUSTIN MATTHEW
• Application Number:
  US12/734,012
• Publication Number:
  US 20100276463A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,419 Days
• Field of Search: 224/197, 224/198, 224/199, 224/200, 224/282, 248/221.11, 403/93, 403/97
• US Class Current: 224/198
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 33/045 for connection in more than one rotational position around an axle, e.g. by using a rotatable connection

Abstract

An accessory attachment platform, including a platform body having a plate attachment portion, wherein the plate attachment portion includes a platform opening; a platform plate portion coupled to an accessory plate portion, through the platform opening, such that the platform plate portion and the accessory plate portion are rotatable relative to the platform body; and a release lever pivotably attached to the platform body, wherein the release lever is pivotable between a locking position and an unlocking position, and wherein the release lever is capable of releasably interacting with a primary notch of the platform plate portion such that when the release lever is in the locking position relative to the primary notch of the platform plate portion, the platform plate portion is unable to rotate relative to the platform body.

Claims

1. A holster, comprising:

a platform body having a plate attachment portion, wherein the plate attachment portion includes a platform opening, wherein the platform opening is counter-bored from both a first side of the platform body and a second side of the platform body, resulting in an internal projection that extends into a portion of the platform opening and defines a first shoulder, facing towards the first side of the platform body, and a second shoulder, facing towards the second side of the platform body;

a platform plate portion coupled to an accessory plate portion, through the platform opening of the platform body, such that the platform plate portion and the accessory plate portion are rotatable relative to the platform body, wherein an outer rim portion of the platform plate portion is rotatably slidable along a surface of the second shoulder of the platform opening and wherein an outer rim portion of the accessory plate portion is rotatably slidable along a surface of the first shoulder of the platform opening; and

a release lever pivotably attached to the platform body, wherein the release lever is pivotable between a locking position and an unlocking position, and wherein the release lever is capable of releasably interacting with a primary notch of the platform plate portion such that when the release lever is in the locking position relative to the primary notch of the platform plate portion, the platform plate portion is unable to rotate relative to the platform body.

2. The accessory attachment platform of claim 1, wherein the platform plate portion has a substantially circular or disk shape.

3. The accessory attachment platform of claim 1, wherein the accessory plate portion has a substantially circular or disk shape.

4. The accessory attachment platform of claim 1, wherein the platform plate portion is restrained from being pulled through the platform opening by the interaction of a surface of the outer rim portion of the platform plate portion and the surface of the second shoulder and the accessory plate portion is restrained from being pulled through the platform opening by the interaction of a surface of the outer rim portion of the accessory plate portion and the surface of the first shoulder.

5. The accessory attachment platform of claim 1, wherein the release lever is biased to a locking position such that when a pivoting force is removed from the release lever, the release lever returns to the locking position.

6. The accessory attachment platform of claim 1, wherein the release lever is in the unlocking position, relative to the primary notch of the platform plate portion, the platform plate portion is able to rotate relative to the platform body.

7. The accessory attachment platform of claim 1, wherein the release lever is located along a rear portion or a front portion of the platform body.

8. The accessory attachment platform of claim 1, wherein the release lever is positioned proximate a top portion, a bottom portion, or a side portion of the accessory plate portion.

9. The accessory attachment platform of claim 1, wherein the accessory plate portion is rotatable between a carry position and a rotated position.

10. The accessory attachment platform of claim 1, wherein the platform body is capable of being removably attached or coupled to a belt, a portion of MOLLE or S.T.R.I.K.E. webbing, to a surface, or to a portion of webbing or strap material.

11. The accessory attachment platform of claim 1, wherein the accessory plate portion includes an attached carrier, platform, carrier rail, or device.

12. The accessory attachment platform of claim 1, wherein the accessory plate portion includes a carrier, platform, carrier rail, or device formed as an integral part of the accessory plate portion.

13. The accessory attachment platform of claim 1, wherein the platform plate portion further includes one or more platform plate portion apertures formed through the platform paddle and wherein the accessory plate portion further includes one or more accessory plate portion apertures formed through the accessory plate portion, wherein a size and positional relationship of the platform plate portion apertures and the accessory plate portion apertures is such that the platform plate portion apertures and the accessory plate portion apertures are each capable of simultaneously interacting with corresponding accessory body attachment points on an accessory and an appropriate attachment means to allow the platform body, the platform plate portion, the accessory plate portion, and the accessory to be assembled together such that the platform plate portion, the accessory plate portion, and the accessory body are capable of rotating with respect to the platform body.

14. The accessory attachment platform of claim 13, wherein the accessory comprises at least one of a holster, a carrier, or a holder.

15. The accessory attachment platform of claim 1, further including at least one secondary notch formed in the platform plate portion such that when the release lever is in the locking position, relative to the secondary notch of the platform plate portion, the platform plate portion is unable to rotate relative to the platform body.

16. The accessory attachment platform of claim 15, wherein when the release lever is in the locking position, relative to the secondary notch of the platform plate portion, a counter rotating force can be applied to the accessory plate portion sufficient to force the release lever from the secondary notch and allow the accessory plate portion to be rotated relative to the platform body.

17. The accessory attachment platform of claim 1, further including a notch segment formed in the accessory plate portion that interacts with a stop formed in the platform opening to allow the accessory plate portion to only rotate a predetermined number of degrees relative to the platform body, as dictated by the length of the notch segment.

18. The accessory attachment platform of claim 17, wherein the notch segment is formed so as to allow for 90°

of rotation of the accessory plate portion relative to the platform body.

19. The accessory attachment platform of claim 17, wherein the notch segment is formed so as to allow for less than or greater than 90°

of rotation of the accessory plate portion relative to the platform body.