Adjustable Concealed Carry Garment with Nested Holster
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional garments for carrying concealed weapons, such as handguns, often fail to balance concealment and accessibility, being either bulky, uncomfortable, or difficult to customize for quick draw and prolonged wear.
Innovation Solution
A fully adjustable outer garment with integrated concealment system, featuring padded pockets with selective padding characteristics and semi-rigid straps, allowing for customizable positioning and concealment of the weapon, ensuring comfort and easy access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional holsters and harnesses are used to carry concealed weapons, then accessibility and readiness are improved, but the garments become bulky and uncomfortable to wear for prolonged periods
Solution Approach 1:
The holster is nested within the garment pocket structure, allowing the weapon carrying function to be integrated into the existing clothing layers without adding external bulk. The pocket serves as a container that holds the holster, which in turn holds the weapon, creating a nested arrangement that minimizes overall volume while maintaining accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The garment incorporates adjustable components such as elastic waistbands, detachable pockets, and flexible positioning mechanisms that allow the holster to be dynamically adjusted within the garment. This dynamic adjustability enables the system to adapt to different body types and wear preferences, reducing bulkiness while maintaining ease of access to the weapon.
2Ease of operation
If traditional holsters are designed for quick access, then readiness is improved, but they fail to provide full concealment and become easily detectable
Solution Approach 1:
The garment uses varying fabric densities and padding characteristics in different regions to achieve optimal concealment. The pocket area contains the holster with strategic padding that masks the weapon's outline, while other areas of the garment maintain their normal appearance. This localized quality variation ensures full concealment without compromising the ability to quickly access the weapon.
Solution Approach 2:
The garment fabric and padding act as intermediary elements between the holster and the external environment. These intermediary materials absorb and diffuse the visual and tactile cues that would otherwise reveal the presence of the concealed weapon, creating an effective barrier that prevents detection while allowing the holster to maintain its quick-access functionality.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If garments are designed for prolonged wear comfort, then wearability is improved, but accessibility and quick draw capability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The garment is segmented into functional zones: comfortable wear areas with breathable fabric for prolonged periods, and a dedicated pocket section with enhanced accessibility features for quick weapon retrieval. The waistband is divided into adjustable sections that can be positioned to optimize both comfort during extended wear and ease of access to the holster. This segmentation allows each zone to optimize its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The garment incorporates dynamic elements such as elastic waistbands that adapt to body movements, detachable pockets that can be accessed from multiple directions, and flexible positioning mechanisms that allow the holster to be quickly reached. These dynamic features enable the garment to maintain comfort during prolonged wear while providing rapid access capability when needed, resolving the contradiction between wearability and accessibility.
4Adaptability or versatility
If holsters are made customizable for different positions and orientations, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The garment pocket system is designed with universal adjustability features that can accommodate multiple holster positions and orientations without requiring separate customized garments for each configuration. The elastic waistband, detachable pockets, and flexible positioning mechanisms serve multiple functions: they provide comfort, enable adjustment, and facilitate customization. This multi-functionality achieves high adaptability while avoiding the manufacturing complexity that would result from producing multiple specialized garment variants.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the invention relate to garments with at least one pocket for containing and allowing efficient retrieval of a concealed item, such as a handgun or other weapon. In some embodiments, the garments are upper body garments, such as a shirt, jacket, or vest, with at least one pocket for containing and allowing efficient retrieval of a concealed item.