Weapon lanyard

Abstract

The weapon lanyard is a flexible, inelastic, resilient coiled cord for attaching a weapon, particularly a handgun, to the person of a user of the weapon. The cord has swiveling snap hooks at both ends. The snap hook end which is to be attached to the gun has a ring, e.g., a split ring, through the hook which may be inserted through a hole, loop, or other lanyard attachment point on the butt of the handgun. The opposite snap hook end may be attached to a belt loop on the trousers, or it may be attached to a strap that can be buckled around a gun belt or other accessory or item of apparel. The cord is made from thermoplastic material, such as polyurethane, and may be solid or hollow. The ends of the cord may be secured to the snap hooks by clamps, welding, or other methods.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A weapon lanyard for retaining a weapon transported in a holster worn by a user, comprising: 
 (a) a flexible, inelastic, resilient coiled cord having a first end and a second end;    (b) a first snap hook attached to the first end of said coiled cord;    (c) a second snap hook attached to the second end of said coiled cord; and    (d) a ring attached to said second snap hook, said ring being adapted for attachment to a weapon;    wherein the first end of said coiled cord is capable of being attached to an item of apparel worn by the user;    wherein said coiled cord has a length of up to and including one foot in a retracted position, whereby said coiled cord forms a compact loop between its point of attachment to the item of apparel and the holster when the weapon is stored in the holster; and    wherein said coiled cord has a length of between three feet and six feet in an extended position, whereby the weapon is capable of being held at arm's length.    
     
     
         2 . The weapon lanyard according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and second snap hooks each have a stirrup, the weapon lanyard further comprising: 
 (a) a first clamp, the first end of said coiled cord being looped through the stirrup of said first snap hook and being secured by said first clamp; and    (b) a second clamp, the second end of said coiled cord being looped through the stirrup of said second snap hook and being secured by said second clamp.    
     
     
         3 . The weapon lanyard according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and second snap hooks each have a stirrup, the first and second ends of said coiled cord being inserted through the stirrups of said first and second snap hooks, respectively, and secured by welding the first and second ends of said coiled cord in order to define a loop through the stirrups.  
     
     
         4 . The weapon lanyard according to  claim 1 , further comprising a strap adapted for attachment to a gun belt, said strap having a first end and a second end, said strap further comprising: 
 (a) a buckle attached to the first end of said strap; and    (b) a ring attached to said strap adjacent said buckle, said first snap hook being removably attached to the ring on said strap in order to attach said coiled cord to the gun belt.    
     
     
         5 . The weapon lanyard according to  claim 4 , wherein said strap is made from leather.  
     
     
         6 . The weapon lanyard according to  claim 1 , wherein said coiled cord is made from a thermoplastic material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane and a polyvinyl resin.  
     
     
         7 . The weapon lanyard according to  claim 1 , wherein said coiled cord is tubular.  
     
     
         8 . The weapon lanyard according to  claim 1 , wherein said coiled cord is solid.  
     
     
         9 . The weapon lanyard according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and second snap hooks each further comprise a hook and a stirrup, said hook being pivotally attached to said stirrup, whereby said first and second snap hooks are capable of swivelling.  
     
     
         10 . The weapon lanyard according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and second snap hooks each further comprise: 
 (a) a stirrup; and    (b) a hook pivotally attached to said stirrup, said hook including a spring-biased peg and a slide button attached to said peg for opening and closing said hook.    
     
     
         11 . A weapon lanyard for retaining a weapon transported in a holster worn by a user, comprising: 
 (a) a flexible, inelastic, resilient coiled cord having a first end and a second end;    (b) a first swivel snap hook having a first stirrup;    (c) a second swivel snap hook having a second stirrup;    (d) a first clamp, the first end of said coiled cord being looped through the first stirrup and being secured by said first clamp;    (e) a second clamp, the second end of said coiled cord being looped through the second stirrup and being secured by said second clamp; and    (f) a ring attached to said second snap hook, said ring being adapted for attachment to a weapon;    wherein the first end of said coiled cord is capable of being attached to an item of apparel worn by the user;    wherein said coiled cord has a length of up to and including one foot in a retracted position, whereby said coiled cord forms a compact loop between its point of attachment to the item of apparel and the holster when the weapon is stored in the holster; and    wherein said coiled cord has a length of between three feet and six feet in an extended position, whereby the weapon is capable of being held at arm's length.    
     
     
         12 . The weapon lanyard according to  claim 11 , wherein said coiled cord is made from a thermoplastic material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane and a polyvinyl resin.  
     
     
         13 . The weapon lanyard according to  claim 11 , wherein said coiled cord is tubular.  
     
     
         14 . The weapon lanyard according to  claim 11 , wherein said coiled cord is solid.  
     
     
         15 . The weapon lanyard according to  claim 11 , wherein said first and second snap hooks each further comprise: 
 (a) a stirrup; and    (b) a hook pivotally attached to said stirrup, said hook including a spring-biased peg and a slide button attached to said peg for opening and closing said hook.    
     
     
         16 . A weapon lanyard for retaining a weapon transported in a holster worn by a user, comprising: 
 (a) a flexible, inelastic, resilient coiled cord having a first end and a second end;    (b) a first swivel snap hook having a first stirrup, the first end of said coiled cord being inserted through the first stirrup and secured by welding in order to define a loop through the first stirrup;    (c) a second swivel snap hook having a second stirrup, the second end of said coiled cord being inserted through the second stirrup and secured by welding in order to define a loop through the second stirrup;    (d) a ring attached to said second snap hook, said ring being adapted for attachment to a weapon; and    (e) a strap adapted for attachment to a gun belt, said strap having a first end and a second end, said strap further comprising: 
 (i) a buckle attached to the first end of said strap; and  
 (ii) a ring attached to said strap adjacent said buckle, said first snap hook being removably attached to the ring on said strap in order to attach said coiled cord to the gun belt.  
   wherein the first end of said coiled cord is capable of being attached to an item of apparel worn by the user;    wherein said coiled cord has a length of up to and including one foot in a retracted position, whereby said coiled cord forms a compact loop between its point of attachment to the item of apparel and the holster when the weapon is stored in the holster; and    wherein said coiled cord has a length of between three feet and six feet in an extended position, whereby the weapon is capable of being held at arm's length.    
     
     
         17 . The weapon lanyard according to  claim 16 , wherein said coiled cord is made from a thermoplastic material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane and a polyvinyl resin.  
     
     
         18 . The weapon lanyard according to  claim 16 , wherein said strap is made from leather.  
     
     
         19 . The weapon lanyard according to  claim 16 , wherein said first and second snap hooks each further comprise: 
 (a) a stirrup; and    (b) a hook pivotally attached to said stirrup, said hook including a spring-biased peg and a slide button attached to said peg for opening and closing said hook.