Belt keeper for utility belts

Abstract

A belt keeper for securing a duty belt to a garment is disclosed. The belt keeper has a fastener tab on the inside surface so that the belt keeper can be detachably attached to the fastener strip on the inside of the duty belt. The fastener tab is flexibly attached to the belt keeper so that the belt keeper can readily allow its user to secure the duty belt to the garment belt, and keep the belt keeper in its position even after disengagement. In another embodiment, the belt keeper has a flexibly attached clamp on the inside of the belt keeper. The clamp can be detachably attached to the duty belt, so that the duty belt can be readily secured to the garment belt, while facilitating the belt keeper to maintain its position on the duty belt upon disengagement. In yet another embodiment, the clamp is a dual clamp, where one clamp is attached to the inside surface of the belt keeper and the other clamp can be detachably attached to the duty belt.

1 . A belt keeper and duty belt for securely fastening the duty belt to a garment belt, comprising: 
 a fastener tab;    at least one belt keeper, said belt keeper having one end of said fastener tab attached to the inside of the belt keeper;    a fastener strip on the inside of said duty belt, for detachable attachment by the other end of said fastener tab.    
     
     
         2 . The belt keeper and duty belt of  claim 1 , wherein said one end of said fastener tab is flexibly attached to a predetermined position on the inside of said belt keeper, such that said belt keeper can accommodate said garment belt.  
     
     
         3 . The belt keeper and duty belt of  claim 2 , wherein said fastener strip and said fastener tab are hook and loop fasteners.  
     
     
         4 . The belt keeper and duty belt of  claim 2 , wherein said fastener strip and said fastener tab are Velcro fasteners.  
     
     
         5 . The belt keeper and duty belt of  claim 3 , wherein another end of said fastener tab is freely movable.  
     
     
         6 . An apparatus for securely and conveniently fastening a duty belt to a garment belt, comprising: 
 a clamp having a pair of clamping prongs joined at a base;    at least one belt keeper, said belt keeper having said base flexibly attached to a predetermined position on the inside of said belt keeper, said clamp being controllably and releasably clamped to said duty belt, such that said belt keeper accommodates said garment belt when in use.    
     
     
         7 . The belt keeper and duty belt of  claim 6 , wherein said clamp is a dual clamp having a first clamp as said base and a second clamp, said first clamp is releasably and flexibly attached to the inside of said belt keeper, said second clamp is detachably and releasably attached to said duty belt.  
     
     
         8 . A belt keeper for securely and releasably attaching a duty belt to a garment belt, comprising: 
 a strip of heavy-duty material, said strip having two ends;    closure means on both ends of said strip;    an inside strip having one end being flexibly attached to a predetermined position on the inside of said strip such that said strip and said inside strip can accommodate said garment belt, the other end of said inside strip having a fastener for releasable attachment to said duty belt.    
     
     
         9 . The belt keeper of  claim 8 , wherein said heavy-material is nylon.  
     
     
         10 . The belt keeper of  claim 8 , further comprising a fastener strip on the inside of said duty belt for releasable attachment by said inside strip.  
     
     
         11 . The belt keeper of  claim 10 , wherein said fastener and fastener strip are hook and loop fasteners.  
     
     
         12 . The belt keeper of  claim 10 , wherein said closure means are one of Velcro, plastic buckles and quick-release buckles.  
     
     
         13 . A clamp for flexibly attaching a belt keeper to a duty belt, comprising: 
 a first clamp having a pair of prongs resiliently joined at a base, the body of said first clamp being positioned generally in a first axis, adapted for clamping to said belt keeper;    a second clamp having a pair of prongs resiliently joined at a base, the body of said second clamp being positioned generally in a second axis, perpendicular to said first axis, adapted for clamping to said duty belt,    wherein one of said prongs of said first clamp is mounted on the base of said second clamp.    
     
     
         14 . The clamp of  claim 13 , wherein the length of said prongs of said first clamp is generally the same as the width of said base of said second clamp.  
     
     
         15 . The clamp of  claim 14 , further comprising a belt keeper, wherein a predetermined position on said belt keeper is adapted to receive said first clamp.