Support assembly

Abstract

A support assembly includes a support member, the support member having a generally rigid and planar body portion, a first extension extending generally parallel to and offset to a first side of the body portion, and a second extension extending generally parallel to and offset to the first side of the body portion, and an accessory holder coupled to the support member at a first location and configured to support an accessory. The body portion may be configured to be selectively coupled to the accessory holder at a second location.

1 . A support assembly comprising:
 a support member, the support member comprising:
 a generally rigid and planar body portion; 
 a first extension extending generally parallel to and offset to a first side of the body portion; 
 a second extension extending generally parallel to and offset to the first side of the body portion; and 
   an accessory holder coupled to the support member at a first location and configured to support an accessory;   wherein the body portion is configured to be selectively coupled to the accessory holder at a second location.   
   
   
       2 . The support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first extension extends from a first end of the body portion and the second extension extends from a second end of the body portion generally opposite from the first end. 
   
   
       3 . The support assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a fastener, wherein the fastener is configured to extend through the body portion to selectively couple the body portion to the accessory holder at the second location. 
   
   
       4 . The support assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a mounting adapter coupled to the accessory holder, wherein the first extension is slidably received within the mounting adapter, and the support member is coupled to the accessory holder via the mounting adapter. 
   
   
       5 . The support assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the mounting adapter is rotably coupled to the accessory holder. 
   
   
       6 . The support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the body portion is configured to be received between a plurality of strips of webbing and an item of apparel to a first side of the plurality of strips of webbing, and the first and second extensions are configured to be positioned to a second side of the plurality of strips of webbing, the body portion and the first and second extensions thereby coupling the support member to the item of apparel. 
   
   
       7 . The support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the support member is selectively coupleable to (i) an item of apparel having a plurality of strips of webbing secured to the item of apparel and (ii) a belt. 
   
   
       8 . The support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the support member comprises spring steel. 
   
   
       9 . A method of utilizing a clip to secure an accessory holder to an item of apparel, comprising:
 providing a clip having a generally planar body portion and a pair of extensions extending parallel to and to one side of the body portion;   securing the clip to an accessory holder;   securing the clip and the accessory holder to one of (i) an item of apparel having a plurality of generally parallel strips of material attached to the item of apparel and (ii) a belt;   removing the clip and the portable device from the one of the item of apparel and the belt; and   securing the clip and the portable device to the other of the item of apparel and the belt;   wherein securing the clip and the portable device to the belt comprises positioning the clip and accessory holder to extend about at least a portion of the periphery of the belt.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein securing the clip and the portable device to the item of apparel comprises
 positioning the body portion of the clip to a first side of the plurality of generally parallel strips of material; and   positioning the first and second extensions of the clip to a second side of the plurality of generally parallel strips of material.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein securing the clip to the belt comprises passing a fastener through the body portion and into the accessory holder. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the accessory holder includes a mounting adapter that rotatably couples the accessory holder to the support member, and the fastener extends into the mounting adapter. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the support member comprises spring steel. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first extension has a width wider than a width of the body portion. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein securing the clip to the item of apparel comprises deforming the item of apparel to reduce the distance between the strips of material. 
   
   
       16 . A support member, comprising:
 a generally rigid and planar body portion having a plurality of apertures defined therein;   a first extension extending from a first end of the body portion, the first extension extending generally parallel to and offset to a first side of the body portion, the first extension including a mounting surface, the mounting surface defining at least one aperture in the first extension and configured to be coupled to an accessory holder; and   a second extension extending from a second end of the body portion opposite the first end, the second extension extending generally parallel to and offset to the first side of the body portion, the second extension extending generally toward the first extension.   
   
   
       17 . The support member of  claim 16 , wherein the mounting surface has a width greater than the body portion. 
   
   
       18 . The support member of  claim 16 , further comprising an adapter member coupled to the first extension at a first location and configured to support an accessory holder, wherein the body portion is configured to be selectively coupled to the adapter member at a second location. 
   
   
       19 . The support member of  claim 18 , wherein the body portion and first extension are configured to be received on opposite sides of a belt, and wherein the body portion is configured to be coupled to the adapter member via a fastener adjacent an edge of the belt, thereby securing the belt between the body portion, the first extension, and the fastener. 
   
   
       20 . The support member of  claim 18 , wherein the adapter member is rotably coupled to the accessory holder.