Carrier for articles such as pitons

Claim 2

A carrier for articles such as pitons comprising a bodysupported strap having a plurality of spaced-support stations along its length, a retainer member constructed and arranged to be removably attached to said stations and formed of an elongated piece shaped in a closed loop configuration, said retainer member including a lower hook portion for supporting pitons in a depending manner, an upper portion inclined inwardly toward an inner side for supporting pitons moved to a temporary position above said hook portion and a gate portion in an outer side arranged to move outwardly when an outwardly Directed force is applied thereto from a lower point of support for removal and replacement of a piton onto said retainer member and return to said closed position when the force is removed, said retainer member including a pair of resilient tubular members disposed in spaced relation along the inner side and arranged to slide against a looplike member forming a station of a strap to hold the retainer member firmly on the strap.

Claim 3

A carrier for supporting articles comprising: a body-supported strap, a support member firmly mounted to the strap to stand substantially erect and project forwardly from the strap to facilitate removal and replacement of the articles thereon, said support member including a hook portion having a shank depending from the strap and a lower end section projecting forwardly and upwardly away from the shank to provide a support surface for articles, an upper end portion extending forwardly and upwardly from the top of the shank then downwardly toward the lower end section, and a movable gate between the lower end section and said upper end portion to form a closed endless article-retaining configuration, said gate being arranged for movement forwardly away from the strap when a forwardly directed force is applied thereto to permit removal and replacement of articles depending from the hook portion.

Claim 4

A carrier for supporting articles comprising: a body-supported strap, a support member firmly mounted to the strap to stand substantially erect and project forwardly from the strap to facilitate removal and replacement of the articles thereon, said support member including a hook portion having a shank depending from the strap and a lower end section projecting forwardly and upwardly away from the shank to provide a support surface for articles, an upper end portion extending forwardly and upwardly from the top of the shank then downwardly toward the lower end section, and a movable gate between the lower end section and said upper end portion to form a closed endless article-retaining configuration, said gate being arranged for movement forwardly away from the strap when a forwardly directed force is applied thereto to permit removal and replacement of articles depending from the hook portion.

Claim 5

A carrier as set forth in claim 2, wherein said upper end portion extends forwardly and upwardly along a gradual incline to from a secondary support surface for the articles.

Claim 6

A carrier as set forth in claim 2, wherein the upwardly extending portion of said lower end section and said gate extend forwardly and upwardly along a relatively sharp incline.

Claim 7

A carrier as set forth in claim 2, wherein a terminal end of the downwardly turned upper end portion is inset from an upper terminal end of said gate to form a stop for an article being moved forwardly and upwardly against said gate.

Claim 8

A carrier as set forth in claim 2, including means for pivotally supporting said gate from an upwardly extending portion of said lower end section and spring-biasing means operatively associated with said gate and lower end section for returning said gate to a closed position after it has been moved forwardly to release an article.

Claim 9

A carrier as set forth in claim 2, wherein said gate is formed of a resilient material and is an extension of said lower end section.

Claim 10

A carrier as set forth in claim 2, wherein said upper end portion is of a substantially greater length than said lower end section.

Claim 11

A carrier as set forth in claim 2, wherein said strap is firmly mounted to an upper end portion of said shank.

Claim 12

A carrier for articles such as pitons comprising a bandolier having a plurality of spaced loops arranged along its length, a retainer member arranged to be supported in selected of said loops and means for firmly holding said retainer member in an associated of said loops to stand substantially erect and project forwardly from the bandolier to facilitate removal and replacement of pitons thereon, said retainer member including a hook portion having a shank secured to and depending from its associated loop and a curved lower end section projecting forwardly and away from the shank to provide a support surface for the pitons, an upper end portion extending forwardly and upwardly from the the top of the shank along a gradual incline and then downwardly toward the lower end section for supporting pitons moved to a temporary position above said lower end section, and a movable gate between the lower end section and the downturned end of said upper end portion along a sharp incline to form a closed endless piton-retaining configuration, said gate being supported from said lower end section for movement forwardly away from the bandolier when a forwardly directed force is applied thereto to permit removal and replacement of articles depending from the hook portion.

Claim 13

A carrier for articles such as pitons comprising a bandolier having a plurality of spaced loops arranged along its length, a retainer member arranged to be supported in selected of said loops and means for firmly holding said retainer member in an associated of said loops to stand substantially erect and project forwardly from the bandolier to facilitate removal and replacement of pitons thereon, said retainer member including a hook portion having a shank secured to and depending from its associated loop and a curved lower end section projecting forwardly and away from the shank to provide a support surface for the pitons, an upper end portion extending forwardly and upwardly from the the top of the shank along a gradual incline and then downwardly toward the lower end section for supporting pitons moved to a temporary position above said lower end section, and a movable gate between the lower end section and the downturned end of said upper end portion along a sharp incline to form a closed endless piton-retaining configuration, said gate being supported from said lower end section for movement forwardly away from the bandolier when a forwardly directed force is applied thereto to permit removal and replacement of articles depending from the hook portion.