Socket head attachment system for a baton scabbard

Abstract

A scabbard is provided for a baton. The scabbard includes a baton receiver that receives the baton, a belt clip coupled to the baton receiver and a socket head screw having a socket head and a shaft that attaches the belt clip to the baton receiver. The socket head screw includes the socket head having a relatively large diameter compared to a diameter of the shaft and a socket head recess disposed in the socket head, said socket head recess having a relatively small diameter compared to a diameter of the shaft of the socket head screw, said socket head recess extending through the socket head and extending into the shaft of the socket head screw.

1 . A scabbard for a baton comprising: 
 a baton receiver that receives the baton;    a belt clip coupled to the baton receiver; and    a socket head screw having a socket head and a shaft that attaches the belt clip to the baton receiver, said socket head screw further comprising    the socket head having a relatively large diameter compared to a diameter of the shaft; and    a socket head recess disposed in the socket head, said socket head recess having a relatively small diameter compared to a diameter of the shaft of the socket head screw, said socket head recess extending through the socket head and extending into the shaft of the socket head screw.    
   
   
       2 . The scabbard as in  claim 1  wherein the relatively large socket head further comprises a diameter that is at least twice as large as a diameter of the shaft of the socket head screw.  
   
   
       3 . The scabbard as in  claim 1  wherein the relatively large socket head further comprises a diameter that is at least three times larger than a diameter of the shaft of the socket head screw.  
   
   
       4 . The scabbard as in  claim 1  wherein the relatively large socket head further comprises a depth, measured along a predominant axis of the shaft, that is at least twenty-five percent less than a diameter of the shaft.  
   
   
       5 . The scabbard as in  claim 1  wherein the socket head recess has a diameter that is at least twenty-five percent less than a diameter of the shaft.  
   
   
       6 . The scabbard as in  claim 1  wherein the receiver further comprises a tubular body that is substantially continuous in an annular and axial direction and a mounting flange disposed on an outer surface of the tubular body proximate a first end of the tubular body, said mounting flange defined by an unobstructed planar mounting surface substantially surrounding a center aperture, said planar mounting surface being substantially tangent to an outer surface of the tubular body.  
   
   
       7 . The scabbard as in  claim 6  further comprises a belt clip mounting plate with a peripheral mounting surface that is complementary to the unobstructed mounting surface that couples the belt clip to the baton receiver.  
   
   
       8 . The scabbard as in  claim 7  further comprising a plurality of threaded bosses disposed within the unobstructed mounting surface.  
   
   
       9 . The scabbard as in  claim 8  wherein the socket head screw further comprises a plurality of socket head screws that engage the threaded bosses through a corresponding plurality of apertures in the belt clip mounting plate of the belt clip assembly to detachably secure the belt clip mounting plate to the mounting flange.  
   
   
       10 . The scabbard as in  claim 9  wherein the belt clip mounting plate further comprises plastic.  
   
   
       11 . The scabbard as in  claim 10  wherein the belt clip mounting plate further comprises a plurality of screw head recesses adapted to receive the relatively large socket heads so that the relatively large socket heads do not protrude from the recesses.  
   
   
       12 . A support structure comprising: 
 a substrate;    a relatively soft material;    a socket head screw having a socket head and a shaft adapted to attach the relatively soft material to the substrate, said socket head having a relatively large diameter compared to a diameter of the shaft; and    a socket head recess disposed in the socket head, said socket head recess having a relatively small diameter compared to a diameter of the shaft of the socket head screw, said socket head recess extending through the socket head and into the shaft of the socket head screw.    
   
   
       13 . The socket head screw system as in  claim 12  wherein the support structure further comprises a baton scabbard, the relatively soft material further comprises a belt clip of the baton scabbard and the substrate further comprises a baton receiver of the baton scabbard.  
   
   
       14 . The socket head screw system as in  claim 13  wherein the relatively large screw head is at least twice as large as the screw portion of the socket head screw.  
   
   
       15 . The scabbard as in  claim 12  wherein the relatively large socket head further comprises a depth, measured along a predominant axis of the shaft, that is at least twenty-five percent less than a diameter of the shaft.  
   
   
       16 . The socket head screw system as in  claim 12  wherein the relatively small diameter socket head recess further comprises a socket head recess diameter that is less than three quarters a diameter of the shaft of the socket head screw.  
   
   
       17 . The scabbard as in  claim 12  wherein the relatively soft material further comprises plastic.