Adjustable Clip

Abstract

Representative implementations of devices and techniques provide an adjustable clip that may be adjusted in overall length. The adjustable clip includes an upper clip portion and a lower clip portion, which are moveably coupled to each other. An actuator is included to set the overall length of the adjustable clip, and to prevent the upper clip portion and the lower clip portion from moving with respect to each other unintentionally, when the length is set. The clip length can be user-adjusted in the field if desired.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An adjustable clip, comprising:
 an upper clip portion arranged to clip onto or around a support object and including one or more interface features arranged to interface with a lower clip portion and to adjust an overall length of the adjustable clip;   a lower clip portion moveably coupled to the upper clip portion and arranged to extend from the upper clip portion or retract towards the upper clip portion to adjust an overall length of the adjustable clip, the lower clip portion including at least one mounting hole for mounting the adjustable clip to a load object; and   an actuator coupled to or integral to the upper clip portion or the lower clip portion, the actuator configured to allow the lower clip portion to move relative to the upper clip portion when the actuator is in a first position and to prevent the lower clip portion from moving relative to the upper clip portion when the actuator is in a second position.   
     
     
         2 . The adjustable clip of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of actuators coupled to or integral to the upper clip portion, the lower clip portion, or the upper clip portion and the lower clip portion, one or more of the plurality of actuators configured to lock a position of the lower clip portion relative to the upper clip portion while the one or more of the plurality of actuators is at rest and configured to release the lower clip portion to move relative to the upper clip portion while the one or more of the plurality of actuators is actuated. 
     
     
         3 . The adjustable clip of  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of actuators includes a tang component, and wherein each of the plurality of actuators is configured to be actuated by bending the tang component from a rest position. 
     
     
         4 . The adjustable clip of  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of actuators includes a button portion configured to protrude through an opening in the upper clip portion or the lower clip portion to lock the position of the lower clip portion relative to the upper clip portion while the one or more of the plurality of actuators is at rest. 
     
     
         5 . The adjustable clip of  claim 2 , wherein a quantity and a location of the plurality of actuators determines a plurality of discrete length adjustments for the adjustable clip. 
     
     
         6 . The adjustable clip of  claim 1 , wherein the upper clip portion includes a cavity wherein the lower clip portion may be inserted, the actuator configured to allow the lower clip portion to travel within the cavity when the actuator is in the first position and configured to prevent the lower clip portion from travelling within the cavity when the actuator is in the second position. 
     
     
         7 . The adjustable clip of  claim 1 , wherein the lower clip portion includes a cavity wherein the upper clip portion may be inserted, the actuator configured to allow the upper clip portion to travel within the cavity when the actuator is in the first position and configured to prevent the upper clip portion from travelling within the cavity when the actuator is in the second position. 
     
     
         8 . The adjustable clip of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is coupled to or integral to the upper clip portion and wherein the lower clip portion includes a plurality of openings, and wherein the actuator is configured to protrude from at least one of the plurality of openings to determine an overall length of the adjustable clip when the actuator is in the second position. 
     
     
         9 . The adjustable clip of  claim 1 , wherein the lower clip portion includes a channel along a length of the lower clip portion having a plurality of detents, protrusions, or openings disposed along a length of the channel, the plurality of detents, protrusions, or openings determining a plurality of stops for the lower clip portion relative to the upper clip portion. 
     
     
         10 . The adjustable clip of  claim 9 , wherein a quantity and a location of the plurality of stops determines a plurality of discrete length adjustments for the adjustable clip. 
     
     
         11 . The adjustable clip of  claim 1 , wherein the lower clip portion includes a plurality of stops along a length of the lower clip portion, the actuator configured to bypass the stops when actuated, allowing the lower clip portion to travel with respect to the upper portion, and configured to catch the stops when not actuated, preventing the lower clip portion from travelling with respect to the upper portion. 
     
     
         12 . The adjustable clip of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises one or more spring-tensioned push buttons. 
     
     
         13 . The adjustable clip of  claim 1 , wherein the lower clip portion is slideably coupled to the upper clip portion. 
     
     
         14 . The adjustable clip of  claim 1 , wherein the lower clip portion is moveably coupled to the upper clip portion via a screw mechanism. 
     
     
         15 . The adjustable clip of  claim 14 , wherein an overall length of the adjustable clip is determined by a quantity of turns of the screw mechanism. 
     
     
         16 . The adjustable clip of  claim 1 , wherein the lower clip portion is extended from the upper clip portion to increase an overall length of the adjustable clip and wherein the lower clip portion is retracted toward the upper clip portion to decrease an overall length of the adjustable clip. 
     
     
         17 . An implement holster, comprising:
 a pocket for receiving an implement;   a backing portion coupled to the pocket to support a load of the pocket and the implement; and   one or more adjustable clips coupled to the backing portion or to the pocket, each adjustable clip having:
 an upper clip portion arranged to clip onto or around a support object, and including one or more interface features arranged to interface with a lower clip portion and to adjust an overall length of the adjustable clip; 
 a lower clip portion moveably coupled to the upper clip portion and arranged to extend from the upper clip portion or retract towards the upper clip portion to adjust an overall length of the adjustable clip, the lower clip portion including at least one mounting hole for mounting the adjustable clip to the backing portion or to the pocket; and 
 an actuator coupled to or integral to the upper clip portion or the lower clip portion, the actuator configured to allow the lower clip portion to move relative to the upper clip portion when the actuator is in a first position and to prevent the lower clip portion from moving relative to the upper clip portion when the actuator is in a second position. 
   
     
     
         18 . A method, comprising:
 moveably coupling an upper clip portion to a lower clip portion, the upper clip portion and the lower clip portion including one or more interface features arranged to adjust a relative position of the upper clip portion to the lower clip portion, the relative position determining an overall length of an adjustable clip comprising the upper clip portion and the lower clip portion;   moving an actuator into a first position to allow the lower clip portion to move relative to the upper clip portion;   extending the lower clip portion from the upper clip portion while the actuator is in the first position to increase an overall length of the adjustable clip;   retracting the lower clip portion towards the upper clip portion while the actuator is in the first position to decrease the overall length of the adjustable clip; and   moving the actuator into a second position to prevent the lower clip portion from moving relative to the upper clip portion.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising slideably coupling the lower clip portion to the upper clip portion or moveably coupling the lower clip portion to the upper clip portion via a screw-type mechanism. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising fine tuning a ride height and a cant angle of an implement holster by extending or retracting the lower clip portion relative to the upper clip portion while the adjustable clip is coupled to the implement holster.