Holster and belt clip assembly for a box cutter

1. A holstering system for a utility knife comprising, in combination:

a holster for releasably retaining a utility knife, the holster having a body substantially conforming to the shape of an end portion of a handle of the utility knife, an open top end and a bottom end, the holster comprising means for yieldably opposing insertion of the end portion of the handle of the utility knife into the holster, the holster further comprising an interior channel adapted to releasably secure the utility knife within the holster;

a lanyard having a first end portion coupled to the holster and a second end portion adapted for attachment to the utility knife; and

a clip releasably coupled to the holster and adapted to attach the holster to a belt of an operator,

wherein the means for yieldably opposing insertion of the end portion of the handle of the utility knife into the holster comprises a slot comprising an opening formed through the body and extending in the body from at or near the open top end to at or near the bottom end, the slot comprising a detent adapted to engage a flared tang disposed on the handle of the utility knife.

2. The holstering system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the lanyard is adapted to limit the drop of the utility knife after its removal from the holster.

3. The holstering system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the interior channel substantially conforms to a contoured exterior of the handle of the utility knife.

4. The holstering system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising first coupling means disposed on the left hand side of the holster and second means disposed on the right hand side of the holster for releasably securing the belt clip to the holster.

5. The holstering system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the lanyard is extendable and retractable in length.

6. The holstering system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the lanyard comprises a swivel device that permits the lanyard to rotate independently of the holster.

7. The holstering system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the clip includes a body portion adapted to laterally offset the holster from the belt to provide operator hand-grip access to the utility knife received in the holster.

8. The holstering system as recited in claim 1 , the clip further comprising means for releasably engaging a belt and opposing sliding movement of the clip along the belt.

9. The holstering system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the holster further comprises a sliding interface engagement adapted to releasably secure the utility knife within the holster without locking engagement of the utility knife with the holster when the end portion of the handle abuts the bottom end of the holster.

10. A utility knife and holstering assembly, comprising in combination:

a utility knife comprising a handle and a blade, the blade at least partially enclosable within the handle;

a holster having a first sidewall portion and a second sidewall portion defining a pocket for receiving at least a portion of the handle of the utility knife, the holster comprising an elongated slot comprising an opening formed through the first sidewall portion and extending from at or near an open top end of the holster to at or near an at least partially enclosed bottom end of the holster, the first sidewall portion having a shoulder formed along the slot and disposed for sliding interference engagement with the portion of the handle of the utility knife during insertion, the slot adapted to slidably receive the portion of the handle during insertion of the utility knife into the holster; and

a lanyard having a first end portion coupled to the holster and a second end portion coupled to the utility knife,

wherein the first sidewall portion is adapted to deflect outwardly transverse to the slot during insertion, thereby yieldably opposing insertion of the portion of the handle of the utility knife into the holster and the elongated slot adapted to releasably secure the utility knife within the holster.

11. The utility knife and holstering assembly as recited in claim 10 , further comprising:

a first coupling stud mounted on the first sidewall portion; and

a second coupling stud mounted on the second sidewall portion;

wherein each of the first and second coupling studs is operable to releasably engage a belt clip, thereby permitting the holster to be worn on the left hand side and on the right hand side of an operator.

12. The utility knife and holstering assembly as recited in claim 10 , the first sidewall portion having a shoulder formed along the slot and the shoulder having a detent formed thereon for receiving a flared portion of the handle of the utility knife as the utility knife traverses the shoulder during insertion, thereby providing detented engagement between the portion of the handle of the utility knife and the holster at the limit of insertion, and yieldably opposing retraction of the portion of the handle of the utility knife from the holster.

13. The utility knife and holstering assembly as recited in claim 10 , further comprising a belt clip including:

a base member for releasably engaging the holster;

a clip member hingedly connected to the base member, the clip member having a U-shaped end portion substantially conforming to the shape of the bottom edge of the belt; and

a spring for biasing the clip member to the base member so as to hold the belt clip assembly to the belt and capture the belt within the U-shaped end portion to oppose sliding movement of the clip along the belt.

14. A holster comprising:

a first sidewall portion and a second sidewall portion defining a pocket for receiving at least a portion of a handle of a utility knife, the first sidewall portion adapted to deflect radially upon insertion of the portion of the handle into the holster, thereby yieldably opposing insertion of the portion of the handle of the utility knife into the holster;

a first coupling stud mounted on the first sidewall; and

a second coupling stud mounted on the second sidewall,

wherein the first coupling stud and the second coupling stud are operable to slidably engage a belt clip, thereby permitting the holster to be worn on the left hand side and right hand side of an operator,

wherein the holder further comprises an elongated slot comprising an opening formed through the first sidewall portion, and extending from at or near the open to end of the holster to at or near an at least partially enclosed bottom end of the holster, the elongated slot having a shoulder and a detent formed thereon for receiving a flared portion of the handle of the utility knife as the utility knife traverses the shoulder during insertion, thereby providing detented engagement between the portion of the handle of the utility knife and the holster at the limit of insertion, and yieldably opposing retraction of the portion of the handle of the utility knife out of the holster.

15. The holster assembly as recited in claim 14 , wherein the shoulder is formed along the slot and disposed for sliding interference engagement with the portion of the handle of the utility knife during insertion.

16. A holster for use in conjunction with a box cutter, the holster comprising:

a holster body having a first sidewall portion and a second sidewall portion defining a pocket for receiving at least a portion of a handle of the box cutter; and

an elongated slot comprising an opening formed through the first sidewall and extending from at or near an open top end of the holster to at or near an at least partially enclosed bottom end of the holster, the elongated slot having a shoulder portion and a detent formed on an edge portion thereof, the shoulder portion being disposed for sliding interference engagement with the portion of the handle of the box cutter during insertion of the box cutter into the pocket such that a flared tang member formed on the box cutter traverses the shoulder in a sliding interference engagement, and the flared tang member moves into the detent at the limit of insertion,

wherein the engagement of the flared tang member in the sidewall detent yieldably opposes retraction of the box cutter out of the holster when the flared tang member moves into the detent at the limit of insertion.

17. The holster as recited in claim 16 , wherein the first sidewall portion is adapted to provide sliding interference engagement with the portion of the box cutter and deflect radially during insertion, thereby yieldably opposing insertion of the portion of the box cutter into the holster.

18. The holster as recited in claim 16 , further comprising a belt clip assembly, the belt clip assembly comprising:

a base member for releasably engaging the holster, the base member comprising a tab member at an end of the base member;

a clip member hingedly connected to the base member, the clip member having a U-shaped end portion generally conforming to the shape of an edge portion of a belt; and

a spring urging the clip member toward the base member so as to hold the belt clip assembly to the belt and capture the belt within the U-shaped end portion, thereby opposing sliding movement of the clip along the belt, wherein the spring rotates to release the belt from within the U-shaped end portion of the clip member upon actuation of the tab member to adjust the base member away from the clip member.