BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Field of the Disclosure

[0001] The present disclosure relates to tourniquet holders. In particular, it relates to a permanent adherence to a trauma management kit that is configured for quick retrieval of a tourniquet for use in battlefield environments in which efficiency of movement is critical to survivability.

State of the Art

[0002] Trauma medical kits carried by soldiers in the battle space include many items such as gauze, scissors, bandages, tourniquets, etc. However, in the vast majority of casualty situations, it is a tourniquet that is needed first to prevent life threatening blood loss. Currently there is no practical way for a soldier to co-locate his/her tourniquet within their trauma medical kit, and gain access to that tourniquet, without taking additional steps to manipulate the kit. These additional steps cost valuable time; and under stress prove difficult to complete.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0003] A holster for secure provisioning of a tourniquet such as a SOFTT, SOFFT- Wide or CAT tourniquet for instant, one handed, access from a trauma management kit is disclosed.

[0004] In one embodiment, a tourniquet holster in accordance with the present disclosure is a preformed polymer tourniquet holder that is rigidly fastened to an external surface of a quick release field trauma kit that can be worn by a soldier and instantly accessed with one hand.

[0005] In another embodiment, the tourniquet holster is encased in a fabric pocket that is sewn to the external surface of a flap of a field trauma kit. The intention of this fabric is to mitigate the Near Infrared Signature of the polymer. The holster is formed so as to securely hold the tourniquet until needed in the field. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The disclosure will be better understood and objects, other than those set forth above, will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description. Such description makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0007] Figure 1 shows a back perspective view of a soldier wearing a trauma kit incorporating an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0008] Figure 2 is a perspective exploded view of the trauma kit case shown on the soldier in FIG. 1 .

[0009] Figure 3 is an open view of the main bag of the trauma kit case shown in FIG. 2.

[0010] Figure 4 is a separate perspective view of one embodiment of a hard polymer holster utilized in the trauma kit in accordance with the present disclosure.

[001 1 ] Figure 5 is a top view of the assembled trauma kit case shown in FIG. 2.

[0012] Figure 6 is a front plan view of a trauma kit shown in Figure 2

[0013] Figure 7 is a side view of the kit shown in Figure 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough disclosure. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the art disclosed may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known features may have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the art disclosed.

[0015] A soldier 10 is shown in FIG. 1 wearing a vest to which a trauma management kit 12 is attached, that the soldier 10 can easily grasp and open. This trauma management kit 12 encloses a variety of tools and bandage materials (not visible) in a quick open canvas bag 14 that has a tourniquet holster 100 in accordance with the present disclosure attached to the outer surface of the quick release bag 14. This permits the tourniquet 102 to be immediately withdrawn for immediate use even before the quick release bag 14 is opened in the event of wounding to the soldier or soldier nearby. [0016] In the event of massive trauma, instant access to the tourniquet 102 can mean the difference between life and death to an injured soldier. As can readily be seen in Figure 1 , the tourniquet 102 in the holster 100 is immediately available in such an event.

[0017] Figure 2 is a separate view of the management kit 12 with the tourniquet holster 100 exploded in perspective. The holster 100 comprises a two-piece polymer case 104 into which a tourniquet 102 can be placed (not shown). The polymer case 104 is preferably made of a thermoplastic polymeric material such as Kydex and has an inner shell 106 and outer shell 108 that are held together by rivets 1 10 adjacent the upper opening of the case. Another set of two rivets 1 12 fastens the plastic case 104 to the outer surface of the main bag 14 of the kit 12. An outer fabric cover 1 14, preferably a nylon canvas duck fabric, may optionally then be sewn to the outer surface of the main bag 14 of the kit 12 to enclose the plastic case 104.

[0018] The rivets 1 12 that are used to fasten the plastic case 104 to the outer surface of the kit bag 14 are one piece rivets. Each rivet, preferably made of aluminum, is inserted through a hole in the inner shell 106 of the plastic case 104 so as to project toward the main bag 1 . The rivets 1 12 are then inserted through corresponding holes in the outer shell of the main bag 14. A plier type tool is then used to expand the protruding end of each rivet against the inner surface of the outer shell of the main bag 14. Figure 3 shows the rivet configuration inside the main bag 14 of the kit 12.

[0019] A perspective view of the thermoplastic case 104 for one type of tourniquet is shown in Figure 4 along with top, back and side views of the case 104. A top view of the assembled kit 12 is shown in FIG. 5. A front view and side view of the assembled kit 12 is shown in Figures 6 and 7.

[0020] Currently there are three commercially available tourniquets 102. Preferably a different holster case 104 shape will be provided for each style of tourniquet to ensure that each type is securely held in the holster 100 until needed.

[0021] Finally, it will also be apparent to one skilled in the art that many variations to the kit configuration may be made. For example, a kit 12 may be provided with more than one holster 100 on its outer cover depending on the overall size of the main bag 14 of the kit 12. Accordingly, it is intended that the art disclosed shall be limited only to the extent required by the appended claims and the rules and principles of applicable law.