EJECTOR PORT LOCK

Information

  • Patent Application
  • 20250189268
  • Publication Number
    20250189268
  • Date Filed
    February 19, 2025
    4 months ago
  • Date Published
    June 12, 2025
    21 days ago
Abstract
A holster comprising of a body defining a receptacle configured to receive a firearm having a slide with an ejection port. The holster having a latch element operable to selectably move between a retention position in which an engagement portion of the latch element engages a pistol surface associated with the ejection port to prevent extraction of the pistol from the holster, and a released position in which the engagement position is clear of the pistol surface associated with the ejection port to enable extraction of the pistol from the holster. The latch element is a unitary element that moves from the retention position to the released position without flexing. The holster includes a spring interfacing the holster and the latch element to bias the latch element to the retention position. The entire latch element rotates with respect to the body.
Description
FIELD OF THE TECHNOLOGY

The present disclosure relates to holsters for firearms, specifically retention mechanisms for handguns.


BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

In many handgun applications, including law enforcement and self-defense, it is desirable to carry the handgun in a holster that retains the firearm from unintentional removal by the end user while still allowing for a fast and reliable intentional release mechanism to remove the firearm from the holster when desired. Most handgun holster are designed to retain a firearm by engagement with the trigger guard, by an external shroud over the exposed end of the handgun, or both. The use of a shroud may result in unwanted delay in drawing the firearm in high-stress situations because the firearm may become snagged on the shroud if the shroud is not fully cleared. Retention mechanisms that prevent removal of the firearm by engaging the trigger guard may pose risks of unintentional discharge from the users fingers engaging a release mechanism located near the trigger.


As is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,694,860 and 8,910,839 and U.S. Patent Application Publication Number 20070175935 to Norman E. Clifton, Jr., and U.S. Patent Application Publication Number 20080179359 to Gregory Aberle, et. al., which are herein incorporated by reference in its entirety for all that is taught and disclosed therein, a retention mechanism engaging the ejection port of a handgun may be used. Specifically, a locking device that fits into an ejection port.


U.S. Pat. No. 7,694,860 and to Clifton teaches a spring-loaded locking devices that fit into and against the sides of an ejection port of a handgun. However, the disclosed invention there has a spring member biasing a lever for a lever member to contact the body of a holster. This can prove disadvantageous to have the lever member contacting with the body of a holster because external forces may be applied to the body, which is generally a relatively flexible material, and interfere with proper function of the lever. See column 3 line 12. Having the lever that retains the firearm be biased against a separate unit that is then connected to the holster addresses this limitation. Additionally, the Clifton disclosure requires a handgun to press against an angled locking saddle surface to cause the locking device to be pushed into a cavity in the body of the holster, thereby forcing a locking edge into the ejection port of the handgun and against the locking front edge. This is a complicated mechanism that may be subject to unnecessary manufacturing costs and points of potential failure. This can be addressed by having a latch element biased away from the top of a holster body, towards the ejection port of a firearm. Because the latch element is always biased away from the top of a holster body, a handgun inserted simply pushes the latch element out of the way as it is inserted. Column 4, line 50-60. The embodiments in the disclosure further utilizes a bendable spring member, which has inherent disadvantages in requiring flexibility that can weaken over time, as opposed to alternative approaches such as using a coil spring. Column 4, line 66-68. The invention also requires two springs for the engagement locking portion. Column 5, line 25. A single spring biasing would result in a simpler and more reliable approach to retention and release.


U.S. Pat. No. 8,910,839 to Clifton teaches a locking device safety element that includes a mounting plate adapted for attachment to a holster assembly including a locking device, and an operating arm pivotally mounted to the mounting plate and selectively moveable between a blocking position and a clear position. However, the '839 invention discloses a locking device mounted by a mounting pad pivotally connected to a saddle with an operating lever extending outwardly from the saddle. The saddle has a natural resiliency, interpreted to be flexibility, that urges a protrusion into engagement with a firearm. Column 1 line 47-52 and column 2 lines 60-65. This limitation has a disadvantage in that the degree of resiliency can be unreliable and the disclosed mechanism for release as in FIGS. 7 and 8 is complex as it can result in a user inadvertently not releasing the lever in high stress situations. This is addressed by utilizing a spring element to bias a latch element into the ejection port.


U.S. Patent Application Publication Number 20070175935 from Clifton teaches a handgun locking apparatus using a lever member with a locking member. However, the '935 application invention discloses a lever member that includes a forward spring member for contacting the body of the holster for biasing the forward portion of the lever member towards a holstered handgun. This contact with the holster body is disadvantageous as external forces on the holster body can result in the function of the lever member. The limitations are shared with those discussed in the '860 patent above.


The invention disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication Number 20080179359 by Aberle et. al. teaches a holster utilizing a locking tab that drops into an ejection port of a pistol. It has the holster engaging the firearm's ejection port, but has certain disadvantages in certain applications. The approach results in a bulky, more fragile, and difficult to operate holster. Furthermore, the disclosed holster body extends to a degree that would prevent an optic to be mounted on the firearm slide. This disadvantage is addressed by the present disclosure. The invention further discloses only a v-shaped spring with one arm of the spring attached to the holster body and one arm of the spring attached to the locking tab, which presents disadvantages for reliability. Paragraph 0037. This limitation and disadvantage is addressed by using an alternative spring such as a coil spring not attached to the holster body or locking tab directly.


Therefore, a need exists for a new and improved holster having a secure retention with reliable and easy extraction.


To attain need and novelty for the solution, the embodiment of the present disclosure essentially comprises a holster for a pistol having a slide with a top surface, the holster comprising a body defining a receptacle configured to receive a firearm having a slide with an ejection port, a latch element pivotally connected to the body operable to selectably move between a retention position in which an engagement portion of the latch engages a pistol surface associated with the ejection port to prevent extraction of the pistol from the holster, and a released position in which the engagement position is clear of the pistol surface associated with the ejection port to enable extraction of the pistol from the holster.


The present disclosure provides the rear portion of the ejection lever unit being aft of the ejection port, allowing for an optic to be mounted.


There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated





BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The subject matter regarded as the present embodiment is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The embodiment, however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with objects, features, and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanying drawings in which:



FIG. 1 shows a handgun with an optic in the disclosed holster.



FIG. 2 shows the handgun and retention mechanism separated from the holster.



FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the holster.



FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the retention mechanism.



FIG. 5 shows a right side-section view of the holster in a locked position with a handgun having an optic inside the holster.



FIG. 6 shows a right side-section view of the holster in a locked position with a handgun having an optic inside the holster.



FIG. 7 shows a left side-section view of the holster in a locked position with a handgun having an optic inside the holster.



FIG. 8 shows a right side-section view of the holster in a locked position with a handgun having an optic inside the holster.



FIG. 9 shows a top angled right side-section view of the holster in a locked position with a handgun having an optic inside the holster.



FIG. 10A shows the interior of the holster in the locked position.



FIG. 10B shows the interior of the holster in the unlocked position.





DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT EMBODIMENT

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments and disclosures. Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments will be described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various figures unless otherwise specified.


An embodiment of the holster of the present disclosure is shown and generally designated by reference numeral 50.



FIG. 1 shows right side view of a handgun 10 with an optic 300 in an embodiment of the holster 50 having a latch element 90, the holster being on a belt 400.



FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a handgun 10 with an optic 300 separated from an embodiment of the holster 50 comprising of a body 52 and retention mechanism 80 having a latch element 90. The handgun having a frame 12 and slide 30. The frame having a grip 14, a trigger guard 16 forward of the grip, a front end 20 and rear end 22. The slide having a muzzle end 32, grip end 34, and top surface 36 and right surface 37 define an ejection port 40 having a forward pistol surface 42 and a rearward pistol surface 44. The holster body defines a receptacle 54 configured to receive the firearm.



FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of the holster 50 having a body 52 and a retention mechanism 80 having a latch element 90 and body element 150. The holster body defining a receptacle 54 and having a plurality of fasteners 56, 57, 62, 63, and 64. The latch element is a unitary element that moves from the retention position to the released position without flexing. A spring element 116 biases the latch element to a retention position shown. In the embodiment shown, the spring element is a compression spring. Additional identified parts in FIG. 3 correspond to those identified in in FIG. 4, discussed in subsequent paragraphs.



FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of the retention mechanism 80 having a latch element 90 and body element 150. The latch element having a rear end 91 and forward end 97. The latch element having a rear portion 92, in this embodiment a lever, with an actuator surface 93 on its left side at the rear end of the latch element, center section 94 and elongated element 96, a latch in the present embodiment, on its right side. The center section has a recessed space 95 defines a first bore hole 100 on the left side of the latch element and second bore hole 101 on the right side of the latch element, both centered around bore axis 102. The center section of the latch element further defines a hole 110 that accommodates a pin 112 inserted from the rear end direction of the right side of the latch element that retains. The latch 96 defines blind hole 114 into which a spring element 116, in this embodiment a compression spring, is placed. The body element having a rear end 152, middle section 154, and front end 156. The rear end has a latch element receiving space 160, a first bore hole 200 (not visible from this angle but shown in FIG. 3) and second bore hole 201 along bore axis 202. The center section further has an overhang 170 and recessed area 172 that forward of the recessed space. The front end 156 defines a second overhang 180 that forms the forward end of the recessed area. The recessed area 95 of the center section of the latch element overlays the recessed space 160 of the body element so that the compression spring 116 is confined and compressed into spring hole 114 and retained by the overhang 170 resulting in the latch element 96 to bias to the retention position where the latch is below the body element of the retention mechanism 80. A pivot pin 120 is inserted through bore holes 100 and 200 until it bottoms. The pivot pin 120 is retained by pin 112. A retaining member 122 is inserted through the bore hole 201 and 101. The pivot pin is effectively connected to the holster body by being connected to the retention mechanism 80 being attached to the body of the holster by fasteners 56 and 57



FIGS. 3 and 4 show the latch element 90 and body element 150 assembled. In the present embodiment the latch 96 has an engagement portion 130 at the front end of the latch. The engagement portion having a forward surface 131 and a notch, 132 with a top surface 133 and forward surface 134. The upper body 52 of the holster defines a rear rim 70 proximate an upper portion of the slide 30 aft of at least a portion of the ejection port 40, the rim being forward of a rear portion 92 of the latch element.



FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show a right-side section view of an embodiment of a holster 50 having a latch element 90 with a handgun 10 received in the holster. FIG. 5 shows the latch element in a retention position and FIG. 6 shows the latch element in a release position. The holster having a body 52 defining a receptacle configured to receive a firearm having a frame 12 and slide 30. The frame having a grip 14, a trigger guard 16 forward of the grip, a front end 20 and rear end 22. The slide having a muzzle end 32, grip end 34, and top surface 36 and right surface 37 defines an ejection port 40 having a forward pistol surface 42 and a rearward pistol surface 44. The holster having a retention mechanism 80 having a latch element 90 with a latch 96 having an engagement portion 130 with a front surface 131. The latch element is operable to move between a retention position and a release position. FIG. 5 shows the holster in the retention position, where the latch element 90 latch 96 is biased downward by the spring 116 so that the forward surface 131 of the engagement portion 130 of the elongated member 96 engages the forward pistol surface 42 associated with the ejection port 40 to prevent extraction of the handgun from the holster. The optic 300 is not abutting the holster body 52. FIG. 6 shows the holster in a release position where the engagement portion 130 is clear of the forward pistol surface 42 associated with the ejection port 40. With the engagement portion away from the ejection port, the handgun is able to be extracted from the body of the holster. A pivot pin 120 (not visible here) traversing both the latch element 90 and body element 150 through bore holes 100 and 200 allows the latch element to pivot. The latch element 90 is stopped against body element 150 by the notch 132 at the forward end 97 of the elongated element 96 contacting the overhang 180 of the body element. The actuator surface 93 is external to the holster body.



FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 show a left-side section view of an embodiment of a holster 50 having a latch element 90. FIG. 7 shows the latch element in a retention position and FIG. 8 shows the latch element in a release position. The holster having a body 52 defining a receptacle 54 configured to receive a firearm having a frame 12 and slide 30. The frame having a grip 14, a trigger guard 16 forward of the grip, a front end 20 and rear end 22. The slide having a muzzle end 32, grip end 34, and top surface 36 and right surface 37 define an ejection port 40 having a forward pistol surface 42 and a rearward pistol surface 44. The holster has a retention mechanism 80 having a latch element 90 (not entirely visible here) and a body element 150. The latch element having a lever 92 with an actuator surface 93 external to the holster body. A pivot pin 120 traversing both the latch element 90 and body element 150 allows the latch element to pivot when a downward force is applied to the actuator surface 93. This results in the engagement portion 130 of FIGS. 5 and 6 to move from the retention position of FIG. 5 to the release position of FIG. 6.



FIG. 9 is a top angled partial cut-away view of an embodiment of a holster 50 having a latch element 90. The holster having a body 52 defining a receptacle 54 configured to receive a firearm having a frame 12 and slide 30 (previously identified). The frame having a grip 14, a trigger guard 16 (previously shown and identified) forward of the grip, a front end 20 (previously identified) and rear end 22. The slide having a muzzle end 32, grip end 34, and top surface 36 and right surface 37 defines an ejection port 40 having a forward pistol surface 42 and a rearward pistol surface 44. The holster having a retention mechanism 80 having a latch element 90 with a latch 96 having an engagement portion 130 with a front surface 131. In the present embodiment the latch 96 has an engagement portion 130 at the front end of the latch. The engagement portion having a forward surface 131 and a notch, 132 with a top surface 133 and forward surface 134. The latch element is operable to move between a retention position and a release position. The holster is in the retention position, where the latch element 90 latch 96 is biased downward by the spring 116 so that the forward surface 131 of the engagement portion 130 of the elongated member 96 engages the forward pistol surface 42 associated with the ejection port 40 to prevent extraction of the handgun from the holster. The optic 300 is not abutting the holster body 52. A pivot pin 120 traversing both the latch element 90 and body element 150 allows the latch element to pivot. The pivot pin is retained by fastener 112.



FIG. 10A and 10B show a rear angled view of an embodiment of the holster 50 having a latch element 90. FIG. 10A shows the latch element in a retention position and FIG. 10B shows the latch element in a released position. The holster having a body 52 defining a receptacle configured to receive a firearm. The latch element being part of a retention mechanism 80 that also has a body element 150.


The body element 150 is attached to the holster by fasteners 56 and 57 inserted into the first body retaining hole 174 and second body retaining hole 176, respectively.


The holster 50 for a pistol 10 having a slide 30 with a top surface 36, comprising of a body 52 defining a receptacle 54 configured to receive a firearm having a slide with an ejection port 40. The holster having a latch element 90 operable to selectably move between a retention position in which an engagement portion 130 of the latch element engages a pistol surface 42 associated with the ejection port to prevent extraction of the pistol from the holster, and a released position in which the engagement position is clear of the pistol surface associated with the ejection port to enable extraction of the pistol from the holster. The latch element is a unitary element that moves from the retention position to the released position without flexing. The holster includes a spring 116 interfacing the holster and the latch element to bias the latch element to the retention position. The spring may be a compression spring. The holster may include a pivot pin 120 connected to the body element 150 and to the latch element 90, wherein the pivot pin is transverse to the body. The latch element has a latch 96 that is an elongated element having the engagement portion 130 at a forward end and having an actuator surface 93 external to the body receptacle and at an opposed rear end. The latch element is pivotally connected to the body at a pivot point 100 located intermediate the forward end 97 and rear end 91. The body 52 defines a medial plane 72 and the engagement portion 130 and the actuator surface 93 are on opposite sides of the medial plane. The latch including the engagement position and the actuator surface is a unitary body that moves without flexing. The entire latch element 90 rotates with respect to the body. The body defines an upper rear rim 70 proximate an upper portion of the slide 30 aft of at least a portion of the ejection port 40, the rim being forward of a rear portion 92 of the latch element. An actuation portion 93 of the latch element 90 on a left side of the holster and operable by a user's right thumb.

Claims
  • 1. A holster for a pistol having a slide with a top surface, the holster comprising: a body defining a receptacle configured to receive a firearm having a slide with an ejection port;a latch element operable to selectably move betweenretention position in which an engagement portion of the latch element engages a pistol surface associated with the ejection port to prevent extraction of the pistol from the holster, anda released position in which the engagement position is clear of the pistol surface associated with the ejection port to enable extraction of the pistol from the holster; andwherein the latch element is pivotally connected to the body.
  • 2. The holster of claim 1 wherein the latch element is a unitary element that moves from the retention position to the released position without flexing.
  • 3. The holster of claim 1 including a spring interfacing the holster and the latch element to bias the latch element to the retention position.
  • 4. The holster of claim 3 wherein the spring is a compression spring.
  • 5. The holster of claim 1 including a pivot pin connected to the body and to the latch element.
  • 6. The holster of claim 5 wherein the pivot pin is transverse to the body.
  • 7. The holster of claim 1 wherein the latch element having a latch that is an elongated element having the engagement portion at a forward end and having an actuator surface external to the body receptacle and at an opposed rear end.
  • 8. The holster of claim 7 wherein the latch element is pivotally connected to the body at a pivot point located intermediate the forward end and rear end.
  • 9. The holster of claim 7 wherein the body defines a medial plane and the engagement portion and the actuator surface are on opposite sides of the medial plane.
  • 10. The holster of claim 7 wherein the latch including the engagement position and the actuator surface is a unitary body that moves without flexing.
  • 11. The holster of claim 1 wherein the entire latch element rotates with respect to the body.
  • 12. The holster of claim 1 wherein the body defines an upper rear rim proximate an upper portion of the slide aft of at least a portion of the ejection port, the rim being forward of a rear portion of the latch element.
  • 13. The holster of claim 1 including an actuation portion of the latch element on a left side of the holster and operable by a user's right thumb.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/687,905, filed Mar. 7, 2022, entitled “EJECTOR PORT LOCK”, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/158,070, filed on Mar. 8, 2021, entitled “EJECTOR PORT LOCK”, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all that is taught and disclosed therein.

Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
63158070 Mar 2021 US
Continuation in Parts (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 17687905 Mar 2022 US
Child 19057396 US