The present disclosure relates to holsters for firearms, specifically retention mechanisms for handguns.
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
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:
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.
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.
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.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63158070 | Mar 2021 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 17687905 | Mar 2022 | US |
Child | 19057396 | US |