Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to safety devices to inhibit unauthorized or accidental withdrawal of a handgun from a holster, and particularly to spring-loaded locking devices that fit into and against the sides of an ejection port of a handgun.
2. Relevant Art
A wide variety of safety devices exist to inhibit withdrawal of a handgun from a holster by anyone other than the user. What is desirable is an improved locking device that is safe and allows for rapid withdrawal of a handgun when necessary but greatly reduces the likelihood of accidental or unauthorized movement of the gun. In addition, the safety devices should be compatible with other safety devices to further enhance the security of the user.
In one aspect of the present invention there is provided a handgun locking apparatus for securing a holsterable handgun in a holster having a body and an interior cavity comprising a lever member having a forward portion and a rearward portion, means for movably mounting the lever member to a holster, the lever member having a locking member for positively engaging a portion of a handgun for locking a handgun in holstered position inside a holster to inhibit the withdrawal of a handgun from a holster. The rearward portion of the lever member is movable by a user to pivot said locking member away from a handgun for allowing a handgun to be withdrawn from a holster. Also included is a tension member locatable in a holster for positioning a handgun inserted into a holster into contact with the locking member. The lever member includes a forward spring member extending outwardly from the forward portion of the lever member for contacting the body of a holster for biasing the forward portion of the lever member towards a holstered handgun to locate the locking member into positive engagement with a handgun holstered in a holster. There is also a molded cavity in the body of a holster, said cavity having an interior surface spaced away from the forward portion of the lever member to allow for movement of the forward portion of the lever member away from a holstered handgun a sufficient distance to allow for withdrawal of a handgun from a holster. The means for movably mounting the lever includes a pair of spaced posts affixed to the lever member for pivotally mounting the lever member to and inside a holster. The rearward portion of the lever member includes an operating arm for operating the lever member to move the locking member away from a handgun for allowing withdrawal of a handgun carried in a holster. The operating lever arm includes a thumb pad for engagement of the operating lever arm by a user for operating the lever member. The lever member includes a passageway therethrough for a fastener for affixing the lever member to a holster. The locking member is sized to fit against an edge of an ejection port of a handgun.
In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a handgun locking apparatus for securing a holsterable handgun in a holster having a body and an interior cavity comprising a lever member having a forward portion and a rearward portion, the forward portion of the lever member having an outer surface and an inner surface including at least one locking member for positively engaging a portion of a handgun to lock a handgun in a holster to inhibit the withdrawal of a handgun from a holster, means for pivotally mounting the lever member in the cavity, the rearward portion of said lever member being movable by a user to pivot the locking member away from the handgun for allowing a handgun to be withdrawn from a holster and a tension member in a holster for positioning a handgun into contact with the locking member. The lever member includes a spring member extending outwardly from the forward portion of the lever member for contacting the body of a holster for forcing the forward portion of the lever member to a position to locate the locking member into contact with a handgun holstered in a holster. The means for pivotally mounting includes a pair of spaced posts affixed to the lever member for pivotally mounting the lever member to a holster. The rearward portion of the lever member includes an operating arm for pivoting the lever member to move the locking member away from a handgun for allowing withdrawal of a handgun carried in a holster. The rearward portion of the lever member includes a flange for affixing the lever member to a holster, the flange having a passageway therethrough for a fastener for affixing the lever member to a holster. The locking member is sized to fit against an edge of an ejection port of a handgun.
In a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a handgun locking apparatus for securing a holsterable handgun comprising a holster for carrying a handgun, the holster including a pair of side walls each having forward and rearward edge portions, the side walls joined along respective forward and rearward edge portions to define an interior cavity having a front and rear wall portion, a lever member including a body having a forward and rear portion, a spring element projecting forwardly and outwardly from the front portion of the body for contacting the front wall portion for biasing the body against a handgun carried in the holster, means for movably mounting the body to the holster, the body including a locking flange for positively engaging a handgun to inhibit withdrawal of a handgun, an operating arm extending rearwardly from the rear portion of the body for moving the body away from a handgun to move the locking flange away from a handgun when the operating arm is moved from a first position, a positioning member affixed to the rear wall portion of the cavity for engaging a handgun inserted in the holster to position a portion of a handgun in the holster cavity. The body of the lever member is arcuate in shape, having an outer surface positioned away from the forward wall portion of the cavity and an inner surface formed to provide the locking flange. The locking flange includes a projecting boss sized to fit with a portion of an ejection port of a handgun to inhibit withdrawal of a handgun. The locking flange includes a surface or projecting boss, being positionable against a forward edge of an ejection port of a handgun, to inhibit upward movement of a handgun until released by the lever. The body of the lever member includes at least one sloping surface for guiding the movement of a handgun being inserted into the interior cavity of said holster. The locking flange includes an extension arm extending forwardly of the forward portion of the body and a blocking member integral with the extension arm positionable closely adjacent a portion of a handgun for inhibiting withdrawal of a handgun from the holster.
An additional aspect of the present invention provides a handgun locking apparatus for securing a handgun in a holster comprising a lever member including a body having a forward and rear end portion, a spring element projecting forwardly and outwardly from the front end portion of the body for contacting an interior surface of a holster for biasing the body against a handgun carried in a holster, means for movably mounting the body to a holster, the body including a locking flange for contacting a handgun to inhibit withdrawal of a holstered handgun, an operating arm extending rearwardly from the rear end portion of the body for moving the body away from a handgun to move the locking flange away from a handgun when the operating is moved from a first position where the locking flange is in contact with a handgun to a second position, a positioning member affixed inside a holster for engaging a handgun inserted in a holster to position a portion of a handgun in contact with the locking flange.
Also included is a handgun positioning device having a body including a movable arm member having a handgun contacting surface and a camming surface. The body further includes a holster engaging surface and a movable member carried by the body and in contact with the camming surface for moving the arm member to position the handgun contacting surface against a handgun for forcing the arm member to position the handgun contacting surface against a handgun for forcing a handgun into a first position, and means to rigidly mount the device inside a handgun holster. The body further includes a trigger guard-contacting surface for limiting downward travel of a handgun in a holster. Also the movable member includes a threaded rod mounted in the body, the threaded rod having a first end portion in contact with the camming surface and a second end portion adapted for rotation of the threaded rod by a user for moving the handgun-contacting surface.
The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The interior cavity 13 of the holster 10 is molded for a specific model of handgun 11 and includes space for a spring-loaded ejection port locking device shown generally at 18 in
The specific locking device 18 shown in
The body or saddle 19 of locking device 18 is formed to engage upward surfaces of a specific handgun 11 to position the gun properly in the holster and includes an interiorly disposed ejection port indexing edge 26 that fits against respective front edge 27 of the right-side ejection port 29 of handgun 11 (
When locking device 18 is secured inside holster 10, it will rest slightly below the mating surface created by molded cavity 17. As will be described in more detail below, the insertion of handgun 11 into holster cavity 13 against angled locking saddle surface 23 will cause the locking device 18 to be pushed into cavity 17 forcing locking edge 26 into ejection port 29 and against locking front edge 27. From this position it will be necessary to move the locking edge 26 away from ejection port 29 to withdraw a handgun 11 upwardly out of the holster. The angled locking saddle surface 23 may be defined as at least one sloping surface to guide the handgun into its proper seated position in the holster.
From the directions referenced in
An adjustable tension device (ATD) 32 is fixed to the interior cavity 13 of the holster 10. As handgun 11 is inserted into holster 10, the handgun 11 will come into contact with an angled funneling surface portion 33 of ATD 32 and position the handgun 11 against the locking device 18 to place the locking surface 26 of device 18 into contact with ejection port 29 of handgun 11. The handgun 11 will be locked into place with locking edge 26 against edge 27 of port 29. Tension device only is for muzzle location and applying tension on the holstered pistol, i.e., to give resistance during draw of handgun and take up loose play between pistol and holster.
With respect to
Pad member 35 is part of a forward lever 39 that is movable about a first pivot portion 40. A second spring member 37 is movable about a second pivot portion 38. An operating arm 41 has a thumb pad 42 adjacent a hook member 43 used to movably position arm 41 to a portion of holster body 12 as clearly shown in partial cross-section in
The upper surfaces of the main body 45 of locking device 34 fit spaced away from a molded cavity 44 that is formed to accommodate the lock 34 in a manner similar to the fitting of lock 18 into cavity 17. Spring lever arm 37 fits within cavity 44 (as shown by bulge 48 in
Lock device 58 is employed for certain firearms that do not include a sufficient locking surface adjacent the main body or saddle 45, for example the firearm depicted in
With respect to
Each of the locking devices disclosed hereinabove operates in the following manner. Each locking device has a forward portion with upper and lower surfaces and a rear portion with a pivot point between. The forward portion is pressed downwardly on a handgun in a holster and positively engages the gun at some area (such as ejection ports) to lock the gun in the holster to inhibit withdrawal of the gun. The lower surface of the saddle position includes angled or sloping surfaces which position the device over the gun slide and to center the device by directing movement of the handgun. Pressure on a rearward lever-operating arm causes the forward gun-engaging portion of the device to move away from the gun. The pivoting of the forward portion is around the mounting axle axis of device 18 or around a pivot area such as area 40 of devices 34, 58, 63 and 65. Spring members on the front of the device provide a means to push the device onto the gun but in a manner that allows for spacing between the locking portion body or saddle and the mating surface located in the front portion of the holster which provides sufficient space for unlocking the device from the gun by moving the locking portion body away from the locking features of the holstered firearm. The adjustable tension device such as 32 is provided to assist in positioning the gun in the holster to provide for proper engagement between the handgun and the locking device.
The exact dimensions of the locking devices and mating surfaces depend on the specific handgun involved.
If the holster 10 used has an open muzzle end, the preferred tension device used will be the device 67 mounted in the holster by a screw passing through opening 70, illustrated in
A number of other devices such as rollers and wedge-shaped blocks can be used in lieu of ATD's 32 and 67. ATD's 32, 67 are preferred devices because they are adjustable in order to provide a correct positioning of the handgun and the locking devices discussed herein.
The forward spring members, such as member 19A, are shown as integral plastic elements, it is important to note that the spring members may in fact be other devices such as coil springs that are attached to the main body of a given locking device. In addition, operating arms are also shown as integral with the locking device body of a particular embodiment. It is to be understood that such arms can be separate members attached to the device body by any appropriate means.
The devices shown in
While the invention has been described with respect to certain specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit of the invention. It is intended therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20060157520 A1 | Jul 2006 | US |