The invention will be better understood from a reading of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like reference designators are used to designate like elements, and in which:
This invention is described in preferred embodiments in the following description with reference to the Figures, in which like numbers represent the same or similar elements.
As described in more detail hereinbelow, Applicant's holster assembly 600 facilitates loading a round into the firing chamber of pistol 610, and assists the removal of the loaded pistol from the holster. In addition, Applicant's holster assembly and method allow the user to load pistol 610 using only one hand. Using prior art holsters, two hands are needed to withdraw and load a pistol from a holster.
Such one-handed operation allows disabled persons, or persons having limited use of one arm, to operate an automatic pistol for self protection, hunting, competition, or target shooting in general. In addition such one-handed operation is a significant benefit for police, military, and/or security personnel. For example, if a police officer is detaining a suspect with one hand and another person charges towards that officer, using a prior art holster the officer would have to release the suspect in order to use both hands to draw and cycle the pistol. Using Applicant's holster assembly and method, however, the officer can continue to detain the suspect with one hand, dispose a round into the firing chamber of the pistol in the holster with the other hand, and draw the pistol on the charging person without releasing the suspect.
Referring now to
In certain embodiments, length 114 is between about 3 inches and about 16 inches. In certain embodiments, length 114 is about 8 inches. In certain embodiments, width 116 is between about 2 inches and about 6 inches. In certain embodiments, width 116 is about 3 inches. In certain embodiments, thickness 119 is between about 0.05 inches and about 0.50 inches. In certain embodiments, thickness 119 is about 0.20 inches.
Slide rail 130 is attached to base 110 such that end 133 is flush with end 113 of base 110, and such that side 135 is flush with side 115 of base 110. In certain embodiments, slide rail 130 is formed from a rigid material, such as without limitation wood, metal, molded plastic, leather, combinations thereof, and the like. Slide rail 130 has length 124, width 136, and thickness 128. In certain embodiments, length 124 is between about 2.25 inches and about 15.25 inches. In certain embodiments, length 124 is about 7.25 inches. In certain embodiments, width 136 is between about 0.25 inches and about 1 inch. In certain embodiments, width 136 is about 0.5 inches. In certain embodiments, thickness 128 is between about 0.05 inches and about 0.50 inches. In certain embodiments, thickness 128 is about 0.25 inches.
Slide rail 130 is attached to base 110 using conventional attachment means, such as and without limitation adhesive bonding, welding, plastic welding, mechanical fasteners, i.e. nuts, bolts, and the like. In certain embodiments, slide rail 130 and base 110 comprise an integrally molded assembly.
Slide rail 120 is attached to base 110 such that end 123 is flush with end 113 of base 110, and such that side 125 is a distance 140 from side 137 of slide rail 130. Slide rail 120, slide rail 130, and base 110, in combination, define a three-sided, U-shaped, assembly. In certain embodiments, slide rail 120 is formed from a rigid material, such as without limitation wood, metal, molded plastic, leather, combinations thereof, and the like. Slide rail 120 has length 124, width 126, and thickness 129 In certain embodiments, width 126 is between about 0.25 inches and about 1 inch. In certain embodiments, width 126 is about 0.5 inches. In certain embodiments, thickness 128 is between about 0.05 inches and about 0.50 inches. In certain embodiments, thickness 128 is about 0.25 inches.
Slide rail 120 is attached to base 110 using conventional attachment means, such as and without limitation adhesive bonding, welding, plastic welding, mechanical fasteners, i.e. nuts, bolts, and the like. In certain embodiments, slide rail 120 and base 110 comprise an integrally molded assembly. In certain embodiments, slide rail 120, slide rail 130, and base 110 comprise an integrally molded assembly.
Referring now to
In certain embodiments, length 212 is between about 0.25 inches and about 1.5 inches. In certain embodiments, length 212 is about 0.75 inches. In certain embodiments, width 214 is between about 0.5 inches and about 3.0 inches. In certain embodiments, 214 is about 1.75 inches. In certain embodiments, planar member 210 is formed from a rigid material, such as without limitation wood, metal, molded plastic, leather, combinations thereof, and the like.
Planar member 210 is attached to base 110 using conventional attachment means, such as and without limitation adhesive bonding, welding, plastic welding, mechanical fasteners, i.e. nuts, bolts, and the like. In certain embodiments, planar member 210 and base 110 comprise an integrally molded assembly. In certain embodiments, planar member 210, slide rail 120, slide rail 130, and base 110, comprise an integrally molded assembly.
Spring attachment means 220 is disposed on side 213 of planar member 210 between slide rail 120 and slide rail 130. In certain embodiments, spring attachment means 220 comprises an annular assembly 224 disposed on one end of a threaded screw 222, wherein threaded screw 222 is disposed within planar member 210 such that annular assembly 224 extends outwardly from side 213.
Slide block 240 comprises end 243, end 247, length 242, and width 140. Slide block 240 is slidingly disposed between slide rail 120 and slide rail 130. Spring attachment means 230 is disposed on end 243 of slide block 240. In certain embodiments, spring attachment means 230 comprises an annular assembly 234 disposed on one end of a threaded screw 232, wherein threaded screw 232 is disposed within side 243 of slide block 240 such that annular assembly 234 extends outwardly from side 243. One end of spring 260 is attached to spring attachment means 220 and the opposite end of spring 260 is attached to spring attachment means 230. In certain embodiments, length 242 is between about 0.75 inches and about 4.0 inches. In certain embodiments, length 242 is about 2.5 inches.
Referring to
Referring now to
Cover 310 is formed to include aperture 350 extending therethrough. Aperture 350 has length 352 and width 354. In certain embodiments, length 352 is between about 2 inches and about 15 inches. In certain embodiments, length 352 is about 4.6 inches. In certain embodiments, width 354 is between about 0.13 inches and about 1.1 inches. In certain embodiments, width 354 is about 0.3 inches.
End 351 of aperture 350 is located a distance 358 from end 311 of cover 310. End 357 of aperture 350 is located a distance 356 from end 317 of cover 310. In certain embodiments, distance 358 is between about 2 inches and about 8 inches. In certain embodiments, distance 358 is about 4 inches. In certain embodiments, distance 356 is between about 0.2 inches and about 0.5 inches. In certain embodiments, distance 356 is about 0.3 inches.
Cover 310 is further formed to include aperture 360 extending therethrough. Aperture 360 has length 362 and width 364. In certain embodiments, length 362 is between about 0.5 inches and about 1.5 inches. In certain embodiments, length 362 is about 1 inch. In certain embodiments, width 364 is between about 0.1 inches and about 0.5 inches. In certain embodiments, width 364 is about 0.2 inches. End 361 of aperture 360 is located a distance 366 from end 311 of cover 310. In certain embodiments, distance 366 is between about 0.25 inches and about 1 inch. In certain embodiments, distance 366 is about 0.5 inches.
Stiffener 320 comprises a planar member having a length 114 (
In certain embodiments, stiffener 320 is attached to base 110 such that side 321 is flush with side 117 (
Mounting rail 330 has a length 114 (
In certain embodiments, mounting rail 330 is attached to stiffener 320 using conventional attachment means, such as and without limitation adhesive bonding, welding, plastic welding, mechanical fasteners, i.e. nuts, bolts, and the like. In certain embodiments, base 110, slide rail 120, slide rail 130, stiffener 320, and mounting rail 330, comprise an integrally molded assembly.
Referring now to
Side 411 of slide platform 410 is moveably disposed against side 333 (
Cover plate 420 has length 412 (
Referring now to
Base planar member 433 has a length 468, width 436, and thickness 426. In certain embodiments, length 468 is between about 3 inches and about 15 inches. In certain embodiments, length 468 is about 8 inches. In certain embodiments, width 436 is between about 0.5 inches and about 3 inches. In certain embodiments, width 436 is about 1.25 inches.
Side planar member 432 is attached to a first side of base member 433, and extends upwardly therefrom. Side planar member 432 has a length 462, a height 437, and a thickness 426. In certain embodiments, length 462 is between about 2 inches and about 8 inches. In certain embodiments, length 462 is about 3.4 inches. In certain embodiments, height 437 is between about 0.5 inches and about 3 inches. In certain embodiments, height 437 is about 1.2 inches.
Side planar member 434 is attached to the first side of base member 433, and extends upwardly therefrom. Side planar member 434 has a length 466, a height 437, and a thickness 426. In certain embodiments, length 466 is between about 1.5 inches and about 4 inches. In certain embodiments, length 466 is about 2.8 inches.
Side planar member 432 is separated from side planar member 434 by a gap 470. Gap 470 has a length 464. In certain embodiments, length 464 is between about 1 inches and about 2.5 inches. In certain embodiments, length 464 is about 1.7 inches.
Top planar member 431 is attached to side planar member 432 and extends inwardly therefrom. Top planar member 431 has a length 466, a width 437, and a thickness 426. Top planar member 435 is attached to side planar member 434 and extends inwardly therefrom. Top planar member 435 has a length 466, a width 436, and a thickness 426. Top planar member 431 is separated from top planar member 435 by gap 470.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Side members 514 and 516 are attached to top surface 422 of cover plate 420 and extend upwardly therefrom. Top member 512 is attached to the top portions of side members 514 and 516.
Top member 512 has a length 522, a width 523, and a thickness 426. In certain embodiments, length 522 is between about 1 inch and about 4 inches. In certain embodiments, length 522 is about 3 inches. In certain embodiments, width 523 is between about 1 inch and about 3 inches. In certain embodiments, width 523 is about 1.5 inches.
Side member 514 has a length 524, height 525, and thickness 426 (
Side member 516 has a length 527, height 525, and thickness 426 (
Slide block 240, riser 250, slide platform 410, cover plate 420, and trigger guard 510, comprise a moveable trigger housing mechanism, wherein that moveable trigger housing mechanism is slidingly disposed on base 110 (
If a second force in a second direction is imposed on the trigger housing mechanism, wherein that second force is greater than the first force, and wherein the second direction is opposite to the first direction, then the trigger housing mechanism can be slidingly moved from the first position to a second position, wherein side 257 (
Barrel port block 530 is formed to include aperture 540 extending therethrough. Barrel port block 530 is disposed in the distal end of housing 430. In certain embodiments, aperture 540 has a diameter between about 0.5 inches and about 1 inches. In certain embodiments, aperture 540 has a diameter of about 0.7 inches.
Applicant's invention comprises a method to use a self-loading pistol, wherein that pistol as initially holstered using Applicant's holster assembly and method does not have a round in the firing chamber.
Referring now to
In certain embodiments, step 1205 further comprises steps 1210 and 1220. Referring now to
In step 1220, spring 260 imposes a first force 1010 in a first direction, wherein that first force holds trigger housing mechanism in a first position wherein side 255 (
In step 1230, Applicant's method provides a self-loading pistol comprising a trigger, a barrel, a firing chamber, a moveable slide mechanism, a grip, and one or more rounds disposed in the grip, wherein the moveable slide mechanism can be slidingly moved between a first position and a second position, wherein the slide mechanism is disposed in the first position. One of the one or more rounds is loaded into the firing chamber when the moveable slide mechanism is moved to the second position
As those skilled in the art will appreciate, a self-loading pistol reloads the firing chamber with a new round automatically each time the weapon is fired, without additional action by the user. This is accomplished by recoil. As those skilled in the art will further appreciate, a semi-automatic pistol will fire only one shot per trigger pull, in contrast to a “fully automatic” pistol which continues to fire as long as the trigger is held back or until all rounds have been fired.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring once again to
In step 1250, Applicant's method slides the moveable trigger housing mechanism from the first position to the second position thereby sliding the moveable slide mechanism 614 from the first position of
Sliding Applicant's trigger housing mechanism to the second position elongates spring 260 as shown in
Once pistol 610 is placed in the loading configuration of
In addition to the one-handed operation described above wherein a user can load, cock, and fire pistol 610 using only one hand, Applicant's holster assembly 600 also allows the user to unload pistol 610 using one hand. After the user has cycled, drawn, and fired pistol 610, there may be a live round in the firing chamber. The user then, using the hand carrying pistol 610 causes pistol 610 to eject the clip, and any live rounds disposed therein, from grip portion 612, and then using that same hand inserts pistol 600 into holster assembly 600, and using that same hand pushes pistol 600 downwardly such that pistol 600 is disposed in the configuration of
Moreover, in an emergency the user may forget that pistol 600 has a round in the firing chamber when the user cycles the pistol using Applicant's holster assembly 600. In such an event, the round already disposed in the firing chamber is ejected, and a different live round is placed into the chamber from the loaded magazine or clip.
In addition to using Applicant's holster assembly to implement Applicant's method recited hereinabove, holster assembly 600 (
Whether being used as a prior art holster device, or being used to implement Applicant's method, Applicant's holster assembly 600 can be fashioned to work with either a right-handed carry, or a left-handed carry. By “right-handed carry,” Applicant's mean that pistol 610 is grasped using the right hand, pushed downwardly using the right hand, and removed from holster assembly 600 using the right hand.
While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and adaptations to those embodiments may occur to one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the following claims.