Holster

Abstract

A holster for a handgun assembly that includes a handgun having a trigger guard with a lower surface. A support mechanism is on the holster bottom wall for supporting the handgun in the chamber in a direction toward the top wall. The support mechanism includes a non-circular rotary supported for rotation on the holster bottom wall about an axis of rotation. The rotary has a first position of rotation in which the engagement surface is presented toward the holster top wall for engagement with the lower surface of the trigger guard, thereby to support the handgun in the chamber in a direction toward the top wall. The rotary is rotatable about the axis of rotation out of the first position in response to engagement with a portion of the handgun assembly other than the trigger guard, during insertion movement of the handgun assembly into the holster chamber.

Description

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Some handgun holsters include a retention mechanism on the top wall of the holster for security. The retention mechanism is designed to lockingly engage the slide of a semiautomatic handgun. This engagement can prevent unwanted or inadvertent withdrawal of the handgun from the holster, for example by an unauthorized person. To engage the retention mechanism, the handgun must be positioned upward in the holster, and held there securely. To ensure that happens, the dimensions of the holster are selected so that the bottom of the handgun trigger guard, which is typically the lowest part of the handgun, engages the bottom wall of the holster. The bottom wall of the holster thereby supports the trigger guard of the handgun upward toward the top wall, and the handgun as a whole is supported in the desired position in the holster.

Some handguns may optionally have a light secured to the handgun, at a position below the barrel. The light extends downward from the barrel. In some cases, the light is tall enough that it extends downward to a level below the bottom of the trigger guard. In such a case, to accommodate this taller light during holstering and drawing, the holster bottom wall must be lowered as compared to a holster for the same handgun without a light. As a result, when the handgun is holstered, the trigger guard does not engage the holster bottom wall, and the handgun is not thereby supported upward. This can reduce the chance of the retention mechanism being properly engaged.

To avoid this situation, some holster manufacturers currently manufacture different holster models for the same handgun, with and without a light. This can increase costs and manufacturing complexity, and also can provide the user with the need to purchase two different holsters for use of the handgun with and without a light.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a holster that is an embodiment of the invention, showing the interior of the holster, with a handgun holstered therein, and the holster including a support mechanism for the handgun;

FIG. 2 is a cutaway elevational view of the inside of the holster of FIG. 1, without the handgun, showing the support mechanism in a free state;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 and showing the handgun holstered therein, without a light attached;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the support mechanism of the holster showing the handgun holstered therein and a light attached;

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the support mechanism;

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view of the support mechanism;

FIGS. 7-9 are a series of views illustrating holstering of the handgun with a light attached; and

FIGS. 10-12 are a series of views illustrating the process of drawing the handgun with light attached.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The present invention is applicable to handgun holsters of varying and different configurations. A holster that is one embodiment is illustrated in the drawings and is described in detail below. Many other embodiments are possible.

In one aspect, a holster for a handgun assembly that includes a handgun having a trigger guard with a lower surface, has side walls, a top wall, and an opposite bottom wall, the holster walls together defining a chamber in the holster for receiving the handgun assembly. The holster has an entranceway into the chamber through which the handgun is movable in an insertion direction to holster the handgun, the handgun being removable from the chamber in an opposite withdrawal direction to draw the handgun from the holster A support mechanism is on the holster bottom wall for supporting the handgun in the chamber in a direction toward the top wall. The support mechanism includes a non-circular rotary supported for rotation on the holster bottom wall about an axis of rotation, the rotary having a trigger guard engagement surface.

In one aspect, the rotary has a first position of rotation about the axis of rotation in which the engagement surface is presented toward the holster top wall for engagement with the lower surface of the trigger guard when the handgun is holstered in the chamber, thereby to support the handgun in the chamber in a direction toward the top wall.

In one aspect, the rotary is rotatable about the axis of rotation out of the first position of rotation in response to engagement with a portion of the handgun assembly other than the trigger guard, during insertion movement of the handgun assembly into the holster chamber.

In one aspect, the holster includes a spring that acts between the holster body and the rotary to resiliently maintain the rotary in the first position of rotation, the spring allowing the rotary to rotate about the axis of rotation against the bias of the spring thereby to move the engagement surface in a direction away from the holster top wall to allow passage of a taller portion of the handgun assembly.

In one aspect, the rotary is formed as one piece from molded plastic and includes two spaced flanges with a spring pin extending between them, and the support mechanism includes a tension spring connected between the spring pin and the holster bottom wall for controlling rotational position of the rotary.

In one aspect, the circumferential location of the spring pin is selected to cause the rotary, when the support mechanism is in its free state, to be in a position of rotation about the axis of rotation such that the engagement surface of the rotary is presented toward the top wall of the holster.

In one aspect, the non-circular configuration of the rotatory includes a longer first dimension from the axis of rotation that is selected to cause the engagement surface to engage the trigger guard when the rotary is in the first position of rotation, and includes a shorter second dimension from the axis that is selected to enable passage of a taller portion of the handgun assembly past the rotary during insertion of the handgun assembly into the holster when the rotary is in the second position of rotation, the rotary rotating about the axis of rotation against the bias of a spring between the two positions during insertion of the handgun assembly into the holster and withdrawal of the handgun assembly from the holster.

Description of One Embodiment

As representative of the invention, the drawings illustrate a handgun holster 10 that is a first embodiment of the invention. The invention is, of course, not limited to the particular embodiment that is illustrated and described.

The holster 10 is formed in a known manner of left and right holster body halves, joined by one or more laterally extending fasteners such as screws. As seen in FIGS. 2-12, the right holster body half is removed so that the interior of the holster can be seen. The invention is not limited to such holsters; it is also applicable to one piece holsters, or hinged, or thermoformed, for example.

The holster 10 is configured for use with a handgun assembly 11 that includes a handgun 12 (FIG. 3). The illustrated handgun 12 is a semi-automatic handgun having a grip 14, a barrel 16, a trigger 18, a slide 19, and a trigger guard 20. A holster in accordance with the present invention could be used with a different type or style of handgun.

The handgun assembly 11 as illustrated includes an optional light 22 (FIGS. 4-12) that is mounted on the handgun 12, in a position below the barrel 16. The light 22 is optional since the handgun 12, itself, can be used with or without the light. The light 22 is tall enough so that it hangs down below the trigger guard 20. As a result, the handgun assembly 11 is taller (up and down as viewed in the Figures) at the location of the light 22, than it is at the location of the trigger guard 20. Still, as described below, the holster 10 is, as described below and in accordance with the invention, configured to securely accommodate and retain the handgun 12 when it is used with or without the light 22.

The holster body (FIG. 2) includes a top wall 30, an opposite bottom wall 32, and an end wall 34. (The terms “top” and “bottom” are not absolute as used herein but rather are used with reference to the drawings; when a holster is in use, the designated “top” wall of the holster is typically forward, with the barrel of the gun pointing downward.) Thus, a notation of the “top wall” of the holster, for example, can be read as a notation of the “forward wall” of the holster,

The handgun 12 may be holstered by moving it in a direction to the right as viewed in FIG. 2. The handgun 12 may be drawn from the holster by moving it in an opposite direction, to the left as viewed in FIG. 2.

In the illustrated holster 10, the holster top wall 30 supports a handgun retention mechanism 38 which may be, for example, of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,769,581. This retention mechanism 38 engages the slide 19 of the handgun 12 adjacent the ejection port, and prevents inadvertent or unwanted removal of the handgun from the holster 10. The retention mechanism 38 is only operative if the handgun 10 is supported upward to engage the retention mechanism. Thus, if the handgun 10 is not supported in that direction, the retention mechanism 38 will not engage.

To provide this support, the holster 10 includes a support mechanism 40. The support mechanism 40 is operative as described below to support the handgun trigger guard 20 and thus the handgun 12 as a whole, whether the handgun is being used with the optional light 22, or without the optional light.

As part of the support mechanism 40, the holster includes a forward pin 42 fixed in position on the holster bottom wall 32. The forward pin 42 extends laterally across the width of the holster 10. Rearward of the forward pin 42 is one of the holster body fasteners in the form of a laterally extending screw 44.

The support mechanism 40 also includes a rotary element, or rotary, designated 50 in the drawings. The rotary 50 is supported by a hub 52, for rotational movement about an axis 54 that extends laterally across the holster. In the illustrated embodiment, the hub 52 is on the screw 44. In other embodiments, that could be different; the hub does not need to be part of a holster body fastener. It could be another feature of the holster body, or done in some other manner.

The rotary 50 may be formed as one piece from molded plastic. The rotary 50 may include two spaced flanges 56 with a spring pin 58 extending between them. The rotary 50 is non-circular, having a longer dimension with a top surface 60 at one end of the long dimension. The top surface 60 of the rotary 50 may be substantially flat, forming an engagement surface for engaging the bottom of the trigger guard 20. The spring pin 58 is not on the axis of rotation.

The support mechanism 40 also includes a tension spring 70. The forward end of the tension spring 70 is connected on the forward pin 42. The rearward end of the tension spring 70 is connected on the spring pin 58 of the rotary 50. The tension spring 70 is selected and positioned to apply tension to the rotary 50 in a direction perpendicular to the direction of trigger guard support, and to provide enough force to return the rotary to its original position of rotation about the axis 54 as seen in FIG. 2. In other embodiments, a different biasing means can be provided, other than an external tension spring as illustrated. As but one non-limiting example, there could be a torsion spring inside the hub of the rotary. So long as the necessary biasing and restoring force is provided to the rotary, that is sufficient.

The circumferential location of the spring pin 58 on the rotary 50 is selected to cause the rotary, when the support mechanism 40 is in its free state as illustrated in FIG. 2, to be in a position of rotation such that the engagement surface 60 of the rotary is presented upward toward the retention mechanism 38 on the top wall 30 of the holster 10. In this support position of the rotary 50, the engagement surface 60 can engage the bottom of the handgun trigger guard 20. The rotary 50 is rotatable out of the support position, against the bias of the spring 70, by engagement from the light 22 during holstering and drawing of the handgun 12, as described following. This embodiment is not limiting; the spring of the mechanism can be connected with the rotary in a force-transmitting manner that is different. Thus, the connection need not be on the lateral center of the hub, but could be in front of or behind the rotary, or at one side of the rotary, so long as the function is retained.

Specifically, when the handgun 12 is being holstered (FIGS. 7-9), the forward portion of the light, which extends downward below the trigger guard 20, engages the rotary 50. As the holstering movement progresses, the rotary 50 is tipped forward (FIG. 8) to enable it to fit under the light 22. The spring pin 58 on the rotary 50 moves downward and rearward, and the tension spring 70 is extended. The body of the tension spring 70 may extend between the flanges 56 of the rotary 50. The shorter dimension of the rotary 50 is upright.

Then as the light 22 moves past the rotary 50, the rotary flips back, under the influence of the tension spring 70, eventually returning to the original position as shown in FIG. 9. In this position, the rotary 50 is underneath the bottom of the trigger guard 20, and the engagement surface 60 of the rotary engages the bottom of the trigger guard. The longer dimension of the rotary 50 is upright. The handgun 12 is thereby supported upward as desired, into a position in which engagement with the retention mechanism 38 is enabled.

The reverse happens when the handgun 12 is being drawn (FIGS. 10-12). The light 22 engages the rotary 50 (FIG. 9) and the rotary is tipped rearward (FIG. 11) to enable it to fit under the light 22. The spring pin 58 on the rotary 50 moves upward and rearward. This rotational movement of the rotary 50 extends the tension spring 70. The body of the tension spring 70 may extend between the flanges 56 of the rotary 50. Then as the light 22 moves past the rotary 50, the rotary flips forward, under the influence of the tension spring 70, eventually returning to the original position as shown in FIG. 12.

When the handgun 10 is being holstered without the optional light (FIG. 3), the rotary 50 automatically engages the bottom of the trigger guard 20 as desired.

As noted above, other embodiments of the invention are certainly possible. As examples, without limitation, the invention is usable in holsters for handguns with or without a slide mounted red dot sight or optic. The invention is usable in holsters with passive retention systems located at other areas of the gun (i.e., trigger guard, light, or ejection port) rather than the active retention system described herein. The support mechanism can be used to assist in fit optimization rather than retention mechanism engagement. The holster may include means for locking the rotary 50 into place after holstering the handgun and unlocking before drawing. The rotary 50 may be supported on a pivot other than a holster body fastening screw, for example using molded geometry inside the holster. The rotary 50 can be designed as a multi-fit component that allows multiple different handguns to fit, or can be designed for a specific weapon. The rotary can have a different shape and configuration that the illustrated egg-shaped configuration so long as the rotary can support the handgun trigger guard when needed and then temporarily tip out of the way at other times. The configuration of the rotary may change dependent on associated holster technology.

Claims

1. A holster for a handgun assembly that includes a handgun having a trigger guard with a lower surface, the holster including: the holster having side walls, a top wall, and an opposite bottom wall, the holster walls together defining a chamber in the holster for receiving the handgun assembly;the holster having an entranceway into the chamber through which the handgun is movable in an insertion direction to holster the handgun, the handgun being removable from the chamber in an opposite withdrawal direction to draw the handgun; anda support mechanism on the holster bottom wall for supporting the handgun in the chamber in a direction toward the top wall;the support mechanism including a non-circular rotary supported for rotation on the holster bottom wall about an axis of rotation, the rotary having a trigger guard engagement surface for engagement with the lower surface of the trigger guard when the handgun is holstered in the chamber, thereby to support the handgun in the chamber in a direction toward the top wall.

2. A holster as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rotary has a first position of rotation about the axis of rotation in which the engagement surface is presented toward the holster top wall for engagement with the lower surface of the trigger guard when the handgun is holstered in the chamber, thereby to support the handgun in the chamber in a direction toward the top wall; the rotary being rotatable about the axis of rotation out of the first position of rotation in response to engagement with a portion of the handgun assembly other than the trigger guard, during insertion movement of the handgun assembly into the holster chamber.

3. A holster as set forth in claim 1 including a spring that acts between the holster body and the rotary to resiliently maintain the rotary in the first position of rotation, the spring allowing the rotary to rotate about the axis of rotation against the bias of the spring thereby to move the engagement surface in a direction away from the holster top wall to allow passage of a taller portion of the handgun assembly.

4. A holster as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rotary is formed as one piece from molded plastic and includes two spaced flanges with a spring pin extending between them, and the support mechanism includes a tension spring connected between the spring pin and the holster bottom wall for controlling rotational position of the rotary.

5. A holster as set forth in claim 4 wherein the circumferential location of the spring pin is selected to cause the rotary, when the support mechanism is in its free state, to be in a position of rotation about the axis of rotation such that the engagement surface of the rotary is presented toward the top wall of the holster.

6. A holster as set forth in claim 1 wherein the non-circular configuration of the rotatory includes a longer first dimension from the axis of rotation that is selected to cause the engagement surface to be in a position to engage the trigger guard when the rotary is in the first position of rotation, and includes a shorter second dimension from the axis that is selected to enable passage of a taller portion of the handgun assembly past the rotary during insertion of the handgun assembly into the holster when the rotary is in the second position of rotation about the axis of rotation, the rotary rotating about the axis of rotation against the bias of a spring between the two positions during insertion of the handgun assembly into the holster and withdrawal of the handgun assembly from the holster.

7. A holster as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rotary is rotatable forward and backward about the axis of rotation during insertion and removal of the handgun assembly from the holster.

8. A holster as set forth in claim 3 wherein the spring is a tension spring.