Patent Application
20130306691
The present invention relates to firearms, and more particularly to a holster that retains a firearm with two latches that must be simultaneously actuated to release the firearm.
A handgun holster is a device used to hold or restrict the undesired movement of a handgun, most commonly in a location where it can be easily withdrawn for immediate use. Holsters are generally designed to offer protection to the handgun, secure its retention, and provide ready access to it. The need for ready access is often at odds with the need for security and protection. Choosing the right balance can be very important, especially in the case of a defensive weapon holster, where failure to access the weapon quickly or damage or loss of the weapon because of insufficient retention or protection could result in serious injury or death to the user.
Holsters are generally designed to be used with one hand, allowing the handgun to be removed and/or replaced with the same hand. To be able to return the handgun to its holster one-handed, the holster must be made from stiff material that holds its shape so that the holster won't collapse when the object is no longer inside to give it support.
Holsters are generally attached to a person's belt or waistband or clipped to another article of clothing. Some holsters, such as ankle holsters, have integrated support. Other holsters may fit inside a pocket to add stability and protection to the handgun, keeping it more reliably secure and accessible than if it were in the pocket alone.
Holster designs for firearms cover a wide range of shapes, materials, and retention/release mechanisms, from simple leather pouches hanging from a belt to highly protective holsters with flaps that cover the entire handgun, to highly adjustable competition holsters that hold the handgun at a precise position and release instantly when activated. The wide range of types indicates the highly varied circumstances in which holsters are used, and the varying preferences of the users. Duty holsters, which are typically worn by uniformed peace officers and security personnel, are designed to be carried openly, so concealment is not an issue, but retention is of high importance. Duty holsters can be made of leather (plain, basket weave, or glossy), nylon, or plastic; they are designed to be attached to a duty belt, and worn on the dominant side.
The primary characteristic that often distinguishes duty holsters from all other holster designs is retention. Modern law enforcement duty holsters are available with varying levels of retention security (i.e. Level I, Level II, Level II+, Level III, etc.; some security features are passive (such as retention screws, decoy straps, or hood guards), while others are active and require deliberate manipulation by the officer during the draw (such as traditional thumb break snaps). While a higher level of retention will make it more difficult for a suspect to snatch a holstered handgun away from an officer, it may also reduce the speed and ease with which an officer may draw his handgun (especially if the security features are active and not passive). Therefore, when selecting a duty holster, an officer or agency purchasing authority may be forced to find a suitable compromise of speed and retention. When choosing a holster for a firearm, factors of interest include:
Safety—a well-designed holster will provide protection to the handgun during insertion into or removal from the holster or while being carried that will: 1. prevent accidental trigger movement; 2. prevent accidental disengagement of the safety mechanism; 3. prevent forward or rearward movement of the hammer. These features will vary greatly as applicable to the action of the handgun. The safety features of a holster very much require that the holster be engineered and designed for each specific manufacture and model of handgun.
Retention—a holster designed with retention in mind will help prevent a gun from being removed from the holster by anyone other than the person wearing it. Modern duty holsters have multiple hidden retention devices to this end. Frequently, retentive holsters are custom designed for a specific model of gun.
Draw ease—practical shooting holsters must allow a gun to be presented quickly.
Versatility—it is preferable not to have to stock a wide range of different holster types for left and right side carry, for different barrel and slide lengths, or for field or office duty. While some range of models is needed for different gun types, it is desirable to minimize this both for economy of manufacturing and distribution, and for economy of agency purchasing and inventorying.
Therefore, a need exists for a new and improved holster that retains a firearm with two latches that must be simultaneously actuated to release the firearm. In this regard, the various embodiments of the present invention substantially fulfill at least some of these needs. In this respect, the holster according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing multiple retention measures for a firearm while also enabling the firearm to be presented quickly.
The present invention provides an improved holster, and overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide an improved holster that has all the advantages of the prior art mentioned above.
To attain this, the preferred embodiment of the present invention essentially comprises a body defining a chamber configured to removably receive a portion of a firearm, the chamber including a trigger guard receiving portion configured to receive a trigger guard of the firearm, first and second retention latches connected to the body, each of the latches being movable between a retention position in which the firearm resists extraction from the holder and an extraction position in which the firearm is free to be extracted from the holder, each of the latches having a stop portion positioned behind a portion of the front trigger guard portion when the latch is in the retention position, and the stop portion being positioned laterally clear of the front trigger guard portion when the latches and the extraction position. Each of the latches may be spring biased to the retention position. Each of the latches may be pivotally connected to the body. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims attached.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention 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 same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various figures.
An embodiment of the holster of the present invention is shown and generally designated by the reference numeral 10.
The holster 10 forms a generally rectangular tubular passage 132 defined by a left panel 12, right panel 14, top panel 16, and bottom panel 18. The top 120 of the top panel forms a rail 122. The rail has a plurality of teeth 124 that define slots 126. The bottom panel defines a channel 154 that receives a tension spring 130.
A front support 20 extends downward from the bottom panel 18. The front support has a solid and integral recessed body 110 and defines a circular aperture 102 and a circular aperture 96. The body 110 defines a small aperture 142. The small aperture can receive a lanyard to secure the holster. The aperture 102 is oriented vertically and receives an insert 104. The aperture 96 is oriented horizontally and receives an insert 100. A button head cap screw 106 is threaded through the insert 104 to secure one end of the tension spring 130. A set screw 98 inserted through the insert 100 to engage the opposite end of the tension spring 130. The tension spring exerts pressure against the handgun 80 to prevent movement, providing a first level of retention. The amount of tension is adjusted by the set screw 98.
A muzzle hood 68 has a rear 78 that slides over the top panel 16 when the hood is attached to the holster. The top 74 of the hood forms a spring arm 76 that engages one of the slots 126 to restrict longitudinal movement of the hood. The front 70 of the hood forms a drain slot 72 to prevent moisture from accumulating within the front of the hood. The hood defines a serpentine portion 148 on either side of the drain slot that can closely abut the front 64 of the right panel 14 and the front 176 of the left panel 12.
To holster the handgun 80, the muzzle 88 is inserted into the passage 132 between the rear 66 of the right panel 14 and the rear 138 of the left panel 12. The muzzle hood 68 may already be in place, or the muzzle hood 68 may be attached subsequently to the holster 10.
The holster 10 is illustrated in a configuration for being worn on the right hip. When configured for being worn on the right hip, four bores in the right panel 14 are filled by plugs 62. The plugs prevent moisture and dirt from entering the holster through the bores. Four bores in the left panel 12 (not visible) each receive a channel nut (116, 118 are visible in
The right latch has a right actuator pad 26, a right intermediate portion 32, and a right trigger guard lock 34. The right actuator pad 26 defines a slot 28 (also shown in
The left latch has a left actuator pad 36, a left intermediate portion 52, and a left trigger guard lock 50. The left actuator pad 36 defines a slot 38 and is attached to the left intermediate portion by a screw 40 received within a bore 44 in brass insert 156. The left intermediate portion defines a recess 60 that receives a spring 58. The left latch is pivotally secured to the left panel by a dowel pin 48 that defines a pivot axis 160. The pivot axis is parallel to the medial plane 166 that vertically bisects the holster and is perpendicular to the barrel axis 164.
The screws 30, 40 in the slots 28, 38 in the right actuator pad 26 and left actuator pad 36 enable the length of the right latch 22 and left latch 24 to be adjusted to accommodate the length of the user's fingers. When the web of the users hand engages the rear of the grip 82, the right actuator pad 26 and left actuator pad 36 can be positioned precisely to facilitate an inward pinching motion between the user's thumb and index finger.
The left latch 24 is shown in the spring-biased locked position in both
The spring arm 76 on the top 74 of the muzzle hood 68 has a tooth 146 that engages one of the slots 126 in the rail 122. The rear portion of the tooth is angled so that the muzzle hood can be slid rearward with a ratcheting effect, but cannot be slid forward unless the tooth is raised and held above the teeth 124 so as to be completely disengaged from the slots. The rear 78 of the muzzle hood extends sufficiently rearward that the rear sight 94, as well as the front sight 90, are covered and protected by the muzzle hood.
In the context of the specification, the terms “rear” and “rearward,” and “front” and “forward” have the following definitions: “rear” or “rearward” means in the direction away from the muzzle of the firearm while “front” or “forward” means it is in the direction towards the muzzle of the firearm.
While a current embodiment of a holster has been described in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the rail is suitable for use to secure other accessories to the holster instead of the muzzle hood. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
