Implements, such as tools, weapons, and the like, may be temporarily encased in a carrier (such as a holster, for instance) for protection of the implement and/or the user, while providing access to the implement. For example, a carrier may allow a user to conveniently carry the implement, safely retaining the implement until needed. When the implement is to be used, the user may withdraw the implement from the carrier, and then return it to the carrier when finished. In some cases, such as with a handgun for example, the holster may allow the user to conceal the implement, or to conceal the fact that the user is carrying the implement.
In the case of a handgun, the holster should reasonably protect the handgun and the user, and should be convenient to the user for ready use. However, the holster should also be versatile enough to be comfortably carried by the user, such as when it is worn on the person of the user for an extended length of time. The holster should also be rigid and stable enough to allow the handgun to be repeatedly drawn and re-holstered, usually with the same hand.
A holster should reliably retain the handgun until it is to be used, but allow the user to draw the handgun for use without undue effort or difficulty. It may be desirable to adjust the retention of a holster, to accommodate the user's preference and intended type of use. In some cases, adjusting the retention of holsters, and particularly adjusting the retention of hard shell holsters can be problematic.
The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The use of the same reference numbers in different figures indicates similar or identical items.
For this discussion, the devices and systems illustrated in the figures are shown as having a multiplicity of components. Various implementations of devices and/or systems, as described herein, may include fewer components and remain within the scope of the disclosure. Alternately, other implementations of devices and/or systems may include additional components, or various combinations of the described components, and remain within the scope of the disclosure. Shapes and/or dimensions shown in the illustrations of the figures are for example, and other shapes and or dimensions may be used and remain within the scope of the disclosure, unless specified otherwise.
Overview
An implement holster (such as a handgun holster, etc.) may have a recessed area on one or both sides of the holster that protrudes into the cavity of the holster at the trigger guard location. When an implement is holstered or drawn, this recessed area can interfere with a portion of the implement, such as the trigger guard, causing the sides of the holster to flex outward as the implement passes by the recessed area. The holster's resistance to flexing creates retention. The interference, ramping, and flexing of the holster is a form of passive retention. Some forms of passive retention rely on friction alone or on a combination with ramping that increases friction.
Other forms of holster retention may include mechanisms for user-operation, such as having a retention mechanism that is built into or onto the holster. Removing the implement from the holster includes operating the mechanisms in addition to simply pulling the implement out of the holster. Such mechanisms can include buttons, levers, hoods, and straps, known as active retention elements.
Passive retention techniques can sometimes be preferred due to their simplicity of operation. In some cases, a holster can be designed to have adjustable passive retention. For example, a screw-adjustable spring element can be provided at the recessed area (for instance) that pushes (or pulls) on the side walls of the holster, controlling how tight the two sides of the holster grip the pistol. The screw may include a Philips or Allen head (or other) for user adjustment. Tightening the spring element increases the tension of the holster walls, and thus the retention of the holster. However, with some holster designs, such as rigid holster shells, the walls of the holster are less flexible, rendering such techniques less effective. Further, some holster shells are comprised of multiple interlocking shell portions, which can also restrict the ability of the holster walls to flex.
Representative implementations of devices and techniques herein disclosed provide an adjustable retention system for an implement holster (such as a handgun holster, for example). In various implementations, the retention devices of the adjustable retention system can be temporarily or permanently coupled to a holster, or they can be integral to the holster. The adjustable retention system is adjustable to various retention levels (tension strengths) by a user in the field, based on the easy to use retention devices, which are secure enough to use with a handgun holster.
In various embodiments, a retention device of the adjustable retention system includes at least one retention bump protruding from a base of the device. When the base is mounted to a holster, the retention bump is inserted into an opening in the holster, protruding into the holster cavity. The retention bump contacts a portion of the implement (such as a trigger guard, for example) when the implement is holstered and when the implement is withdrawn from the holster. The retention bump resists the movement of the implement within the holster, engaging the implement, particularly resisting the withdrawal of the implement from the holster to retain the implement within the holster.
When the implement passes by the retention bump on its way into or out of the holster, it causes the retention device to flex outward, pushing the retention bump out of the holster cavity, to make room for the implement to pass through the holster cavity. The amount of force needed to overcome the resistance of the retention device in withdrawing the implement from the holster defines the retention value of the retention device and defines at least a portion of the retention value of the holster. The retention value of the retention device is determined mostly by the length of the retention bump (i.e., how far the retention bump extends into the holster cavity), the flexibility (or retractability) of the retention bump, and the flexibility of the base. The flexibility of the base can be a result of the length of the base from a mounting point to the retention bump, a width of the base, a thickness of the base (or a thickness of the material of the base), and the properties of the material of the base.
In an implementation, the retention system includes a plurality of retention devices, each with a different retention value. The retention devices may be interchangeably coupled to an implement holster (or the like) for determining and adjusting the retention of the holster. For example, to increase the retention of the holster, the retention device mounted to the holster can be user-exchanged for one having a greater retention value. The quantity of retention devices with different retention values determines the adjustability of the retention of the holster.
In another implementation, an adjustable retention system includes one retention device. The retention device has a retention bump that is extendable or retractable by a user to adjust a retention of the retention device. In alternate embodiments, multiple retention devices with adjustable retention bumps may be included in the adjustable retention system, where each of the devices provides a retention range, for example.
Techniques and devices are discussed with reference to example handgun holsters illustrated in the figures. However, this is not intended to be limiting, and is for ease of discussion and illustrative convenience. The techniques and devices discussed may be applied to a holster or to any of various cases, carriers, containers, implements, tools, objects, and the like, and remain within the scope of the disclosure. For the purposes of this disclosure, the generic term “carrier” is used to indicate any or all of the above.
Further, the shape and quantity of the adjustable retention system components illustrated in the figures may vary to accommodate various applications. In alternate embodiments, fewer, additional, or alternate components may be used and/or combined to form an adjustable retention system or a retention device having an equivalent function and operation.
Implementations are explained in more detail below using a plurality of examples. Although various implementations and examples are discussed here and below, further implementations and examples may be possible by combining the features and elements of individual implementations and examples.
Example Adjustable Retention System
Example retention devices 100, of an example adjustable retention system 300 are shown in
As shown in
In the embodiments, as shown in
Referring to
For example, although three example tension levels (Heavy, Medium, and Light) are illustrated in
Referring to
Referring to
As shown in
The retention bump 104 can trap the trigger guard of the implement (e.g., handgun) while the implement is holstered. As shown in
In various embodiments, the base 102 of the retention device 100 determines the flexibility/rigidity and thus the tension level of the retention device 100. While the retention device 100 is coupled to the carrier 502, the resistance of the base 102 to flexing or bending when the implement is removed from the carrier 502 determines the retention level of the retention device 100. Accordingly, retention devices 100 can be made available with various materials and thicknesses (and lengths) to produce varying flexibility, and thus tension levels of the bases 102 of the retention devices 100. In some embodiments, the base 102 of the retention device 100 may be tapered in width and/or thickness to determine the tension level of the retention device 100.
In various embodiments, the one or more retention devices 100 may be installed, removed, or interchanged by a user as desired to adjust the retention of the carrier 502. For example, to increase the retention of the carrier 502, a retention device 100 mounted to the carrier 502 can be user-exchanged for one having a greater retention value. The quantity of retention devices 100 with different retention values determines the adjustability of the retention of the carrier 502 or the adjustable retention holster 500.
A user can use any combination of retention devices 100 to achieve the desired tension levels for the carrier 502. In various embodiments, a single retention device 100 may be used with a carrier 502, or two or more retention devices may be used (as shown in
Referring to
In an implementation, as shown in
In an embodiment, as shown in
In an embodiment, as shown in
In an embodiment, the retention bump 104 is moveably coupled to the adjustment gear 112 via a screw device 1802, or the like, and is moveably coupled to the base cover 1202, by extending and retracting though an opening 1204 in the base cover 1202. In various examples, the opening 1204 in the base cover 1202 is featured, having a shape to fit closely around the retention bump 104 to guide the bump 104 as it travels. The opening 1204 may also have a featured shape, such as a tab, or the like, to match a groove (or the like) on the bump 104, to assist in guiding and keeping the retention bump 104 aligned.
The screw device 1802 is fixed to the lower portion of the adjustment gear 112, so that when the adjustment gear 112 turns, the screw device 1802 turns as well. The retention bump 104 includes a screw hole 1702 (see
In various examples, as shown in
Referring to
The retention device 100 is discussed in terms of determining and adjusting a retention of a holster, but the retention device 100 may also be used to determine and adjust a retention of various other cases, enclosures, and the like, where retention of the item is desired. Although various implementations and examples are discussed herein, further implementations and examples may be possible by combining the features and elements of individual implementations and examples.
In various implementations, components of the retention device 100 are comprised of various plastics, composites, metals, combinations of the same, or the like. For example, the base 102 and/or the bump 104 may be comprised of a polyamide, or similar material. For example, the retention device 100 components may be injection molded, stamped, formed, or the like. In various embodiments, the retention device 100 components have rigidity and stability properties based on a particular material selected for the retention device 100 components. For example, some materials that may be used include styrenic block copolymers (TPE-s), polyolefin blends (TPE-o), elastomeric alloys (TPE-v or TPV), thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), Thermoplastic copolyesters, thermoplastic polyamides, various metals and alloys, fiber composites, combinations of the same, and the like. Additionally, in some embodiments, the stability properties are also based on a thickness of the retention device 100 components.
In various implementations, the retention device 100 may include fewer, more, or alternate components, and remain within the scope of the disclosure. In various embodiments, the shape and configuration of the retention device 100 components may vary to accommodate different implements or applications. In an example, the base 102 and/or bump 104 may be formed to closely fit a particular implement or carrier 502. In other examples, the base 102 and/or bump 104 may be more generally formed to fit multiple implements or carriers 502.
The illustrations of
In various embodiments, the retention device 100, may be added to an existing arrangement (such as holsters and holster mounting apparatus and assemblies, for example). For instance, the existing arrangements may be retrofitted with the retention device 100 or with retention device 100 components. In other embodiments, the retention device 100 may be a part of a new arrangement, such as a new holster rig, case, enclosure, or the like.
Although the implementations of the disclosure have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the implementations are not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as representative forms of implementing the claims.
This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e)(1) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/447,757, filed Jan. 18, 2017, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
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