Patent Application
20230122193
The disclosure generally relates to firearms and more particularly relates to systems and methods for removably locking a firearm (e.g., a handgun) or the like in a holster using a magnetic locking assembly.
Wide varieties of safety devices exist to inhibit withdrawal of a firearm 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 firearm when necessary but greatly reduces the likelihood of accidental or unauthorized movement of the firearm.
The disclosure is directed to systems and methods for magnetically locking a firearm into a holster to prevent any unwanted removal of the firearm while still allowing the user to quickly draw the firearm when intended.
In one or more embodiments, the disclosure provides for an apparatus for removably locking a firearm in a holster using a magnetic locking assembly. In some instances, the holster may include a lever arm and a locking body rotatably attached to the holster via a pin joint. In some instances, the locking body includes a magnet configured to hold the locking body in a locked position while a ferromagnetic portion of a firearm is inserted into the holster. In this manner, the magnet and the ferromagnetic portion of the firearm may form a magnetic connection, which may maintain the locking body in the locked position. The lever arm may be configured to move the locking body from the locked position to an unlocked position when activated by an applied force from the user, which may overcome the magnetic force between the magnet and the ferromagnetic portion of the fireman, allowing the firearm to be removed from the holster.
One embodiment of the present disclosure is a system for removably locking a firearm into a holster. When the firearm is inserted into the system, the locking body slides along the firearm until a catch in the locking body reaches a feature on the firearm, such as an ejection port, where the magnet on the locking body is attracted to a ferromagnetic portion (e.g., the slide) of the firearm, which causes the catch to fall into the ejection port by providing a magnetic force between the ferromagnetic firearm and the locking body. Once the catch is inside the ejection port, or other suitable feature of the firearm such a slide stop notch or one of the sights, the catch abuts against an opposite surface of the firearm feature locking the firearm in place and preventing the firearm from being removed from the holster.
The user may then apply a force to the lever arm, moving the lever arm about a pivot connection to the holster. The movement of the lever arm about the pivot connection may move the locking body, and therefore the catch, in a direction opposite the pull of the magnetic force, which may disengage the catch from, for example, the ejection port of the firearm. Once the locking body has been lifted a suitable amount, the catch will be raised so that it no longer abuts the opposite surface of the firearm feature, allowing the firearm to be drawn from the holster.
Turning now to the drawings,
As depicted in
In some embodiments, the lever arm 100 and the locking body 102 are two separate components. For example, the lever arm 100 may be pivotally attached to the holster 103 via the pivot connection 104. Similarly, the locking body 102 may be pivotally attached to the holster 103 via the pivot connection 104. The locking body 102 may include a channel and a notch 108. The forward portion 110 of the lever arm 100 includes a lip 112 configured to rotate about the pivot connection 104 within the channel and engage the notch 108 of the locking body 102 when the rearward end 114 of the lever arm 100 is depressed by a user with force Fa. For example, as the lever arm 100 is rotated counterclockwise, as indicated above by arrow 116, the lip 112 pushes against the notch 108, which causes the locking body 102 to rotate counterclockwise and disengage from the firearm 118.
One skilled in the art would understand that the lever arm and locking body may still function properly if they were located on separate pivot connections connected to the holster in separate locations as long as the rotation of the lever arm forced the locking body to move away from the firearm in a direction opposing the force of the magnet. Another embodiment to be appreciated by those skilled in the art, as shown in
To deploy the firearm 118, the user may engage the lever arm 100 away from the top surface 106 of the slide with a downward force Fa. The force Fa must be great enough to overcome the magnetic force between the magnet 130 and the top surface 106. This motion creates a moment about the pivot connection 104. The moment engages the lever arm 100 onto the locking body 102. This engagement rotates the locking body 102 with the lever arm 100 about the pivot connection 104 in direction 116. Once rotated about 10 degrees (or other degrees in other embodiments) the catch 124 previously engaging the ejection port surface 126 is freed, constituting an unlocked position. Once the magnetic locking system 101 is in the unlocked position the firearm 118 can be removed. Once the firearm 118 is reinserted into the holster cavity 105 and the lever arm 100 released, the magnet 130 will return both the lever arm 100 and locking body 102 into the locked position by pulling toward the ferromagnetic slide of the firearm 118.
One skilled in the art would recognize, in another embodiment, that disengaging the catch from the ejection port surface may also be achieved by applying an upward force on the lever arm. In such an embodiment, the locking body would need to have a pivot connection located farther down the barrel of the firearm than the catch. Such upward force on the lever arm would create an upward force on the locking body, disengaging the catch from the firearm.
Although specific embodiments of the disclosure have been described, numerous other modifications and alternative embodiments are within the scope of the disclosure. For example, any of the functionality described with respect to a particular device or component may be performed by another device or component. Further, while specific device characteristics have been described, embodiments of the disclosure may relate to numerous other device characteristics. Further, although embodiments have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as illustrative forms of implementing the embodiments. Conditional language, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments could include, while other embodiments may not include, certain features, elements, and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements, and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments.
Those having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that numerous modifications can be made to the specific implementations described above. The implementations should not be limited to the particular limitations described. Other implementations may be possible.
The disclosure claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 63/257,636, filed Oct. 20, 2021, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63257636 | Oct 2021 | US |
