US20040195282A1 - Secondary vertical latching lever and secondary horizontal latching lever holsters - Google Patents
Secondary vertical latching lever and secondary horizontal latching lever holsters Download PDFInfo
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- US20040195282A1 US20040195282A1 US10/825,002 US82500204A US2004195282A1 US 20040195282 A1 US20040195282 A1 US 20040195282A1 US 82500204 A US82500204 A US 82500204A US 2004195282 A1 US2004195282 A1 US 2004195282A1
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- Prior art keywords
- holster
- lever
- finger
- handgun
- trigger guard
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F41—WEAPONS
- F41C—SMALLARMS, e.g. PISTOLS, RIFLES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
- F41C33/00—Means for wearing or carrying smallarms
- F41C33/02—Holsters, i.e. cases for pistols having means for being carried or worn, e.g. at the belt or under the arm
- F41C33/0263—Holsters, i.e. cases for pistols having means for being carried or worn, e.g. at the belt or under the arm having a locking system for preventing unauthorized or accidental removal of the small arm from the holster
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F41—WEAPONS
- F41C—SMALLARMS, e.g. PISTOLS, RIFLES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
- F41C33/00—Means for wearing or carrying smallarms
- F41C33/02—Holsters, i.e. cases for pistols having means for being carried or worn, e.g. at the belt or under the arm
- F41C33/0209—Pouch or pocket like containers for small arms covering all or most of the small arm
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F41—WEAPONS
- F41C—SMALLARMS, e.g. PISTOLS, RIFLES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
- F41C33/00—Means for wearing or carrying smallarms
- F41C33/02—Holsters, i.e. cases for pistols having means for being carried or worn, e.g. at the belt or under the arm
- F41C33/0209—Pouch or pocket like containers for small arms covering all or most of the small arm
- F41C33/0227—Pouch or pocket like containers for small arms covering all or most of the small arm having a strap or other restraining element only covering the hammer or a part of the upper part of the small arm
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Purses, Travelling Bags, Baskets, Or Suitcases (AREA)
Abstract
A holster for a handgun having a trigger guard including a pouch having housing members secured to inside and outside faces of the pouch, the inside face being that closest to the wearer of the holster. A finger-operated, essentially vertical, lever including a blocking end is urged into the space within the trigger guard by means of a spring and is secured to an inside housing member such that it would not be readily apparent or operable by anyone attempting to remove the handgun from the holster. The holster may also include elongated upwardly extending straps and a snap fastener which can be wrapped around the butt of the handgun constituting a thumb break securing device. A second embodiment includes a horizontal double lever arrangement which blocks removal of the trigger guard as described. A third embodiment utilizes a blocking lever pinned to an outside housing member and having a vertical finger-operated button mounted flush with the surface of the outside housing member. A fourth embodiment includes a similar blocking lever with a finger-operated lever extending out of the pouch and positioned for actuation by a wearer's middle finger and inhibiting actuation by a wearer's trigger finger.
Description
- This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 10/199,191 filed Jul. 19, 2002, which claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/308,050 filed Jul. 25, 2001, and hereby claims the benefit of the embodiments therein and of the filing date thereof and is incorporated herein by reference.
- From the earliest days in the development of the handgun holster, the need has been recognized for the holster to include a retention component to provide the user with some assurance that the handgun will not fall out, be dislodged or be subject to unauthorized removal. Classically, a holster flap or strap has acted as such a primary restraint. Both of these types have proved effective.
- It has since been recognized that supplementary restraints are desirable. One of the earliest important supplementary restraints, in addition to a strap or flap, appeared in U.S. Pat. No. 3,630,420 to John E. Bianchi on Dec. 28, 1971, in which the handgun is restricted from withdrawal by a pocket which engages the handgun cylinder and a spring which together restrain the handgun from being drawn upward and allow drawing of the handgun only through a forward slot in the holster body.
- For semi-automatic weapons, which have no cylinder, a variety of secondary restraints have been utilized. The most common approach has been to engage the trigger guard when the handgun is in place in the holster to be drawn only by disengaging a trigger guard release. Examples of such secondary restraints are illustrated in the following U.S. patents:
4,256,243 Bianchi et al. Mar. 17, 1981 4,277,007 Bianchi et al. Jul. 07, 1981 5,129,562 J. E. Bianchi Jul. 14, 1992 5,199,620 Beletsky Apr. 06, 1993 5,246,153 Beletsky Sep. 21, 1993 5,918,784 Serpa Jul. 06, 1999 6,085,951 R. Beletsky et al. Jul. 11, 2000 - These patents illustrate the intense efforts which have gone into development of secondary trigger guard-type restraints, yet continuing improvements are underway.
- Faced with this state of the art, we have produced some simple, yet effective, secondary retention device holster designs providing automatic engagement upon holstering the handgun, one employing a vertical thumb release and others using a horizontal finger release for withdrawal of the handgun.
- In the first embodiment, a spring loaded pivoted lever within an inboard housing is employed as the secondary restraint. The lever is pivoted about a generally horizontal shaft or pin at approximately the lever's midpoint constituting a first class type lever. A concealed spring, preferably a coil spring, is located within the inboard portion of the holster body and biases the trigger guard engaging portion of the lever into a restraining position within the trigger guard of the handgun when it is in holstered position.
- The secondary retention device of this invention is preferably employed in a thumb break-type holster and is located below the thumb break. This allows a continuing motion of the thumb downward to first disengage the primary retention strap at the thumb break, and then to continue downward to engage the operating end of the secondary retention device, press it inward, release the trigger guard, and allow smooth drawing of the handgun by an upward arm and hand movement.
- In an alternate embodiment, a two-lever system is used. The two levers reside in the inboard housing. These horizontal levers are fulcrumed with vertical pins. The user applies finger pressure to the end of a first lever, which pivots about a first fulcrum and contacting a second lever, which rotates about a second fulcrum. The second lever houses a compression coil spring, which pushes the second lever outward to catch the gun's trigger guard. As the first lever rotates the second lever, the projection that engages the trigger guard rotates inward. With this projection rotated inward, the user may withdraw the gun upwardly. When the user releases the first lever, the spring causes the levers to return to their original rested position. When the user returns the gun to the holster, the levers automatically move to catch the trigger guard when it is lowered to its home position.
- The boss or projection includes a tapered outer edge to allow the trigger guard to displace the lever out of the way upon holstering a handgun and a planar inner edge for blocking withdrawal of the handgun unless the lever is depressed. The first lever is easily actuated by movement of the middle finger of the hand during the grasping of the handgun grip. If the holster is of the thumb break type, the actuation of the trigger guard retention release is nearly simultaneous with the thumb release of the thumbbreak strap.
- An additional embodiment utilizes a finger-operated latching lever positioned on the outside of the holster. The accessible surface of the lever is, or may be, made smoothly flush with the outside surface of the holster body, which tends to minimize the chance of inadvertent or unauthorized operation of the latching lever.
- A further embodiment utilizes a similar lever arrangement in connection with a type of holster known as concealment or pancake holster. Such holsters are made as flat as possible with no welt or a welt of minimum thickness and normally includes slots through which a wearer's belt is fed, holding the holster quite flat against the wearer's waist. Some earlier prior art efforts to produce a pancake holster with a blocking lever to secure the handgun in place have resulted in less effective design because, in actuating a blocking lever with the first or trigger finger to release the handgun, the trigger finger continued directly into the trigger guard, prematurely contacting the trigger.
- The holster embodiment described herein is designed with the finger-operated end of the blocking lever extending out of the holster at such a position that only the wearer's middle finger (or possibly ring finger) is in position to contact the finger-operated end of the blocking lever. With the wearer's middle finger in the normal position during withdrawal of the handgun, it would be extremely awkward or almost impossible to attempt to operate the blocking lever with the trigger finger. Although the configuration for avoiding inadvertent, premature operation of the trigger by the trigger finger by positioning the finger-operated end at the blocking lever for operation by the middle finger is described in connection with a concealment-type holster, it is applicable to other types of holsters as well.
- All of these embodiments can provide simple, effective, secondary retention features to most belt worn holsters and possibly other types of holsters, as well.
- This invention may be more clearly understood with the following detailed description and by reference to the drawings in which:
- FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a thumb break-type strap holster incorporating the invention and showing its outside face and a secondary handgun restraint, vertical lever type;
- FIG. 2 is a rear view of the holster of FIG. 1;
- FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along line3-3 of FIG. 1;
- FIG. 4 is a partial vertical sectional view of the holster of FIGS. 1-3 taken along line4-4 of FIG. 3;
- FIG. 5 is a top view of the holster of FIGS. 1-4 taken along line5-5 of FIG. 4;
- FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 3 as a handgun is being withdrawn from the holster of FIG. 1;
- FIG. 7 is an outer side elevational view of an alternative embodiment holster showing its outside face and a horizontal lever type secondary restraint;
- FIG. 8 is a rear elevational view of the holster of FIG. 7;
- FIG. 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along line9-9 of FIG. 8 with a handgun partly shown in phantom;
- FIG. 10 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken along line10-10 of FIG. 9;
- FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional view taken along line11-11 of FIG. 9 with a handgun in a holstered position;
- FIG. 12 is a vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 11 with the secondary restraint released and the handgun being withdrawn from the holster of FIG. 7;
- FIG. 13 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken along line13-13 of the holster of FIG. 9 during release of the secondary restraint;
- FIG. 14 is an outer side elevational view of a further embodiment having an outside latching lever holster and a semi-automatic handgun shown partly in phantom;
- FIG. 15 is a sectional view of the holster of FIG. 14 taken along line15-15 of FIG. 14;
- FIG. 16 is a top view partly in section of the holster of FIGS. 14 and 15;
- FIG. 17 is an inner side elevational view of a concealment or pancake holster incorporating an inside latching lever of the first class handgun withdrawal restraint with a semi-automatic handgun shown partly in phantom;
- FIG. 18 is a side view of the holster of FIG. 17;
- FIG. 19 is a bottom view, partly in section, of the holster of FIGS. 17 and 18 with a semi-automatic handgun holstered;
- FIG. 20 is an inner side view of a concealment or pancake holster incorporating an inside second class lever handgun withdrawal restraint and a holstered semi-automatic handgun;
- FIG. 21 is a sectional view taken along line21-21 of FIG. 20;
- FIG. 22 is a drawing of an individual in the process of beginning to draw a handgun from the concealment or pancake holster of FIGS. 17-19; and
- FIG. 23 is a drawing similar to FIG. 22 but showing the handgun partly drawn from the holster of FIGS. 17-19.
- Referring now to FIG. 1, a
holster 10, with a conventional thumb break strap and a secondary retention device is shown, including abody 11 and abelt loop member 12, which is preferably of a molded plastic, such as nylon. The holster'sbelt loop 12 is on abelt 14. Ahandgun 16 shown in phantom is inserted into theholster 10. Thebody 11 may be of leather, leather-like material or of woven material, such as ballistic nylon. Secured to and forming part ofholster 10 is awelt 18 shown in dashed lines. All the holsters shown and described herein are right-hand designs. Left-hand designs would be mirror images of those shown. -
Holster 10 in the preferred form is a folded leather or synthetic pouch having anoutside face 20, afront face 22, which is the folded over part adjacent to the gun sight and the top of the handgun barrel or slide, an inside face 24 (FIG. 2) and a rear surface which, in this case, includes the edge ofwelt 18 to which the edges ofoutside face 20 and insideface 24 are secured, preferably by stitching to close theholster 10. Secured to welt 18, by means of one or more screws or rivets 26, is aninboard housing 28 and anoutboard guide 102 which may be of metal, such as aluminum, although it could be of another durable material, such as steel or acetyl delrin. Above the inboard housing 28 a portion of thesecondary restraint lever 34 may be seen. - FIG. 2 is a view from the rear of
holster 10. As will be seen from this view, aninboard housing 28 is positioned adjacent inner surface ofinside face 24 ofholster 10 and includes a thumb-operatedlever 34 which is pivotally secured toinboard housing 28 by means of a pin 36 (FIGS. 3 and 6). - Stitched to
inside face 24 is anadditional stiffening layer 30 which provides an additional support for attachingbelt loop 12 as well as a second leather or synthetic layer for supporting a thumbbreak snap fastener 32.Outside face 20 includes astrap 38 carrying the mating part 32M ofsnap fastener 32. Thus, insideface 24 as combined withstiffening layer 30 combines withstrap 38 andsnap fastener 32 to form a thumb break. An extension ofstrap 38 wraps over the top ofhandgun 16 to prevent its removal fromholster 10 until the strap is released. This is the conventional thumb break holster operation. - FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line3-3 of FIG. 1. In this view, it will be seen that the
inboard housing 28 includes a thumb-operatedlever 34 which is pivoted on apin 36.Lever 34 is urged by means of a resilient member in the form of acompression spring 40 in a direction to force its contact projection orboss 42 into the space within thetrigger guard 44 ofhandgun 16. Whenhandgun 16 is seated inholster 10 withthumb break fastener 32 secured, it is held in place both by the thumb break and by thecontact boss 42 oflever 34. Thelever 34 is accessible for operation only from the region between the holster body and thebelt loop 12. The user's thumb moves to open the thumb break, and in a continuing downward movement operates thelever 34 to release the handgun. - To withdraw
handgun 16 requires thatthumb break fastener 32 be opened with the operator's thumb, which is then moved tolever 34, movinglever 34 in the direction of the arrow of FIG. 3 to releasecontact boss 42 fromtrigger guard 44 beforehandgun 16 can be pulled out of the holster. - Also shown in FIG. 3 is a second screw46 which fastens
welt 18,inboard housing 28,outboard guide 102, and insideface layer 24 together. - FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view taken along line4-4 of FIG. 3. This view shows that
welt 18 has a cut out 48 at its upper end to receive thetrigger guard 44 ofhandgun 16. Theinboard housing 28 is shown along withlever 34.Pivot pin 36 andcoil spring 40 are shown in phantom. - FIG. 5 is a top view taken along line5-5 of FIG. 4 and shows
inboard housing 28 andoutboard guide 102 as seen from the top, includinglever 34 shown in its normal position wherecontact boss 42 is urged byspring 40 into the space for the trigger guard.Pivot pin 36 is shown in dashed line. - FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the
lever 34 being operated by the thumb of an operator, rotating thecontact boss 42 oflever 34 away from the trigger guard area against the force ofspring 40. This releases thetrigger guard 44 and permitshandgun 16 to be removed fromholster 10. - An alternative embodiment of the invention, with a horizontal lever mechanism, is shown in FIGS. 7-13. Referring now to FIG. 7, a
holster 60, which may be similar to holster 10 or it may be made of a trilaminate with an outer cover of a strong fabric, such as ballistic nylon, is suspended from abelt 62 by means of a moldedbelt loop member 64, which may be similar to or the same asbelt loop member 12 of FIG. 1. Ahandgun 66, shown in phantom, is carried in theholster 60 and is held in the holster by means of a thumb break which, although of fabric instead of leather, is essentially the same as that described above. Aninboard housing 68 is secured to awelt 70 by means of a pair ofscrews welt 70 being fastened between inboard housing and an outboard guide 103 (FIG. 10). - FIG. 8 is a view of
holster 60, as seen from the rear. This view shows a fabric outsideface 76, a similar fabric insideface 78 and the moldedbelt loop member 64 secured toinside face 78.Inboard housing 68 is shown, including alever 80. - FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line9-9 of FIG. 8 and shows
lever 80, which is secured toinboard housing assembly 68 by means of apivot pin 85. Aprojection 82 on asecond lever 108 extends within thetrigger guard 84 ofhandgun 66. - FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line10-10 of FIG. 9 and shows the
inboard housing 68 andlever 80 as seen from above. This view showslever 80 in its normal position resting againstlever 108 with acompression spring 86 urgingprojection 82 into the space withintrigger guard 84. It will be observed that theoutboard guide 103 has aledge 88 which serves as a stop fortrigger guard 84 ashandgun 66 is placed in theholster 60. - FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line11-11 of FIG. 9 and shows
inboard housing 68 secured toinner face 78 withprojection 82 oflever 108 urged into the space behindtrigger guard 84 byspring 86, to hold the gun in position. - FIG. 12 is the same view as FIG. 11 but showing
projection 82 oflever 108 moved clear of thetrigger guard 84 and permittinghandgun 66 to be removed fromholster 60. In this view, thespring 86 is compressed. - FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 10 but showing that the operator has moved
lever 80 in the direction shown by the arrow of FIG. 10 causinglever 80 to pivot aroundpin 85 movinglever 108 to compressspring 86, and moving theprojection 82 out of the space through which the trigger guard must move to releasehandgun 66 fromholster 60. - From the foregoing, it will be seen that the structures described above provide simple and straightforward secondary latches for securing a handgun in a holster in addition to the well-known thumb break. The structure is durable and uncomplicated and, with either embodiment, easy and natural for a user to operate. Note that the outboard guides102 and 103 serve both to locate the handgun in a position to restrain the handgun in place but also prevent any twisting motion of the handgun that could defeat the retention.
- A third embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 14-16 utilizes a finger-operated latching lever positioned on the outside of the holster. FIG. 14 shows a
holster 110 which, in its preferred form, is a folded leather or synthetic pouch having anoutside face 120, afront face 122, an inside face 124 (FIG. 15), and a rear surface which includes awelt 118 to which the edges ofoutside face 120 and insideface 124 are secured, such as by stitching to closeholster 110. - Secured to welt118 by means of one or more screws or
rivets 126 is aninboard guide member 128 and anoutboard guide 130 which may be of metal, such as aluminum, although it could be of another durable material, such as steel or acetyl delrin. Ahandgun 116 is shown positioned inholster 110, including a trigger guard 144. Also visible in this view is alever 134 positioned in a cut out 136 ofoutboard guide 130.Lever 134 is supported on adowel pin 138 carried inoutboard guide 130 and best seen in FIGS. 15 and 16. - FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along line15-15 of FIG. 14. As seen in this view, the
inside face 124 is carried next to the wearer W. A belt-loop member is not shown but could well be identical tobelt loop member 12 of FIG. 2 and secured to thebelt 112 of wearer W. In this view, thelever 134 is shown pivotable ondowel pin 138 between a first position where thelever tip 140 blocks trigger guard 144, and a second position wherelever tip 140 is moved out of the trigger guard space enabling thehandgun 116 to be withdrawn fromholster 110. Set in small wells or depressions inoutboard guide 130 andlever 134 is acoil spring 146 which urgeslever tip 140 into the space blocking trigger guard. To releasehandgun 116, the wearer W applies finger pressure to the surface 134S oflever 134, rotating the lever against the force ofcoil spring 146 to movelever tip 140 clear of trigger guard 144. - FIG. 16 is a top view of
holster 110 withhandgun 116 removed. Visible in this view areoutside face 120, insideface 124,outboard guide 130, andinboard guide 128. Thelever 134 is shown with fulcrum,dowel pin 138 shown in dotted lines to indicate that it is concealed withinoutboard guide 130. - The embodiment of FIGS. 14, 15 and16 has been shown and described as applied to a holster which does not employ a strap and thumb break arrangement like that described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2 or FIGS. 7 and 8; however, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that such additional restraint means can readily be adapted to the holster of FIGS. 14, 15, and 16.
- An additional embodiment of the present invention utilizes a housing and blocking lever similar to those described above in combination with a significantly different type of holster known as a concealment holster. This embodiment is also applicable to many other types of holsters, including paddle holsters and other holsters for revolvers as well as semi-automatic handguns. A pancake-
type concealment holster 150 is shown in FIGS. 17, 18, and 19 and includes two generally planar body members including an inside or rear panel 152 (FIG. 18) and a front oroutside panel 154, these panels being separate members which are sewn together to form a pouch for receiving ahandgun 156. Spacedslots panels holster 150 to a wearer's belt and to hold the holster adjacent to a wearer's body. - Secured to the inside of
holster 150 is aninboard housing 158, best seen in FIG. 18, which includes a guide or slot 160 forming a trigger guard region and asurface 162 located to form a stop for thetrigger guard 164 ofhandgun 156. Carried ininboard housing 158 is alever 166 of FIGS. 17 and 19 pivotally mounted on apin 168.Lever 166 includes a blocking projection or end 166B and a finger-operatedend 166A extending out of front andrear body panels trigger guard 164. A slide and a barrel-containing region are shown atnumeral 167. - As is more clearly shown in the top view, FIG. 19,
lever 166 pivots around apin 168 serving as a fulcrum device from a first position, shown in solid outline in which the blockingprojection 166B extends into the space behind thetrigger guard 164 to a second position in which blockingprojection 166B is moved out of the way of the trigger guard.Lever 166 is urged toward its blocking position by means of acoil spring 170. Whenhandgun 156 is placed inholster 150,trigger guard 164 is directed intoslot 160 and is pushed past blockingprojection 166B, which then snaps behind the front part oftrigger guard 164, effectively capturing it so thathandgun 156 cannot be pulled directly out ofholster 150. - To remove
handgun 156 fromholster 150, the wearer must grasp the grip of the handgun, while at the same time pressing the finger-operatedend 166A oflever 166 to causelever 166 to rotate aroundpin 168 against the force ofspring 170, moving the blockingprojection 166B away fromtrigger guard 164. Thelever 166 is positioned so that the finger-operatedend 166A is conveniently accessed with the wearer's middle finger but the first or trigger finger is essentially inaccessible to the trigger guard region of the handgun, as is illustrated in FIGS. 22 and 23, described below. - FIG. 20 is an inner side elevational view of an alternative embodiment of pancake holster from that of FIGS. 17-19; and FIG. 21 is a sectional view taken along line21-21 of FIG. 20. The holster 180 of FIGS. 20 and 21 is shown with a semi-automatic handgun shown in normal, holstered position and the holster includes an
inside panel 182, and anoutside panel 184 sewn together to provide the handgun-holding pocket for receiving ahandgun 186.Slots - Secured between
panels inside guide 192 and anoutside guide 194, which define a slot for receiving thetrigger guard 195 ofhandgun 186. Insideguide 192 carries on its lower end, adowel pin 196 serving as a fulcrum supporting alever 200 able to pivot over a limited range against the force of acoil spring 198.Lever 200 includes a projection orcleat 202 which, under the urging ofcoil spring 198, is moved into a position withintrigger guard 195 where it engages the trigger guard of the holstered handgun and preventshandgun 186 from being removed from holster 180. It will be recognized that holster 180 of FIGS. 20 and 21 differs fromholster 150 of FIGS. 17, 18 and 19 in thatlever 200 is a second class lever.Lever 166 of FIGS. 17, 18 and 19 is a first class lever. The finger-operatedend 204 oflever 200 is positioned for operation by the wearer's middle finger, as described above. - FIG. 22 shows an individual I with his right hand on the grip of
handgun 156 preparing to remove it fromholster 150 of FIGS. 17-19. It will be noted that the individual's first or trigger finger TF lies along asmall recess 151 on the outside of the holster generally paralleling the slide or barrel of a holstered handgun and away from thetrigger guard 164, while the middle finger MF is positioned to press against the finger-operatedend 166A oflever 166. It is also possible for the individual's ring finger to reachend 166A, but the trigger finger is too remote from the lever end 166A to operate it, while the individual normally grasps the grip of the handgun. - FIG. 23 is a drawing showing the individual having partly removed the
handgun 156 and with his middle finger MF pressed against finger-operatedend 166A oflever 166 to keeplever 166 in a position where its blockingend 166B is clear oftrigger guard 164. The trigger finger TF is effectively spaced from the handgun trigger until the handgun is nearly fully withdrawn from the holster. This feature eliminates the trigger finger from being pressed inward to operate any release lever and inadvertently entering the finger guard, while releasing the handgun restraint. - The above-described embodiments of the present invention are merely descriptive of its principles and are not to be considered limiting. The scope of the present invention instead shall be determined from the scope of the following claims including their equivalents.
Claims (16)
1. A holster for a handgun having a trigger guard comprising:
a pouch having an inside panel and an outside panel;
a housing secured in said pouch;
said housing including a slot for receiving said trigger guard and a fixed stop for said trigger guard;
a pivotable lever having a finger-engageable end and a blocking projection, said finger-engaging end being positioned relative to said pouch such that said finger-engaging end is spaced away from the wearer's trigger finger; and
a resilient device for urging said blocking projection into a space within said trigger guard when said handgun is in said holster such that said trigger guard is captured by said blocking projection;
wherein removal of said handgun requires moving of said finger-engaging end in opposition to the force of said resilient device into a position where said blocking projection cannot engage said trigger guard.
2. A holster as claimed in claim 1 wherein a fulcrum device is secured to said housing on one side of said slot and said lever is secured to said housing by said fulcrum device.
3. A holster as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pivotable lever is a first-class lever.
4. A holster as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pivotable lever is a second-class lever.
5. A holster as claimed in claim 2 wherein said resilient device is positioned on said one side of said slot and contacts said lever on the same side of said fulcrum device as said blocking projection.
6. A holster as claimed in claim 2 wherein said fulcrum device is secured to said housing at the end of said lever and said resilient device and said blocking projection are positioned between said fulcrum device and said finger-engagable end.
7. A holster for a handgun having a trigger guard comprising:
a pouch having an inside panel and an outside panel;
a housing secured to said inside and outside panels;
a lever device pivotally secured within said housing including a finger-engaging end positioned such that said finger-engaging end is spaced away from the trigger finger of the wearer and a blocking end for engagement with the trigger guard of a handgun when positioned in said holster;
a resilient device urging said blocking end of said lever into a position within the trigger guard such that the trigger guard is captured by said blocking end;
wherein removal of said handgun requires moving said finger-engaging end in opposition to the force of said resilient device into a position where said blocking end cannot engage said trigger guard; and
wherein said trigger-engaging end of said lever is essentially inaccessible to the wearer's trigger finger in normal drawing of the handgun.
8. A holster as claimed in claim 7 wherein said resilient device is positioned within said housing.
9. A holster as claimed in claim 7 wherein said housing is secured to said outside panel with a fastener.
10. A holster as claimed in claim 7 wherein said housing comprises an inside guide and an outside guide, said lever device being pivotally secured to said outside guide and said inside guide including a fixed surface constituting a stop for said trigger guard.
11. A holster as claimed in claim 7 wherein said housing comprises an inside guide and an outside guide, said lever device being pivotally secured to said inside guide and said outside guide including a fixed surface constituting a stop for said trigger guard.
12. A holster as claimed in claim 11 wherein said inside guide and said outside guide cooperate to define a slot for receiving the trigger guard of said handgun.
13. A holster for use with a handgun having a trigger guard, a grip region, and a barrel-containing region, said holster comprising:
a pair of generally planar body members joined at their periphery to form a pouch therebetween;
a pair of spaced slots through said body members to define a path for a wearer's supporting belt and to hold the holster adjacent to a wearer's body for close carrying of a handgun and concealment purposes;
the improvement therein in comprising:
a housing and a guide in said pouch, said guide defining a slot for receiving a handgun trigger guard;
a lever in said housing including a finger-engaging end and a trigger guard blocking end;
means for pivoting said lever within said slot to engage and release the blocking end of the trigger guard;
spring means for biasing said blocking end into engagement with the trigger guard;
the finger-engaging end extending out of the pouch defined by said body members away from the trigger guard when a handgun is located in said pouch, such that the trigger finger of the wearer is inaccessible to the trigger guard region of the handgun while normally operating the finger-engaging end of the lever.
14. A holster in accordance with claim 13 and wherein the finger-engaging end of said lever spaced away from the wearer's trigger finger and positioned for actuation by other fingers.
15. A holster for a handgun having a trigger guard comprising:
a pouch having an inside part and an outside part;
a housing secured to said inside part and an outside guide secured to said outside part;
said housing and said outside guide cooperating to define a slot for receiving said trigger guard, said housing including a pivotable lever having a finger-engageable end and a blocking projection and said outside guide including a fixed surface serving as a stop for said trigger guard;
said finger-engaging end being positioned relative to said pouch for engagement by a wearer's middle finger; and
a resilient member in said housing urging the blocking projection of said lever into a position within said trigger guard when said handgun is in said holster, such that said trigger guard is captured by said blocking projection;
wherein removal of said handgun requires moving of said finger-engaging end in opposition to the force of said resilient member into a position where said blocking projection cannot engage said trigger guard.
16. A holster as claimed in claim 15 wherein said finger-engaging end is substantially inaccessible to the wearer's trigger finger during normal withdrawing of said handgun.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US10/825,002 US20040195282A1 (en) | 2001-07-25 | 2004-04-14 | Secondary vertical latching lever and secondary horizontal latching lever holsters |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US30805001P | 2001-07-25 | 2001-07-25 | |
US10/199,191 US6769582B1 (en) | 2001-07-25 | 2002-07-19 | Secondary vertical latching lever and secondary horizontal latching lever holsters |
US10/825,002 US20040195282A1 (en) | 2001-07-25 | 2004-04-14 | Secondary vertical latching lever and secondary horizontal latching lever holsters |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US10/199,191 Continuation-In-Part US6769582B1 (en) | 2001-07-25 | 2002-07-19 | Secondary vertical latching lever and secondary horizontal latching lever holsters |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20040195282A1 true US20040195282A1 (en) | 2004-10-07 |
Family
ID=46301185
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US10/825,002 Abandoned US20040195282A1 (en) | 2001-07-25 | 2004-04-14 | Secondary vertical latching lever and secondary horizontal latching lever holsters |
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US (1) | US20040195282A1 (en) |
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US20050205624A1 (en) * | 2004-03-11 | 2005-09-22 | Michaels Of Oregon Co. | Finger-actuated handgun retention device for holster |
US20060226185A1 (en) * | 2005-04-07 | 2006-10-12 | Fobus International Lltd. | Holster for a handgun |
US7644845B2 (en) * | 2004-02-11 | 2010-01-12 | Michael Lowe | Security holster for pistols with attached utility device |
US20110011904A1 (en) * | 2009-07-17 | 2011-01-20 | Howard Schultz | Locking holster with thumb drive |
US20110168748A1 (en) * | 2009-01-15 | 2011-07-14 | Miroslav Benes | Handgun Holster |
CN102313490A (en) * | 2010-07-06 | 2012-01-11 | 也夫根尼·阿布沙耶夫 | The holster of loading certainly that is used for semi-automatic or automatic pistol |
EP2499449A1 (en) * | 2009-11-09 | 2012-09-19 | Thomas M. Gregory | Lockable holster retention system |
EP2204630A3 (en) * | 2009-01-06 | 2013-06-12 | Evgeny Abushaev | Self-loading holster for semi-automatic or automatic pistols |
US20150041513A1 (en) * | 2013-08-08 | 2015-02-12 | William Robert Hawks, Jr. | Handgun Pouch Holster |
WO2015124970A1 (en) | 2014-02-21 | 2015-08-27 | Vega Holster S.R.L. | Restraining system to block a fire-arm inside a holster |
WO2015140650A3 (en) * | 2014-03-18 | 2015-11-12 | Vega Holster S.R.L. | A cover for protecting the restraining system to block a fire-arm inside the holster |
EP2943734A4 (en) * | 2013-01-09 | 2016-08-31 | Fobus Internat Ltd | Holster for a handgun |
USD801041S1 (en) | 2016-03-22 | 2017-10-31 | Vista Outdoor Operations Llc | Holster |
US20180058810A1 (en) * | 2016-08-23 | 2018-03-01 | Sentry Solutions Products Group Llc | Holster with Rotatable Locking Element |
USD838102S1 (en) | 2017-01-17 | 2019-01-15 | Vista Outdoor Operations Llc | Holster |
USD840147S1 (en) | 2017-07-17 | 2019-02-12 | Vista Outdoor Operations Llc | Holster |
US10371483B1 (en) * | 2017-01-13 | 2019-08-06 | Sentry Solutions Products Group Llc | Holster with rotatable locking element and release bar disengagement |
US10393477B1 (en) * | 2006-11-16 | 2019-08-27 | Vista Outdoor Operations Llc | Retention holster for a firearm having an offset mounted accessory |
USD860641S1 (en) | 2018-05-09 | 2019-09-24 | Vista Outdoor Operations Llc | Holster |
US10436550B2 (en) | 2016-03-22 | 2019-10-08 | Vista Outdoor Operations Llc | Holster |
US10619974B2 (en) | 2018-03-23 | 2020-04-14 | Vista Outdoor Operations Llc | Thumb-actuated locking holster |
USD881557S1 (en) | 2019-01-18 | 2020-04-21 | Vista Outdoor Operations Llc | Holster |
USD882247S1 (en) | 2015-03-20 | 2020-04-28 | Vista Outdoor Operations Llc | Holster |
US10655931B2 (en) | 2016-08-23 | 2020-05-19 | Sentry Solutions Products Group Llc | Holster with pushrod disengagement locking element |
US10900744B1 (en) | 2019-01-18 | 2021-01-26 | Vista Outdoor Operations Llc | Holster |
US10996024B2 (en) | 2018-03-23 | 2021-05-04 | Vista Outdoor Operations Llc | Thumb-actuated locking holster |
US20220128332A1 (en) * | 2016-08-23 | 2022-04-28 | Sentry Solutions Products Group Llc | Holster with Pushrod Ejection Port Locking Element |
US11781831B2 (en) | 2020-06-12 | 2023-10-10 | Vista Outdoor Operations Llc | Thumb-actuated locking holster system |
USD1015733S1 (en) * | 2021-10-25 | 2024-02-27 | Edge-Works Manufacturing Company | Molded holster with belt attachment |
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US1641439A (en) * | 1925-08-07 | 1927-09-06 | John B Jovino | Safety holster |
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US4277007A (en) * | 1979-02-12 | 1981-07-07 | Bianchi Leather Products, Inc. | Front opening holster for pistols |
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US6276581B1 (en) * | 1999-07-20 | 2001-08-21 | Gaston Glock | Holster for a firearm |
US6547111B2 (en) * | 2000-08-04 | 2003-04-15 | Michaels Of Oregon Co. | Handgun holster with internal retention device |
US6752300B2 (en) * | 2002-06-06 | 2004-06-22 | Fobus International Ltd. | Holster for a handgun |
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US1635984A (en) * | 1925-02-07 | 1927-07-19 | William S Swift | Revolver holster |
US1641439A (en) * | 1925-08-07 | 1927-09-06 | John B Jovino | Safety holster |
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US3630420A (en) * | 1970-02-16 | 1971-12-28 | Bianchi Leather Products Inc | Holster |
US4256243A (en) * | 1979-02-12 | 1981-03-17 | Bianchi Leather Products, Inc. | Holster with hesitation lock |
US4277007A (en) * | 1979-02-12 | 1981-07-07 | Bianchi Leather Products, Inc. | Front opening holster for pistols |
US5129562A (en) * | 1990-11-01 | 1992-07-14 | Bianchi International, Inc. | Trigger guard retainer |
US5509591A (en) * | 1992-01-09 | 1996-04-23 | Carver; John W. | Holster |
US5246153A (en) * | 1992-10-13 | 1993-09-21 | Bianchi International | Ambidextrous shoulder holster |
US5918784A (en) * | 1997-11-25 | 1999-07-06 | Serpa; Michael Lawrence | Quick-release handgun holster |
US6276581B1 (en) * | 1999-07-20 | 2001-08-21 | Gaston Glock | Holster for a firearm |
US6230946B1 (en) * | 2000-01-03 | 2001-05-15 | Albert W. Vor Keller | Safety holster for preventing access to a firearm by unauthorized users |
US6547111B2 (en) * | 2000-08-04 | 2003-04-15 | Michaels Of Oregon Co. | Handgun holster with internal retention device |
US6752300B2 (en) * | 2002-06-06 | 2004-06-22 | Fobus International Ltd. | Holster for a handgun |
Cited By (50)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US7644845B2 (en) * | 2004-02-11 | 2010-01-12 | Michael Lowe | Security holster for pistols with attached utility device |
US20050205624A1 (en) * | 2004-03-11 | 2005-09-22 | Michaels Of Oregon Co. | Finger-actuated handgun retention device for holster |
US20060226185A1 (en) * | 2005-04-07 | 2006-10-12 | Fobus International Lltd. | Holster for a handgun |
US10393477B1 (en) * | 2006-11-16 | 2019-08-27 | Vista Outdoor Operations Llc | Retention holster for a firearm having an offset mounted accessory |
EP2204630A3 (en) * | 2009-01-06 | 2013-06-12 | Evgeny Abushaev | Self-loading holster for semi-automatic or automatic pistols |
US8720753B2 (en) * | 2009-01-15 | 2014-05-13 | Miroslav Bene{hacek over (s)} | Handgun holster |
US20110168748A1 (en) * | 2009-01-15 | 2011-07-14 | Miroslav Benes | Handgun Holster |
US20110011904A1 (en) * | 2009-07-17 | 2011-01-20 | Howard Schultz | Locking holster with thumb drive |
EP3264020A1 (en) * | 2009-11-09 | 2018-01-03 | Vista Outdoor Operations LLC | Lockable holster retention system |
US10066902B2 (en) | 2009-11-09 | 2018-09-04 | Vista Outdoor Operations Llc | Holster having a rotatable lockout element |
EP2499449A4 (en) * | 2009-11-09 | 2015-03-25 | Alliant Techsystems Inc | Lockable holster retention system |
US10962325B2 (en) | 2009-11-09 | 2021-03-30 | Vista Outdoor Operations Llc | Holster having a removable lockout element |
US10094637B2 (en) | 2009-11-09 | 2018-10-09 | Vista Outdoor Operations Llc | Holster having a removable lockout element |
US10088273B2 (en) | 2009-11-09 | 2018-10-02 | Vista Outdoor Operations Llc | Holster having a slidable locking element |
EP2499449A1 (en) * | 2009-11-09 | 2012-09-19 | Thomas M. Gregory | Lockable holster retention system |
US11561064B2 (en) | 2009-11-09 | 2023-01-24 | Vista Outdoor Operations Llc | Holster having a removable lockout element |
CN102313490A (en) * | 2010-07-06 | 2012-01-11 | 也夫根尼·阿布沙耶夫 | The holster of loading certainly that is used for semi-automatic or automatic pistol |
EP2943734A4 (en) * | 2013-01-09 | 2016-08-31 | Fobus Internat Ltd | Holster for a handgun |
US20150041513A1 (en) * | 2013-08-08 | 2015-02-12 | William Robert Hawks, Jr. | Handgun Pouch Holster |
WO2015124970A1 (en) | 2014-02-21 | 2015-08-27 | Vega Holster S.R.L. | Restraining system to block a fire-arm inside a holster |
WO2015140650A3 (en) * | 2014-03-18 | 2015-11-12 | Vega Holster S.R.L. | A cover for protecting the restraining system to block a fire-arm inside the holster |
USD882247S1 (en) | 2015-03-20 | 2020-04-28 | Vista Outdoor Operations Llc | Holster |
US10254078B2 (en) | 2016-03-22 | 2019-04-09 | Vista Outdoor Operations Llc | Holster |
US11391539B2 (en) | 2016-03-22 | 2022-07-19 | Vista Outdoor Operations Llc | Holster |
US10436550B2 (en) | 2016-03-22 | 2019-10-08 | Vista Outdoor Operations Llc | Holster |
USD871057S1 (en) | 2016-03-22 | 2019-12-31 | Vista Outdoor Operations Llc | Holster |
USD801041S1 (en) | 2016-03-22 | 2017-10-31 | Vista Outdoor Operations Llc | Holster |
US11815329B2 (en) * | 2016-08-23 | 2023-11-14 | Sentry Solutions Products Group Llc | Holster with pushrod ejection port locking element |
US10145649B2 (en) * | 2016-08-23 | 2018-12-04 | Sentry Solutions Products Group LLP | Holster with locking element and pushrod disengagement |
US20180058811A1 (en) * | 2016-08-23 | 2018-03-01 | Sentry Solutions Products Group Llc | Holster with Locking Element and Pushrod Disengagement |
US20180058810A1 (en) * | 2016-08-23 | 2018-03-01 | Sentry Solutions Products Group Llc | Holster with Rotatable Locking Element |
US10451382B2 (en) * | 2016-08-23 | 2019-10-22 | Sentry Solutions Products Group Llc | Holster with rotatable locking element |
US20220128332A1 (en) * | 2016-08-23 | 2022-04-28 | Sentry Solutions Products Group Llc | Holster with Pushrod Ejection Port Locking Element |
US11215422B2 (en) * | 2016-08-23 | 2022-01-04 | Sentry Solutions Products Group Llc | Holster having pushrod disengagement locking element |
US10655931B2 (en) | 2016-08-23 | 2020-05-19 | Sentry Solutions Products Group Llc | Holster with pushrod disengagement locking element |
US10371483B1 (en) * | 2017-01-13 | 2019-08-06 | Sentry Solutions Products Group Llc | Holster with rotatable locking element and release bar disengagement |
US10871347B1 (en) * | 2017-01-13 | 2020-12-22 | Sentry Solutions Products Group Llc | Holster with rotatable locking element |
USD838102S1 (en) | 2017-01-17 | 2019-01-15 | Vista Outdoor Operations Llc | Holster |
USD840147S1 (en) | 2017-07-17 | 2019-02-12 | Vista Outdoor Operations Llc | Holster |
US11725905B2 (en) | 2018-03-23 | 2023-08-15 | Vista Outdoor Operations Llc | Thumb-actuated locking holster |
US10619974B2 (en) | 2018-03-23 | 2020-04-14 | Vista Outdoor Operations Llc | Thumb-actuated locking holster |
US11506466B2 (en) | 2018-03-23 | 2022-11-22 | Vista Outdoor Operations Llc | Thumb-actuated locking holster |
US11002511B2 (en) | 2018-03-23 | 2021-05-11 | Vista Outdoor Operations Llc | Thumb-actuated locking holster |
US10996024B2 (en) | 2018-03-23 | 2021-05-04 | Vista Outdoor Operations Llc | Thumb-actuated locking holster |
USD860641S1 (en) | 2018-05-09 | 2019-09-24 | Vista Outdoor Operations Llc | Holster |
USD1022789S1 (en) | 2018-05-09 | 2024-04-16 | Vista Outdoor Operations Llc | Belt loop |
USD881557S1 (en) | 2019-01-18 | 2020-04-21 | Vista Outdoor Operations Llc | Holster |
US10900744B1 (en) | 2019-01-18 | 2021-01-26 | Vista Outdoor Operations Llc | Holster |
US11781831B2 (en) | 2020-06-12 | 2023-10-10 | Vista Outdoor Operations Llc | Thumb-actuated locking holster system |
USD1015733S1 (en) * | 2021-10-25 | 2024-02-27 | Edge-Works Manufacturing Company | Molded holster with belt attachment |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: BIANCHI INTERNATIONAL, CALIFORNIA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:BELETSKY, ROBERT J.;EERDMANS, CARL R.;LEFEBER, ANTHONY G.;REEL/FRAME:015224/0574 Effective date: 20040401 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |