WO2005022068A1

WO2005022068A1 - Handgun safety and retention device

Info

Publication number: WO2005022068A1
Application number: PCT/BE2004/000120
Authority: WO
Inventors: Daniel Dekaise
Original assignee: Artradex Sprl
Priority date: 2003-08-28
Filing date: 2004-08-25
Publication date: 2005-03-10
Also published as: DE602004004407T2; CA2536597A1; EP1658468B1; EP1658468A1; US20060175366A1; DE602004004407D1; EP1510773A1; ATE352020T1

Abstract

The invention relates to an automatic safety and retention device for a gun holster, preferably for a handgun. The inventive device comprises a cover (5) which connects the outer side (2) and the inner side (3) of the holster body at the top thereof and which pivots forward from a closed position to an open position under the action of at least one part of the hand of the carrier when the gun is being removed from the holster or spontaneously by the gun when it is being placed in the holster. According to the invention, the device pivots around an imaginary axis which is perpendicular to the vertical axis of the holster and which is secant to the outer (2) and inner (3) sides thereof. Subsequently, the device automatically pivots around the same axis while returning to the closed position under the effect of a recoil force when the gun is completely re-inserted in the holster, thereby retaining and securing the gun, or when the gun is taken out of the holster.

Description

SECURITY AND RETAINER FOR A HANDGUN

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an automatic safety and retention cover for a sheath, in particular intended for an individual handgun. Such a cover is part of the secure retention device of the weapon in its sheath, intended to be automatically operational:

- from the moment when the sole operation of introducing the weapon into the sheath is carried out; until the moment when, alone, the holder decides to remove the weapon from its sheath by a natural movement of grip of the weapon, with a view to its use and without any other operation. The invention also relates to the handgun sheath using said safety and retention cover.

Technological background and state of the art The users of handguns, and especially those who exercise a mission of maintaining public order, want a sheath in which the weapon is secure until the time or the wearer decides to remove it from the sheath.

The weapon must also remain secure during violent activities which may be made necessary by public security maintenance missions, including understood during physical contact. The sheath must prevent the extraction of the weapon by other unauthorized persons. It must however allow a quick draw of the weapon by the carrier if necessary. This action must be not only quick, but also simple, safe and compatible with a stressful situation. [0006] Various retention and safety systems for handguns in a sheath are known, but these do not in themselves present, and in all cases, all of the wishes mentioned above.

Handgun sheaths have been the subject of a large number of (applications for) patents, such as for example US-A-2002 / 153,396, WO-A-02,057,701, US-A- 2002/017 541, US-A-6 283 351, EP-A-0 971 196, US-A-5 855 305, US-A-5 451 023-, US-A-5 419 474, US-A- 5,395,021, US-A-5

150 825, US-A-4 934 574, US-A-4 836 425, TJS-A-4 721 238,

CA-A-2 108 496, AU-A-7 302 194, AU-A- 671 767, etc.

As shown in Figures l.a and l.b, a sheath for handgun 1 consists of a body which has an outer side 2 and an inner side 3, with reference to the position of the carrier of the weapon. These internal 3 and external 2 sides can be formed in a single piece made of one or more materials. This part has a general shape and characteristics such that by folding it, it can join its two ends either directly to each other, or by a junction system.

The two sides of the sheath can also be separate parts which are joined to the front and to the rear of the sheath, either directly or by a junction system 4. The junction system 4 can be used as guide for the weapon in the sheath and / or as any weapon retention system in the sheath. The sheath can also be built around a frame. In addition, the sheath for a handgun has a front part, which by definition is oriented towards the front of the carrier of the weapon and a rear part, located opposite the front part. The aforementioned junction is generally carried out in the rear part. Initially a flap forming a cover is part of the sheath, the closure system typically consisting of strap (s) loop or button (s) pressure. Thereafter, in general, a strap or a strap system bridges the upper part of the sheath between the two aforementioned sides and helps to hold the weapon in the sheath. This closure is either simple, in the form of a fixed strap on one side and a push button fastener on the other, or includes a device type "thumb snap" which opens by lateral pressure of the thumb of the wearer . The strap closure is generally used on almost all of the prior art sheaths, even those provided with internal retention. The use of straps or a flap in the sheaths nevertheless has drawbacks. Indeed, the gestures required for the use of the strap, that is, its opening and closing, are additional gestures to grip the weapon, generally complicated and hardly compatible with the correct and prompt use of a handgun. fist. US-A-4,858,799 describes a locking mechanism for a handgun sheath having a locked position to prevent the withdrawal of the weapon from its sheath and a set of unlocked positions gradually requesting more force on the part of the operator to extract the weapon from its sheath. The choice of a position is made by means of a rotary control button. In the case where the weapon is of the revolver type, the locking device is in the form of a mobile part of the device located at the trigger guard (or trigger guard) provided with a transverse locking rod preventing the withdrawal of the handgun from its sheath. On the other hand, when the weapon is of the automatic pistol type, this device is no longer suitable because typically the sub-guard no longer has a rear part allowing the engagement of a transverse locking rod. In this case, the patent describes a variant of the device where the movable part of the device is mounted on top of the sheath, in the locked position, the locking rod being located behind the rear upper part of the weapon, in particular its dog. This type of device only works to prevent the withdrawal of the weapon in the axial direction. A filling material must therefore be introduced inside the sheath, to prevent any movement other than the axial movement of the weapon in the sheath. Otherwise, the transverse locking rod cannot play its role. There is no ergonomic contact with the movable part, causing automatic securing or release of the weapon when drawing and sheathing. This system typically has minimal automatic retention, securing or blocking the retention requiring manipulation and activation of the control button.

US-A-4, 325, 505 describes a sheath for a handgun comprising a holster for receiving the weapon and a stiffened protective flap mounted on the holster. The flap is pivotally mounted on a hinge offset from the axis of the weapon, thanks to two spaced arms mounted on either side of the holster. The position of the closed flap on the rear upper part of the weapon is locked by quick snap button closures. This rudimentary sheath locking system is entirely manual, impractical and does not allow quick sheathing or sheathing. The systems described in the two above patents do not in any case allow the automatic opening or closing of the retention system by the natural movement of grasping the weapon to extract it from its sheath for firing or sheathing 1 weapon.

Aims of the invention

The present invention aims to provide a solution which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art. Based on the observation that there are not many ways to draw a handgun, an object of the invention is to provide the sheath with one or more retention systems designed and combined in such a way that the taking the weapon out of the sheath is as natural as possible for the wearer and very difficult and complicated for a third party.

The invention specifically aims to provide an ergonomic and anatomical combination of automatic retention systems implemented via a safety cover.

In addition, the invention aims to provide a handgun sheath with security device and retention not requiring the implementation of a strap.

Finally, the invention aims to provide a handgun sheath with safety and retention device that is universally suitable for all handguns in all configurations, and independent of the length of the barrel, dog, breech, trigger guard shape, etc. Main characteristic features of the invention A first aspect of the present invention relates to an automatic safety and retention device for a weapon sheath, preferably a handgun, said sheath comprising a body provided with an external side and on an internal side, said device comprising a safety and retention cover, connecting from above the external side and the internal side of the sheath body and: - pivoting forwards, when the carrier introduces the weapon into the sheath or when it draws the weapon, from a closed position to an open position, around an imaginary axis perpendicular to the vertical axis of the sheath and intersecting with said external and internal sides; - then automatically pivoting around the same axis back to its closed position under the effect of a restoring force, when the weapon is completely reintroduced into the sheath, thereby retaining and securing said weapon or even when it is out sheath. According to the invention, the cover is located in the closed position, essentially in the axis of the sheath and has, in view of its opening during the drawing of the weapon by the carrier, an extension located on the side rear of the cover configured to come into ergonomic and anatomical contact with at least part of the wearer's hand. This cover extension also has a shape and a configuration such that spontaneously, during sheathing, the normal movement of the weapon for this action causes the opening of said cover.

According to a first preferred embodiment of the invention, with a view to opening the cover during the draw of the weapon by the wearer, said extension is configured to come into ergonomic and anatomical contact with the external lateral face of the wearer's hand comprising the external lateral face of his index finger and the area included in the metacarpal-phalangeal angle of the index finger and thumb. Advantageously, the extension comprises a roller facilitating the sliding of the hand against the cover. According to a second preferred embodiment of the invention, the cover has, with a view to its opening during the drawing of the weapon by the carrier, an extension comprising a rim located on the internal rear side of the cover providing an ergonomic support point on the wearer's thumb to pivot the cover towards the front. Preferably, the rim has notches or is formed so that it allows adaptation to the shape of the weapon and / or its sights. According to the invention, the attachment to one intersection of the imaginary axis with said sides of the sheath is carried out either on one side by a pivot and spring mechanism and on the other side by a pivot, either by two pivot and spring mechanisms on both sides of the sheath body.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the device of the invention comprises a first part integral with the cover and pivoting about a pivot axis relative to a second fixed part attached to the side of the body of the sheath, the return of the cover being provided by a spring attached on the one hand to a pin secured to the first part and on the other hand to a pin secured to the second part, the pin being housed in a spring attachment location. Still according to this embodiment, either the plane of the internal face of the pivoting part coincides with the edge of the side of the sheath, or the pivot and spring mechanism has a clean bottom on which the second is fixed. part and whose external edge coincides with the plane of the internal face of the pivoting part. Advantageously, the aforementioned device further comprises, as additional security, a trigger guard lock with vertical control, for example of the push-button type and effective along an axis at 90 ° relative to this lever, actuable by the wearer's thumb. Alternatively advantageously, the aforementioned device further comprises, as additional security, a trigger guard lock with lateral control, normally in the locked position, housed at a rear junction of the sheath and unlockable by action of the thumb of the wearer toward the wearer's body. Advantageously, the lateral trigger lock comprises a lever arm terminated externally by a lug actuable by the carrier, the fulcrum of which is at the lower end of the lock, the lock proper comprising a truncated cylindrical protuberance capable of penetrating the sheath inside the trigger guard of the weapon, when the latter is completely inserted into the sheath and a return spring holding the latch against the internal wall of the sheath at rest, said protuberance then being located protruding from the inside of the trigger guard. Still advantageously, the device according to the invention further comprises, as an additional security alternative, a cover latch comprising a handle-rod held by a leaf spring, disposed at the external face of the pivoting part of the pivot and spring mechanism of the cover, such that: the upper end of the lever is terminated by a tab which can be actuated by the wearer's thumb; - The handle is fixed at its lower end on an axis allowing it to pivot transversely at the lower end of the rear side face of the pivoting part; the leaf spring is riveted or clipped at its fixing points, on one side, on the handle below the tab and, on the other side, on the front side face of the pivoting part and the handle is normally held in the locking position by the leaf spring. Again advantageously, the device of one invention further comprises a cover blocking strap bridging, once fixed, between the two aforementioned sides of the sheath or on one side of the sheath on the one hand and on the cover and / or on the lock on the other hand.

Preferably, the strap is fixed either permanently on one side of the sheath and removably by a press button on the other side, on the cover and / or on the latch, or removably with a press button on each side.

Still according to the invention, the cover at least partially covers the dog and / or the butt of the weapon and / or the rear sights of the weapon, possibly also on the front part of the sheath, in particular parts visible in the darkness of said members.

A second aspect of the present invention relates to a sheath for a handgun comprising an automatic safety and retention device having the characteristics set out above. A third aspect of the present invention relates to an automatic cover latch for security and retention device for a handgun sheath, according to the principle of the invention, characterized in that it comprises a lever. rod held by a leaf spring, disposed at the external face of a pivoting part of a pivot and spring mechanism of the safety cover and in such a way that: the upper end of the lever is terminated by a tab which can be actuated laterally with respect to the sheath by the wearer's thumb, to unlock the device; - The handle is fixed at its lower end on an axis allowing it to pivot transversely at the lower end of the rear side face of the pivoting part; the leaf spring is riveted or clipped to its fixing points, on one side, on the handle below the tab and, on the other side, on the front side face of the pivoting part; without operator intervention, the handle is normally held in the locking position by the leaf spring and the tab of the automatic lock is designed and configured to spontaneously cause unlocking of the joystick by the single passage of one weapon which is returned to the sheath.

Brief description of the figures Figure l.a, already mentioned above, schematically represents an embodiment of a safety cover. 5 for a handgun according to the invention, in the open position corresponding to the natural position of the hand taking the weapon. The safety cover is combined with a sheath having an internal retention system of the trigger guard type. Figure l.b, already mentioned above, schematically shows the safety cover of Figure l.a in the closed position by automatic return. Figure 2. a schematically shows a cover with side wheel 6 on the outer side. This type of cover can only be used with a trigger lock of the vertical push type. The outer face of the index finger presses on the cover wheel while the thumb on the other side pushes the trigger guard lock down to release the lock. Figure 2.b shows that by entering the butt of the weapon, the outer face of the stretched index finger, which rests on the caster 6 of the cover 5, releases it completely. On the other side, the thumb completely releases the trigger guard lock. Figure 2.c shows a rear view showing the thumb pressing on the trigger guard lock control 8 which releases it. The outer face of the index has also released the cover by tilting it towards the front.

Figure 3. a shows a view, in the closed position, of a mechanical device of axis and spring of the safety cover of the invention. Figure 3.b shows a view, in the open position, of the device of Figure 3. a. Figures 4.a and 4.b schematically show, respectively in the closed and open position, an embodiment of internal trigger guard lock with lateral control, according to the invention. Figures 4.c to 4.e schematically show a preferred embodiment for an automatic safety cover latch, respectively disassembled and then mounted on the pivot and spring mechanism of the cover, in the unlocked and locked position (sheath for right-handed). Figures 4.f and 4.g show respectively the latch of Figure 4.c mounted in the locked and unlocked position on a complete sheath (sheath for right-handed). Figures 5.a, 5.b, 5.c and 5.d show different designs of cover with inner opening rim and control tab of the internal lock of the trigger guard. Figures 6. a and 6.b show, in an external view and an internal view respectively, the position of the thumb in the natural movement of the hand to grasp the weapon in the sheath.

Description of a preferred embodiment of the invention The present invention has the following remarkable characteristics.

Automatic safety and retention cover (Fig. L.a and l. B)

The cover 5 is a part made of a material which can be rigid or even stiffened either by a frame, or by a stiffening treatment. This part is installed on the upper part of the body of the sheath 1. It connects from above the internal side 3 and the external side 2 of the sheath.

The cover 5 pivots towards the front of the sheath around an imaginary axis crossing the internal side 3 and the external side 2 of the sheath. This forward pivoting defines the open position of the cover (Fig. La). The attachment to the intersection of the imaginary axis with said sides is carried out, on one side by a pivot and spring mechanism ^' fixed on said side of the sheath body and by a pivot system on the other side of the sheath body, or by two pivot and spring mechanisms on both sides of the sheath body. An example of a particular embodiment for this mechanism is shown in Figure 3. a. The part attaching to the cover 51 is pivotable around the part attaching to the side of the sheath 57, around a pivot axis 55 (for a left sheath, the part is turned in the other direction). The cover is returned by a spring 54 attached on the one hand to a pin 53 secured to the part 51 and on the other hand to a pin 56 secured to the part 57. The pin 53 is housed in an attachment location of spring 52 for right sheath (or 58 for left sheath). For clarity, the face of the pivoting part 51 located on the side of the carrier of the weapon will be called "external face" and the other face, directed outwards, "internal face". The two side faces of the part 51 will be called respectively "front side face" and "rear side face". The cover and its pivot and spring system can also be installed on the armature of the sheath or on the armature (or an extension thereof) of an internal retention system of the weapon in sheath. The pivoting of the cover is limited towards the front to a necessary and sufficient distance to allow the release of the weapon from the sheath by pulling it upwards (Fig. 3.b). The pivoting backwards, defining the closed position of the cover, is limited so that the cover is in the vertical axis of the sheath (Fig. 3. a) and so as to prevent the extraction of the weapon , possibly accidental or malicious. The cover 5 is held in the closed position or is pushed towards this rear position by the spring system 54 coupled to the axis system 55 of the sheath cover. The shape of the cover, its ergonomics, its positioning on the sheath relative to the weapon, its operation, its compatibility with other security or retention systems and the combination of these different elements give the sheath remarkable qualities of security of the weapon as well when it is in the sheath as during its extraction out of the sheath and during the introduction of the weapon in the sheath. These advantages do not exist on safety and retention devices of the state of the art or in any case on these devices used alone. In addition, the operating principle of the cover encourages the wearer to adopt a correct grip of the weapon and in accordance with the security rules of the drawing.

The cover covers a large part of the weapon and its organs, making access to it very limited, without having the major drawbacks of traditional covers.

By implementing the cover of the invention, it is made very difficult for a person other than the wearer to adopt a gripping position. hand of the weapon which opens the safety cover and which releases the internal retention system or the locking system of the cover.

Opening of the lid By its pivoting forwards, the opening of the lid is carried out mainly in the two ways described below. First, this opening is made by the hand of the wearer in an adequate movement to grab a handgun out of a sheath for its use in compliance with basic safety standards. To do this, according to the present invention and as shown in Figures 2. a and 2.b, one of the preferred embodiments of the cover 5 is such that an extension 6 of the cover, on the outside of the sheath and back comes, during the stripping by the wearer, naturally in contact with the external lateral face of the hand of the shooter comprising the external lateral face of his index finger and the zone included in the metacarpal-phalangeal angle of the index and thumb. This extension can be provided with a rolling system (caster 6), or another artifact on demand, facilitating the sliding of this part of the hand against the cover. This wheel is however an optional accessory. The shape of the cover 5 is such that it is automatically pushed into the open position by the natural movement of the hand 10 of the shooter when the latter grasps the butt of the handgun to extract it from the sheath respecting basic safety standards, for example and without limitation, a firm and definitive grip without having the index finger on the trigger of the weapon when it is extracted from the sheath but in position such that the shooter can, immediately and once the firing position is reached, decide to make this touch with the trigger. Advantageously, no operation other than that which corresponds to the correct handling of the weapon for the stripping for this type of sheath and security, is necessary. Second, this opening of the cover 5 is carried out spontaneously by the handgun itself during the natural introduction movement of the weapon in the sheath. The cover and possibly the additional lock thereof are configured to make this opening.

Closing of the lid According to the present invention, the closing of the lid 5 is automatic. Firstly, once the weapon is completely reintroduced into the sheath, it releases the cover from its open position, previously brought forward by pivoting. The cover 5 can then pivot backwards and automatically return to its closed position. This movement is caused by the spring system 54 coupled to the pivot mechanism 55 of the sheath cover.

Once the weapon inserted into the sheath, the safety cover, automatically closed, prevents the weapon from being extracted from the sheath because the upper part of the cover forming a bridge between the internal 3 and external 2 sides of the sheath prevents extraction of the weapon from the sheath, resistant even to violent traction exerted on the weapon because the force thus exerted on the cover 5 is not in the direction of its opening. The retention capacity of the cover 5 is completely independent of the force of the return spring 54

The cover at the same time forms a protection for the firing system of the cartridges if the firing system dog is external to the weapon. In this case, the cover supports the placing of the weapon in the sheath with the armed dog or with the unarmed dog. Thus, the simple complete reintroduction of the weapon into the sheath automatically secures the weapon without any additional maneuver. Second, when the weapon is extracted from the sheath, the cover closes automatically. One could also imagine that it remains blocked in the open position. However, the principle is, on the one hand, that the weapon is automatically secured by the introduction into the sheath and, on the other hand, that it can be used naturally by the wearer. The need to have an open blocking system and therefore also a blocking system would go against this principle and would be an unnecessary and dangerous complication.

Cover of the sighting organs According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the closed cover covers the rear sighting organs of the weapon and in particular the sighting organs provided with parts visible in the dark or almost dark. equip handguns, thereby reducing the danger for the wearer to be more easily spotted. The design of the cover can also be such that it also provides this cover for the rear sighting member on the front part of the sheath.

Positioning of the cover in relation to the weapon. This is obtained by sets of parts forming the separation thickness of the rear junction on both sides of the sheath, the outer side and the inner side. Generally, several different types, models or brands of handguns are available, in particular for the police and security forces. The principle of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is that the sheath body and the cover are standard or quasi-standard (2 or 3 basic models). Only the set of parts of the rear junction of the sheath is specific to a given weapon, its design conforming to the part formed by the trigger guard and the underside of the carcass or barrel of the handgun. Thus, according to the invention, the same sheath body may be common to several weapon models, which is not currently the case with the separation pieces at the junction of the two sides of the sheath as well as with parts ensuring the longitudinal locking of the weapon, as described in the state of the art.

Blocking strap A strap can also be coupled to the safety cover of the invention (not shown) to block it. This strap is used during interventions where the security of the weapon must be reinforced, such as crowd control, where in principle the use of the firearm is tolerated only as a last resort and on express order. The strap can be fixed either permanently on one side and removably by one or more press buttons on the other side of the sheath, on the body of the sheath or ideally on the cover in such a way, depending on its design or its shape, to block its operation, either by snaps on both sides of the sheath, on the sheath body on one side and either on the sheath body or ideally on the cover of the on the other hand, in such a way, depending on its design or shape, to block its operation. The thong blocks the opening of the cover. It can also block the internal retention system by the same principle that it can block the cover, the type of attachment of the strap on the trigger guard system depending on the specific system installed. Unlike the straps of the state of the art, the strap of the cover is not a retention of the weapon but an additional system for locking the cover.

Use in conjunction with other retention (patented) The safety cover of the invention can be used in cooperation with other retention systems of the weapon in the sheath, in particular retention systems at the trigger guard of the weapon which are generally fixed on or form the rear junction system on the internal side and on the external side of the sheath body (see US-A-5,419,474 or corresponding patents CA-A-2,108,496, AU- A-7 302 194 and AU-A-671 767). These systems also recommend releasing the weapon from its safety position in the sheath compatible with the correct handling of the weapon for stripping. This movement is compromised by the strap or the "thumb snap" which is used to avoid an easy draw by a third party. The invention finds a solution to this problem.

An optional traditional strap can be used in conjunction with the device of the invention, but its use is limited to certain very specific situations.

Side trigger guard locking system

It has been found that an automatic locking system of the trigger guard operating with the thumb so as to actuating a push-button releasing a trigger guard lock, itself operating on an axis at 90 ° relative to the push-button, can sometimes be a problem when you want to operate it automatically (recall and automatic locking). To optimize the combination of such a lock with the use of the safety cover according to the invention, it is necessary to adopt a simpler principle of operation of trigger guard lock. In the proposed option, the thumb is used to open the safety cover; to this end, a flange 7 is arranged on the rear part of the cover 5 (see FIGS. 5.a to 5.d). The cover 5 therefore has a rim 7 on the inner side of its rear part, this rim serving to receive the pressure from the thumb which causes the cover to tilt forward as the index finger did using the roulette. Still in another embodiment, the pusher which controls the trigger guard lock is replaced by a lug 80 with lateral control which is part of (or is fixed to) the lock. According to the invention, the latch 80 is housed in a structure which is fixed on the rear junction of a sheath (Figure 4.a). This internal trigger guard lock with lateral control comprises a carcass 81, a bottom 82, a cover 83 (which can be part of the sheath body), a system of rear junction screws of the sheath body 84, a return spring 85 , the actual bolt 86 and the latch control tab 87. As such, it is placed on the sheath similar to the vertically controlled latch; it can even use the existing structure of vertical devices (possibly patented).

The lock 80 pivots in the manner of a lever

87 whose fulcrum is at the end lower. The lock f it lever arm and is held glued to the inner wall of the sheath by a return spring 85. The thumb control lever extends the lever arm. The face of the latch which is applied against the internal wall of the sheath has a truncated cylindrical protuberance 88 which penetrates into the sheath at the location of the interior of the trigger guard of the weapon when the latter is completely introduced into sheath. The truncated part 88 towards the top of the sheath also serves to open the bolt by the pressure of the trigger guard of the weapon which is introduced into the sheath. When the weapon is introduced into the sheath, after the trigger guard has forced the opening of the lock, the latter closes again by the action of the return spring 85, the cylindrical protuberance 88 thus being in the passage of the trigger guard and thus preventing the weapon from being extracted.

The thumb control lever which extends the bolt is used to rotate the bolt on its fulcrum, which removes the cylindrical protuberance 88 from the passage of the trigger guard and makes it possible to extract the weapon from the sheath ( figure 4.b).

The thumb control lever is extended until it comes high enough above the handle of the weapon in the sheath, to an ideal position so that the thumb can control it in the movement of grasping the 'armed. This height can therefore vary according to the type of weapon, the exact shape of the lever in its part of contact with the thumb being able to also vary according to the type of weapons which differ by the form, the angle and the thickness of stock and depending on the type of sheath on which the system is installed (the joystick can also be configured for another finger (for example the middle finger) of the hand that grips the butt of the weapon when the hand closes around the butt). This lock device does not, however, alone offer all the necessary security guarantees. It must be implemented in combination with the safety cover of the invention.

Another preferred embodiment of an automatic lock In FIG. 4.c, an automatic cover lock 80A is shown comprising a rod lever 87A held by a leaf spring 85A, at the external face of the pivoting part 51 of the pivot and spring mechanism of the cover. The handle 87A is fixed at its lower end on an axis 89A allowing it to pivot transversely (that is to say perpendicular to the front-rear direction) at the level of the lower end of the rear side face of the pivoting part. 51. The other end of the lever 87A, that is to say its upper end, is terminated by a tab 7A, actuable by the thumb of the wearer. The leaf spring 85A is riveted or clipped to its fixing points, on one side, on the handle 87A below the tab 7A and, on the other side, on the other side face (i.e. - say the front side face) of the pivoting part 51. The handle 87A is normally held in the locking position by the leaf spring 85A (Fig. 4.e).

The very body of the sheath 1 can be drawn so that its edge coincides with the plane of the internal face of the pivoting part 51. One can also provide a clean bottom XI to the pivot and spring mechanism on which the fixed part 57 is fixed and the external edge of which coincides with the plane of the internal face of the pivoting part 51. This particular embodiment with clean bottom XI is advantageous if the type of sheath requires it or if you wish to make the operation of the pivot and spring mechanism independent of the sheath body (Fig. 4.f and 4. g). The automatic lock 80A operates in the following manner. The locking position is therefore the position of the lever 87A pushed towards the bottom XI, if it is placed, or towards the location where it would be located, in the case where the sheath body can replace it advantageously, of the pivot and spring, that is to say the place where the fixed part 57 of the pivot and spring mechanism is fixed to the body of the sheath 1. Pushed towards the bottom of the pivot mechanism and spring by the spring 85A, the pivoting lever 87A, fixed on the pivoting part 51, projects beyond the plane of the internal face of the part 51 and thus prevents this part 51 from pivoting. Indeed, either the edge of the sheath body 1, or the bottom XI of the pivot and spring mechanism, is then in the path of the lever 87A, relative to a pivoting movement of the part 51 on which this handle is fixed (Fig. 4.e and 4.f). When the wearer's thumb pushes the lever 87A outwards from the spring and pivot mechanism, therefore towards the body of the wearer, the rod lever 87A no longer projects beyond the rear face of the pivoting part 51 (FIG. 4.d and 4. g). The bottom of the spring and pivot mechanism XI or the edge of the body of the sheath 1 then does (no longer) hinder the movement of the lever caused by the pivoting of the part 51, which can therefore pivot freely. Ultimately, the lever 87A, the part 51 and the cover 5 can therefore pivot together forward under the action of the wearer's thumb.

The wearer therefore performs with his thumb a lateral movement of the tab 7A of the latch 80A and then a movement forwards on the same tab 7A which causes the opening of the cover 5 and therefore the release of the weapon. Like the rim 7 (see above), the tab 7A of the lock 80 is designed so as to come into contact ergonomically with the thumb of the wearer who wants to grasp his weapon. In addition, the tab 7A is designed in such a way that the lever 87A is also spontaneously put into the unlocking position by the single passage of the weapon at the time of introduction into the sheath. The principle is therefore that this lever 87A is forced normally to its locked position by a spring. The choice of the spring, in the form of a blade, and its design, the fixing carried out in particular on the front part of the pivoting part 51, were guided by the ease and simplicity of assembly. In this configuration, the spring, either riveted or clipped to the two parts, maintains the entire system.

Basic characteristics of the security cover The basic principle of the security cover is to give it a design or form which, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in combination with another compatible retention, in addition to preventing the weapon from being easily extracted from the sheath by a third party and holding the weapon in the sheath securely, allows its opening by the wearer according to the natural gesture and to seize the weapon for the extract the sheath and keep it ready for shooting. Figures 5. a to 5.d show the principle of a cover formed with a flange 7 for its opening by the thumb and some possible embodiments.

This rim 7 on the internal rear side of the cover is formed so as to provide the thumb of the hand grabbing the weapon a fulcrum to pivot the cover forward and thus release the weapon. The extension of the rim 7 over a more or less large part of the rear edge, as well as its shape or its different forms of notch 71, or any other combination, facilitate the passage of one or the other weapon according to the form of this one or its sights. The present invention agrees in this regard without limitation to the possible variations of weapon model. The shapes can obviously be studied to suit simultaneously the greatest number of weapons. Figures 6.a and 6.b show the operating principle of the cover according to Figures 5.a to 5.d, by the sole movement of the thumb. The cover alone may not constitute sufficient security according to certain requirements to ensure the protection of the weapon against unauthorized third parties. This cover will then preferably work with and is compatible with one or more additional security (s). o The side-operated trigger guard locking system works very well with the cover with rim and fully meets the conditions of the basic concept. The lid with rim combined with the simplified retention of trigger guard with lateral control for the thumb ensures the release of the weapon in the same natural movement of grip of the weapon by the carrier.

The uprooting is made very difficult for a third party, even if he knows how the safeties work: from the front or from the side, a successful uprooting is practically impossible; from the rear, it is practically necessary for the third party to be trained in handling the sheath and for the wearer to present himself in an ideal allows this movement to the third, the arm far enough away and the torso leaning forward, for example. As for the cover with caster for the index finger, the cover with flange works equally well with a trigger guard locking system controlled by the thumb by a vertical push, whatever the mechanical system used possibly patented (AU-A -7 302 194, AU-A-671 767, ...). The opening of such a combination requires two phases in the same movement of grip of the weapon: disengagement of the trigger guard lock by the thumb, opening of the cover by the thumb. It possibly works with other similar systems. For example, in US-A-4,934,574, the weapon is pushed down to open the lock; in US-A-5 419 474, the weapon must pivot laterally to be released from the bolt, etc. Obviously, if this trigger guard retention system requires an unnatural movement to function, this unnatural movement will keep the disadvantages that this implies. The latter possibility therefore does not necessarily fulfill the conditions of the basic concept and is not an essential element of the present invention. Furthermore, the cover with caster for the index finger is preferably combined with a vertical push lock system, as already described, because the natural movement of grasping the weapon is very well respected. It is however not very compatible with the simplified lock described above because the opening movement of one and the other are not of the same nature (vertical forwards for the index and lateral for the thumb). The safety cover in its different forms offers the advantage of having the following range of modular security according to user requirements and type of mission while respecting the basic concept of one invention: extension cover for metacarpal control, with or without caster, or rim cover combined with a trigger guard lock vertical and a locking strap: maximum security, theft practically impossible; once the strap is released, we find ourselves in the case below; - roller cover with trigger guard lock with vertical control: the weapon is released on two distinct sides by two different parts of the hand (on the one hand metacarpal angle index-thumb and on the other hand thumb); very high security. The movement is natural but with two requirements and the implementation of two fingers. The locking of the weapon in the sheath can be fully automatic if the vertically controlled lock allows and works correctly;

- rim cover and trigger guard lock with vertical control: high security, the whole system being concentrated in the internal part of the sheath, the release of the weapon is done with the thumb but in two consecutive phases which can be possibly very fast . The locking of the weapon in the sheath can be fully automatic if the vertically controlled lock allows and works correctly;

- rim cover and simplified trigger guard lock with lateral control: high security, natural and instinctive movement in a single phase and only with the thumb, speed of action; the whole system is concentrated in the internal part of the sheath. The locking of the weapon in the sheath is always 100% automatic; - cover fitted with a cover lock: the entire security, closing and locking system, fully automatic, is centralized on the mechanism of the pivot and spring system of the cover; - the three preceding combinations: "rim cover and trigger guard lock with vertical control" and "rim cover and simplified trigger guard lock" and "cover provided with a cover latch" also offer the advantage of not being absolutely no psycho-motor contradiction at the level of the index which is reserved exclusively for the triggering of the weapon; in this respect, the system for opening the lid by the thumb seems superior to the system using the metacarpal-phalangeal angle of the index and thumb, as well as the wheel. Indeed the index is the finger which will directly control the firing and which is therefore the last interface between the gunner's brain and the weapon. Experience shows that the use of the index finger for another task in the process leading to shooting can, in the stressful situation which is always present, cause mental confusion or confusion in the training acquired. The metacarpal-phalangeal angle inch / index which presses on the wheel is very close to the index, especially at the level of the representation of its spatial positioning. It could thus result, under violent stress, a temporary confusion in the coordination of the index and the brain;

- each aforementioned level of security can be combined with the presence of a strap.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Automatic safety and retention device for a weapon sheath, preferably a handgun, said sheath comprising a body (1) provided with an external side (2) and an internal side (3), said device comprising a safety and retention cover (5), connecting from above the external side (2) and the internal side (3) of the sheath body and:

- pivoting forwards, when the holder introduces the weapon into the sheath or when he draws the weapon, from a closed position to an open position, around an imaginary axis, perpendicular to the vertical axis of the sheath and intersecting with said external (2) and internal (3) sides; - then automatically pivoting around the same axis back to its closed position under the effect of a restoring force, when the weapon is completely reintroduced into the sheath, thereby retaining and securing said weapon or even when it is out of the sheath, characterized in that: the cover (5) is located, in the closed position, essentially in the axis of the sheath; said cover (5) has, in view of its opening during the drawing of the weapon by the carrier, an extension (6, 7, 7A) located on the rear side of the cover configured to come into ergonomic and anatomical contact with at least part of the wearer's hand and

- Furthermore has a shape and a configuration such that, spontaneously, during sheathing, the normal movement of the weapon for this action causes the opening of said cover (5).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the extension (6) is configured to come into contact with the external lateral face of the hand (10) of the wearer comprising the external lateral face of his index finger and the zone included in the metacarpal-phalangeal angle of the index and thumb.

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the extension (6) comprises a roller facilitating the sliding of the hand against the cover.

4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the extension (6) comprises a flange (7) located on the internal rear side of the cover (5) providing an ergonomic fulcrum at the thumb of the wearer to rotate the cover forward.

5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the rim (7) has notches or is formed so that it allows adaptation to the shape of the weapon and / or its sights.

6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fixing at the intersection of the imaginary axis with said sides of the sheath is carried out either on one side by a pivot and spring mechanism and the other side by a pivot mechanism, either by two pivot and spring mechanisms on both sides of the sheath body.

7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises a first part (51) integral with the cover (5) and pivoting about a pivot axis (55) relative to a second fixed part (57) attached at the side of the body (1) of the sheath, the return of the cover being ensured by a spring (54) attached on the one hand to a pin (53) integral with the first part

(51) and on the other hand to a pin (56) secured to the second part (57), the pin (53) being housed in a spring attachment location (52,58).

8. Device according to claim 7, - characterized in that either the plane of the internal face of the pivoting part (51) coincides with the side of the sheath body (1), or the pivot and spring mechanism comprises a clean bottom (XI) on which the second part is fixed (57) and the external edge of which coincides with the plane of the internal face of the pivoting part (51).

9. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it further comprises, as additional security, a trigger lock (8) with vertical control, for example of the push-button type and effective along an axis at 90 ° relative to this lever, actuated by the wearer's thumb.

10. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it also comprises, as additional security, a trigger lock with side control (80), normally in the locked position, housed at level '' a rear junction of the sheath and unlockable by action of the wearer's thumb towards his body.

11. Device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that it further comprises, as additional security, a cover latch (80A) comprising a rod lever (87A) held by a leaf spring (85A) , disposed at the outer face of the pivoting part (51) of the pivot and spring mechanism of the cover (5), so that: - the upper end of the lever (87A) is terminated by a tab ( 7A) actuated by the wearer's thumb; - the handle (87A) is fixed at its lower end on an axis (89A) allowing it to pivot transversely at the lower end of the rear side face of the pivoting part (51); - the leaf spring (85A) is riveted or clipped to its fixing points, on one side, on the handle (87A) below the tab (7A) and, on the other side, on the front side face of the pivoting part (51) and the handle (87A) is normally held in the locking position by the leaf spring (85A).

12. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the lateral trigger lock (80) comprises a lever arm (87) terminated externally by a lug actuable by the carrier, the fulcrum of which is at the end bottom of the bolt, the bolt proper comprising a truncated cylindrical protuberance (88) capable of penetrating the sheath inside the trigger guard of the weapon, when the latter is completely inserted into the sheath and a return spring (85 ) now resting the latch against the internal wall of the sheath, said protuberance (88) then projecting from the inside of the trigger guard.

13. Device according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that it further comprises a safety strap forming a bridge, once fixed, between the two aforementioned sides (2,3) of the sheath or on a sides of the sheath (2,3) on the one hand and on the cover (5) and / or on the latch (8,80,80A) on the other hand.

14. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the strap is fixed either permanently on one side of the sheath and removably by a press button on the other side, on the cover (5) and / or on the latch (8,80,80A), either removably by a press button on each side.

15. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (5) at least partially covers the hammer and / or the butt of the weapon and / or the rear sights of the weapon, possibly also on the front part of the sheath, in particular of the parts visible in the darkness of said members.

16. Sheath for a handgun comprising an automatic security and retention device according to any one of the preceding claims.

17. Automatic lid lock (80A) for a safety device and a handgun sheath retention, according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a handle-rod (87A) held by a spring- blade (85A), disposed at the external face of a pivoting part (51) of a pivot and spring mechanism of the safety cover (5), and in such a way that: the upper end of the lever (87A) is terminated by a tab (7A) which can be actuated by the wearer's thumb towards his body, in order to unlock the device; the handle (87A) is fixed at its lower end on an axis (89A) allowing it to pivot transversely at the lower end of the rear side face of the pivoting part (51); the leaf spring (85A) is riveted or clipped to its fixing points, on one side, on the handle (87A) below the tab (7A) and, on the other side, on the front side of the pivoting part (51); - without operator intervention, the handle (87A) is normally held in the locking position by the leaf spring (85A) and the tab 7A of the automatic lock 80A is designed and configured to spontaneously cause the unlocking of the lever 87A by the single passage of the weapon which is returned to the sheath.