Gun holster

• US 20050040195A1
• Filed: 06/25/2004
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tactical Design Labs Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tactical Design Labs Inc.
• Inventors: Senn, Anthony J., Lowe, Michael V., Yates, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 7,584,875 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 224/243
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 33/0209 Pouch or pocket like containers for small arms covering all or most of the small arm
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 33/0236 Half-holsters covering by encircling only a part of the small arm, e.g. ghost-holsters
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 33/0254 with accommodation for auxiliary devices mounted on the small arm, e.g. telescopic sights, flashlights or laser-devices
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 33/0263 having a locking system for preventing unauthorized or accidental removal of the small arm from the holster F41C33/0227 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/912 Handgun holder formed of metal or other rigid material

Abstract

A security holster for handguns which utilizes a U-shaped rod as part of the locking and releasing mechanism. The user presses a handgun against a portion of the U-shaped rod, which pushed the U-shaped rod forward, and causes the locking tab to seat against the ejection port or another feature of the handgun.

Claims

1. A security holster for use with a semi-automatic handgun, the handgun having a trigger guard and trigger, an ejection port, a slide, and a handle, wherein the holster comprises:

a holster body that includes a substantially rigid holster sidewall formed to define an inner cavity and an open top portion for receiving a handgun therein, and for removing a handgun therefrom, said holster body having a long axis parallel with said barrel of said handgun when secured in said holster body;

a generally U-shaped rod slidably mounted to said holster body, with one or more springs associated with said U-shaped rod which urge said U-shaped rod toward said open top portion of the holster body, wherein said U shaped rod presses against said handgun as said handgun is inserted into said holster body;

a locking tab configured to admit said semi-automatic handgun into said security holster body, and upon insertion of said handgun, to move from a release position to a locking position, and in said locking position to engage a feature of semi-automatic handgun, thereby preventing the withdrawal of said handgun prior to release of said locking tab;

a release tab, for moving said locking tab to said release position for withdrawal of said handgun, with said release tab operationally connected to said locking tab, which when activated disengages said locking tab from handgun feature.

2. The security holster of claim 1 in which said locking tab and said release tab are joined together on a lever, and are at opposite ends of said lever, and said lever has a fulcrum attached to one side of said U-shaped rod.

3. The security holster of claim 1 in which said U-shaped bar includes a left and a right compression spring, mounted to a left side and right side of said U-shaped bar, for urging said U-shaped bar toward the open end of the holster.

4. The security holster of claim 1 in which the right compression spring also serves as a torsion spring, and is connected to said lever, and presses said locking tab toward said handgun.

5. The security holster of claim 1, which further includes a pair of notches defined in the barrel end of said holster body, in which said U-shaped rod is positioned, and configured to move forward and backward in said notches.

6. The security holster of claim 1 which further includes a plurality of tube guides attached to said holster body, which enclose and guide said U-shaped rod.

7. The security holster of claim 1 which includes a finger tube formed by a region between said handgun and said holster body, said finger tube with an axis generally parallel to said long axis of said holster body, enclosing said release tab, which restricts access to said release tab, in which a user inserts a finger in order to activate said release tab to release said locking tab from said handgun feature.

8. The security holster of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of grooves on said U-shaped bar for attaching a plurality of snap rings and bushings to fix in place said compression spring and said torsion spring for biasing said U bar and said lever.

9. The security holster of claim 1, in which a portion of said U bar forms a resilient bumper for contact with the barrel of said handgun, for use in pressing said handgun into said holster against resistance creating said downward force against said U bar.

12. The security holster of claim 1 further comprising an attachable overlay that may be fixed to said holster body to form a finger receiving receptacle shielding said release tab from access.

14. The security holster of claim 1, wherein said locking tab is configured for engaging the ejection port of a semiautomatic handgun.

15. The security holster of claim 1, wherein said release tab is positioned over said trigger guard, and has an extended planar surface for allowing the release tab to be engaged by a left thumb of a left-handed user.

16. The security holster of claim 1, wherein said locking tab further comprises a ramped end for more easily locking and releasing said handgun in said security holster.

17. The security holster of claim 8, further comprising at least one bushing near ends of said U bar wherein said snap ring prevents said bushing from sliding off an end of said U bar wherein the biasing device is positioned on either side of said biasing device between said bushing and said left aperture on an inner side of said holster and said right aperture on an outer side of said security holster for requiring said minimum compression force and preventing said biasing device from making noise.

41. The security holster of claim 1, in which the release tab is connected to the locking tab by a rod which passes from the left side of the holster to the right side of the holster, with the release tab located on the left side of the holster and accessible by a left handed users index finger, and the locking tab located on the right side of the handgun.

42. The security holster of claim 41 in which the rod has one or more springs attached to it, and which urges the locking tab into engagement with the ejection port.

10. A security holster comprising:

a holster body with inner and outer spaced substantially rigid sidewalls defining an inner cavity and an open top portion for receiving a handgun therein and for removing a handgun there from, with the end of the holster that houses the barrel of the handgun being the front of the holster, and the end of the holster that houses the handle of the handgun being the rear of the holster wherein said outer spaced substantially rigid sidewall further defines a pair of notches at the front of said holster and a left guide and a right guide aperture running parallel to a long axis of said security holster;

a U shaped rod mounted within said pair of notches at the front of said holster wherein ends of said U bar pass through said left and right guides wherein said U bar is biased by at least one biasing device to require a minimum compression force into said security holster in order to lock into place said handgun or activate a release tab for releasing said handgun, wherein said U shaped rod presses against said handgun as said handgun is inserted into said holster body; and

a first class lever wherein said first class lever further defines a pivot point through which said end of said U bar passes through wherein a first end of said first class lever is said release tab and a fulcrum of said first class lever pivots about said pivot point and a second end of said first class lever is a locking tab torsionally biased by a interconnected torsion spring normal to said handgun for engaging a feature of said handgun.

11. The security holster of claim 10, wherein said biasing device is any of a compression or torsion spring.

13. A security holster for use with a semi-automatic handgun, the handgun having a trigger guard and trigger, an ejection port, a slide, and a handle, wherein the holster comprises:

a holster body that includes a substantially rigid holster sidewall formed to define an inner cavity and an open top portion for receiving a handgun therein, and for removing a handgun therefrom, said holster body having a long axis parallel with said barrel of said handgun when secured in said holster body;

a generally U-shaped rod slidably mounted to said holster body, with one or more springs associated with said U-shaped rod which urge said U-shaped rod toward said open top portion of the holster body, wherein said U shaped rod presses against said handgun as said handgun is inserted into said holster body;

a locking tab configured to admit said semi-automatic handgun into said security holster body, and upon insertion of said handgun, to move from a release position to a locking position, and in said locking position to engage a feature of semi-automatic handgun, thereby preventing the withdrawal of said handgun prior to release of said locking tab;

a release tab, for moving said locking tab to said release position for withdrawal of said handgun, with said release tab operationally connected to said locking tab, which when activated disengages said locking tab from handgun feature; and

an attachable overlay that may be fixed to said holster body to form a finger receiving receptacle shielding said release tab from access.

18. A security holster for a handgun comprising:

a releasing mechanism comprising a release tab, a locking tab biased normal to said handgun by a torsion spring and said locking tab rotationally connected to said release tab;

a U shaped rod biased by at least one spring toward a receiving end of said security holster wherein said U bar passes through said releasing mechanism as a fulcrum about which said release tab and said locking tab rotate, wherein said U shaped rod presses against said handgun as said handgun is inserted into said holster body;

an attachable overlay attachable to said security holster for defining a finger tube between said attachable overlay and a holster body and for protectively covering said release mechanism and said U bar from unwanted release of said handgun.

19. The security holster of claim 18, wherein said attachable overlay is a molded plastic part that is configured to snap into engagement with said holster body.

20. The security holster of claim 18, wherein said attachable overlay further comprises any of snaps, straps, screws, or bolts for attaching it to said security holster.

21. A security holster for use with a handgun, the handgun having a trigger guard, and trigger, comprising:

a holster body with inner and outer spaced substantially rigid sidewalls defining an inner cavity and an open top portion for receiving a handgun therein and for removing a handgun there from, with the end of the holster that houses the barrel of the handgun being the front of the holster, and the end of the holster that houses the handle of the handgun being the read of the holster;

a locking tab configured to admit said handgun into said security holster, and adapted to engage a handgun feature of said handgun placed in said inner cavity of said security holster, said locking tab thereby preventing the withdrawal of said handgun prior to release of said locking tab, the locking tab including a generally U bar with a right side, a left side, and a joining piece, with said right side positioned parallel to the right side of the holster, the left side position parallel to the left side of the holster, and the joining piece penetrating the holster through a pair of slots defined at the front end of the holster, with one or more springs which urge the U bar toward the rear of the holster, and with a locking tab attached to the U bar, wherein said U shaped rod presses against said handgun as said handgun is inserted into said holster body;

a release tab rotatably mounted to said U bar, and located adjacent to said trigger of said handgun, for releasing said locking tab by flexure of a user'"'"'s finger or thumb, said release tab comprising an elongated release tab which is biased by a torsional spring to engage said handgun feature when said one or more springs are compressed toward the front of said holster wherein said elongated release tab which is configured for sliding engagement with an index finger or thumb of a user as a user reaches for, releases, and removes said handgun from said holster, with said elongate release tab operationally connected to said locking tab, and with said elongate release tab activated by flexure of a finger or thumb of said user, which disengages said locking tab from said handgun feature when said release tab is depressed;

wherein

said security holster provides for one handed insertion of said handgun into said security holster, via said locking tab which admits said handgun during insertion, and which engages a handgun feature for retention of said handgun unless said locking tab is disengaged by depression of said elongate release tab by flexure of said index finger or thumb, thereby providing said security holster with one finger release of said handgun, and one handed insertion and withdrawal of said handgun by sliding engagement of said elongate release tab with a user'"'"'s index finger or thumb.

22. The security holster of claim 21, in which said U bar is configured to be moved toward the front of the holster by pressure from the handgun being pressed into the holster, and with the locking tab configured to move with the U bar and move from a position adjacent an ejection port of the holster, to a position over the ejection port of the holster and the handgun, and to drop into place in the ejection port of the handgun.

23. The security holster of claim 22, in which said locking tab is sized so that when seated in the ejection port, a force to remove said handgun from said holster without releasing said locking tab causes said locking tab to jam against the front side of the ejection port of the slide.

24. A security holster for use with a handgun, the handgun having a handle with left and right sides, a trigger guard and trigger, comprising:

a holster body with inner and outer spaced substantially rigid sidewalls formed to define an inner cavity with an open top portion for receiving a handgun therein and for removing a handgun there from;

one or more inlay receiving regions on an outer surface of said holster, with each inlay receiving region recessed in said holster surface, each inlay receiving region including a recess inner wall; and

one or more inlays, for placing in said one or more inlay receiving regions;

whereby the edges of the one or more inlays is protected from wear or being peeled off by the recess inner wall of the corresponding inlay receiving region.

25. The security holster of claim 24, in which said inlay-receiving regions are at least as deep as inlays are thick.

26. The security holster of claim 24, wherein said inlays are adhesively backed for easy decoration of said security holster.

27. The security holster of claim 24, where said inlays may be attached to said security holster using any of glue, snaps, plastic weld, heat, or pressure.

28. The security holster of claim 24, wherein said inlays further comprise any of a logo, color, pattern, insignia, or reflective material for identification purposes.

29. A security holster for use with a handgun, the handgun having a handle with left and right sides, a trigger guard and a trigger, comprising:

a holster body with inner and outer spaced substantially rigid sidewalls formed to define an inner cavity with an open top portion for receiving a handgun therein and for removing a handgun there from;

a locking tab configured to admit said handgun into said security holster, and adapted to engage a handgun feature of said handgun placed in said inner cavity of said security holster, thereby preventing the withdrawal of said handgun prior to release of said locking tab;

a release tab located adjacent to said right side handle of said handgun, for releasing said locking tab by movement of a user'"'"'s left thumb, said release tab comprising a release tab which is configured for engagement with said user'"'"'s left thumb when a user reaches for, releases, and removes said handgun from said holster, with said release tab operationally connected to a locking tab, and with said release tab activated by flexure of a user'"'"'s left thumb, which disengages said locking tab from said handgun feature when said release tab is depressed;

wherein

said security holster provides for one handed insertion of said handgun into said security holster, via said locking tab which admits said handgun during insertion, and which engages a handgun feature for retention of said handgun until said locking tab is disengaged by depression of said release tab by flexure of said left thumb, thereby providing said security holster with one thumb release of said handgun, and one handed insertion and withdrawal of said handgun by sliding engagement of said release tab with a user'"'"'s left thumb.

30. The security holster of claim 29, in which said locking tab is a generally planar projection extending from an arm.

31. The security holster of claim 29, in which said locking tab is configured to move between an open position which allows entry of the handgun without the handgun touching the locking tab, and a closed position in which the locking tab engages a feature of the handgun.

32. The security holster of claim 31, in which the locking tab is activated to move into engagement with the handgun feature by compression of a spring in the holster, which causes the locking tab to snap into place against the handgun feature.

33. The security holster of claim 32, in which said locking tab is configured to engage an ejection port of the handgun.

34. The security holster of claim 32, in which said locking tab engages the ejection port of a semi-automatic handgun, and blocks removal of said handgun until said locking tab is removed from said ejection port.

35. The security holster of claim 29, in which said release tab is an elongate tray configured for sliding engagement with the users left thumb.

36. The security holster of claim 29, in which said locking tab engages said handgun feature with an audible indication of locking.

37. The security holster of claim 29, in which said locking tab engages said handgun feature with a tactile indication of locking, which may be felt by the user.

38. The security holster of claim 29, in which said release tab extends partially across the right side handle of the handgun, for accessibility by a left handed user'"'"'s left thumb.

39. The security holster of claim 29, in which said locking tab further includes a rebounding device, which activates said locking tab when said handgun is pressed into said security holster with a required degree of insertion force.

40. A security holster for use with a handgun, the handgun having a trigger guard and trigger, comprising:

a holster body with inner and outer spaced substantially rigid sidewalls formed to define an inner cavity with an open top portion for receiving a handgun therein and for removing a handgun there from;

a locking tab configured to admit said handgun into said security holster, and adapted to engage a handgun feature of said handgun placed in said inner cavity of said security holster, said locking tab thereby preventing the withdrawal of said handgun prior to release of said locking tab, and said locking tab configured to secure said handgun by means of one action, that of pressing said handgun into said holster with a required amount of force;

a release tab located adjacent to said trigger of said handgun, for releasing said locking tab by flexure of a user'"'"'s finger or thumb, said release tab requiring two actions, the first action being pressing the handgun into said security holster a required amount, and the second action being depressing an elongate release tab which is configured for sliding engagement with an index finger or thumb as a user reaches for, releases, and removes said handgun from said holster, with said elongate release tab operationally connected to said locking tab, and with said elongate release tab activated by flexure of a finger or thumb of said user, which disengages said locking tab from said handgun feature when said release tab is depressed;

wherein

said security holster provides for one handed insertion of said handgun into said security holster, via said locking tab which admits said handgun during insertion, and which engages a handgun feature for retention of said handgun until said locking tab is disengaged by first pressing said handgun into said security holster and then by depression of said elongate release tab by flexure of said index finger or thumb, thereby providing said security holster with one finger release of said handgun, and one handed insertion and withdrawal of said handgun by pressing down and by sliding engagement of said elongate release tab with a user'"'"'s index finger or thumb.

43. A security holster for use with a semi-automatic handgun, the handgun having a trigger guard and trigger, an ejection port, a slide, and a handle, wherein the holster comprises:

a holster body that includes a substantially rigid holster sidewall formed to define an inner cavity and an open top portion for receiving a handgun therein, and for removing a handgun therefrom, said holster body having a long axis parallel with said barrel of said handgun when secured in said holster body;

a locking tab for engaging a handgun feature pivotally connected to a linking bar wherein said linking bar links mechanisms on left and right sides of said security holster, and wherein said linking bar is slidably mounted to said holster body and biased toward said open top portion, and said locking tab is disengaged from said handgun feature by use of a release means;

a digit release tab on a right side of said security holster attached to a right side of said linking bar for activating said release means by the user pushing against said digit release tab.

44. The security holster of claim 43 in which said locking tab interacts with an ejection port of said handgun, and in which said holster body further defines an ejection port slot.

45. The security holster of claim 43 in which said release means is release ramp attached to said holster body adjacent to said ejection port slot, with a thinner portion of said ramp in closer proximity to said open top portion of said holster body that a thicker portion of said ramp, in which said locking tab is disengaged from said ejection port as said linking bar slides said locking tab along said ramp toward said thicker portion of said ramp.

46. The security holster of claim 43, which further includes one or more compression springs, to bias said linking bar toward said open top portion of said holster body.

47. A security holster for use with a semi-automatic handgun, the handgun having a trigger guard and trigger, an ejection port, a slide, and a handle, wherein the holster comprises:

a holster body that includes a substantially rigid holster sidewall formed to define an inner cavity and an open top portion for receiving a handgun therein, and for removing a handgun therefrom, said holster body having a long axis parallel with said barrel of said handgun when secured in said holster body, said holster body further defining an ejection port slot and a release ramp adjacent to said ejection port slot with-a thinner portion of said ramp in closer proximity to said open top portion of said holster body that a thicker portion of said ramp;

a locking tab for engaging said ejection port pivotally connected to a linking bar wherein said linking bar links mechanisms on left and right sides of said security holster wherein said linking bar is slidably mounted to said holster body and biased toward said open top portion, said locking tab is disengaged from said ejection port as said linking bar slides said locking tab along said ramp toward said thicker portion of said ramp;

a digit release tab on a right side of said security holster attached to a right side of said linking bar for disengaging said locking tab from said ejection port by pushing against said digit release tab.

48. The security holster of claim 47, which further includes one or more compression springs, to bias said linking bar toward said open top portion of said holster body.

49. A right-handed security holster for use with a semi-automatic handgun, the handgun having a trigger guard and trigger, an ejection port, a slide, and a handle, wherein the holster comprises:

a holster body that includes a substantially rigid holster sidewall formed to define an inner cavity and an open top portion for receiving a handgun therein, and for removing a handgun therefrom, said holster body having a long axis parallel with said barrel of said handgun when secured in said bolster body, said holster body further comprising a ramp with a thinner portion of said ramp in closer proximity to said open top portion of said holster body that a thicker portion of said ramp;

a locking tab for engaging a feature of said handgun, said locking tab pivotally connected to a linking bar wherein said linking bar links mechanisms on left and right sides of said right handed security holster and wherein said linking bar is slidably mounted to said holster body and biased toward said open top portion, and said locking tab is disengaged from said feature of said handgun as said linking bar slides said locking tab along said ramp toward said thicker portion of said ramp;

a thumb release tab on a right side of said security holster attached to a right side of said linking bar for disengaging said locking tab from said handgun feature port by pushing against said thumb release tab.