Security and retention device for a handgun

• US 20060175366A1
• Filed: 02/27/2006
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Artradex SPRL
• Original Assignee: Artradex SPRL
• Inventors: Dekaise, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US11/363,114
• Publication Number:
  US 20060175366A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 224/243
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 33/0227 having a strap or other restraining element only covering the hammer or a part of the upper part of the small arm
• 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

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.

Claims

1. Automatic security and retention device for a gun holster, preferably for a handgun, said holster comprising a body (1) provided with an outer side (2) and an inner side (3), said device comprising a security and retention cover (5):

connecting the outer side (2) and the inner side (3) above the body of the holster;

located, in the closed position, essentially in the vertical axis of the holster;

pivoting forwards when the holder puts the gun in the holster or when he draws the gun, from a closed position to an open position, around an imaginary axis that is perpendicular to the vertical axis of the holster and cuts said outer side (2) and inner side (3);

then automatically pivoting around the same axis back to its closed position as a result of a return force, when the gun is fully returned into the holster, hence retaining and securing said gun, or even when it is drawn out of the holster;

having, with a view to its opening when the gun is drawn by the holder, an extension located on the back side of the cover designed to come into contact with the outer lateral side of the holder'"'"'s hand (10) comprising the outer lateral side of his index finger and the area within the metacarpal-phalanges angle of the index finger and the thumb;

also having a shape and a design such that, when the gun is put back into the holster, the normal motion of the gun for this action spontaneously causes said cover (5) to open;

characterised in that the extension comprises a wheel (6) assisting the hand to slide against the cover.

4. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the attachment at the intersection of the imaginary axis with said sides of the holster is provided either on one side by a spindle and spring mechanism and by a spindle mechanism on the other side or by spindle and spring mechanisms on both sides of the body of the holster.

5. Device according to claim 4, characterised in that it comprises a first part (51) mounted on the cover (5) and pivoting around a rotation axis (55) relative to a second fixed part (57) mounted on the side of the body (1) of the holster, the return of the cover being ensured by a spring (54) attached at one end by a pin (53) fixed to the first part (51) and at the other end by a pin (56) fixed to the second part (57), the pin (53) being lodged at an attachment point of the spring (52, 58).

6. Device according to claim 5, characterised in that either the plane of the inner side, i.e. opposite the holder, of the pivoting part (51) coincides with the corresponding side of the body of the holster (1), or the spindle and spring mechanism has a separate bottom (X1) to which the second part (57) is attached and whose outer edge, i.e. towards the holder, coincides with the plane of the inner side of the pivoting part (51).

7. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that it also comprises, by way of additional security, a triggerguard lock (8) with vertical control, for example of the push lever type and which is effective along an axis at 90°

relative to this lever and which can be activated by the holder'"'"'s thumb.

8. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that it also comprises, by way of additional security, a triggerguard lock with lateral control (80) normally in the locked position, positioned at the level of a back junction of the holster and unlockable by the movement of the holder'"'"'s thumb towards his body.

9. Device according to claim 5, characterised in that it also comprises, by way of additional security, a cover lock (80A) comprising a rod lever (87A) retained by a leaf spring (85A) positioned on the back lateral side of the pivoting part (51) of the spindle and spring mechanism of the cover (5) such that:

the upper end of the lever (87A) ends in a tongue (7A) that can be operated by a movement of the holder'"'"'s thumb towards his body in order to unlock the device;

the lever (87A) is attached at its lower end to an axis (89A) allowing it to pivot transversally at the lower end of the back lateral side of the pivoting part (51);

the leaf spring (85A) is riveted or clipped to its attachment points, on one side to the lever (87A) below the tongue (7A) and, on the other side, on the front lateral side of the pivoting part (51);

without the holder'"'"'s intervention, the lever (87A) is normally retained in locked position by the leaf spring (85A); and

the tongue (7A) of the lock (80A) is designed and configured so as to spontaneously cause unlocking of the lever (87A) by the simple motion of the gun when it is returned to the holster.

10. Device according to claim 8, characterised in that the lateral triggerguard lock (80) comprises a lever arm (87) outwardly ending in a tongue that can be operated by the holder, whose support is at the lower end of the lock, the bolt itself having a truncated cylindrical protrusion (88) that can penetrate the holster inside the triggerguard of the gun, when this is fully put into the holster and a return spring (85) holding the bolt at rest against the inner wall of the holster, said protrusion (88) then being located standing out inside the triggerguard.

11. Device according to claim 7, characterised in that it also comprises a security strap that connects, once attached, the two above-mentioned sides (2,3) of the holster or one of the sides of the holster (2,3) at one end and the cover (5) and/or the lock (8,80,80A) at the other end.

12. Device according to claim 11, characterised in that the strap is attached to the cover (5) and/or to the lock (8,80,80A) either permanently on one side of the holster and removably by a press stud on the other side, or removably by a press stud on each side.

13. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the cover (5) covers at least partially the hammer and/or the butt of the gun, and/or the rear sighting mechanisms of the gun, and possibly also the front part of the holster, in particular the parts of said mechanisms that are visible in the dark.

14. Device according to claim 9, characterised in that the separate bottom (X1) of the second part (57) is made of resilient material and presents an extended upper part shaped in such a way that its full thickness can sit in a corresponding recess in the outer wall of the body of the holster (1), said extended part of the separate bottom (X1) being provided with a transverse protruding element going through a hole also made in the wall of the body of the holster (1), in such a way that said protruding element can intrude into a clearance of the gun in the holster and is designed for not hindering the sheathing motion of the gun, the holstered gun, by means of this protruding element, exerting a force on the extended separate bottom (X1) so as to cause the latter to protrude outside the outer wall of the holster body (1), sufficiently as to hinder the opening motion of the cover lock (80A), unless the cover lock is voluntarily unlocked by the holder of the holster, the unholstered gun letting the separate bottom (X1) sit within said recess in the body of the holster (1), where it cannot retain the opening motion of the cover lock (80A) even in a locked position of the latter.

15. Device according to claim 14, characterised in that the lock (80A) and axis (89A) system is set into a groove located in the pivoting part (51), near and along the back lateral side of the pivoting part (51).

16. Device according to claim 15, characterised in that the leaf spring (85A) is replaced by a spring located inside the groove.

17. Device according to claim 1 further comprising a holster in combination with the device.

2. Automatic security and retention device for a gun holster, preferably for a handgun, said holster comprising a body (1) provided with an outer side (2) and an inner side (3), said device comprising a security and retention cover (5):

connecting the outer side (2) and the inner side (3) above the body of the holster;

located, in the closed position, essentially in the vertical axis of the holster;

pivoting forwards when the holder puts the gun in the holster or when he draws the gun, from a closed position to an open position, around an imaginary axis that is perpendicular to the vertical axis of the holster and cuts said outer side (2) and inner side (3);

then automatically pivoting around the same axis back to the closed position as a result of a return force, when the gun is fully returned into the holster, hence retaining and securing said gun, or even when it is drawn from the holster;

having, with a view to its opening when the gun is drawn by the holder, an extension located on the back side of the cover designed to come into contact ergonomically and anatomically with at least one part of the holder'"'"'s hand;

also having a shape and a design such that when it is put back in the holster, the normal motion of the gun for this action automatically causes said cover (5) to open;

characterised in that the extension comprises a rim (7, 7A) on the inner back side of the cover (5) offering an ergonomic support to the holder'"'"'s thumb in order to pivot the cover forwards.

3. Device according to claim 2, characterised in that the rim (7, 7A) has cut-outs or is shaped in such a way that it can be adapted to the shape of the gun and/or its sighting mechanisms.

18. Device according to claim 2, characterised in that the attachment at the intersection of the imaginary axis with said sides of the holster is provided either on one side by a spindle and spring mechanism and by a spindle mechanism on the other side or by spindle and spring mechanisms on both sides of the body of the holster.

19. Device according to claim 18, characterised in that it comprises a first part (51) mounted on the cover (5) and pivoting around a rotation axis (55) relative to a second fixed part (57) mounted on the side of the body (1) of the holster, the return of the cover being ensured by a spring (54) attached at one end by a pin (53) fixed to the first part (51) and at the other end by a pin (56) fixed to the second part (57), the pin (53) being lodged at an attachment point of the spring (52, 58).

20. Device according to claim 19, characterised in that either the plane of the inner side, i.e. opposite the holder, of the pivoting part (51) coincides with the corresponding side of the body of the holster (1), or the spindle and spring mechanism has a separate bottom (X1) to which the second part (57) is attached and whose outer edge, i.e. towards the holder, coincides with the plane of the inner side of the pivoting part (51).

21. Device according to claim 2, characterised in that it also comprises, by way of additional security, a triggerguard lock (8) with vertical control, for example of the push lever type and which is effective along an axis at 900 relative to this lever and which can be activated by the holder'"'"'s thumb.

22. Device according to claim 2, characterised in that it also comprises, by way of additional security, a triggerguard lock with lateral control (80) normally in the locked position, positioned at the level of a back junction of the holster and unlockable by the movement of the holder'"'"'s thumb towards his body.

23. Device according to claim 19, characterised in that it also comprises, by way of additional security, a cover lock (80A) comprising a rod lever (87A) retained by a leaf spring (85A) positioned on the back lateral side of the pivoting part (51) of the spindle and spring mechanism of the cover (5) such that:

the upper end of the lever (87A) ends in a tongue (7A) that can be operated by a movement of the holder'"'"'s thumb towards his body in order to unlock the device;

the lever (87A) is attached at its lower end to an axis (89A) allowing it to pivot transversally at the lower end of the back lateral side of the pivoting part (51);

the leaf spring (85A) is riveted or clipped to its attachment points, on one side to the lever (87A) below the tongue (7A) and, on the other side, on the front lateral side of the pivoting part (51);

without the holder'"'"'s intervention, the lever (87A) is normally retained in locked position by the leaf spring (85A); and

the tongue (7A) of the lock (80A) is designed and configured so as to spontaneously cause unlocking of the lever (87A) by the simple motion of the gun when it is returned to the holster.

24. Device according to claim 22, characterised in that the lateral triggerguard lock (80) comprises a lever arm (87) outwardly ending in a tongue that can be operated by the holder, whose support is at the lower end of the lock, the bolt itself having a truncated cylindrical protrusion (88) that can penetrate the holster inside the triggerguard of the gun, when this is fully put into the holster and a return spring (85) holding the bolt at rest against the inner wall of the holster, said protrusion (88) then being located standing out inside the triggerguard.

25. Device according to claim 21, characterised in that it also comprises a security strap that connects, once attached, the two above-mentioned sides (2,3) of the holster or one of the sides of the holster (2,3) at one end and the cover (5) and/or the lock (8,80,80A) at the other end.

26. Device according to claim 25, characterised in that the strap is attached to the cover (5) and/or to the lock (8,80,80A) either permanently on one side of the holster and removably by a press stud on the other side, or removably by a press stud on each side.

27. Device according to claim 2, characterised in that the cover (5) covers at least partially the hammer and/or the butt of the gun, and/or the rear sighting mechanisms of the gun, and possibly also the front part of the holster, in particular the parts of said mechanisms that are visible in the dark.

28. Device according to claim 23, characterised in that the separate bottom (X1) of the second part (57) is made of resilient material and presents an extended upper part shaped in such a way that its full thickness can sit in a corresponding recess in the outer wall of the body of the holster (1), said extended part of the separate bottom (X1) being provided with a transverse protruding element going through a hole also made in the wall of the body of the holster (1), in such a way that said protruding element can intrude into a clearance of the gun in the holster and is designed for not hindering the sheathing motion of the gun, the holstered gun, by means of this protruding element, exerting a force on the extended separate bottom (X1) so as to cause the latter to protrude outside the outer wall of the holster body (1), sufficiently as to hinder the opening motion of the cover lock (80A) , unless the cover lock is voluntarily unlocked by the holder of the holster, the unholstered gun letting the separate bottom (X1) sit within said recess in the body of the holster (1), where it cannot retain the opening motion of the cover lock (80A) even in a locked position of the latter.

29. Device according to claim 28, characterised in that the lock (80A) and axis (89A) system is set into a groove located in the pivoting part (51), near and along the back lateral side of the pivoting part (51).

30. Device according to claim 29, characterised in that the leaf spring (85A) is replaced by a spring located inside the groove.

31. Device according to claim 2, further comprising a holster in combination with the device.