Holster handgun locator and lock

• US 20070175935A1
• Filed: 03/02/2007
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Safariland LLC
• Original Assignee: Safariland LLC
• Inventors: Clifton, Norman
• Application Number:
  US11/713,185
• Publication Number:
  US 20070175935A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 224/243
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/00 Safety arrangements, e.g. safeties
• 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 33/0245 Skeleton-holsters, e.g. contacting only a minimal part of the small arm, e.g. contacting the muzzle, ejection port, chamber, trigger guard or hammer
• 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: F41C 33/04 Special attachments therefor

Abstract

A handgun is releasably secured in a holster by a lever pivotally mounted to the holster carrying a forward locking member for positively engaging a handgun portion locking same in place. A rearward lever portion is movable by a user to pivot it away from engaging a handgun so that it can be withdrawn from the holster. Positioning member is affixed to a holster and engages the handgun which may include a tension device. A muzzle positioner may be used to engage within the bore of the muzzle, which includes an alignment pin and an attachment fastener to the holster.

Claims

1. Handgun locking apparatus for securing a holsterable handgun in a holster having a body and an interior cavity and having a long axis extending from the top to the bottom of such holster comprising a lever member having a forward portion and a rearward portion, means for movably mounting said lever member to the holster, said lever member having a locking member located in said cavity for positively engaging a portion of a handgun for locking a handgun in holstered position inside the holster to inhibit the withdrawal of a handgun from the holster, said rearward portion of said lever member being movable by a user to pivot said locking member about a pivot axis positioned normal to the long axis of the holster away from a handgun for allowing a handgun to be withdrawn from the holster.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said lever member includes a forward spring member for contacting the body of the holster for biasing said forward portion of said lever member towards a holstered handgun to locate said locking member into positive engagement with a handgun holstered in the holster.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said cavity is molded to define interior surface spaced away from said forward portion of said lever member to allow for movement of said forward portion of said lever member away from a holstered handgun a sufficient distance to allow for withdrawal of a handgun from the holster.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for movably mounting includes a pair of spaced posts affixed to said lever member for pivotally mounting said lever member to and inside the holster.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said rearward portion of said lever member includes an operating arm for operating said lever member to move said locking member away from a handgun for allowing withdrawal of a handgun carried in the holster.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said locking member is sized to fit against an edge of an ejection port of a handgun.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for movably mounting includes a pivot mounting of said lever member in said cavity for movement about said pivot axis.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said body of said lever member includes at least one sloping surface for guiding the movement of a handgun being inserted into said interior cavity of the holster.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said at least one sloping surface includes an extension arm extending forwardly of said forward portion of said body and a locking surface integral with said extension arm positionable in contact with a portion of a handgun for inhibiting withdrawal of a handgun from the holster.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including a tension member for positioning a handgun inserted into the holster into contact with said locking member, said tension member including a body, said body having a movable arm member with a handgun contacting surface and a camming surface, said body further including a lower holster engaging surface, a movable member carried by said body and in contact with said camming surface for selectively moving said arm member to position said handgun contacting surface against a handgun for forcing a handgun into a first position.

11. The apparatus as defined in claim 10 further including means to rigidly mount said tension device inside the holster.

12. The apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said body further includes a gun-contacting surface for limiting downward travel of a handgun in the holster.

13. The apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said movable member includes a screw mounted in said body, said screw having a first end portion in contact with said camming surface and a second end portion adapted for rotation of said screw by a user for moving said handgun-contacting surface.

14. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said locking member is sized to fit against a portion of a handgun.

15. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said rearward portion of said lever member includes a pad member for affixing said lever member to and inside a holster, said pad member having a hole therethrough for a fastener for affixing said lever member to the holster.

16. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein a portion of said body of said lever member is arcuate in shape and has an outer surface positioned away from said forward wall portion of said cavity and an inner surface formed to provide said locking surface.

17. The apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said locking surface includes a projecting portion sized to fit with a portion of an ejection port of the handgun to inhibit withdrawal of a handgun.

18. The apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said locking surface includes a projecting portion, said projecting portion being positionable against a forward edge of an ejection port of a handgun.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a tension member in the holster for positioning a handgun inserted into a holster with a handgun in contact with said locking member.

20. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including a muzzle locator for positioning a handgun in the holster, said locator having a body with a passageway therethrough for affixing said body to the holster a fastener disposed through said passageway for connecting said body to said holster, said body including a muzzle insert extending generally along a long axis of the holster and sized to fit within the muzzle of a holstered handgun to position the muzzle end of a handgun in the holster so that said locking member will engage a handgun and retain same until released.

21. The apparatus as defined in claim 20 further including an alignment pin for installation in another passageway extending generally parallel to said passageway for positioning said body so that said muzzle insert is slidably engaged in a muzzle.

22. The apparatus as defined in claim 20 further including an alignment pin that includes a head portion and an end portion having at least one projecting boss thereon, said body formed with another passageway therethrough and including a pair of wide passages in each side surface of said member and a continuous narrow passage from one said wide passage to another said wide passage, said projecting boss being positioned into said another passageway to secure said pin therein so that a muzzle end of a handgun holstered in the holster will receive said muzzle insert.

23. The apparatus as defined in claim 22 wherein said body of said locator includes a rearwardly disposed muzzle stop boss for limiting forward travel of a handgun in the holster.

24. The apparatus as defined in claim 23 wherein said stop boss is located below said muzzle insert for contacting the forward end of a guide rod of a handgun in the holster.

25. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including a muzzle positioning device for positioning the muzzle end of a handgun in the holster, said device having a body with a first passageway for affixing said body to the holster and a second generally aligned passageway with said first passageway being affixed to said holster by a fastener extending through said first passageway, said body including a muzzle insert sized to fit within the muzzle of a holstered handgun, and an alignment pin for installation in said second passageway of said body for positioning said muzzle insert with respect to the holster and the muzzle end of a handgun so that said locking member engages the handgun.