HOLSTER ASSEMBLY FOR A REVOLVER AND RELATED LOCKING DEVICE

• US 20110174850A1
• Filed: 01/20/2011
• Published: 07/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Safariland LLC
• Original Assignee: Safariland LLC
• Inventors: Clifton, Norman E. JR.
• Granted Patent: US 8,925,773 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 33/0263 having a locking system for preventing unauthorized or accidental removal of the small arm from the holster F41C33/0227 takes precedence

Abstract

A holster assembly for a revolver includes a holster pocket for removably accommodating a revolver therein, the holster pocket generally surrounding an insertion axis of the revolver, and a locking device arranged in the holster pocket for automatically engaging the revolver upon insertion into the holster pocket and selectively operable to allow subsequent removal of the revolver.

Claims

1. A holster assembly for a revolver, the holster assembly comprising:

a holster pocket for removably accommodating a revolver therein, the holster pocket generally surrounding an insertion axis of the revolver; and

a locking device arranged in the holster pocket for automatically engaging the revolver upon insertion into the holster pocket and selectively operable to allow subsequent removal of the revolver, the locking device including

a generally U-shaped body mounted in the holster pocket, and

an operating lever having a pivot portion pivotably mounted to the U-shaped body about an axis generally parallel with the insertion axis, and a biasing element biasing the operating lever into engagement with the revolver.

2. The holster assembly of claim 1, wherein the pivot portion and the U-shaped body are connected by a pivot pin inserted through respective aligned bores defined therein.

3. The holster assembly of claim 1, wherein the biasing element is resilient leg.

4. The holster assembly of claim 1, wherein the operating lever has a thumb tab protruding out of the holster pocket and selectively operable to urge the operating lever out of engagement with the revolver.

5. The holster assembly of claim 4, wherein the operating lever has a revolver engagement leg is located on a first side of the pivot portion, the biasing element and the thumb tab being located on a second side of the pivot portion.

6. The holster assembly of claim 5, wherein the revolver engagement leg has a beveled face and a blocking face, the faces being arranged such that the revolver contacts the beveled face during insertion and the blocking face impedes withdrawal of the revolver when fully inserted.

7. The holster assembly of claim 6, wherein the U-shaped body defines a first opening into which the beveled and blocking faces are retracted when urged away from the revolver.

8. The holster assembly of claim 7, wherein the U-shaped body defines a second opening, through which the thumb tab and biasing element extend.

9. The holster assembly of claim 8, wherein the U-shaped body includes a positioning tab extending outwardly therefrom to maintain a desired spacing between the holster pocket and the U-shaped body.

10. The holster assembly of claim 8, wherein the biasing element is a biasing leg and the U-shaped body further includes a biasing guide extending outwardly therefrom to facilitate proper positioning of the biasing leg outside the second opening.

11. The holster assembly of claim 8, wherein the relative dimensions of the operating lever and the U-shaped body are such that, with the biasing element are in a relaxed state, the beveled and blocking faces will protrude inwardly from the first opening.

12. The holster assembly of claim 11, wherein the beveled and blocking faces will protrude inwardly from the first opening behind at least one of a cylinder and a cylinder guard of the revolver.

13. The holster assembly of claim 1, further comprising a barrel positioning block assembly secured in a lower end of the holster pocket to limit insertion of the revolver into the holster pocket and facilitate proper alignment between the revolver and the locking device.

14. The holster assembly of claim 13, wherein the barrel positioning block includes a base positioning block releasably fastened to the holster pocket and an adapter insert removably secured to the base positioning block to allow accommodation for varying revolver dimensions.

15. The holster assembly of claim 1, further comprising a belt attachment plate secured to the holster pocket and facilitating wearing of the holster assembly by a revolver user.

16. A holster assembly for a revolver, the holster assembly comprising:

a holster pocket for removably accommodating a revolver therein, the holster pocket generally surrounding an insertion axis of the revolver; and

a locking device arranged in the holster pocket for automatically engaging the revolver upon insertion into the holster pocket and selectively operable to allow subsequent removal of the revolver, the locking device being configured to automatically engage at least one of a cylinder and a cylinder guard of the revolver.

17. A holster assembly for a revolver, the holster assembly comprising:

a holster pocket for removably accommodating a revolver therein, the holster pocket generally surrounding an insertion axis of the revolver; and

a locking device arranged in the holster pocket for automatically engaging the revolver upon insertion into the holster pocket and selectively operable to allow subsequent removal of the revolver, the locking device including

a generally U-shaped body mounted in the holster pocket and having first and second openings defined on generally opposite sides thereof, and

an operating lever having

a pivot portion pivotably mounted to the U-shaped body about an axis generally parallel with the insertion axis,

a revolver engagement leg extending from a first side of the pivot portion and retractable into the first opening,

a resilient biasing leg extending from a second side of the pivot portion and biasing the revolver engagement leg into engagement with the revolver, and

a thumb tab extending from the second side of the pivot portion and protruding out of the holster pocket, the thumb tab being operable to pivot the revolver engagement leg into the first opening and out of engagement with the revolver.

18. The holster assembly of claim 17, wherein the U-shaped body further includes:

a biasing guide extending outwardly therefrom to facilitate proper positioning of the biasing leg outside the second opening; and

a positioning tab extending outwardly therefrom to maintain a desired spacing between the holster pocket and the U-shaped body.

19. The holster assembly of claim 17, wherein the revolver engagement leg has a beveled face and a blocking face, the faces being arranged such that the revolver contacts the beveled face during insertion and the blocking face impedes withdrawal of the revolver when fully inserted.

20. The holster assembly of claim 17, further comprising a barrel positioning block assembly secured in a lower end of the holster pocket to limit insertion of the revolver into the holster pocket and facilitate proper alignment between the revolver and the locking device the barrel positioning block includes a base positioning block releasably fastened to the holster pocket and an adapter insert removably secured to the base positioning block to allow accommodation for varying revolver dimensions.