Thumb break holster

• US 4,270,680 A
• Filed: 10/10/1979
• Issued: 06/02/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John E. Bianchi
• Original Assignee: John E. Bianchi
• Inventors: Bianchi, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pollard, Steven M.
• Application Number:
  US06/083,359
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: 224/193, 224/192, 224/198, 224/243, 224/250, 224/911
• US Class Current: 224/193
• 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: Y10S 224/911 Handgun holder formed of leather, fabric, or other flexible material

Abstract

A thumb break type front opening holster employing a body of leather or leather-like material defining a holster retaining cavity having a top opening for insertion of the weapon into the holster and a front opening for removal of the weapon. The weapon is held in place by a strap secured to the outer side of the holster by a permanent but pivoted connection. The strap includes one-half of a snap fastener at its upper or free end designed to be engaged to a portion of the holster to hold the weapon in place. The mating half of the snap fastener is secured to a relatively rigid pivoted thumb break tab which is secured to the holster at an upper extremity. The thumb break tab is fashioned of leather or leather-like material and mounts the mating snap fastener half for the strap. Contained within the tab is a reinforcement member in the shape of an inverted U with outward extending legs extending laterally beyond the width tab. The legs are located within the belt loop opening of the holster extending through a slot therein. The legs of the reinforcement member are held spaced by the snap fastener.

Claims

1. A thumb break front opening holster comprising:

a body of leather or leatherlike material folded to define a handgun receiving cavity including a top opening for receiving a handgun and a front opening for drawing the handgun;

a belt loop secured to one side of said body for mounting the holster on the belt of a wearer;

a handgun retaining strap secured at one end to the body on the side opposite said belt loop;

relatively rigid tab means separate from said body pivotally secured to a top region of said body adjacent to the top opening thereof, said tab means mounted for pivotal movement toward and away from the top opening of said body;

fastening means comprising a pair of mating parts, one of said parts attached to said tab means and the other of parts secured to said strap; and

said fastening means separable by movement of the wearer'"'"'s thumb forward on drawing of the handgun.

2. The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said tab means is pivotally secured to said holster by hinge means engaging said tab means and said holster having an axis extending generally parallel to the length of the belt passage of said belt loop.

3. A thumb break front opening holster comprising:

a body of leather or leatherlike material folded to define a handgun receiving cavity including a top opening for receiving a handgun and a front opening for drawing the handgun;

a belt loop secured to one side of said body for mounting the holder on the belt of the wearer;

a handgun retaining strap secured at one end to the body on the side opposite said belt loop;

relatively rigid tab means separate from said body pivotally secured to a top region of said body adjacent to the top opening thereof, said tab means mounted for pivotal movement toward and away from the top opening of said body;

fastening means comprising a pair of mating parts, one of said parts attached to said tab means and the other of parts secured to said strap;

said fastening means separable by movement of the wearer'"'"'s thumb forward on drawing of the handgun;

wherein said tab means is pivotally secured to said holster by hinge means engaging said tab means and said holster having an axis extending generally parallel to the length of the belt passage of said belt loop; and

wherein said hinge means comprises an inverted U shape wire form secured to said tab with outward extending parallel feet which pivotally engage said belt loop.

4. The combination in accordance with claim 3 wherein said hinge means is enclosed within said tab with said feet extending out to define hinge pivot.

5. The combination in accordance with claim 4 wherein said belt loop includes at least one elongated opening and said feet extend through and beyond the ends of said elongated opening to define a hinged relationship with said belt loop.

6. The combination in accordance with claim 4 wherein said fastening means part secured to said tab extends through the region of said tab between the legs of said hinge means to restrict deformation of said legs after said fastening means part is in place.