Firearm holster locking apparatus and method

• US 5,048,735 A
• Filed: 01/10/1991
• Issued: 09/17/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Safariland LLC
• Original Assignee: Michael L. Mccormick
• Inventors: McCormick, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sholl, Linda J.
• Application Number:
  US07/639,366
• Time in Patent Office: 250 Days
• Field of Search: 224/244, 224/243, 224/242, 224/911
• US Class Current: 224/244
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/911 Handgun holder formed of leather, fabric, or other flexible material

Abstract

A locking apparatus is adapted for locking a firearm or the like received in a holster, so that the firearm may not move appreciably while received in the holster and so that the firearm may be quickly withdrawn. The locking apparatus is particularly useful with speed holsters which provide minimal support for the weapon received therein. The preferred locking apparatus includes an activating member connected to a locking member. A suitable clamp or base member connects the activating and locking members to an inside surface of the holster. The locking apparatus is adapted to be positioned in an unlocked position in which the activating member extends generally transversely into the holster in position to be contacted as a firearm is inserted, and in which the locking member is retracted so as to lie generally adjacent an inner surface of the holster. Further, the locking apparatus is adapted to be moved to a locked position as a firearm is inserted into the holster, with the activating member displaced downwardly and the locking member extended into the holster so as to contact the firearm and retain it securely against a portion of the holster.

Claims

1. A firearm holster locking apparatus comprising:

A. locking means movably secured to the holster and adapted to move between a locked position and an unlocked position, the locking means, when in the locked position, for limiting the movement of a firearm received in the holster in at least one direction other than a withdrawal direction in which the firearm is withdrawn from the holster; and

B. activating means connected to the locking means for contacting the firearm as it is inserted into the holster so as to move the locking means from the unlocked to the locked position and for contacting the firearm received in the holster to retain the locking means substantially in the locked position.

2. The firearm holster locking apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

A. the locking means is also for moving from the locked position to the unlocked position as the firearm received in the holster is withdrawn there from.

3. The firearm holster locking apparatus of claim 2 wherein the activating means comprises an activating member adapted to extend into the holster in an unactivated position when the locking means is in the unlocked position, in which unactivated position the activating member may be contacted and displaced by the firearm as the firearm is inserted into the holster.

4. The firearm holster locking apparatus of claim 3 wherein the locking means comprises a locking member adapted to extend generally transversely into the holster when in the locked position, the locking member being connected to the activating member and having a longitudinal axis extending generally perpendicular to the activating member.

5. The firearm holster locking apparatus of claim 4 wherein the activating member, when in the unactivated position, is adapted to be contacted and displaced by the firearm trigger guard as the firearm is inserted into the holster.

6. The firearm holster locking apparatus of claim 5 wherein the locking member extends through the trigger guard, when in the locked position with the firearm received in the holster, so as to contact a portion of the trigger guard inner surface and press the trigger guard securely against a back portion of the holster to substantially prevent forward rocking of the firearm in the holster.

7. The firearm holster locking apparatus of claim 6 wherein the locking member is pivotally connected to the holster and is adapted to pivot between the extended locked position and the unlocked position in which the locking member is retracted so as to lay substantially parallel to the holster inner surface.

8. The firearm holster locking apparatus of claim 7 wherein the locking member includes a curved portion for helping to prevent the locking member from catching on the trigger guard as the locking member pivots to the locked position and for helping cam the firearm into position in the holster.

9. The firearm holster locking apparatus of claim 8 wherein the activating member is pivotally connected to the inner surface of the holster and is adapted to pivot between the unactivated position and an activated position in which the activating member is pivoted downwardly by the firearm inserted in the holster.

10. The firearm holster locking apparatus of claim 9 wherein the activating member and the locking member are connected by a generally cylindrical pivot section rotatably secured to the inside wall of the holster to allow the pivot movement for both the locking member and the activating member.

11. The firearm holster locking apparatus of claim 10 further including a suitable spring mounted on the pivot member so as to act between the activating member and the holster.

12. The firearm holster locking apparatus of claim 4 wherein:

A. the locking member is adapted to move in a direction generally opposite to the withdrawn direction as it moves from the unlocked position to the locked position; and

B. the locking member is adapted to move generally in the withdrawal direction as it moves from the locked position to the unlocked position.

13. A method of releasably locking a firearm in a holster so that the firearm may not move within the holster but may be quickly withdrawn, the method comprising the steps of:

A. displacing an activating member in one direction of movement by simultaneous contact with the firearm as the firearm is inserted into the holster;

B. extending a locking member into the holster to a locked position as the activating member is displaced in said one direction of movement; and

C. limiting the movement of the firearm received in the holster in at least one direction of movement other than a withdrawal direction with the locking member when the locking member is extended to the locked position.

14. The method of claim 13 including the step of retracting the locking member at least partially from the holster with a suitable biasing spring as the firearm is withdrawn from the holster.

15. The method of claim 13 including the step of retracting the locking member by contact between the locking member and the firearm as the firearm is withdrawn from the holster.

16. A firearm holster locking apparatus comprising:

A. locking means movably secured to the holster for residing in a locked position in which it limits the movement of a firearm received in the holster in at least one direction other than the direction in which the firearm is withdrawn from the holster, and for residing in an unlocked position in which it does not impede the insertion of the firearm into the holster; and

B. activating means connected to the locking means for contacting the firearm as it is inserted into the holster and for moving the locking means in a single direction of movement from the unlocked to the locked position by the contact between the activating means and the firearm as the firearm is inserted into the holster.

17. The firearm locking apparatus of claim 16 wherein:

A. the locking means comprises a locking member pivotally connected to the holster;

B. the activating means comprises an activating member connected to the locking member and extending at generally a right angle to the locking member.

18. The firearm locking apparatus of claim 16 wherein:

A. the activating means is also for contacting the firearm when the firearm is received in the holster and such contact holds the locking means in the locked position.

19. A firearm holster locking apparatus comprising:

A. a locking member pivotally connected to the holster and adapted to pivot between a locked position in which it extends into the holster to limit the movement of a firearm received therein, and an unlocked position in which it is substantially retracted from the holster;

B. an activating member connected to the locking member and adapted to contact and be displaced by the firearm as the firearm is inserted into the holster so as to pivot the locking member from the unlocked to the locked position by such contact; and

C. biasing means for biasing the locking member to the unlocked position so as to reduce the resistance provided by the locking member to the withdrawal of the firearm from the holster.