Hand weapon holstering systems

• US 6,267,279 B1
• Filed: 10/15/1999
• Issued: 07/31/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SureFire LLC (Surefire Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Laser Products Ltd.
• Inventors: Matthews, John Wallace
• Primary Examiner(s): MAUST, TIMOTHY LEWIS
• Application Number:
  US09/419,352
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 224/192, 224/193, 224/242-245, 224/232, 224/271, 224/272, 224/670, 224/911, 224/912, 224/191, 421/00, 421/03
• US Class Current: 224/243
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 33/0236 Half-holsters covering by encircling only a part of the small arm, e.g. ghost-holsters
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 33/0254 with accommodation for auxiliary devices mounted on the small arm, e.g. telescopic sights, flashlights or laser-devices
• 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 holstering device is made for an elongate hand weapon or is made as a standard holstering device for holstering any one of a number of different types of elongate hand weapons. Such holstering device extends along opposite first and second sides of any of these hand weapons and straddles that hand weapon between such opposite first and second sides when that hand weapon is holstered. The holstering device also includes a track structure having in that holstering device a first track at the mentioned first side and a second track at the mentioned second side. Each of such elongate hand weapons is equipped with an adapter having first and second slides complementary with the first and second tracks of the track structure for holstering the adapter in that track structure while holstering any of the elongate hand weapon in that holstering device. Each adapter is made integral with a corresponding elongate hand weapon as distinguished from the holstering device, so that such adapter is removed with that elongate hand weapon from that holstering device when that hand weapon is drawn from that holstering device.

Claims

1. In a method of holstering an elongate hand weapon, the improvement comprising in combination:

forming a holstering device for said hand weapon extending along opposite first and second sides of said hand weapon and straddling said hand weapon between said opposite first and second sides when said hand weapon is holstered;

providing a track structure including in said holstering device a first track at said first side and a second track at said second side;

equipping said elongate hand weapon with an adapter having first and second slides complementary with said first and second tracks of said track structure for holstering said adapter in said track structure while holstering said elongate hand weapon in said holstering device; and

making said adapter integral with said elongate hand weapon as distinguished from said holstering device, so that said adapter is removed with said elongate hand weapon from said holstering device when said hand weapon is drawn from said holstering device.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein:

said track structure and said adapter are shaped as a tongue and groove combination including a tongue structure as one of said track structure and said adapter, and a groove structure as the other of said track structure and said adapter.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein:

said holstering device and said adapter are equipped with a detent releasably retaining said adapter at said track structure.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein:

said hand weapon is releasably retained in said holstering device by releasable engagement of said hand weapon while holstered in said holstering device.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein:

said hand weapon is releasably retained in said holstering device by releasable engagement of said adapter while said hand weapon is holstered in said holstering device.

6. In a method of holstering any one of a number of different types of elongate hand weapons, the improvement comprising in combination:

making for said different types of hand weapons a standard holstering device extending along opposite first and second sides of any of said hand weapons and straddling that hand weapon between said opposite first and second sides when that hand weapon is holstered;

providing a track structure including in said holstering device a first track at said first side and a second track at said second side;

equipping each of said elongate hand weapons with an adapter having first and second slides complementary with said first and second tracks of said track structure for holstering said adapter in said track structure while holstering any of said elongate hand weapon in said holstering device; and

making each adapter integral with a corresponding elongate hand weapon as distinguished from said holstering device, so that said adapter is removed with that elongate hand weapon from said holstering device when that hand weapon is drawn from said holstering device.

7. A method as in claim 6, wherein:

said track structure and said adapter are shaped as a tongue and groove combination including a tongue structure as one of said track structure and said adapter, and a groove structure as the other of said track structure and said adapter.

8. A method as in claim 6, wherein:

said holstering device and said adapter are equipped with a detent releasably retaining said adapter at said track structure.

9. In apparatus for holstering an elongate hand weapon, the improvement comprising in combination:

a holstering device for said hand weapon extending along opposite first and second sides of said hand weapon and straddling said hand weapon between said opposite first and second sides when said hand weapon is holstered;

a track structure including in said holstering device a first track at said first side and a second track at said second side; and

an adapter for said hand weapon having first and second slides complementary with said first and second tracks of said track structure and being integral with said elongate hand weapon as distinguished from said holstering device, so that said adapter is removed with said elongate hand weapon from said holstering device when said hand weapon is drawn from said holstering device.

10. Apparatus as in claim 9, wherein:

each complementary first track and first slide and each complementary second track and second slide comprises a tongue and groove combination including a tongue structure as one of said first track, first slide, second track and second slide, respectively and a groove structure as the other of said first track, first slide, second track and second slide, respectively.

11. Apparatus as in claim 9, including:

a detent adapted to releasably retain said adapter at said track structure.

12. Apparatus as in claim 9, including:

a manually actuable weapon retainer strap on said holstering device having a weapon retaining position over a hand weapon holstered in said holstering device, and having a weapon release position away from said hand weapon holstered in said holstering device.

13. Apparatus as in claim 9, including:

a manually actuable weapon blocker having a weapon blocking position in a path of said adapter of a hand weapon holstered in said holstering device, and having a weapon release position away from said path of said adapter.

14. Apparatus as in claim 9, wherein:

said holstering device is substantially open along one side thereof.

15. Apparatus as in claim 9, wherein:

said adapter has a notch; and

said holstering device has a latch releasably retaining said adapter at said notch.

16. Apparatus as in claim 9, wherein:

said adapter has a notch; and

said holstering device has a latch at said track structure releasably retaining said adapter at said notch.

17. Apparatus as in claim 9, wherein:

said adapter has a first notch at said first track and a second notch at said second track when said hand weapon is holstered; and

said holstering device has a first latch at said first track structure engaging said first notch, and a second latch at said second track structure engaging said second notch when said hand weapon is holstered.

18. Apparatus as in claim 9, wherein:

said adapter has a concave notch; and

said holstering device has a spring-biased latch including a roller at said track structure engaging said adapter at said concave notch when said hand weapon is holstered.

19. Apparatus as in claim 9, wherein:

said adapter has a first concave notch at said first track and a second concave notch at said second track when said hand weapon is holstered; and

said holstering device has a first spring-biased latch including a first roller at said first track structure engaging said first concave notch, and a second spring-biased latch including a second roller at said second track structure engaging said second concave notch when said hand weapon is holstered.

20. Apparatus as in claim 9, including:

a detent having a spring-biased lever pivoted in said holstering device, a roller journaled on said lever, and a concave notch in said adapter releasably engaged by said roller when said hand weapon is holstered in said holstering device.

21. Apparatus as in claim 9, including:

a detent having a first spring-biased lever pivoted in said holstering device, a first roller journaled on said first lever, and a first concave notch in said adapter releasably engaged by said first roller when said hand weapon is holstered in said holstering device, a second spring-biased lever pivoted in said holstering device, a second roller journaled on said second lever, and a second concave notch in said adapter releasably engaged by said second roller when said hand weapon is holstered in said holstering device.

22. Apparatus as in claim 21, wherein:

said first and second levers have complementary journals in said holstering device.

23. Apparatus as in claim 9, for elongate hand weapons having a trigger with trigger guard, wherein:

said adapter has an accommodation for part of said trigger guard.

24. Apparatus as in claim 9, for a hand weapon having an exterior accessory, wherein:

said holstering device includes an accommodation for said accessory.

25. Apparatus as in claim 9, for a hand weapon having an exterior accessory, wherein:

said adapter has a mount for said accessory.

26. In apparatus for holstering any one of a number of different types of elongate hand weapons, the improvement comprising in combination:

a standard holstering device for said different types of hand weapons extending along opposite first and second sides of any of said hand weapons and straddling that hand weapon between said opposite first and second sides when that hand weapon is holstered;

a track structure including in said holstering device a first track at said first side and a second track at said second side; and

an adapter for each of said hand weapons having first and second slides complementary with said first and second tracks of said track structure and being integral with that elongate hand weapon as distinguished from said holstering device, so that said adapter is removed with that elongate hand weapon from said holstering device when that hand weapon is drawn from said holstering device.

27. Apparatus as in claim 26, wherein:

each complementary first track and first slide and each complementary second track and second slide comprises a tongue and groove combination including a tongue structure as one of said first track, first slide, second track and second slide, respectively and a groove structure as the other of said first track, first slide, second track and second slide, respectively.

28. Apparatus as in claim 26, including:

a detent adapted to releasably retain said adapter at said track structure.

29. Apparatus as in claim 26, including:

a manually actuable weapon retainer strap on said holstering device having a weapon retaining position over a hand weapon holstered in said holstering device, and having a weapon release position away from said hand weapon holstered in said holstering device.

30. Apparatus as in claim 26, including:

a manually actuable weapon blocker having a weapon blocking position in a path of said adapter of a hand weapon holstered in said holstering device, and having a weapon release position away from said path of said adapter.

31. Apparatus as in claim 26, wherein:

said holstering device is substantially open along one side thereof.

32. Apparatus as in claim 26, wherein:

said adapter has a notch; and

said holstering device has a latch releasably retaining said adapter at said notch.

33. Apparatus as in claim 26, wherein:

said adapter has a notch; and

said holstering device has a latch at said track structure releasably retaining said adapter at said notch.

34. Apparatus as in claim 26, wherein:

said adapter has a first notch at said first track and a second notch at said second track when said hand weapon is holstered; and

said holstering device has a first latch at said first track structure engaging said first notch, and a second latch at said second track structure engaging said second notch when said hand weapon is holstered.

35. Apparatus as in claim 26, wherein:

said adapter has a concave notch; and

said holstering device has a spring-biased latch including a roller at said track structure engaging said adapter at said concave notch when said hand weapon is holstered.

36. Apparatus as in claim 26, wherein:

said adapter has a first concave notch at said first track and a second concave notch at said second track when said hand weapon is holstered; and

said holstering device has a first spring-biased latch including a first roller at said first track structure engaging said first concave notch, and a second spring-biased latch including a second roller at said second track structure engaging said second concave notch when said hand weapon is holstered.

37. Apparatus as in claim 26, including:

a detent having a spring-biased lever pivoted in said holstering device, a roller journaled on said lever, and a concave notch in said adapter releasably engaged by said roller when said hand weapon is holstered in said holstering device.

38. Apparatus as in claim 26, including:

a detent having a first spring-biased lever pivoted in said holstering device, a first roller journaled on said first lever, and a first concave notch in said adapter releasably engaged by said first roller when said hand weapon is holstered in said holstering device, a second spring-biased lever pivoted in said holstering device, a second roller journaled on said second lever, and a second concave notch in said adapter releasably engaged by said second roller when said hand weapon is holstered in said holstering device.

39. Apparatus as in claim 38, wherein:

said first and second levers have complementary journals in said holstering device.

40. Apparatus as in claim 26, for elongate hand weapons having a trigger with trigger guard, wherein:

said adapter has an accommodation for part of said trigger guard.

41. Apparatus as in claim 26, for a hand weapon having an exterior accessory, wherein:

said holstering device includes an accommodation for said accessory.

42. Apparatus as in claim 26, for a hand weapon having an exterior accessory, wherein:

said adapter has a mount for said accessory.

43. Apparatus as in claim 26, including:

an elongate removable hand weapon accommodator and guide in said holstering device.

44. Apparatus as in claim 43, including:

an elongate groove in said holstering device receiving part of said elongate removable hand weapon accommodator and guide.

45. Apparatus as in claim 43, wherein:

said elongate removable hand weapon accommodator and guide has a configuration adapted to at least one of said different types of elongate hand weapons.