Releasable block for rotating hood holster

• US 6,371,341 B1
• Filed: 05/01/2000
• Issued: 04/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Safariland LLC
• Original Assignee: Safariland LLC
• Inventors: Clifton, Norman E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): VIDOVICH, GREGORY M
• Application Number:
  US09/562,085
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 224/192, 224/193, 224/235, 224/238, 224/242, 224/243, 224/911, 224/912, 224/246
• US Class Current: 224/243
• 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 33/0263 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 movable blocking member is pivotally mounted to the holster and movable between a first position where ratable motion of the hood is blocked and a second position where rotatable motion of the hood is allowed. The hood is rotated to allow a handgun to be removed from a holster. The hood must be depressed downwardly prior to rotation. In one aspect of the block the blocking member prevents rotation of the hood after downward motion of the strap. Alternate embodiments of the block provide a blocking member positionable to prevent the initial downward motion of the hood. Detents and detent recesses are provided to secure the blocking member in a desired position.

Claims

1. A handgun holster comprising, an inner and outer sidewall joined together along lower front an back portions to define an inner cavity having an open top shaped to fit a handgun holstered therein, an elongated restraining strap having opposite ends and a medial portion bridging said sidewalls across said open top, means for pivotal attachment of said opposite ends of said strap to respective said sidewalls to permit movement of said strap from a position across said open top to restrict handgun withdrawal to a position generally forwardly of said holster to permit handgun withdrawal, said means for pivotal attachment including a detent means releasably engaged with said means for pivotal attachment for preventing forward pivotal movement of said restraining strap until said strap is moved at said means for pivotal attachment in a downward direction, wherein said detent means includes a fixed notch and a movable pawl adapted to engage said notch and to be disengaged from said notch when said strap is moved in said downward direction, the improvement comprising selectively operable blocking means attached to said holster cooperatively engaging said strap for preventing movement of said strap in a forward pivotal direction prior to disengaging of said blocking means from said strap.

2. The holster as defined in claim 1 wherein said blocking means includes a blocking arm and means for pivotally mounting said blocking arm to said means for pivotal attachment, said blocking arm being selectively movable from a first position where said blocking arm is positioned closely adjacent said movable pawl to prevent rearward pivotal movement of said movable pawl after said strap is moved in said downward direction by contact with said movable pawl and a second position where said blocking arm is spaced away from said movable pawl to allow rearward pivotal movement of said movable pawl after said strap is moved in said downward direction.

3. The holster as defined in claim 2 wherein said blocking means includes second detent means releasably engaged between said pivotal attachment means and said blocking arm for securing said blocking arm in said first position.

4. The holster as defined in claim 3 wherein said second detent means includes a detent boss formed on said blocking arm and a detent recess formed in said means for pivotal attachment, said detent boss positioned in said detent recess when said blocking arm is in said first position.

5. In a handgun holster including an inner and outer sidewall joined together along lower front and back portions to define an inner cavity having an open top shaped to fit a handgun holstered therein, an elongated restraining strap having opposite ends and a medial portion bridging said sidewalls across said open top, means for pivotal attachment of said opposite ends of said strap to respective said sidewalls to permit movement of said strap from a position across said open top to restrict handgun withdrawal to a position generally forwardly of said holster to permit handgun withdrawal, said means for pivotal attachment including a detent means releasably engaged with said means for pivotal attachment for preventing forward pivotal movement of said restraining strap until said strap is moved at said means for pivotal attachment in a downward direction, selectively operable blocking means attached to a holster cooperatively engaging said strap for preventing movement of said strap in a forward pivotal direction prior to disengaging of said blocking means from said strap.

6. The holster as defined in claim 5 wherein said blocking means including a blocking arm and means for pivotally mounting said blocking arm to said means for pivotal attachment, said blocking arm being selectively movable from a first position where said blocking arm is positioned closely adjacent said movable pawl to prevent rearward pivotal movement of said movable pawl after said strap is moved in said downward direction by contact with said movable pawl and a second position where said blocking arm is spaced away from said movable pawl to allow rearward pivotal movement of said movable pawl after said strap is moved in said downward direction.

7. The holster as defined in claim 6, said blocking means including detent means releasably engaged between said means for pivotal attachment and said blocking arm for securing said blocking arm in said first position.

8. The holster as defined in claim 7 wherein said detent means including a detent boss formed on said blocking arm and a detent recess formed in said means for pivotal attachment, said detent boss positioned in said detent recess when said blocking arm is in said first position.

9. A handgun holster comprising an inner and outer sidewall joined together along lower front and back portions to define an inner cavity having an open top shaped to fit a handgun holstered therein, an elongated restraining strap having opposite ends and a medial portion bridging said sidewalls across said open top, means for pivotal attachment of said opposite ends of said strap to respective said sidewalls to permit movement of said strap from a position across said open top to restrict handgun withdrawal to a position generally forwardly of said holster to permit handgun withdrawal, said means for pivotal attachment including a first detent means releasably engaged with said means for pivotal attachment for preventing forward pivotal movement of said restraining strap until said strap is moved at said means for pivotal attachment in a downward direction, wherein said first detent means includes a fixed notch and a movable pawl adapted to engage said notch and to be disengaged from said notch when said strap is moved in said downward direction, selectively operable blocking means attached to said holster and movable between a first position to prevent movement of said strap in said downward direction and a second position to allow movement of said strap in said downward direction.

10. The holster as defined in claim 9 wherein said blocking means includes another pawl and means for movably mounting said another pawl to said means for pivotal attachment, said another pawl being selectively movable between said first position where said another pawl is positioned closely adjacent said strap to contact said strap to prevent movement of said strap in said downward direction and said second position being away from said strap to allow movement of said strap in said downward direction.

11. The holster as defined in claim 10 wherein said blocking means includes detent means releasably engaged between said means for pivotal attachment and said another pawl for securing said another pawl in said first position.

12. The holster as defined in claim 11 wherein said detent means of said blocking means includes at least one detent recess formed in said pawl and a detent boss formed in said means for pivotal attachment, said detent boss being positioned in said at least one detent recess when said pawl is in said first position.

13. The holster as defined in claim 10 wherein said blocking means includes detent means releasably engaged between said means for pivotal attachment and said another pawl for selectively securing said another pawl in said first position and said second position.

14. The holster as defined in claim 13 wherein said detent means of said blocking means includes a pair of spaced detent recesses formed in said another pawl and a detent boss formed in said means for pivotal attachment, said detent boss being positioned in one said recess when said another pawl is in said first position and in another said recess when said another pawl is in said second position.

15. A handgun holster comprising an inner and outer sidewall joined together along lower front and back portions to define an inner cavity having an open top shaped to fit a handgun holstered therein, an elongated restraining strap having opposite ends and a medial portion bridging said sidewalls across said open top, means for pivotal attachment of said opposite ends of said strap to respective said sidewalls to permit movement of said strap from a position across said open top to restrict handgun withdrawal to a position generally forwardly of said holster to permit handgun withdrawal, said means for pivotal attachment including a detent means releasably engaged with said means for pivotal attachment for preventing forward pivotal movement of said restraining strap until said strap is moved at said means for pivotal attachment in a downward direction, selectively operable blocking means for attachment to said holster including a pawl and means for movably mounting said pawl to said means for pivotal attachment, said pawl being selectively movable between a first position where said pawl is positioned closely adjacent said strap to contact said strap to prevent movement of said strap in said downward direction and a second position away from said strap to allow movement of said strap in said downward direction.

16. The holster as defined in claim 15 wherein said blocking means further includes another detent means releasably engaged between said means for pivotal attachment and said pawl for selectively securing said pawl in said first position and said second position.

17. The holster as defined in claim 16 wherein said another detent means includes a pair of spaced detent recesses formed in said means for pivotal attachment and a detent boss formed in said pawl, said detent boss being positioned in one said recess when said pawl is in said first position and in another said recess when said pawl is in said second position.