Safety holster for preventing access to a firearm by unauthorized users
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A safety holster for a firearm, comprising:
- a retaining member having a catch surface formed thereon, said retaining member being moveable between a first unlocked position wherein the firearm is not constrained by said catch surface and the firearm can be withdrawn from said holster and a second locked position wherein said catch surface engages and constrains a cooperating portion of the firearm to prevent withdrawal of the firearm from said holster;
a lock mechanism operatively coupled to said retaining member and adapted to secure said retainer in said second position;
means for identifying an authorized user of the firearm and releasing said lock mechanism to permit withdrawal of the firearm from said holster; and
a lift mechanism having at least one spring disposed within said holster that biases the firearm within said holster toward an opening in said holster.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A safety holster for a firearm, including two pivotally mounted retaining members that cooperate to engage the trigger guard of the firearm and prevent withdrawal of the firearm from the holster by anyone other than an authorized user of the firearm. The holster includes a fingerprint sensor for scanning fingerprint information of a perspective user of the firearm, and a processor for comparing the scanned fingerprint information with stored fingerprint information of an authorized user and releasing the retaining member only if the scanned fingerprint information matches that of the authorized user.
72 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A safety holster for a firearm, comprising:
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a retaining member having a catch surface formed thereon, said retaining member being moveable between a first unlocked position wherein the firearm is not constrained by said catch surface and the firearm can be withdrawn from said holster and a second locked position wherein said catch surface engages and constrains a cooperating portion of the firearm to prevent withdrawal of the firearm from said holster;
a lock mechanism operatively coupled to said retaining member and adapted to secure said retainer in said second position;
means for identifying an authorized user of the firearm and releasing said lock mechanism to permit withdrawal of the firearm from said holster; and
a lift mechanism having at least one spring disposed within said holster that biases the firearm within said holster toward an opening in said holster. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A safety holster for a firearm, comprising:
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two or more pivotal retaining members that cooperative to form tongs wherein said retaining members are pivotal between a first unlocked position wherein the firearm is not constrained by said retaining members and the firearm can be withdrawn from said holster and a second locked position wherein said retaining members engage and constrain a cooperating portion of the firearm to prevent withdrawal of the firearm from said holster;
a lock mechanism having a lock member with one or more lock arms that are adapted to engage and move said retaining members from said first unlocked position to said second locked position, and to secure said retaining members in said second locked position; and
means for identifying an authorized user of the firearm and releasing said lock mechanism to permit withdrawal of the firearm from said holster. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A safety holster for a firearm, comprising:
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two pivotal retaining members each having an engagement arm and a lock arm, wherein said retaining members cooperative to form tongs wherein said retaining members are pivotal between a first unlocked position wherein the firearm is not constrained by said engagement arms and the firearm can be withdrawn from said holster and a second locked position wherein said engagement arms engage and constrain a cooperating portion of the firearm to prevent withdrawal of the firearm from said holster;
a lock mechanism having a lock member with one or more lock arms that rotate between a first unlocked position and a second locked position, wherein said lock mechanism lock arms are adapted to engage and move said retaining members from said first unlocked position to said second locked position and secure said retaining members in said second locked position;
an actuator that is operatively coupled to said lock member and that is operable to pivot said lock mechanism lock arms from said first unlocked position to said second locked position; and
a fingerprint sensor operatively coupled to said lock mechanism wherein said sensor is adapted to identify an authorized user of the firearm and release said lock member from said second locked position to permit withdrawal of the firearm from said holster. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of preventing unauthorized use of a firearm, comprising:
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introducing the firearm into a holster;
engaging two or more pivotal retaining members of said holster that are in a first unlocked position with a cooperating portion of the firearm;
pivoting said retaining members to a second locked position;
scanning a fingerprint of a prospective user of the firearm;
comparing said scanned fingerprint with fingerprint information of an authorized user of the firearm; and
unlocking said retainer members from the cooperating portion of the firearm only if said scanned fingerprint matches said fingerprint information of the authorized user, wherein said unlocked retaining members are then free to move to said first unlocked position permitting the firearm to be withdrawn from said holster. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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Specification