Secure, quick-release handgun holster

• US 6,732,891 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2001
• Issued: 05/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Burney Locklear III
• Original Assignee: Burney Locklear III
• Inventors: Locklear, Burney III
• Primary Examiner(s): NEWHOUSE, NATHAN JEFFREY
• Application Number:
  US09/943,335
• Publication Number:
  US 20030042279A1
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 224/198, 224/196, 224/243, 224/244, 224/245, 224/911
• US Class Current: 224/244
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 33/0209 Pouch or pocket like containers for small arms covering all or most 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 33/0272 having means for facilitating or accelerating the drawing of the small arm from the holster
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/911 Handgun holder formed of leather, fabric, or other flexible material

Abstract

A safe, quick-drawing holster includes: (a) a frame support (23) with an open top, the frame support comprising a bottom end (22) and at least one side panel (15); (b) a retention assembly (30) including a retention bracket (31), a retention plate (34) adjacent to a side of the retention bracket, and a trigger-impinging means (37) projecting from a side of the retention plate (34) into the retention bracket (31); (c) a spring-loaded actuator assembly (29) including an actuator (40) connected to an actuator arm (42), a portion of the actuator (40) extending through the side panel (15) to the outside, a portion of the actuator arm (42) extending inwardly through the side panel 15 into the retention bracket (31) and to the retention plate (34); and (d) a stabilizer spring assembly (79) including a stabilizer pin (81) having a base affixed to panel of the holster, and a movable power spring (80) substantially surrounding the stabilizer pin. A method of using the holster is also included herein.

Claims

1. A quick-drawing holster for retaining a handgun having a trigger and trigger guard, the holster comprising:

(a) a frame support with an open top, the frame support comprising a bottom panel and at least one side panel;

(b) a retention assembly comprising a retention bracket, a retention plate adjacent to a side of the retention bracket, and a trigger-impinging means projecting from a side of the retention plate into the retention bracket;

(c) a spring-loaded actuator assembly comprising an actuator connected to an actuator arm, at least a portion of the actuator extending through the side panel to the outside, at least a portion of the actuator arm extending inwardly through the side panel into the retention bracket and to the retention plate; and

(d) a stabilizer spring assembly comprising a stationary stabilizer pin having a base affixed to a panel of the holster, and a movable power spring substantially surrounding the stabilizer pin.

2. A holster for retaining a handgun having a trigger and trigger guard, the holster comprising:

(a) a frame support with an open top, the frame support comprising a bottom panel, a rear panel, and at least one side panel;

(b) a retention assembly comprising a retention bracket, a retention plate adjacent to a side of the retention bracket, and a trigger-impinging means projecting from a side of the retention plate into the retention bracket;

(c) a spring-loaded actuator assembly comprising an actuator connected to an actuator arm, at least a portion of the actuator extending through the side panel to the outside, at least a portion of the actuator arm extending inwardly through the side panel into the retention bracket and to the retention plate;

(d) a stabilizer spring assembly comprising a stabilizer pin having a base affixed to a panel of the holster, and a movable power spring substantially surrounding the stabilizer pin; and

a safety assembly, which comprises a safety button or switch affixed to the rear panel.

3. A holster according to claim 2, wherein the trigger impinging means is a retention pin, which projects from a side of the retention plate through a similarly sized retention pin hole in an adjacent side wall of the retention bracket.

4. A holster according to claim 3, wherein the retention assembly further comprises a wedge, which projects from one side of the retention plate through a similarly sized wedge slot in an adjacent side wall of the retention bracket.

5. A holster according to claim 2, wherein the stabilizer spring assembly further comprises a spring cap supported on the power spring and over the stabilizer pin.

6. A holster according to claim 2, comprising, two of the at least one side panels, one of which is an outer side panel, the other of which is an inner side panel, but no front panel.

7. A holster according to claim 6, wherein the safety button or switch is affixed to an outside of the rear panel.

8. A holster according to claim 6, wherein the actuator assembly further comprises an actuator spring, which extends loosely around at least a portion of the actuator arm.

9. A holster according to claim 6, further comprising a safety detent ball slide of a flat, rectangular shape corresponding to a rear side of the safety button, and having a screw hole aligning with the screw hole in the safety button, which, in turn, align with the safety lock arm screw hole, so that the safety screw passes through all three, and through a slot in the rear panel.

10. A holster according to claim 6, wherein the holster further comprises a pivotable belt clip fastened to the outside of the inner side panel.

11. A holster according to claim 9, wherein the safety slide is indented with two detent ball slide sockets aligned vertically above the safety screw hole, a safety detent ball being forced into either the upper socket, or the lower socket by tension in a safety detent spring, depending on the position of the safety button.

12. A holster according to claim 2, further comprising a stabilizer pin screw and stabilizer pin washers that hold the stabilizer pin in place;

the stabilizer pin extending vertically upward and being centered on the bottom panel of the holster.

13. A holster according to claim 2, wherein a spring groove surrounds the base of the stabilizer pin, the stabilizer pin being stepped with a stabilizer pin shoulder.

14. A holster according to claim 8, the actuator arm movably extending through the actuator port in the outer side wall, through apertures in opposite side walls of the retention bracket at opposite ends of the retention assembly spring guard, and through a third, smaller aperture in an upper portion of the retention plate.

22. A method according to claim 11, wherein, when the safety button is in the down position, the safety lock arm hook will prevent the actuator arm from moving toward the retention assembly and will thus prevent release of the gun.

15. A method of using a gun holster, comprising the steps of:

(a) moving a safety button into an on position, which moves a safety lock arm connected to the safety button into an up position, which moves a safety lock arm hook connected to the safety lock arm away from an actuator arm, the actuator arm being attached to an actuator, so that the actuator is depressible; and

(b) depressing the actuator, which causes the actuator arm to move toward a retention assembly at an end portion of the actuator arm, the retention assembly comprising a retention bracket adjacent to a retention plate, a retention wedge and retention pin projecting from a same side of the retention plate through holes in the retention bracket, the end of the actuator arm pushing the retention plate away from the retention bracket, thus disengaging the retention wedge and retention pin from the retention bracket, and therefore from a trigger and trigger guard of a handgun restrained in the holster, so that the handgun may be drawn from the holster.

16. A method according to claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

(c) releasing the actuator, causing tension in an actuator spring around the actuator arm to push the actuator arm back to an initial position, causing the actuator arm to pull the retention plate back to its previous position; and

(d) replacing the handgun in the holster, thus allowing the trigger guard to slide past the retention wedge, forcing the retention plate away from the retention bracket, disengaging the retention plate until the trigger guard has slipped past the retention wedge, allowing the retention plate to return by force of the actuator spring to a secure position, whereby the trigger guard is again positioned between the retention wedge and retention pin, thus restraining the handgun in the holster.

17. A method according to claim 16 wherein, in step (d), when the gun is secured in the holster, the gun barrel pushes a stabilizer spring cap down until it stops against a shoulder of a stabilizer pin, compressing a power spring, the stabilizer spring cap being supported on the power spring, the power spring substantially surrounding the stabilizer pin, the stabilizer pin extending in an upward direction from a bottom panel of the holster.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein, when the actuator is depressed, and the retention wedge and the retention pin are disengaged, the power spring is released and pushes the stabilizer spring cap upward, forcing the gun upward and out of the holster.

19. A method according to claim 15, wherein, when the retention wedge and the retention pin are engaged, the gun is locked down by the retention plate and a stabilizer pin extending upward from a bottom panel of the holster.

20. A method according to claim 15, wherein, when the safety button is in the down position, the safety lock arm hook will prevent the actuator arm from moving toward the retention assembly and will thus prevent the user from releasing release of the gun.

21. A method according to claim 15, wherein, in step (a), when the safety button is moved upward, a safety detent ball is pushed into a lower, on ball slide position socket, which creates an audible click.

23. A method according to claim 15, wherein, in step (a), when the safety button is moved downward, a safety detent ball is pushed into an upper, off ball slide position socket, which creates an audible click.