Automatic locking holster

• US 6,769,581 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2002
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Safariland LLC
• Original Assignee: Safariland LLC
• Inventors: Rogers, William H., Clifton, Norman E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cronin, Stephen K.
• Application Number:
  US10/058,564
• Publication Number:
  US 20020100780A1
• Time in Patent Office: 918 Days
• Field of Search: 224/193, 224/238, 224/243, 224/244, 224/911, 224/912
• 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: Y10S 224/911 Handgun holder formed of leather, fabric, or other flexible material

Abstract

A holster includes a quick release withdrawal restraint and is constructed of an inner and outer sidewall joined together along a front and back to define an inner cavity with an open top shaped to fit a handgun. The quick restraint includes a mechanical blocking element located in the inner cavity to engage a portion of the handgun adjacent the ejection port to inhibit withdrawal upwardly prior to rearward movement of the handgun. A second mechanical blocking element is also provided adjacent the rear of the trigger guard that is biased into a first position to prevent rearward movement of the gun and a second position that allows for rearward movement of a gun when the second blocking element is moved by pressure on a thumb or finger ledge. A third mechanical blocking element is provided to prevent motion of a handgun when holstered in a manner to cause movement of the second blocking element from the first position.

Claims

1. An automatic locking holster comprising a quick release withdrawal restraint, an inner and outer sidewall joined together along front and back portions, said sidewalls having interior surfaces defining an inner cavity having an open top shaped to fit a handgun holsterable therein, said restraint including first blocking means located in said inner cavity to engage a portion of a handgun in said holster to inhibit withdrawal of a handgun upwardly prior to rearward movement of a handgun, second blocking means mounted adjacent said rear portion movable between a first position that engages a portion of a handgun to inhibit rearward movement of a handgun and a second position that permits rearward movement of a handgun to withdraw same from said holster, and third blocking means located in said cavity adjacent a handgun holstered therein to prevent movement of a holsterable handgun to cause movement of said second blocking means from said first position.

2. The holster as defined in claim 1 wherein said third blocking means includes a blocking member located between one of said interior surfaces and a portion of a holsterable handgun.

3. The holster as defined in claim 1 wherein said third blocking means includes a blocking element positioned horizontally between one said interior surface of one said sidewall and a trigger guard of a handgun.

4. The holster as defined in claim 1 wherein said third blocking means includes biasing means located between one said interior surface and said second blocking means for maintaining said second blocking means in said first position until said second blocking means is selectively moved.

5. The holster as defined in claim 4 wherein said biasing means includes spring means to apply force to said second blocking means to bias said second blocking means in said first position.

6. The holster as defined in claim 5 wherein said second blocking means includes a body member, said spring means located between one of said interior surfaces of one of said sidewalls and said body member.

7. The holster as defined in claim 1 wherein said third blocking means includes a horizontally disposed post having opposite end portions located between one of said interior surfaces of one of said sidewalls and a portion of a holsterable handgun.

8. The holster as defined in claim 7 wherein said body member of said second blocking means is disposed between said one interior surface of said one sidewall and a handgun holsterable in said holster, said body member of said second blocking means having an opening extending therethrough to accommodate said post and to permit contact between one of said end portions of said post and a portion of a handgun holsterable in said holster.

9. The holster as defined in claim 1 wherein said third blocking means includes an elongate post having an elongate body member and a planar head portion, said head portion being adjacent one of said interior surfaces of one said sidewalls, said third blocking means further including a spring having opposite end portions and a hollow therein, said spring being located between said head portion and said second blocking means, said post being located inside said hollow of said spring for locating said post closely adjacent a portion of a holsterable handgun.

10. The holster as defined in claim 9 wherein one said end portion of said spring is engaged with said head portion of said post to bias said head portion against said one interior surface of said one sidewall.

15. The holster as defined in claim 10 wherein said first blocking means includes stop means, said stop means including an inwardly disposed boss having a front end portion and a rear end portion, said front end portion of said boss being shaped to engage an inner surface of an ejection port of a handgun to inhibit upward movement of a handgun, for restricting movement of a handgun in a substantially vertical plane only when said blocking means moves from said first to said second position.

11. An automatic locking holster comprising a quick release withdrawal restraint, an inner and outer sidewall joined together along front and back portions, said sidewalls having interior surfaces defining an inner cavity having an open top shaped to fit a handgun and its trigger guard holsterable therein, said restraint including first blocking means located in said inner cavity to engage a portion of a handgun in the holster to inhibit withdrawal of a handgun upwardly prior to rearward movement of a handgun, second blocking means mounted adjacent said rear portion movable between a first position that engages a portion of a handgun to inhibit rearward movement of a handgun and a second position that permits rearward movement of a handgun to withdraw same from said holster, said second blocking means including a body member having a portion generally parallel to one of said interior surfaces of said inner sidewall, said portion of said body member and one of said interior surfaces of said outer side wall forming a channel for receiving a trigger guard of a holsterable handgun, and third blocking means located in said cavity adjacent a trigger guard of a handgun holstered therein to prevent movement of such handgun to cause movement of said second blocking means from said first position.

12. The holster as defined in claim 11 wherein said third blocking means includes a blocking member located between one said interior surface and a portion of a holsterable handgun.

13. The holster as defined in claim 11 wherein said third blocking means includes biasing means located between one said interior surface and said second blocking means for maintaining said second blocking means in said first position until said second blocking means is selectively moved.

14. The holster as defined in claim 11 wherein said third blocking means includes a horizontally disposed post having opposite end portions located between one said interior surface of one of said sidewalls and a portion of a holsterable handgun.

16. The holster as defined in claim 11 further including 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 for preventing forward pivotal movement of said restraining strap until said strap is moved at said means for pivotal attachment in a predetermined direction.

17. The holster as defined in claim 16 further including selectively operable blocking means attached to said holster movable between a first position to prevent forward pivotal movement of said strap after said strap has first been moved in said downward direction and a second position to allow forward pivotal movement of said strap after said strap has been moved in said downward direction.

18. The holster as defined in claim 11 wherein said third blocking means includes an elongate post having an elongate body member and a planar head portion, said head portion being adjacent one of said interior surfaces of one said sidewalls, said third blocking means further including a spring having opposite end portions and a hollow therein, said spring being located between said head portion and said second blocking means, said post being located inside said hollow of said spring for locating said post closely adjacent a portion of a holsterable handgun.

19. The holster as defined in claim 18 wherein one said end portion of said spring is engaged with said head portion of said post to bias said head portion against said interior surface of said one sidewall.

20. An automatic locking holster comprising a quick release withdrawal restraint, an inner and outer sidewall joined together along front and back portions, said sidewalls having interior surfaces defining an inner cavity having an open top shaped to fit a handgun having a trigger guard holster therein, said restraint including first blocking means located in said inner cavity to engage a portion of a handgun in the holster to inhibit withdrawal of a handgun upwardly prior to rearward movement of a handgun, second blocking means including a body member mounted adjacent said rear portion movable between a first position that engages a portion of a handgun to inhibit rearward movement of a handgun and a second position that permits rearward movement of a handgun to withdraw same from said holster, said body member having a channel therein for locating a portion of a trigger guard of a handgun holsterable in said holster to prevent removal of a handgun holstered in said holster unless said body member is in said second position, and third blocking means located in said cavity adjacent a handgun holstered therein to prevent movement of a handgun in a manner to cause movement of said second blocking means from said first position.