Movable welt holster

• US 6,948,644 B1
• Filed: 08/08/2002
• Issued: 09/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Safariland LLC
• Original Assignee: Bianchi Intl (Safariland LLC)
• Inventors: Beletsky, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): NEWHOUSE, NATHAN JEFFREY
• Application Number:
  US10/215,857
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: 224/193, 224/198, 224243-245, 224/911
• US Class Current: 224/193
• 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 for carrying a handgun having a movable welt which reduces the likelihood that the handgun will be the subject of either an accidental or intentional dislodgment. The movable welt rotates about 10° to 15°, and as it rotates, the handgun is moved from a position where its hammer region is secured by a fixed strap and the weapon may not be removed to a position where the strap is no longer an issue and the weapon may be removed.

Claims

1. A movable welt holster for carrying a handgun comprising:

a body of material with an outer face, an inner face, and with edge regions to define a holster pocket with an opening for the entrance and exit of a handgun;

a welt between the said pair of edge regions of said body, said welt including a trigger guard retainer;

said welt being movable with respect to the edge regions of said body of material to enlarge the size of the holster pocket to facilitate placement and removal of a handgun in the holster pocket and returnable to its position between said pair of edge regions in handgun restraining position.

2. A movable welt holster as recited in claim 1 wherein said body of material includes a fixed strap which extends above and over a portion of the holster pocket opening to retain a handgun in said holster, said strap having a faux-snap fastener thereon to provide the illusion that said strap may be opened.

3. A movable welt handgun in accordance with claim 1 wherein said holster body includes an integral strap enclosing at least a portion of said holster pocket opening.

4. A movable welt holster in accordance with claim 3 wherein said strap is fixed to said holster body and defines a permanent restraint for a holstered handgun with said welt in place between said pair of edge regions.

5. A movable welt holster for carrying a handgun comprising:

a body of material with edge regions folded together to define a holster pocket with a front face and a rear face and defining an opening for the entrance and exit of a handgun;

a movable welt between the edge regions of said body, said welt and including a cam section and a muzzle retaining section carried in compressed engagement, wherein rotation of said welt may occur when the cam section and the muzzle-retaining section are in compressed engagement; and

spring means biasing said muzzle-retaining section and said cam section apart.

6. A movable welt holster as recited in claim 5 wherein said welt includes a trigger guard retainer.

7. A movable welt holster for carrying a handgun comprising:

a body of material with an outer face, an inner face, and with edge regions to define a holster pocket with an opening for the entrance and exit of a handgun;

a welt between the said pair of edge regions of said body;

said welt being of rigid material and movable with respect to the edge regions of said body of material to enlarge the size of the holster pocket to facilitate placement and removal of a handgun in the holster pocket and returnable to its position between said pair of edge regions to retain the handgun in the holster when said welt is in its aforementioned position.

8. A movable welt holster in accordance with claim 7 wherein said movable welt includes a trigger guard retainer.

9. A movable welt holster in accordance with claim 7 wherein said movable welt is pivoted about said holster body in the muzzle region of a holstered handgun.

10. A movable welt holster for carrying a handgun comprising:

a body of material with edge regions folded together to define a holster pocket with a front face and a rear face and defining an opening for the entrance and exit of a handgun;

a movable welt between the edge regions of said body;

said welt including a handgun muzzle retaining section; and

a pivot member secured to said handgun muzzle retaining section such that said welt is pivotably mounted on said pivot member.

11. A movable welt in accordance with claim 10 wherein said movable welt includes a trigger guard retainer.

12. A movable welt holder as recited in claim 10 wherein said welt comprises a means for selectively locking said welt so it is not movable.

13. A movable welt holster as recited in claim 10 wherein said body of material includes a strap which extends above and over a portion of the holster pocket opening.

14. A movable welt holster as recited in claim 13 comprising a faux snap on the strap of said body to provide the illusion that the strap may be opened.

15. A movable welt holster as recited in claim 10 wherein said movable welt includes a cam section and wherein rotation of said welt may occur when the cam section and the muzzle-retaining section of said welt are in compressed engagement.

16. A movable welt holster in accordance with claim 15 including spring means biasing said muzzle-retaining section and said cam section apart.

17. A movable welt holster as recited in claim 15 comprising a handgun trigger guard retainer attached to the cam section of said welt.

18. A movable welt holster as recited in claim 15 wherein a portion of the cam section and a portion of the muzzle section of said welt assembly includes a soft covering to avoid scratching the handgun.

19. A movable welt holster for carrying a handgun comprising:

a body of material with two opposite edge regions folded together to define a holster pocket with an opening for the entrance and exit of a handgun;

a welt assembly securing the edge regions of said body;

a strap attached to said body in which said strap extends above and over a portion of the holster pocket opening;

said welt assembly including a muzzle retention section and a trigger guard retention section where the muzzle retention section and the trigger guard retention section are in movable connection with respect to each other;

the muzzle retention section having a pivot about which the welt assembly may be rotated outwards relative to the opening;

the welt assembly including a cam track defining the degree of rotation of the welt; and

said body including pin means engaging said cam track, whereby said pin means and cam track limit the movement of said welt assembly.

20. A movable welt holder as recited in claim 19 wherein said welt assembly comprises a means for selectively locking said assembly so it is not movable.

21. A movable welt holster as recited in claim 19 comprising a handgun trigger guard retainer attached to the cam section of said welt assembly.

22. A movable welt assembly as recited in claim 19 comprising a faux snap on the strap of said body to provide the illusion that the strap may be opened.

23. A movable welt holster as recited in claim 19 wherein at least a portion of the cam section and a portion of the muzzle-retention section of said welt assembly include a soft covering to avoid scratching the handgun.

24. A movable welt holster as recited in claim 19 wherein said strap includes a thumb break.

25. A movable welt holster in accordance with claim 24 wherein said cam track has an inverted U-shape with two legs and an intermediate section.

26. A movable welt holster in accordance with claim 25 wherein one of said legs of the cam track defines a welt closed position and a second of said legs defines a welt open position.