Handgun locking device and holster

• US 7,694,860 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2005
• Issued: 04/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Safariland LLC
• Original Assignee: Safariland LLC
• Inventors: Clifton, Norman E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai; Tri M
• Application Number:
  US11/038,915
• Publication Number:
  US 20060157520A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,909 Days
• Field of Search: 224/911, 224/912, 224/243, 224/244, 224/245, 224/246
• US Class Current: 224/243
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/00 Safety arrangements, e.g. safeties
• 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 33/0245 Skeleton-holsters, e.g. contacting only a minimal part of the small arm, e.g. contacting the muzzle, ejection port, chamber, trigger guard or hammer
• 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

Handgun locking apparatus for securing a handgun in a holster includes a lever member including a body having a forward and rear end portion mounted to the holster and a spring element projecting forwardly and outwardly from the front end portion of the body for contacting an interior surface of a holster for biasing the body against a handgun. A locking flange on the forward end contacts a handgun to positively engage a portion of a handgun to inhibit withdrawal of a holstered handgun. An operating arm extends rearwardly from the rear end portion of the body for moving the body away to move the locking flange away from a handgun. A positioning member is affixed inside a holster for engaging a handgun inserted in a holster to position a portion of a handgun in contact with the locking flange. A tension device is mounted to the inside of the holster for positioning the gun properly with respect to the locking apparatus.

Claims

1. Handgun locking apparatus for securing a holsterable handgun in a holster having a rigidly molded body with front and rear portions and an interior cavity with a long axis extending from an open top to a bottom of said holster comprising a lever member having a forward portion and a rearward portion, means adjacent said rearward portion for movably mounting said lever member in said cavity of and to said holster, said lever member having a locking member within said cavity for positively engaging a portion of the handgun remote from said rearward portion of said lever and remote from a trigger guard of the handgun for locking the handgun in holstered position inside said holster to inhibit withdrawal of the handgun from said holster, said rearward portion of said lever member being movable by a user to pivot about a pivot axis located closely adjacent said rearward portion of said lever and perpendicularly with respect to said long axis of said holster and to move said locking member toward said front portion of said holster and away from the handgun for allowing the handgun to be withdrawn from said holster.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said lever member includes a forward spring member unattached to and for contacting said body of said holster for biasing said locking member of said lever member away from said front portion of said holster and towards the handgun to locate said locking member into positive engagement with the handgun in said holster.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said cavity has an interior surface spaced away from said forward portion of said lever member to allow for movement of said forward portion of said lever member away from the handgun a sufficient distance to allow for withdrawal of the handgun from said holster.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for movably mounting includes a pair of spaced posts affixed to said lever member for pivotally mounting said lever member to and inside said holster.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said rearward portion of said lever member includes an operating arm for operating said lever member to move said locking member away from the handgun for allowing withdrawal of the handgun carried in said holster.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said operating lever arm includes an upper portion extending upwardly and outside said interior cavity of said holster and having a thumb pad for engagement of said operating lever arm by a user for operating said lever member.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said lever member includes a passageway therethrough for a fastener for affixing said lever member to said holster.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said locking member having a shoulder and engagable against an edge of an ejection port of the handgun.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said locking member includes a locking flange for contacting the handgun remote from a trigger guard of the handgun to inhibit withdrawal of a holstered handgun, said rearward portion of said lever including an operating arm to move said locking flange away from the handgun when said operating arm is moved from a first position where said locking flange is in contact with a handgun to a second position unlocking the handgun, and a positioning member affixed inside said holster for engaging the handgun inserted in said holster to position a portion of the handgun in contact with said locking flange.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said positioning member includes a body, said body including a movable arm member having a handgun contacting surface and a camming surface, said body further including a holster engaging surface, a movable member carried by said body and in contact with said camming surface for moving said arm member to position said handgun contacting surface against the handgun for forcing the handgun into a first position, and means to rigidly mount said positioning member inside said holster.

11. Handgun locking apparatus for securing a holsterable handgun in a holster having an elongated rigid body with front and rear portions and an open top and a bottom and a long interior cavity comprising an elongate lever member having a longitudinal axis extending generally parallel to said elongated body and said long cavity and having a forward portion and a rearward portion, said forward portion of said lever member having an outer surface and an inner surface including at least one locking member within said cavity for positively engaging a portion of the handgun remote from a trigger guard of the handgun to lock the handgun in said holster to inhibit withdrawal of the handgun from said holster, means within said cavity adjacent said rearward portion for pivotally mounting said lever member in said cavity, said lever having a pivotal axis extending perpendicularly with respect to said longitudinal axis and the length of said long cavity, said rearward portion of said lever member being engagable outwardly of said cavity and movable by a user to pivot said locking member toward said front portion of said holster and away from the handgun for allowing the handgun to be withdrawn from said holster, and a separate member within said cavity of said holster for positioning the handgun into contact with said locking member.

12. The apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said lever member includes a forward spring member extending outwardly from said forward portion of said lever member for contacting said cavity in said body of said holster for forcing said forward portion of said lever member to a position to locate said locking member into contact with the handgun holstered in said holster.

13. The apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said means for pivotally mounting includes a pair of spaced posts affixed to said lever member for pivotally mounting said lever member to said holster.

14. The apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said rearward portion of said lever member includes an operating arm for pivoting said lever member to move said locking member away from the handgun for allowing withdrawal of the handgun carried in said holster.

15. The apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said rearward portion of said lever member includes a mounting pad for affixing said lever member to and within said cavity of said holster, said mounting pad having a passageway therethrough for a fastener for affixing said lever member to said holster.

16. The apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said at least one locking member having a shoulder to engage against an edge of an ejection port of the handgun.

17. The apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said separate member includes a body, said body having a movable arm member with a handgun contacting surface and a camming surface, said body further including a holster engaging surface, a movable member carried by said body and in contact with said camming surface for moving said arm member to position said handgun contacting surface against the handgun for forcing the handgun into fully seated position within said holster, and means to rigidly mount said separate member to and within said holster.

18. In the holster as defined in claim 17 wherein said body further includes a trigger guard contacting surface for limiting downward travel of the handgun in said holster.

19. In the holster as defined in claim 17 wherein said movable member includes a threaded screw threadedly mounted in said body, said threaded screw having a first end portion in contact with said camming surface and a second end portion adapted for rotation of said screw by a user for moving said handgun contacting surface toward and away from the handgun to position the handgun in said holster.

20. In a handgun holster for securing a holsterable handgun comprising a holster for carrying a handgun, said holster including a pair of side walls each having forward and rearward edge portions, said side walls joined along respective said forward and rear edge portions define an elongate interior cavity having a front and rear wall portion, an elongate lever member including a body having a forward and a rear portion, said elongate lever and elongate interior cavity having respective elongate axis extending generally parallel, a spring element projecting forwardly and outwardly from said forward portion of said body for contacting said front wall portion of said cavity for biasing said body against the handgun carried in said holster, means adjacent said rear portion of said body for movably mounting said body within said cavity and to said holster, said body including a locking flange within said cavity for positively engaging the handgun remote from said rear portion of said lever and from a trigger guard of the handgun in a first position to inhibit withdrawal of a handgun, an operating arm extending rearwardly from said rear portion of said body of said lever for moving said body to a second position toward said forward edge portions of said holster and away from the handgun and to move said locking flange away from the handgun when said operating arm is moved from said first position to said second position.

21. In the holster as defined in claim 20 wherein said body of said lever member is arcuate in shape having an outer surface positioned away from said forward wall portion of said cavity and an inner surface defining said locking flange.

22. In the holster as defined in claim 21 wherein said locking flange includes a projecting boss engagable with a portion of an ejection port of the handgun to inhibit withdrawal of the handgun from said holster.

23. In the holster as defined in claim 21 wherein said locking flange includes a projecting boss, said boss being positionable against a forward edge of an ejection port of the handgun to inhibit withdrawal of the handgun from said holster.

24. In the holster as defined in claim 20 wherein said body of said lever member includes at least one sloping surface for guiding movement of the handgun being inserted into said interior cavity of said holster.

25. In the holster as defined in claim 24 wherein said at least one sloping surface includes an extension arm extending forwardly of said forward portion of said body and a blocking member integral with said extension arm positionable closely adjacent a portion of the handgun for inhibiting withdrawal of the handgun from said holster.