Holster with hood assembly

• US 8,517,235 B1
• Filed: 04/13/2012
• Issued: 08/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2004
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vista Outdoor Operations LLC (Vista Outdoor Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Incorporated (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Kincaid, Robert A., Gregory, Thomas M., Yeates, Eric M., Cook, Clifton L., Buis, Charles E. III
• Primary Examiner(s): LARSON, JUSTIN MATTHEW
• Application Number:
  US13/446,273
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 224/192, 224/193, 224/196, 224/198, 224/238, 224/243, 224/912
• US Class Current: 224/243
• 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 33/0227 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 33/0254 with accommodation for auxiliary devices mounted on the small arm, e.g. telescopic sights, flashlights or laser-devices
• 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

Abstract

A holster having a body defining a cavity for receiving at least a portion of a weapon, the body comprising a pair of opposed side walls; a hood assembly pivotably connected to the body, wherein the hood assembly is pivotable between an open position and a closed position; a lock mechanism for maintaining the hood assembly in the closed position; a finger/thumb release associated with the lock mechanism for releasing the hood assembly from the closed position; and at least one pivot arm that extends from the hood assembly to a pivot plate, wherein the pivot plate automatically pivots the hood assembly to the closed position such that to the lock mechanism is automatically engaged as a forward face of a trigger guard of an inserted weapon urges the pivot plate.

Claims

1. A holster, comprising:

a body defining a cavity for receiving at least a portion of a weapon, said body comprising a pair of opposed side walls;

a hood assembly pivotably connected to said body, wherein said hood assembly is pivotable between an open position and a closed position;

a lock mechanism for maintaining said hood assembly in said closed position;

a finger/thumb release associated with said lock mechanism for releasing said hood assembly from said closed position; and

at least one pivot arm that extends from said hood assembly to a pivot plate, wherein said pivot plate automatically pivots said hood assembly to said closed position such that said lock mechanism is automatically engaged as a forward face of a trigger guard of an inserted weapon urges said pivot plate.

2. The holster of claim 1, wherein said hood assembly is biased to said open position when a weapon is absent from said body.

3. The holster of claim 1, wherein said hood assembly is biased to said open position by a spring.

4. The holster of claim 1, wherein said lock mechanism is precluded from engaging when a weapon is absent from said body.

5. The holster of claim 1, wherein a portion of said body comprises a removable, replaceable, interchangeable cup for accommodating an accessory for a received weapon.

6. The holster of claim 1, wherein said pivot arm extends, along said interior of one of said opposed side walls, from said hood assembly to said pivot plate.

7. The holster of claim 1, wherein said pivot arm extends, along an interior portion of one of said opposed side walls, from said hood assembly to said pivot plate.

8. The holster of claim 1, wherein said hood assembly is pivotably attached at a point on said pivot arm adjacent to said pivot plate to a point on said body adjacent to said lower portion of said body.

9. The holster of claim 1, wherein a pair of elongated pivot arms extend from said hood assembly to said pivot plate.

10. The holster of claim 1, wherein said pivot plate automatically pivots said hood assembly to said closed position such that said lock mechanism is automatically engaged if a forward face of a trigger guard of an inserted weapon engages and urges said pivot plate a determined distance.

11. The holster of claim 1, wherein said finger/thumb release comprises a thumb release.

12. The holster of claim 1, wherein said finger/thumb release comprises a finger release.

13. The holster of claim 1, wherein said lock mechanism is biased to an engaged position when said weapon is held in said body cavity.

14. A holster, comprising:

a body defining a cavity for receiving at least a portion of a weapon, said body comprising a pair of opposed side walls;

a hood assembly pivotably connected to said body, said hood assembly comprising a retaining hood and at least one elongated pivot arm that extends from said retaining hood to a pivot plate, wherein said hood assembly is pivotable between a closed position and an open position, wherein said hood assembly is biased to said open position when a weapon is absent from said body, and wherein said hood assembly automatically pivots to said closed position as a weapon is inserted into said body cavity;

a lock mechanism that maintains said hood assembly in said closed position when at least a portion of a weapon is received in said body cavity, wherein said lock mechanism is biased to an engaged position when at least a portion of a weapon is received in said body cavity; and

a finger/thumb release associated with said lock mechanism for releasing said hood assembly from said closed position for removal of said weapon.

15. The holster of claim 14, wherein said hood assembly is biased to said open position by a spring.

16. The holster of claim 14, wherein said lock mechanism is precluded from engaging when a weapon is absent from said body.

17. The holster of claim 14, wherein a portion of said body comprises a removable, replaceable, interchangeable cup for accommodating an accessory for a received weapon.

18. The holster of claim 14, wherein said hood assembly comprises a pair of elongated pivot arms.

19. A holster, comprising:

a body defining a cavity for receiving at least a portion of a weapon, said body comprising a pair of opposed side walls;

a hood assembly pivotably connected to said body, wherein said hood assembly is pivotable between a closed position for securing said weapon within said body cavity and an open position for insertion or removal of said weapon;

a lock mechanism for maintaining said hood assembly in said closed position when a weapon is held in said body cavity;

a finger/thumb release associated with said lock mechanism for releasing said hood assembly to pivot to said open position; and

at least one pivot arm that extends from said hood assembly to a pivot plate for automatically pivoting said hood assembly to said closed position and automatically engaging said lock mechanism as at least a portion of said weapon is inserted into said body cavity, wherein said pivot plate is positioned to engage a front face of said weapon'"'"'s trigger guard as said weapon is inserted into said body cavity.