Holster

• US 9,759,515 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2015
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vista Outdoor Operations LLC (Vista Outdoor Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vista Outdoor Operations LLC (Vista Outdoor Inc.)
• Inventors: Yeates, Eric M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Newhouse, Nathan J
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCNURLEN, SCOTT THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US14/827,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20160069639A1
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 224192-193, 224198, 224238, 224243-244, 224911-912
• 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: F41C 33/0272 having means for facilitating or accelerating the drawing of the small arm from the holster
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/912 Handgun holder formed of metal or other rigid material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49863 with prestressing of part

Abstract

A holster for a handgun that comprises a holster body with a handgun cavity for receiving and retaining the handgun by way of a obstructing member at the ejection port and at the rear portion of the handgun slide. Moreover, a single obscured push button actuates both mechanisms. An internal retention sleeve having an inverted U-shape is slidingly mounted within the holster body and movable between a first securement position and a second release position. The sleeve having an integral thumb button depressible downwardly whereby the sleeve moves downwardly within the body to release a ejection port stop catch and the latch hood. The sleeve biased toward a normal retention position, the handgun withdrawal obstructing member biased toward the normal retention position, the latch hood biased toward a release position but having a normal latched obstructing position until released by the sleeve.

Claims

1. A holster for a handgun having an ejection port, the holster comprising:

a holster body defining a cavity for receiving and holding the handgun the holster having an axis extending in a handgun insertion and withdrawal direction;

an axially movable member having a thumb push button, the axially movable member being slidably engaged with the holster body within the cavity of the holster body, the axially movable member having a first securement position and a second release position axially displaced forwardly from the first securement position;

an ejection port catch member attached to the holster body that engages with the handgun at the ejection port of the handgun, the catch member having a normal obstructing position with respect to the handgun ejection port, the catch member deflectable to a non obstructing position, the catch member engageable with the axially movable member utilizing a wedge surface such that moving the axially movable member from the first securement position to the second release position moves the catch member to the non obstructing position;

a latch guard pivotally coupled to the holster body, the latch guard having a closed capture position and an open release position, the latch guard in engagement with the axially movable member when the axially movable member is in the first securement position and when the latch guard is in the capture position, whereby when the axially movable member is moved from the first securement position to the second release position, the latch guard is released and moves to the open release position;

wherein the axially movable member has a U-shape with two opposing side surfaces for receiving a portion of the handgun therebetween.

2. The holster as set forth in claim 1, wherein the axially movable member includes a window and the ejection port catch member fits through the window of the axially movable member.

3. The holster as set forth in claim 1, wherein the thumb push button disengages the latch guard from the axially movable member and simultaneously or sequentially disengages the catch member from the ejection port of the handgun.

4. The holster as set forth in claim 1, wherein a portion of the catch member is attached to the holster body by a catch wedge spring, the catch wedge spring configured as a leaf spring to bias the catch member into the ejection port of the handgun.

5. The holster as set forth in claim 4, wherein the catch wedge spring compresses when the catch member disengages from the ejection port of the handgun.

6. The holster as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a holster holding device that attaches to the holster through a mounting plate, the mounting plate fitting inside the cavity of the holster.

7. The holster as set forth in claim 1, wherein the axially movable member further comprises an extruding component that engages with a spring.

8. The holster as set forth in claim 7, wherein the spring compresses when the thumb push button is pushed in a downward direction.

9. The holster as set forth in claim 1, wherein the axially movable member contains at least one prong for engaging with the latch guard, the latch guard having at least one internal compartment for receiving the at least one prong, the at least one prong having a largest dimension extending in the handgun insertion and withdrawal direction.

10. A method for securing a handgun into a holster, the holster comprising a holster body defining a cavity having an axis extending in a handgun insertion and withdrawal direction, the method comprising:

placing an axially movable member into the holster such that the axially movable member lines up with at least a portion of the defined cavity, the axially movable member having a U-shape with two opposing side surfaces for sandwiching a portion of the handgun therebetween;

compressing a spring that is located between the axially movable member and a ledge formed within the defined cavity of the holster;

engaging a catch wedge located inside the defined cavity of the holster with an ejection port of the handgun; and

engaging a rear pivot guard with the axially movable member.

11. The method as set forth in claim 10, further comprising using a leaf spring to bias the catch wedge into the ejection port of the handgun and fitting the catch wedge through an aperture of the axially movable member.

12. The method as set forth in claim 10, further comprising engaging the rear pivot guard with the axially movable member by securely fitting at least one prong of the rear pivot guard into a slot of the axially movable member, the at least one prong having a largest dimension extending in the handgun insertion and withdrawal direction.

13. A holster for securing a handgun, the holster comprising:

a holster body defining a cavity for receiving and holding the handgun the holster having an axis extending in a handgun insertion and withdrawal direction;

an axially movable member coupled with a release lever, the axially movable member including a slot, the axially movable member having a U-shape with two opposing side surfaces for sandwiching a portion of the handgun therebetween;

a spring located between the axially movable member and the interior portion of the holster body;

a latch member that fits within the slot of the axially movable member and engages an ejection port of the handgun; and

a latch guard that engages with the axially movable member.

14. The holster as set forth in claim 13, wherein a forward force applied to the release lever actuates the latch member to disengage from the ejection port of the handgun and simultaneously actuates the latch guard to disengage from the axially movable member, the axially movable member being slidably engaged with the holster body within the cavity of the holster body, the axially movable member having a first securement position and a second release position axially displaced forwardly from the first securement position.

15. The holster as set forth in claim 13, wherein the axially movable member contains a pair of slots for receiving a pair of prongs that are attached to the latch guard, each slot having a largest dimension extending in the handgun insertion and withdrawal direction.

16. The holster as set forth in claim 13, wherein:

the latch member includes a catch that engages the ejection port of the handgun;

a portion of the catch is attached to the holster body by a catch spring; and

the catch spring is configured as a leaf spring to bias the catch into the ejection port of the handgun.

17. The holster as set forth in claim 13, wherein the latch guard is attached to the holster body by a pivot spring.

18. The holster as set forth in claim 13, wherein the latch guard is pivotably attached to the holster body, the latch guard covering a portion of the holster body when in a closed position.

19. The holster as set forth in claim 13, wherein the release lever decompresses the spring located between the axially movable member and the interior portion of the holster body.