Safety holster for preventing access to a firearm by unauthorized users

• US 20010019071A1
• Filed: 04/04/2001
• Published: 09/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Safety First Devices, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Safety First Devices, Inc.
• Inventors: Vor Keller, Albert W., Fletcher, David R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,588,635 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 224/244
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/066 having means for recognizing biometric parameters, e.g. voice control, finger print or palm print control
• 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 33/0263 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 33/029 combined with electronic devices, e.g. GPS
• 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

A safety holster for a firearm, including a pivotally mounted retaining member for engaging the trigger guard of the firearm and preventing withdrawal of the firearm from the holster by anyone other than an authorized user of the firearm. The holster includes a fingerprint sensor for scanning fingerprint information of a perspective user of the firearm, and a processor for comparing the scanned fingerprint information with stored fingerprint information of an authorized user and releasing the retaining member only if the scanned fingerprint information matches that of the authorized user.

Claims

1. A safety holster for a firearm, comprising:

a retaining member having a catch surface formed thereon, said retaining member being moveable between a first position wherein the firearm is not constrained by said catch surface and the firearm can be withdrawn from said holster and a second position wherein said catch surface engages and constrains a cooperating portion of the firearm to prevent withdrawal of the firearm from said holster;

a lock operatively coupled to said retaining member and adapted to secure said retainer in said second position; and

means for identifying an authorized user of the firearm and releasing said locking means to permit withdrawal of the firearm from said holster.

2. The safety holster of

claim 1

, wherein said retaining member is selected from the group consisting of notched disks, elongate disks, rotary or pivotal cams, spring-loaded cams, rotary or pivotal latches, L-shaped lever latches, spring-loaded cooperating cam sets, and slam or spring-biased latches.

3. The safety holster of

claim 1

, wherein said retaining member is pivotal between said first position and said second position, and wherein said retaining member has an engagement surface formed thereon and disposed facing said catch surface, said engagement surface and said catch surface defining a notch, said notch adapted to receive the cooperating portion of the firearm, wherein said engagement surface is disposed on the retaining member so that, when the firearm is inserted into the holster with the retaining member in the first position, the cooperating portion of the firearm contacts said engagement surface and pivots said retaining member to the second position.

4. The safety holster of

claim 3

, wherein said retaining member has at least two projections, wherein said engagement surface is formed on one of said projections and said catch surface is formed on another one of said projections.

5. The safety holster of

claim 1

, wherein said lock comprises a hole formed in said retaining member, a translationally-mounted pin, and drive means for advancing and retracting said pin into and out of engagement with the hole in said retaining member.

6. The safety holster of

claim 1

, wherein said lock comprises a lock notch formed in said retaining member, a pivotal lever having a head and an arm, wherein said lever is pivotal between a first locked position and a second unlocked position, wherein when said lever is in said first locked position and said retaining member is in said second position, said head is received in said lock notch to prevent said retainer member from pivoting to said first position, and a drive means operable to engage said arm and to pivot said lever to said second unlocked position.

7. The safety holster of

claim 1

, wherein said identifying means comprises a fingerprint sensor.

8. The safety holster of

claim 1

, wherein said retaining member is an eccentric disk that is weight-biased toward said first position when said holster is oriented in an upright position.

9. The safety holster of

claim 1

, further comprising means for disabling the firearm secured therein upon sensing tampering by an unauthorized user.

10. The safety holster of

claim 1

, further comprising a lift mechanism disposed within said holster that biases the firearm within the holster toward an opening in said holster.

11. A safety holster for a firearm, comprising:

a shell having an opening for receiving a portion of the firearm within said shell while leaving a portion of the firearm exposed external of said shell for access by a user;

a retaining member pivotally mounted to said shell, said retaining member having at least two projections with an engagement surface formed on one of said projections and a catch surface formed on another one of said projections, said engagement surface and said catch surface defining a notch, said notch adapted to receive a cooperating portion of the firearm, said retaining member being pivotal between a first position wherein the firearm is not constrained by said catch surface and the firearm can be withdrawn from said shell and a second position wherein said catch surface engages and constrains a cooperating portion of the firearm to prevent withdrawal of the firearm from said shell, and wherein said engagement surface is disposed on the retaining member so that, when the firearm is inserted into the shell with the retaining member in the first position, the cooperating portion of the firearm contacts said engagement surface and pivots said retaining member to the second position;

means for locking said retaining member in said second position; and

a fingerprint sensor operatively coupled to said locking means for identifying an authorized user of the firearm and releasing said locking means to permit withdrawal of the firearm from said holster.

12. The safety holster of

claim 11

, wherein said locking means comprises a hole formed in said retaining member, a translationally-mounted pin, and drive means for advancing and retracting said pin into and out of engagement with the hole in said retaining member.

13. The safety holster of

claim 11

, wherein said locking means comprises a lock notch formed in said retaining member, a pivotal lever having a head and an arm, wherein said lever is pivotal between a first locked position and a second unlocked position, wherein when said lever is in said first locked position and said retaining member is in said second position, said head is received in said lock notch to prevent said retainer member from pivoting to said first position, and a drive means operable to engage said arm and to pivot said lever to said second unlocked position.

14. The safety holster of

claim 11

, wherein said retaining member is an eccentric disk that is weight-biased toward said first position when said holster is oriented in an upright position.

15. The safety holster of

claim 11

, further comprising means for disabling the firearm secured therein upon sensing tampering by an unauthorized user.

16. The safety holster of

claim 11

, further comprising a lift mechanism disposed within said holster that biases the firearm within the holster toward an opening in said holster.

17. The safety holster of

claim 11

, further comprising an errant discharge absorption pad disposed on the holster adjacent the position of the muzzle of the firearm when inserted in the holster.

18. The safety holster of

claim 11

, further comprising a power source for energizing said drive means and said identifying means.

19. The safety holster of

claim 18

, wherein said power source has first contacts connected thereto, and further comprising a docking bay having a base with a recessed portion for receiving said shell, and second contacts that electrically engage said first contacts when said shell is received in said docking bay, for recharging said power source.

20. A method of preventing unauthorized use of a firearm, comprising:

introducing the firearm into a holster;

engaging a retaining member of said holster with a cooperating portion of the firearm, wherein said retaining member is in a first position;

locking said retaining member in said first position;

scanning a fingerprint of a prospective user of the firearm;

comparing said scanned fingerprint with fingerprint information of an authorized user of the firearm; and

unlocking said retainer member from the cooperating portion of the firearm only if said scanned fingerprint matches said fingerprint information of the authorized user, wherein said unlocked retaining member is free move to a second position permitting the firearm to be withdrawn from said holster.

21. The method of

claim 20

, wherein said step of engaging a retaining member of said holster with a cooperating portion of the firearm comprises receiving the cooperating portion of the firearm within a notch formed in said retaining member, engaging the cooperating portion with an engagement surface of said retaining member, and pivoting said retaining member from said first position to said second position in response to said engagement of the cooperating portion with said engagement surface.

22. The method of

claim 20

, wherein said step of locking said retaining member in said first position comprises engaging a catch surface of said retaining member with the cooperating portion of the firearm, and inserting a pin into a hole in said retaining member.

23. The method of

claim 22

, wherein said step of unlocking said retainer member from the cooperating portion of the firearm comprises retracting said pin from said hole in said retaining member.

24. The method of

claim 20

, wherein said step of locking said retaining member in said first position comprises engaging a catch surface of said retaining member with the cooperating portion of the firearm, and inserting a head of a pivotal lever into a lock notch in said retaining member.

25. The method of

claim 24

, wherein said step of unlocking said retainer member from the cooperating portion of the firearm comprises retracting said lever head from said lock notch in said retaining member.