Security and deployment assembly

• US 5,611,164 A
• Filed: 06/05/1995
• Issued: 03/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John N. Rassias
• Original Assignee: John N. Rassias
• Inventors: Rassias, John N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHELLIAH, MEENA A
• Application Number:
  US08/463,997
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 42/70.11, 42/44, 42/51, 42/66, 42/70.01, 244/912, 244/243, 244/255
• US Class Current: 42/70.11
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/44 Safety plugs, e.g. for plugging-up cartridge chambers , barrels, magazine spaces
• 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 33/0281 with means for assisting in cocking or loading the small arm
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 33/041 for connecting a holster to a belt, webbing or other object

Abstract

A locking assembly for a firearm, such as a semiautomatic or fully automatic pistol, includes a support member with an action locking arm and an action locking lug extending from a first end of the support member and a retainer arm extending from a second end of the support member. The action locking lug and arm are received in the firing chamber of a pistol, while the muzzle end of the pistol is rested on the retainer arm. A recoil spring in the pistol generates a pincer action between the action locking arm and the retainer arm to securely maintain the pistol in the locking assembly, preventing withdrawal with the normal upward movement. The action locking arm and lug positively prevent operation of the pistol trigger and prevent accidental chambering of an ammunition round. The pistol may be deployed with one downward thrust on the pistol grip, compressing the recoil spring and providing clearance for removal of the action locking arm and lug. Simultaneously, the pistol is cocked and a round is chambered so that upon removal from the locking assembly, the pistol is ready to fire. The locking assembly may be incorporated in a holster, or it may be more stationary, such as by mounting on the dashboard of a police squad car.

Claims

1. A locking assembly for a portable firearm having a barrel, a grip, a sliding element, a recoil spring and a muzzle, said sliding element defining a chamber, said locking assembly comprising:

a support member;

an action arm extending from a first end of said support member, said action arm carrying a lug, said lug receivable in the chamber of said firearm;

a muzzle retainer arm extending from a second end of said support member;

said action arm and lug and said muzzle retainer arm captively retaining the firearm between said chamber and said muzzle, said recoil spring exerting oppositely directed forces on said retainer arm and said action arm to secure the firearm when mounted in the locking assembly.

2. The locking assembly of claim 1 wherein said lug is shaped and dimensioned to be receivable in an end of said barrel adjacent said chamber.

3. The locking assembly of claim 2 wherein said lug is finger-shaped and its longitudinal dimension is in a plane perpendicular to said action arm and said muzzle retainer arm.

4. The locking assembly of claim 1 wherein said support member, said action arm and said muzzle retainer arm are attached to a holster.

5. The locking assembly of claim 1 wherein said muzzle retainer arm includes a barrel port for passage of said barrel therethrough, said muzzle retainer arm retaining said sliding element in a stationary position relative to said barrel, when a user depresses said grip in the direction of said muzzle retainer arm.

6. The locking assembly of claim 1 wherein said muzzle retainer arm is contoured to conform to said muzzle.

7. The locking assembly of claim 1 including a lock bar positioned on said locking assembly to engage said firearm and restrict movement of said firearm along the firearm'"'"'s longitudinal axis.

8. The locking assembly of claim 7 wherein said lock bar is positioned, when the firearm is mounted in said locking assembly, to engage a portion of the firearm adjacent said chamber and restrict movement of said firearm along the firearm'"'"'s longitudinal axis.

9. The locking assembly of claim 7 wherein said lock bar is removably secured to said support member by a customized securement device.

10. The locking assembly of claim 7 wherein said lock bar includes at least one protruding rib received in a corresponding slot on said support member to restrict relative movement of said lock bar and said support member.

11. The locking assembly of claim 7 wherein said lock bar is positioned on said muzzle retainer arm to restrict movement of said barrel in response to depression of said grip.

12. A locking assembly for use with a portable firearm, said firearm including a barrel, a grip, a sliding element, a recoil spring and a muzzle, said sliding element defining a chamber, said locking assembly comprising:

a longitudinal support member;

an action arm extending from a first end of said support member, said action arm carrying a lug, said action arm and lug receivable in the chamber of said firearm;

a retainer arm extending from a second end of said support member;

said lug receivable in said barrel and said muzzle engageable on said retainer arm, said retainer arm and action arm spaced from one another and said recoil spring exerting equal and oppositely directed forces on said retainer arm and said action arm to captively retain said firearm between said chamber and said muzzle to secure the firearm when mounted in the locking assembly.

13. A method for securing a portable firearm having a grip, a sliding element, a spring-loaded barrel and a muzzle, said firearm defining a chamber having an ejection port adjacent a barrel face, said method comprising:

(a) providing a locking assembly with a longitudinal support member, an action arm extending from a first end of said support member, and a retainer arm extending from a second end of said support member;

(b) placing said muzzle on said retainer arm;

(c) depressing said firearm grip in the direction of said retainer arm to move said barrel along the longitudinal axis of the firearm and place the ejection port in registry with said action arm;

(d) inserting said action arm through said ejection port into said chamber; and

(e) releasing said grip to allow spring action recoil of said barrel and to capture the firearm between the action arm at said chamber and the retainer arm at said muzzle, thereby securing the firearm in the locking assembly.

14. The method of claim 13 including the step of deploying the firearm from the locking assembly by:

(f) depressing the grip in the direction of said retainer arm to move the barrel along the firearm'"'"'s longitudinal axis, providing clearance for removal of the action arm from the chamber;

(g) tilting the firearm relative to the longitudinal axis of the locking assembly to remove the action arm from the chamber;

(h) further depressing said grip to fully open the chamber and ready the firearm for firing; and

(i) withdrawing the firearm from the locking assembly.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein said action arm is provided with a lug and said lug is received in the barrel face in step (e).

16. In combination, a pistol and a holster, comprising:

a pistol having a grip, a barrel, a muzzle and a sliding element, said pistol defining a chamber having an ejection port adjacent a barrel face, said sliding element and said barrel connected by a recoil spring and movable with respect to one another along the longitudinal axis of the pistol;

a holster having a body plate and a locking assembly, said locking assembly extending transversely across said body plate and comprising a support member with an action arm carrying a finger-shaped lug and extending from a first end of said support member and a retainer arm extending from a second end of said support member, said lug and said action arm located in the chamber of said pistol via said ejection port, said lug received in said barrel at said barrel face, said muzzle engaging said retainer arm, said recoil spring partially compressed to exert equal and opposite forces on said retainer arm and action arm;

whereby upon depression of said grip, said recoil spring is further compressed, said muzzle bears on said retainer arm and said barrel moves along the pistol'"'"'s longitudinal axis to provide clearance for removal of said action arm and said lug from said chamber, thereby permitting withdrawal of the pistol from the holster.

17. The combination set forth in claim 16 including a barrel port in said retainer arm for passage of said barrel therethrough upon depression of said pistol grip.

18. The combination set forth in claim 16 including a lock bar positioned on said holster to engage said pistol and restrict movement of said barrel along the pistol'"'"'s longitudinal axis, preventing removal of said action arm and said lug from said chamber and preventing withdrawal of the pistol from the holster.

19. The combination set forth in claim 16 including a ramp on said body plate to engage a trigger flap on said pistol when said grip is depressed, thereby aligning the trigger flap with a pistol trigger and placing the pistol in a safetyed condition.

20. The combination set forth in claim 18 wherein said lock bar is removably secured to said holster by a customized securement device.

21. A locking assembly for a portable firearm having a barrel, a grip, a sliding element and a muzzle, said sliding element defining a chamber, said locking assembly comprising:

a support member;

an action arm extending from a first end of said support member, said action arm carrying a lug, said lug receivable in the chamber of said firearm;

a muzzle retainer arm extending from a second end of said support member;

said action arm and lug and said muzzle retainer arm captively retaining the firearm between said chamber and said muzzle to secure the firearm when mounted in the locking assembly;

said support member, said action arm and said muzzle retainer arm being attached to a holster.

22. A locking assembly for a portable firearm having a barrel, a grip, a sliding element and a muzzle, said sliding element defining a chamber, said locking assembly comprising:

a support member;

an action arm extending from a first end of said support member, said action arm carrying a lug, said lug receivable in the chamber of said firearm;

a muzzle retainer arm extending from a second end of said support member;

said action arm and lug and said muzzle retainer arm captively retaining the firearm between said chamber and said muzzle to secure the firearm when mounted in the locking assembly;

said muzzle retainer arm including a barrel port for passage of said barrel therethrough, said muzzle retainer arm retaining said sliding element in a stationary position relative to said barrel, when a user depresses said grip in the direction of said muzzle retainer arm.