U.S. patent application number 11/376474 was filed with the patent office on 2006-10-12 for holster for a handgun.
This patent application is currently assigned to FOBUS INTERNATIONAL LLTD.. Invention is credited to Chanan Har-Shen.
Application Number | 20060226185 11/376474 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37082245 |
Filed Date | 2006-10-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060226185 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Har-Shen; Chanan |
October 12, 2006 |
Holster for a handgun
Abstract
The invention provides an at least two-part modular rigid
plastic handgun clip-on holster, comprising a rigid plastic inner
holster component, having inner dimensions complimentary to the
configuration of the outer sections of a handgun to be placed
therein and an outer housing sized to receive and interchangeably
interlock with alternative inner holster components, the
alternative inner holster components having different inner
dimensions respectively complimentary to the configuration of the
outer sections of a predetermined handgun type to be placed
therein.
Inventors: |
Har-Shen; Chanan; (Kfar
Hess, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FULBRIGHT AND JAWORSKI LLP
555 S. FLOWER STREET, 41ST FLOOR
LOS ANGELES
CA
90071
US
|
Assignee: |
FOBUS INTERNATIONAL LLTD.
|
Family ID: |
37082245 |
Appl. No.: |
11/376474 |
Filed: |
March 14, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/244 ;
224/193 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41C 33/0263 20130101;
F41C 33/0209 20130101; F41C 33/0236 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/244 ;
224/193 |
International
Class: |
F41C 33/00 20060101
F41C033/00; F41C 33/02 20060101 F41C033/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 7, 2005 |
IL |
167,928 |
Dec 26, 2005 |
IL |
172,832 |
Claims
1. An at least two-part modular rigid plastic handgun clip-on
holster, comprising a rigid plastic inner holster component, having
inner dimensions complimentary to the configuration of the outer
sections of a handgun to be placed therein and an outer housing
sized to receive and interchangeably interlock with alternative
inner holster components, said alternative inner holster components
having different inner dimensions respectively complimentary to the
configuration of the outer sections of a predetermined handgun type
to be placed therein.
2. A modular rigid plastic handgun holster according to claim 1,
wherein said holster is a top-draw security holster for a handgun
having a trigger guard, wherein the modular security holster is
oriented for wearing by a user and wherein said inner holster
component has an open top, a back and at least partially-closed and
non-opening front, and two side walls delimiting the holster cavity
into which said handgun is to be placed, said inner component being
further provided with a latch mechanism having a latch actuator
upwardly protruding therefrom functionally connected to a latch
element having a boss protruding into said holster cavity, wherein
the relaxed state of said latch mechanism said boss extends into
the trigger guard cavity of a handgun inserted in said holster
preventing drawing said handgun therefrom and wherein upon
depression of said latch actuator by the thumb of the user said
boss is displaced away from said trigger guard thereby allowing the
drawing of said hand gun from said holster cavity in a
substantially straight upward motion through the open top of said
holster.
3. A modular rigid plastic handgun holster according to claim 2,
wherein said latch element comprises a pivotal hinged arm element
having an end distal from said boss and positioned to be displaced
towards said holster cavity thereby pivoting said boss away from
said holster cavity.
4. A modular rigid plastic handgun holster according to claim 3,
wherein said latch element is attached to a spring element which is
adapted to return said element to its relaxed state after
actuation.
5. A modular rigid plastic handgun holster according to claim 3,
wherein the distal end of said latch element is provided with a
first surface facing said holster cavity and a second surface
facing away from said holster cavity and said second surface is
provided with a beveled area providing said distal arm element with
an upwardly increasing cross section, said latch actuator being at
least functionally connected to a further pivotal arm element
positioned adjacent a lower end of said beveled surface and adapted
for upward displacement to effect the displacement of said distal
end of said latch element in the direction of said holster
cavity.
6. A modular, rigid, plastic handgun holster according to claim 2,
further comprising a safety retainer and release mechanism having a
first component sized and positioned to prevent the depression of
said latch actuator and a second component mechanically linked to
said first component and accessible to the hand of said user for
controlled displacement of said first component to a second
position enabling depression of said latch actuator.
7. A modular, rigid, plastic handgun holster according to claim 6,
wherein said safety retainer and release mechanism is rotatably
mounted on said holster side wall, said safety retainer and release
mechanism having a partially circumferential edge, said edge
further having indentations, wherein each of said indentations is
disposed on said edge so as to resiliently engage a detention pin
mounted on said holster side wall, wherein said first indentation
corresponds to a first position of said safety retainer and release
mechanism preventing said depression of said latch actuator, when
said second component is displaced to correspond to said first
position.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a handgun holster.
[0002] More particularly, the invention provides a rigid-plastic
two-part holster securing the handgun while allowing fast drawing
by the wearer.
[0003] Improvements to handgun holsters have been seen in many U.S.
patents, for example U.S. Pat. No. 1,635,984 to Corriston, who in
1927 aptly described the dilemma faced by designers of holsters to
this day. The two conflicting requirements are "to lock the
revolver in the holster and prevent its accidental loss" and yet
allow "the very quick withdrawal of the revolver from the holster."
She omits the need to prevent an opponent from snatching the
revolver, maybe an eventuality not thought of in her day.
[0004] The advantages of the rigid plastic handgun holster,
typically comprising of three injection molded castings joined
together, have been explained in my previous patent, U.S. Pat No.
6,398,089. These advantages of the rigid holster over the
conventional leather item include quicker draw and a more stable
handgun orientation. The former patent did not however refer to a
security device intended to prevent accidental loss of the weapon
or its seizure by a hostile person. Protection against such
eventualities is now known to be important to users, who will agree
to pay a little extra for a holster having some form of security
catch.
[0005] Prior art devices are disclosed in the following U.S.
patents.
[0006] Hamby, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,866,811 discloses a spring-release
sliding latch to be released by the user pushing a lever for a
partial revolution. The device if not kept clean and oiled is
likely to jam so as to prevent the spring releasing the latch.
[0007] Atkins describes a safety device relying on hook and loop
fastener tabs in the nylon fabric holster described in U.S. Pat.
No. 4,480,776. Before weapon withdrawal the user must separate the
tabs by running a thumb therebetween. In view of this, It is
doubted whether fast withdrawal is possible.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 4,750,655 to Barry discloses a holding strap
assembly on a gun holster offering three degrees of security at the
cost of extended draw times for the more secure modes. Use of the
device may well require user instructions. The strap assembly
employs hook and loop fastening pads.
[0009] Adjustability is also offered by the locking system proposed
by Young in U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,799. A rotary control allows for
setting to a fully locked position as well as various degrees of
force needed to remove the gun from its holster. The problem is
that gun owners can not know in advance when a sudden need for self
defense will arise; a securely locked weapon at such a time can be
fatal to the user.
[0010] A break-open front is a feature of the holster disclosed by
Grummet in U.S. Pat. No. 4,971,236. The holster is restrained by a
strap. A strap release device is provided as part of the holster.
Release of the handgun thus requires two consecutive actions.
[0011] A solenoid activated lock release is featured in U.S. Pat.
No. 5,449,103 to Tilley. The obvious problem is that mobile power
sources and switching devices become unreliable after an extended
time period, so that the weapon may be unavailable when needed.
[0012] Yet further variations of the trigger guard releasable catch
are seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,157 to Mauriello et al., U.S. Pat.
No. 5,810,221 to Beletsky et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,961,013 to
Collins and U.S. Pat. No. 6,752,300 to the present inventor.
[0013] In 1999 the present inventor introduced the rigid plastic
injection-molded holster seen first in Israel Specification No.
129,683 and later in U.S. Pat. No. 6,398,089, which documents
explain the various advantages of such construction.
[0014] After extended consultations with users of the holsters
manufactured according to my U.S. Pat. No. 6,752,300 patent, it
became evident that some users changed the handgun previously
carried and found that the new weapon acquired did not fit well (or
at all) into the existing holster, yet were reluctant to buy a
completely new holder for the new handgun.
[0015] Furthermore, although the snatching of a handgun from the
user of the U.S. Pat. No. 6,752,300 holster was difficult,
nevertheless there was a demand by police users to further make
access by an assailant to the gun release mechanism even more
difficult. This, without degrading the fast draw action.
[0016] It is therefore one of the objects of the present invention
to meet these apparently contradicting demands and to provide a
two-part holster wherein the inner cavity of the inner component is
fitted to the shape of the handgun to be held therein, while the
outer profile of the inner holder is a standard shape to fit the
standard outer component, thus allowing the manufacturer to produce
a single standard outer compartment for use with inner holders
designed for different guns.
[0017] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
gun release mechanism which is practically inoperable by anyone
other than the wearer of the holster.
[0018] Yet a further object of the present invention is to achieve
these objects using hard plastic construction to lower
manufacturing costs and to allow faster use of the handgun by the
legal user thereof while providing one or more safety features to
prevent the unauthorized withdrawal of said gun from its
holster.
[0019] Most important is the object of enabling the user to release
the trigger guard securing the weapon in the same natural hand
movement which is executed by the user to grip and extract the
weapon from the holster.
[0020] The present invention achieves the above objects by
providing an at least two-part modular rigid plastic handgun
clip-on holster, comprising a rigid plastic inner holster
component, having inner dimensions complimentary to the
configuration of the outer sections of a handgun to be placed
therein and an outer housing sized to receive and interchangeably
interlock with alternative inner holster components, said
alternative inner holster components having different inner
dimensions respectively complimentary to the configuration of the
outer sections of a predetermined handgun type to be placed
therein.
[0021] In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention
there is provided a modular rigid plastic handgun holster wherein
said holster is a top-draw security holster for a handgun having a
trigger guard, wherein the modular security holster is oriented for
wearing by a user and wherein said inner holster component has an
open top, a back and at least partially-closed and non-opening
front, and two side walls delimiting the holster cavity into which
said handgun is to be placed, said inner component being further
provided with a latch mechanism having a latch actuator upwardly
protruding therefrom functionally connected to a latch element
having a boss protruding into said holster cavity, wherein the
relaxed state of said latch mechanism said boss extends into the
trigger guard cavity of a handgun inserted in said holster
preventing drawing said handgun therefrom and wherein upon
depression of said latch actuator by the thumb of the user said
boss is displaced away from said trigger guard thereby allowing the
drawing of said hand gun from said holster cavity in a
substantially straight upward motion through the open top of said
holster.
[0022] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention
there is provided a modular rigid plastic handgun holster wherein
said latch element is attached to a spring element which is adapted
to return said element to its relaxed state after actuation.
[0023] In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention
there is provided a modular rigid plastic handgun holster wherein
said latch element comprises a pivotal hinged arm element having an
end distal from said boss and positioned to be displaced towards
said holster cavity thereby pivoting said boss away from said
holster cavity.
[0024] Preferably there is provided a modular rigid-plastic handgun
holster, wherein the distal end of said latch element is provided
with a first surface facing said holster cavity and a second
surface facing away from said holster cavity and said second
surface is provided with a beveled area providing said distal arm
element with an upwardly increasing cross section, said latch
actuator being at least functionally connected to a further pivotal
arm element positioned adjacent a lower end of said beveled surface
and adapted for upward displacement to effect the displacement of
said distal end of said latch element in the direction of said
holster cavity.
[0025] In a most preferred embodiment of the present invention
there is provided a modular, rigid, plastic handgun holster,
further comprising a safety retainer and release mechanism having a
first component sized and positioned to prevent the depression of
said latch actuator and a second component mechanically linked to
said first component and accessible to the hand of said user for
controlled displacement of said first component to a second
position enabling depression of said latch actuator.
[0026] It should be noted that the present specification is not
concerned with, and does not discuss a third component which is
however a part of all holsters, that is a member which connects the
holster to the belt of the user. This component is described in my
U.S. Pat. No. 6,752,300 and has been found in practice to well
serve its purpose.
[0027] It will thus be realized that the novel holster of the
present invention serves to allow a fast draw despite the provision
of the security latch provided therein, as a result of the
combination of the rigid plastic case and the release lever which
is activated by the thumb as the hand of the user descends to grip
the weapon.
[0028] The release lever for the gun trigger guard is positioned
between the gun and close to the body of the user. The release
lever is positioned to be covered by the gun and can normally not
even be seen by an assailant. An assailant attempting to grab the
gun would thus need to use two hands--one hand to operate the
release lever and the other to extract the gun from its holster. In
the unlikely situation of any such attempt, while both hands of the
assailant are occupied the gun owner has an excellent opportunity
for self-defense.
[0029] As will be realized, the modular rigid-plastic handgun
holster of the present invention is also advantageous for the
manufacturer who can prepare a mold for the outer housing which can
then be used with different inner housing components for different
types and models of handguns.
[0030] The invention will now be described in connection with
certain preferred embodiments with reference to the following
illustrative figures so that it may be more fully understood.
[0031] With specific reference now to the figures in detail, it is
stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for
purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of
the present invention only and are presented in the cause of
providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily
understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of
the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show
structural details of the invention in more detail than is
necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the
description taken with the drawings making apparent to those
skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be
embodied in practice.
[0032] In the drawings:
[0033] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of
the two-part holster according to the invention;
[0034] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the same holster, showing
the two parts separately;
[0035] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an inner component showing a
boss projecting into the cavity at a position arranged to secure
the trigger guard of a handgun;
[0036] FIG. 4 is the same as FIG. 3, except that the actuator has
been pressed downwards resulting in the withdrawal of the boss;
[0037] FIG. 5 is a detail view of a mechanism for latch
withdrawal;
[0038] FIG. 6 is the same as FIG. 5 except that a return spring is
added to the latch mechanism;
[0039] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a most preferred embodiment
of the latch release mechanism;
[0040] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a handgun being held in the
inner component of the holster;
[0041] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a handgun being held in the
inner component of the holster, wherein the safety retainer and
release mechanism is in a locked configuration, thereby preventing
the latch actuator from releasing the gun from the holster;
[0042] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a handgun being held in the
inner component of the holster, wherein the safety retainer and
release mechanism is in an unlocked configuration, thereby allowing
the latch actuator to release the gun from the holster;
[0043] FIG. 11 is a detail view of the safety retainer and release
mechanism in the locked configuration; and
[0044] FIG. 12 is a detail view of the safety retainer and release
mechanism in the unlocked configuration.
[0045] There is seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 a two-part modular rigid
plastic handgun clip-on holster 10. In FIG. 1 the two components
are assembled to each other ready for use, while in FIG. 2 the two
components are seen before assembly.
[0046] The holster 10 comprises a rigid plastic inner holster
component 12, having inner dimensions complimentary to the
configuration of the outer sections of a handgun 14, seen in FIG.
8, to be placed therein. An outer housing 16 is sized to receive
and interchangeably interlock with alternative inner holster
components 12.
[0047] In the shown embodiment, interlocking of the two components
12, 16 is achieved by providing the inner component 12 with an
outwardly urged catch member 18 which snaps into one of the
corresponding recesses 20 seen in the outer housing 16.
[0048] Alternative inner holsters 12 have different inner
dimensions respectively complementary to the configuration of the
outer sections of a predetermined handgun 14 (FIG. 8) to be placed
therein. Part of the gun release latch actuator 22 is seen on the
side of the holster facing the user.
[0049] With regard to the rest of the figures, similar reference
numerals have been used to identify similar parts.
[0050] Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is seen an inner
holster component 24 of a modular rigid plastic handgun holster 10
seen in FIG. 1 wherein the holster is a top-draw security holster
for a handgun 14 (FIG. 8) having a trigger guard.
[0051] The inner holster component 24 has an open top 26, a back 28
and a partially-closed and non-opening front 30. Two side walls 32,
34 delimit the holster cavity 36 into which the handgun 14 (FIG. 8)
is to be placed. The inner component 24 is further provided with a
latch mechanism 38 (seen in FIG. 7) having a latch actuator 22
upwardly protruding therefrom as seen in FIG. 3. The mechanism 38
is functionally connected to a latch element having a boss 40
protruding into the holster cavity 36. In the relaxed state of the
latch mechanism 38 the boss 40 extends into the trigger guard
cavity of a handgun 14 inserted in the inner component 24,
preventing loss or removal of the handgun 14 therefrom.
[0052] Depression of the latch actuator 22 by the thumb of the user
causes the boss 40 to be displaced away from the trigger guard as
seen in FIG. 4, thereby allowing the drawing of the handgun 14 from
the holster cavity 36 in a straight upward motion through the open
top 26 of the holster.
[0053] FIG. 5 shows a detail of a modular rigid plastic handgun
holster 42. The latch element 44 is supported by a second crank 46
which in turn is driven by a first crank 48. The first crank 48 is
revolvably supported on a horizontal-axis pivot 50. The latch 44 is
released by clockwise rotation of the second crank 46 and is
relocked by anti-clockwise rotation thereof. The first crank 48 has
a horizontal axis AA disposed at 90.degree. to the second crank
pivot 52. The second crank 46 is revolvably driven by the first
crank 48 by means of an arm 54 when the latch actuator 22 is pushed
downwards by the thumb of the user.
[0054] FIG. 6 is almost identical to FIG. 5, the difference being
the addition of a spring element which is adapted to return the
latch element 44 to its relaxed state after actuation. The figure
shows a compression spring 56 being supported between a housing 58
and a face 60 of the second crank 62. The same effect could of
course be achieved by use of a leaf spring, a tension spring or a
flexible foam component.
[0055] Seen in FIG. 7 is an inner holster component 64 carrying a
most preferred mechanism 38 for converting the downward movement of
the latch actuator 22 into a withdrawal of the latch element 44
(seen in FIG. 6) from the holster cavity 36 holding the handgun 14
(FIG. 8). The distal end of the latch element 44 is provided with a
first surface 64 (seen in FIG. 5) facing the holster cavity 36 and
a second surface 66 facing away from the holster cavity 36. The
second surface 66 is provided with a beveled surface 68 providing
the distal arm element 70 with an upwardly increasing cross section
72. The latch actuator 74 is connected to a further pivotal arm
element 76 positioned adjacent a lower end of the beveled surface
68, and is adapted for upward displacement. The latch element is
pivoted at 78. Thus upward movement of the pivotal arm element 76
effects the displacement of the distal end of the latch element 44
(FIG. 6) in the direction of the holster cavity 36 to release the
handgun 14 (FIG. 8) from the inner holster 64.
[0056] Referring now to FIG. 8, there is depicted a rigid plastic
inner holster component 12, seen holding a handgun 14. The handgun
substantially covers the gun release latch actuator 22, which is
disposed on the side of the holster facing the user. The actuator
is hardly visible to a possible assailant, and certainly
inaccessible, while the rightful owner of the weapon can press down
the actuator 22 while lowering a hand to draw the weapon.
[0057] According to the most preferred embodiment of the present
invention, which is illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, the handgun
holster 10 is provided with a mechanism 80 for locking or releasing
the latch actuator 22. The mechanism 80, shown in detail in FIGS.
11 and 12, has a knob 84 allowing the user of the handgun to rotate
the mechanism 80 around a swivel 82. The mechanism 80 also has a
stub 86, that, when rotated by the user of the handgun toggling the
knob 84, can be brought into a position wherein the stub 86 serves
to block the pivotal arm element 76 from acting on the latch
element 44 whereby the boss 40 remains within the trigger guard
cavity of the handgun and does not allow the handgun to be
withdrawn from the holster.
[0058] Alternatively, the stub 86 serves to block the latch element
44 from displacing wherein the boss 40 remains in the trigger guard
cavity of the handgun and does not allow the handgun to be
withdrawn from the holster.
[0059] Conversely, when the user of the handgun toggles the knob 84
and causes the mechanism 80 to rotate into position wherein the
stub 86 clears the pivotal arm element 76, or, alternatively, the
latch element 44, thereby allowing the extraction of the handgun by
the handgun user.
[0060] For precise positioning of the mechanism 80 into either the
safety position or into the release position, the outer, partially
circumferential edge of the mechanism 80 is provided with two
indentations 90 and 92, disposed thereon to correspond to either
the safety, (locked gun) position, or to the gun release position,
and a detent pin 88. The material used in manufacture of the
mechanism 80 and the detent pin 88 is chosen to be rugged yet
sufficiently resilient so as to allow the indentation 90 or 92 to
be switched relatively to the detent pin 88 and to firmly engage
the pin 88 while the pin is seated in either of the
indentations.
[0061] The holster side wall is also provided with a stop 94
designed and disposed so as to prevent the mechanism 80 from
rotating past the positions used to engage detent pin 88 within
indentations 90 or 92.
[0062] The materials and operationally connected surfaces of
mechanism 80, the latch element 44 and the pivotal arm element 76
are designed and configured for the stub 86 to firmly crimp either
the latch element 44 or the pivotal arm element 76 whenever there
are continuous attempts to press the latch actuator 22 without
first toggling the knob 84 to the release position thereof.
[0063] It will be evident to those skilled in the art that the
invention is not limited to the details of the foregoing
illustrative embodiments and that the present invention may be
embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit
or essential attributes thereof. The present embodiments are
therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not
restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the
appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all
changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of
the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
* * * * *