U.S. patent application number 12/093635 was filed with the patent office on 2009-09-10 for holster for a handgun, for example, a pistol or a revolver.
This patent application is currently assigned to GK Professional. Invention is credited to Georges Kumuchian.
Application Number | 20090224014 12/093635 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36693072 |
Filed Date | 2009-09-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090224014 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kumuchian; Georges |
September 10, 2009 |
HOLSTER FOR A HANDGUN, FOR EXAMPLE, A PISTOL OR A REVOLVER
Abstract
The invention relates to a holster (10) for a handgun (1),
comprising a pocket (11) for holding the weapon (1) and comprising
an opening (12) for inserting the weapon (1) and means for blocking
the weapon in said pocket (11). The blocking means comprise a
supporting element (20) having a seat for receiving the trigger
guard (1b) of the weapon (1), provided with a locking element (30)
that can be transversally displaced relative to the axis of the
weapon (1) from one (11a) of the outer sides of the pocket (11)
between a protruding active position in the seat for immobilizing
the trigger guard (1b) and a retracted position freeing said
trigger guard (1b) of the weapon (1).
Inventors: |
Kumuchian; Georges;
(Bagnolet, FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CONNOLLY BOVE LODGE & HUTZ LLP
1875 EYE STREET, N.W., SUITE 1100
WASHINGTON
DC
20006
US
|
Assignee: |
GK Professional
Paris
FR
|
Family ID: |
36693072 |
Appl. No.: |
12/093635 |
Filed: |
November 13, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
November 13, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/FR06/02416 |
371 Date: |
September 24, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/244 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41C 33/0263
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/244 |
International
Class: |
F41C 33/02 20060101
F41C033/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 15, 2005 |
FR |
05 11562 |
Claims
1. Holster (10) for a hand weapon (1), such as, for example, a
pistol or a revolver, of the type comprising a pocket (11) which is
intended for accommodating the weapon (1) and comprising: at the
upper portion thereof, an opening (12) for inserting the weapon
(1), at least at one (11b) of the sides thereof, means (2) for
fixing to a receiving member carried by a user, and means (20; 30)
for blocking the weapon (1) in the pocket (11), wherein the means
for blocking the weapon (1) comprise a support element (20) which
comprises a housing (23) for receiving the trigger guard (1b) of
the weapon (1), provided with a locking member (30) which can be
moved transversely relative to the axis of the weapon (1) from one
(11a) of the outer sides of the pocket (11) between an active
position in which it protrudes into the housing (23) in order to
immobilise the trigger guard (1b) and a retracted position which
releases the trigger guard (1b).
2. Holster according to claim 1, wherein the pocket (11) comprises,
at the upper portion thereof, a tongue (15) which can be moved
between a first position located above the pocket (11) in order to
block the weapon (1) and a second position tilted towards the front
of this pocket (11).
3. Holster according to claim 2, characterised in that wherein the
tongue (15) comprises a first end (15a) which is pivotably mounted
on one side (11a) of the pocket (11) and a second end (15b) which
is provided with a member for snap-fitting to a lug (18) fixed to
the other side (11b) of the pocket (11).
4. Holster according to claim 2, wherein the tongue (15) is
associated with a resilient element (17) for returning the tongue
(15) to the second position.
5. Holster according to claim 1 wherein the support element (20) is
formed by a member (21) for fixing the pocket (11) and is provided,
at the upper portion thereof, with vertical and parallel lugs (22a,
22b) which together provide the housing (23), the lugs (22a, 22b)
each comprising an opening (24a, 24b) for guiding the locking
member (30).
6. Holster according to claim 1, wherein the locking member (30) is
formed by a U-shaped component which comprises a central branch
(31) which is arranged between the two lugs (22a, 22b) of the
support element (20) and two parallel, vertical and lateral
branches (32a, 32b), each lateral branch (32a, 32b) being placed in
an opening (24a, 24b) of the lugs (22a, 22b).
7. Holster according to claim 6, wherein the outer lateral branch
(32a) extends over the corresponding side (11a) of the pocket (11)
and is accessible from the outer side of this pocket (11) and the
inner lateral branch (32b) comprises, on the face thereof opposite
the outer lateral branch (32a), a stud (34) which is intended to
co-operate with the trigger guard (1b) of the weapon (1) in the
active position in which it protrudes into the housing (23).
8. Holster according to claim 7, wherein the locking member (30) is
returned to an active position by means of a resilient member (35),
such as, for example, a compression spring.
9. Holster according to claim 1, wherein it comprises means (50,
55) for blocking the transverse movement of the locking member (30)
after a vertical movement of the locking member.
10. Holster according to claim 9, wherein the means for blocking
the transverse movement of the locking member (30) are formed by a
cut-out (50) which is provided at the upper end of the outer
lateral branch (32b) and by a recess (55) which is provided at the
upper portion of the opening (24b) of the lug (22b) for guiding the
lateral branch (32b).
11. Holster according to claim 1, wherein the side (11a) of the
pocket (11) which is provided with the outer lateral branch (32a)
of the locking member (30) comprises a cover (40) which can be
moved by means of sliding between a position for covering this
lateral branch (32a) and a retracted position which allows access
to this lateral branch (32a).
12. Holster according to claim 1, wherein the support element (20)
and the locking member (30) are ambidextrous components.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a belt, thigh or shoulder
holster for a hand weapon, such as, for example, a pistol or a
revolver.
[0002] Holsters for hand weapons, and in particular belt holsters
must comply with several requirements which are most often
contradictory.
[0003] First of all, this type of holster must allow ease of use,
that is to say, it must allow the weapon to be rapidly withdrawn
from the holster and must have all safeguards, that is to say, must
not allow the weapon to be withdrawn unintentionally, either by its
own weight or by a third party who is seeking to take the weapon
from the person carrying it.
[0004] Holsters are generally formed by a pocket which is intended
for accommodating the weapon and which comprises, at the upper
portion thereof, an opening for inserting the weapon. This pocket
is provided, at least at one of the sides thereof, with means for
fixing to a receiving member carried by the user. In the case of a
belt holster, these fixing means are constituted by a loop which
supports this pocket and, in the case of a shoulder holster, by a
harness which is connected to the pocket.
[0005] In the case of tactical carrying, the pocket is supported by
a fixing system which is constituted by a plate and/or a strap.
[0006] The butt of the weapon is arranged outside the pocket and
the weapon is retained by a security lug, one end of which is
fixedly joined to the pocket and the other end of which is fixed to
the pocket by means of a fastening member, such as, for example, a
pressing member or a snap-fitting member.
[0007] This type of holster has disadvantages relating mainly to
the fact that the security lug can open in an untimely manner when
the carrier moves and this lug can also be opened under the action
of a third party, which allows this person to remove the weapon
from the holster.
[0008] Furthermore, this security lug inhibits the weapon from
being replaced in the holster after it has intentionally been
withdrawn.
[0009] Holsters are also known which comprise a pocket which is
intended for accommodating the weapon and which is provided, at the
upper portion thereof, with an opening for inserting the weapon
and, at the rear portion thereof, with a balancing member for
supporting this weapon which can be successively moved vertically
between an upper position and a lower position and, by means of
pivoting, between a position retracted inside the pocket in which
the weapon is blocked in an upper position against a fixed clamp
which is fixedly joined to this pocket and a deployed position
outside the pocket in which the weapon is released from the
clamp.
[0010] This type of holster is complex to implement and use and
even if it prevents a third party from removing the weapon from the
pocket, it does not have all the indispensable safeguards and in
particular does not allow the weapon to be readily reinserted since
the balancing member may return to a retracted position with a
simple pushing action before the weapon is reinserted.
[0011] The object of the invention is to provide a holster for a
hand weapon which is simple to implement and use and which has all
the necessary safeguards.
[0012] The invention therefore relates to a holster for a hand
weapon, such as, for example, a pistol or a revolver, of the type
comprising a pocket which is intended for accommodating the weapon
and comprising: [0013] at the upper portion thereof, an opening for
inserting the weapon, [0014] at least at one of the sides thereof,
means for fixing to a receiving member carried by a user, and
[0015] means for blocking the weapon in the pocket, characterised
in that the means for blocking the weapon comprise a support
element which comprises a housing for receiving the trigger guard
of the weapon, provided with a locking member which can be moved
transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of the weapon from
one of the outer sides of the pocket between an active position in
which it protrudes into the housing in order to immobilise the
trigger guard and a retracted position which releases the trigger
guard.
[0016] According to other features of the invention: [0017] the
pocket comprises, at the upper portion thereof, a tongue which can
be moved between a first position located above the pocket in order
to block the weapon and a second position tilted towards the front
of this pocket, [0018] the tongue comprises a first end which is
pivotably mounted on one side of the pocket and a second end which
is provided with a member for snap-fitting to a lug fixed to the
other side of the pocket, [0019] the tongue is associated with a
resilient element for returning the tongue to the second position
thereof, [0020] the support element is formed by a member for
fixing the pocket and is provided, at the upper portion thereof,
with two vertical and parallel lugs which together provide the
housing, the lugs each comprising an opening for guiding the
locking member, [0021] the locking member is formed by a U-shaped
component which comprises a central branch which is arranged
between the two lugs of the support element and two parallel,
vertical and lateral branches, each lateral branch being placed in
an opening of the lugs, [0022] the outer lateral branch extends
over the corresponding side of the pocket and is accessible from
the outer side of this pocket and the inner lateral branch
comprises, on the face thereof opposite the outer lateral branch, a
stud which is intended to co-operate with the trigger guard of the
weapon in the active position in which it protrudes into the
housing, [0023] the locking member is returned to an active
position by means of a resilient member, such as, for example, a
compression spring, [0024] the holster comprises means for blocking
the transverse movement of the locking member after a vertical
movement of the locking member, [0025] the means for blocking the
transverse movement of the locking member are formed by a cut-out
which is provided at the upper end of the outer lateral branch and
by a recess which is provided at the upper portion of the opening
of the lug for guiding the lateral branch, [0026] the side of the
pocket which is provided with the outer lateral branch of the
locking member comprises a cover which can be moved by means of
sliding between a position for covering this lateral branch and a
retracted position which allows access to this branch, and [0027]
the support element and the locking member are ambidextrous
components.
[0028] Other features and advantages of the invention will be
appreciated from the following description, given by way of example
and with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
[0029] FIG. 1 is a schematic, perspective view of a holster
according to the invention, with a hand weapon blocked in the
holster,
[0030] FIG. 2 is a partially broken-away schematic, perspective
view of the holster, illustrating the means for blocking the
weapon,
[0031] FIG. 3 is a partially broken-away schematic, perspective
view of the holster, illustrating more specifically the locking
member of the blocking means,
[0032] FIG. 4 is a schematic, perspective view of an element for
supporting the weapon in the holster,
[0033] FIG. 5 is a schematic front view of the locking member of
the means for blocking the weapon in the holster,
[0034] FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of the holster, with
the weapon being removed,
[0035] FIG. 7 is a schematic front view of a variant of the locking
member, and
[0036] FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of a variant of the
element for supporting the weapon in the holster.
[0037] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a holster which is
generally designated 10 for a hand weapon 1, such as, for example,
a pistol or a revolver.
[0038] The holster 10 can be used as a belt, thigh or shoulder
holster and it comprises a pocket which is generally designated 11
and which forms a housing for the weapon 1 and which comprises, at
the upper portion thereof, an opening 12 for introducing this
weapon 1.
[0039] In conventional manner, the weapon comprises in particular a
butt 1a and a trigger guard 1b (FIGS. 1 to 3). In the storage
position of the weapon 1, this weapon 1 is placed in the pocket 11
of the holster 10 and the butt 1a is arranged outside the
pocket.
[0040] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the pocket 11 is provided with
means for fixing to a receiving member which is carried by a user.
In this instance, the holster is a belt holster and these fixing
means are constituted by a loop 2 which supports the pocket 1.
[0041] The pocket 11 is formed at two sides 11a and 11b,
respectively, and comprises a front wall 11c and a rear wall 11d
which connect the sides 11a and 11b. The sides 11a and 11b and the
front wall 11c and rear wall 11d, respectively, determine a housing
for receiving the weapon 1.
[0042] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pocket 11 comprises, at
the upper portion thereof, a tongue 15, a first end 15a of which is
pivotably mounted on a shaft 16 which is fixed to the side 11a of
the pocket 11 and a second end 15b of which is provided with a
snap-fitting member, such as, for example, a push-button which is
not illustrated, on a lug 18 which is fixed to the opposite side
11b of the pocket 11.
[0043] The tongue 15 can be moved, after the end 15b of the tongue
15 is unlocked, between a first position located above the pocket
11 (FIG. 1) in order to block the weapon 1 and a second position
tilted towards the front of this pocket 11 (FIG. 2). A resilient
member 17, such as, for example, a torsion spring, is mounted on
the shaft 16 in order to return the tongue 15 to the second
position tilted towards the front of the pocket 11.
[0044] In addition to this tongue 15, the pocket comprises means
for blocking the weapon which comprise a support element which is
generally designated 20 and which is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and
4.
[0045] This support element 20 is formed by a body 21 to which the
sides 11a and 11b of the pocket 11 are fixed. The body 21 is
provided, at the upper portion thereof, with two vertical and
parallel lugs 22a and 22b which together provide a housing 23 which
is intended to receive the trigger guard 1b of the weapon 1, as
illustrated in FIG. 2.
[0046] Each lug 22a and 22b comprises an opening 24a and 24b,
respectively, for guiding a locking member which is generally
designated 30 and which is illustrated in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6. The
locking member 30 can be moved in the openings 24a and 24b of the
support element 20 transversely relative to the axis of the weapon
1 between an active position in which it protrudes into the housing
23 in order to immobilise the trigger guard 1b of the weapon 1 and
a retracted position which releases the trigger guard 1b, thus
allowing an operator to withdraw the weapon from the pocket 11.
[0047] The movement of the locking member 30 is carried out by the
user from the side 11a of the pocket 11 opposite the side 11b which
carries the loop 2, as will be seen below.
[0048] As illustrated in FIG. 5, the locking member 30 is formed by
a U-shaped component which comprises a central branch 31 and two
vertical and parallel lateral branches 32a and 32b,
respectively.
[0049] As can be seen in FIG. 3, the locking member 30 is
positioned in the support element 20 so that the central branch 31
rests in the base of the housing 23 and the lateral branches 32a
and 32b, respectively, are positioned in the openings 24a and 24b
of the lugs 22a and 22b of the support element 20,
respectively.
[0050] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the outer lateral branch 32a of
the locking member 30 extends over the side 11a of the pocket 11
and is accessible from the outer side of this pocket 11. The inner
lateral branch 32b of the locking member 30, that is to say, the
branch opposite the lateral branch 32a, comprises a stud 33 which
is intended to co-operate with the trigger guard 1b of the weapon 1
in the active position in which the locking member 30 protrudes
into the housing 23 of the support element 20.
[0051] The locking member 30 is returned to the active position
thereof by means of a resilient element, such as, for example, a
compression spring 35 (FIG. 3) which is mounted on a shaft 36 and
which is supported between a stop 37 which is provided in the base
of the housing 23 of the support element 20 and a stop 38 which is
arranged below the central branch 31 of the locking member 30.
[0052] The side 11a of the pocket 11 in which the outer lateral
branch 32a of the locking member 30 opens comprises a cover 40
which can be moved by means of sliding on a sliding rail 41 which
is fixed to the side 11a, between a position for covering the
lateral branch 32a (FIG. 1) and a retracted position which allows
access to this branch 32a (FIG. 2).
[0053] The support element 20 and the locking member 30 are
ambidextrous components which can be used for a left-hand holster
or a right-hand holster.
[0054] When the weapon 1 is placed in the pocket 11 of the holster
10, as illustrated in FIG. 1, this weapon 1 is retained by the
tongue 15 and the stud 34 of the locking member 30 which blocks the
trigger guard 1b of the weapon. The cover 40 covers the outer
lateral branch 32a of the locking member 30, thus preventing access
to this branch 32a.
[0055] In order to release the weapon 1 and withdraw it from the
pocket 11, the operator proceeds as follows.
[0056] First of all, he moves the cover 40 into a semi-open or
completely open position (FIG. 2) in order to allow the operator to
access the lateral branch 32a of the locking member 30. The outer
faces of the lateral branch 32a and the cover 40, respectively, are
provided with markings which are substantially similar so that the
security level selected by the operator is not too apparent to a
third party.
[0057] Furthermore, these markings allow better gripping of the
lateral branch 32a and the cover 40.
[0058] The operator releases the tongue 15 by pressing with the
thumb on the lug 18 so that this tongue 15 pivots towards the front
of the pocket 11 under the action of the resilient member 17, as
illustrated in FIG. 2.
[0059] Then, the operator presses on the lateral branch 32a using
his index finger, which has the effect of compressing the spring 35
and moving the lateral branch 32b in order to retract the stud 34
in order to release the trigger guard 1b of the weapon 1.
[0060] The operator can thus withdraw the weapon from the pocket 11
of the holster 10.
[0061] When the weapon 1 is reintroduced into the pocket 11, the
trigger guard 1b moves the locking member via the stud 34 and this
stud 34 automatically engages in a snap-fitting manner with the
trigger guard 1b owing to the fact that the locking member 30 has
been returned to the active position by the compression spring
35.
[0062] After reintroducing the weapon 1, the operator repositions
the tongue 15 and the cover 40 in order to prevent access to the
lateral branch 32a of the locking member 30.
[0063] According to a variant which is illustrated in FIGS. 7 and
8, the holster 10 comprises means 50 and 55 for blocking the
transverse movement of the locking member 30 after a vertical
movement of the locking member 30.
[0064] These means for blocking the transverse movement of the
locking member 30 are formed by a cut-out 50 which is provided at
the upper end of the outer lateral branch 32b of this locking
member (FIG. 7). These blocking means are also formed by a recess
55 which is provided at the upper portion of the opening 24b of the
lug 22b of the support element 20, this opening 24b guiding the
lateral branch 32b during the transverse movement of the locking
member 30.
[0065] In this manner, if a third party applies traction in an
upward direction to the weapon 1 in order to attempt to withdraw it
from the holster 10, the trigger guard 1b of the weapon 10 lifts
the outer lateral branch 32b of the locking member 30. During this
lifting action, the cut-out 50 is positioned in the recess 55 which
prevents any transverse movement of the locking member 30. If a
pushing action is applied to the lateral branch 32a, the weapon 1
cannot therefore be withdrawn from the holster 10.
[0066] Under normal conditions, the withdrawal of the weapon 1 by
the operator can be carried out in an identical manner to the
previous embodiment, the locking member 30 being able to slide
freely in the openings 24a and 24b of the support element 20 if no
vertical traction is applied to this weapon 1.
[0067] In this manner, the means 50 and 55 for blocking the
transverse movement of the locking member after a vertical movement
of the locking member provide additional security in the event of
an attempt to withdraw the weapon by a third party owing to the
blocking of this locking member in terms of translation.
[0068] The holster according to the invention has the advantage,
owing to the different elements which it comprises, of providing
reliable retention of the weapon, whilst allowing this weapon to be
readily withdrawn by the operator.
* * * * *