U.S. patent application number 13/558049 was filed with the patent office on 2014-01-30 for concealment holsters.
The applicant listed for this patent is Joshua Van Heusen. Invention is credited to Joshua Van Heusen.
Application Number | 20140027485 13/558049 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49993891 |
Filed Date | 2014-01-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140027485 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Van Heusen; Joshua |
January 30, 2014 |
CONCEALMENT HOLSTERS
Abstract
A holster to support a handgun in a concealed position inside a
wearer's trousers includes a holster body with side walls defining
an opening to receive the handgun. Interior surfaces of the side
walls have yieldable means thereon to engage and yieldably retain a
portion of the handgun, when positioned within the holster body,
against withdrawal forces below a predetermined magnitude. A tab
arrangement includes a downward tab joined to the outer wall by a
bight portion to suspend the holster from the trouser waistband. A
wing member extends rearward of the holster body and cooperates
with the exterior surface of the inner side wall to conform to the
rear region of the hip of the wearer. Shaped portions of the
holster body maintain a spaced relationship between the interior
surface and contact-sensitive regions of a handgun such as a
magazine release button, a sight, and so forth.
Inventors: |
Van Heusen; Joshua;
(Portland, OR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Van Heusen; Joshua |
Portland |
OR |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
49993891 |
Appl. No.: |
13/558049 |
Filed: |
July 25, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/587 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41C 33/0209 20130101;
F41C 33/048 20130101; F41C 33/041 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/587 |
International
Class: |
F41C 33/02 20060101
F41C033/02 |
Claims
1. A holster for supporting a handgun in an at least partially
concealed position inside the trousers of a wearer and suspended
from a waistband thereof, the holster comprising: a holster body
that includes a pair of opposed side walls defining an opening
through which at least a forward portion of the handgun may be
received for positioning the handgun within the holster body; each
side wall having an interior surface, each interior surface
including a barrel region and a trigger guard region, with said
regions disposed on the side walls in spaced confronting registry
for slidably engaging at least a portion of each of the opposing
sides of the barrel and the trigger guard of the handgun,
respectively, when received in the holster body, thereby guiding
the handgun into position within the holster body; the trigger
guard region of one of the side walls having formed thereon a first
inwardly convex dimple disposed to protrude into the interior of
the trigger guard of the handgun when positioned within the holster
body; the trigger guard region of the other of the side walls
having formed thereon a second inwardly convex dimple disposed to
bias a portion of the trigger guard of the handgun when positioned
within the holster body; and means supported on the holster to
suspend the holster from the trouser waistband of a wearer; wherein
the dimples cooperate to releasably retain the handgun positioned
within the holster body against withdrawal forces below a
predetermined magnitude and are yieldable to enable withdrawal of
the handgun from the holster body responsive to a magnitude of
withdrawal force above the predetermined magnitude.
2. The holster of claim 1, wherein the means to suspend the holster
include a tab arrangement disposed on a top end of one of the side
walls and adapted to engage the top edge of the wearer's trouser
waistband.
3. The holster of claim 2, wherein the tab arrangement includes at
least one downwardly depending tab joined to the side wall by means
of an outwardly-extending bight portion adapted to bridge the upper
edge of the wearer's trouser waistband.
4. The holster of claim 3, wherein at least one downwardly
depending tab includes an upturned lower end adapted to engage the
bottom edge of a wearer's belt.
5. The holster of claim 3, wherein at least part of the bight
portion is adapted to bridge both the upper edge of the wearer's
trouser waistband and the top edge of a wearer's belt.
6. The holster of claim 2, wherein the tab arrangement is formed
integrally with the top end of the side wall.
7. The holster of claim 1, further comprising a wing member
extending generally rearward of the opening defined by the side
walls and having an inward-facing exterior surface; wherein the
wing member cooperates with an inward-facing exterior surface of
the inner one of the side walls to conform to the rear region of
the hip of the wearer.
8. The holster of claim 7, wherein the wing member is substantially
planar and is formed integrally with the inner side wall.
9. The holster of claim 8, wherein the wing member depends at an
angle with at least a portion of the inward-facing exterior surface
of the inner side wall.
10. The holster of claim 1, wherein the wing member is formed by
rearward portions of the side walls with the facing interior
surfaces thereof mated together.
11. The holster of claim 1, wherein one of side walls is adapted to
overlap the magazine release button of the handgun when the handgun
is positioned within the holster body, and wherein said side wall
includes a concave pocket formed therein to maintain a spaced
relationship between the interior surface of the side wall and the
magazine release button when the handgun is positioned within the
holster body.
12. The holster of claim 1, wherein the holster body further
comprises a forward wall defining a sight channel adapted to
maintain a spaced relationship between the interior surface of the
forward wall and one or more of the top surface of the barrel of
the handgun and a sight protruding upward therefrom when the
handgun is positioned within the holster body.
13. The holster of claim 12, wherein the forward wall is integral
with the two side walls and formed by a bent region connecting the
two side walls.
14. The holster of claim 1, wherein the pair of opposed side walls
consists of an inner wall configured to abut the wearer and an
outer wall configured to be spaced away from the wearer, and
wherein the holster further comprises a guard portion extending
upward from the inner side wall from the opening, the guard portion
adapted to form a barrier between the wearer and the portion of the
handgun extending upward from the opening when the handgun is
positioned within the holster body.
15. A holster for supporting a handgun in an at least partially
concealed position inside the trousers of a wearer, the holster
comprising: a holster body including a pair of opposed side walls
defining an opening through which at least a forward portion of the
handgun may be received for positioning the handgun within the
holster body; means supported on the holster to suspend the holster
from the trouser waistband of a wearer; wherein each side wall has
an interior and an exterior surface; wherein each interior surface
includes a barrel region and a trigger guard region, with said
regions disposed on the side walls in spaced confronting registry
for slidably engaging at least a portion of each of the opposing
sides of the barrel and the trigger guard of the handgun,
respectively, when received in the holster body, thereby guiding
the handgun into position within the holster body; wherein each
interior surface further includes yieldable means adapted to engage
and yieldably retain a portion of the handgun when positioned
within the holster body against withdrawal forces below a
predetermined magnitude; and wherein each exterior surface is
adapted, when the holster is worn inside the trousers of the
wearer, to engage and resist movement relative to the portions of
the user and/or the user's clothing adjacent to the holster.
16. The holster of claim 15, wherein the means to suspend the
holster are adapted to position the opening of the holster body
substantially level with the trouser waistband of the wearer.
17. The holster of claim 16: wherein the pair of opposed side walls
includes an inner wall disposed adjacent to the wearer and an outer
wall spaced therefrom; wherein when the handgun is positioned
within the holster body, a rear portion of the handgun extends
generally upward from the opening; wherein the holster further
comprises a guard portion formed by a portion of the inner side
wall that extends generally upward from the opening; and wherein
the guard portion is adapted to form a barrier between the wearer
and the portion of the handgun that extends upward from the opening
when the handgun is positioned within the holster body.
18. The holster of claim 15, wherein at least a portion of each
exterior surface is textured.
19. The holster of claim 15, further comorising a wing member
extending generally rearward of the holster body and having an
inward-facing exterior surface; wherein the pair of opposed side
walls includes an inner wall disposed adjacent to the wearer and an
outer wall spaced therefrom; and wherein the wing member cooperates
with the exterior surface of the inner side wall to conform to the
rear region of the hip of the wearer.
20. A holster for supporting a handgun in an at least partially
concealed position inside the trousers of a wearer, the holster
comprising: a holster body including a pair of opposed side walls
defining an opening adapted to receive a forward portion of the
handgun therethrough for positioning within the holster body, the
side walls including an inner wall disposed adjacent to the wearer
and an outer wall spaced therefrom; each side wall having an
interior surface disposed in spaced confronting registry for
slidably engaging at least a portion of each side of the forward
portion of the handgun and guiding the same into position within
the holster body; each interior surface including yieldabie means
adapted to engage and yieldably retain a portion of the handgun
when positioned within the holster body against withdrawal forces
below a predetermined magnitude; a tab arrangement disposed on the
outer wall including a downwardly depending tab joined to the outer
wall by means of an outwardly extending bight portion adapted to
bridge the upper edge of the wearer's trouser waistband and suspend
the holster therefrom; a guard portion disposed on the inner wall
extending upward from the opening and adapted to form a barrier
between the wearer and the portion of the handgun that extends
upward from the opening when the handgun is positioned within the
holster body; and a wing member extending generally rearward of the
holster body and having an inward-facing exterior surface
cooperabie with the exterior surface of the inner wall to conform
to the rear region of the hip of the wearer.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This disclosure relates to holsters, and in particular to
concealment holsters for handguns, specifically a holster enabling
a wearer to carry a handgun in a concealed position inside the
wearer's trouser waistband.
BACKGROUND
[0002] It is often necessary in law enforcement and/or military
operations for individuals, such as plainclothes and non-uniformed
officers, to cany a concealed weapon. One reason is that members of
the public seeing who see a handgun worn by an individual may
become wary, uncooperative, aggressive, and so forth, and/or may
recognize or reveal the wearer's status as law enforcement and/or
military personnel, any of which may impede or otherwise interfere
with the operation.
[0003] Various types of concealment holsters are provided with
devices and mechanisms for retaining a handgun within the holster,
such as straps or flaps that extend over a portion of the handgun,
for example from one side of the holster body to the other. The
obvious disadvantage of this type of holster is the inability to
quickly draw the handgun in view of first needing to disengage the
retaining means. However, police officers, security officers, and
military personnel in a number of situations must be ready to
withdraw and use a handgun in the line of duty at a moment's
notice. Especially in an emergency situation, the wearer's life may
depend on the speed at which he or she can withdraw and deploy a
handgun. Of course, the situation may then change or dictate other
needs, often requiring a handgun to be re-holstered just as
quickly. Thus, retaining devices or mechanisms on holsters often
represent an unacceptable difficulty in using such a holster,
especially in such situations.
[0004] On the other hand, holsters without retaining means may fail
to prevent a handgun from inadvertently coming loose of the
holster, such as if the wearer is in a position in which the
holster is inverted, and/or if a sudden force, such as a blow or
impact, is applied to the holster.
[0005] Moreover, many concealment holsters present a somewhat bulky
or bulging appearance when worn under clothing, undermining the
purpose of the concealed nature of the holster. Some holster
designs attempt to improve concealment by being designed to be worn
on areas of the body other than at the hip, such as against the
front or side of the user's torso, where clothing is generally more
loose-fitting. However, such designs often require the wearer to
reach for withdraw the handgun using an unnatural or non-fluid hand
movement.
[0006] Additionally, many concealment holsters worn under clothing
have a tendency to pinch a user's flesh and/or become slippery,
either of which may lead to user discomfort. Moreover, a holster
may change position against the body due to perspiration.
SUMMARY
[0007] Various embodiments of a concealment holster are disclosed
herein. Briefly, the holsters may be adapted to be worn inside the
trousers of a wearer, suspended from the trouser waistband and/or a
wearer's belt. The interior walls (or portions thereof) of the
holster embodiments may be adapted to receive and retain the
handgun against a withdrawal force lower than a predetermined
magnitude, but yield the handgun responsive to a larger withdrawal
force. The exterior configuration of the holsters may provide a
barrier between the wearer's skin and the portion of the handgun
extending upward from the holster body, may conform the holster to
a portion of the user's waist, such as the rear region of the
wearer's hip, and/or may restrict the holster from moving relative
to the user's body.
[0008] In particular, in some example embodiments, a holster body
includes a pair of opposed side walls defining an opening through
which a forward portion of the handgun may be received for
positioning the handgun within the holster body, each side wall
having interior regions disposed in spaced confronting registry for
slidahiy engaging at least a portion of each of the opposing sides
of the barrel and the trigger guard of the handgun, when received
in the holster body, guiding the handgun into position within the
holster body. In such embodiments, a region of one side wall has a
first inwardly convex dimple formed thereon that is disposed to
protrude into the interior of the trigger guard of the handgun when
positioned within the holster body. A region of the other side wall
has a second inwardly convex dimple formed thereon and disposed to
bias a portion of the trigger guard of the handgun when positioned
within the holster body. The dimples may cooperate to releasably
retain the handgun positioned within the holster body against
withdrawal forces below a predetermined magnitude and are yieldable
to enable withdrawal of the handgun from the holster body
responsive to a magnitude of withdrawal force above the
predetermined magnitude. Such embodiments further include means
supported on the holster to suspend the holster from the trouser
waistband of a wearer.
[0009] In some embodiments, the aforementioned means include a tab
arrangement disposed on a top end of the outer side wall, with the
tab arrangement configured to bridge the upper edge of the wearer's
trouser waistband and/or belt. In some of such embodiments, the tab
arrangement additionally engages the bottom edge of the wearer's
belt.
[0010] Some embodiments further include a wing member extending
rearward of the opening defined by the side walls, with the wing
member having an inward-facing exterior surface that cooperates
with the exterior surface of the inner side wall to conform the
holster to the rear region of the wearer's hip.
[0011] In some embodiments, the interior side wall is shaped to
overlap the magazine release button of the handgun when positioned
in the holster body, and further includes a concave pocket formed
therein to maintain a spaced relationship between the interior
surface of the inner side wall and the magazine burton.
[0012] Some embodiments include a forward wall defining a sight
channel adapted to maintain a spaced relationship between the
interior surface of the forward wall and the top surface of the
barrel and/or a sight protruding therefrom, when the handgun is
positioned in the holster body.
[0013] In some embodiments, an upward extension of the inner side
wall forms a guard portion adapted to provide a barrier between the
wearer and the portion of the handgun extending upward from the
opening of the holster, when the handgun is positioned in the
holster body.
[0014] In some embodiments, portions of the exterior surface of the
holster are textured in a manner to engage, and resist movement
relative to, the portion of the wearer and/or the wearer's clothing
adjacent to the holster.
[0015] The concepts, features, and component configurations briefly
described above are clarified with reference to the accompanying
drawings and detailed description below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example embodiment of a
holster constructed in accordance with the present disclosure, as
viewed from the outer side wall and rear of the holster.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a rear elevation view of the holster of FIG.
1.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the holster of FIG.
1.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a portion of
the holster of FIG. 1, taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.
[0020] FIG. 5 is another fragmentary cross-sectional view of a
portion of the holster of FIG. 1, taken along the line 5-5 of FIG.
3.
[0021] FIG. 6 is a side view of the holster of FIG. 1 in a manner
of being worn by a wearer and engaging the trouser waistband and
belt of the wearer.
[0022] FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the holster of FIG. 1.
[0023] FIG. 8 is a rear view of the holster of FIG. 1 in the manner
of being worn by a wearer shown in FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] Referring to the drawings, a non-exclusive, example
embodiment of a holster 10 is shown in FIGs. 1-8. In FIG. 1,
holster 10 is adapted to support a handgun indicated at 100 (and
shown in dashed lines). In general, and as also shown in FIGs. 2
and 3, for example, a handgun includes a grip 102, a barrel 104
from which protrudes one or more sights 106, and a trigger 108
disposed within a trigger guard 110. Typically, a handgun will also
include a magazine 112 housed substantially within the grip 102,
and a magazine release button 114 disposed on the side of the
barrel for releasing the magazine, such as for reloading. For the
sake of example, handgun 100 and the components thereof are shown
throughout the drawings in the form of a Glock 17 pistol produced
by Glock GmbH, a popular style of handgun used by many law
enforcement, security, and military agencies throughout the world.
However, as will become clear from the description, the shape
and/or dimensions of the holster 10 in accordance may be varied in
accordance with the physical configuration of the handgun with
which the holster is to be used, without departing from the scope
of this disclosure.
[0025] Holster body 12 includes a pair of opposed inner and outer
side walls 14, 16 that define an opening 18 adapted to receive a
forward portion of the handgun. The term "inner" herein designates
the side of the holster worn adjacent to the wearer's body.
Although other materials and modes of fabrication are possible,
holster 10 is shown to be formed of a single piece of material,
such as a KYDEX.RTM. thermoplastic sheet, which is reversibly
folded upon itself to form a holster body 12 that generally
conforms to the exterior contour of the handgun 100, as explained
below, such as to present a slim cross-section to assist
concealment. Materials such as KYDEX.RTM. thermoplastic typically
provide rigidity and formability, durability, and chemical
resistance, while providing limited flexibility, and thus may allow
holsters according to the present disclosure to be customized to
any manner of handgun configuration while providing the features
discussed herein.
[0026] As seen perhaps most clearly in FIG. 4, each of side walls
14, 16 includes an interior surface 20, 22 disposed in spaced
confronting registry with the other, for slidably engaging the
opposing sides of the forward portion of the handgun and guiding it
into position within the holster body 12. The exterior surfaces of
side walls 14, 16 are generally indicated at 28. As shown in the
drawings, when positioned in the holster body 12, the rear or butt
end of the handgun 100--that is, the rear end of the barrel 104,
and the grip 102--projects from above the opening 18, with the
forward end of the barrel 104, the trigger 108, and the trigger
guard 110 shielded by the holster body 12. As such, the interior
surfaces 20, 22 may be thought of as each including a barrel region
24 and a trigger guard region 26, for slidably receiving the
respective barrel 104 and trigger guard 110 of the handgun 100.
[0027] The holster 10 includes yieldable means adapted to engage
and yieldably retain the handgun, or a portion thereof, when
positioned in the holster body 12 against withdrawal forces below a
predetermined magnitude. For example, as shown in FIGs. 2 and 4,
the yieldable means in holster 10 are in the form of shaped
portions of the interior surfaces 20, 22 of walls 14, 16. More
particularly, in the example embodiment, the yieldable means are in
the form of first and second inwardly convex dimples 30, 32
disposed on the trigger guard regions 26 of each wall.
[0028] In holster 10, first and second dimples 30, 32 are disposed
to engage the trigger guard 110 of handgun 100 when positioned
within the holster body 12. Specifically, first dimple 30 is
disposed to protrude into the interior of the trigger guard 110,
and second dimple 32 is disposed to bias a portion of the trigger
guard 110. As such, dimples 30, 32, for example owing to the
inherent structural arrangement thereof, cooperate to releasably
retain the handgun in position within the holster body 12.
Moreover, the dimples 30, 32 are configured to yieldably flex away
from each other, for example against the inherent structural bias
of the material from which the side walls 14, 16 are formed, such
as to allow deflection thereof sufficient to allow insertion or
withdrawal of the handgun when a force of a sufficient magnitude is
applied. The arrangement, shape, disposition, and/or other
characteristic of one or both dimples 30, 32, and/or the
material(s) from which the holster 10 is fabricated, may provide a
desired degree of resistance against deflection from a neutral
configuration, such as to determine the magnitude of the force that
must be applied in order to withdraw the handgun from its holstered
position within holster body 12.
[0029] Other embodiments of holster 10 may be provided with a
different arrangement of dimples or other yieldable means adapted
to function in a similar manner, such as arrangements that dispose
the dimples 30, 32 on the opposite side walls than as shown,
arrangements providing other dimples or formed portions of the
holster body, and so forth.
[0030] Returning to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, holster 10 is further shown
to include a forward wall 40. In the illustrated embodiment,
forward wall 40 is defined by the front folded portion of the
holster body joining the side walls 14, 16. Although not required
to all embodiments, as shown in FIG. 5, forward wall 40 of holster
10, and more specifically the interior surface 42 of forward wall
40, defines a sight channel, indicated generally at 44, which forms
a spaced relationship between the interior surface 42 of the
forward wall and the top surface of the handgun barrel 104. As
such, the sight channel may provide clearance for sights protruding
upwardly from the top surface of the barrel, including any sights
that are integral with the handgun body (such as sight 106), as
well as a separate sight that has been mounted to the gun barrel
(not shown).
[0031] In the latter case, mountable sights are generally mounted
with an adhesive strip or other coupling means, and the sight
channel may thus protect the sight from being jostled or jarred out
of alignment, or even detached due to impact, when the handgun is
inserted into or withdrawn from the holster body. As noted above,
the dimensions of the holster 10, such as the vertical clearance
provided by the sight channel 44, may be varied from as shown in
the illustrated embodiment, for example to accommodate mountable
sights of different sizes. Such variations are considered to be
within the scope of the present disclosure.
[0032] The holster 10 may be worn with the holster body 12
concealed inside the top portion of the wearer's trousers. As such,
holster 10 is provided with means thereon to suspend the bolster
from the wearer's trouser waistband, shown in the form of a tab
arrangement 50 disposed at the top end of the outer wall 16
proximate the opening 18.
[0033] Although other configurations are possible, tab arrangement
50 is shown to include three downwardly-depending tabs 52 each
joined to the outer wall 16 by means of an outwardly-extending
bight portion 54 adapted to bridge the upper edge of the wearer's
trouser waistband. FIG. 6 shows an example of how the example
embodiment of holster 10 may be worn by a wearer, and its position
relative to the wearer's trousers 200 and the trouser waistband
202.
[0034] Also, although not required to all embodiments, the tabs 52
are configured to engage a user's belt 204. Specifically, the bight
portion 54 of the centrally disposed tab 56 is wide enough to
bridge the upper edges of both the wearer's trouser waistband the
wearer's belt, whereas the two outer tabs 58 are adapted to extend
downward behind the user's belt and engage the bottom edge thereof,
by means of an extended length that terminates in an upturned lower
end 60. As such, not only does tab arrangement suspend the holster
body from the wearer's trouser waistband and function to restrict
downward movement of the holster bodv relative to the wearer, but
the configuration of the tab arrangement, in the form of the tabs
52 that engage the top and bottom edges of the wearer's belt, may
restrict upward and/or lateral movement of the holster body as
well.
[0035] Although not required to all embodiments, the tab
arrangement 50 of holster 10 is shown to be integral with the
holster body 12; that is, the tabs 52 are shown as separate
extensions of varying lengths of the outer wall 16 that are formed
into the illustrated configuration. However, other modes of
fabrication of the tab arrangement are possible and are within the
scope of this disclosure.
[0036] Returning to FIGS. 1-3 and with additional reference to FIG.
7, holster 10 is further shown to include a wing member 70 joined
to and extending generally rearward of the holster body 12.
Although other modes fabrication are possible, the wing member 70
of holster 10 is shown to be integral with the holster body, and in
particular is formed by rearward portions 72, 74 of the side walls
14, 16 with the facing interior surfaces thereof mated and held
together, such as with rivets 76.
[0037] Wing member 70, and more particularly the inward-facing
exterior surface 78 thereof, may conform to the wearer, and in
particular to a specific area of the body against which the holster
is worn. For example, wing member 70 of holster 10 conforms to a
shape of the rear region of the hip of the wearer. Moreover, in the
illustrated embodiment of holster 10, exterior surface 78 of wing
member 70 cooperates with the exterior surface of inner wall 20 to
conform the entire holster to the rear region of the hip of the
wearer.
[0038] In particular, and with additional reference to FIG. 8, wing
member 70 forms a slight angle with the inner wall 20, such that
the holster shape sits comfortably against the rear hip region. The
contour also functions to restrict lateral movement of the holster
relative to the user. In addition, wing member 70 may contribute to
a smooth unbulging appearance of the holster 10 when worn in a
concealed manner, for example due to the shape of the outer wall 16
closely following the shape of the inner wall 14.
[0039] Moreover, although not required to all embodiments, the
exterior surfaces 28 of the holster 10 are shown to be stippled or
otherwise textured, such as to provide a frictional resistance
against movement relative to the wearer, and/or to the portions of
the wearer's clothing, adjacent to the holster 10. As such, the
wing member 70 may be thought of as increasing the area of the
textured exterior surfaces in contact with the wearer and/or
portions of the wearer's clothing, which may increase the
frictional resistance offered by the holster against unintended
movement thereof, when worn.
[0040] The method of fabrication employed in the construction of
holsters in accordance with the present disclosure may provide a
wing member that remains in a more or less fixed orientation
relative to the holster body, as in holster 10. However, other
modes may provide one or more wing members having some flexibility,
or a combination of fixed and relatively flexible wing members, and
so forth. Moreover, additional or other wing members than as shown
may conform a holster to any desired body regions. These variations
are considered to be within the scope of the disclosure.
[0041] Returning to FIGS. 1-3 and with additional reference to
FIGS. 6 and 8, holster is further shown to include a guard portion
80 extending upward from the inner side wall 14. Guard portion 80
is adapted to form a barrier between the wearer and the portion of
the handgun 100 that extends upward from the opening 18 of the
holster, when the handgun is positioned within the holster body 12.
As shown in FIG. 8, at least a portion of the butt end of the
handgun is disposed in close proximity to the wearer, such as due
to the snug manner in which the holster fits against the
wearer.
[0042] The guard portion thus may prevent the wearer's skin or
clothing from being pinched between the handgun and the holster,
such as during movement of the wearer and/or insertion of the
handgun, and so forth. Depending on the wearer's physique, the
guard portion 80 may additionally prevent bulging of the wearer's
flesh against the handgun 100 (when bolstered), or into the region
above the opening 18 (when the handgun is not bolstered), which may
otherwise interfere with smooth withdrawal and/or insertion of the
handgun relative to the holster. In a similar manner, the guard
portion 80 may function as a moisture barrier, for example to
prevent moisture from perspiration or otherwise from contacting
portions of the handgun. The guard portion may be any suitable
configuration, but is shown in the illustrated embodiment 10 to
extend upward along the rear end of the barrel 104 of the handgun
100, then sloping downward toward the trigger guard 110, for
example so as not to interfere with a wearer grasping the handgun
grip 102.
[0043] As with the sight channel 44 defined by forward wall 40,
holsters constructed in accordance with the present disclosure may
include additional or other features adapted to maintain a spaced
relationship between the holster and certain regions of the handgun
100. As mentioned above, a sight removably mounted to a handgun
barrel may be more fragile than the handgun itself, in which case
maintaining a spaced relationship between the interior of the
holster and the sight may assist in preventing inadvertent damage
or misalignment of the sight, such as due to unintended impact when
withdrawing or inserting the handgun.
[0044] The magazine release button of a handgun is another example
of a contact-sensitive handgun component with which inadvertent
contact may be preferable, such as to avoid unintended release of
the magazine from the handgun if the magazine release button is
accidentally touched or jostled, such as when withdrawing or
inserting the handgun.
[0045] Accordingly, holster 10 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 to include
a concave pocket 90 formed in a portion of the inner wall 14. More
particularly, concave pocket 90 is formed in a portion of the guard
portion 80. As such, concave pocket 90 may provide at least two
benefits: first, the concave pocket, as part of guard portion 80,
may function as a physical barrier between the wearer and the
magazine release button 114 of the handgun 100 when holstered, such
as to prevent inadvertent contact with the magazine release button
while the handgun is positioned within the holster body.
[0046] Further, the concave pocket maintains a spaced relationship
between the interior surface of the side wall and the magazine
release button when the handgun is positioned within the holster
body. Due to the rigid nature of the material from which the
holster 10 is fabricated, for example, this spaced relationship may
assist in preventing inadvertent contact with the magazine release
button even if the wearer's body presses against the corresponding
exterior surface of the guard portion 80.
[0047] In a similar manner, other portions of holsters constructed
in accordance with the present disclosure may be adapted to
maintain a desired spaced relationship relative to other
contact-sensitive components or areas of a handgun. However, such
features, such as sight channel 44, concave pocket 90, and so
forth, are not required to all embodiments. Such variations are
considered to be within the scope of this disclosure.
[0048] Although the present invention has been shown and described
with reference to the foregoing operational principles and
illustrated examples and embodiments, it will be apparent to those
skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be
made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
The present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives,
modifications and variances that fall within the scope of the
appended claims.
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