U.S. patent application number 13/709761 was filed with the patent office on 2014-06-12 for concealed carry firearm holster.
The applicant listed for this patent is James McDonnell. Invention is credited to James McDonnell.
Application Number | 20140158733 13/709761 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50879860 |
Filed Date | 2014-06-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140158733 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
McDonnell; James |
June 12, 2014 |
Concealed Carry Firearm Holster
Abstract
The present disclosure provides a concealed-carry firearm
holster for wearing under the clothes of a user between the user's
waist and a waistband of the user's pants. The holster generally
includes a backing panel and a firearm receptacle connected to the
backing panel and structured and operable to removably retain a
firearm. The holster additionally includes pair of belt clips
removably connected, via removable fasteners, to the backing panel
and structured and operable to removably secure the holster to at
least one of the waistband and belt threaded through belt loops of
the user's pants to retain the holster in position under the user's
clothes. Furthermore, the holster includes a pair of belt clip
covers disposable over the belt clips, wherein the clip covers are
structured and operable to resemble the belt loops of the user's
pants.
Inventors: |
McDonnell; James; (St.
Louis, MO) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
McDonnell; James |
St. Louis |
MO |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
50879860 |
Appl. No.: |
13/709761 |
Filed: |
December 10, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/587 ;
224/269 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 7/14 20130101; F41C
33/048 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/587 ;
224/269 |
International
Class: |
F41C 33/04 20060101
F41C033/04 |
Claims
1. A belt clip for a firearm holster designed to be worn under the
clothes of a user between the user's waist and a waistband of the
user's pants, said clip comprising: a wire frame that is structured
and operable to extend upwardly from a fastener removably
connecting the clip to a backing panel of the holster and out of
the user's pants, then bend downwardly over the waistband of the
pants, and then bend backwardly toward the waistband for removably
securing the holster to at least one of the user's pants and a belt
threaded through belt loops of the user's pants; and a belt clip
cover disposable over the wire frame and structured and operable to
resemble the belt loops of the user's pants.
2. The clip of claim 1, wherein proximal ends of opposing rails of
the wire frame are bent in at least one of a hook and a loop that
will wrap at least partially around the fastener to securely retain
the clips on the backing panel when the fasteners are tightened to
connect the clips to backing panel.
3. The holster of claim 1, wherein the clip cover is structured and
operable to be removably disposable over the wire frame such that
the clip cover can be removed and replaced by another clip cover
that is structured and operable to resemble belt loops of another
pair of the user's pants.
4. A firearm holster for wearing under the clothes of a user
between the user's waist and a waistband of the user's pants, said
holster comprising: a backing panel; a firearm housing connected to
the backing panel and structured and operable to provide a firearm
receptacle to removably retain a firearm; a pair of belt clips
removably connected, via removable fasteners, to the backing panel
and structured and operable to removably secure the holster to at
least one of the waistband and a belt threaded through belt loops
of the user's pants to retain the holster in position under the
user's clothes; and a pair of belt clip covers disposable over the
belt clips and structured and operable to resemble the belt loops
of the user's pants.
5. The holster of claim 4, wherein the clips comprise a wire frame
having two opposing side rails that are structured and operable to
extend upwardly from the fasteners and out of the users pants, then
bend downwardly over the users waistband and belt, and then bend
upwardly to extend under the user's belt.
6. The holster of claim 5, wherein proximal ends of the opposing
rails are bent in at least one of a hook and a loop that will wrap
at least partially around the fastener to securely retain the clips
on the backing panel when the fasteners are tightened to connect
the clips to backing panel.
7. The holster of claim 4, wherein the backing panel comprises a
plurality of mounting holes disposed along opposing edges of the
backing panel, the mounting holes are structured and operable to
receive the fasteners such that the clips can be connected to the
backing panel in a variety of locations along the backing panel
edges via the plurality of mounting holes.
8. The holster of claim 4, wherein the clip covers are structured
and operable to be removably disposable over the wire frames such
that the clip covers can be removed and replaced by another pair of
clip covers that and structured are operable to resemble belt loops
of another pair of the user's pants.
9. The holster of claim 4 further comprising a pair of belt
apertures disposed through the backing panel, the belt apertures
structured and operable to receive the user's belt, such the
holster can be converted from a concealed carry holster for wearing
under the user's clothing, to an exterior holster to be worn on the
outside of the user's clothing.
10. A firearm holster for wearing under the clothes of a user
between the user's waist and a waistband of the user's pants, said
holster comprising: a backing panel; a firearm housing connected to
the backing panel and structured and operable to provide a firearm
receptacle to movably retain a firearm; a pair of belt clips
removably connected, via removable fasteners, to the backing panel
and structured and operable to removably secure the holster to at
least one of the waistband and a belt threaded through belt loops
of the user's pants to retain the holster in position under the
user's clothes; and a pair of belt clip covers disposable over the
belt clips and structured and operable to resemble the belt loops
of the user's pants, wherein the clip covers are further structured
and operable to be removably disposable over the belt clips such
that the clip covers can be removed and replaced by another pair of
clip covers that are structured and operable to resemble belt loops
of another pair of the user's pants.
11. The holster of claim 10, wherein the clips comprise a wire
frame having two opposing side rails that are structured and
operable to extend upwardly from the fasteners and out of the users
pants, then bend downwardly over the users waistband and belt, and
then bend upwardly to extend under the user's belt.
12. The holster of claim 11, wherein proximal ends of the opposing
rails are bent in at least one of a hook and a loop that will wrap
at least partially around the fastener to securely retain the clips
on the backing panel when the fasteners are tightened to connect
the clips to backing panel.
13. The holster of claim 10, wherein the backing panel comprises a
plurality of mounting holes disposed along opposing edges of the
backing panel, the mounting holes are structured and operable to
receive the fasteners such that the clips can be connected to the
backing panel in a variety of locations along the backing panel
edges via the plurality of mounting holes.
14. The holster of claim 10 further comprising a pair of belt
apertures disposed through the backing panel, the belt apertures
structured and operable to receive the user's belt, such the
holster can be converted from a concealed carry holster for wearing
under the user's clothing, to an exterior holster to be worn on the
outside of the user's clothing.
Description
FIELD
[0001] The present teachings relate to firearms, and more
particularly to holsters for firearms that allows the firearm to be
concealed when being carried or transported by a user.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The statements in this section merely provide background
information related to the present disclosure and may not
constitute prior art.
[0003] Firearm holsters that are designed to allow the user to
conceal a firearm, generally referred to as concealed-carry
holsters, are frequently used by law enforcement officers and
citizens that have obtained a license to carry a concealed firearm.
Known concealed-carry holsters are bulky and uncomfortable to wear.
More specifically, known concealed-carry holster are generally
designed to fit inside the pants of the user between the user's hip
or back and the user's pants. Such known concealed-carry holsters
typically have clips that are clipped, from the inside of the
user's pants, over the waist band of user's pants to retain the
holster in place. In many instances, for added support, the clips
are clipped over the user's waist band and his/her belt. Typically,
the holster clips are constructed of plastic or metal. However,
plastic clips are prone to breaking and/or deforming due to
extensive use and exposure to heat and cold while being worn by the
user. Similarly, metal clips are prone to deforming, i.e., being
stretched out of shape, due to repeated use of the clips with
various thicknesses of clothing and belts. Moreover, known clips
are generally bulky and very viewable/noticeable by others. That
is, the known clips are not very well concealed, which is adverse
to the purpose of a concealed-carry holster.
SUMMARY
[0004] The present disclosure provides a concealed-carry firearm
holster for wearing under the clothes of a user between the user's
waist and a waistband of the user's pants. In various embodiments,
the holster generally includes a backing panel and a firearm
receptacle connected to the backing panel and structured and
operable to removably retain a firearm. The holster additionally
includes pair of belt clips removably connected, via removable
fasteners, to the backing panel and structured and operable to
removably secure the holster to at least one of the waistband and
belt threaded through belt loops of the user's pants to retain the
holster in position under the user's clothes. Furthermore, the
holster includes a pair of belt clip covers disposable over the
belt clips, wherein the clip covers are structured and operable to
resemble the belt loops of the user's pants.
[0005] Further areas of applicability of the present teachings will
become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be
understood that the description and specific examples are intended
for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the
scope of the present teachings.
DRAWINGS
[0006] The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes
only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present
teachings in any way.
[0007] FIG. 1 is an illustration of a person wearing a
concealed-carry holster having concealing belt clip covers disposed
over belt clips of the holster, in accordance with various
embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0008] FIG. 2 front view of the concealed-carry holster shown in
FIG. 1, in accordance with various embodiments of the present
disclosure.
[0009] FIG. 2A is front view of the concealed-carry holster shown
in FIG. 1, in accordance with various other embodiments of the
present disclosure.
[0010] FIG. 3A is an illustration of a belt clip of the
concealed-carry holster shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with various
embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0011] FIG. 3b is an illustration of a belt clip cover of the
concealed-carry holster shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with various
embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a block illustration of a rear view of the front
seats of an automobile having disposed between a driver's seat and
a center console a concealed-carry holster, in accordance with
various embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0013] FIG. 5 is front view of the concealed-carry holster shown in
FIG. 4, in accordance with various embodiments.
[0014] FIG. 6 is front view of the concealed-carry holster shown in
FIG. 4 including a cover flap, in accordance with various
embodiments.
[0015] Corresponding reference numbers indicate corresponding parts
throughout the several views of drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] The following description is merely exemplary in nature and
is in no way intended to limit the present teachings, application,
or uses. Throughout this specification, like reference numbers will
be used to refer to like elements.
[0017] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the present disclosure provides
a concealed-carry firearm holster 10 for wearing under the clothes
of a user, e.g., under a shirt 14 and pants 18 of the user, between
the user's waist and a waistband of the user's pants 18. As used
herein, the user's waist will be understood to mean any portion of
the user's body around his/her waist, e.g., the user's hip, the
flat or tail of the user's back, or the user's abdomen. Hence,
although the holster 10 is exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 1 as
being positioned on the user's hip, the disclosure should not be so
limited. The holster 10 generally includes a backing panel 22, a
firearm housing 26 mounted to the backing panel 22, at least a pair
of belt clips 30 removably connected to the backing panel 22, and a
plurality of belt clip covers 34 disposed over each of the belt
clips 30 and structured to resemble belt loops 66 of the user's
pants 18.
[0018] The firearm housing 26 is mounted to the backing panel 22
such that the backing panel 22 provides a back side of a firearm
receptacle 38 formed between the firearm housing 26 and the backing
panel 22. The receptacle 38 is structured and operable to securely,
but removably retain a firearm 28, e.g., a pistol. The housing 26
is connected to the backing panel 22 by a plurality of connectors
42 that can be any connecting device suitable to either fixedly or
removably connect the housing 26 to the backing panel 22, e.g.
screws, rivets, stitching, glue, snaps, etc. The backing panel 22
is constructed of a flexible and durable material, such as leather,
and is structured and operable to be placed against the user's body
and to shield the user's body from injury or irritation when
inserting and withdrawing the firearm 28 into and from the
receptacle 26.
[0019] Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3A, the belt clips 30 are
removably connected to the backing panel 22, via removable clip
fasteners 46. More particularly, the backing panel 22 includes a
plurality of mounting holes 50 disposed along opposing edges, as
exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 2. The mounting holes 50 are
structured and operable to receive the clip fasteners 46 such that
the belt clips 30 can be connected to the backing panel 22 in a
variety of locations along the backing panel edges. Therefore, the
belt clips 30 can be connected to the backing panel 22 in order to
selectively position and orient the firearm receptacle 38, i.e.,
the firearm housing 26. That is, when the holster 10 is worn by the
user, the firearm receptacle 38 can be positioned at a desired
height, relative to the top of the user pants 18, and in a desired
orientation, i.e., rotated forward or backward, so that the firearm
28 retained within the firearm receptacle 38 will be positioned and
oriented at a selected height and angle as desired by the user.
[0020] The clip fasteners 46 can be any fastening device that can
be installed, via the selected mounting holes 50, to securely
fasten the belt clips 30 to the backing panel 22, and be removed to
allow the belts clips to be detached from the backing panel 22 and
be removed or moved to a different location on the backing panel
22, via the mounting holes 50. For example, in various embodiments,
the clip fasteners 46 can comprise a screw 54 that is threadably
engageable with a threaded disk (not shown), and a pair of washers
58, e.g., leather washers. In such embodiments, the proximal end 62
of each belt clip 30 is sandwiched between a respective pair of
washers 58 and positioned on the front of the backing panel 22 such
that apertures (not shown) of the washers 58 align with selected
mounting holes 50. Subsequently, the threaded disks are positioned
on the back of the backing panel 22 adjacent the selected mounting
holes 50. The screws 54 are then inserted through the washer
apertures and the selected mounting holes 50 and threadingly
engaged with the respective threaded disks. The screws 54 are then
tightened to secure the belt clips 30 to the backing panel 22.
[0021] The belt clips 30 are structured and operable to removably
secure the holster 10 to the waistband of the user's pants 18, or
more likely to the waistband and a belt threaded through belt loops
54 of the user's pants 18, to retain the holster 10 in position
under the user's shirt 14 and pants 18. In various embodiments,
each belt clip 30 comprises a wire frame 70 having two opposing
side rails 70A and 70B. The side rails 70A and 70B are structured
have a shape such that they extend upwardly from the clip fasteners
46, along the inside of the users pants and out the top of the
waistband, then bend downwardly over the waistband, or waistband
and belt if desired, and then bend back, at a distal end 74, toward
the user and upwardly such that the distal end 74 can hook under
the user's belt if desired. Importantly, the portion of the wire
frame that bends down over the waistband, or waistband and belt if
desired, is sized and shape to resemble the size and shape of the
belt loops of the user's pants.
[0022] Additionally, in various embodiments, proximal ends 62A and
62B of the opposing rails 70A and 70B are bent or curled to fashion
a hook or a loop that will wrap at least partially around a portion
of the respective fastener 46, e.g., around the threaded shaft of a
screw, to securely retain the belt clips 30 on the backing panel 22
when the fasteners 46 are tightened to connect the belt clips 30 to
backing panel 22. More particularly, the hooks and/or loops at the
proximal ends 62A and 62B provide a larger base and more surface
area of the side rails 70A and 70B that can be held by the
respective clip fasteners 46, e.g., a larger base and more surface
area can be clamped between the screws 45 washers 58 and threaded
disks, such that the belt clips 30 will be stably connected to the
backing panel 22 and will not readily twist or turn
longitudinally.
[0023] Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, 3A and 3B, as described above,
each of the belt clips 30 of the holster 10 is covered with a
respective belt clip cover 34 that is structured and designed to
resemble the belt loops 66 of the user's pants 18. More
specifically, as described above, each wire frame 70 is structured
to have a size and shape substantially similar to the belt loops
66, and each belt clip cover 34 is fabricated to closely resemble
the fabric, material and/or design of the belt loops 66 of the
user's pants 18 such that when the holster 10 is worn by the user,
i.e., clipped to the user's pants, and belt if desired, the belt
clips 30 covered with the belt clip covers 34 will substantially
match the size, shape and color of belt loops 66 of the user's
pants. Therefore, when the holster 10 is attached the user's pants,
and belt if desired, and the user's shirt 14 is positioned to cover
the holster 10 and firearm 28 and is tuck into the user's pants 18
to conceal the holster 10 and firearm 28, the belt clips 30 will
appear to be additional belt loops 66, such it will be generally
unnoticed that the user is wearing the holster 10. That is, the
belt clips 30 will be camouflaged, so to speak, by the covers 34 to
simply appear as belt loops 66 of the pants 18.
[0024] As exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B, in various
embodiments, each clip cover 34 is fabricated from a flexible
material and structured as a sock that will fit over the wire frame
70 of a respective belt clip 30. More specifically, in various
embodiments, each clip cover 34 is fashioned as a sock that can be
removably disposed over the wire frame 70 a respective belt clip
30. Hence, in various embodiments, each clip cover 34 has an open
proximal end 78 such that the distal end 74 of a respective wire
frame 70 can be inserted into the open proximal end 78, whereafter
each clip cover 34 can be `fed` onto the respective belt clip 30,
and can be pulled along the wire frame 70 until all, or most of,
each wire frame 70 is covered with the respective clip cover 34. It
is envisioned that covering each belt clip 30 with a respective
clip cover 34 can be done prior to, or subsequent to, connecting
each belt clip to the backing panel 22, as described above.
Importantly, the material that comprises each clip cover 34 is
fabricated to match the material, design and structure of the belt
loops 66, as described above. The clip covers 34 can be constructed
of any flexible material or fabric, e.g., cotton, denim, rayon,
polyester, blends thereof, etc., and have any desired color,
pattern or print, suitable for removably installing over a belt
clip wire frames 70, as described above, and substantially matching
the fabric, material, color, pattern or print of the belt loops 66
of the user's pants 18. Furthermore, and importantly, removability
of the clip covers 34 allows clip covers 34 to be interchangeable
to match the belt loops 66 of various different pants 18 of the
user. That is, clip covers 34 that substantially match the belt
loops 66 of a pair of denim jeans can be removed and replaced with
clip covers 34 that match the belt loops 66 of a pair of stripped
dress slacks. Therefore, the user can remove and replace the clip
covers 34 to match the belt loops 66 of whatever pants 18, e.g.,
jeans, slacks, kakis, shorts, etc. the user selects as the user
changes from pair of pants 18 to another.
[0025] Referring now to FIG. 2A, in various embodiments, the
holster back panel 22 can include a pair of belt apertures 82
structured and operable to receive the user's belt, whereby the
holster 10 can be converted from a concealed carry holster for
wearing under the user's clothing, as described above, to an
exterior holster to be worn on the outside of the user's clothing.
More specifically, in such embodiments, the user can select to
configure the holster 10 with the belt clips 30 such that he/she
can wear the holster 10 and respective firearm 28 in a concealed
manner under his/her clothes, as described above, or the user can
select to configure the holster 10 without the belt clips 30 to be
worn on the exterior of his/her clothes. To configure the holster
10 to be worn on the outside of his/her clothing, the user merely
removes the belt clips 30 from the backing plate 22. Particularly,
the user simply removes or disengages the clip fasteners 46, e.g.,
removes the screws 54 and washers 58, from the mounting holes 50,
whereby the belt clips 30 can be removed from the backing plate 22.
Thereafter, the user can insert his/her belt through the belt loops
66 of his/her pants and additionally through the belt aperture 82
in the backing plate 22, such that the holster 10 is retained on
the user's waist exteriorly of his/her clothing.
[0026] Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, in various other
embodiments, the present disclosure further provides a
concealed-carry firearm holster 100 for use when transporting a
firearm in a vehicle, such as a car or truck. The holster 100 is
structured and operable to be positioned and secured between two
closely adjacent structures of the vehicle. For example, the
holster 100 is structured and operable to be positioned and secured
between a driver's seat 104 and a center console 110, or a
passenger's seat 108 and the center console 112 in vehicles that
are equipped with independent driver's and passenger's seats the
center console 108. Alternatively, in vehicles that are equipped
with a bench seat that is split into a driver's section and a
passenger's section, the holster can be structured to be positioned
and secured between the driver's and passenger's sections.
Although, the bench seat implementation is not illustrated, such an
implementation will be easily and readily understood by one skilled
in the art.
[0027] The holster 100 generally includes a support panel 116
adjustably connected to a backing panel 120, a firearm housing 124
mounted to the backing panel 120, and cinching strap 128 connected
to the backing panel 120. The firearm housing 124 is mounted to the
backing panel 120 such that the backing panel 120 provides a back
side of a firearm 136 receptacle 132 formed between the firearm
housing 124 and the backing panel 120. The receptacle 132 is
structured and operable to securely, but removably retain a firearm
136, e.g., a pistol. The housing 124 is connected to the backing
panel 120 by a plurality of connectors 140 that can be any
connecting device suitable to either fixedly or removably connect
the housing 26 to the backing panel 120, e.g. screws, rivets,
stitching, glue, snaps, etc.
[0028] As described above, the backing panel 120 is adjustably
connected to the support panel 116. More specifically, disposed
along opposing edges, the support panel 116 includes a plurality of
adjustment holes 144 through which adjustment fasteners 148 of the
backing panel 120 can be inserted and fastened. The adjustment
fasteners extend from a back of the backing panel 120 and are
insertable through any selected pair of adjustment holes to
selectively adjust length L of the holster 100.
[0029] The adjustment fasteners 148 can be any fastening device
that can be installed, via the selected adjustment holes 144, to
securely fasten the backing panel 120 to the support panel 116, and
be removed to allow the backing panel 120 to be detached from the
support panel 116 then moved to and attached at a different
location on the support panel 116, via the adjustment fasteners and
holes 148 and 144, in order to adjust the length L for proper
installation of the holster 10, as described below. For example, in
various embodiments, each adjustment fastener 148 can comprise a
nut (not shown) and bolt or screw that are threadably engageable.
In such embodiments, the bolts/screws can be either attached to the
backing panel 120 or inserted through a pair of apertures in the
backing panel 120. To adjust the length L, the nuts are threadingly
disengaged from the bolts/screws and the bolts/screws are withdrawn
from the respective adjustment holes 148. Subsequently, the
bolts/screws are inserted through a different set of adjustment
holes such that the length L is equal to a desired length and the
nuts are threadingly reengaged with the bolts/screws. Whereafter,
the bolts/screws and nuts are tightened to securely connect the
backing panel 120 to the support panel 116 such that the length L
of the holster 100 is set to the desired length. As described
below, the desired length L of the holster 100 is based on a height
H of the vehicle seat next to which the holster 100 is to be
installed, i.e., the height H of the driver's seat 104 or the
passenger's seat 108. Although the holster 100 is exemplarily
illustrated having only two adjustment fasteners 148, it is
envisioned that the holster 100 can include more than two
adjustment fasteners 148 and remain within the scope of the present
disclosure.
[0030] The cinching strap 128 is a two-part strap comprising a
holster section 128A and an anchor section 128B that are detachably
connectable with each other via a cinch connector 152. The holster
section 128A has a first half 152A of the cinch connector 152
attached at a distal end and is fixedly connected to the backing
panel 120 at an opposing proximal end. The anchor section 128B has
a second half 152B of the cinch connector 152 adjustably attached
at a proximal end and has an anchor loop 156 formed at an opposing
distal end. The cinch connector 152 can be any connector suitable
to securely connect the holster section 128A of the cinching strap
128 to the anchor section 128B and be structured and operable to
allow for adjustment of a length of the cinching strap 128.
[0031] For example, in various embodiments, the cinch connector 156
can be a prong-type connector (as exemplarily illustrated in FIG.
4) that includes a pinch-lock for adjusting the length of the cinch
strap 128 and pinch-locking the cinch strap 128 at the desired
length. In such embodiments, the first half 152A of the cinch
connector 152 can comprise a receiving half and be fixedly
connected to the distal end of cinch strap holster section 125A,
and the second half 152B of the cinch connector 152 can comprise a
pronged half that is structured to be inserted into the receiving
half to interlockably connect with the receiving half. In various
implementations, the pronged half can comprise the pinch-lock.
Alternatively, the cinch connector 156 can be a snap, a button, a
hook and loop connector, a buckle, Velcro.TM., etc.
[0032] To install the holster 100 in the desired location, e.g.,
between the driver's seat 104 and the center console 112, a ruler
is used to measure the height H of the driver's seat 104. The
height H is substantially equal to the distance from a floor 160 of
the vehicle and top 104A of the driver's seat 104. Subsequently,
the length L of the holster 100 is adjusted, via the adjustment
fasteners 148 and adjustment holes 144 as described above, to
substantially equal to the height H. Next, the cinching strap
holster section 128A is disconnected from the anchor section 128B
and the holster 100 is positioned between the driver's seat 104 and
the center console 112. The holster 100 is then pushed downward
until a bottom edge 116A of the support panel 116 is in firm
contact with the floor 160 of the vehicle, thereby providing
support for the holster 100 and preventing the holster 100 from
sliding further downward between the driver's seat 104 and the
center console 112. Once the holster 100 is properly positioned
between the driver's seat 104 and the center console 112 with the
support panel bottom edge 116A firm in contact with the floor 160
the anchor section 128B of the cinching strap 128 is wrapped around
an anchor point 164 of the vehicle.
[0033] The anchor point 164 can be any structure of the driver's
seat 104 (or the passenger's seat 108 in an alternative
installation), or of the center console 112, or any other structure
under or near the seat 104 (or seat 108) that is securely attached
to the floor 160. For example, in various embodiments, the anchor
point 164 can be any portion of the structure connecting the seat
104 or 108 to the floor 160, e.g., the seat track or seat leg.
After the cinching strap 128 is wrapped around an anchor point 164
the distal end of the cinching strap anchor section 128B, having
the second half 152B of the cinch connected 152 connected thereto,
is inserted through the anchor loop 156 and pulled until the
cinching strap anchor section 128B is securely tied around or to
the anchor point 164. The cinching strap anchor section 128B is
then connected to the holster sections 128B via the cinch connector
152. Thereafter, the length of the cinching strap 128 is adjusted,
i.e., shortened, via the pinch-lock adjustment of the cinch
connector second half 152, to cinch the holster 100 down to the
floor 160.
[0034] Accordingly, the holster 100 is securely held between the
driver's seat 104 and the center console 112 by the cinching strap
128 and will not be pulled from between the driver's seat 104 and
the center console 112 when the firearm 136 is removed from the
firearm receptacle 132. Furthermore, compressive forces applied to
the holster 100 by the driver's seat 104 (or passenger's seat 108)
and the center console 112, caused by pushing the holster 100 into
the gap between the driver's seat 104 (or passenger's seat 108) and
the center console 112, will provide further stability to the
positioning of the holster 100 and prevent the holster 100 from
easily sliding forward or backward due to forward and backward
momentum forces generated during operation of the vehicle.
[0035] Referring now to FIG. 6, in various embodiments, the holster
100 can further include a concealment flap 168 that can be disposed
over the firearm 136 with the firearm is retained within the
firearm receptacle 132 and the holster is installed as described
above. The concealment flap 168 connected to the support panel 116,
e.g., to the back of the support panel 116, and can be any flexible
material suitable for laying over the firearm 136 in a blanket or
cover-like manner. For example, in various embodiments, the
concealment flap 168 can comprise a thin flexible piece of leather
suitably sized to cover and conceal the firearm 136 when laid
across the firearm 136.
[0036] The description herein is merely exemplary in nature and,
thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of that which is
described are intended to be within the scope of the teachings.
Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the
spirit and scope of the teachings.
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