U.S. patent application number 15/407780 was filed with the patent office on 2017-07-20 for handgun with trigger guard attachment, and holster.
The applicant listed for this patent is Safariland, LLC. Invention is credited to Matthew E. McKendrick, William H. Rogers.
Application Number | 20170205189 15/407780 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57915140 |
Filed Date | 2017-07-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170205189 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rogers; William H. ; et
al. |
July 20, 2017 |
Handgun with Trigger Guard Attachment, and Holster
Abstract
A handgun for insertion in a holster has grip and a top edge and
a trigger guard. A control element is removably mounted on the
handgun trigger guard. The control element includes a control arm
that extends from the trigger guard in a direction away from the
top edge of the handgun and that has an outer end portion farthest
from the top edge of the handgun. The dimensions of an associated
holster are selected so that when the handgun is holstered the
outer end portion of the control arm engages a wall of the
holster.
Inventors: |
Rogers; William H.; (St.
Augustine, FL) ; McKendrick; Matthew E.;
(Jacksonville, FL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Safariland, LLC |
Jacksonville |
FL |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
57915140 |
Appl. No.: |
15/407780 |
Filed: |
January 17, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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62280579 |
Jan 19, 2016 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41C 23/12 20130101;
F41A 19/11 20130101; F41C 33/0254 20130101; F41C 3/00 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F41C 23/12 20060101
F41C023/12; F41C 3/00 20060101 F41C003/00; F41C 33/02 20060101
F41C033/02; F41A 19/11 20060101 F41A019/11 |
Claims
1. Apparatus comprising: a holster defining a charier for receiving
a handgun, the holster having a first wall and a second wall on
opposite sides of the chamber; a handgun for insertion in the
chamber in the holster, the handgun having a grip and a top edge
and a trigger guard; and a control element that is removably
mounted on the handgun trigger guard and that includes a control
arm that extends from the trigger guard in a direction away from
the top edge of the handgun, the control arm having an outer end
portion that is farthest from the top edge or the handgun; the
dimensions of the holster and of the control element being selected
so that when the handgun is holstered, the top edge of the handgun
engages the first wall of the holster, and the outer end portion of
the control arm engages the second wall of the holster.
2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the control element is
formed as first and second pieces that are positioned on opposite
sides of the trigger guard and that are fastened together on the
trigger guard to form the assembled control element.
3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the control arm
located about halfway back on the trigger guard, and far enough
forward of the handgun grip to enable fingers of a shooter's
shooting hand to wrap around the front of the grip.
4. Apparatus a set forth in claim 3 wherein the control arm extends
from the trigger guard for a distance in the range of from about
one half inch to about one inch.
5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the handgun has a rail
for mounting accessories, and the length of the control element is
selected so that when a laser accessory is mounted on the rail and
the handgun is holstered, the control element engages the second
wall of the holster but the accessory does not engage the second
wall of the holster.
6. Apparatus comprising: a handgun for insertion holster, the
handgun having a grip and a top edge and a trigger guard; and a
control element that is removably mounted on handgun trigger guard,
the control element including a control arm that extends from the
trigger guard in a direction away from the top edge of the handgun,
the control arm having an outer end portion that is farthest from
the top edge of the handgun.
7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein the control arm
extends from the trigger guard for a distance in the range of from
about one half inch to about one inch.
8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein the control element is
formed as first and second pieces that are positioned on opposite
sides of the trigger guard and that are fastened together on the
trigger guard to form the assembled control element.
9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein the control arm is
located about halfway back on the trigger guard, and far enough
forward of the handgun grip to enable fingers of a shooter's
shooting hand to wrap around the front of the grip.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] In a modern-day semi-automatic pistol, the bore axis is well
above the position of the shooter's shooting hand. This positioning
allows the slide to move backward and forward without contacting
the shooter's hand. Because the bore axis is above the point where
the shooter's hand grips the gun, the forces generated upon firing
of the weapon can cause the muzzle to rise abruptly when the weapon
is fired. This action referred to as "muzzle flip" and can
adversely affect the accuracy, and speed at which additional shots
can be delivered by the shooter.
[0002] One way to limit muzzle flip is to use a two handed
technique in which the shooter's support (second) hand applies
additional clamping force to the gun and to the primary hand, thus
helping to steady the gun when it is fired. In this regard, some
firearms manufacturers have attempted to enhance the control of the
pistol by checkering or stippling the forward face of the trigger
guard, where the forefinger of the support hand can apply pressure.
However, because the forward face of the trigger guard is
substantially forward on the gun, not much gripping force is
available to control the movement of the handgun. Also, the
forefinger of the support hand cannot oppose the thumb with
sufficient clamping pressure.
[0003] Such handguns may have a rail system incorporated into the
frame of the handgun. The rail sits just below the slide and barrel
of the handgun and forward of the trigger guard. The rail enables
accessories such as lasers to be attached to the handgun for a
tactical advantage. But some rail mounted accessories extend below
the bottom of the trigger guard, which can pose a problem when
holstering the gun. This is because holsters control movement of
the handgun in a direction between the top of the slide and the
bottom of the trigger guard; this positioning helps to ensure also
that the holster locking mechanism stays engaged and that the gun
cannot be rocked out of the holster. When a rail mounted accessory
extends below the bottom of the trigger guard, the holster cannot
contact the trigger guard.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In accordance with the present invention, a control element
is provided on the handgun, to enhance control when a two handed
grip is used. The control element extends downward from the bottom
of the trigger guard, at a fore and aft location closer (rearward)
to the grip of the handgun than the front face of the trigger
guard. The control element may have a non-slip (high friction)
surface, below the existing trigger guard and close to the handgun
grip. The result is that the forefinger of the shooter's support
hand can apply both rearward and downward pressure, with a strong
clamping force, thereby helping to reduce muzzle flip.
[0005] A holster that is designed to accommodate a handgun having
such a control element is designed to index to the bottom of the
control element which is typically below the bottom surface of a
rail mounted accessory. This configuration allows the hand un to be
properly secured in the holsters.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 left side elevational view of a handgun that can
receive both a rail mounted accessory and a trigger guard
attachment of the present invention;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the handgun with
both a rail mounted accessory and a trigger guard attachment of the
present invention;
[0008] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the two
separate parts of the trigger guard attachment;
[0009] FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing the trigger
guard attachment on the handgun;
[0010] FIG. 5 is a view s similar to FIG. 2 and showing the handgun
with accessory and trigger guard attachment in a holster; and
[0011] FIG. 6 is an enlarged elevational view of a portion of FIG.
5, showing the spatial relationship of the trigger guard attachment
to the bottom wall of the holster.
DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The drawings illustrate one embodiment of the invention. A
handgun holster 10 (FIG. 5) has a body 12 defining a chamber 14 for
receiving a handgun that is illustrated schematically at 20. The
holster body 12 includes a first or top wall 16 (forward wall when
the holster is secured on the shooter's belt), and, on the opposite
side of the chamber 14, a second or bottom wall 18 (back wall when
the holster is secured on the shooter's belt).
[0013] The handgun 20 (FIG. 1) in the illustrated embodiment is a
semi-automatic handgun. The handgun 20 has a body 22 including a
muzzle 24 defining a bore axis 26 near the top edge 28 of the
handgun. A slide 30 at the top of the body 22 reciprocates relative
to the body, in a direction parallel to the bore axis 26, when the
handgun 20 is fired. The slide 30 forms the top edge 28 of the
handgun 20. The handgun's grip 32 is part of the body 22 and is
located at the back end of the handgun 20 at a location below the
bore axis 26.
[0014] The handgun body 22 supports a trigger guard 40, at a
location forward of the grip 32 and below the slide 30. The trigger
guard 40 has a generally L-shaped configuration as viewed from the
side (FIG. 2), including a forward leg 42 and a bottom leg 44. The
trigger guard 40 encloses the trigger 46.
[0015] The illustrated hand gun 20 also has a rail 50 for
supporting one or more accessories on the handgun. The rail 50 is
located on the side of the body 22, forward of the trigger guard 40
and below the muzzle 24. The rail 50 has an industry standard
configuration adapted to support, in a known manner, one or more of
various known accessories, such as a laser sight or a light. In the
illustrated embodiment, an accessory shown schematically at 52 is
supported on the rail 50. The accessory extends downward from the
rail 50, that is, in a direction away from the top edge 28 of the
handgun 20, at a location in front of the trigger guard 40. The
accessory projects below the trigger guard 40 (in a direction away
from the top edge 28 of the handgun 20).
[0016] In accordance with a feature of the present invention, a
control member 60 (FIGS. 3-6) is attached to the trigger guard 40
of the handgun 20. The control member 60 in the illustrated
embodiment is formed as two separate pieces 62 and 64, fitted on
opposite sides of the trigger guard 40. In other embodiments of the
invention, the control member could be configured or constructed
differently.
[0017] The left piece 62 of the control member 60 has a generally
Z-shaped configuration as viewed from the side and includes a
forward arm 66 that is adapted to overlie the forward leg 42 of the
trigger guard 40. A lateral arm 68 of the left piece 62 extends
rearward from the lower end of the forward arm 66 and is adapted to
overlie the bottom leg 44 of the trigger guard 40. A gripping arm
70 of the left piece 62 extends downward from the back end of the
lateral arm 68. The left piece 62 also has two fastener openings in
the firm of through holes 72 for receiving fasteners there
through.
[0018] The right piece 64 of the control member 60 is generally a
mirror image of the left piece. The right piece 64 has a generally
Z-shaped configuration as viewed from the side and includes a
forward arm 74 that is adapted to overlie the forward leg 42 of the
trigger guard 40. A lateral arm 76 of the right piece 64 extends
rearward from the lower end of the forward arm 74 and is adapted to
overlie the bottom leg 44 of the trigger guard 40. A gripping arm
78 of the right piece 64 extends downward from the back end of the
lateral arm 76, The right piece 64 also includes two bores 80 for
receiving fasteners.
[0019] The left and right pieces 62 and 64 of the control member 60
are fitted together over trigger guard 40. The fastener openings 72
on the left piece 62 align with the pores 80 in the right piece 64.
Two fasteners 82, such as screws, extend through the mounting
openings 72 in the left piece 62 and into the bores 80 in the right
piece 64, to secure the two pieces together. As a result, the
control member 60 is securely positioned on the trigger guard 40.
In one embodiment, the two control member pieces 62 and 64 are
plastic and the screws 82 are metal self-threading screws.
[0020] When the control member 60 is in position, on the handgun
20, the two gripping arms 70 and 78 together form a control arm 90
that extends downward from the trigger guard 40, that is, in a
direction away from the bore axis 26 and away from the top edge 28
of the handgun 20. The front face 92 of the control arm 90 may be
stippled or textured or provided with another type of non-slip
surface, to enhance gripping. The control arm 90 is located about
halfway back on the bottom leg 44 of the trigger guard 40. In one
embodiment, the control arm 90 is in the range of from about one
half inch long to about one inch long. An outer end portion 94 of
the control arm 90 is located farthest from the top edge 28 of the
handgun 20.
[0021] When the handgun 20 is gripped with a two-handed grip, the
shooting hand is wrapped around the grip 32: the thumb is behind
the grip, the index finger lies alongside the handgun body 22, and
the last three fingers grasp the front of the grip and pull back
against (toward) the thumb.
[0022] On a handgun 20 that does not include the control member 60
of the present invention, the support hand would wrap around the
shooting hand, its thumb on the back of the grip 32 and its fingers
on the three fingers of the shooting hand that are on the front of
the grip.
[0023] When the handgun 20 includes a control member 60 of the
present invention, the control arm 90 is positioned forward enough
so that the last three fingers of the shooting hand can still wrap
the front of the grip 32 without interference. The support hand is
positioned over the shooting hand, generally as before. But in this
case, the index finger of the support hand engages and pulls back
on the front face 92 of the control arm 90, toward the thumb. This
action applies not only a rearward force vector to the control a
90, but also a significant downward force vector to the control arm
90, thus helping to counteract the upward force of the muzzle
flip.
[0024] The dimensions of the holster 10 and of the control arm 90
are selected so that when the handgun 20 is holstered (FIG. 5), (i)
the top edge 28 of the handgun engages the top wall 16 of the
holster, and (ii) the outer end portion 94 of the control arm 90
engages the bottom wall 18 of the holster. As a result, hand gun 20
is properly fitted in the holster 10, as desired.
[0025] In addition, the dimensions of the control arm 90 are
selected so that rail mounted accessories do not engage the bottom
wall 18 of the holster 10. This benefit is seen in FIGS. 5 and 6
and helps to protect the accessories. The engagement of the holster
10 with the control arm 90, under the trigger guard 40, prevents
the handgun 20 from being rocked enough to loosen it from the
holster locking mechanism and pulled out of the holster, without
unlocking the holster locking mechanism.
[0026] The control member 60 may be removed by unfastening the
screws 82. When the control member 60 is removed, the handgun 20 is
unchanged and fully functional
[0027] From the above description of the invention, those skilled
in the art will perceive improvements, changes and modifications in
the invention. Such improvements, changes and modifications within
the skill of the art are intended to be covered by the appended
claims.
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