Automatic Pistol Holster

Abstract

A holster for a pistol has an outer shell adapted to accommodate the pistol. Located within the shell is a cocking member which engages the slide of the pistol so that, if the latter is initially depressed before being drawn from the holster, the slide will be retained by the cocking member and the pistol will thus be in cocked condition at the time it is subsequently withdrawn from the holster.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to holsters for hand guns, and more particularly to quick-draw holsters. Still more particularly, the invention relates to an automatic pistol holster which permits quick drawing of the pistol in cocked and loaded condition.

Most law enforcement officers are required to carry hand guns, usually automatic pistols, in the performance of their duties. In the instances where it becomes necessary for the officer to use the weapon it is frequently essential that he be able to draw it quickly, surely and safely.

Hand guns are usually carried in holsters which, in most instances, are secured to the belt of the user. Many attempts are known from the prior art to provide a quick-draw holster which meets all requirements arising from the emergency use of the holstered hand gun. However, while some of these holsters certainly permit the rapid withdrawing of the gun, none have heretofore become known which assure that the gun could be drawn in cocked and loaded condition, ready to fire, thus saving the time usually required for placing the weapon in this condition after it has been withdrawn from the holster.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an improved holster for hand guns which affords the above advantages.

More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved pistol holster which permits rapid drawing of a holstered pistol.

An additional object of the invention is to provide such a pistol holster which assures that, when the pistol is drawn therefrom, the weapon will be cocked and loaded and be in condition for firing.

In pursuance of these objects and of others which will become apparent hereafter, one feature of the invention resides in a pistol holster which, briefly stated, comprises a sheet material member having a transverse first portion and a pair of flap portions which extend from a surface of the first portion in transversely spaced relationship. The flap portions have free edges which define opposite and spaced from the first portion an open side. One of the flap portions is adapted to face towards the body of a user and has a normally upper part provided with a downwardly folded extension which forms a belt loop and includes an ear overlying and secured to the aforementioned surface of the first portion. A strap extends transversely of the flap portions between the same and is secured to an inwardly directed side of the one flap portion and to an outwardly directed side of the other flap portion; a reinforcing strap member is provided on the outer side of the one flap portion and is provided in the region of the open side with a substantially tubular portion. A spring member is connected to the free edges of the flap portions and to the tubular portion. A cocking member is located in the region of the first portion, being rigidly connected with the strap member between the flap portions so as to engage the slide of a pistol lodged in the holster. Initial depressing of the pistol in the holster thus results in retention of the slide by the cocking member against movement, causing the pistol to become cocked so that it can thereafter be drawn from the holster in cocked condition.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of FIG. 1, looking towards the right;

FIG. 3 is a view of the embodiment in FIG. 1, showing the side which is concealed in that figure;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, partly sectioned view, illustrating how the cocking member of the embodiment in FIGS. 1-3 is secured;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but illustrating another embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, partly sectioned view, showing the holster and illustrating a pistol in the act of being cocked;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the holster in FIG. 5, with the pistol omitted;

FIG. 8 illustrates the holster of FIG. 5 with the pistol in cocked condition, ready to be withdrawn;

FIG. 9 is a view showing the interior of the holster of FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is an exploded view showing certain interior components of the holster in FIG. 5;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken at line XI--XI of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken at line XII--XII of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Discussing firstly the embodiment in FIGS. 1-4 and 11, it will be seen that the novel holster comprises a main component 1, in form of a shell-like sheet material member which may be made of suitable flexible material, leather being preferred but not necessary. The member 1 has a transverse front portion 2 at opposite lateral sides of which two flap portions 3 and 4 (compare FIG. 2) extend rearwardly from the front portion 2. The outer flap portion 3, that is the one which in the use of the holster faces away from the body of the wearer, is of generally semicircular outline. The inner flap portion 4, that is the one which in the use of the holster faces the body of the wearer, is in its lower region of substantially the contour of the flap portion 3. In its upper region, however, that is the region which faces normally upwardly when the holster is worn by a user, the flap portion 4 has an extension 5 which is folded downwardly at 6 to form a belt loop. The extension 6 has an ear 7 which overlies and conforms to the contour of the portion 2, to which it is secured by means of rivets 8 or analogous fasteners.

A strap 9 is secured to the inner side of the flap 4 and has a free end 10 provided with a snap fastener 11 which can co-operate with a mating fastener secured at the outer side of the flap portion 3.

A reinforcing strap member 14, preferably of metallic material, is provided at the outer side of the flap portion 4 in the upper region thereof; the strap 14 has a rearwardly curving part conforming with the curvature of the portion 2 and of the ear 7 to which it is secured by the rivets 8. Adjacent the open side of the holster which is bounded by the free edges of the flap portions 3 and 4, the strap 14 is shaped to substantially tubular configuration and held in place by a leg of a spring 12 which is positioned in the region of the free edges of the flap portions 4, with the aforementioned leg extending into the tubular portion of the strap 14. A covering strap 13 is stitched to the free edges and holds the spring 12 in position. The legs of the spring 12 extend upwardly and are convergent in part, so that in the region of their convergence they press the flap portions 3 and 4 together.

The rivets 8 further secure to the portion 2, and more particularly at the inner side of the reinforcing strap 14, a cocking member 15 which is preferably made of a hard synthetic plastic material, carabao horn also having been found suitable for this purpose. A rearwardly divergent strip 16 (see FIGS. 2-4) is secured to the extension 5 and the flap portion 4. This strip 16, which may be made of leather or a similar material, serves to maintain the grip of the holstered pistol 17 in position for ready grasping by the hand of a user and for covering the reinforcing strap 14. It may be seen particularly in FIG. 11 that the reinforcing strap 14 as well as the spring 12 are fully enclosed with respect to the interior and the exterior of the holster, the former by being sandwiched between the flap portion 4 or the front portion 2, and the ear 7 or the strip 16, respectively, the latter by being accommodated between the flap portions 3 and 4, or the front portion 2, respectively, and the covering strap 13, so that damage to the automatic pistol or injury to the user, which may otherwise occur if the reinforcing strap 14 and the spring 12 were accessible, is eliminated.

A securing strap 18 connects the free edges of the flap portions 3 and 4, being attached to the same by suitable snap fasteners, and preventing the automatic pistol from accidentally sliding out of the holster.

Coming now to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5-10 and 12, it will be seen that here the main or shell portion of the holster is identified with reference numeral 1A, having the transverse portion 2A and the flap portions 3A and 4A. The flap portion 4A has the upper extension 5A which is downwardly folded at 6A and provided with an ear 7A secured in overlying relationship to the portion 2A by rivets 8A or analogous fasteners.

In this embodiment, however, there is provided a channel member 14A, advantageously of metallic material, which replaces the reinforcing strap member 14 of the embodiment in FIGS. 1-4 and 11. The configuration of the channel member 14A can be most clearly seen in FIG. 10. It may be seen in FIG. 12 that the reinforcing strap 14A is accommodated between the front portion 2A and the ear 7A, so that both the person using the holster and the automatic pistol are protected from coming into contact with the reinforcing member 14A.

Secured to the inner surface of the main portion 1A, as by stitching, is an insert member 1B which is contoured to conform with the curvature of the portion 2A and also has flap portions 3B and 4B. The configuration of the flap portion 3B corresponds to that of the flap portion 3A, while the flap portion 4B only generally conforms to the shape of the flap portion 4A but is narrower than the same.

A cocking member 15A is secured in the region of the upper inner side of the insert member 1B, being retained by the channel member 14A. A strap 9A is connected, as by stitching, to the inner side of flap portion 4A at some distance from the upper rear edge of the flap portion 4B; it has a free end portion 10A provided with a snap fastener 11A which can co-operate with another snap fastener located at the outwardly directed side of the flap portion 3A so that, when the snap fasteners are engaged, the strap 9A secures the pistol 17 in the holster against unintentional withdrawal.

A spring 12A is provided, extending along the free edges of the flap portions 3A and 4A, being held in place by a covering strap 13A which is stitched to these free edges. The spring 12A is appropriately shaped to press the free edges of the flap portions 3A and 4A against one another.

A securing strap 18A is snapped by the aid of suitable snap fasteners to the free edges of the flap portions 3A and 4A, substantially midway between the fold 22A of strap 13A and the upper edge of the portion 2A. The purpose of the strap 18A is to prevent the pistol 17 from accidentally sliding out of the holster. A rearwardly diverging strip 16A, stitched to the flap portion 4A as shown in FIG. 7, serves to maintain the handle of the pistol 17 in position for ready grasping.

The holster of either embodiment disclosed herein may be secured to the belt of a user by passing the belt through the loop formed by the portions 5 or 5A. The pistol is then inserted into the holster until the rear sight 20 of the pistol -- which sight is provided on the cocking slide -- engages the upper edge of the cocking member 15 or 15A. With the pistol in this position, the strap 18 or 18A is snapped in place, and afterwards the strap 9 or 9A is folded over the pistol grip and snapped in place.

When the pistol is so worn in the novel holster and it is desired to quickly draw it for use, it is merely necessary to grasp the handle 19 and push down on it, as indicated, for example, by the arrow in FIG. 6. Because the sight 20 of the slide 21 of the pistol is engaged by the cocking member 15 or 15A, the body of the pistol moves downwardly, whereas the slide 21 is prevented from such movement. In accordance with the well-known construction and operation of such pistols, this effects cocking of the pistol and simultaneously chambers a bullet. Continued exertion of a downward push on the pistol will cause the latter to perform an essentially arcuate movement as indicated in FIG. 8 while the securing strap 18 or 18A snaps open. This frees the rear sight 20 of the pistol from the cocking member 15 and as soon as the pistol clears the holster -- out of which it has been downwardly pushed as shown in FIG. 8 -- it is loaded, cocked and ready for firing.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of applications differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a holster for hand guns, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set

1. A pistol holster comprising, in combination, a sheet material member having a transverse first portion and a pair of flap portions which extend from a surface of said first portion in transversely spaced relationship, said flap portions having free edges which define opposite and spaced from said first portion an open side, one of said flap portions being adapted to face towards the body of a user and having a normally upper part provided with a donwwardly folded extension which forms a belt loop and includes an ear overlying and secured to said first portion; a reinforcing strap member being secured to outwardly directed sides of said one flap portion and of said first portion and having in the region of said open side a substantially tubular portion; a spring member connected to said free edges of said flap portions and to said tubular portion for biasing the flat together; and a cocking member located in the region of said first portion and rigidly connected with said strap member between said flap portions so as to engage the slide of an automatic pistol lodged in said holster, whereby initial depressing of the pistol in said holster results in retention of said slide against downward movement and consequent cocking of the pistol, so that the pistol can thereafter be drawn from said holster either upwardly or rearwardly from between the

2. A pistol holster as defined in claim 1 and further comprising retaining straps for securing an automatic pistol in said holster against

3. A pistol holster as defined in claim 1, wherein said strap member is of

4. A pistol holster as defined in claim 1, wherein said cocking member is

5. A pistol holster comprising, in combination, a sheet material member having a transverse first portion and a pair of flap portions which extend from a surface of said first portion in transversely spaced relationship, said flap portions having free edges which define opposite and spaced from said first portion an open side, one of said flap portions being adapted to face towards the body of a user and having a normally upper part provided with a downwardly folded extension which forms a belt loop and includes an ear overlying and secured to said first portion; a channel member connected to said first portion; an insert member secured to an inner side of said sheet material member; a spring member connected to said free edges for biasing the edge together and configurated for engaging and retaining a pistol lodged in said holster; and a cocking member aligned with said channel member and rigidly secured to an inner side of said insert member, said cocking member being positioned to engage the slide of an automatic pistol lodged in said holster, whereby initial depressing of the pistol results in retention of said slide against downward movement and consequent cocking of the pistol, so that the pistol can thereafter be drawn from said holster either upwardly or rearwardly from between the biased flaps in cocked condition.