Thumb-actuated locking holster

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11725905-B2
Application number	US-202117245688-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 30, 2021
Priority date	Mar 23, 2018
Publication date	Aug 15, 2023
Grant date	Aug 15, 2023

Abstract

A holster for receiving and withdrawing a handgun has a proximal wall portion with a handgun retention mechanism thereon. The mechanism having a first lever with a tab portion for actuation and release of a trigger guard, the lever having a snap fit into a lever region without a separate pin. A belt engaging member covers the lever region capturing the first lever therein. If a second retention mechanism is used, another lever with a tab portion is positioned so the tabs are stacked, depressing one also depresses the tab behind it, such that both mechanisms are released. Overmolded polymer layers in the holster body provides a softer interior handgun engagement surfaces. The holster body is split forwardly with a threaded fastener for clamping onto the handgun. No holster body is beneath or rearward of the tab portion, configured as a thumb button, allowing smooth transition to gripping the handgun.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A holster mount comprising:
a column portion comprising:
a lower portion comprising a holster attachment region;
a mid-level portion disposed vertically above the lower portion; and
an upper portion disposed vertically above the mid-level portion;
at least one of the mid-level portion and the upper portion comprising a recess defined by a lower rib and two side ribs configured to be adjacent to a holster attached to the holster attachment region, wherein the side ribs extend into at least a portion of the upper portion; and

at least one belt loop portion extending from the upper portion.

2. The holster mount of claim 1 , wherein the recess is configured to accommodate a thumb while drawing a pistol from a holster attached to the holster attachment region.

3. The holster mount of claim 1 , the holster attachment region further comprising apertures for receiving at least one threaded fastener for attachment to a holster body.

4. The holster mount of claim 1 , the recess configured to cooperate with a holster body to capture components of a retention mechanism of the holster body between the holster body and the recess.

5. The holster mount of claim 1 , the at least one belt loop portion displaced distally inward of the column portion and displaced laterally from the column portion.

6. The holster mount of claim 1 , wherein the at least one belt loop portion extends from the upper portion of the column portion.

7. The holster mount of claim 6 , the upper portion further comprising an upper connection portion connecting the at least one belt loop portion to the upper portion; the upper portion, upper connection portion, and at least one belt loop portion being unitary with each other.

8. The holster mount of claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one belt loop portion is configured for clamping.

9. The holster mount of claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one belt loop portion is adjustable with respect to the column portion by a respective threaded fastener.

10. The holster mount of claim 9 , the at least one belt loop portion further comprising a lower end not unitarily joined to the column portion, but having a closable space therefrom, the closable space closable by the threaded fastener.

11. The holster mount of claim 1 , the mid-level portion further comprising protruding portions configured to cooperate with the lower ends of the at least one belt loop portion.

12. The holster mount of claim 11 , the protruding portions comprising bosses.

13. The holster mount of claim 1 , the at least one belt loop portion further comprising an outside face, the outside face comprising protruding features.

14. The holster mount of claim 13 , the protruding features selected from a group consisting of ribs and studs.

15. The holster mount of claim 1 , the upper portion comprising a back side, the back side comprising protruding features.

16. The holster mount of claim 15 , the protruding features selected from a group consisting of ribs and studs.

17. A holster system for receiving a handgun, comprising:
a holster comprising:
a holster body having a plurality of unitary holster wall portions defining a handgun receiving cavity, the plurality of holster wall portions including a proximal wall portion;
a handgun retention mechanism at the proximal wall portion for selectively preventing the handgun, when in the cavity, from being withdrawn from the cavity; the handgun retention mechanism comprising a thumb actuator;

a holster mount comprising:
a column portion comprising:
a holster attachment region configured to attach to the holster;
a recess defined by a lower rib and two side ribs, wherein the recess is disposed opposite the thumb actuator and is configured to accommodate a thumb while actuating the thumb actuator and drawing the pistol from the holster; and
at least one belt loop portion extending from the column portion.

18. The holster system of claim 17 , wherein the column portion further comprises:
a lower plate portion;
a mid-level portion; and
an upper portion;
wherein the lower plate portion comprises the holster attachment region.

19. The holster system of claim 18 , wherein the at least one belt loop portion extends from the upper portion of the column portion and is configured for clamping, and wherein each of the at least one belt loop portions is adjustable with respect to the column portion by a respective threaded fastener.

20. A holster mount comprising:
a column portion comprising:
a holster attachment region; and
an upwardly extending, thumb receiving recess defined by a lower rib and two side ribs configured to be adjacent to a holster attached to the holster attachment region, wherein the ribs are adjacent to the holster attachment region, and configured such that access to the recess by a user's thumb is not blocked from above when a holster is attached to the holster attachment region; and

at least one belt loop portion extending from the column portion.

Assignees

• Vista Outdoor Operations Llc

Inventors

• Smith Paul N
• Lance Troy E
• Woods Oscar C
• Sereday Daniel D
• Michael Christopher J
• Meinert Robert J

Classifications

• F41C33/0236 Primary

  Half-holsters covering by encircling only a part of the small arm, e.g. ghost-holsters · CPC title

• F41C33/0263

  having a locking system for preventing unauthorized or accidental removal of the small arm from the holster (F41C33/0227 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F41C33/041

  for connecting a holster to a belt, webbing or other object · CPC title

• F41C33/0227 Primary

  having a strap or other restraining element only covering the hammer or a part of the upper part of the small arm · CPC title