Abstract:
A concealed gun holster to be worn around the waist and leg of a person. The gun holster having a leg strap, a hip strap, and a gun shroud. The hip strap and gun shroud configured to be adjustable and movable based on the personal preferences and comfort of the person.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Inconspicuous and comfortable are two hallmarks of a proper concealed gun holster. Previous to the present invention, concealed gun holsters generally comprised holsters that attach to a wearer&#39;s belt, around a wearer&#39;s waist, attached to a belt and tucked within a wearer&#39;s pants, wrapped around a wearer&#39;s leg, and combinations of these. Many of these holsters offer adjustability for fitting to the waist and/or leg of the wearer; however, the art of concealed gun holsters would benefit from a holster that can be worn under the clothing and possibly in direct contact with the skin in the crotch area and provides adjustability as to the positioning of the holster to the wearer and the gun about the holster. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention is directed to a concealed gun holster that can be worn under the clothing and possibly in direct contact with the skin in the crotch area and provides adjustability as to the positioning of the holster to the wearer and the gun about the holster. 
         [0003]    One aspect of the invention provides a holster with a leg strap configured to fit around a leg of a wearer, a hip strap configured to fit at least partially about a waist of the wearer and removably attachable to the leg strap, and a shroud removably attachable to the leg strap. 
         [0004]    The shroud may be configured to be movable about the leg strap and trapezoidal in shape, with a first non-parallel side and a second non-parallel side. The shroud may also have a first hook material strip substantially along the first non-parallel side and a second hook material strip substantially along the second non-parallel side, wherein the first and second hook material strips are configured to be removably attachable to the leg strap. The shroud may also define a pocket when attached to the leg strap that is configured to receive a gun with a grip. 
         [0005]    The leg strap may include a first end portion, a second end portion, and a medial portion extending between the first and second end portions, wherein the first end portion and the second end portion are configured to substantially overlap when worn by the wearer. The medial portion may have a medial portion axis, and both the first end portion and the second end portion may project from the medial portion at an angle from the medial portion axis. The angle may be in the range from about 3° through about 30°. The angle may also be in the range from about 15° through about 25°. Further, at least one of the first end portion and the second end portion may include a hook material section configured to be removably attachable to at least one of the second end portion and the first end portion, respectively. 
         [0006]    The holster may further include a grip strap with a first end portion, a second end portion, and a medial portion extending between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein the first end portion of the grip strap is configured to attach to the leg strap, the second end portion of the grip strap is configured to attach to the shroud, and the medial portion of the grip strap is configured to contact the grip of the gun to retain the gun received within the pocket. 
         [0007]    Another aspect of the invention is to provide a method for donning a holster on a wearer, the method comprising the steps of: providing a leg strap configured to fit around a leg of the wearer, the leg strap having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a medial portion extending between the first and second end portions, wherein the first end portion and the second end portion are configured to substantially overlap; providing a hip strap configured to fit at least partially about a waist of the wearer and be removably attachable to the leg strap; providing a shroud removably attachable to the leg strap; wrapping the leg strap around the leg, overlapping the first end and second end portions of the leg strap, and attaching the first end portion of the leg strap with the second end portion of the leg strap; wrapping the hip strap around the waist and attaching the hip strap to the leg strap; and attaching the shroud to the leg strap. 
         [0008]    The method may further include the steps of: providing a grip strap with a first end portion, a second end portion, and a medial portion extending between the first end portion and the second end portion; wherein the shroud and leg strap define a pocket; attaching the first end portion of the grip strap to the leg strap at or near the pocket; and attaching the second end portion of the grip strap to the shroud, whereby the medial portion of the grip strap is configured to contact the grip of a gun received within the pocket. 
         [0009]    The shroud in the method may be configured to be movable about the leg strap and trapezoidal in shape with a first non-parallel side and a second non-parallel side. The shroud may have a first hook material strip substantially along the first non-parallel side and a second hook material strip substantially along the second non-parallel side, wherein the first and second hook material strips are configured to be removably attachable to the leg strap. 
         [0010]    The medial portion of the leg strap in the method may have a medial portion axis, and both the first end portion and the second end portion of the leg strap may project from the medial portion of the leg strap at an angle from the medial portion axis. The angle may be in the range from about 3° through about 30°. The angle may also be in the range from about 15° through about 25°. 
         [0011]    At least one of the first end portion and the second end portion of the leg strap may have a hook material section configured to be removably attachable to at least one of the second end portion and the first end portion of the leg strap, respectively. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a holster according to the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the holster shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a right side view of the holster shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a left side view of the holster shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a rear view of the holster shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the holster shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of the gun holster according to the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a plan view of the gun holster according to the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a plan view of the gun holster according to the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a plan view of the gun holster according to the present invention with a gun in a first possible position. 
           [0022]      FIG. 11A  is a plan view of the gun holster according to the present invention with a gun in a second possible position. 
           [0023]      FIG. 11B  is a plan view of the gun holster according to the present invention with a gun in a third possible position. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0024]    Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structures. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims. 
         [0025]      FIGS. 1-6  are illustrations of various views of a gun holster  10  for holstering a gun  12  being worn by a person  100  according to the present invention. The holster  10  preferably comprises a leg strap  20 , a hip strap  40 , and a shroud  60 . 
         [0026]    Although the holster  10  is shown being worn around the right leg  102  of the person  100 , the holster  10  may also be worn around the left leg  104  of the person  100  as is provided by the adjustability of the holster  10  discussed further below. 
         [0027]      FIG. 7  shows the leg strap  20 , the hip strap  40 , and the shroud  60  in more detail. The leg strap  20  preferably comprises a singular piece of flexible material with an inside surface (hidden), an outside surface  24 , a first end portion  26 , a second end portion  34 , and a medial portion  28  extending between the first end portion  26  and the second end portion  34 . However, it should be known that the leg strap  20  may comprise several pieces sewn or combined in a manner known in the art to form a singular, unified piece. 
         [0028]    As depicted, the medial portion  28  extends along a medial portion axis  30 , with the first end portion  26  and the second end portion  34  projecting from opposite ends of the medial portion  28  each at an angle θ from the medial portion axis  30 . The angle θ is preferably in the range from about 3° through about 30°. The angle is more preferably in the range from about 15° through about 25°. The angle is most preferably about 23°. 
         [0029]    The shape of the leg strap  20  is configured to provide a close fit of the medial portion  28  adjacent to the crotch  106  and inside part of the leg  102 , 104  of the person  100  and allow the first end portion  26  and the second end portion  34  to significantly overlap one another as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0030]    A medial portion aperture  32  is preferably located at or near the middle of the medial portion  28 . The medial portion aperture  32  is preferably an elongated aperture extending in the same direction as the medial portion axis  30 . The medial portion aperture  32  reduces bunching of the material in the medial portion  28  in the crotch  106  of the person  100  and also provides enhanced ventilation. 
         [0031]    Preferably, one of the first and second end portions  26 , 34  has a hook material section  38 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the hook material section  38  is provided at the first end portion  26  on the inside surface (hidden) of the leg strap  20 ; however, additional and/or alternatively-placed and oriented hook material sections  38  on the first and second end portions  26 , 34  are contemplated. 
         [0032]    Additionally or alternatively, the leg strap  20  comprises a breathable material and is configured to be removably attachable with hook material, for example a hoop material. 
         [0033]    The hip strap  40  preferably comprises an elongate piece of flexible material with a first end portion  42 , a second end portion  46 , a first surface  50 , and a second surface  52 . A hook material section  44 , 48  is preferably located at each of the first end portion  42  and the second end portion  46  of the hip strap  40 , respectively, and on the same surface, whether that be the first or the second surface  50 , 52 . 
         [0034]    Additionally or alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 10 , a second embodiment of the hip strap  140  may be configured to be adjustable as is known in the art. 
         [0035]    Continuing to look at  FIG. 7 , the shroud  60  is illustrated. The shroud  60  preferably comprises a trapezoid-shaped piece of flexible material, even more preferably an isosceles trapezoid-shaped material, and has an inside surface (hidden) and an outside surface  62 , and wherein a first and a second hook material strips  64 A, 64 B extend along the inside surface (hidden) of each of a first and a second non-parallel sides portion  66 A, 66 B, respectively. Similar to the leg strap  20  and the hip strap  40 , the shroud  60  is preferably comprised of a hoop material. 
         [0036]    Also shown in  FIG. 7  is a grip strap  70 . The grip strap  70  has a first surface  72 , a second surface (hidden), a first end portion  74 , a second end portion  78 , and a medial portion  82  extending between the first end portion  74  and the second end portion  78 . Preferably, a first section of hook material  76  is located on the first surface  72  at the first end portion  74  and a second section of hook material  80  is located on the second surface (hidden) at the second end portion  78 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 8  illustrates a first possible attachment layout of the hip strap  40 , the shroud  60 , and the grip strap  70  to the leg strap  20  for placement around the right leg  102  of the person  100  (see  FIGS. 1-6 ). As shown, the first and second end portions  42 , 46  of the hip strap  40  are attached to the first end portion  26  of the leg strap  20  and the shroud  60  is attached to the medial portion  28  between the aperture  32  and the leg strap first end portion  26 . 
         [0038]    The shroud  60  is preferably attached to the leg strap  20  in a manner that creates a pocket  90  formed between the first and the second non-parallel side portions  66 A, 66 B of the shroud  60 , the outside surface  24  of the leg strap  20 , and the inside surface (hidden) of the shroud  60 . 
         [0039]    The adjustability of the holster  10  is apparent by the potential for removably placing the shroud  60  in various orientations and locations on the leg strap  20  as shown in  FIGS. 10-11B  and allowing for alternate orientations of the gun  12 . Further, the hip strap  40  may be affixed to the leg strap  20  at various locations and angles relative to the leg strap  20  to provide increased security and comfort. 
         [0040]    Looking at  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the second end portion  78  of the on strap  70  is shown attached to the outside surface  24  of the leg strap  20  preferably within the pocket  90 , and the first end portion  74  of the grip strap  70  is configured to wrap around the grip  14  of the gun  12  and attach to the outside surface  62  of the shroud  60 , thereby further securing the gun  12  within the pocket  90 . 
         [0041]    Looking back to  FIGS. 1-6 , the leg strap  20  is shown positioned around the right leg  102  of the person  100  with the medial portion  28  adjacent to the crotch  106  and the leg strap first end portion  26  overlapping and secured to the leg strap second end portion  34  at the outside of the right leg  102 . The hip strap  40  extends around the waist  108  of the person  100  and preferably sits atop the hip  110  opposite the leg (here the right leg  102 ) to which the leg strap  20  is placed. 
         [0042]    The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.