Holster with improved belt loop lock and broadly adjustable thumb break strap

A holster is disclosed employing a formed composite of fabric-foam and fabric in which the outer face is formed to match the contour of a hand gun to carried in the holster while the inner face is generally flat. A belt loop assembly is secured to the inner face including a generally "Y" shape with an opening between the arms of the "Y". Hook or pile fastener fabric is located within the belt loop assembly. A thumb break or strap includes an end which extends through the opening into the belt loop and is held in place by contact with the hook and pile fastener. The thumb break is angularly adjustable within the belt loop and securable at various angles by the hook and pile fastener. The belt loop assembly, most importantly defines a belt loop and the thumb break and the hook and pile fastener cooperate to restrict the size of the belt loop and provide restriction against unwanted movement of the holster on a belt.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The need for improved law enforcement and sporting holsters continues to be 
recognized for designs having improved wearability, attractiveness, 
conformance to present and new handgun designs and to utilize new 
materials as they become available. I have continued this advance in the 
development of foam molded pouches and holsters described in application 
Ser. No. 08/004,106 filed Jan. 13, 1993 for MOLDED LAMINATED POUCH, now 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,868 issued on Oct. 4, 1994. 
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
I have found that a composite fabric-foam-fabric holster body with the 
exterior surface of ballistic nylon, the high density, closed cell foam 
layer being of thermally and pressure responsive to take and hold a 
precise shape in both the compressed and uncompressed areas and a smooth 
long wearing knit fabric lining meets all of the above criteria. The 
ability to mold ballistic weave fabric covered foam to conform with the 
particular handgun provides not only a solid handgun position, but 
presents a very attractive exterior appearance with a durable surface and 
an inner liner which wears well and does not damage handgun finishes. 
It has been generally the practice in composite foam molded holsters to 
have both sides formed to configure with the handgun details. Examples of 
such holsters are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,885,947 and 4,489,948 to C. L. 
Cook. 
I have found that given the capability to foam mold a holster having a 
ballistic weave nylon exterior surface with precisely located uncompressed 
interior risers in the order of 5/8" in height and sharply rounded corners 
without damage, allows one face of the holster body to conform precisely 
to this intended handgun and the other face remain virtually flat. This 
simplifies the foam molding process and, in fact, provides a relatively 
flat rear face of the holster which lies against the wearer's body. A 
separate belt loop subassembly may easily be attached to the holster body 
on its flat side. The handgun remains snug within the holster given the 
detailed conformance to the handgun shape on one face. The holster, 
itself, lies flat and close against the wearer's body, as well. This 
feature combined with a suitably adjustable strap provides a truly 
effective and attractive holster. 
Given a flat inner face of the holster, attaching a belt loop as by 
cementing or stitching or both is facilitated. It is also possible to have 
an improved belt loop with a higher degree of support for the holster and 
with assurance that when placed on a belt and moved to its desired 
position, it will remain at that position despite strenuous movements as 
by a law enforcement officer or sportsman. 
I have determined that a versatile belt loop assembly and improved retainer 
strap mounting can be accomplished when the belt loop has two side 
openings for the belt passage and a single central top opening for the 
passage of the retention strap is truly adjustable and effective. The belt 
loop member appears to be of generally "Y" shape when seen in a rear 
elevational view. The opening or space between the two arms of the "Y" is 
utilized to insert an adjustable end of the strap or thumb break of the 
holster. The entrance angle and thus the angle of the strap may be changed 
to match the hammer region or slide of the particular handgun and to suit 
the wearer's preferences. 
I have also found that by providing a layer of hook and pile fabric on the 
generally flat surface of the holster beneath the "Y" shaped belt loop, 
the strap or thumb break can carry a mating hook or pile fastener to 
secure it to the holster body. The hook or pile fabric on the holster body 
can engage the inner face of the belt tending to hold it in position. The 
strap or thumb break which enters the belt loop through the space between 
the arms of the "Y" provides additional thickness to secure the holster on 
the belt at a selected position. The retention strap with its added 
thickness within the belt loop and the belt cooperate to hold each other 
from movement after positioning and adjusting and when in place. 
The cooperation between the generally planar inner face of the holster, the 
"Y" shaped belt loop and the strap or thumb break provide effective 
positioning and support for the holster on the belt. It soon becomes 
apparent the holster is held rather rigidly by three point support. 
Additionally, I have found that and S shaped relatively rigid thumb break 
engaging a compressed foam integral strap, provides a vastly superior and 
flexible strap arrangement for a variety of handguns to be carried in the 
same holster.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Now referring to FIG. 1 in combination with FIGS. 2 and 3, a holster 
generally designated 10 may be seen on a belt 11 including an integral 
strap 12 and a thumb break or secondary strap 13 with a snap fastener 14 
securing the thumb break 13 to the strap 12. The holster 10 has its outer 
face 15 contoured to the shape of the particular handgun type for which it 
is intended, e.g., revolver or automatic handgun. The holster 10, 
preferably has a closed muzzle region 20, a body closing seam line 21, of 
FIG. 2, a trigger guard enclosing portion 22 and a top opening 23 for 
handgun insertion and removal. 
Note, in FIGS. 1 and 2, that the integral strap 12 includes on its inner 
face, a series of transverse ribs or rolls 12R which are relatively 
uncompressed foam separated by compressed lines which provide for 
effective curvature around the hammer region of the handgun carried. By 
way of contrast, the thumb break 13 is relatively stiff and generally S or 
angled shaped as may best be seen in FIGS. 3, 5a and 5b. The flexibility 
of the integral strap 12 and the relative rigidity of the thumb break 13 
insure easy thumb action release of the strap 12-13 in the handgun drawing 
process. The thumb break 13 also is stiffened at its end by molded plastic 
tip 50, best seen in FIGS. 3, 5a and 5b. The transverse ribs 12R are 
produced in accordance with the teaching of the U.S. Patent for MOLDED 
LAMINATED POUCHES, referenced above, and the thumb break tip is the 
subject of U.S. Design Pat. No. D290,311, issued Jun. 16, 1987. 
The holster 10 has a generally flat rear face 16, first seen in FIG. 3, 
with a belt loop subassembly 26 secured to the inner face 16, preferably 
by stitch lines S of FIG. 3. The belt loop subassembly 26 comprises the 
molded plastic body 26B and a hook or pile fabric underlayer 32. Both the 
body 26B and the underlayer 32 are sewn to the holster 10 at the same time 
by stitch lines S. The underlayer 32 may also be cemented by a suitable 
adhesive to the holster 10. This is easily accomplished since the inner 
face 16 of the holster 10 is generally flat. 
The body 26B also includes a pair of upstanding legs 26L, best seen in 
FIGS. 8 and 9, which extend upward from mounting surfaces 26M through 
which the stitch lines S penetrate to secure the belt loop subassembly 26 
to the holster. The legs 26L are of approximately one quarter inch in 
inside height to define the tunnel or belt loop BL for receiving the belt 
11. The pile 32 fills a part of the belt loop opening BL and the thumb 
break 13 with its mating hook layer 13H of FIGS. 5a, providing additional 
restriction to the tunnel-like space of the belt loop as illustrated in 
FIG. 8. The thumb break 13 with its hook or pile fastener fabric 13H and 
the hook or pile fastener on the face 16 of the holster, together, secure 
the thumb break 13 from moving on the holster 10 and the holster 10 from 
unwanted movement on the belt 11. The slight flexibility of the body 26B 
aids in intended adjustment of the holster 10 on the belt 11 by the 
wearer. 
One of the important features of this holster is the fact that the thumb 
break 13 is separable from the holster 10 as is shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b 
and fully adjustable in angle by its passage through the opening 33 
between the upper legs 26L of the belt loop subassembly 26. The side edges 
of the opening 33, as illustrated in FIG. 6, limit movement of the thumb 
break 13 either forward to the dashed line F as much as 20 degrees from 
the centerline C of the belt loop subassembly 26 or backward to the dashed 
line R in the same amount. This degree of adjustment is far greater than 
is required to adjust the angle of the retention strap of any conventional 
handgun. 
The lower end of the thumb break 13 may be pivoted, forward or backward 
over the 40-degree arc with the hook or pile fabric 13H still engaging its 
mating material 32 on the surface 16. The only limitation in angle of the 
thumb break 13 is the size of the pile fabric fastener 32 and the extent 
to which the integral strap 14 may pivot. A typical intermediate position 
is illustrated in FIG. 3 for use with a 3-31/2" medium automatic such as a 
Colt Mustang. 
The adjustability of the thumb break 13 is also enhanced by 
a) its S or angled shape; 
b) the presence of alternate snap fasteners for shortening the thumb break 
for short receiver handguns; and 
c) its slight flexibility being fabricated of 1/8th inch thick and one inch 
width acytl copolymer such as the material sold by the du Pont Company of 
Wilmington, Del. under the trademark Delrin. 
The thumb break can flex to meet the integral strap 12 whenever required to 
secure the handgun over the hammer for a revolver or the rear of the slide 
for an automatic handgun. 
An alternate form belt loop member 260 is shown in FIG. 7. It is similar to 
the member 26 of FIGS. 3, and 6 except that it has a continuous stitched 
line S around the periphery. The belt loop member 260 is easier to attach 
by a single continuous sewn seam. This embodiment eliminates the need for 
any adhesive bonding of the pile fabric 32 to the holster body although 
adhesive bonding still is an option. 
Now, for a clear understanding of the relationship of the thumb break 13, 
the belt loop subassembly 26, the hook or pile fabric 13H and 32, 
reference is made to FIG. 8. Also this figure shows a cross section of the 
holster body and its three layers including a compressed foam middle 
section 10f with a ballistic fabric outer cover 10b and preferably on the 
inner surface, a fabric liner 10L. Secured to the face 16 in the region of 
the belt loop 26 is the hook or pile fabric 32 underlying the entire belt 
loop 26 having three upstanding legs 26L, one at the bottom and two at the 
top and an elevated belt enclosing portion 26b. The lower end of the thumb 
break 13 may be seen in FIG. 8 extending through the opening 33 into the 
belt retaining passage 26p. Mating hook or pile fabric fastener 13H 
engages the hook or pile fabric 32 and the added thickness of the thumb 
break 13 and its hook or pile fabric 13H tends to confine a belt 11 
against the belt loop 26 in the central region 26b. Therefore, the belt 
loop 26 in the hook and pile fabric 32 and the 13H and the thumb break 13 
do hold the holster on the belt B once it is positioned. The belt 11 is 
held in the triangle defined by the belt loop surfaces 26L. 
Given the features of this holster described above, a single design 
incorporating its features will precisely and reliably carry virtually 
dozens of different handguns with equal ease. 
The above described embodiments of the present invention are merely 
descriptive of its principles and are not to be considered limiting. The 
scope of the present invention instead shall be determined from the scope 
of the following claims including their equivalents.