Forward biased handgun holster with lock

An holster includes a biasing member that forces a handgun forwardly in a holster such that the handgun engages one or more molded ledges in the inner cavity of the holster and allows withdrawal only by way of a specific series of steps. The biasing member includes an engaging member that carries an axle-mounted roller and forces the roller against the handgun at a predetermined position. A spring may be mounted between the engaging member and a support body to which the engaging member is pivotably mounted. Positive locking devices are provided for the engaging member in some of the embodiments with some being releasable by a finger of a wearer or by movement of the handgun in a predetermined direction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Technical Field 
This invention generally relates to handgun holsters and more particularly 
concerns a holster with improved features to prevent inadvertent 
dislodgement or withdrawal of the handgun from the holster. The holster is 
designed to retain the handgun securely and yet to permit rapid withdrawal 
when required. 
2. Prior Art 
Most attacks on police officers by assailants trying to remove officers 
handguns from holsters have come from the front or side of officers and 
not from the rear. It is obvious that an assailant has more mechanical 
leverage as well as an unobstructed path by simply pulling forward and up 
on the handle of the weapon while standing in front facing the officer or 
facing him at his side. Holsters as typified by U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,630,420; 
4,542,841; 4,273,276; and applicant's own U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,902,639; 
4,286,741; and 4,694,980 attempt to make it difficult for an assailant to 
remove an officer's handgun from the rear. 
Most securing straps of holsters might become unlocked in a violent attack. 
Because of this possibility, an internal locking method is incorporated in 
some of the prior art holsters to make it more difficult for the attacker 
to remove the handgun from the holster in an attack from the rear of the 
officer. Generally, the internal locking means engages the back recurve of 
the trigger guard or the top ledge of a cylinder of a revolver. In more 
recent times the popularity of the semiautomatic pistol has posed a 
problem in the design of a secure holster because this type of handgun has 
no cylinder ledges nor trigger guard recurves to serve as a locking point. 
An attempt to lock upon the forward portion of the trigger guard is not 
preferred because only a few models of semiautomatics offer a flat ledge 
at the forward portion of the trigger guard necessary for the locking 
action. 
It is an object of this invention to provide an improved handgun holster 
which overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art, and is designed to 
provide a holster which secures the handgun from withdrawal by any but the 
wearer and yet permits a fast withdrawal upwardly by one trained in using 
the holster. It is another object to provide a holster that provides 
obstacles to one attempting an unauthorized withdrawal of the handgun from 
the front or side of the holster. Other objects will appear in the more 
detailed description which follows. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In one aspect of the present invention there is provided a holster for a 
handgun in which the holster includes, with respect to a front and back of 
a wearer of the holster, inner and outer spaced substantially rigid 
sidewalls formed to define an inner cavity and an open top portion for 
receiving a handgun therein and for removing a handgun therefrom, stop 
means located in the inner cavity to engage a portion of the handgun in 
the holster to inhibit withdrawal of the handgun upwardly prior to 
rearward movement of the handgun, the improvement comprising biasing means 
adapted to engage and force a handgun placed in the inner cavity 
forwardly. 
Other aspects of the invention are seen wherein the biasing means includes 
an engaging member and a spring member, the spring member being mounted 
between the rear portion of the holster and the engaging member being 
mounted in the inner cavity of a holster in a manner to position the 
engaging member forward to engage a handgun placed in a the holster. The 
biasing means also includes selectively movable blocking means mounted to 
the holster and movable between first and second positions for inhibiting 
rearward movement of the engaging member when the blocking means is in the 
first position and permitting rearward movement of the engaging member 
when the blocking means is in the second position. The biasing means 
further includes selectively operable positive locking means for securing 
the engaging member in the first position. The selectively operable 
positive locking means may secure the engaging member in either the first 
position or the second position. 
Additional aspects are seen by the selectively movable blocking means 
including a blocking element and a contact element, which may be mounted 
to the holster or to the support member, the blocking element attached to 
the contact element and movable thereby between the first and second 
positions, the blocking element positioned rearwardly of the engaging 
member in the first position to make contact with the engaging member when 
an attempt is made to move the engaging member rearwardly. The contact 
element being engaged by a finger of the wearer when the handgun is being 
gripped for removal in certain embodiments and engaged by the handgun in 
other embodiments. 
Further aspects include the biasing apparatus having a support member and 
securing means to secure the support member to the rear portion of the 
holster. The spring element is mounted between the support member and the 
engaging member. The biasing apparatus also includes a roller element and 
means for mounting the roller element to the engaging member, the roller 
element engaging a handgun inserted in the inner cavity, the roller 
element providing for minimum frictional engagement between the surface of 
a handgun in contact with the engaging means to provide for ease of 
handgun withdrawal from and insertion into the holster.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS INTRODUCTION 
A review of the holster of U.S. Pat. No. 4,694,980 will assist in an 
understanding of the present invention. The general features and 
components of this holster are the same as those of the holster in FIGS. 
1-5 and 6-10 of patent '980. The outer wall and inner wall of the holster 
are shaped to define an interior cavity to fit a revolver as shown in 
dotted lines. The walls are preferably one piece folded in front and 
fastened together at the lower rear corner by a rivet. A lateral strap 
encircles the holster adjacent the open top and is affixed to the outer 
wall by a snap fastener and to inner wall by another fastener. The lateral 
strap has a slidable attachment to the inner wall embodying a slot and 
screw. The two ends of the lateral strap are joined together by a snap 
fastener with a finger engaging tab as an extension above the fastener. 
The top strap also extends over the top of the holstered revolver to a 
snap fastener and a finger engaging tab on the inner side of the holster 
adjacent the front portion. In this embodiment the top strap is a lateral 
extension of the lateral strap rather than of the outer wall. Similarly, 
the fastener and tab are on a lateral extension of the lateral strap 
rather than an extension of the inner wall. Since the lateral strap is 
permanently affixed to the outer wall and to the inner wall adjacent the 
front portion. It is optional to attach the top strap, the fastener and 
the tab to the lateral strap or to the walls. 
The interior engaging ledges are fashioned to catch the edges of the 
cylinder of a revolver and prevent upward withdrawal of the revolver from 
the holster until the butt is rotated downward and rearward to permit the 
edges of the cylinder to clear the ledges. The rear edges of walls are 
held together by a rivet and the molded shape of the holster until the 
revolver is moved to cause the edges to spring apart near the top opening. 
The steps of withdrawing the handgun from the holster are identical 
regardless of whether the handgun is a semiautomatic or a revolver. 
In the first step the hand grasps the butt of the handgun with the thumb 
pressing against the upper tab and the middle finger pressing against the 
other tab. These two fingers pushing toward the body of the wearer of the 
holster cause the two snaps to be unsnapped. In the second step the butt 
of the handgun is pulled backward causing the rear edges to spread apart 
to open the interior cavity sufficiently to loosen the handgun, and also 
to release the handgun from the engaging ledges. 
The unsnapping of the fastener releases the lateral strap permitting it to 
slide with respect to the slot and pin which, in turn, permits the butt to 
be moved backward. In the third step the handgun is withdrawn upwardly 
from the holster. Unsnapping of the two fasteners releases the handgun for 
movement. The lateral strap is released by unsnapping the associated 
fastener allowing the strap to expand taking the general position shown in 
dotted lines. The butt can then be moved backward to the position shown in 
dotted lines. This movement is sufficient to release the handgun from the 
engaging ledges inside the holster permitting the handgun to be withdrawn 
upwardly to complete withdrawal from the holster. 
The present invention is directed towards the simplification of the holster 
apparatus without any sacrifice of either safety or ease of use. 
The present invention includes specific means to force a handgun in the 
holster forwardly to prevent upward movement of the gun against the stop 
means that is formed on the inner walls of the holster inner cavity. The 
means employed consists generally of the following components: first, a 
support member or body that is attached to the two sides of the holster 
and is mounted rearwardly. Second, a movable engaging member is mounted to 
the support member and engages the handgun usually at a point on the 
trigger guard thereof. Third, the engaging member is biased forwardly with 
a biasing member usually in the form of a coil spring. The engaging member 
must be moved rearwardly for the gun to be moved rearwardly a distance far 
enough to allow the gun to clear the holster stop means and thus to allow 
the gun to be withdrawn upwardly from the holster. 
Movement of the engaging member rearwardly is accomplished by the user 
grasping the gun and pulling it rearwardly to overcome the spring 
resistance of the biasing member. In some embodiments of the project 
invention however, an additional first step must be positively taken by 
the user in order for the engaging member to move rearwardly. This step 
involves moving a blocking means that is normally located rearwardly of 
the engaging member. This step is independent of and prior to the rearward 
movement of the handgun. The embodiments of the present invention that 
employ the blocking means are those designed for high-risk environments 
such as uniformed police in urban areas where the likelihood of an attempt 
at wresting the gun away from the user is higher than in uses of the 
device by, for example, plainclothes policemen that employ a concealed 
holster. 
In the first embodiment of the present invention illustrated at 10 in FIG. 
1, the holster 11 is either of the revolver and semiautomatic types 
illustrated in FIGS. 1-10 of patent '980 and is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 
2. The improved biasing member 12 includes a support member or body 13 by 
which the apparatus is attached to the holster 11. The gun engaging member 
14 is pivotably mounted in a slot 25 via flange 20 or other means as may 
be appropriate. Both support member 13 and engaging member 14 are made of 
low surface friction materials such as nylon or Teflon as understood in 
the art. Slots 14' provide bases to mount spring 15 as also understood in 
the art. 
Engaging member 14 includes a roller element 16 mounted on an axle 17 that 
is forced against a portion of the gun 18 usually at or near the trigger 
guard 19. To provide for the return of the gun 18 to the holster 11, 
support element 13 includes a forwardly extending bracket portion 21 
including a flange 22 that limits the forward travel of engaging member 14 
by contact with upwardly extending boss 23 under the force of spring 15. 
The entire biasing member 10 is mounted to the two rear members of holster 
11 via holes 24 that accept bolts and T-nuts 26 as understood in the art. 
Arrow 27 indicates the direction of movement of engaging member 14 and the 
roller 16 carried thereon. 
The action of engaging member 14 is to force the gun 18 forwardly to engage 
the ledges 27, 37 of the '980 holster, shown as 18", by 18', to prevent an 
unsafe withdrawal of the gun 18. Accordingly, rearward movement of the gun 
18 against the force of spring 15 is required for subsequent upward 
release of the gun from the holster 11. 
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, both straps 14 and 22 
of the '980 patent can be eliminated, if so desired. Of course, if desired 
strap 22 may be retained particularly where no positive lock has been 
provided as will appear more clearly herebelow. 
The second embodiment of the improved biasing apparatus is shown at 28 in 
FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 illustrates an outside wall or surface of the 
holster 29 with respect to a user. Holster 29 includes stop means 29" that 
engages the cylinder 29' of gun 18. The biasing member 30 includes a 
support member or body 31 to which is pivotally mounted engaging member 32 
via axle 38. The body 31 is fixed to the holster via bolts 40 that fit 
into bolt holes 39. Roller 35 is mounted on axle 36. 
Spring 34 is mounted in spaces 32' as before. Upstanding boss 33 and travel 
limit flange 37 also work as in the case of the first embodiment. However, 
the present apparatus 28 includes a blocking peg element or post 48 that 
is mounted via flange 47 in a rivet-like manner to lever 42 (FIG. 4) and 
is normally positioned in blocking post hole 41 in the space between 
engaging member 32 and body 31. Accordingly, engaging member 32 cannot be 
moved rearwardly until post 48 is pulled out of the hole 41 and thus out 
of the way of member 32. 
A contact element in the form of lever 42 is illustrated in FIG. 4 and is 
shown mounted to the inside wall or surface of the holster 29 that is 
adjacent the body of a user. The lever 42 includes lower portion 43 
mounted to holster 29 via bolts 45 and 46 and includes a reduced or 
weakened portion 44 that allows the upper portion of lever 42 to be moved 
outwardly a sufficient distance to retract post 48 laterally from blocking 
post hole 41 to allow for rearward motion of engaging member 32. The 
portion 44 is formed of a stiff plastic and is formed narrow and thin at 
44 to provide for sufficient bending resiliency and motion, without 
breakage. Bolt holes 51 and 52 are used to attach holster 29 to a gun belt 
(not shown). 
The third embodiment of the improved biasing apparatus is illustrated at 
numeral 53 in FIGS. 5 and 6. Holster 54 includes positive stop means 54" 
to engage the cylinder 54' of gun 18. Biasing member 55 includes body 56 
and engaging member 57 formed as a leaf spring biasing forwardly having a 
roller 59 mounted on axle 60 forwardly of the biasing element 58 which is 
a portion of member 57. Travel limit bracket 64 engages the upper portion 
65 of biasing element 58. Slot 62 is used to mount flange 61 of member 57 
to body 56. 
The lower portion of element 58 fits into slot 63. Rearward force against 
roller element 59 will cause biasing element 58 to move rearwardly 
provided blocking element or post 71 has been withdrawn from post hole 67. 
Bolt holes 72, 79 and 66 are used with bolts 75, 76 and 68 as shown. Bolt 
holes 77 and 78 mount the holster 54 to a gun belt (not shown). 
FIG. 6 illustrates the lever 69 having lower fixed portion 74 and weak, 
bendable portion 73. Blocking post 71 is mounted via flange 70. Lever 69 
is operated as is lever 4 in FIG. 4 by contact of a finger 81 of a wearer 
contacting the lever 69 as the hand grips the handgun without releasing 
the grip thereon. 
FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a preferred means of operating a blocking post 
lever and is applicable either to lever 42 of FIG. 4 or to lever 69 of 
FIG. 6. The index finger 81 of a user may be used to push the lever 69 
outward, as shown in dotted lines. This action is identical for a revolver 
such as gun 18 or a semiautomatic pistol 80 shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 8 shows 
the lateral movement of blocking post 71 when lever 69 is moved outwardly. 
The fourth embodiment of the improved biasing apparatus is illustrated at 
numeral 83 in FIG. 9. This embodiment is preferred for applications where 
the user is carrying a concealed handgun or has a holster inside the belt, 
for example. Support body 85 is used to mount engaging member 86 via axle 
or pin 87. Roller element 88 is mounted via axle 90 to the engaging member 
in circular slot 89. The travel limit bracket 93 limits movement of 
engaging member 86 via contact with upstanding boss 94. Spring 92 is 
mounted between boss 91 and slot 98. Bolt holes 95, 96, 97 attach the 
apparatus 83 to a holster as before to put roller 88 in contact with 
trigger guard 84. 
In FIG. 10, the fifth embodiment of the present invention is illustrated at 
numeral 99. Body 101, engaging member 106 axles 105, 111, roller element 
110 and spring 107, boss 108 and slot 109, bolt holes 102, 103, 104 and 
post 113/bracket 112 are all substantially the same as in FIG. 9. The 
difference in this embodiment, however, is the provision of a blocking 
post hole 114. As with the earlier embodiments, the present apparatus 99 
is positioned against trigger guard 100 and can employ the blocking 
post/lever apparatus (FIGS. 4 and 6-8) to provide for additional security 
via the additional step of moving the lever to pull the blocking post out 
of the way. 
A sixth embodiment of the present invention is shown at numeral 115 in FIG. 
11. Support body 117 positions engaging member 121, mounted on axle 122, 
so that roller element 123, mounted on axle 124, is in contact with 
trigger guard 116. Bolt holes 118, 119, 120 are used to mount body 117 to 
a holster. As before, contact is between boss 125 and travel limit bracket 
126. Positive locking means is provided in this embodiment and includes 
locking member 131 mounted inside spring 130. The rearward end portion 132 
of member 131 is notched like a key-to fit into a like-shaped space 133 
inside a contact element in the form of plunger member 127 having a 
forward lower surface 128 that is limited in downward travel by upper 
surface portion 129 of the body 117 adjacent bracket 126. An elongate slot 
134 houses a spring 135 that biases plunger member 127 upwardly. Travel 
limit pin 137 mounted in slot 137' also provides for mounting of the 
spring-loaded plunger 127. 
When a user wishes to withdraw a handgun, plunger 127 is pushed downwardly 
by movement of the gun in the same direction, causing contact between 
trigger guard 116 and plunger 127 moving slot 133 into alignment with 
locking member 131. Rearward portion 132 of member 131 is pushed into 
notch 133 via rearward movement of the gun and fits against notched 
surface 136 of notched space 133 in the plunger 127. Accordingly, the 
rearward movement of locking member 131 allows for rearward movement of 
engaging member 121 heretofore biased against trigger guard 116. The 
member 131 is also locked into notched space 133. A subsequent downward 
action of the gun trigger guard 116 against the plunger member 127 will 
allow for the release of member 132 which is otherwise held in position in 
a locked manner via spring 135. This is possible because the travel limit 
provided by pin 137 in slot 137' is sufficient for subsequent release. 
FIG. 12 illustrates the preferred and seventh embodiment of the improved 
biasing apparatus 138 for use in high risk environments such as by 
uniformed security officers. Body 139 has an engaging member 141 mounted 
on axle pin 142 and is in contact with trigger guard 140. Pin 142 is 
mounted in a vertical slot 143. Spring 146 is mounted in two slots or 
spaces 144 and 145, bolt holes 147 and 148 are used to mount body 139 to a 
holster. 
Engaging member 141 is spring-loaded upwardly at its lower surface 157 by 
spring 154 mounted in body slot or groove 155. Spring 154 via U-shaped 
bend 156, straddles body 139 and has an identical portion (not shown) that 
fits into an identical groove (not shown) on the other side of body 139. 
Spring 154 is integral and snaps into grooves, including groove 155, with 
the free ends, including end 154', which fit into opposing ends of hole 
155'. Member 141 is movable downwardly against spring 154 a sufficient 
distance, as shown at dotted line 156, to move pin 151 mounted on post 150 
downwardly out of forward locking slot 152 where it was locked into 
position by downward force on contact element in the form of post 150 by 
contact between trigger guard 140 against post 150. Once moved rearwardly 
by way of the user moving the gun rearwardly, pin 151 can be positioned in 
locking slot 153 to positively lock engaging member 141 rearward. This 
embodiment thus provides for positive locking of the engaging member 141 
in both forward and rearward positions. Subsequent downward contact 
between trigger guard 140 and post 150 will allow forward movement of pin 
151 to the position shown. 
The eighth embodiment of the present invention is illustrated at numeral 
158 in FIG. 13. Body 159 has bolt holes 160, 161 and 162 formed therein 
for securing the apparatus to a holster. Trigger guard 163 is in contact 
with roller 172 mounted on axle 173. 
An inclined slot 164 is formed in body 159 to carry a hollow engaging 
member 165 mounted against an internal spring 168 via bosses 169 and 171 
in member interior space 170. The limit of travel is set by pin 166 in 
slot 167. Boss 169 is mounted to an insert block 174 formed at the lower 
end portion of slot 164 or machined from body 159 material. Rearward 
movement of a handgun will force engaging member 165 downwardly and 
rearwardly against the force of spring 168 via contact between trigger 
guard 163 and roller 172. 
FIG. 14 illustrates an alternative mounting for the roller element 172 of 
FIG. 13. Guides 175 are used to provide alignment and anti-rotation bias 
for the engaging member 165. 
Finally, it is important to note the following aspects of the holster and 
biasing apparatus construction. All the bolt holes and blocking posts 
holes are preferably reinforced around their perimeter by removable 
grommets, T-nuts or eyelets used with the bolts to provide a secure fit. 
In all cases, the size and mounted position of the biasing apparatus is 
tailored to the specific handgun the holster is designed to carry. 
While the invention has been described with respect to certain specific 
embodiments, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes 
may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit 
of the invention. It is intended, therefore, by the appended claims to 
cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit 
and scope of the invention.