Abstract:
A holster which obscures presence and identity of the handgun held by the holster is disclosed. The holster comprises an L-shaped frame having a pin. The handgun is installed on the holster by inserting the pin into the barrel of the handgun. The L-shaped frame combined with the installed handgun collectively form a parallelepiped of thickness equal to that of the handgun. The handgun is disguised by visually meshing in complementary fashion with the holster, when concealed beneath a fabric of an article of apparel.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a Continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/006,398 which was filed on Jan. 26, 2016 which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/107,926, filed on Jan. 26, 2015, the entire contents of both applications are incorporated herein by this reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to holsters for handguns, and more particularly, to a holster engaging a handgun by a pin penetrating the barrel of the handgun. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Holsters are used to support handguns on the body of a user of the handgun. In many situations, it is not desirable to have it known that the user is in possession of a handgun. Yet many holsters increase bulk and conspicuousness of a holstered handgun on the body. 
         [0004]    In an emergency situation, it may be necessary for the user to withdraw the handgun from the holster very quickly. Holsters often interfere with rapid withdrawal of the associated handgun. 
         [0005]    There exists a need for a holster which obscures the nature of the contained handgun, and which enables expeditious withdrawal of the handgun. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The disclosed concepts address the above stated situation by providing a holster which obscures presence and identity of the handgun held by the holster. To this end, the novel holster has a shape which complements that of a handgun, and which does not add to the thickness of the handgun. The holster has a similar or smaller thickness than its associated handgun. Moreover, the complementary shape may include three sides of a parallelepiped, thereby creating a visual impression that the item, when contained in a pocket of an item of apparel, is some other object such as a cellular telephone or a wallet for example. 
         [0007]    The novel holster may be generally L-shaped to interfit with the handgun. The holster has a pin which engages the handgun by being inserted into the barrel of the handgun. The holster may be placed in a pocket of an item of apparel, may be clipped to the inside of apparel, or may be otherwise carried on the body to provide ready access to the handgun without visually revealing the nature and presence of the handgun. 
         [0008]    It is an object to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof by apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
         [0009]    This and other objects will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the disclosed concepts will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a handgun received in a holster, according to at least one aspect of the disclosure; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the holster of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2A  is a detail view of a portion of the holster in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the holster of  FIG. 2 ; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a plan view representing fabric of a panel of an article of apparel, shown distended due to the handgun and holster of  FIG. 1  having been concealed beneath the fabric. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Referring first to  FIG. 1 , according to at least one aspect of the disclosure, there is shown a handgun  10  received in a holster  100 . Turning momentarily to  FIG. 2 , holster  100  is shown isolated from handgun  10 . 
         [0017]    Holster  100  is for holding and obscuring identity of handgun  10 . Holster  100  comprises a base  102  having a proximal end  104 , a distal end  106 , an inner surface  108  between proximal end  104  and distal end  106 , and an outer surface  110  between proximal end  104  and distal end  106 . Outer surface  110  is opposite inner surface  108 . Base  102  includes a pin  112  (visible in  FIG. 2 ) projecting from inner surface  108  of base  102  proximate proximal end  104 . Pin  112  is dimensioned and configured to slidingly engage the inside of a barrel of handgun  10 . A bolster  114  projects from inner surface  108  of base  102  at distal end  106  of base  102 . Bolster  114  is longer than pin  112 . In  FIG. 1 , length of bolster  114  is along an imaginary projection line  116 . 
         [0018]    Base  102  is a structural member of holster  100  supporting pin  112  against which a muzzle end  12  of handgun  10  seats. Bolster  114  is a structural member of holster  100  supporting other components to be described hereinafter. Bolster  114  may be perpendicular to base  102 , when considering surface  118  of bolster  114  and outer surface  110  of base  102 . Base  102  has a maximum width  120  about equal to a width  30  of handgun  10 . Holster  100  further comprises a web  124  projecting from bolster  114  towards pin  112 . Web  124  extends about the full length  126  of bolster  114  and has a thickness  124  ( FIG. 3 ) less than a width  128  ( FIG. 3 ) of bolster  114 . 
         [0019]    Referring particularly to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , but also to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , holster  100  complements the shape of handgun  10  to simulate at least three sides of a parallelepiped when handgun  10  and holster  100  are covered by a fabric  14  when handgun  10  is installed on holster  100  with pin  12  penetrating a barrel  16  of handgun  10 , and with the trigger guard (not individually shown) and a handle  18  ( FIG. 1 ) of handgun  10  received in close cooperation with holster  100 . As used herein, simulating at least three sides of a parallelepiped signifies that a bulge  20  ( FIG. 4 ) produced when fabric  14  is distended due to covering holster  100  and handgun  10  has at least three straight sides  22 ,  24 ,  26  ( FIG. 4 ) corresponding to outer surface  110 , surface  118 , and a top surface  28  ( FIG. 1 ) of handgun  10 . It is desired to conceal the nature and identity of handgun  10  when the latter is contained within an article of apparel (not shown) and covered by a panel (represented as fabric  14  in  FIG. 4 ) of that article of apparel. This goal is satisfied by having bulge  20  visually suggest that the enveloped item be a parallelepiped such as a cellular telephone or wallet (neither shown), rather than displaying the generally L-shaped configuration of handgun  10 . Therefore, it is important that those portions of holster  10  which will influence bulge  20  be straight at their outer surfaces, and complement an available straight line (i.e., top surface  28 ) of handgun  10 . A non-linear fourth border or surface of a true parallelepiped, such as that generated by the somewhat irregular profile of handgun  10  at the rear of handgun  10 , the rear being handle  18  and hammer (not shown, but immediately adjacent handle  18 ), is deemed not objectionable since the overall visual impression will be largely formed by those three straight sides  22 ,  24 ,  26  of bulge  20  resulting from outer surface  110  and surface  118  of holster  100 , and top surface  28  of handgun  10 . Handgun  10  need contact holster  10  only at pin  112 , although web  122  may be L-shaped or otherwise configured to interfit in close cooperation with handgun  10  when the latter is installed on pin  112 . 
         [0020]    Alternatively stated, and now considering the overall thickness of the combination of holster  100  and handgun  10 , holster  100  is dimensioned and configured to complement handgun  10  to define a three dimensional envelope with handgun  10  installed on holster  100  with pin  112  penetrating barrel  16  of handgun  10  with the trigger guard and handle  18  of handgun  10  received in close cooperation with holster  100 . The envelope has straight first side  22 , a parallel opposed second side  26 , a third side  24  perpendicular to and between first side  22  and second side  26 , and a generally uniform width. The generally uniform width is defined by and about equal to width  120  of base  102 , and of course, handgun  10 .  FIG. 4  provides a plan view of the three dimensional envelope. 
         [0021]    Bolster  114  has a maximum width about equal to a width  30  of handgun  10 . Therefore, base  102 , bolster  114 , and handgun  10  all have about equal width. “About equal” signifies that bulge  20  ( FIG. 4 ) generates a visual impression of a parallelepiped to casual observation, thereby concealing the nature of handgun  10 . 
         [0022]    Views intended to generate the visual impression of the parallelepiped are taken from an angle wherein handgun  10  is viewed from the side, as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0023]    Holster  100  further comprises a recess  130  on an outer side (e.g., surface  118 ) of bolster  114 , for receiving a finger (not shown) of a user, to assist the user in maneuvering holster  100  into place in a pocket of apparel (not shown) worn by the user. 
         [0024]    In an option shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , holster  100  further comprises a trigger guard plate  132  and a clamp operable to clamp trigger guard plate  132  to handgun  10 . The clamp may comprise a Chicago screw having a male portion  134 A and a female portion  134 B. 
         [0025]    Trigger guard plate  132  is positioned to obstruct lateral finger access to the trigger of handgun  10 . To provide versatility in positioning trigger guard plate  132 , trigger guard plate  132  includes an elongated slot  138  extending parallel to pin  112 , to facilitate adjustment of position of trigger guard plate  132  along an axis parallel to pin  112 . Web  122  includes an elongated slot  136  ( FIG. 2A ) extending perpendicularly to elongated slot  138  of trigger guard plate  132 , to facilitate adjustment of position of trigger guard plate  132  along an axis (not shown) perpendicular to pin  112 . 
         [0026]    Referring again to  FIG. 1 , trigger guard plate  132  may include two posts  140 A,  140 B projecting perpendicularly therefrom, to surround and immobilize the trigger of handgun  10 . 
         [0027]    The invention may be thought of as holster  100 , or alternatively, as handgun  10  and holster  100  for holding and obscuring identity of handgun  10 . 
         [0028]    Holster  100  may be fabricated from any rigid material such as a thermosetting plastic, metal, wood, or another synthetic material, or combinations of these. Trigger guard plate  132  may be fabricated from a stiff leather, polymeric material, wood, or other synthetic material. 
         [0029]    In the preceding description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide an understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known components or methods have not been described in detail but rather in a block diagram in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention. Thus, the specific details set forth are merely exemplary. The specific details may be varied from and still be contemplated to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0030]    It should be understood that the various examples of the apparatus(es) disclosed herein may include any of the components, features, and functionalities of any of the other examples of the apparatus(es) disclosed herein in any feasible combination, and all of such possibilities are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Many modifications of examples set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. 
         [0031]    Therefore, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not to be limited to the specific examples presented and that modifications and other examples are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, although the foregoing description and the associated drawings describe examples of the present disclosure in the context of certain illustrative combinations of elements and/or functions, it should be appreciated that different combinations of elements and/or functions may be provided by alternative implementations without departing from the scope of the appended claims.