Abstract:
A holster for a handgun that comprises a holster body with a handgun cavity for receiving and retaining the handgun by way of a obstructing member at the ejection port and at the rear portion of the handgun slide. Moreover, a single obscured push button actuates both mechanisms. An internal retention sleeve having an inverted U-shape is slidingly mounted within the holster body and movable between a first securement position and a second release position. The sleeve having an integral thumb button depressible downwardly whereby the sleeve moves downwardly within the body to release a ejection port stop catch and the latch hood. The sleeve biased toward a normal retention position, the handgun withdrawal obstructing member biased toward the normal retention position, the latch hood biased toward a release position but having a normal latched obstructing position until released by the sleeve.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/911,710, filed Jun. 6, 2013, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/684,615, filed Aug. 17, 2012, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Current rigid polymer holsters that utilize retention mechanisms for preventing removal of the handgun typically secure the handgun at the trigger guard Holsters that utilize trigger guard latch mechanisms generally cannot accommodate accessories mounted forwardly of the trigger guard of the handgun, such as laser sights. Moreover, a particular holster design for different handguns, or for the same handgun with accessories, will typically require entirely new component configurations for a particular model of holster. This is due to the requirement for proper operation of the release mechanism of a very close form fit between the handgun and the holster. Such requires different mold sets for each configuration greatly increasing manufacturing cost. Additionally when a holster has more than one retention feature, often mechanisms are either complicated, not reliable, and/or the actuation buttons are readily visible. It would be advantageous to have less visible release buttons on a holster, capability of capturing handguns with accessories forward of the trigger guard. Also, the capability for utilizing common components in holsters for different handguns would be beneficial in a cost perspective. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention address the above with a holster for a handgun that comprises a holster body with a defined handgun cavity for receiving and retaining the handgun at the ejection port and at the rear end of the handgun slide. Moreover, a single obscured push button actuates both mechanisms. The holster comprising a holster body having an upper opening for inserting and removing the handgun, a cavity for receiving the handgun and having a bottom or lower wall portion and a first and an opposite second side wall, a forward wall and a rearward wall portion. A pivot guard or latch hood configured is pivotally connected between the first and second walls adjacent to the forward wall portion and at the upper opening, the latch hood having a capture position extending over the handgun slide end and a release open position with a spring bias towards the release open position. An internal retention sleeve having an inverted U-shape is slidingly mounted within the holster body at the forward wall portion and extending downwardly to the first and second side walls. The U-shaped sleeve movable between a first securement position and a second release position. The U-shaped sleeve sized to receive and move along an upper portion of the handgun, primarily the slide. The sleeve having an integral thumb button depressible downwardly whereby the sleeve moves downwardly within the body. A resilient cantilevered leaf spring has an ejection port stop catch, an actuation portion and an end secured to the body. The stop catch being in an obstructing position with the ejection port in a first normal position and movable to a second release position. The actuation portion engageable with an engagement portion of the sleeve, at least one of the intermediate portion and sleeve having a cam wedge portion whereby when the sleeve is moved downwardly, the leaf spring is deflected out of the obstructing position with the ejection port. 
         [0004]    The sleeve further having a latch hood engagement portion and the latch hood further having a sleeve engagement portion that cooperate with each other, whereby the latch hood engagement portion and the sleeve engagement portion are latchable together when the latch hood is in the capture position for retaining the latch hood in said capture position, and wherein sliding the U-shaped slide portion forwardly toward the second release position disengages the latch hood engagement portion and the sleeve portion engagement portion allowing the latch hood to open to the release position driven by the bias of the latch hood toward the release position. 
         [0005]    After the handgun is removed, the latch hood remains open. Resetting the retention mechanisms is accomplished by replacing the gun in the holster, slightly depressing the push button and rotating the latch hood to the capture position and then releasing the push button such that the cooperating engagement portions of the sleeve and the latch hood are engaged. 
         [0006]    A feature and advantage of embodiments of the invention is the retention sleeve that is removable from the holster body. The removable retention sleeve can have various shapes and sizes for different handguns so that a particular retention sleeve can fit into the holster body and then be switched out with another retention sleeve, depending on the desired type of handgun for use. Thus, manufacturing costs for holsters for different handguns can be reduced. In embodiments, the end consumer may be able to switch out the sleeves. 
         [0007]    In particular embodiments, the latch hood is in a closed position when the latch hood is engaged with the retention sleeve. To engage the retention sleeve with the latch hood, the retention sleeve may have at least one or more projections or prongs that slide into or fit into compartments, sleeves, or pockets of the latch hood. Alternatively, the latch hood may have one or more projections or prongs that fit into or slide into compartments, sleeves, or pockets of the retention sleeve. 
         [0008]    Embodiments of the invention include the individual mechanisms as well. A feature and advantage of embodiments is a latch hood operated by a push button attached to an axially movable member that slide or moves out of a latching engagement with the latch hood and the latch hood by way of a spring bias rotates to the open position allowing removal of the handgun. 
         [0009]    The retention sleeve may include at least one projecting that extends out on one end of the retention sleeve. In one embodiment, the projecting component extends towards the front of the gun, downwardly in the holster body, and is sized to capture a spring. The spring engages a spring catch of the interior of the holster body to provide a bias of the sleeve towards the open top of the holster. A feature and advantage of the holster is that the pivoting latch hood can remain open when the handgun is reholstered to provide a lesser retention level than with the latch hood in a capture position. 
         [0010]    A feature and advantage of embodiments is the release lever coupled to the retention sleeve. When the release sleeve and latch hood are engaging with each other, pressing downward (or forward) on the release lever simultaneously or sequentially actuates and disengages the catch wedge of the latch member from the ejection port of a handgun and disengages the prongs from the latch hood from the compartments, pockets, or sleeves of the retention sleeve. A spring or other resilient material may be placed underneath ejection port capture member for primary or supplemental bias in the obstruction position with the ejection port. 
         [0011]    A feature and advantage of embodiments of the invention is that the retention of the firearm at the slide allows the holster to be configured to receive firearms with laser illumination sights units mounted forwardly of the trigger guard. Conventional holsters with trigger guard retention mechanisms cannot receive firearms with such laser sights. 
         [0012]    A feature and advantage of embodiments of the invention is a single thumb actuated push button that releases the spring loaded pivoting latch hood h and a gun withdrawal obstruction member. In embodiments the obstruction member may be on the trigger guard, in embodiments on the ejection port. 
         [0013]    A feature and advantage of embodiments of the invention is that a single motion with the thumb depression can actuate the latch hood to snap open providing a provocative signal to a potential suspect that the gun may be deployed. A feature and advantage of the embodiments of the invention is that the actuation button is not readily visible. Moreover, in embodiments, the push button is positioned in a difficult to access position by others not wearing the holster. In embodiments the button is forward of the hood and intermediate the firearm and holster attachment portion, for example, a belt clip. Also, the user may mute the latch hood “snap” by preventing it from snapping open with the same hand actuating the push button. 
         [0014]    The holster can attach to a holster holding device so that the holster can hang from a particular location, like the belt of a user. The holster holding device can attach to the outside of the holster by lining up a mounting plate located in the interior of the holster body with the holster holding device located on the exterior of the holster body. In one embodiment, the holster body, mounting plate, and holster holding device will each have a set or series of sets of holes that can be lined up and then fastened together, i.e. a screw. 
         [0015]    These and other features and aspects of the present invention may be described below in connection with some exemplary embodiments of the invention and other attributes and benefits of the foregoing will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from the following drawings and detailed description. Other holsters which disclose mechanisms and configurations that are suitable for portions of embodiments of the invention of this application are illustrated in U.S. Patent/Publication Nos. US 2007/0181619, US 2011/0163138, U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,694,860 and 7,556,181, which are incorporated by reference herein. 
         [0016]    In an embodiment of the invention, a holster shell with a insertion/withdrawal direction, a thumb pushbutton is on one side of the holster and connects to linkage that transfers a downward motion of the button on the one side to an opposite side of the holster and the linkage engages an ejection port obstruction member that has an obstructing position and a release position with respect to engagement of a handgun at the ejection port, the handgun in the holster shell, the ejection port obstruction member being movable to a release position by the downward motion. The obstruction member biased to a normal obstruction position. In embodiments, the pushbutton retains a pivoting hood, positioned above a rear portion of a slide of the handgun, in a retention position, the actuation of the pushbutton releasing the pivoting hood to a non-retention position, the hood biased, such as by a spring, to the non-retention position. 
         [0017]    The above summary of the various representative features and aspects of the present invention is not intended to describe each illustrated embodiment or every implementation of the present invention. Rather, the various representative features and aspects are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may appreciate and understand the principles of certain aspects of the present invention. The figures in the detailed description that follows more particularly exemplify such aspects of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a holster according to embodiments of the invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of the holster of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the holster with the belt clip removed in accord with embodiments of the invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of a holster and handgun in accordance with the invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of a holster in accord with the invention with the handgun shown in phantom. 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a view of the holster of  FIG. 5  with the latch hood released for removal of the handgun in accord with embodiments of the invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is top perspective view showing the inside of the holster with the obstruction member shown stippled for purposes of clarity. 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the front of the holster with the retention sleeve shown stippled for clarity purposes. 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the holster illustrating the sliding engagement of the sleeve with the holster body in accord with embodiments of the invention. The cross section taken at about line. 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  illustrates the engagement mechanisms of the latch hood to the sleeve. 
           [0028]      FIG. 11  is another view of the engagement of the latch sleeve to the hood. 
           [0029]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a handgun with two retention means and the actuation sleeve thereon without the shell illustrated for purposes of clarity. 
           [0030]      FIG. 13  is a view of the top of the gun (or the front of the holster) illustrating the retention means of  FIG. 12 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 14  is a view facing the front of the handgun an illustrating the relationship of the sleeve to the top surface of the handgun. 
           [0032]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the retention means of  FIGS. 12-14  without the handgun. 
           [0033]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the sleeve and ejection port obstruction member as the cooperate in the holster. 
           [0034]      FIG. 17  is the same perspective view of  FIG. 16  without the sleeve. 
           [0035]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view of a different embodiment of a latch hood as compared to  FIGS. 10 and 11 . 
           [0036]      FIG. 19  is another perspective view of the latch hood of  FIG. 18 . 
           [0037]      FIG. 20  is a perspective view of the actuation sleeve of  FIGS. 12-16 . 
           [0038]      FIG. 21  is another perspective view of the actuation sleeve of  FIG. 20 . 
           [0039]      FIG. 22A  is a side view of the latch hood in a retention position secured in place by the actuation sleeve, for purposes of clarity, the holster body is not shown. 
           [0040]      FIG. 22B  is a side view of the latch hood of  FIG. 22A  with the manual pushbutton of the actuation sleeve being depressed commencing the handgun release sequence. 
           [0041]      FIG. 22C  is a side view of the latch hood of  FIG. 22A  with the sleeve moved to the release position allowing the pivot hood to snap open. 
           [0042]      FIG. 22D  is a side view of the latch hood of  FIG. 22A  with the pivot hood in the release-full open position and the sleeve full forward. 
           [0043]      FIG. 22E  is a side view of the latch hood of  FIG. 22A  with the sleeve retracted. 
           [0044]      FIG. 22F  is a side view of the latch hood of  FIG. 22A  with the obstruction of the pivoting of the latch hood when the sleeve has not been pushed forward. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0045]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-7 , a holster  20  is configured to receive a handgun  22  and in particular embodiments is equipped with two retention means commonly actuated. The holster comprises generally a holster body  30 , linkage configured as a slidably engaged internal retention sleeve  34  connected to the body, a handgun withdrawal obstructing member  40  configured as an ejection port obstruction member connected to the body, and a latch hood  46  connected to the body. A holster holding device such as an attachment clip  50  may be used to secure the holster to a belt or other harness. The handgun is a conventional semi-automatic with a slide  51  and ejection port  52  with a surface  55  that extends transverse to the direction d of insertion and removal of the firearm. The holster has a longitudinal axis a extending parallel to the insertion/withdrawal direction. Of note, the holster provides functionality even when the handgun has accessories such as laser illumination sights  53 . 
         [0046]    The holster body  30  or shell may be formed from two clam shell type halves  54 ,  56  that may be secured together by fasteners  58  or the body may be unitarily formed. The body has a bottom portion  60 , sidewalls  62 ,  64 , a forward wall portion  66 , a rearward wall portion  68 , and, an open top  70 . 
         [0047]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 ,  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10  and  11 , the U-shaped retention sleeve is shown in detail. The U-shaped sleeve is a motion transfer linkage to transfer the thumb downward motion to the opposite side of the holster where the ejection port of the slide is located. The sleeve has a top slide portion  76  which engages a cooperating groove  78  configured as a channel formed into the forward wall portion of the holster body. In other embodiments an axially extending groove may be provided in the slide to engage protruding portions extending from the body or shell. The sleeve has a forward spring catch  82  engaged with a spring  84  that is also engaged with the holster body, such as in a recess  85 , to provide a bias to the sleeve towards the open top  70  of the holster. The sleeve further has a lever or pushbutton handle  86  integrally formed such as by injection molding with the slide portion  88  of the sleeve. The thumb button may be advantageously positioned between the firearm and a holster holding device, such as the clip illustrated. Latch hood engagement portions  90  provide recesses for cooperative engagement of the latch hood. The sleeve also has an engagement portion  94  configured as a surface defining a recess, an opening, an aperture or window for engaging the ejection port obstructing member  40  as the sleeve. Such a recess, an opening, an aperture or window provides a guide-in effect to minimize misalignments of the components and added reliability in the release function. 
         [0048]    The latch hood  46 , or rear pivot guard, has sleeve engagement portions  102 ,  104  which cooperate and engage with the sleeve at the recesses  90  of the sleeve to prevent pivoting of the latch hood. The latch hood may be pivotally attached to the holster body by way of a pin  108  and may be biased towards an open unlatched position as illustrated in  FIG. 6  by way of a torsion spring  112 . The latch hood has a handgun slide obstructing cap portion  114  which when in a closed retention or capture position precludes removal of the handgun by obstructing the rear slide portion  115  of the handgun. The handgun is installed in the holster with the latch hood in the open release position as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0049]    The ejection port obstruction member  40  is best illustrated in  FIGS. 4 ,  7  and  9  and provides a capture or retention position and a release position by engaging a surface that extends transverse to the direction d of insertion and removal of the firearm. The surface may be an edge or edge surface of an ejection port of the slide. Alternative transverse surfaces may be utilized depending on the firearm and may also comprise a transverse surface on an accessory added to the firearm. The obstruction member  40  may be configured as a leaf spring with a first end  120  that is secured to the side wall  64  of the holster body by way of a fastener such as a screw  122 , rivet, welding, or other means. The ejection port capture member may have a catch at the opposite second end  126 . The capture member may be configured as a resilient leaf spring utilizing the resiliency of the leaf spring material to resiliently provide a normal position of retention by obstructing the ejection port of a handgun in the holster. The catch end  126  may have an angle that is best illustrated in  FIG. 7  for enhanced securement at the ejection port. The catch member also has an engagement portion  132  that cooperates with the U shaped sleeve  34  at an engagement portion  136 . The engagement provides that as the sleeve is depressed downwardly a cam follower or wedge surface  138  on the ejection port catch member is engaged by an engagement surface configured as a cam surface on the sleeve causing said ejection port capture member to move towards the side wall and away from the engagement position with the ejection port of the handgun. In other embodiments the obstruction member may be pivotally attached to the body with a retention position and a release position with the retention position blocking removal of the firearm by obstruction of a surface transverse to the insertion and removal directions of the firearm in the holster. The obstruction member may be biased by a spring to the obstructing position. 
         [0050]    The holster holding device  50  may extend upwardly and provides restricted access to the thumb-release button. The holster may be disassembled such as by removal of the hood pin  108  and then sliding removal of the sleeve. Different sleeves may be utilized to convert the holster to conform to different firearms. In embodiments of the invention, a kit may be provided with a shell and differently configured sleeves to accommodate different handguns. Also, in embodiments, more than one obstructing member may be provided with such kits. 
         [0051]    Referring to  FIGS. 15-22F , a different embodiment of the holster retention mechanism is illustrated compared to  FIGS. 10 and 11 . The latch hood  200  has prongs  202 ,  204  are shorter than in the previous embodiment and have a notch  208  that precludes closure of the hood  200  without the downward (or forward) actuation of the sleeve  208 . This assures the use of two retention mechanisms when the handgun is secured in the holster by way of precluding the latching of the pivot hood until the sleeve is forward which deflects the ejection port obstruction member. The sleeve has a top  210 , sides  212 ,  214  and lower recess with a conforming shape to the handgun to be received. The sleeve engages the top surface of the handgun in the holster and has a T-shaped upper portion  220  that is received in the groove of the holster shell or body as illustrated best in  FIG. 9 . A thumb pushbutton  224  extends from a mid portion  226  of one of two side wall portions  212  which extend horizontal (when the axis of the gun and holster are horizontal) and taper downwardly. 
         [0052]    Referring to  FIGS. 22A to 22F , the sequence of operation of pivot hood retention mechanism is illustrated.  FIG. 22   a  has the hood in the retention or obstruction position latched in place by the prongs resting on the platforms  234  of the sleeve  208 . With the pushing of the pushbutton the result is illustrated in  FIG. 22B  and in  FIG. 22C  the sleeve no longer restricts the spring driven rotation of the hood and the hood is shown in a upward motion to the full open and release position of  FIG. 22   d  and with the full downward position of the sleeve which then has the curved cam surface  242  of the sleeve fully deflecting outwardly the obstructing member  24  such that the stop surface  238  is in a non-obstructing position with respect to the handgun ejection port  244 .  FIG. 22   e  illustrates the sleeve sliding rearwardly (with respect to the handgun) or upwardly (with respect to the holster) and  FIG. 22E  illustrates the sleeve in its normal undepressed position and with the latch hood manually pivoted such that the grooves  208  are obstructed by the corners  252  of the platforms  234 . 
         [0053]    In addition to the T-shaped top portion  220 , the sleeve may have bearing surfaces  260  on its sides to engage the inside surface of the holster body. The inside of the sleeve also has bearing surfaces  262  that engage the top surface of the handgun. Such bearing surfaces conform to the shape of the slide of the handgun. Also opposing side surfaces  266 ,  268  are parallel to each other and sandwich the slide of the handgun therebetween. As best illustrated by  FIG. 14 , the engagement of the handgun with the side surfaces may be a close fit with some tolerance to allow easy sliding of the handgun in and out of the holster without the slide gripping and impeding said insertion and withdrawal of the handgun. 
         [0054]    The body and sleeve and ejection port obstructing member, and latch hood may be formed of injection molded polymers or composite construction. Generally the shell components, the sleeve, the obstructing member, and the latch hood will be rigid materials with some resilience. Nylons, polyethelenes, epoxies, may be suitable for example; such may be reinforced with glass, carbon or other fiber materials. Other materials may also be suitable, for example the ejection port obstructing member could readily be formed from spring steel or composite construction-polymer and steel. 
         [0055]    The above references in all sections of this application are herein incorporated by references in their entirety for all purposes. 
         [0056]    All of the features disclosed in this specification (including the references incorporated by reference, including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. 
         [0057]    Each feature disclosed in this specification (including references incorporated by reference, any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features. 
         [0058]    The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment (s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any incorporated by reference references, any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed The above references in all sections of this application are herein incorporated by references in their entirety for all purposes. 
         [0059]    Although specific examples have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose could be substituted for the specific examples shown. This application is intended to cover adaptations or variations of the present subject matter. Therefore, it is intended that the invention be defined by the attached claims and their legal equivalents, as well as the following illustrative aspects. The above described aspects embodiments of the invention are merely descriptive of its principles and are not to be considered limiting. Further modifications of the invention herein disclosed will occur to those skilled in the respective arts and all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the invention.