Abstract:
A security holster for use with a handgun. A locking device secures engages a feature of the handgun, and retains it in the holster until released by the user. The security holster provides for one handed insertion and withdrawal of a handgun, and prevents unauthorized removal of the handgun. An audible indication of insertion and locking is provided by the locking mechanism.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention generally relates to handgun holsters, and more particularly relates to holsters which provide security against unauthorized withdrawal of a handgun. 
   2. Background Information 
   Police and security officers and military personnel in a number of situations must be ready to withdraw and use a handgun in the line of duty at a moment&#39;s notice. In an emergency situation, withdrawing the handgun must be done in a completely natural and unobstructed manner, so that it can be withdrawn as quickly as possible. The officer&#39;s life may depend on the speed with which they can withdraw the handgun. However, after the handgun is withdrawn, the situation may dictate other options or needs, requiring the officer to reholster the handgun just as quickly. Current holsters do not meet this demand without some continued manipulation of security straps, before the officer knows or has confidence that the weapon is secure. In this type of situation, the officer needs to be able to holster his handgun with one hand, without looking at the holster and while maintaining eye contact with the suspect. During holstering, an audible click and a tactile sensation indicating that the handgun is secured in the holster would be preferable. 
   The problem comes when the suspect becomes an assailant, and attacks the officer and tries to gain access to his weapon. When this situation develops, it is of utmost importance for the officer to maintain control of his handgun, and that the assailant does not get access to the handgun. Many holsters have been designed to accomplish this purpose, in a number of different manners. However, they all suffer a number of drawbacks. Some require two hands to release and secure the handgun. This is unacceptable. Some of them secure the handgun with a device which can be difficult to release in a fast draw situation, and therefore is a dangerous security mechanism. Some holsters secure the weapon in place from bouncing out of the holster, but are not designed to withstand the attack of an assailant, and would allow the gun to be taken from the officer by an assailant. Some holsters use electronic devices for fingerprint recognition, and run the risk of malfunctioning or having a dead battery. Some holsters require the user to tilt or rock the handgun, or twist it before it can be released from the handgun. Such a maneuver must be practiced frequently in order to ensure that the wearer can perform it without mistake in an emergency situation. All of these methods of securing a handgun are problematic, and an improved security holster is needed which solves these problems. 
   For these reasons, it is an object of the invention to provide a security holster for a handgun which allows a handgun to be quickly inserted or withdrawn with one hand, without looking at the holster, and which secures the holster to the officer without undue manipulation of straps or the handgun. It is a further goal of the invention that the security holster not allow an assailant to withdraw the handgun against the will of the officer. It is a further object of the invention to provide a handgun securing holster which is easily released by a natural and fluid motion of the officer. It is a further object of the invention to provide a security holster which has an audible click or sound which indicates to the user that the handgun is secured in the holster. Another object of the invention is to provide a security holster with a mechanism which allows the holster to withstand severe force without releasing the handgun, until the releasing mechanism is activated. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   These and other objects of the invention are accomplished by the security holster of the invention. The security holster is designed to be used with a handgun and to be mounted on a user&#39;s belt or concealed carry harness, or other mounting positions. The holster has an inner and outer side wall which together define an interior cavity into which the handgun is placed. There is an open top portion of the holster which is designed to receive the handgun and from which the handgun is removed. 
   The security holster includes a locking means which is designed to engage a feature of the handgun, with an audible indication alerting the user that the handgun has been locked in place. The locking means interacts with a handgun feature when the handgun is placed in the inner cavity of the security holster. The features with which the locking means can interact can include the ejection port of a semi-automatic pistol, the trigger guard of a revolver or semi-automatic handgun, the back of the slide of a semi-automatic pistol, or other features, depending on the specific handgun for which the security holster is fitted. The locking means engages the handgun feature in order to prevent the withdrawal of the handgun without releasing the locking means. 
   The device also includes a releasing means which is positioned adjacent to the trigger and trigger guard of the handgun. This releasing means is designed so that the user may activate and thereby release the locking means by flexure of the user&#39;s finger, such as an index finger. By basing the release of the locking means on flexure of the user&#39;s finger, the design is made difficult to circumvent by an assailant reaching into the holster with his finger and releasing the locking means. By requiring flexure of the user&#39;s finger to release the locking means, it is almost impossible for an assailant from the front being able to reach in and release the handgun. The device also includes a finger tube built into the side wall of the holster, into which the user inserts a finger for activating the release means. The security holster is configured for one handed insertion of a handgun. When the handgun is fully inserted and the locking means is engaged, the user is notified of this by an audible sound or click upon locking. The handgun is retained until the locking means is released by the releasing means, which is activated by the user depressing the releasing means by flexure of a finger, usually the index finger. 
   In one embodiment of the invention, the locking means is a generally rectangular block which engages the ejection port of a semi-automatic pistol. The locking means in this embodiment is a locking tab which is attached to a metal plate, which is itself attached to the holster. The metal plate is hinged, with the plate on one side of the hinge being rigidly attached to the holster, and the plate on the other side of the hinge being free to rotate back and forth. The hinged plate is referred to as the spring assembly. The part of the spring assembly mounted to the holster body is called the fixed plate. Attached to the fixed plate is a first arm on which the locking tab is mounted. The locking tab is configured to allow the unobstructed entry of the handgun into the holster, to press against the slide of a handgun as the handgun is inserted into the holster, and to drop into place in the ejection port of a handgun when the handgun is fully inserted into the holster. To accomplish this, the locking tab has a sloping face which faces the open end of the holster, and allows entry and passage of the handgun. The locking tab has a notch in the side which faces the open end of the holster, which locks against an edge of the holster at a locking tab passage which extends through the holster body. 
   A second arm of the spring plate assembly is attached to the first arm. The second arm includes a release tab which is directly and operationally connected to the first arm and the locking tab. The release tab is configured to rest adjacent the trigger guard of the handgun when the handgun is fully inserted into the holster. The release tab also covers the trigger, so that depressing the release tab does not activate the trigger. This feature prevents the handgun from being accidentally fired when it is in the security holster. Activation of the release tab is accomplished by the user flexing a finger, generally an index finger, when it is inserted into the holster adjacent the release tab. 
   The security holster of the invention thus provides for one handed insertion of the handgun. During insertion of the handgun into the security holster, the locking tab admits the handgun and engages a feature of the handgun for retention of the handgun unless and until the locking tab is disengaged by the user pressing the release tab. The release tab is pressed by the natural flexure of the user&#39;s finger. In this way, the handgun can be removed from the security holster without looking at it, and by user using only one hand. Features which can be added to enhance the embodiment of the security holster described above can include the locking tab being configured to make an audible click or sound when it engages with the handgun feature. The handgun feature can be the ejection port, a trigger guard, the back of the handle, or any other appropriate feature of the handgun. 
   The spring plate assembly of the invention can take several different forms. In one embodiment of the security holster, the spring plate assembly includes a piano hinge between the fixed plate and the first and second arm. In this embodiment, the hinge between the fix plate and the first and second arm includes a biasing device such as a spring. 
   In another version of the security holster, the spring plate assembly includes a torsion spring, which connects the fixed plate with the first and second arm. One feature of the holster of the invention can include the holster being made of a rigid material such as a sturdy plastic. Other materials could also be suitable such as leather or metal, or combinations of these materials. The locking tab can be configured so that the edge of the locking tab which faces toward the open end of the holster is sloping, which enables the handgun to slide under it upon insertion. The side of the locking tab which faces toward the barrel end of the holster is also notched, so that when the locking tab drops into the handgun feature such as the ejection port, the notch will engage the handgun feature and prevent the handgun from being withdrawn from the security holster past the locking tab. 
   One embodiment of the security holster includes a locking tab which is connected to the spring plate assembly by a floating connection, which allows the locking tab a certain limited freedom of motion in it&#39;s attachment to the spring plate assembly. This floating attachment allows force applied to the handgun to withdraw it to be transferred through the locking tab to the security holster. In this way, the security holster is much stronger in resisting this unauthorized withdrawal of a handgun than if the force of the withdrawal were applied to the spring plate assembly alone, through the spring plate assembly&#39;s connection to the locking tab. 
   Another embodiment of the security holster utilizes one or more springs which are biased upon insertion of a handgun. After the handgun is fully inserted and then released, the springs press the handgun toward the entry end of the handgun, thereby engaging the locking notch of the locking tab against the holster body at the locking tab passage. In this configuration, to release and remove the handgun, the user first presses the handgun deeper into the security holster a small amount, then depresses the release tab. 
   Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description wherein we have shown and described only the preferred embodiment of the invention, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated by carrying out my invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modification in various obvious respects all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description of the preferred embodiment are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1A  is a perspective cutaway view of the security holster. 
       FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of the security holster. 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the security holster with a handgun inserted into the security holster. 
       FIG. 3A  is a side view of the right side of the spring plate assembly. 
       FIG. 3B  is a side view showing the left side of the spring plate assembly. 
       FIG. 4A  is a rear view of the security holster showing the locking tab in the locked position. 
       FIG. 4B  is a rear view of the security holster showing the locking tab in a releasing position. 
       FIG. 5  is a front view of the security holster. 
       FIG. 6A  is a top view of the security holster with a handgun partially inserted. 
       FIG. 6B  is a top view of the security holster with a handgun fully inserted, but not released. 
       FIG. 6C  is a top view of the security holster with a handgun fully inserted, not released, and locking tab is shown engaged with holster body. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the security holster which utilizes a torsion spring. 
       FIG. 8  is an exploded view of the security holster with torsion spring and its parts. 
       FIG. 9  is a side view of the handgun showing safety lock mechanisms. 
       FIG. 10A  is an embodiment of the locking tab with a tapered edge. 
       FIG. 10B  is an embodiment of the locking tab with a lap joint configuration. 
       FIG. 10C  is an embodiment of the locking tab with a tongue and groove configuration. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims. 
   Several preferred embodiments and features of the security holster are shown in  FIGS. 1 through 8 . Preferably, the security holster is made a tough and durable plastic such as Kydex (Mfg. By Kleerdex Company). A thickness of ⅛ inch of this material has been found to be suitable for making the security holster. Other materials or thicknesses of materials which have similar characteristics of rigidity, strength, and weight would also be suitable. This might include metal such as aluminum or steel, other types of plastics, or leather. The security holster shown in  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B and  2  show the general configuration of the security holster when used with a handgun  40 , and is designated as  10  in the figures. The security holster  10  includes a holster body  12  and a holster outer cover  14 . The holster outer cover  14  wraps either fully or partially around the holster body  12 , and covers the locking mechanism.  FIG. 1  shows the holster outer cover  14  cut away to reveal the locking mechanism of this embodiment. 
   The locking mechanism of this embodiment is referred to as spring plate assembly  16 . Spring plate assembly  16  includes three parts. The first part is a fixed plate  18  which is rigidly and permanently attached to a bulge in the holster body  12 . The bulge in the holster body  12  forms a finger tube  46  which is an opening between the handgun and the holster body  12  which allows insertion of a user&#39;s index finger. Fixed plate  18  is preferably metal, and Stainless Steel has proven to be a suitable metal for its construction. Opposite fixed plate  18  is a first arm  20  which is rigidly attached to a second arm  24 , both of which are attached by a hinge  30  to the fixed plate  18 . The second arm  24  includes a release tab  26 , which is semicircular in cross section and fitted to receive the index finger of a user, and lies over the trigger and trigger guard of a handgun  40  when it is fully inserted into the security holster  10 . The second arm  24  and its components are rigidly attached to the first arm  20 . The first arm  20  also includes locking tab mounting slots  32 , locking tab mounting screws  34 , and a locking tab  22  (which is shown in FIG.  3 B. The locking tab  22  is mounted to the first arm  20  so that the screws  34  which secure it allow the locking tab  22  to move back and forth in the locking tab mounting slots  32 . The first arm  20  and second arm  24  are attached to the fixed plate  18  by a hinge  30 . The hinge  30  includes a spring  28  which presses the first arm  20  against the holster body  12 . The spring  28  also pushes the second arm  24  away from the handgun and towards the finger tube  46 . The locking tab  22  passes through a locking tab passage  42  in the holster body  12 , in order to engage the ejection port of the handgun  40 . 
     FIGS. 3A and 3B  show a detailed view of the spring plate assembly  16 . These views are of the right and left side of the spring plate assembly  16 , with the holster body  12  removed. As seen in  FIG. 3A , the release tab  26  is semicircular in cross section and curved to easily admit a user&#39;s index finger. On one end of release tab  26  is a fingertip flare  36  which is also curved and serves to help the user position his finger on the release tab  26 . As shown in  FIG. 3A , the locking tab mounting slots  32  allow the locking tab mounting screws  34  and the locking tab  22  to move back and forth in the locking tab mounting slots  32 . As shown in  FIG. 3B , the locking tab  22  has several angled faces. An engagement edge  60  faces towards an entry end  62  of the security holster  10 . 
     FIGS. 4A and 4B  are views of the security holster  10  looking from the entry end  62  toward the barrel end  64 . They show the spring plate assembly  16  in two positions.  FIG. 4A  shows the spring plate assembly with the first arm  20  lowered into a locking position. If a handgun  40  were in the security holster  10  in this position, the locking tab  22  would be engaged with the ejection port of the handgun to secure the handgun  40  in the security holster  10 .  FIG. 4B  shows the first arm  20  raised away from the holster body  12  into a release position. When the fixed arm  20  moves in relation to the holster body  12 , the second arm  24  also moves, since it is rigidly attached to the first arm  20 . In this position, the locking tab  22  is disengaged from the ejection port of the handgun  40 , and the handgun  40  could be withdrawn from the security holster  10 . 
     FIG. 5  is a front view of the security holster  10 , looking from the barrel end  64  towards the entry end  62 . This view shows a first arm  20  in a locking position. It also shows a trigger guard spring mount  38  and a slide spring mount  52 . These are two alternative positions of a spring which extends backward from the spring bracket  44  or the slide spring bracket  50 , with a short coil spring which presses against the handgun  40 . In the preferred embodiment, this coil spring is approximately ¼ inch in diameter, and extends approximately ¾ inches toward the entry end  62  of the security holster  10 . When a handgun  40  is inserted into the security holster  10 , the spring is depressed until its length is about ⅜ inches. Two positions are shown for a spring bracket and a spring. The reason for this is that some handguns  40  can be equipped with devices such as flashlights or laser sights which mount to the front of a trigger guard of a handgun. With such a device, the trigger guard spring bracket  44  would be dispensed with and only the slide spring bracket  50  and the slide spring mount  52  would be utilized. These springs serve as a rebounding device, and other rebounding devices could also be utilized. A compressible material such as foam would serve as such a rebounding device. 
     FIGS. 6A ,  6 B and  6 C illustrate the interaction of the security holster  10 , the locking tab  22 , and the handgun ejection port  54  of the handgun  40 . When seen from the top view, the security holster  10  has a locking tab passage  42 , which is adjacent the locking tab  22  and allows the locking tab  22  to pass through the wall of the security body  12 . The handgun  40  includes a handgun slide  56  and a handgun ejection port  54 , which permits a spent cartridge (not shown) to pass through the handgun ejection port  54  and through the handgun slide  56 .  FIG. 8  shows these handgun parts to advantage. As a handgun  40  is inserted into the security holster  10 , the handgun slide  56  lifts the locking tab  22 , and slides past it as it enters the security holster  10 .  FIG. 6A  shows a portion of the handgun slide  56  lifting the locking tab  22 . The handgun ejection port  54  is visible in the locking tab passage  42  of the security holster  10 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 6B , when the handgun  40  has been fully inserted into the security holster  10 , the locking tab  22  is past the handgun slide  56 , and can drop into place in the handgun ejection port  54 . When this happens, the first arm  20  falls into place against the side of the holster body  12  as shown in FIG.  6 B. The locking tab  22  includes an engagement notch  58  which is adjacent the interface of the locking tab  22  and the first arm  20 . At this point, the handgun  40  cannot be removed without first depressing the release tab  26 . If the release tab  26  were depressed, the locking tab  22  would move into the position shown in  FIG. 6A , and the handgun ejection port  54  would not be engaged, and the handgun  40  could be removed. 
   In one preferred embodiment of the security holster  10  of the invention, the security holster  10  is provided with one or more springs. A spring can be mounted on the trigger guard spring bracket  44 , and/or could be mounted on the slide spring bracket  50  which was shown in FIG.  5 . In the embodiment which utilizes one or more springs, once the handgun had been fully inserted as shown in  FIG. 6B , the user could release the handgun  40 , and the spring would press the handgun back in the security holster  10 , until the engagement notch  58  of the locking tab  22  engaged with the holster body  12  which was exposed in the locking tab passage  42 . This position is shown in FIG.  6 C. When springs are used as described above, the user would need to compress the springs a small amount by pressing down on the handgun  40 , in order to allow release of the locking tab  22  and thus the handgun by pressing the release tab  26 . This creates a secondary locking system by physically linking the locking tab  22  to the holster body  12 . When this happens, if force is applied to the handgun to withdraw it without first releasing the locking tab  22 , the force is transmitted to the holster body, and the first arm  20  does not bear this force without support. 
   A second preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , in which the spring plate assembly is a T shaped torsion spring  66 . Depressing a second arm  26  of the torsion spring  66  lifts the first arm  20  and its attached locking tab  22  out of the ejection port by  54  of the handgun, to release the handgun  40 . 
     FIG. 9  shows the security holster  10  of the invention with a first security lock  68  and a second security lock  70 . Each of these security locks allow a user to lock the first and second arm from movement, and thus lock a handgun  40  in the security holster  10 , and prevent the release of the locking tab  22 . In either security lock, a tab can be moved forward or backward which physically prevents the locking tab  22  from being lifted, and thus prevents the handgun  40  from being released and withdrawn. 
     FIGS. 10A ,  10 B, and  10 C show three embodiments of the interface between the locking tab  22  and the holster body  12 .  FIG. 10A  shows the locking tab  22  having a sloping surface,  FIG. 10B  shows a lap joint type interface, and  FIG. 10C  shows a tongue and groove type connection. 
   From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. While there is shown and described the present preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that this invention is not limited thereto but may be variously embodied to practice within the scope of the following claims.