Patent Publication Number: US-2010108728-A1

Title: Handgun holster

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a handgun holster, specifically to a holster utilized for concealed applications. 
     DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     An ideal holster for concealed applications should be comfortable, snag-free, and provide easy handgun access. The holster should be self-supporting and adaptable so that it can be worn at multiple locations on a person. Retention of a handgun is especially important during a defensive situation so the holster must include a mechanical means for retention to secure the handgun. Holsters made of rigid or bulky materials that show through clothing or require the holster to be exposed are not desirable for concealment purposes. 
     The prior art suffers from numerous deficiencies. For example U.S. Pat. No. 5,294,031 describes a concealment holster in which a zipper mechanism is prone to malfunctions; U.S. Pat. No. 5,170,919 describes a holster that is worn in open view; U.S. Pat. No. 5,909,834 describes a concealment holster that has an upper edge exposed seam that can unravel; and U.S. Pat. No. D361,656 includes a downward facing seam that can snag on handgun protrusions. In both U.S. Pat. No. 5,909,834 and U.S. Pat. No. D361,656, the elastic straps fail to pass tension through the holster&#39;s front and rear panel thereby failing to secure a handgun. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one embodiment, a holster that can be worn comfortably and covertly at multiple locations on a person depending on the individual&#39;s personal preference is described. The holster is independent of the users clothing and contains a means for mechanically retaining a handgun secure and in position during movement. The holster is constructed so that it will not snag on the protrusions found on various handguns. 
     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a mobile terminal and method of controlling a broadcast therein that substantially obviate one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a holster that is comfortable, snag-free, and provide easy handgun access for concealed applications. 
     Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings. 
     To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a handgun holding device includes a holster assembly that comprises a front assembly secured to a rear assembly forming a pocket therein having an open top edge, a first strap having one end attached to one side of the open top edge a second strap having one end attached to an opposite side of the open top edge, and a retention means attached to an unattached end of the first strap and second strap for adjustably securing the first strap and second strap around a portion of a user&#39;s body. The tension in the first and second straps is adjusted by the retention means, and the tension passes through the open top edge of the holster pocket thereby stretching the materials of the front assembly and the rear assembly in opposing directions, thereby forcefully sandwiching the handgun within the pocket. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principle of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the holster according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the holster according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view showing the construction of the front assembly of the holster according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view showing the construction of the rear assembly of the holster according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the holster with section lines according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the holster according to the embodiment of  FIG. 5  taken at the section plane and in the direction indicated by section lines  66 . 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of the holster with section lines according to a second embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a sectional view of the holster according to the second embodiment of  FIG. 7  taken at the sectioning plane and in the direction indicated by section lines  8 - 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show one embodiment of the holster. The holster has a front assembly  40  stitched to a rear assembly  42  and the seam between the front assembly  40  and the rear assembly  42  is sealed on the bottom and the sides forming a pocket. The rear assembly  42  has a larger vertical dimension than front assembly  40  to ensure that when the two assemblies are joined, the opening at the top of the pocket is readily identifiable and accessible. Elastic straps  24  are attached to each side of the top of the pocket formed by the front assembly  40  and the rear assembly  42  using means known in the art. 
     The front assembly  40  and rear assembly  42  are joined together at the exposed side and rounded lower edges. Double fold bias tape  22  is used to enclose the exposed side and lower edges of the now joined front assembly  40  and rear assembly  42 . This leaves the two top edges open forming a receiving pocket for a handgun. The pocket may be further divided into two separate receiving pockets by applying a straight-line vertical stitch  50  at the mid point of front assembly  40 . 
     The elastic straps  24  are individually sewn to the two opposing sides of the front assembly  40  so that stitching  70  penetrates through front assembly  40  and rear assembly  42 . Each of the unattached ends of the elastic straps  24  is terminated with a length of polypropylene webbing  26 . Hook fastener  28  and loop fastener  30  are then attached to the lengths of polypropylene webbing  26  in such a manner as to operationally join the elastic straps  24  to each other thereby adjustably securing the holster to a user. The lengths of the elastic straps  24  and the polypropylene webbing  26  may be selected to accommodate different sized users. The width of the elastic straps  24  and the polypropylene webbing  26  may be selected according to the weight capacity of the holster. By way of illustration, but not limitation, the width of the elastic straps  24  and the polypropylene webbing  26  may be 2 inches. 
     While the holster is described having elastic straps  24  secured with hook fastener  28  and loop fastener  30  as illustration, not limitation, other strapping material and securing means may be used, for example polypropylene webbing fitted with an adjustment buckle. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the holster&#39;s front assembly  40  is constructed of a layer of oval shaped interfacing fabric  32  sandwiched between two similarly shaped layers of denim  20 . Denim material is used for purposes of illustration without limitation, and the material for the front assembly  40  and rear assembly  42  may be any suitable fabric or flexible material. An iron or similar heating device applies heat and steam to the non-fusible side of the interfacing fabric  32 . The fusible side reacts to the heat and steam by forming a permanent bond to the underside of the outer layer of denim  20 . The oval shaped layers of material are then folded in half to form a half oval or shield-like shape with a seamless top edge and exposed side and bottom edges so that the handgun does not snag on the top edge when drawn. 
       FIG. 4  shows the holster&#39;s rear assembly  42  constructed of a layer of oval shaped interfacing fabric  32  and a similarly shaped layer of denim  20 . The interfacing fabric  32  is bonded to the underside of denim  20  in the same manner as in front assembly  40 . Breathable waterproof fabric  34  such as ULTREX®, GORTEX®, STORMTECH®, or CUSHMAX®, is cut to form a half-oval or shield-like pattern that is sewn into position so that it conforms to the side and rounded lower edges of the now fused interfacing fabric  32  and denim  20 . The fused interfacing fabric  32  and denim  20  are folded in half sandwiching the breathable waterproof fabric  34  and conforming to the half-oval or shield-like shape of the breathable waterproof fabric. The folded assembly has a seamless top edge and exposed bottom and side edges so that the handgun does not snag on the top edge when drawn. 
     Denim  20  provides a smooth draw surface for the handgun, while interfacing fabric  32  adds support to the denim  20  and prevents bubble formation in the material that are known to snag on the handgun. Breathable waterproof material  34  acts as a barrier to prevent moister from passing through the rear assembly  42  to the handgun, while allowing the denim  20  to breath. Bias tape  22  encloses the exposed side and bottom edges of front assembly  40  and rear assemble  42  to prevent fraying of the enclosed materials. 
       FIG. 5  shows a front view of the holster and  FIG. 6  shows the top of front assembly  40  and rear assembly  42  wherein rear assembly  42  extends approximately  1  inch above that of front assembly  40  providing additional protection to the handgun. The front assembly  40  measures approximately 9 inches in length by 5¼ in height after it is folded, while the rear assembly measures approximately 9 inches in length by 6¼ in height. The dimensions are exemplary only and the size of the holster may vary according to the size of the handgun to be carried. 
       FIG. 6  is a cross section view of the top of front assembly  40  and rear assembly  42  indicated by  6 - 6  shown on  FIG. 5 . 
     A second embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . An accessory divider  44  having the same dimensions as the rear assembly  42  is comprised of an oval shaped piece of denim  20  with a similarly shaped piece of interfacing fabric  32  fused within. The materials are then folded in half to form a half oval or shield-like shape that conforms to the side and lower right edges of front assembly  40  and rear assembly  42 . It is then sewn to front assembly  40  at its side and lower edges and a vertical stitch  50  is applied to create two ambidextrous receiving pockets described previously. Both accessory divider  44  and front assembly  40  are then sewn at their side and lower edges to rear assembly  42  so that the accessory divider  44  is sandwiched between the two assemblies. Bias tape  22  is used to enclose the side and lower edges of front assembly  40 , accessory divider  44 , and rear assembly  42 . Construction of the remainder of the holster does not deviate from the first embodiment. 
       FIG. 8  is a cross section view of the top of the front assembly  40 , the rear assembly  42 , and the accessory divider  44  indicated by  8 - 8  shown on  FIG. 7 . 
     To use the accessory divider  44 , the user places valuables such as money or shooting accessories between rear assembly  42  and accessory divider  44 . The addition of the accessory divider  44  does not change holster operation or function. 
     To use the holster, a handgun is inserted into one of the two ambidextrous receiving pockets created by vertical stitch  50  of  FIG. 1 . The holster is then positioned in front of the user&#39;s abdomen on top of any undergarments. Elastic straps  24  are then secured using hook fastener  28  and loop fastener  30 . This is accomplished by pulling the two elastic straps  24  in a rearward fashion so they encircle the user&#39;s hips. Hook fastener  28  and loop fastener  30  are then secured together so that the hook side of hook fastener  28  grips the loop side of loop fastener  30 . Webbing  26  creates a rigid gripping surface for both the hook side and loop side of the two fasteners and fully encloses the far edge of the two elastic straps  24 . 
     The two elastic straps  24  are individually sewn to the two opposing side edges of bias tape  22  so that both elastic straps  24  run horizontal to rear assembly  42 , but also rest on top of front assembly  40  and rear assembly  42 . Stitching  70  runs through the entire front assembly  40  and rear assembly  42  gripping all materials within with no interruption, creating a mechanical means for retention that utilizes tension to secure the handgun inside of the ambidextrous receiving pockets. When the user secures the elastic straps  24  as described above, tension runs through the two elastic straps  24 . This tension is transferred to both front assembly  40  and rear assembly  42  causing the two assemblies to tighten as they are pulled outward. The tightening effect effectively sandwiches the enclosed handgun and assists in retention during movement without impeding access to the handgun. Tension in the rear assembly  42  creates a tight fit against the abdomen eliminating any space between the holster and the user&#39;s body. 
     Once the holster is secured and the handgun is holstered, the user can conceal the holster under pants, shorts, or a similar outer garment. To draw the handgun, the user pushes the waistband of the outer garment outwards using their non-shooting hand. The user&#39;s shooting hand then reaches between the newly created space to remove the handgun from the holster. To holster the handgun, the user creates space between the ambidextrous receiving pockets with their non-shooting hand and inserts the handgun into the pocket with their shooting hand. 
     Alternatively, the holster can be positioned on the side of the user&#39;s waist much like a modern inside-the-waistband-holster. This allows faster handgun access and it is highly concealable as there are no external holster clips or fasteners to add to the profile of the holster. The elastic straps  24  are positioned above the hips at waist level. Only the handgun&#39;s grips will be visible. The user&#39;s shirt or coat can be worn over the grip for full concealment. To draw the handgun, the user clears their shirt or coat with their non-shooting hand and draws the handgun with their shooting hand. To holster the handgun, the user creates space between the ambidextrous receiving pouches with their non-shooting hand and inserts the handgun into the pocket with their shooting hand. The user&#39;s belt will also aid in retention when using this method by adding additional pressure to the frame of the holstered handgun. 
     Other methods of carry not described may be utilized depending on the user&#39;s preference. Each alternative method requires that the same steps be taken to both fasten the holster and to holster the handgun.