Patent Publication Number: US-11644274-B2

Title: Quick release holster

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional patent application No. 63/131,119, titled “Quick Release Upholster,” filed on Dec. 28, 2020, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The presently disclosed subject matter relates to a quick release assembly that allows for an item to be removed from a repository in an expedited manner. In particular, the presently disclosed subject matter directed to a quick release handgun holster designed to retain a handgun securely and yet to permit rapid withdrawal when required. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A wide variety of safety devices exist to inhibit withdrawal of a handgun from a holster by anyone other than the user. Typical rigid polymer holsters utilize retention mechanisms for preventing removal of the handgun that secure the handgun at the trigger guard. Some holsters have more than one retention mechanisms. However, when a holster has more than one retention feature, often mechanisms are either complicated, not reliable, and/or the actuation buttons are readily visible. Some retention mechanisms can become unlocked in a violent attack. 
     It would be advantageous to provide for an improved holster that overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art by securing a handgun from withdrawal by any but the wearer and yet permits a fast withdrawal upwardly by one trained in using the holster. It would be further advantageous to provide for an improved locking mechanism within the holster that allows the wearer to have a master grip of the handgun at the instant the locking mechanism is disengaged from the holster. It would be furthermore advantageous to provide for an improved locking mechanism that allows the wearer to automatically relock and reholster the handgun securely and quickly if it is not needed in a particular circumstance. For example, a wearer may draw a gun and find that deadly force is not required, and that hand-to-hand action will suffice against a criminal suspect. The wearer would then need to rapidly reholster the gun and relock the locking mechanism without looking but still have the gun secured by a fast acting, self-locking apparatus. 
     SUMMARY 
     This summary is provided to introduce in a simplified form concepts that are further described in the following detailed descriptions. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it to be construed as limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     In at least one embodiment, a holster assembly includes: a holster body having an interior shaped to receive a handgun therein, and an entrance to the interior; an ejection port restraint pivotally connected to the holster body, the ejection port restraint including a latch and being biased toward an obstruction position at which the latch extends into the interior for engaging the latch with the ejection port of the handgun; a hood restraint pivotally connected to the holster body adjacent the entrance, the hood restraint configured to pivot between a non-obstruction position, at which the hood restraint permits the handgun to enter the entrance into the interior and to be drawn from the interior, and an obstruction position at which the hood restraint at least partially blocks the entrance, the hood restraint biased toward the non-obstruction position; and a release device mounted on the holster body and configured to actuate both the ejection port restraint and the hood restraint, each toward the respective non-obstruction position thereof, in response to a single movement of the release device by a user to allow the handgun to be withdrawn from the holster. 
     The ejection port restraint may include a ramped contact surface that facilitates re-holstering of a handgun by pivoting the ejection port restraint, upon contact with the forward end of the advancing handgun, away from the obstruction position. 
     The holster body may include a first sidewall and a second sidewall between which the interior is defined; and the hood restraint may be pivotally connected to each of the first sidewall and second sidewall. 
     The hood restraint may include a first side shield, a second side shield, and a back wall connecting the first side shield and second side shield. 
     The first side shield may have a forward end pivotally connected to a rearward end of the first sidewall; and the second side shield may have a forward end pivotally connected to a rearward end of the second sidewall. 
     The hood restraint may include a retention slot that aligns with an arm of the release device when the hood restraint is in the obstruction position. 
     The release device may be biased rearward to slide a rearward portion of the arm into the retention slot to lock the hood restraint in the obstruction position. 
     A lower wall of the retention slot may be ramped to increase engagement with a ramped lower side of the rearward portion of the arm. 
     The release device may be configured to slide by forward user force against a rearward biased force from a rearward restraint locking position to a forward restraint releasing position to actuate both the ejection port restraint and the hood restraint, each toward the respective non-obstruction position thereof. 
     The release device may include a release lever that extends laterally outward from a side of the holster body. The release device may include a sliding arm connected to the release lever, the sliding arm having a forward portion shaped to pivot the ejection port from the obstruction position to the non-obstruction position when the release device is moved by forward user force from the rearward restraint locking position to the forward restraint releasing position. 
     The release device may have a release lever that extends laterally outward from the second side of the holster body for access by the thumb of a user. 
     A safety shroud may have a laterally outward extending lever guard below the release lever for protecting the release lever from accidental or unwanted actuation. 
     Rearward and forward limits of a range of sliding motion of the release device between the restraint locking position and the restraint releasing position may be defined by contact with respective stop blocks. 
     The holster body may include a trigger guard cover, defining therein a portion of the interior, for receiving at least a portion of the trigger guard of the handgun, and covering the trigger thereof. 
     The holster body may include at least one sidewall on which an attachment base is provided for fastening the holster assembly to a host structure or gear item. 
     The release device may have a release lever that extends laterally outward from the at least one sidewall for access by the thumb of a user when the holster assembly is worn with the attachment base facing the user. 
     The release lever may be positioned along the user side of the holster assembly for actuation by the thumb of the user as the user grasps the handle of a holstered handgun. 
     The above summary is to be understood as cumulative and inclusive. The above described embodiments and features are combined in various combinations in whole or in part in one or more other embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The previous summary and the following detailed descriptions are to be read in view of the drawings, which illustrate some, but not all, embodiments and features as briefly described below. The summary and detailed descriptions, however, are not limited to only those embodiments and features explicitly illustrated. 
         FIG.  1    is a first side view a holster assembly, according to some embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter, with a handgun holstered therein. 
         FIG.  2    is a first side view of the holster assembly of  FIG.  1   , without a handgun. 
         FIG.  3    is an opposite second side view, in relation to  FIG.  1   , of the holster assembly and holstered handgun. 
         FIG.  4    is an opposite second side view, in relation to  FIG.  2   , of the holster assembly of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  5    is a first side and front perspective view of the holster assembly of  FIG.  1    showing the muzzle end of the holstered handgun. 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective view of the holster assembly as in  FIG.  5   . 
         FIG.  7    is a top view of the holster assembly and handgun of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  8    is a top view of the holster assembly of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  9    is a back elevation view of the holster assembly of  FIG.  1    and grip end of the handgun, showing a hood restraint of the holster assembly in its obstruction position, and in dashed line, its non-obstruction position. 
         FIG.  10    is a back elevation view of the holster assembly as in  FIG.  9   . 
         FIG.  11    is a back partial view of the handgun as in  FIG.  9   , showing an ejection port restraint of the holster assembly in its obstruction position, and in dashed line, its non-obstruction position. 
         FIG.  12    is a first side view of the holster assembly as in  FIG.  2   , disassembled for illustration of at least some of the components. 
         FIG.  13    is an opposite second side view, in relation to  FIG.  12   , of the disassembled holster assembly. 
         FIG.  14    is a top view of the holster assembly of  FIG.  1   , disassembled for illustration of at least some of the components. 
         FIG.  15    is a first side perspective view of the holster assembly of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  16    is an opposite second side perspective view, in relation to  FIG.  15   , of the holster assembly. 
         FIG.  17    is a back second side perspective view of the holster assembly of  FIG.  1   , showing the hood restraint locked in its obstruction position by a release device in its rearward restraint locking position. 
         FIG.  18    is a back second side perspective view as in  FIG.  17   , of the holster assembly without the release device thereof. 
         FIG.  19    is a first side and front perspective view of the handgun of  FIG.  1   , showing the ejection port restraint in its obstruction position engaging the ejection port of the handgun. 
         FIG.  20    is a second side and back perspective view of the ejection port restraint in its obstruction position and the release device in its rearward engagement position for illustration of their relation in the holster assembly. 
         FIG.  21    is a first side and front perspective view of the ejection port restraint and release device as in  FIG.  20   , showing the release device mounted on a safety shroud of the holster assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     These descriptions are presented with sufficient details to provide an understanding of one or more particular embodiments of broader inventive subject matters. These descriptions expound upon and exemplify particular features of those particular embodiments without limiting the inventive subject matters to the explicitly described embodiments and features. Considerations in view of these descriptions will likely give rise to additional and similar embodiments and features without departing from the scope of the inventive subject matters. Although steps may be expressly described or implied relating to features of processes or methods, no implication is made of any particular order or sequence among such expressed or implied steps unless an order or sequence is explicitly stated. 
     Any dimensions expressed or implied in the drawings and these descriptions are provided for exemplary purposes. Thus, not all embodiments within the scope of the drawings and these descriptions are made according to such exemplary dimensions. The drawings are not made necessarily to scale. Thus, not all embodiments within the scope of the drawings and these descriptions are made according to the apparent scale of the drawings with regard to relative dimensions in the drawings. However, for each drawing, at least one embodiment is made according to the apparent relative scale of the drawing. 
     Like reference numbers used throughout the drawings depict like or similar elements. Unless described or implied as exclusive alternatives, features throughout the drawings and descriptions should be taken as cumulative, such that features expressly associated with some particular embodiments can be combined with other embodiments. 
     Unless defined otherwise, technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which the presently disclosed subject matter pertains. 
       FIGS.  1 - 8    illustrate, in various views, an embodiment of a quick release handgun holster assembly  100  configured to receive a handgun  50  (shown in some views) and retain the handgun by two restraints that are commonly actuated by user action on a single release device  130 . 
     When it is time to draw and use a handgun, one of the more important aspects is establishing a quality grip on the handgun. Some instructors refer to this grip as the master grip, which is the interface between the user and the handgun. Master grip is the natural shooting grip. Having a master grip at the moment when the handgun is released from the holster can allow for making precision shots as quickly as possible once the gun is drawn from the holster, facilitating rapid follow up shots, and keeping control of the handgun by the user from a safety standpoint. 
     The holster assembly  100  advantageously provides an improved thumb-activated release device  130  that advantageously allows the user to obtain a master grip of the handgun in an expeditious manner at the instant the handgun is drawn and disengaged. The holster assembly  100  accordingly allows for the user to grip the handgun in a master grip in a smooth, uncomplicated fashion by providing for a motion that can be intuitively done with no extra unnecessary steps. 
     The holster assembly  100  includes generally a holster body  102  ( FIGS.  12 - 14   ), and, in the illustrated embodiment, an ejection port restraint  160 , pivotally connected to a mid-portion of the holster body  102 , and a hood restraint  190  pivotally connected to a back portion of the holster body. The holster body  102  is rigidly molded and has an open interior  104  dimensioned to receive the upper portion of a handgun  50 , such as the receiver portion of the frame, the barrel, and the slide of a handgun having a reciprocating slide. The holster body  102  thus receives the handgun  50  portions forward and upward from the grip. 
     A holster assembly  100  according to these descriptions can be tailored to accommodate almost any particular handgun model having an ejection port, and thus the particular dimensions of the holster assembly  100  and its components are not particularly specified, being within ordinary skill to determine and implement in view of these descriptions and drawings for any given handgun. 
     A longitudinal axis  110  ( FIGS.  5 - 6   ) extends along the interior  104  of the holster body  102  as defined for intuitive convention along or at least generally parallel to the barrel bore axis of a holstered handgun when present. For further convention, front and forward refer to that end of the holster assembly  100  that receives the muzzle end of a holstered handgun and the direction in which the handgun is advanced into the holster body when being holstered. Similarly, back and rearward refer to an opposite end of the holster assembly  100  proximal the back of the upper portion of a holstered handgun. Top and bottom are conventionally related respectively to the directional senses of the upper sights and grip butt end of a handgun and are similarly termed here in relation to the holster assembly  100 . These terms are all relative and nominal, with an understanding that the holster assembly  100 , with or without a holstered handgun, may be oriented arbitrarily in handling, transport, storage and use. 
     The illustrated holster body  102  has opposed contoured lateral sidewalls including a first sidewall  112 , and a second sidewall  114 . In general, the disassembled views of  FIGS.  12 - 14    help illustrate the separately described components. Typically, the first sidewall  112  is considered the outer side of the holster and is worn away from the user&#39;s body, while the second sidewall  114  is considered the inner side of the holster body and is worn against or adjacent the user&#39;s body  10  ( FIG.  9   ). The two sidewalls are interconnected by a bottom plate  116  and a top ridge  118 . The rearward end of the holster body defines an entrance  106  ( FIG.  8   ) for permit holstering of a handgun when the hood restraint is in the non-obstruction position thereof. The forward end  120  of the body is also open, reducing weight and any likelihood of debris accumulating in the interior, and is dimensionally reduced and contoured to block the handgun from over insertion or passing through. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the holster assembly  100  includes an attachment base  122  provided at a mid-portion of the laterally outer side of the second sidewall. The attachment base  122  is shown as a rectangular base plate having features, illustrated as a pattern of holes  124  ( FIG.  13   ), for fastening the holster assembly  100  to a host structure or gear item. In various exemplary embodiments, the attachment base can include screws, rivets, snap-together parts, eyelets, or other effects, devices, and/or fasteners for attaching or coupling the holster to a host structure or gear item. In various exemplary embodiments, an item such as a clip, loop, or hook can be mounted on the attachment base and clipped over or onto a belt for waist carry purposes. In further exemplary embodiments, one or more quick-disconnect or other couplings may be provided on or adjacent the first sidewall, and may be permanently or removably coupled to corresponding and cooperating coupling(s) provided on a belt, carrier, gear item, or platform. In still other exemplary embodiments, the holster assembly  100  may comprise an integral belt or one or more connections for attachment to a chest, ankle, leg, shoulder, or other harness or band, or for otherwise securing the holster to a user&#39;s person or apparel. 
     The ejection port restraint  160  is generally an interior component essentially unseen by the user unless peering into the holster assembly  100  unoccupied by a handgun. The holster body  102  serves as a frame for the holster assembly  100 . Components termed herein once or more as fixed, such as the fixed base  180  for the ejection port restraint  160 , termed fixed base  180  for brevity, are connected directly or indirectly to the holster body  102 , and are non-moving relative to the holster body. 
     The fixed base  180  is mounted on the second sidewall  114  of the holster body  102 , for example by fasteners  182  ( FIG.  14   ) through a respective hole  184  ( FIG.  13   ) in each of the forward portion and rearward portion of the fixed base. The fasteners can be bolts, screws, and/or rivets as non-limiting examples. The ejection port restraint  160  is pivotally connected the fixed base  180  and accordingly to the holster body  102  by way of the fixed base. In the illustrated example, the ejection port restraint  160  is mounted on a pin  162  ( FIG.  21   ) extending along a pivot axis  164  parallel to the longitudinal axis  110  ( FIGS.  5 , 6   ). The pin  162  is captured by the fixed base  180 , which has mounting holes aligned along the pivot axis  164 . The ejection port restraint  160  is mounted on the pin, which spans a receiving area  186  ( FIG.  20   ) defined by the fixed base  180 . The ejection port restraint  160  pivots on the pin  162  between its obstruction position (represented in solid line as ejection port restraint  160  generally) and its non-obstruction position  160 B (represented in  FIG.  11    in dashed line) around the pin and pivot axis  164 . 
     The ejection port restraint  160  extends into the interior  104  of the holster body  102 . A biasing element  166  ( FIG.  11   ) biases the ejection port restraint into the interior to the obstruction position, such that ejection port restraint engages the ejection port  54  (also referred to herein as an “engagement portion”) of the holstered handgun  50  to preclude withdrawal of handgun from the holster assembly.  FIG.  19    shows the ejection port restraint  160  engaging the ejection port  54  of the handgun. The biasing element  166 , illustrated as a torsion spring in  FIG.  11   , persistently applies torque from the fixed base  180  to the ejection port restraint  160  to bias the ejection port restraint toward its obstruction position in a first rotational direction  161 A around the pivot axis. When a user presses the release device  130  forward, the release device advances to engage and pivot the ejection port restraint  160  toward its non-obstruction position  160 B in a second rotational direction  161 B around the pivot axis, opposite the first rotational direction. Thus, actuation of the ejection port restraint  160  can be described as motion transfer by which the linear movement of release device  130  by the user is transferred to a corresponding rotational movement of ejection port restraint in such a manner that ejection port restraint  160  disengages from the engagement portion of handgun  50  to thereby permit, in cooperation with the hood restraint  190  reaching the non-obstruction position thereof, withdrawal of the handgun  50  from the holster body. 
     The hood restraint is also actuated by use of the release device  130 . Each of the first sidewall  112  and second sidewall  114  ( FIG.  14   ) has a respective rearward end that together serve as a yoke that spans the entrance  106  to the interior of the holster body and serves as a pivot mount for the hood restraint. The hood restraint  190  is illustrated as a one-piece item having a lateral first side shield  192  and a lateral second side shield  194  connected to together by a back wall  196 . The back wall  196  blocks a holstered handgun from withdrawal from the holster assembly  100  when the hood restraint is in it obstruction position as in  FIG.  9   . The forward end of the first side shield  192  is pivotally connected to the rearward end of the first sidewall  112 , and the forward end of the second side shield  194  is pivotally connected, directly or indirectly, to the rearward end of the second sidewall  114 . 
     The hood restraint  190  is configured for swiveling between its obstruction position, shown in solid-line view in the drawings, and its raised non-obstruction position  190 B shown in dashed-line view in  FIGS.  1 ,  3  and  9   . When in the obstruction position, the hood restraint  190  at least partially blocks the entrance  106  along the longitudinal axis  110  of the holster body  102 , thus a holstered handgun  50  is blocked from being drawn by blocking the upper rearward portion, such as the back of the slide, of the handgun. This precludes rearward movement of the handgun. 
     A biasing element biases the hood restraint toward the obstruction position. The biasing element  198 , illustrated as a torsion spring in  FIGS.  12 - 13   , persistently applies torque to the hood restraint  190  from the holster body, directly or indirectly, to bias the hood restraint toward its obstruction position  190 B in a first rotational direction around a laterally extending pivot axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the holster body. When a user presses the release device  130  forward, the release device advances to disengage the hood restraint  190  permitting the hood restraint to pivot upward toward the non-obstruction position. 
     Thus, both the ejection port restraint  160  and the hood restraint  190  are actuated to their obstruction positions by a single user action on the release device  130 . The release device  130  is slidably mounted on the second side  114  of the holster body for access typically by the right thumb of a user. The release device  130  can be pressed forward from a restraint locking position shown in solid-line view in the drawings, and a restraint releasing position  130 B shown in dashed-line view in  FIGS.  3  and  21   . 
     A biasing element biases the release device  130  toward the restraint locking position. The biasing element  140 , illustrated as a linear coil spring in  FIGS.  12 - 14   , persistently applies rearward force to the release device  130  from the holster body, directly or indirectly, to bias the release device toward the restraint locking position. The release device  130  can be pressed forward by user action overcoming the rearward force applied by the biasing element  140 . 
     The release device  130  is illustrated as a one-piece item having a release lever  132  that extends laterally outward from the second side of the holster body for convenient access by the thumb of a user. The release lever  132  is illustrated as having a rearward facing cylindrically convex contact pad that is textured for thumb engagement. The top of the release lever  132  is connected to a sliding arm  134 , the hooked forward portion  136  of which is shaped to engage and actuate the ejection port restraint  160 . 
     A first lateral end of the ejection port restraint  160  includes a latch  170  that extends variably into the interior of the holster body according to the pivotal position of the ejection port restraint. The latch  170  and is adapted to engage the ejection port of a holstered handgun  50  to preclude removal of handgun from the holster body. The forward end of the hooked portion  136  of the sliding arm  130  has a contact ramp  138  ( FIGS.  20 - 21   ) for engaging a corresponding contact ramp  168  at the second lateral end of the ejection port restraint. Upon sliding forward motion of the release device  130 , the contact ramps  138  and  168  mutually engage and cooperatively lower the second lateral end of the ejection port restraint, thereby pivoting the ejection port restraint  160  from its obstruction position to its non-obstruction position  160 B around the pin and pivot axis and withdrawing the latch  170  from the ejection port of the handgun. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the ejection port restraint arches over the top of the holstered handgun ( FIG.  11   ) from the second sidewall  114  toward the first sidewall  112 , with the contact surface  168  and latch  170  at opposite lateral ends of the ejection port restraint, and the pivot pin therebetween, such that the ejection port restraint operates as a class-one lever. In other embodiments, for example for a left-handed user and a handgun with a right-side ejection port, the holster assembly can be carried on the left side of the user&#39;s body. In such an example, the latch  170  still engages the ejection port on the right side of the weapon, but the release lever  132  and latch  170  are on a common side of the holster body. Thus, in such an example, the ejection port restraint need not arch over the top of the holstered handgun. 
     The forward surface of the latch  170  is perpendicular to would-be rearward motion of the handgun if withdrawn from the holster body  102 , improving engagement and withdrawal, especially where the corresponding contact surface of the handgun at the forward end of the ejection port is similarly or partially perpendicular to the barrel bore axis. 
     The longitudinally extending rearward portion  142  of the sliding arm  134  of the release device  130  is shaped to engage the hood restraint  190 , which has an open retention slot  200  for receiving the rearward portion  142  of the arm  134  ( FIG.  17   ). As sliding forward motion of the release device  130  advances by a user pressing the release lever  132 , the rearward portion  142  of the arm slides forward in the retention slot, until, as the release device  130  reaches the restraint releasing position  130 B ( FIGS.  3 ,  21   ) the rearward portion  142  of the arm  134  is removed from the retention slot  200 . This disengages the hood restraint  190  from the release device  130  thereby instantly permitting the hood restraint  190  to pivot by the torque applied from the biasing member  198  to the non-obstruction position  190 B of the hood restraint illustrated in dashed-line view in  FIGS.  1 ,  3  and  9   . The hood restraint thereby exposes the rear portion of the handgun  50  and permits its withdrawal from the holster assembly  100 . A lower wall  202  of the retention slot  200  is ramped to increase engagement with a similarly ramped lower side of the rearward portion  142  of the arm  134 . This enforces the locking of the hood restraint  190  in the obstruction position until the release device  130  is pressed forward, instead of allowing unwanted lateral escape of the rearward portion  142  of the arm  134  from the retention slot  200  by unwanted flexure or plasticity of the components. 
     In summary, the simultaneous actuation of the ejection port restraint  160  and the release of the hood restraint  190 , each to its respective non-obstruction position by user action on the release device  130  frees the handgun  50  for withdrawal from the holster assembly  100  and acquisition of a master grip on the handgun for use when needed. 
     To holster a handgun, with the hood restraint  190  in the non-obstruction position  190 B, the muzzle end of the handgun is inserted into the entrance  106  of the holster body. Lower portions of the first sidewall  112  and second sidewall  114  of the holster body  102  cooperatively form a trigger guard cover  126  ( FIG.  12   ), defining therein a portion of the interior  104  of the holster body for receiving at least a portion of the trigger guard  52  of the handgun  50 , and covering the trigger thereof. 
     The holster body  102  can be contoured and dimensioned to provide custom fit and snug engagement with a particular model of handgun, engaging the handgun at full insertion at multiple contact areas from the muzzle, along the lateral sides, and along the trigger guard within the trigger guard cover. The holster body  102  thus prevents movement of the holstered handgun thereby defining level one passive retention. 
     The release device  130  need not be depressed by the user for the muzzle of the handgun to pass the ejection port restraint during holstering. Even without the release device  130  being pressed forward, a front portion  56  ( FIG.  19   ) of the handgun makes contact with the ejection port  160  restraint, thereby causing the ejection port restraint to move out of the way (e.g., by pivoting away) to allow handgun to move further into the interior of the holster body. In the illustrated embodiment, the rearward surface of the latch  170  of the ejection port restraint  160  includes a ramped contact surface  178  ( FIG.  20   ) that facilitates re-holstering of a handgun by pivoting the ejection port restraint  160 , upon contact with the forward end of the advancing handgun, away from the obstruction position. Once the handgun is fully seated in the holster body  102 , the ejection port restraint  160  returns to its biased obstruction position by the torque of the biasing member  166  unless the restraint device  130  is pressed forward by the user. 
     This causes the handgun to be retained within holster body  102  at least by the ejection port restraint  160  for a second level of retention. That is, during the holstering process, the release device  130 , in the restraint locking position, allows the ejection port restraint  160  to pivot from the obstruction position thereof to permit the forward portion of the handgun to pass, and then the ejection port restraint  16  automatically pivots back into the engagement or obstruction position in response to the action of handgun being fully inserted into the holster body to allow the handgun to be secured within holster assembly  100  by the ejection port restraint. 
     When the handgun is fully holstered into the holster body, the hood restraint  190  can be pivoted from the non-obstruction position  190 B to the obstruction position by the user for a third level of retention. To reach the third level of retention, the release device  130  need not be pressed or held forward by the user. The hood restraint  190  can pivoted by hand toward the obstruction position, overcoming the torque applied by the biasing member  198  and loading the biasing member for next use. As the hood restraint  190  approaches the non-obstruction position, an engagement surface  204  ( FIG.  13   ) of the hood restraint contacts the rearward portion  142  of the arm  134  and automatically slides the release device  130  forward against the force of the biasing member  140 . When continued user action pivoting the hood restraint reaches the obstruction position, the retention slot  200  aligns to receive the rearward portion  142  of the arm  134  of the release device. The release device than automatically returns rearward to the restraint locking position under the rearward force of the biasing element, sliding the rearward portion  142  of the arm  134  into the aligned retention slot  200 , and locking the hood restraint  190  into the obstruction position for the third level of retention. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, a fixed safety shroud  210  is positioned intermediate the second side wall  114  and release device  130 . The safety shroud  210  has a base plate  212  fixed to the rearward end of the laterally outer side of the second sidewall  114 . The first side shield  192  ( FIG.  14   ) of the hood restraint  190  is directly pivotally engaged with the rearward end of the first sidewall  112  of the holster body  102 . The second side shield  194  of the hood restraint  190  is pivotally engaged with an upper portion of the base plate  212  of the safety shroud, and is thus pivotally engaged with the rearward end of the second sidewall  114  of the holster body via the safety shroud  210 . The safety shroud  210  has a laterally outward extending lever guard  214  connected to the lower end of the base plate  212 , below the release lever  132  of the release device  130 , thus protecting the release lever from accidental or unwanted contact and actuation. The biasing member  140  is captured in cooperating channels defined in mutually facing sides of the base plate  212  and release device  130 . The base plate  212  includes a laterally outward extending fixed stop block  216  ( FIG.  13   ) that arrests further rearward movement of the release device at the rearward limit defined by the restraint locking position. Thus release device thus typically rests on the stop block  216  under the rearward force of the biasing element  140 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment of the holster assembly  100 , a fixed top cover  230  is mounted laterally outward from the rearward end of the second lateral side  114  of holster body, overhanging upper portions of the safety shroud  210  and release device  130 . The top cover  230  thus creates a partial enclosure around the sliding arm  134 . The top cover  230  is attached, for example, by fasteners  232  ( FIG.  14   ), and respective holes through the top cover  230  and base plate  212  of the safety shroud  210 . A rearward one of the fasteners  232  passes also through the forward end of the second side shield  194 , thus serving as a pivotal mount for the hood restraint  190  on the release-lever side of the holster assembly  100 . The fasteners  232  can be bolts, screws, and/or rivets as non-limiting examples. 
     The top cover  230  includes a laterally inward extending fixed stop block  234  ( FIG.  12   ) that arrests further forward movement of the release device  130  at the forward limit defined by the restraint releasing position  130 B. Thus, the rearward and forward limits of the range of sliding motion of the release device  130  between the restraint locking position and the restraint releasing position  130 B are defined by contact with the stop block  216  and stop block  234  respectively. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, when the holster assembly  100  is worn, for example at the hip of a user  10  (see  FIG.  9   ), the release lever  132  is advantageously positioned proximate the user&#39;s body between the body and handgun  50 . This is advantageous toward preventing an aggressor from reaching the release lever and drawing the gun. In various embodiments, the release lever  132  is positioned such as to allow a natural shooting grip on the handgun at an instant at which release lever is moved by the thumb of the user. Accidental discharge that has been reported in prior art level-three holsters is avoided by the holster assembly  100  described herein having a thumb activated release lever  132 , instead of an index-finger release. An index-finger operated release can pre-tension the index finger into a firing position thereby potentially contacting the handgun trigger upon drawing the weapon and permitting accidental discharge. By use of the above-described holster assembly  100 , the release lever  132  and handgun trigger are actuated by separate digits, for example the thumb and index finger respectively, along opposite sides of the weapon. Thus, as typical users are right-handed shooters, the release lever  132  in the illustrated embodiment is positioned along the user-left side of the holster assembly for actuation by the right thumb of the user as the user grasps the handle of the holstered handgun with his or her right-hand index finger on or adjacent the trigger guard cover  126 . This promotes safety against accidental discharges. 
     Various components of the holster assembly  100 , including the holster body and hood restraint, among others, may be formed of injection molded polymers or composite construction. Generally, the holster body and hood restraint will be formed of rigid materials with some resilience. Nylon, polyethylene, epoxy, 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 restraint, could readily be formed from steel or composite construction-polymer and steel. The several described biasing members can be constructed of, for example, spring steel. 
     In various exemplary embodiments, the holster body and other components are substantially rigid and is formed of a polymeric material such as a polymeric composite. Alternate materials of construction may include one or more of the following: steel, aluminum, titanium, and/or other metals, as well as various alloys and composites thereof, glass-hardened polymers, polymer or fiber reinforced metals, carbon fiber or glass fiber composites, continuous fibers in combination with thermoset and thermoplastic resins, chopped glass or carbon fibers used for injection molding compounds, laminate glass or carbon fiber, epoxy laminates, woven glass fiber laminates, impregnate fibers, polyester resins, epoxy resins, phenolic resins, polyimide resins, cyanate resins, high-strength plastics, nylon, glass, or polymer fiber reinforced plastics, thermoform and/or thermoset sheet materials, and/or various combinations of the foregoing. Thus, it should be understood that the selection of material or materials used to form holster body and other components is a design choice based on the desired appearance and/or functionality of holster assembly  100 . 
     It should be appreciated that the holster as described can be configured in any desired size, depending on the size of the item to be moved. For example, the holster assembly  100  can have a length and/or height of about 3-6 inches (e.g., 3, 3.25, 3.5, 3.75, 4, 4.25, 4.5, 4.75, 5, 5.25, 5.5, 5.75, or 6 inches). However, the presently disclosed subject matter is not limited and can be configured to be larger or smaller than the range given above. A holster assembly according to these descriptions can accommodate a handgun equipped with one or more attachments, including, for example, a tactical light and/or laser sights. Various models can be available for use with various handguns and their attached items. 
     According to various embodiments, a method of drawing a holstered handgun includes providing a quick release holster assembly such as the holster assembly  100  described herein. The method further includes applying force by user action on a release lever to actuate the release lever and withdrawing the handgun from the holster assembly. In various embodiments, the method further comprises applying a natural shooting grip on the handgun at an instant the release lever is moved by the user, or at an instant immediately after release lever is moved by the user. In various embodiments, the method further comprises transferring motion to a latch at the ejection port of the handgun, such as by transfer of motion from the moving release lever to a pivoting ejection port restraint. In various embodiments, the method further comprises, by said applying force by user action on the release lever, sliding a portion of an arm in a retention slot, until, as the release lever reaches a restraint releasing position, the arm is removed from the retention slot, thereby disengaging from a pivoting hood restraint, which is biased to pivot a non-obstruction position  190 B permitting withdrawal of the handgun by the user. 
     The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application or technical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein. 
     The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. 
     These and other changes can be made to the disclosure in light of the Detailed Description. While the above description describes certain embodiments of the disclosure, and describes the best mode contemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, the teachings can be practiced in many ways. Details of the system may vary considerably in its implementation details, while still being encompassed by the subject matter disclosed herein. As noted above, particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the disclosure should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the disclosure with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the disclosure to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Description section explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the disclosure encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the disclosure under the claims.