Patent Publication Number: US-2019178609-A1

Title: Firearm holster and method of use

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/598,450 filed Dec. 13, 2017, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The presently disclosed subject matter is directed towards a method and system for selectively locking a firearm within a holster. Specifically, the holster permits automatic locking of the firearm when placed within the holster and provides a quick-release mechanism for releasing the firearm for use. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Firearms are typically secured within holsters for efficient use by citizens, security or police officers and/or military personnel. While common holsters are able to secure a firearm within the holster for preventing the firearm from falling free, there remains a need for a holster and methods of use to automatically secure the firearm within the holster, as well as providing for a quick-release mechanism for releasing the firearm for use. 
     SUMMARY 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Further, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in any part of this disclosure. 
     According to at least one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter, a holster for selectively locking a firearm is provided. The holster includes a housing defining an outer surface, an inner surface, and an entrance slot, wherein the inner surface and the entrance slot define a barrel portion shaped to receive a barrel of the firearm and a guard portion shaped to receive a trigger guard of the firearm, wherein the housing defining the guard portion further defines a catch slit extending parallel to the barrel portion; a unit affixed to the outer surface defining a release portion; a catch extending through a catch slit of the housing forming the guard portion, wherein the catch defines a first arm and a second arm extending from a central portion of the catch, and wherein the catch is pivotable about the central portion upon application of a magnetic force to the release portion between a locked position having the first arm positioned orthogonal to the guard portion and an unlocked position having the first arm positioned within the slit of the housing. 
     According to at least one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter, wherein the catch further defines pivot poles extending from opposite sides of the central portion and orthogonal to a plane formed by the first and second arm for coupling to the housing and permitting the pivoting of the catch. 
     According to at least one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter, wherein the pivot poles engage the housing for positioning the catch in pivotable relation thereto. 
     According to at least one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter, wherein the pivot poles are positioned between, and engaged both, the housing and an internal portion of the unit for positioning the catch in pivotable relation thereto. 
     According to at least one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter, the holster further including a spring positioned about one of the pivot poles for providing pivoting bias to the catch towards the unlocked position. 
     According to at least one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter, wherein the unit further includes a flexible, magnetic pad positioned internally of the release surface and a rod affixed to the pad and extending into engagement with the catch. 
     According to at least one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter, wherein the magnetic pad is configured to flex towards the release surface, and the rod is configured to translate towards the release surface, upon application of a magnetic force to the release portion. 
     According to at least one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter, wherein the catch further defines a circular section coextensive with the first arm in the opposite direction of the central portion, and wherein a rod of the unit engages the circular section and the central portion when the catch is in the locked position and the circular section alone when in the unlocked position. 
     According to at least one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter, wherein the housing further defines an extension for selectively coupling the housing to a carrier. 
     According to at least one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter, wherein the extension defines a carrier slit for selectively coupling the housing to a carrier. 
     According to at least one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter, a method of using a holster is provided. The method includes receiving a firearm through a slot of a housing of the holster; a trigger guard of the firearm engaging a second arm of a catch extending across the housing of the holster; pivoting the second arm towards the housing and a first arm from a slit defined by the housing to within the housing and between the slot and the trigger guard; a rod positioned within a unit attached to the housing translating into engagement with the catch for preventing rotation of the catch, thereby locking the firearm into position. 
     According to at least one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter, the method further includes applying a magnetic force to the unit and translating the rod away from the catch; pivoting the first arm of the catch back towards the slit of the housing, thereby unlocking the firearm from position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing, as well as the following Detailed Description of preferred embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purposes of illustration, there is shown in the drawings exemplary embodiments; however, the presently disclosed subject matter is not limited to the specific methods and instrumentalities disclosed. 
         FIGS. 1 and 2  are exploded views of the holster according to one or more embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter. 
         FIGS. 3 and 4  are views of the holster carrying a firearm according to one or more embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter. 
         FIGS. 5, 6 and 7  are top-side views of the catch interacting with the trigger guard of the firearm according to one or more embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter. 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom-side view of a gloved hand having a magnetized object according to one or more embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter. 
     
    
    
     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 the term “step” may be expressly used 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. 
     The figures depict views of a holster  10  according to one or more embodiments of the present invention. The holster  10  may be designed and shaped for carrying a firearm  1  and selectively locking the firearm  1  into position. Although the firearm  1  depicted is a pistol, any firearm  1  may be selectively locked within a holster  10  having the features herein disclosed. The holster  10  may be easily reshaped and reconfigured to fit any firearm  1  design and contour. The basic features of the firearm  1  relevant to the present disclosure at least include a barrel  2 , trigger guard  3 , trigger  4  and handle  5 , as depicted in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
     The holster  10  may include a housing  12  for containing at least a portion of the firearm  1  therewithin when the firearm  1  is being carried by the holster  10 . The housing  12  may include an outer surface  20  facing externally and an inner surface  22  on an opposing side of the outer surface  20  facing internally. The housing  12  may further define a entrance slot  24  on one end through which the firearm  1  is received for being carried by the holster  10 . The barrel  2  of the firearm  1  may rest against the housing  12  at the entrance slot  24 . A exit slot  25  may also be defined by the housing  12  and positioned opposite the receiving slot  24 . A barrel  2  of the firearm  1  may extend through the exit slot  25  when the firearm  1  is being carried by the holster  10 . 
     The inner surface  22  may define a barrel portion  26  shaped to receive the barrel  2  of the firearm  1  and a guard portion  30  shaped to receive a trigger guard  3  of the firearm  1 . The barrel portion  26  may define the exit slot  25  of the housing  12 . The combination of the guard portion  30  and the barrel portion  26  may define the entrance slot  24  of the housing  12 . The guard portion  30  may further include a catch slit  32  extending through both the inner and outer surfaces  20 ,  22  of the housing  12 . The catch slit  32  may extend along the barrel portion  26  of the housing  12 . The catch slit  32  may be positioned parallel to the barrel portion and the barrel  2  of the firearm  1  when the firearm  1  is locked within the holster  10 . 
     The housing  12  may be constructed of two or more separate portions  70 ,  72  fastened together using housing fasteners  74  and/or by shaping the portions  70 ,  72  into a fastening configuration, as is depicted in  FIG. 1 . Alternatively, the housing  12  may be unitarily constructed. The housing  12  may include a number of surface features  76  defined by the outer surface  20  of the housing  12 . For example, apertures  80  may be defined by the outer surface  20  for permitting visual inspection of the firearm  1  and/or components of the holster  10 . Ridges  82  may be defined by the outer surface  20  for securely engaging or coupling a unit  14  to the portion  70  and preventing tampering therewith. 
     The housing  12  may further define an extension  62  for selectively coupling the housing  12  to a carrier (not shown). In some embodiments, the carrier and housing  12  are unitarily constructed. In other embodiments, the carrier extends from various portions of the housing. The carrier may be a belt, a clip, ankle strap or shoulder strap. The housing  12  and/or extension  62  may further define an extension a carrier slit (not shown) for selectively coupling the housing  12  to a carrier. 
     A unit  14  may be coupled or affixed to the outer surface  20  of the housing  12 . The unit  14  may be couple or affixed to the housing  12  using unit fasteners  84 . The head of the unit fasteners  84  may be positioned facing the interior of the housing  12  to prevent tampering from the exterior. Protective caps may be placed on the head of the fasteners  84  to prevent damage to the firearm  1  during use with the holster  10 . The unit fasteners  84  may extend through the guard portion  30  of the housing  12 , the internal portion  50  of the unit  14  and engage with the release portion  34  of the unit, as depicted in  FIG. 2 . 
     An edge  48  of the unit  14  engaging the outer surface  20  may be configured to align with, and/or snap into placement with, one or more ridges  82  defined by the housing  12 . The unit  14  may define a release portion  34  thereon. The release portion  34  may be facing away from the housing  12 . The release portion  34  may be shaped for accepting a portion of a user&#39;s finger or a wearable being worn by the user on the finger or hand of the user. The wearable may be a ring or a glove including a magnet or object capable of being magnetized  18 . The release portion  34  may define a depression  92  shaped and configured for accepting at least a portion of the finger, hand and/or wearable of the user. The mound  94  may be engaged with at least a portion of an outer perimeter of the depression  92  for aligning and positioning the magnet or object capable of being magnetized  18  within the depression  92 .  FIG. 8  depicts the underside of a gloved hand, wherein the pointer finger portion of the glove  6  has a magnet  18  therein for interacting with the holster  10 . The mound  94  may form a closed cover (not shown) about a portion of the depression  92  for disallowing certain accidental contacts with the depression  92 . The mound  94  may form a cavity for accepting a hand, finger and/or wearable of the user  4 . The mound  94  may further include a magnetic shield, such as a metallic layer, therein for rerouting or blocking external magnetic forces. 
     Upon placement of a firearm  1  within the housing  14  of the holster  10 , the holster  10  may securely lock the firearm  1  into position for being safely transported and for deterring theft of the firearm  1 . In some embodiments, sliding the firearm  1  into the holster  10  by placing the barrel  2  within the barrel portion  26  and the trigger guard  3  within the guard portion  30  may automatically trigger locking of the firearm  1  within the holster  10 . To allow the firearm  1  to be removed from the holster  10 , the firearm  1  must first be unlocked. A user may position the magnet or magnetized object  18  on the release portion  34 , and/or within the depression  92  of the release portion  34 , for unlocking the firearm  1  and permitting removal, as is described below using the catch  16 . 
     The holster  10  may include a catch  16  positioned within the unit  14  and housing  12  for locking the firearm  1  with respect to the holster  10  when the catch  16  is in a locked position P 2  (see  FIG. 5 ) and for permitting the firearm  1  to be removed from the holster  10  when the catch  16  is in an unlocked position P 1  (see  FIG. 6 ). The catch  16  may extend and pivot through a catch slit  32  of the housing  12 , and in some embodiments the guard portion  30  of the housing  12 . The catch  16  may define a first arm  36  and a second arm  40 , each arm  36 ,  40  extending from a central portion  42  of the catch  16 . The arms  36 ,  40  may define an acute angle between the arms  36 ,  40 , the angle facing the interior of the housing  12 . The catch  16  may be pivotable about the central portion  42  and the central portion  42  may be at least partially positioned within the catch slit  32  of the housing  12  (see  FIG. 7 ). 
     When a magnetic force is applied to the release portion  34  and/or depression  92  of the release portion  34 , the catch  16  may be pivoted between an locked position P 2  and an unlocked position P 1 , thereby permitting the firearm  1  to be removed from the housing  12 . When the catch  16  is in the locked position P 2 , the first arm  36  may be positioned orthogonal to the catch slit  32  and/or the guard portion  30  of the housing  12  (see  FIG. 5 ). When the firearm  1  is positioned within the holster  10  and the catch  16  is in the locked position P 2 , the first arm  36  may extend across a portion of the interior of the housing  12 , between the trigger guard  3  and the trigger  4  of the firearm  1 , and/or between the trigger guard  3  and the entrance slot  24 . 
     When the firearm  1  is positioned within the holster  10  and the catch  16  is in the unlocked position P 1 , the first arm  36  may form an acute angle with the catch slit  32  and/or guard portion  30 , pointing towards the entrance slot  24  (see  FIG. 6 ). In some embodiments, the first arm  36  may, in the unlocked position P 1 , pivot to a position within the catch slit  32  (see  FIG. 7 ). In either of these embodiments, the trigger guard  3  may be left unobstructed should the user  4  choose to remove the firearm  1  from the holster  10  (see  FIGS. 6 and 7 ). The catch  16  may be unitarily constructed, causing the second arm  40  to pivot and reposition whenever the first arm  36  pivots and repositions. 
     The catch  16  may further define pivot poles  44  extending from opposites sides of the central portion  42 . Alternatively, a pivot pole  44  may extending through the central portion  42  of the catch  16 . The pivot pole(s)  44  may be positioned orthogonal to a plane formed by the first and second arms  36 ,  40 . The pivot pole(s)  44  may be held into position, while permitting rotation, through engagement with the housing  12  and/or unit  14  for permitting the pivoting of the catch  16  with respect to the housing  12  and/or unit  14  and for positioning the catch  16  in pivotable relation to the housing  12  and/or unit  14 . Notably, an internal portion  50  of the unit  14  may engage and position the pole(s)  44  of the catch  16 . The holster  10  may further include a spring  52  having coils positioned about one of the pivot poles  44  for providing pivoting bias to the catch  16 , biased towards the unlocked position P 1 . The extensions of the spring  52  that extend from the top and bottom of the coil may be positioned distal from the interior of the housing  12  and proximal the casing  54  for providing the appropriate pivoting force to the catch arms  36 ,  40 . 
     The unit  14  of the holster  10  may include a number of components for permitting a magnetic force to be applied to the release portion  34  of the unit  14  and for allowing the catch to be pivoted from the locked position P 2  to the unlocked position P 1 . The unit  14  may include a flexible casing  54  housing a magnetic pad  96  therein. Both the casing  54  and the magnetic pad  96  may be positioned within the release portion  34  and/or the internal portion  50  (see  FIG. 2 ). The casing  54  (and therefore magnetic pad  96 ) may be positioned proximally and underneath the depression  92  of the release portion  34 . A release spring  55  may be positioned between the release portion  34  and/or depression  92  and the casing  54  for biasing the casing  54  away from the release portion  34  and/or depression  92  (see  FIG. 1 ). 
     A rod  56  may be affixed to and extend from, the casing  54  and/or magnetic pad  96  and the rod  56  may extend towards the catch  16 . The rod  56  may be parallel and/or coextensive with the first arm  36  of the catch  16  when the catch is in the locked position P 2 . A rod guide  58  may have one or more cylindrical sections and be positioned about the rod  56  for guiding any linear translation of the rod  56  and ensuring the rod  56  translates accurately. The rod guide  58  may be shaped to be nestingly engaged within a rod guide cavity  59  of the internal portion  50  of the unit  14 . 
     The magnetic pad  96  may be configured to flex, reposition and/or translate towards the release portion  34  and/or depression  92  upon application of a magnetic force to the release portion  34  and/or depression  92 . Upon flexing or translation of the pad  96 , the rod  56 , being affixed thereto, may similarly be translated towards the release portion  34  and away from the catch  16 , thereby permitting the catch  16  to be rotated from a locked position P 2  to an unlocked position P 1 . 
     The central portion  42  of the catch  16  may include a circular section  60  extending therefrom. The circular section  60  may also be coextensive with the first arm  36  in the opposite direction of the central portion  42 . The circular section  60  may be a quarter section of a circle or some other section of a circle; a section being geometrically defined by two perpendicular lines within a circle or ellipse, and the circular section  60  of the present invention extends from the central portion  42  and first arm  36  and has a curved perimeter  60 C and a straight perimeter  60 S. In other embodiments, the section  60  is not circular, the curved perimeter  60 C being of any number of shapes, but the straight perimeter  60 S remaining straight for engagement with the rod  56 . 
     The rod  56  of the unit  14  may extend from the pad  54  into engagement with the straight perimeter  60 S of the circular section  60  when the catch  16  is in the locked position P 2 . The catch  16  may be biased by the catch spring  52  (see  FIG. 1 ), thereby biasing the straight perimeter  60 S into engagement with the rod  56 . Once the rod  56  is translated away from the catch  16  be application of magnetic force to the release portion  34  and/or depression  92 , the catch  16  is then permitted to pivot to the unlocked position P 1 . Once the magnetic force is removed, and the catch  16  is in the unlocked position P 1 , the rod  56  translates back towards the catch  16 , but into engagement with the curved perimeter  60 C. Once the catch  16  is pivoted from the unlocked position P 1  to the locked position P 2 , the rod  56 , being biased by the release spring  55  towards the catch  16 , then translates into engagement with the central portion  42  of the catch  16 , resting alongside the straight perimeter  60 S. 
     In the locked position P 2 , the second arm  40  may be positioned at an angle with respect to the first arm  36  for resting upon the trigger guard  3  of the firearm  1 . This angle, and/or the shape or thickness of the second arm, may relieve the force the catch spring  52  is creating between the rod  56  and the straight perimeter  60 S of the catch  16  when the catch  16  is in the locked position P 2 . By resting upon the trigger guard  2 , the trigger guard  2  accepts the pivoting force creating by the catch spring  52 , thereby enabling a smaller magnetic force to be applied to translate the rod  56  away from the catch  14  and unlocking the firearm  1 . 
     In some embodiments, the holster  10  may also include a firearm spring (not shown) positioned within the guard portion  30  of the housing  12  for applying bias to the trigger guard  3  of the firearm  1  and bias the firearm  1  to translate without the housing  12 , even if slightly, when the catch  16  is pivoted away from the locked position P 2 . 
     Particular embodiments and features have been described with reference to the drawings. It is to be understood that these descriptions are not limited to any single embodiment or any particular set of features, and that similar embodiments and features may arise or modifications and additions may be made without departing from the scope of these descriptions and the spirit of the appended claims.