Patent Publication Number: US-10317169-B2

Title: Holster tensioner device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A typical handgun holster includes a body portion defining a chamber having an opening. The handgun is inserted, muzzle first, through the opening into the chamber. The handgun is thereby received and supported in the body portion of the holster. 
     It is desirable for the handgun to be positioned and retained in the chamber, by means other than a tight fit of the handgun itself in the holster. To that end, some holsters incorporate a tensioning device. The tensioning device engages the handgun body portion inside the chamber, for example engaging the muzzle. The frictional engagement between the tensioning device and the handgun helps to position the handgun in the holster, and also helps to resist inadvertent movement of the handgun out of the holster. 
     Holsters with adjustable tensioning devices are known; these devices can be adjusted to control the amount of tension that is applied to the handgun. As one example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,694,560 discloses a handgun holster with an adjustable tensioning member that has a flexibly mounted end portion that can be pushed toward or away from the holster chamber by adjusting a set screw. This is a one-time setting of the starting position of the tensioning member. The tensioning member does not resiliently engage the handgun. As another example, U.S. Pat. No. 9,322,612 discloses a handgun holster with an adjustable tensioning member that is elongate and is suspended freely between its ends. The starting position of the tensioning member can be set with a screw. After the starting position is set, the tensioning member engages the handgun when in the chamber, but not resiliently. The tensioning member has a long, unsupported, central portion which may eventually weaken or fracture. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     in one embodiment, this invention relates to a holster for a handgun, the holster including a holster body having a chamber for receiving the handgun. A adjustable and resilient tensioner is mounted on the holster body in a position to be engaged by a handgun in the chamber, the tensioner being operable to apply a resilient biasing force to the handgun in the chamber. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further features of the invention will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains when reading the following description of embodiments of the invention together with the drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevational view, partially cut away, of a holster including a tensioner in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, shown with a handgun inserted in the chamber of the holster, and showing the handgun out of engagement with the tensioner; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlargement of a portion of  FIG. 1  including the tensioner; 
         FIG. 3  is a view similar to  FIG. 2  showing the handgun in a position in engagement with the tensioner; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the tensioner alone, taken from the inside; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the tensioner alone, taken from the outside; 
         FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of the tensioner alone. 
         FIG. 7  is a side elevational view, partially cut away, of a holster including a tensioner in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, shown with a handgun inserted in the chamber of the holster, and showing the handgun out of engagement with the tensioner; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a portion of the holster of  FIG. 7  including the tensioner; 
         FIG. 9  is a side elevational view of the holster and tensioner of  FIG. 7  and also showing a handgun inserted in the chamber of the holster, with the tensioner out of engagement with the handgun; and 
         FIG. 10  is a view similar to  FIG. 9  showing the tensioner in engagement with the handgun. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 1-6  illustrate a handgun holster  10  that is a first embodiment of the invention. The holster  10  is adapted to receive a handgun illustrated schematically at  12 . The handgun  12  includes a muzzle  14 . 
     The holster  10  ( FIG. 1 ) includes a holster body  20  that defines an interior chamber  22  for receiving the handgun  12 . The holster  10  has an opening  24  into the chamber  22  for allowing insertion of the handgun  12  into the holster. 
     It is desirable for the handgun  12  to be positioned and retained in the chamber  22  by means other than a tight fit of the handgun itself in the holster  10 . To that end, the holster  10  includes a tensioner  30  mounted on the holster body  20  in a position to be engaged by the handgun  12  when the handgun is inserted in the chamber  22 . The tensioner  30  is operable, as described below, to apply a resilient biasing force to the handgun  12  when the handgun is inserted in the chamber  22 . 
     The tensioner  30  ( FIGS. 4-6 ) is a stiff but resilient element, in this case made from plastic. The tensioner  30  has a generally V-shaped configuration including an elongate handgun engagement portion or central portion  32 , extending between first and second end portions  34  and  36 . The central portion  32  of the tensioner  30  has an inner side surface  38  that is presented toward the holster chamber  22 , and an opposite outer side surface  40 . In this embodiment, the central portion  32  is generally V-shaped, concave toward the outside (exterior) of the holster  10 . The first end portion  34  of the tensioner  30  is formed as a hollow circular cylinder. The second end portion  36  of the tensioner  30  is formed as a hollow, oval-shaped ring. 
     The holster body  20  ( FIGS. 1-3 ) includes two mounting bosses  50  and  52  for supporting the tensioner  30  on the holster body. Both mounting bosses  50  and  52  are cylindrical in configuration. The first end portion  34  of the tensioner  30  is closely fitted on the first boss  50 , and is rotatable on the first boss without translational movement. The second end portion  36  of the tensioner  30  is fitted over and extends around the second boss  52 . Because the second end portion  36  of the tensioner  30  is oval-shaped rather than simply circular, the second end portion of the tensioner is both (i) rotatable (pivotable) on the second boss  52 , and (ii) slidable (translatable) along the second boss. These two degrees of freedom can be seen in a comparison of  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
     When the tensioner  30  is mounted on the bosses  50  and  52  of the holster body  20 , the inner side surface  38  ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ) of the tensioner central portion  32  is presented toward the chamber  22  of the holster body. The location of the tensioner  30  in the holster  10  is such that inner side surface  38  of the tensioner central portion  32  is engageable by the muzzle  14  of the handgun  12  when the handgun is in the chamber  22 . 
     The holster  10  includes a tensioner adjustment member  60  in the form of a set screw or adjustment screw ( FIG. 1 ). The set screw  60  is threadedly engaged in an opening  62  in the holster body  20 . The set screw  62  has an inner end portion or tip  64  adjacent to the outer side surface  40  of the tensioner central portion  32 . The opposite outer end portion  66  of the set screw  60  is exposed on the exterior of the holster  10 , to be engaged for manual engagement and rotation. 
     Rotation of the set screw  60  in the opening  62  of the holster body  20  results in movement of the set screw tip  64  toward and away from the chamber  22 . The relative positions of the set screw  60  and the tensioner  30  are selected so that the tip  64  of the set screw can engage the outer side surface  40  of the central portion  32  of the tensioner  30 . Rotation of the set screw inward in the holster  10  causes movement or positioning of the tensioner central portion  32  in a direction toward the chamber  22 . Rotation of the set screw outward in the holster  10  pulls the screw tip  64  away from the chamber  22 , allowing the tensioner central portion  32  to move or be positioned in a direction away from the chamber. 
     In operation, the position of the set screw and tensioner  30  can be set initially before insertion of the handgun  12 . The handgun  12  is then inserted. The set screw is then rotated in the holster body  20  ( FIG. 3 ) until it both engages the tensioner central portion  32  and pushes the inner side surface  38  against the handgun  12 . The selected position of the tensioner  30  can be adjusted via the set screw  60  to provide the desired amount of biasing force. 
     When the handgun  12  is thereafter removed and re-inserted, the handgun engages the inner side surface  38  of the tensioner central portion  32 . The tensioner central portion  32  has a large radius to provide a smooth engagement with the handgun  12  during insertion and removal of the handgun. 
     The force exerted on the tensioner  30  when the handgun  12  engages the tensioner central portion  32  produces only rotational movement of the tensioner first end portion  34  on the holster body  20 , while at the same time producing both sliding and rotational movement of the tensioner second end portion  36  on the holster body  20 . This ability of the tensioner second end portion  36  to slide, or translate, relative to the second mounting boss, means that the tensioner central portion  32  can resiliently deform (be pushed away from the chamber  22  by the handgun  12 ) even after its initial position is set via the set screw  60 . Because of this resilience, the handgun  12  does not have to be perfectly aligned with the holster  10  when the handgun is inserted into the chamber  22 , in order for the full effect of the tensioner  30  to be made available; rather, the resilient tensioner can adjust and reposition itself so as to both position the handgun properly and help to secure it in the holster. 
     Further, when the handgun  12  is in position in the holster chamber  22 , and in engagement with the tensioner  30 , the tensioner can be adjusted, because it is resilient. Specifically, by appropriate rotation of the set screw  60 , the user can set the desired amount of force that the tensioner  30  exerts on the handgun  12 . This adjustment affects the amount of force that is needed to remove the handgun  12  from the holster  10 . This adjustment also affects the position of the handgun  12  in the holster  10 . 
       FIGS. 7-10  illustrate a handgun holster  100  including a tensioner  120  that is a second embodiment of the invention. The holster  100  is adapted to receive a handgun  102 , a muzzle of which is shown at  104  in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . 
     The holster  110  includes a chamber  114  defined by a holster body  116 , for receiving at least the muzzle portion of the handgun  102 . The holster body  116  has a single mounting boss  118  that is cylindrical in configuration. 
     The tensioner  120  is mounted on the holster body  116  in a position to be engaged by the handgun  102  when the handgun is inserted in the holster body. The tensioner  120  is operable, as described below, to apply a resilient biasing force to the handgun  102  when the handgun is inserted in the holster body. 
     Specifically, the tensioner  120  is shaped as a thin bar or finger with a hollow circular mounting portion  122  on one end. The tensioner  120  is configured to be stiff but resilient, and may be made from plastic. The tensioner  120  has a slightly curved, elongate central portion  124  that extends from the mounting portion  122 . The opposite second end portion  126  of the tensioner is free, that is, simply terminates the elongate finger-like configuration of the tensioner, without any added material or connection. 
     The mounting portion  122  of the tensioner  120  is closely fitted on the boss  118 , and is rotatable on the boss without translational movement. When the tensioner  120  is mounted on the holster body  116 , a convex inner side surface  128  of the tensioner central portion  124  is presented toward the handgun  102 . The location of the tensioner  120  in the holster  10  is selected so that the inner side surface  128  of the tensioner central portion  124  is engageable by a portion of the handgun  102 , such as the muzzle  104 , when the handgun is inserted in the holster body  116 . The tensioner central portion  124  also has an opposite outer side surface  129  that is presented outward of the holster chamber  114 . 
     Adjacent to the mounting boss  118  there is formed on the holster body  10  an internally threaded set screw opening  130 . On the opposite side of the set screw opening  130 , a bar  132  is formed on the holster body  116 . The bar  132  has an end  134  that is positioned so that the set screw opening  130  is about midway between the mounting boss  118  and the bar end  134 . 
     The holster  100  includes a tensioner adjustment member in the form of a set screw or adjustment screw  140  ( FIG. 8 ), that is operable in the same manner as the set screw  60  of the first embodiment ( FIGS. 1-6 ). The set screw  140  is threaded into the set screw opening  130  in the holster body portion. The set screw  140  has an inner tip  141  that is engageable with the tensioner  120  at a location just past the curved central portion  124  of the tensioner. 
     The relative positions of the set screw  140  and the tensioner  120  are selected so that the tip  141  of the set screw can engage the outer side surface  129  of the central portion  124  of the tensioner. Rotation of the set screw  140  inward in the holster  100  causes movement or positioning of the tensioner central portion  124  in a direction toward the holster chamber  114 . When the set screw  140  is screwed in far enough, it pushes the tensioner  120  into engagement with the bar end  134  ( FIGS. 9 and 10 ). Any further inward movement of the set screw  140  results in the tensioner  120  resiliently bending about the bar end  135  as a fulcrum. Rotation of the set screw  140  outward in the holster  10  pulls the screw tip  141  away from the holster chamber  116 , allowing the tensioner central portion  124  to move or be positioned in a direction away from the holster chamber. 
     The force exerted on the tensioner  120  when the handgun  102  engages the tensioner central portion  124  produces rotational movement of the tensioner first end portion  122  on the mounting boss, while at the same time producing sliding movement of the tensioner&#39;s free second end portion  126  along the bar end  134  of the holster body  116 . This ability of the tensioner second end portion  126  to slide, or translate, relative to the holster body  116 , means that the tensioner central portion  124  can resiliently deform (be pushed outward from the holster body by the inserted handgun  102 ) even after its initial position is set via the set screw  140 . Because of this resilience, the handgun  102  does not have to be perfectly aligned with the holster  10  when the handgun is inserted in the chamber  114 , in order for the full effect of the tensioner  120  to be made available. Rather, the resilient tensioner  120  can adjust and reposition itself so as to both position the handgun  102  properly and help to secure it in the holster  100 . 
     Further, when the handgun  102  is in position in the holster  100 , in engagement with the tensioner  120 , the tensioner can be adjusted, because it is resilient. Specifically, by appropriate rotation of the set screw  140 , the user can set the desired amount of force that the tensioner  120  exerts on the handgun  102 . This adjustment affects the amount of force that is needed to remove the handgun  102  from the holster  100 . This adjustment also affects the position of the handgun  102  in the holster  100 . 
     From the above description of the invention, those skilled in the art will perceive improvements, changes and modifications. Such improvements, changes and modifications within the skill of the art are intended to be covered by the appended claims.