Abstract:
The invention concerns a holster ( 10 ) for a handgun ( 1 ), of the type comprising a pocket ( 11 ) for accommodating the gun ( 1 ) and including an opening ( 12 ) for inserting the gun ( 1 ) and means for locking the gun inside said pocket ( 11 ). The means for locking the gun comprise a support element ( 20 ) bearing a housing ( 23 ) for receiving the trigger guard of the gun ( 1 ) provided with a locking member moveable by a push button ( 30 ) from the upper part of the pocket ( 11 ) perpendicularly to the lower surface of the barrel of the gun ( 1 ), between an active position triggered in a catch arranged on the inner surface below the barrel to immobilize the gun ( 1 ) and a retracted position releasing said gun ( 1 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a belt, thigh or shoulder holster for a hand weapon, such as, for example, a pistol or a revolver. 
         [0002]    Holsters for hand weapons, and in particular belt holsters must comply with several requirements which are most often contradictory. 
         [0003]    First of all, this type of holster must allow ease of use, that is to say, it must allow the weapon to be rapidly withdrawn from the holster and must have all safeguards, that is to say, must not allow the weapon to be withdrawn unintentionally, either by its own weight or by a third party who is seeking to take the weapon from the person carrying it. 
         [0004]    Holsters are generally formed by a pocket which is intended for accommodating the weapon and which comprises, at the upper portion thereof, an opening for inserting the weapon. This pocket is provided, at least at one of the sides thereof, with means for fixing to a receiving member carried by the user. In the case of a belt holster, these fixing means are constituted by a loop which supports this pocket and, in the case of a shoulder holster, by a harness which is connected to the pocket. 
         [0005]    In the case of tactical carrying, the pocket is supported by a fixing system which is constituted by a plate and/or a strap. 
         [0006]    The butt of the weapon is arranged outside the pocket and the weapon is retained by a security lug, one end of which is fixedly joined to the pocket and the other end of which is fixed to the pocket by means of a fastening member, such as, for example, a pressing member or a snap-fitting member. 
         [0007]    This type of holster has disadvantages relating mainly to the fact that the security lug can open in an untimely manner when the carrier moves and this lug can also be opened under the action of a third party, which allows this person to remove the weapon from the holster. 
         [0008]    Furthermore, this security lug inhibits the weapon from being replaced in the holster after it has intentionally been withdrawn. 
         [0009]    Holsters are also known which comprise a pocket which is intended for accommodating the weapon and which is provided, at the upper portion thereof, with an opening for inserting the weapon and, at the rear portion thereof, with a balancing member for supporting this weapon which can be successively moved vertically between an upper position and a lower position and, by means of pivoting, between a position retracted inside the pocket in which the weapon is blocked in an upper position against a fixed clamp which is fixedly joined to this pocket and a deployed position outside the pocket in which the weapon is released from the clamp. 
         [0010]    This type of holster is complex to implement and use and even if it prevents a third party from removing the weapon from the pocket, it does not have all the indispensable safeguards and in particular does not allow the weapon to be readily reinserted since the balancing member may return to a retracted position with a simple pushing action before the weapon is reinserted. 
         [0011]    The object of the invention is to provide a holster for a hand weapon which is simple to implement and use and which has all the necessary safeguards. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    The invention therefore relates to a holster for a hand weapon, such as, for example, a pistol or a revolver, comprising a butt, a trigger guard and a barrel which is provided at the lower face thereof with a series of transverse notches for fixing an accessory, the holster comprising a pocket for accommodating the weapon, comprising:
       at the upper portion thereof, an opening for inserting the weapon,   at least at one of the sides thereof, means for fixing to a receiving member carried by a user, and   means for blocking the weapon in the pocket,       
 
         [0016]    characterised in that the means for blocking the weapon comprise a support element which comprises a housing for receiving the trigger guard of the weapon, provided with a locking member which can be moved by a push-button from the upper portion of the pocket perpendicularly relative to the lower face of the barrel between an active position in which it is engaged in a notch in order to immobilise the weapon and a retracted position which releases the weapon. 
         [0017]    According to other features of the invention:
       the pocket comprises, at the upper portion thereof, a tongue which can be moved between a first position located above the pocket in order to block the weapon and a second retracted position which releases this weapon,   in the second position, the tongue is tilted towards the front of the pocket,   the tongue comprises a first end which is pivotably mounted on one side of the pocket and a second end which is provided with a member for snap-fitting to a lug fixed to the other side of the pocket,   the tongue is associated with a resilient member for returning the tongue to the second position,   the support element is formed by a body for fixing the pocket and is provided, at the upper portion thereof, with vertical and parallel lugs which together provide the housing, the body and the lugs comprising means for guiding the push-button and the locking member,   the push-button can be moved in a direction which is substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the frame of the weapon placed in the pocket and comprises, on the one hand, a first plate which extends parallel with the lugs of the support element and a second plate which extends perpendicularly relative to the lugs and which is provided, at the lower portion thereof, with means for moving the locking member,   the first plate comprises, at the upper portion thereof, a continuation which opens above the support element and which is provided with a button,   the push-button can be moved between an upper rest position which releases the locking member in the active position thereof and a lower active position which retains the locking member in the retracted position thereof,   the locking member is formed by a catch which comprises, at a first end, at least one member which is intended to co-operate with a notch of the lower face below the barrel of the weapon in the active position of the catch and, at a second end, movement means which complement the movement means carried by the push-button,   the movement means are formed by ramp-like members which have a complementary inclination and which are carried by the second plate of the push-button and the second end of the catch, respectively, and   the guiding means are formed by grooves having a shape which complements the plates of the push-button and the catch.       
 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0029]    Other features and advantages of the invention will be appreciated from the following description, given purely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which: 
           [0030]      FIG. 1  is a schematic, perspective view of a holster according to the invention, with a hand weapon blocked in the holster, 
           [0031]      FIG. 2  is a partially broken-away schematic, perspective view of the holster, illustrating a portion of the means for blocking the weapon, 
           [0032]      FIG. 3  is a schematic, perspective view of the element for supporting the weapon in the holster, 
           [0033]      FIG. 4  is a schematic, perspective view of the means for blocking the weapon in the active position, 
           [0034]      FIG. 5  is a schematic, perspective view of the means for blocking the weapon in the retracted position, and 
           [0035]      FIG. 6  is a partially broken-away schematic, perspective view of the holster, with the weapon being removed. 
       
    
    
       [0036]      FIG. 1  schematically illustrates a holster which is generally designated  10  for a hand weapon  1 , such as, for example, a pistol or a revolver. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0037]    The holster  10  can be used as a belt, thigh or shoulder holster and it comprises a pocket which is generally designated  11  and which forms a housing for the weapon  1  and which comprises, at the upper portion thereof, an opening  12  for introducing this weapon  1 . 
         [0038]    In conventional manner, the weapon  1  comprises in particular a butt  1   a,  a trigger guard  1   b  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) and a barrel  1   c  which is provided, at the lower face thereof, with a series of notches  1   d  ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ) which are intended for fixing an accessory, such as, for example, an aim assistance system, a night vision system or an illumination system. 
         [0039]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the pocket  11  is provided with means for fixing to a receiving member which is carried by a user. 
         [0040]    In this instance, the holster is a belt holster and the fixing means are constituted by a loop  2  which supports the pocket  11 . 
         [0041]    The pocket  11  is formed at two sides  11   a  and  11   b,  respectively, and comprises a front wall which connects the sides  11   a  and  11   b.  These sides  11   a  and  11   b  and the front wall  11   c  define a housing for receiving the weapon  1 . 
         [0042]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the pocket  11  comprises, at the upper portion thereof, a tongue  15 , a first end  15   a  of which is mounted on the side  11   a  of the pocket  11  and a second end  15   b  of which is provided with a snap-fitting member, such as, for example, a push-button which is not illustrated, on a lug  18  which is fixed to the opposite side  11   b  of the pocket  11 . 
         [0043]    In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the first end  15   a  of the tongue  15  is pivotably mounted on a shaft  16  which is fixed to the side  11   a  of the pocket  11 . In this manner, the tongue can be moved, after the end  15   b  of this tongue  15  is unlocked, between a first position located above the pocket  11 , as illustrated with solid lines in  FIG. 1 , in order to block the weapon and a second position tilted towards the front of this pocket  11 , as illustrated with dot-dash lines in this  FIG. 1 . 
         [0044]    A resilient member  17 , such as, for example, a torsion spring, is mounted on the shaft  16  in order to return the tongue  15  to the second position tilted towards the front of the pocket  11 . 
         [0045]    In addition to this tongue  15 , the pocket  11  is provided with means for blocking the weapon  1  which comprise a support element which is generally designated  20  and which is illustrated in particular in  FIGS. 1 to 3 . 
         [0046]    This support element  20  is formed by a body  21  to which the sides  11   a  and  11   b  of the pocket  11  are fixed. The body  21  is provided, at the upper portion thereof, with two vertical and parallel lugs  22   a  and  22   b,  respectively, which together provide a housing  23  which is intended to receive the trigger guard  1   b  of the weapon  1 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         [0047]    The means for blocking the weapon  1  in the pocket  11  also comprise a locking member  40  ( FIGS. 4 to 6 ) and a push-button  30  which is intended to move the locking member  40 , as will be seen below. 
         [0048]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the push-button  30  comprises a first plate  31  which extends parallel with the lugs  22   a  and  22   b  of the support element  20  and a second plate  32  which extends perpendicularly relative to the lugs  22   a  and  22   b  and the first plate  31 . This second plate  32  is provided, at the lower portion thereof, with means  33  for moving the locking member  40  perpendicularly relative to the lower face of the barrel  1   c  of the weapon  1  between an active position engaged in a notch  1   d  ( FIG. 4 ) in order to immobilise the weapon  1  and a retracted position ( FIG. 5 ) which releases the weapon  1 . 
         [0049]    The first plate  31  of the push-button  30  is provided, at the upper portion thereof, with a continuation  31   a  which opens above the support element  20  and which is provided with a button  31   b.  In this manner, the button  31   b  of the push-button  30  is accessible from the upper portion of the pocket  11  in order to move the push-button  30  in a direction substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the barrel  1   c  of the weapon  1  placed in the pocket  11  in order to move the locking member  40  between the two positions. 
         [0050]    To this end, the support element  20  is provided with means for guiding the push-button  30 . These guiding means illustrated in  FIG. 3  are formed by a first groove  25  which is provided in the lug  22   b  and in the body  21  of the support element  20  for the first plate  31  of the push-button  30  and by a second groove  26  which is provided in the body  21  and which extends perpendicularly relative to the first groove  26  in order to guide the second plate  32  of the push-button  30 . 
         [0051]    In this manner, the push-button  30  can be moved between an upper rest position which releases the locking member  40  in the active position thereof and a lower active position which retains the locking member in the retracted position thereof. 
         [0052]    The push-button  30  is retained in the upper position thereof by means of a resilient member  35  ( FIG. 4 ) such as, for example, a compression spring which is arranged between the lower edge of the first branch  31  of this push-button  30  and the base of the groove  26  of the body  21  of the support element  20  ( FIG. 3 ). 
         [0053]    The locking member  40  illustrated in particular in  FIGS. 4 and 5  is formed by a catch  41  which comprises, at a first end, at least one member  42  which is intended to cooperate with a notch  1   d  of the barrel  1   c  of the weapon  1 . 
         [0054]    In the embodiment illustrated in the Figures, the catch  41  comprises two mutually parallel members  42 . This catch  41  comprises, at a second end, movement means  43  which complement the movement means  33  carried by the push-button  30 . 
         [0055]    The movement means  33  carried by the second branch  32  of the push-button  30  are formed by at least one ramp-like member  34  and, preferably, by two ramp-like members  34  and the movement means  43  carried by the catch  41  are formed by at least one ramp-like member  44  and, preferably, by two ramp-like members  44  having an inclination which complements the ramp-like members  34  of the push-button  30 . 
         [0056]    The locking member  40  is returned to the active position thereof illustrated in  FIG. 4  by a resilient member  45 , such as, for example, a compression spring. 
         [0057]    The means for guiding the locking member  40  during the movement thereof between the two positions are constituted by a groove  27  which is provided in the body  21  of the support element  20 , this groove  27  extending perpendicularly relative to the guiding groove  26  of the second branch  32  of the push-button  30 . 
         [0058]    When the weapon  1  is placed in the pocket  11  of the holster  10 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , this weapon  1  is retained by the tongue  15  and the members  42  of the catch  41  which are engaged in a notch  1   d  which is provided on the lower face below the barrel  1   c  of the weapon  1 . This weapon  1  is therefore blocked in this position. 
         [0059]    In order to release the weapon  1  and withdraw it from the pocket  11 , the operator proceeds as follows. 
         [0060]    First of all, the operator releases the tongue  15  by pressing with the thumb on the lug  18  so that this tongue  15  pivots towards the front of the pocket  11  about the shaft  16  under the action of the resilient member  17 , as illustrated with dot-dash lines in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0061]    The operator then applies pressure downwards on the button  31   b  of the push-button  30  which has the effect, via the ramp-like members  34  of the push-button  30  and the ramp-like members  44  of the catch  41 , of moving this catch  41  so that the members  42  leave the notch  1   d,  as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0062]    The operator can thus withdraw the weapon  1  from the pocket  11  of the holster  10  ( FIG. 6 ). 
         [0063]    As soon as the operator releases the push-button  30 , the push-button  30  resumes its upper position under the action of the resilient member  35  thus releasing the catch  41  which returns to its initial position under the action of the resilient member  45 . 
         [0064]    When the weapon  1  is reintroduced into the pocket  11 , the catch  41  retracts under the passage of the barrel  1   c  of the weapon  1  in order to once again become blocked in the notch  1   d.  Then, the operator replaces the tongue  15 . 
         [0065]    The holster according to the invention has the advantage, owing to the different elements which it comprises, of providing reliable retention of the weapon, whilst allowing this weapon to be readily withdrawn by the operator.