Patent ID: 7556181

Claim:
A handgun holster comprising: a body defining a tubular passage for receiving an elongated handgun portion including a barrel; the body defining a trigger guard space adjacent to the passage for receiving the trigger guard of the handgun; a trigger guard retention element connected to the body; the retention element being slidably operable with respect to the body between a retention position in which it projects into the trigger guard space and a retracted position in which it is retracted from the trigger guard space, such that a handgun received in the holster is retained against extraction forces when the latch element is in the retention position, and a handgun received in the hoister is removable from the holster when the retention element is in the released position; a release actuator connected to the body; the release actuator being movable with respect to the body between an actuated position and a retracted position; the release actuator being mechanically engaged with the retention element and operable to move the retention element to the retracted position when the release actuator is moved to the actuated position; the release actuator being operable to secure the retention element in the retention position when the release actuator is in the retracted position; and wherein the release actuator has a wedge portion received between an end portion of the retention element and a surface portion of the body, such that moving the release actuator to the actuated position advances the wedge portion to drive the end portion of the release actuator away from the surface portion of the body.