Abstract: An improved vestlike weapon carrier providing concealed and comfortable carrying of a handgun by a plain clothes law enforcement officer. The handgun is supported under one arm and an ammunition pouch under the other. The handgun is held in a holster having a thumb release retainer strap and a body which is formed to match the contour of the frame and barrel of the handgun. The handgun is supported with the barrel muzzle slightly elevated for natural action cross-drawing by the officer. The holster is supported by a crescent shaped shoulder strap and a pair of "D" rings secured to the holster at the muzzle region and the chamber region of the handgun for balanced carriage. A similar crescent shaped shoulder strap supports a generally "Y" shaped ammunition or clip carrier. The shoulder straps are joined by elastic straps extending across the back of the wearer. No straps extend across the chest of the wearer.

Abstract: A front opening holster for semi-automatic and other pistols. The holster includes a body of leather formed into a U-shaped pocket with the base of the U located at the rear. The body is maintained in a weapon holding shape and the front opening formed by the ends of the U held closed by a pair of sheet metal spring members held together at the rear of the holster by a spacer block. The top of the spacer provides a rest and stop for the trigger guard of the weapon. A cantilevered spring member carrying a shaped locking member is secured to the holster body on one side. A relatively rigid backing plate is positioned on the opposite side of the holster body. The shaped locking member when engaged by the trigger guard moves out of the way to allow the trigger guard to pass. A restraining strap allows the spring member and locking members to deflect outward and rearward but not in the forward direction.

Abstract: A holster incorporating a spring locking member which engages a portion of a handgun to provide a physical restraint upon the holstering or drawing of the handgun to prevent inadvertent removal of the weapon or accidental loss of the handgun when the user is in strenuous movement. The spring locking member includes a leaf spring secured to the body of the holster at one end carrying at its other end a protruding head having tapered surfaces which will enter and obstruct a portion of the trigger guard region. The protruding head is not of sufficient size to contact the trigger when the handgun is fully home e.g. bottomed out in the holster. The spring member has sufficient resistance to deflection such that the weight of the handgun plus any acceleration due to strenuous activity of the user is insufficient to cause the weapon to be dislodged.

Abstract: A holster employing a holster body and a liner which cooperatively define a weapon pocket and including a metal reinforcement between the liner and the body which at least partially defines the shape of a handgun carrying cavity. Secured to the reinforcement is a leaf spring having a free length extending on the side of the reinforcement toward the handgun cavity. A controllable extension device such as a screw engaging the free end of the spring causes a controlled deflection of the spring into the handgun cavity a distance which is a function of the screw position. The liner covers the spring member whereby the spring serves to expand the liner inward against the side of the handgun applying direct frictional contact with the handgun to the extent desired by the user and controllable merely by tightening or loosening the screw.

Abstract: A buckleless belt employing a closure device or fastening means which positions and holds the two ends of a belt. The closure device virtually completely concealed from the front and affords a minimum additional thickness to the belt in the overlapping region where the fastening means is located. The fastening means comprises a plate member secured to the inner side of the outer end of the belt including guides for aligning the edges of the inner end of the belt. An inwardly depending pin on the plate member spaced longitudinally from the guides engages one of the series of holes in the end region of the inner end of the belt. A looplike belt keeper retains the free inner end in close proximity to the outer end of the belt. The outer end of the belt conceals most or all of the holes in the inner end.

Abstract: A holster which alternately may be worn as a shoulder holster under the armpit of the wearer with the weapon inverted or on a belt for front draw by either the right or left side. The holster employs a body which is folded to define a revolver pocket and a front opening held closed by a spring member. The spring includes a pair of legs which extend along opposite sides of the front opening and which spring legs extend up to the extreme corner of the holster body whereby the ends of the spring embrace and enclose the hammer of a revolver in the holster. The body includes two sets of generally arcuate openings defining two belt loops, one pair on each side of the holster. One ring for securement to a shoulder harness is retained by an integral extension of the body in the muzzle region. A second ring is secured to the body in the trigger guard region. Adjusting means for drawing the body sides together below the muzzle is employed.

Abstract: An improved front opening holster including depending enclosed spring members extending along the edges of the front opening. The spring members have free ends and are operatively secured together by a retainer in the completed holster but relatively movable during manufacture to facilitate production.The body includes an elongated stiffening member providing attachment point for a belt loop and defines a cylinder cup shape as well.The belt loop includes a stiffening member and a distortable spacer and tightening means to expand and contract the spacer to selectively engage or release the belt to afford both free movement and fixed engagement with the wearer's belt.The hammer of a handgun positioned in the holster is covered by an overlying strap. A thumb strap with a selective direction release fastener engages the overlying strap in a recess between the handgun and the belt loop.A novel method for producing a spring closed holster, particularly the spring assembly, is disclosed.

Abstract: A slide switch designed to be attached to the barrel of the flashlight by a pair of screws which serve the further function of interconnecting the switch to the electrical circuit of the flashlight. The switch body is of insulating material. It includes a pair of side ears protecting the switch operator and a pair of screw holes through the body. Two leaf springs constituting the contact elements include reentrant tabs extending through the screw openings of the body whereby the reentrant tabs engage both the shank and the underside of the head of the mounting screws.

Abstract: An improved front opening holster including depending enclosed spring members extending along the edges of the front opening. The spring members have free ends and are operatively secured together by a retainer in the completed holster but relatively movable during manufacture to facilitate production.The body includes an elongated stiffening member providing attachment point of a belt loop and defines a cylinder cup shape as well.The belt loop includes a stiffening member and a distortable spacer and tightening means to expand and contract the spacer to selectively engage or release the belt to afford both free movement and fixed engagement with the wearer's belt.The hammer of a handgun positioned in the holster is covered by an overlying strap. A thumb strap with a selective direction release fastener engages the overlying strap in a recess between the handgun and the belt loop.A novel method for producing a spring closed holster, particularly the spring assembly, is disclosed.