Patents by Inventor Richard D. E. Nichols

Richard D. E. Nichols has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5033663
    Abstract: A holster which is designed to carry securely a number of different sizes of handguns with equal proper fit. The holster is preferably formed of a composite fabric-foam-fabric material, or in certain cases, of leather. The holster sides are secured together partially in the region adjacent to the underside of the frame near the trigger guard. A separate welt member is securable between the two sides of the holster and presents to the frame in the region of the trigger guard, a smooth conforming surface which urges the handgun into a snug fit within the holster. A typical interchangeable welt is a thick rubber or rubber-like washer with a radius conforming to the curve of the front of the trigger guard as it joins the frame toward the front of the handgun. The interchangeable welt may be held in place by a screw and nut or other fastener which may pass through opposite sides of the holster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Inventors: John E. Bianchi, Richard D. E. Nichols
  • Patent number: 4815641
    Abstract: A flap holster with the flap pivotally and removably secured to either side of an ambidextrious holster. The holster inlcudes an opening for the insertion and removal of a handgun and a transverse slot below the opening on each side. The flap is pivotally connected to one side of the holster and extends over the handgun opening. On the underside of the flap, an extensible strip is secured at one end to the flap and includes an end hook at the opposite end to engage one of the transverse slots and secure the flap in place. The extensible strap is preferably captured in a fabric tunnel in the underside of the flap. An inextensible flexible strap is secured at both ends to the extensible strap to limit its extension length to avoid over stressing its elastic properties. The hook is preferably a reverse directed tab dimensioned to slip into the transverse slot allowing the elasticity of the extensible strip to hold the flap closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Assignee: Bianchi International
    Inventors: John E. Bianchi, Richard D. E. Nichols
  • Patent number: 4750656
    Abstract: An ambidextrous holster designed for use on both wide web belts and narrower garrison type military belts. The holster body includes an outer layer defining two pair of slots on each side of the holster body. One pair of each side is located generally horizontally and one above the other. This pair is adapted to receive any suitable type of clip or vertically oriented fastener. The second set of slots on each side of the holster body extend generally vertically and are laterally spaced. The latter pairs of slots have lengths suitable for passing a belt therethrough to allow wearing of the holster directly on one size belt and via a clip or other fastener on belts of different sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1988
    Assignee: Bianchi International
    Inventors: John E. Bianchi, Richard D. E. Nichols, Martin Miller
  • Patent number: 4645103
    Abstract: An improved holster comprising a sheet of compressible material or a composite including a compressible layer formed into a pouch to hold a handgun with an edge seam at the rear. At the front inside of the holster is a stiffener member secured to the holster sheet material by at least one generally vertical stitch line. The stitch line distorts the compressible material and the stiffening member to form a front groove for receiving the barrel and front sight of the handgun. A protective sleeve may cover the stiffener. An improved universally adjustable strap arrangement includes hook and pile type fabric on an inner face of a belt loop formed in the holster body and the mating hook and pile material on one face of the flat strap. The angle and length of the strap may be adjusted by relative movement of the strap within the belt loop. Securement of one end of the strap results from engagement of the hook and pile fabric and is insured by pressure from the wearer's belt when worn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1987
    Assignee: Bianchi International
    Inventors: John E. Bianchi, Wayne B. Gregory, Richard D. E. Nichols
  • Patent number: 4627558
    Abstract: An ambidextrious military type holster designed for belt, leg, chest or shoulder carrying with or without a flap. The holster employs a layered body with the outer two layers defining pairs of horizontally disposed and vertically disposed slots on each major face of the holster adapted to receive a belt on either side through the horizontally disposed pairs of slots or a clip through the vertically disposed pairs of slots. The flap may be secured by the clip and includes an extensible strap and hook for securing the flap to the holster body by one of the slots. The clip includes a generally planar body defining a pair of facing opening catches at one end and a hinge at the opposite end. A resilient member forms the hinge pin of the hinge and includes a pair of resilient legs which are pivotal over the generally planar body and includes knee portions which engage the catches and define a belt or strap slot with the body. An extender strap allows the holster to be used as a leg holster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1986
    Assignee: Bianchi International
    Inventors: John E. Bianchi, Martin R. Miller, Richard D. E. Nichols
  • Patent number: 4591081
    Abstract: A handgun holster having a separable flap for covering part of the top opening of the holster pocket. The flap is secured by separable fasteners having one part of the fastener on the holster body and a mating fastener part on the flap on one side of the holster and a second separable fastener on the other side of the holster body having one fastener part on the holster body and a mating fastener part on the cover flap which secures the second side of the cover flap and also secures a belt loop to the holster body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1986
    Assignee: Bianchi Intl. Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Bianchi, Richard D. E. Nichols
  • Patent number: 4542841
    Abstract: A semi-front opening holster comprising a body of leather or leatherlike material formed to define a handgun carrying pouch;means secured to the body for securing the holster to a belt;the body defining a top opening for the insertion of a handgun into the holster from the top;the body at the upper rear thereof defining a pouch region for at least partially enclosing the trigger guard of a handgun when positioned within the holster;the pouch region including means extending above and over the trigger guard of the handgun whereby a handgun within the holster may not be withdrawn directly upward;the handgun body defining an extension of the top opening along the front edge thereof;whereby a handgun contained within the holster may be removed by tilting forward to clear the trigger guard from the pouch region and thereafter removing the handgun entirely from the holster by an upward or upward-forward movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1985
    Assignee: Bianchi International
    Inventors: John E. Bianchi, Richard D. E. Nichols, Richard Gerfen
  • Patent number: 4504001
    Abstract: A holster which comprises a holster body having on its inner face a fastener part which constitutes the pivot axis for the holster body. A rigid plate surrounds the fastener part and includes a number of detents in a circular array. A belt loop assembly includes a pair of snap fasteners to allow the belt loop to be opened and closed to encircle a section of the wearer's belt. The snap fasteners themselves have one part secured to a rigid plate which includes a circular array of mating detents. The rigid plate of the belt loop includes the mating fastener part for the mating fastener part affixed to the holster body. The fastener holding the holster body to the belt loop is preferably a T nut on the holster body and a mating screw at the belt loop.The T nut and screw provide a central pivot for the holster body with respect to the belt loop and the mating detent parts, one on the holster body and one on the belt loop providing the adjustment feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1985
    Assignee: Bianchi International
    Inventor: Richard D. E. Nichols
  • Patent number: 4346827
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1982
    Assignee: Bianchi Leather Products, Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Bianchi, Richard D. E. Nichols
  • Patent number: D259947
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1981
    Inventors: John E. Bianchi, Richard D. E. Nichols
  • Patent number: D260800
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1981
    Inventors: John E. Bianchi, Richard D. E. Nichols
  • Patent number: D261409
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1981
    Inventors: John E. Bianchi, Richard D. E. Nichols
  • Patent number: D263067
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1982
    Assignee: Bianchi Leather Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard D. E. Nichols
  • Patent number: D269895
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1983
    Assignee: Bianchi Leather Products, Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Bianchi, Richard D. E. Nichols, Frank A. Pachmayr, Jack R. Farrar, Frank W. Farrar
  • Patent number: D275305
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1984
    Assignee: Bianchi International
    Inventor: Richard D. E. Nichols
  • Patent number: D283633
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1986
    Assignee: Bianchi International
    Inventor: Richard D. E. Nichols
  • Patent number: D286171
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1986
    Assignee: Bianchi International
    Inventor: Richard D. E. Nichols
  • Patent number: D293741
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1988
    Assignee: Bianchi International
    Inventor: Richard D. E. Nichols
  • Patent number: D294086
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1988
    Assignee: Bianchi International
    Inventor: Richard D. E. Nichols
  • Patent number: D335221
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Inventor: Richard D. E. Nichols