Abstract: A holster for a handgun having a trigger guard including a pouch having housing members secured to inside and outside faces of the pouch, the inside face being that closest to the wearer of the holster. A finger-operated, essentially vertical, lever including a blocking end is urged into the space within the trigger guard by means of a spring and is secured to an inside housing member such that it would not be readily apparent or operable by anyone attempting to remove the handgun from the holster. The holster may also include elongated upwardly extending straps and a snap fastener which can be wrapped around the butt of the handgun constituting a thumb break securing device. A second embodiment includes a horizontal double lever arrangement which blocks removal of the trigger guard as described. A third embodiment utilizes a blocking lever pinned to an outside housing member and having a vertical finger-operated button mounted flush with the surface of the outside housing member.

Abstract: An ergonomic duty belt and ergonomic holster and belt loop assembly are disclosed which cooperate to provide a stable platform for a handgun in a holster and other accessories as well while providing superior comfort for the wearer. The ergonomic belt effectively has two widths, a narrow 1½ vertical effective width, which is against the wearer's body, and a traditional 2¼ inch exterior vertical width, which is sized to support the wearer's gear, such as a holster and a weapon. That portion of the ergonomic belt, which is against the wearer, is also padded for additional comfort. The ergonomic holster includes a belt loop assembly which is tapered and padded on its inner surface in the area where the assembly touches the wearer's body when worn as intended to better conform to the body of the wearer and minimize wearer discomfort.

Abstract: A holster for a handgun having a trigger guard including a pouch having housing members secured to inside and outside faces of the pouch, the inside face being that closest to the wearer of the holster. A finger-operated, essentially vertical, lever including a blocking end is urged into the space within the trigger guard by means of a spring and is secured to an inside housing member such that it would not be readily apparent or operable by anyone attempting to remove the handgun from the holster. The holster may also include elongated upwardly extending straps and a snap fastener which can be wrapped around the butt of the handgun constituting a thumb break securing device. A second embodiment includes a horizontal double lever arrangement which blocks removal of the trigger guard as described. A third embodiment utilizes a lever pinned to an outside housing member and having a vertical finger-operated button mounted flush with the surface of the outside housing member.

Abstract: An improved belt-loop assembly for hanging goods from a belt primarily used in conjunction with a holster. The belt loop assembly has a tapered belt loop opening and a platform upon which the belt rests. The taper aids in fixedly positioning the assembly along the belt while the platform protects the belt from wear due to belt positioning screws commonly found in belt loop assemblies.

Abstract: An article carrier and process for making same made from a laminate material which is lightweight, durable, easy to clean, and easy to maintain. The article carrier has crisp, well-defined edges and contours with an outward appearance almost identical to hand-tooled leather. The process for making the article carrier comprises selecting the laminate, heating the laminate, configuring the laminate in a mold such that the laminate's plane of greatest direction stretch is parallel to the area of maximum deformation of the mold, compressing the laminate to define the article carrier, cooling, trimming the compressed laminate, adding component parts, and joining the compressed laminate together to complete the article carrier.

Abstract: An improved belt-loop assembly for hanging goods from a belt primarily used in conjunction with a holster. The belt loop assembly has a tapered belt loop opening and a platform upon which the belt rests. The taper aids in fixedly positioning the assembly along the belt while the platform protects the belt from wear due to belt positioning screws commonly found in belt loop assemblies.

Abstract: A handgun holster with an auxiliary or supplementary latching device is disclosed. The holster includes a body which defines a pouch for holding a handgun and includes a strap which extends over or around a portion of the handgun to hold it in place in the holster when the free end of the retention strap is secured to the holster as by a snap fastener. In the preferred embodiment the holster includes a thumbreak which is used to allow the wearer to separate the snap fastener by downward movement of the wearer's thumb to separate the snap fastener parts and allow the handgun to be withdrawn. A supplementary latching device is present which is movable from a latching to an unlatching position. Several different embodiments of the invention are illustrated including a molded plastic latch which encircles a holster thumbreak and is slidable longitudinally along the thumbreak.

Abstract: A holster for a handgun having a trigger guard is formed of material such as leather or the like which is folded upon itself to make a pocket with an opening at the top. A pair of openings are located on opposite sides of the pocket adjacent the position of the trigger guard when the handgun is in the pocket. A retainer member of low friction material having resilient arms and clamp members with inwardly extending projections is fastened in the holster such that the arms and clamp members extend through the openings. When the handgun is placed in the holster, the trigger guard pushes past the projections on the clamp members which then latch around the trigger guard securing the handgun in the holster.

Abstract: A holster is disclosed employing a formed composite of fabric-foam and fabric in which the outer face is formed to match the contour of a hand gun to carried in the holster while the inner face is generally flat. A belt loop assembly is secured to the inner face including a generally "Y" shape with an opening between the arms of the "Y". Hook or pile fastener fabric is located within the belt loop assembly. A thumb break or strap includes an end which extends through the opening into the belt loop and is held in place by contact with the hook and pile fastener. The thumb break is angularly adjustable within the belt loop and securable at various angles by the hook and pile fastener. The belt loop assembly, most importantly defines a belt loop and the thumb break and the hook and pile fastener cooperate to restrict the size of the belt loop and provide restriction against unwanted movement of the holster on a belt.

Abstract: A laminated pouch includes a layer of woven synthetic fabric, a layer of polyfoam and a layer of liner material, the layers being bonded together under heat and pressure. During the molding process selected areas of the laminate material is compressed under substantial heat and pressure to permanently deform the laminate into areas of substantially less thickness than uncompressed areas, the compressed areas being of substantial stiffness. The laminate is also formed with edges, and corners of substantial stiffness. The pouch is formed of two such laminate layers which are trimmed and fastened together at the edges. The resulting pouch retains its shape well and is not significantly deformed by the weight or pressure of its contents.