HOLSTER FOR CARRYING OR WEARING SMALLARMS

Abstract

The present invention discloses a holster for a semiautomatic handgun. The semiautomatic handgun comprises a slider, a spring, a barrel terminating in a mouth, a hollow butt for a magazine clip and a firing mechanism comprising a trigger coupled to a hammer by a mechanism. The holster comprises left and right walls connected by a back piece. The holster is opened at its proximal end for insertion and removal of the semiautomatic handgun thereby and has an opening at its distal end. The holster further comprises means for engaging the slider of the semiautomatic handgun as the handgun is pushed into the holster, to slide the slider with respect to the barrel, thereby chambering a round.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to providing a handgun holster that facilitates the loading and cocking of a semiautomatic handgun therein prior to withdrawing therefrom.

BACKGROUND

Handguns are compact weapons that are primarily used for self defense, and are used by security personnel and law enforcement agencies, such as the police. Although some handguns are made specifically for target competition or hunting, most are still designed for defense purposes and are compact so as to be easily concealed and easily carried.

A handgun should be capable of firing a projectile accurately at a target. The energy delivered to the projectile must be sufficient to provide stopping power, yet be small enough so that the recoil from firing does not wrest the gun from the shooter's hand. These conflicting requirements lead to compromises and there are thus many types of handguns available.

Handguns are required to fire multiple shots since the shooter may not have a perfect shot at the attacker and there may also be multiple attackers.

The two most common defensive handguns are the double action revolver and the semiautomatic pistol.

Revolvers are less expensive, simpler in design, more reliable than semiautomatics and seem to be more accurate. The lock work translates the trigger pull to rotation of the cylinder, cocking and fall of the hammer. If this is done in one motion of pulling the trigger, it is termed “double-action.” Single-action revolvers require manual cocking of the hammer before the trigger is pulled. Revolver cartridges are more powerful than semiautomatic cartridges since they can be longer. However revolvers are limited to six shots, are relatively slow to reload, the gap between barrel and cylinder makes them less efficient, and the trigger pull is greater. Consequently they are less popular than semiautomatic pistols which are the handgun of choice for many security agents.

The semiautomatic pistol originated at the end of the 19th century, mostly through the efforts of John Browning. In fact, almost every semiautomatic handgun available today is essentially a copy of his two most famous designs: the Colt model 1911A government 45 and the Browning Hi Power 9 mm.

A semiautomatic handgun or pistol is shown in FIG. 1. The handle or butt contains the magazine holding the cartridges.

Semiautomatics are advantageous in that the recoil generated by the fired cartridge is used to eject the empty cartridge case, load the next cartridge, and cock the hammer. This system is more conducive to firing multiple shots than the revolver, and many semiautomatic pistols are designed to carry 15 to 19 rounds. Since the mechanism is more complicated than that of revolvers, they are typically more expensive. They require more practice to use effectively, and cartridge cases must be short to work well.

The barrel is normally hidden by the slide which is a key part to the operation of a semiautomatic. The cartridge base rests on the slide, and the slide is driven back along the axis of the barrel under the force of recoil generated by the firing of the cartridge against the opposing tension from a spring. As the slide and empty cartridge case accelerate backwards, the ease is struck by a stationary piece of metal that bumps it to the side. The stationary piece of metal is conveniently located next to a hole in the slide, so that the empty cartridge case continues its acceleration in a direction perpendicular to the pistol and into the air, landing from 2 to 20 feet from the fired gun. The rearward moving slide also cocks the hammer. After the case is thrown clear the slide hits a stop and the spring tension starts it forward. The magazine includes a second spring that pushes a column of rounds tight up against the bottom of the slide. As the slide comes back by the column of cartridges, it grabs the top round and pushes it forward and up a short ramp into the chamber where the slide locks it in place.

Safety mechanisms prevent accidental firing. Some designs lock the hammer, while others lock the trigger. Such safety mechanisms are usually fairly fiddly to operate. Many security personnel and other users simply ensure that the firing chamber of the semiautomatic handgun is empty by sliding back the slider and ejecting any chambered round whilst no magazine is in the butt of the semiautomatic handgun. Only then do they insert a full magazine into the butt of the handgun. Sliding back the slider to chamber a round can be performed in a fraction of a second by a competent and practiced marksman. Unless the semiautomatic handgun is loaded by retracting the slider, thereby chambering a round, the semiautomatic handgun is rendered perfectly safe since the firing chamber is empty.

The disadvantage of this method of rendering the semiautomatic handgun safe is that retracting the slider to chamber a round is a two-handed operation. Some users have limited use of one hand or may have one arm only. If attacked whilst driving, a pistol may be drawn and aimed with one hand, whilst controlling the vehicle with the other hand, but until now, could not be drawn with one hand. Such behavior effectively required the threatened user to drive with a semiautomatic handgun having a chambered cartridge, which is not a safe state of affairs.

Furthermore, some users, particularly women, may find it difficult to cock a semiautomatic pistol in the conventional way, as the force required to overcome the spring is considerable.

There is a need to draw back the slider of a semiautomatic handgun to chamber a bullet using only the hand holding the semiautomatic handgun. The present invention addresses this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an aim of the invention to allow a semiautomatic handgun to be loaded and drawn, thereby chambering a cartridge, with one hand.

It is a specific aim to provide a holster that allows chambering of a round into a semiautomatic handgun whilst removing the semiautomatic handgun from the holster.

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, a holster for a semiautomatic handgun is provided: the semiautomatic handgun comprising a slider, a spring, a barrel terminating in a mouth, a hollow butt for a magazine clip and a firing mechanism comprising a trigger coupled to a hammer by a mechanism; the holster comprising left and right walls connected by a back piece; the holster being open at its proximal end for insertion and removal of the semiautomatic handgun thereby and having an opening at its distal end; The holster further comprising means for engaging the slider of the semiautomatic handgun as handgun is pushed through holster, to slide the slider with respect to the barrel, thereby chambering a round.

In one embodiment, the means for engaging the slider comprises a pair of slider stops attached to the distal end of holster around the distal opening for engaging the slider of the semiautomatic handgun, such that pressing the semiautomatic handgun into the holster causes the barrel of the semiautomatic handgun to move distally out through distal end of holster, and the slider of the semiautomatic handgun to contact the slider stops on the holster, thereby sliding slider up the barrel and loading the semiautomatic handgun, by chambering a cartridge.

Preferably the slider stops are adjustable to allow configuring the holster to a specific semiautomatic handgun.

Preferably the holster further comprises an attachment means for attaching the holster to an object to provide a counter-force to the pressing.

Typically the attachment means comprises a clip for clipping the holster onto the object.

Additionally or alternatively, the attachment means is selected from the list of clips, loops and straps.

Optionally the object is a garment. Alternatively, the object is the body of the user of semiautomatic handgun.

Typically the holster further comprises a guard to prevent inadvertent withdrawing of the semiautomatic handgun from the holster.

In a second aspect, the present invention is directed to providing a method of chambering a cartridge into a semiautomatic handgun in the holster comprising left and right walls connected by a back piece; the holster being open at its proximal end and having an opening at its distal end and comprising a pair of slider stops attached to the distal end of holster around the distal opening; The method comprising the step of: (i) pushing the semiautomatic handgun downwards into the holster, stopping the slider against the slider stops, thereby sliding the slider backwards with respect to the barrel.

Preferably the method further comprises the additional step of withdrawing the loaded semiautomatic handgun with chambered cartridge from the holster.

In a third aspect, the present invention provides a method of loading and withdrawing a semiautomatic handgun from its holster with one hand comprising the steps of: (i) pushing the semiautomatic handgun downwards into the holster, stopping the slider against slider stops, thereby sliding the slider backwards with respect to the barrel to chamber a cartridge and (ii) removing the loaded semiautomatic handgun from the holster.

In a fourth aspect, the present invention is directed to providing a pair of slider stops for retrofitting around the lower aperture of a holster, to engage a slider of a semiautomatic handgun within the holster, so that the semiautomatic handgun can be loaded by pushing the semiautomatic handgun into the holster so that barrel protrudes through lower aperture but slider stops hold back slider, sliding slider back along barrel and chambering a cartridge thereby.

Preferably the slider stops are adjustable to allow configuring the holster to a specific semiautomatic handgun.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, purely by way of example, to the accompanying drawings.

With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention; the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice. In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a semiautomatic handgun;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the semiautomatic handgun of FIG. 1, with the slider drawn backwards;

FIG. 3 is an isometric projection of a holster for a semiautomatic handgun that allows the handgun to be withdrawn by pushing the semiautomatic handgun downwards into the holster thereby sliding the slider thereof up the barrel before withdrawal from the holster;

FIG. 4 shows the holster of FIG. 3 attached to the belt of a wearer, with the hand of the wearer grasping the butt of the semiautomatic handgun therein;

FIG. 5 shows how the semiautomatic handgun may be loaded, by chambering a bullet whilst in the holster by being pressed downwards thereinto by provision of slider stops that stop the slider from moving downwards as the semiautomatic handgun is pushed downwards in the holster;

FIG. 6 is an isometric projection of the holster of FIG. 3 without the semiautomatic handgun, and

FIG. 7 shows a holster in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference now to FIGS. 1 and 2 a semiautomatic handgun 10 is shown with slider 12 in rest position and in retracted position respectively.

The semiautomatic handgun 10 has a butt or handgrip 14 into which magazine 16 is inserted. The magazine is sprung loaded and holds a plurality or rounds 18 that consist of projectiles 20 often referred to as bullets, and cartridge cases 22. Normally the slider 12 is in its forwards, “rest” position. If drawn backwards (FIG. 2), the barrel 24 of the semiautomatic handgun 10 is exposed. Drawing the slider 12 backwards ejects spent cartridge cases 26 or chambered rounds (if any) from the firing chamber 28 and loads a fresh round 18 from the magazine clip 16 into the firing chamber 28 in a process known as loading or chambering.

The firing of the semiautomatic handgun 10 is accomplished by squeezing a trigger 30 and causing a cocked hammer 32 to fall, thereby detonating the percussion cap of the round 18, igniting the propellant within the cartridge case 22 and releasing propellant gases that accelerate the projectile 20 down the barrel 24. A trigger guard 34 surrounds the trigger 30 and helps prevent it being inadvertently squeezed. Typically a safety catch 36 is provided that locks the hammer and prevents the semiautomatic handgun 10 being fired inadvertently. Sights 38, 40 at the front and back of the slider 12 help the shooter aim at the target.

The safety catch 36 is often small and fiddly. Consequently, many semiautomatic handgun 10 owners prefer to leave the semiautomatic handgun 10 unloaded, and to simply load a round 18 into the firing chamber 28 of the semiautomatic handgun 10 and to cock the hammer 32 by drawing the slider 12 back when required to shoot. This technique requires use of two hands, where one hand withdraws the semiautomatic handgun 10 from its holster and the second hand engages the slider 12, drawing it backwards along the barrel 24 to the position shown in FIG. 2. This method of use has its disadvantages in that it requires usage of both hands. It is totally unsuitable for someone without use of one hand, whether permanently or temporarily. Even a shooter who has full use of both hands, may require one hand for another purpose, such as to control a vehicle, if required to draw the semiautomatic handgun 10 whilst driving, for example.

Finally, the ability to chamber a semiautomatic handgun 10 with one hand enables a single shooter to shoot two pistols at once.

With reference to FIG. 3, a holster 100 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is shown. Holster 100 is a container having a left wall 102 and a right wall 104 coupled together and held apart by a back 106 and front part 108. The semiautomatic handgun 10 may be slipped into the holster 100 via the open proximal end 110 thereof, and the barrel 24 faces an aperture 112 at the distal end of the holster 100. Thus far, the holster 100 of the first embodiment is similar to many of the holsters on the market, and may be fabricated in plastic or leather and may be rigid or semi-rigid or fairly flexible. Unlike prior art holsters, the holster 100 of the present invention is equipped with a pair of slider stops 112L, 112R that are fixed to the holster 100 and protrude over the nose of the slider 12 around the barrel 24 of a semiautomatic handgun 10 therein. When the semiautomatic handgun 10 is pressed forwards into the holster 100, the barrel 24 is pushed forwards and may protrude from the apperture 110 of the holster 100, whereas the slider stops 112L, 112R stop the slider 12 and prevent it from moving forwards with the barrel 24. In this manner, the slider is drawn backwards with respect to the barrel 24, chambering a round 18 (FIG. 2) and cocking the hammer 32 (FIG. 2) thereby.

With reference to FIG. 4, a holster 100 of the invention is shown, attached to a belt 150 of a wearer. The trigger hand of the wearer 160 is also shown, as is a semiautomatic handgun 10 within the holster 100. With reference to FIG. 5, pushing the semiautomatic handgun 10 downwards into the holster 100 causes the barrel 24 of the handgun 10 to be pushed out of the apperture 110 at the base of the holster; the slider stops 112L, 112R (FIG. 3) stopping the slider 12 (FIG. 3), loading and cocking the semiautomatic handgun 10 whilst in the holster 100 by being pressed downwards thereinto.

As shown in FIG. 6, holster 100 consists essentially of left and right sides 102, 104 separated by a spine 106 and a front piece 108. Typically, a clip 120 is provided for attaching the holster 100 to a belt or the like. Also shown, is a safety loop to prevent accidental removal of the gun 10 from the holster 100, or easy removal by a pickpocket, for example. Safety loop consists of straps 125, 126 which may be fastened to side of holster 102 with a rivet 128 allowing the safety loop to be swivelled away to one side, and a press-stud 127 that holds the straps 125, 126 together. In other designs, the press-stud 127 may be done away with, so that safety loop is a continuous loop that has to be swivelled to one side. Indeed, the rivet 128 may be a press-stud, allowing the strap 125 of safety loop to be opened at the point where it connects to the wall 102 of the holster 100.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 7, in a further embodiment of holster 200, rivet 128 (FIG. 6) is done away with, so that the straps 225, 226 cannot be swivelled to one side, but have to be undone by opening press-stud 227, to allow withdrawal of the semiautomatic handgun 10 from holster. Such an embodiment is particularly useful where walls 202, 204 of holster are fabricated from leather and straps 225, 226 are integral thereto.

For people without strength in their hands, including slightly built women, for example, the method of chambering a round and readying the gun for firing described hereinabove is likely to be easier than the conventional two handed method.

Furthermore, the loading and drawing of the semiautomatic handgun with one hand is likely to be faster than the conventional two handed method.

Thus the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and includes both combinations and sub combinations of the various features described hereinabove as well as variations and modifications thereof, which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description.

In the claims, the word “comprise”, and variations thereof such as “comprises”, “comprising” and the like indicate that the components listed are included, but not generally to the exclusion of other components.

Claims

1. A holster for a semiautomatic handgun:

the semiautomatic handgun comprising a slider, a spring, a barrel terminating in a mouth, a hollow butt for a magazine clip and a firing mechanism comprising a trigger coupled to a hammer by a mechanism;

the holster comprising left and right walls connected by a back piece; the holster being open at its proximal end for insertion and removal of the semiautomatic handgun thereby and having an opening at its distal end;

the holster further comprising means for engaging the slider of the semiautomatic handgun as the handgun is pushed into the holster, to slide the slider with respect to the barrel, thereby chambering a round.

2. The holster of claim 1, wherein the means for engaging the slider comprises a pair of slider stops attached to the distal end of holster around the distal opening for engaging the slider of the semiautomatic handgun, such that pressing the semiautomatic handgun into the holster causes the barrel of the semiautomatic handgun to move distally out through distal end of holster, and the slider of the semiautomatic handgun to contact the slider stops on the holster, thereby sliding slider up the barrel and loading the semiautomatic handgun, by chambering a cartridge.

3. The holster of claim 2 wherein the slider stops are adjustable to allow configuring the holster to a specific semiautomatic handgun.

4. The holster of claim 1 further comprising attachment means for attaching the holster to an object to provide a counter-force to the pressing.

5. The holster of claim 4 where attachment means is a clip for clipping the holster onto the object.

6. The holster of claim 4 where the object is a garment.

7. The holster of claim 4 where the object is body of user of semiautomatic handgun.

8. The holster of claim 4, where the attachment means is selected from the list of clips, loops and straps.

9. The holster of claim 1 further comprising a guard to prevent inadvertent withdrawing of the semiautomatic handgun from the holster.

10. A method of chambering a cartridge into a semiautomatic handgun in the holster of claim 1, comprising the step of pushing the semiautomatic handgun downwards into the holster, stopping the slider against the slider stops, thereby sliding the slider backwards with respect to the barrel.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the additional step of drawing the loaded semiautomatic handgun with chambered cartridge from the holster.

12. A method of loading and drawing a semiautomatic handgun with one hand comprising the steps of:

(i) pushing the semiautomatic handgun downwards into the holster of claim 1, stopping the slider against the slider stops, thereby sliding the slider backwards with respect to the barrel to chamber a cartridge, and

(ii) removing the loaded semiautomatic handgun from the holster.

13. A pair of slider stops for retrofitting around the lower aperture of a holster, to engage a slider of a semiautomatic handgun within the holster, so that the semiautomatic handgun can be loaded by pushing the semiautomatic handgun into the holster so that barrel of the semiautomatic handgun protrudes from lower aperture, but the slider is held back by the slider stops, thereby loading a cartridge into the semiautomatic handgun.

14. The pair of slider stops of claim 13 being adjustable to engage the slider but to allow passage of the barrel of a specific semiautomatic handgun.