Concealed Carry Firearm Holster
The present disclosure provides a concealed-carry firearm holster for wearing under the clothes of a user between the user's waist and a waistband of the user's pants. The holster generally includes a backing panel and a firearm receptacle connected to the backing panel and structured and operable to removably retain a firearm. The holster additionally includes pair of belt clips removably connected, via removable fasteners, to the backing panel and structured and operable to removably secure the holster to at least one of the waistband and belt threaded through belt loops of the user's pants to retain the holster in position under the user's clothes. Furthermore, the holster includes a pair of belt clip covers disposable over the belt clips, wherein the clip covers are structured and operable to resemble the belt loops of the user's pants.
The present teachings relate to firearms, and more particularly to holsters for firearms that allows the firearm to be concealed when being carried or transported by a user.
BACKGROUNDThe statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Firearm holsters that are designed to allow the user to conceal a firearm, generally referred to as concealed-carry holsters, are frequently used by law enforcement officers and citizens that have obtained a license to carry a concealed firearm. Known concealed-carry holsters are bulky and uncomfortable to wear. More specifically, known concealed-carry holster are generally designed to fit inside the pants of the user between the user's hip or back and the user's pants. Such known concealed-carry holsters typically have clips that are clipped, from the inside of the user's pants, over the waist band of user's pants to retain the holster in place. In many instances, for added support, the clips are clipped over the user's waist band and his/her belt. Typically, the holster clips are constructed of plastic or metal. However, plastic clips are prone to breaking and/or deforming due to extensive use and exposure to heat and cold while being worn by the user. Similarly, metal clips are prone to deforming, i.e., being stretched out of shape, due to repeated use of the clips with various thicknesses of clothing and belts. Moreover, known clips are generally bulky and very viewable/noticeable by others. That is, the known clips are not very well concealed, which is adverse to the purpose of a concealed-carry holster.
SUMMARYThe present disclosure provides a concealed-carry firearm holster for wearing under the clothes of a user between the user's waist and a waistband of the user's pants. In various embodiments, the holster generally includes a backing panel and a firearm receptacle connected to the backing panel and structured and operable to removably retain a firearm. The holster additionally includes pair of belt clips removably connected, via removable fasteners, to the backing panel and structured and operable to removably secure the holster to at least one of the waistband and belt threaded through belt loops of the user's pants to retain the holster in position under the user's clothes. Furthermore, the holster includes a pair of belt clip covers disposable over the belt clips, wherein the clip covers are structured and operable to resemble the belt loops of the user's pants.
Further areas of applicability of the present teachings will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present teachings.
The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present teachings in any way.
Corresponding reference numbers indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONThe following description is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the present teachings, application, or uses. Throughout this specification, like reference numbers will be used to refer to like elements.
Referring to
The firearm housing 26 is mounted to the backing panel 22 such that the backing panel 22 provides a back side of a firearm receptacle 38 formed between the firearm housing 26 and the backing panel 22. The receptacle 38 is structured and operable to securely, but removably retain a firearm 28, e.g., a pistol. The housing 26 is connected to the backing panel 22 by a plurality of connectors 42 that can be any connecting device suitable to either fixedly or removably connect the housing 26 to the backing panel 22, e.g. screws, rivets, stitching, glue, snaps, etc. The backing panel 22 is constructed of a flexible and durable material, such as leather, and is structured and operable to be placed against the user's body and to shield the user's body from injury or irritation when inserting and withdrawing the firearm 28 into and from the receptacle 26.
Referring now to
The clip fasteners 46 can be any fastening device that can be installed, via the selected mounting holes 50, to securely fasten the belt clips 30 to the backing panel 22, and be removed to allow the belts clips to be detached from the backing panel 22 and be removed or moved to a different location on the backing panel 22, via the mounting holes 50. For example, in various embodiments, the clip fasteners 46 can comprise a screw 54 that is threadably engageable with a threaded disk (not shown), and a pair of washers 58, e.g., leather washers. In such embodiments, the proximal end 62 of each belt clip 30 is sandwiched between a respective pair of washers 58 and positioned on the front of the backing panel 22 such that apertures (not shown) of the washers 58 align with selected mounting holes 50. Subsequently, the threaded disks are positioned on the back of the backing panel 22 adjacent the selected mounting holes 50. The screws 54 are then inserted through the washer apertures and the selected mounting holes 50 and threadingly engaged with the respective threaded disks. The screws 54 are then tightened to secure the belt clips 30 to the backing panel 22.
The belt clips 30 are structured and operable to removably secure the holster 10 to the waistband of the user's pants 18, or more likely to the waistband and a belt threaded through belt loops 54 of the user's pants 18, to retain the holster 10 in position under the user's shirt 14 and pants 18. In various embodiments, each belt clip 30 comprises a wire frame 70 having two opposing side rails 70A and 70B. The side rails 70A and 70B are structured have a shape such that they extend upwardly from the clip fasteners 46, along the inside of the users pants and out the top of the waistband, then bend downwardly over the waistband, or waistband and belt if desired, and then bend back, at a distal end 74, toward the user and upwardly such that the distal end 74 can hook under the user's belt if desired. Importantly, the portion of the wire frame that bends down over the waistband, or waistband and belt if desired, is sized and shape to resemble the size and shape of the belt loops of the user's pants.
Additionally, in various embodiments, proximal ends 62A and 62B of the opposing rails 70A and 70B are bent or curled to fashion a hook or a loop that will wrap at least partially around a portion of the respective fastener 46, e.g., around the threaded shaft of a screw, to securely retain the belt clips 30 on the backing panel 22 when the fasteners 46 are tightened to connect the belt clips 30 to backing panel 22. More particularly, the hooks and/or loops at the proximal ends 62A and 62B provide a larger base and more surface area of the side rails 70A and 70B that can be held by the respective clip fasteners 46, e.g., a larger base and more surface area can be clamped between the screws 45 washers 58 and threaded disks, such that the belt clips 30 will be stably connected to the backing panel 22 and will not readily twist or turn longitudinally.
Referring now to
As exemplarily illustrated in
Referring now to
Referring now to
The holster 100 generally includes a support panel 116 adjustably connected to a backing panel 120, a firearm housing 124 mounted to the backing panel 120, and cinching strap 128 connected to the backing panel 120. The firearm housing 124 is mounted to the backing panel 120 such that the backing panel 120 provides a back side of a firearm 136 receptacle 132 formed between the firearm housing 124 and the backing panel 120. The receptacle 132 is structured and operable to securely, but removably retain a firearm 136, e.g., a pistol. The housing 124 is connected to the backing panel 120 by a plurality of connectors 140 that can be any connecting device suitable to either fixedly or removably connect the housing 26 to the backing panel 120, e.g. screws, rivets, stitching, glue, snaps, etc.
As described above, the backing panel 120 is adjustably connected to the support panel 116. More specifically, disposed along opposing edges, the support panel 116 includes a plurality of adjustment holes 144 through which adjustment fasteners 148 of the backing panel 120 can be inserted and fastened. The adjustment fasteners extend from a back of the backing panel 120 and are insertable through any selected pair of adjustment holes to selectively adjust length L of the holster 100.
The adjustment fasteners 148 can be any fastening device that can be installed, via the selected adjustment holes 144, to securely fasten the backing panel 120 to the support panel 116, and be removed to allow the backing panel 120 to be detached from the support panel 116 then moved to and attached at a different location on the support panel 116, via the adjustment fasteners and holes 148 and 144, in order to adjust the length L for proper installation of the holster 10, as described below. For example, in various embodiments, each adjustment fastener 148 can comprise a nut (not shown) and bolt or screw that are threadably engageable. In such embodiments, the bolts/screws can be either attached to the backing panel 120 or inserted through a pair of apertures in the backing panel 120. To adjust the length L, the nuts are threadingly disengaged from the bolts/screws and the bolts/screws are withdrawn from the respective adjustment holes 148. Subsequently, the bolts/screws are inserted through a different set of adjustment holes such that the length L is equal to a desired length and the nuts are threadingly reengaged with the bolts/screws. Whereafter, the bolts/screws and nuts are tightened to securely connect the backing panel 120 to the support panel 116 such that the length L of the holster 100 is set to the desired length. As described below, the desired length L of the holster 100 is based on a height H of the vehicle seat next to which the holster 100 is to be installed, i.e., the height H of the driver's seat 104 or the passenger's seat 108. Although the holster 100 is exemplarily illustrated having only two adjustment fasteners 148, it is envisioned that the holster 100 can include more than two adjustment fasteners 148 and remain within the scope of the present disclosure.
The cinching strap 128 is a two-part strap comprising a holster section 128A and an anchor section 128B that are detachably connectable with each other via a cinch connector 152. The holster section 128A has a first half 152A of the cinch connector 152 attached at a distal end and is fixedly connected to the backing panel 120 at an opposing proximal end. The anchor section 128B has a second half 152B of the cinch connector 152 adjustably attached at a proximal end and has an anchor loop 156 formed at an opposing distal end. The cinch connector 152 can be any connector suitable to securely connect the holster section 128A of the cinching strap 128 to the anchor section 128B and be structured and operable to allow for adjustment of a length of the cinching strap 128.
For example, in various embodiments, the cinch connector 156 can be a prong-type connector (as exemplarily illustrated in
To install the holster 100 in the desired location, e.g., between the driver's seat 104 and the center console 112, a ruler is used to measure the height H of the driver's seat 104. The height H is substantially equal to the distance from a floor 160 of the vehicle and top 104A of the driver's seat 104. Subsequently, the length L of the holster 100 is adjusted, via the adjustment fasteners 148 and adjustment holes 144 as described above, to substantially equal to the height H. Next, the cinching strap holster section 128A is disconnected from the anchor section 128B and the holster 100 is positioned between the driver's seat 104 and the center console 112. The holster 100 is then pushed downward until a bottom edge 116A of the support panel 116 is in firm contact with the floor 160 of the vehicle, thereby providing support for the holster 100 and preventing the holster 100 from sliding further downward between the driver's seat 104 and the center console 112. Once the holster 100 is properly positioned between the driver's seat 104 and the center console 112 with the support panel bottom edge 116A firm in contact with the floor 160 the anchor section 128B of the cinching strap 128 is wrapped around an anchor point 164 of the vehicle.
The anchor point 164 can be any structure of the driver's seat 104 (or the passenger's seat 108 in an alternative installation), or of the center console 112, or any other structure under or near the seat 104 (or seat 108) that is securely attached to the floor 160. For example, in various embodiments, the anchor point 164 can be any portion of the structure connecting the seat 104 or 108 to the floor 160, e.g., the seat track or seat leg. After the cinching strap 128 is wrapped around an anchor point 164 the distal end of the cinching strap anchor section 128B, having the second half 152B of the cinch connected 152 connected thereto, is inserted through the anchor loop 156 and pulled until the cinching strap anchor section 128B is securely tied around or to the anchor point 164. The cinching strap anchor section 128B is then connected to the holster sections 128B via the cinch connector 152. Thereafter, the length of the cinching strap 128 is adjusted, i.e., shortened, via the pinch-lock adjustment of the cinch connector second half 152, to cinch the holster 100 down to the floor 160.
Accordingly, the holster 100 is securely held between the driver's seat 104 and the center console 112 by the cinching strap 128 and will not be pulled from between the driver's seat 104 and the center console 112 when the firearm 136 is removed from the firearm receptacle 132. Furthermore, compressive forces applied to the holster 100 by the driver's seat 104 (or passenger's seat 108) and the center console 112, caused by pushing the holster 100 into the gap between the driver's seat 104 (or passenger's seat 108) and the center console 112, will provide further stability to the positioning of the holster 100 and prevent the holster 100 from easily sliding forward or backward due to forward and backward momentum forces generated during operation of the vehicle.
Referring now to
The description herein is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of that which is described are intended to be within the scope of the teachings. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the teachings.
Claims
1. A belt clip for a firearm holster designed to be worn under the clothes of a user between the user's waist and a waistband of the user's pants, said clip comprising:
- a wire frame that is structured and operable to extend upwardly from a fastener removably connecting the clip to a backing panel of the holster and out of the user's pants, then bend downwardly over the waistband of the pants, and then bend backwardly toward the waistband for removably securing the holster to at least one of the user's pants and a belt threaded through belt loops of the user's pants; and
- a belt clip cover disposable over the wire frame and structured and operable to resemble the belt loops of the user's pants.
2. The clip of claim 1, wherein proximal ends of opposing rails of the wire frame are bent in at least one of a hook and a loop that will wrap at least partially around the fastener to securely retain the clips on the backing panel when the fasteners are tightened to connect the clips to backing panel.
3. The holster of claim 1, wherein the clip cover is structured and operable to be removably disposable over the wire frame such that the clip cover can be removed and replaced by another clip cover that is structured and operable to resemble belt loops of another pair of the user's pants.
4. A firearm holster for wearing under the clothes of a user between the user's waist and a waistband of the user's pants, said holster comprising:
- a backing panel;
- a firearm housing connected to the backing panel and structured and operable to provide a firearm receptacle to removably retain a firearm;
- a pair of belt clips removably connected, via removable fasteners, to the backing panel and structured and operable to removably secure the holster to at least one of the waistband and a belt threaded through belt loops of the user's pants to retain the holster in position under the user's clothes; and
- a pair of belt clip covers disposable over the belt clips and structured and operable to resemble the belt loops of the user's pants.
5. The holster of claim 4, wherein the clips comprise a wire frame having two opposing side rails that are structured and operable to extend upwardly from the fasteners and out of the users pants, then bend downwardly over the users waistband and belt, and then bend upwardly to extend under the user's belt.
6. The holster of claim 5, wherein proximal ends of the opposing rails are bent in at least one of a hook and a loop that will wrap at least partially around the fastener to securely retain the clips on the backing panel when the fasteners are tightened to connect the clips to backing panel.
7. The holster of claim 4, wherein the backing panel comprises a plurality of mounting holes disposed along opposing edges of the backing panel, the mounting holes are structured and operable to receive the fasteners such that the clips can be connected to the backing panel in a variety of locations along the backing panel edges via the plurality of mounting holes.
8. The holster of claim 4, wherein the clip covers are structured and operable to be removably disposable over the wire frames such that the clip covers can be removed and replaced by another pair of clip covers that and structured are operable to resemble belt loops of another pair of the user's pants.
9. The holster of claim 4 further comprising a pair of belt apertures disposed through the backing panel, the belt apertures structured and operable to receive the user's belt, such the holster can be converted from a concealed carry holster for wearing under the user's clothing, to an exterior holster to be worn on the outside of the user's clothing.
10. A firearm holster for wearing under the clothes of a user between the user's waist and a waistband of the user's pants, said holster comprising:
- a backing panel;
- a firearm housing connected to the backing panel and structured and operable to provide a firearm receptacle to movably retain a firearm;
- a pair of belt clips removably connected, via removable fasteners, to the backing panel and structured and operable to removably secure the holster to at least one of the waistband and a belt threaded through belt loops of the user's pants to retain the holster in position under the user's clothes; and
- a pair of belt clip covers disposable over the belt clips and structured and operable to resemble the belt loops of the user's pants, wherein the clip covers are further structured and operable to be removably disposable over the belt clips such that the clip covers can be removed and replaced by another pair of clip covers that are structured and operable to resemble belt loops of another pair of the user's pants.
11. The holster of claim 10, wherein the clips comprise a wire frame having two opposing side rails that are structured and operable to extend upwardly from the fasteners and out of the users pants, then bend downwardly over the users waistband and belt, and then bend upwardly to extend under the user's belt.
12. The holster of claim 11, wherein proximal ends of the opposing rails are bent in at least one of a hook and a loop that will wrap at least partially around the fastener to securely retain the clips on the backing panel when the fasteners are tightened to connect the clips to backing panel.
13. The holster of claim 10, wherein the backing panel comprises a plurality of mounting holes disposed along opposing edges of the backing panel, the mounting holes are structured and operable to receive the fasteners such that the clips can be connected to the backing panel in a variety of locations along the backing panel edges via the plurality of mounting holes.
14. The holster of claim 10 further comprising a pair of belt apertures disposed through the backing panel, the belt apertures structured and operable to receive the user's belt, such the holster can be converted from a concealed carry holster for wearing under the user's clothing, to an exterior holster to be worn on the outside of the user's clothing.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 10, 2012
Publication Date: Jun 12, 2014
Inventor: James McDonnell (St. Louis, MO)
Application Number: 13/709,761
International Classification: F41C 33/04 (20060101);