HOLSTER

Abstract

A concealed gun holster to be worn around the waist and leg of a person. The gun holster having a leg strap, a hip strap, and a gun shroud. The hip strap and gun shroud configured to be adjustable and movable based on the personal preferences and comfort of the person.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Inconspicuous and comfortable are two hallmarks of a proper concealed gun holster. Previous to the present invention, concealed gun holsters generally comprised holsters that attach to a wearer's belt, around a wearer's waist, attached to a belt and tucked within a wearer's pants, wrapped around a wearer's leg, and combinations of these. Many of these holsters offer adjustability for fitting to the waist and/or leg of the wearer; however, the art of concealed gun holsters would benefit from a holster that can be worn under the clothing and possibly in direct contact with the skin in the crotch area and provides adjustability as to the positioning of the holster to the wearer and the gun about the holster.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a concealed gun holster that can be worn under the clothing and possibly in direct contact with the skin in the crotch area and provides adjustability as to the positioning of the holster to the wearer and the gun about the holster.

One aspect of the invention provides a holster with a leg strap configured to fit around a leg of a wearer, a hip strap configured to fit at least partially about a waist of the wearer and removably attachable to the leg strap, and a shroud removably attachable to the leg strap.

The shroud may be configured to be movable about the leg strap and trapezoidal in shape, with a first non-parallel side and a second non-parallel side. The shroud may also have a first hook material strip substantially along the first non-parallel side and a second hook material strip substantially along the second non-parallel side, wherein the first and second hook material strips are configured to be removably attachable to the leg strap. The shroud may also define a pocket when attached to the leg strap that is configured to receive a gun with a grip.

The leg strap may include a first end portion, a second end portion, and a medial portion extending between the first and second end portions, wherein the first end portion and the second end portion are configured to substantially overlap when worn by the wearer. The medial portion may have a medial portion axis, and both the first end portion and the second end portion may project from the medial portion at an angle from the medial portion axis. The angle may be in the range from about 3° through about 30°. The angle may also be in the range from about 15° through about 25°. Further, at least one of the first end portion and the second end portion may include a hook material section configured to be removably attachable to at least one of the second end portion and the first end portion, respectively.

The holster may further include a grip strap with a first end portion, a second end portion, and a medial portion extending between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein the first end portion of the grip strap is configured to attach to the leg strap, the second end portion of the grip strap is configured to attach to the shroud, and the medial portion of the grip strap is configured to contact the grip of the gun to retain the gun received within the pocket.

Another aspect of the invention is to provide a method for donning a holster on a wearer, the method comprising the steps of: providing a leg strap configured to fit around a leg of the wearer, the leg strap having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a medial portion extending between the first and second end portions, wherein the first end portion and the second end portion are configured to substantially overlap; providing a hip strap configured to fit at least partially about a waist of the wearer and be removably attachable to the leg strap; providing a shroud removably attachable to the leg strap; wrapping the leg strap around the leg, overlapping the first end and second end portions of the leg strap, and attaching the first end portion of the leg strap with the second end portion of the leg strap; wrapping the hip strap around the waist and attaching the hip strap to the leg strap; and attaching the shroud to the leg strap.

The method may further include the steps of: providing a grip strap with a first end portion, a second end portion, and a medial portion extending between the first end portion and the second end portion; wherein the shroud and leg strap define a pocket; attaching the first end portion of the grip strap to the leg strap at or near the pocket; and attaching the second end portion of the grip strap to the shroud, whereby the medial portion of the grip strap is configured to contact the grip of a gun received within the pocket.

The shroud in the method may be configured to be movable about the leg strap and trapezoidal in shape with a first non-parallel side and a second non-parallel side. The shroud may have a first hook material strip substantially along the first non-parallel side and a second hook material strip substantially along the second non-parallel side, wherein the first and second hook material strips are configured to be removably attachable to the leg strap.

The medial portion of the leg strap in the method may have a medial portion axis, and both the first end portion and the second end portion of the leg strap may project from the medial portion of the leg strap at an angle from the medial portion axis. The angle may be in the range from about 3° through about 30°. The angle may also be in the range from about 15° through about 25°.

At least one of the first end portion and the second end portion of the leg strap may have a hook material section configured to be removably attachable to at least one of the second end portion and the first end portion of the leg strap, respectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a holster according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the holster shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a right side view of the holster shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a left side view of the holster shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the holster shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the holster shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the gun holster according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the gun holster according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the gun holster according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the gun holster according to the present invention with a gun in a first possible position.

FIG. 11A is a plan view of the gun holster according to the present invention with a gun in a second possible position.

FIG. 11B is a plan view of the gun holster according to the present invention with a gun in a third possible position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structures. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.

FIGS. 1-6 are illustrations of various views of a gun holster 10 for holstering a gun 12 being worn by a person 100 according to the present invention. The holster 10 preferably comprises a leg strap 20, a hip strap 40, and a shroud 60.

Although the holster 10 is shown being worn around the right leg 102 of the person 100, the holster 10 may also be worn around the left leg 104 of the person 100 as is provided by the adjustability of the holster 10 discussed further below.

FIG. 7 shows the leg strap 20, the hip strap 40, and the shroud 60 in more detail. The leg strap 20 preferably comprises a singular piece of flexible material with an inside surface (hidden), an outside surface 24, a first end portion 26, a second end portion 34, and a medial portion 28 extending between the first end portion 26 and the second end portion 34. However, it should be known that the leg strap 20 may comprise several pieces sewn or combined in a manner known in the art to form a singular, unified piece.

As depicted, the medial portion 28 extends along a medial portion axis 30, with the first end portion 26 and the second end portion 34 projecting from opposite ends of the medial portion 28 each at an angle θ from the medial portion axis 30. The angle θ is preferably in the range from about 3° through about 30°. The angle is more preferably in the range from about 15° through about 25°. The angle is most preferably about 23°.

The shape of the leg strap 20 is configured to provide a close fit of the medial portion 28 adjacent to the crotch 106 and inside part of the leg 102,104 of the person 100 and allow the first end portion 26 and the second end portion 34 to significantly overlap one another as shown in FIG. 3.

A medial portion aperture 32 is preferably located at or near the middle of the medial portion 28. The medial portion aperture 32 is preferably an elongated aperture extending in the same direction as the medial portion axis 30. The medial portion aperture 32 reduces bunching of the material in the medial portion 28 in the crotch 106 of the person 100 and also provides enhanced ventilation.

Preferably, one of the first and second end portions 26,34 has a hook material section 38. As shown in FIG. 7, the hook material section 38 is provided at the first end portion 26 on the inside surface (hidden) of the leg strap 20; however, additional and/or alternatively-placed and oriented hook material sections 38 on the first and second end portions 26,34 are contemplated.

Additionally or alternatively, the leg strap 20 comprises a breathable material and is configured to be removably attachable with hook material, for example a hoop material.

The hip strap 40 preferably comprises an elongate piece of flexible material with a first end portion 42, a second end portion 46, a first surface 50, and a second surface 52. A hook material section 44,48 is preferably located at each of the first end portion 42 and the second end portion 46 of the hip strap 40, respectively, and on the same surface, whether that be the first or the second surface 50,52.

Additionally or alternatively, as shown in FIG. 10, a second embodiment of the hip strap 140 may be configured to be adjustable as is known in the art.

Continuing to look at FIG. 7, the shroud 60 is illustrated. The shroud 60 preferably comprises a trapezoid-shaped piece of flexible material, even more preferably an isosceles trapezoid-shaped material, and has an inside surface (hidden) and an outside surface 62, and wherein a first and a second hook material strips 64A,64B extend along the inside surface (hidden) of each of a first and a second non-parallel sides portion 66A,66B, respectively. Similar to the leg strap 20 and the hip strap 40, the shroud 60 is preferably comprised of a hoop material.

Also shown in FIG. 7 is a grip strap 70. The grip strap 70 has a first surface 72, a second surface (hidden), a first end portion 74, a second end portion 78, and a medial portion 82 extending between the first end portion 74 and the second end portion 78. Preferably, a first section of hook material 76 is located on the first surface 72 at the first end portion 74 and a second section of hook material 80 is located on the second surface (hidden) at the second end portion 78.

FIG. 8 illustrates a first possible attachment layout of the hip strap 40, the shroud 60, and the grip strap 70 to the leg strap 20 for placement around the right leg 102 of the person 100 (see FIGS. 1-6). As shown, the first and second end portions 42,46 of the hip strap 40 are attached to the first end portion 26 of the leg strap 20 and the shroud 60 is attached to the medial portion 28 between the aperture 32 and the leg strap first end portion 26.

The shroud 60 is preferably attached to the leg strap 20 in a manner that creates a pocket 90 formed between the first and the second non-parallel side portions 66A,66B of the shroud 60, the outside surface 24 of the leg strap 20, and the inside surface (hidden) of the shroud 60.

The adjustability of the holster 10 is apparent by the potential for removably placing the shroud 60 in various orientations and locations on the leg strap 20 as shown in FIGS. 10-11B and allowing for alternate orientations of the gun 12. Further, the hip strap 40 may be affixed to the leg strap 20 at various locations and angles relative to the leg strap 20 to provide increased security and comfort.

Looking at FIGS. 8 and 9, the second end portion 78 of the on strap 70 is shown attached to the outside surface 24 of the leg strap 20 preferably within the pocket 90, and the first end portion 74 of the grip strap 70 is configured to wrap around the grip 14 of the gun 12 and attach to the outside surface 62 of the shroud 60, thereby further securing the gun 12 within the pocket 90.

Looking back to FIGS. 1-6, the leg strap 20 is shown positioned around the right leg 102 of the person 100 with the medial portion 28 adjacent to the crotch 106 and the leg strap first end portion 26 overlapping and secured to the leg strap second end portion 34 at the outside of the right leg 102. The hip strap 40 extends around the waist 108 of the person 100 and preferably sits atop the hip 110 opposite the leg (here the right leg 102) to which the leg strap 20 is placed.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A holster comprising:

a leg strap configured to fit around a leg of a wearer;

a hip strap configured to fit at least partially about a waist of the wearer and removably attachable to the leg strap; and

a shroud removably attachable to the leg strap.

2. The holster of claim 1, wherein the shroud is configured to be movable about the leg strap.

3. The holster of claim 2, wherein the shroud is trapezoidal comprising a first non-parallel side and a second non-parallel side.

4. The holster of claim 3, wherein the shroud comprises a first hook material strip substantially along the first non-parallel side and a second hook material strip substantially along the second non-parallel side, wherein the first and second hook material strips are configured to be removably attachable to the leg strap.

5. The holster of claim 4, wherein the shroud defines a pocket when attached to the leg strap configured to receive a gun with a grip.

6. The holster of claim 1, wherein the leg strap comprises a first end portion, a second end portion, and a medial portion extending between the first and second end portions, wherein the first end portion and the second end portion are configured to substantially overlap when worn by the wearer.

7. The holster of claim 6, wherein the medial portion has a medial portion axis, and both the first end portion and the second end portion project from the medial portion at an angle from the medial portion axis.

8. The holster of claim 7, wherein the angle is in the range from about 3° through about 30°.

9. The holster of claim 7, wherein the angle is in the range from about 15° through about 25°.

10. The holster of claim 6, wherein at least one of the first end portion and the second end portion comprises a hook material section configured to be removably attachable to at least one of the second end portion and the first end portion, respectively.

11. The holster of claim 5 further comprising a grip strap with a first end portion, a second end portion, and a medial portion extending between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein the first end portion of the grip strap is configured to attach to the leg strap, the second end portion of the grip strap is configured to attach to the shroud, and the medial portion of the grip strap is configured to contact the grip of the gun to retain the gun received within the pocket.

12. A method for donning a holster on a wearer, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a leg strap configured to fit around a leg of the wearer, the leg strap comprises a first end portion, a second end portion, and a medial portion extending between the first and second end portions, wherein the first end portion and the second end portion are configured to substantially overlap;

providing a hip strap configured to fit at least partially about a waist of the wearer and be removably attachable to the leg strap;

providing a shroud removably attachable to the leg strap;

wrapping the leg strap around the leg, overlapping the first end and second end portions of the leg strap, and attaching the first end portion of the leg strap with the second end portion of the leg strap;

wrapping the hip strap around the waist and attaching the hip strap to the leg strap; and

attaching the shroud to the leg strap.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the steps of:

providing a grip strap with a first end portion, a second end portion, and a medial portion extending between the first end portion and the second end portion;

wherein the shroud and leg strap define a pocket;

attaching the first end portion of the grip strap to the leg strap at or near the pocket; and

attaching the second end portion of the grip strap to the shroud, whereby the medial portion of the grip strap is configured to contact the grip of a gun received within the pocket.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the shroud is configured to be movable about the leg strap.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the shroud is trapezoidal comprising a first non-parallel side and a second non-parallel side.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the shroud comprises a first hook material strip substantially along the first non-parallel side and a second hook material strip substantially along the second non-parallel side, wherein the first and second hook material strips are configured to be removably attachable to the leg strap.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the medial portion of the leg strap has a medial portion axis, and both the first end portion and the second end portion of the leg strap project from the medial portion of the leg strap at an angle from the medial portion axis.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the angle is in the range from about 3° through about 30°.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the angle is in the range from about 15° through about 25°.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein at least one of the first end portion and the second end portion of the leg strap comprises a hook material section configured to be removably attachable to at least one of the second end portion and the first end portion, of the leg strap, respectively.