HANDGUN HOLSTER

Abstract

Disclosed is a holster configured to receive a handgun. The holster includes a plurality of ribs on at least one lateral side that are configured to disrupt the outline of the holster when worn under clothing. The ribs are spaced apart such that a channel is formed between adjacent pairs of ribs. These channels provide for improved airflow between the holster and wearer, thereby reducing the buildup of moisture. An example holster includes a holster body that defines a cavity for a handgun. The holster body has an exterior side that includes a plurality of ribs configured to disrupt the outline of the holster when worn under clothing. The ribs are spaced apart such that a channel is formed between adjacent pairs of ribs. Each rib is a curved structure extending between a forward edge and a rearward edge of the exterior side.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/420,473, filed on Oct. 28, 2022, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to a handgun holster, and specifically to a handgun holster optimized for concealed carry.

BACKGROUND

Holsters are routinely used to transport and conceal handguns.

Inside-the-Waistband (IWB) holsters are designed to be worn inside the waistband of the user's pants, typically secured with clips or loops over the belt. These holsters are favored for their superior concealment. IWB holsters are popular among concealed carry enthusiast and law enforcement officers who need to keep their firearms concealed under clothing.

Outside-the-Waistband (OWB) holsters are designed to be worn on the outside of the user's pants, typically attached to a belt. Unlike IWB holster, OWB holsters are more visible, though some wearers opt to wear an outer garment sized to conceal the holster. OWB holsters provide quick and easy access to the firearm, making them popular among warfighters, law enforcement, and competitive shooters.

Unfortunately, both IWB and OWB holsters are often shaped like the firearm they are design to transport. This can result in the visible outline or bulge of a firearm through the clothing meant to conceal it. Also, with the holster pressed against the body, sweat accumulates and causes the holster to chafe the wearer.

Accordingly, needs exist for the handgun holster disclosed herein. It is to the provision of a handgun holster configured to address these needs, and others, that the present invention is primarily directed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is to be understood that this summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure. This summary is exemplary and not restrictive, and it is intended neither to identify key or critical elements of the disclosure nor delineate the scope thereof. The sole purpose of this summary is to explain and exemplify certain concepts of the disclosure as an introduction to the following complete and extensive detailed description.

Disclosed is a holster configured to receive a handgun. The holster includes a plurality of ribs on at least one lateral side that are configured to disrupt the outline of the holster when worn under clothing. The ribs are spaced apart such that a channel is formed between adjacent pairs of ribs. These channels provide for improved airflow between the holster and wearer, thereby reducing the buildup of moisture.

An example holster comprises a holster body that defines a cavity for the handgun. The holster body has an exterior side that includes a plurality of ribs configured to disrupt the outline of the holster when worn under clothing. The ribs are spaced apart such that a channel is formed between adjacent pairs of ribs. Each rib is a curved structure extending between a forward edge and a rearward edge of the exterior side.

Another example holster comprises a holster body that defines a cavity for the handgun. The holster body has a first exterior side and a second exterior side that are positioned opposite each other. The first exterior side and the second exterior side each include a plurality of ribs configured to disrupt the outline of the holster when worn under clothing. The ribs are spaced apart such that a channel is formed between adjacent pairs of ribs. Each rib is a curved structure extending between a forward edge and a rearward edge of one exterior side of the holster.

Yet another example holster comprises a holster body having a first half and a second half that define therebetween a cavity for the handgun. The cavity includes an open top for inserting and removing the handgun. The first half and the second half of the holster body each include a forward edge, a rearward edge, a top edge, a bottom edge, an exterior side, and an interior side. The exterior side and the interior side extend between the edges. The exterior side of each half of the holster body includes a plurality of ribs configured to disrupt the outline of the holster when worn under clothing. The ribs are spaced apart such that a channel is formed between adjacent pairs of ribs. Each rib is a curved structure extending between the forward edge and the rearward edge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a holster according to the principles of the present disclosure and a handgun positioned in the holster.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the holster shown in FIG. 1 without the handgun.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the holster shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is another side view of the holster shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a plan showing both halves of the holster body positioned side-by-side.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the holster body.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the holster body.

Like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a holster 100 configured to receive a handgun 102 within a cavity 112 defined by the holster body 110. The holster 100 includes two belt clips 104 interfaced to the holster body 110 that are used to attach the holster 100 to a belt. The holster 100 can be made of a high-density thermoplastic polymer (e.g., nylon 66). This type of material has outstanding flex life, impact resistance, and abrasion resistance.

The holster body 110 or shell may be formed from two clam shell type halves 114, 116 that are secured together by fasteners (see, e.g., FIG. 5), or the holster body 110 may be unitarily formed. Example fasteners include a pair of Chicago screws 118 and a bungee cord 120 used in conjunction with a pair of washers 122 (see, e.g., FIGS. 2 and 4). Each Chicago screw 118 comprises a threaded bolt 118a and a nut 118b that has a barrel-shaped flange and protruding boss that is internally threaded. As illustrated, these Chicago screws 118 may also be used to secure a ModWing 124 to the holster body 110. The example ModWing 124 is configured to apply leverage to the holster 100 and cause inward rotation of the handgun grip 106 while the holster 100 is attached to a belt. The bungee cord 120 is woven through pairs of adjacent openings 126 in the holster body 110, each end 120a, 120b extends through a washer 122 and is knotted (see, e.g., FIG. 4). However, other fasteners and/or combinations of fasteners known to those of ordinary skill in the art could be used to secure the two halves 114, 116 of the holster body 110 together.

Each half 114, 116 of the holster body 110 includes a forward edge 130, a rearward edge 132, a top edge 134, a bottom edge 136, an exterior side 138, and an interior side 140. The exterior side 138 and the interior side 140 of each half 114, 116 of the holster body 110 extend between the edges (130, 132, 134, 136). As illustrated, a sweat guard 142 may extend from the top edge 134 of each half 114, 116 of the holster body 110. Each sweat guard 142 is a portion of the holster body 110 that forms a barrier between the wearer and a portion of the handgun slide extending from the cavity 112 of the holster 100. In some implementations, the holster body 110 may not include the sweat guards 142.

As shown best in FIG. 5, the exterior side 138 of each half 114, 116 of the holster body 110 includes a plurality of ribs 144 thereon. Each rib 144 is a curved structure extending between the forward edge 130 and the rearward edge 132 of the shell half 114, 116. Each rib 144 has either a single smooth continuous top surface 145 or a smooth segmented top surface 149. The ribs 144 are spaced apart such that a channel 146 is formed between adjacent pairs of ribs 144. These horizontally extending curved ribs 144 are configured (shaped and positioned) to disrupt the outline of the holster 100 when worn under clothing. The channels 146 formed between adjacent pairs of ribs 144 provide for improved airflow between the holster 100 and wearer, thereby reducing the buildup of moisture (i.e., sweat). Each shell half 114, 116 and the ribs 144 on the exterior side 138 are a single unitary piece. While the example holster body 110 includes six ribs 144 on the exterior side 138 of each half 114, 116, other embodiments may have less than six, or more than six, ribs 144 on the exterior side 138.

Although not shown, in some implementations, only one exterior side 138 of the holster body 110 has one or more ribs 144 thereon.

As shown in FIG. 3, the two halves 114, 116 of the holster body 110 define therebetween the cavity 112 for the handgun 102. The cavity 112 is configured to receive and retain the handgun 102 therein. The cavity 112 includes an open top 128 for inserting and removing the handgun. The cavity 112 also includes a flashlight receiving area 148 (see, e.g., FIGS. 6 and 7) configured to provide friction retention by indexing (i.e., clamping) on a flashlight attached to the mounting rail on the dustcover of the handgun 120. The flashlight receiving area 148 may include one or more retention structures (e.g., bumps and/or depressions) configured to interface with depressions or projections on the flashlight. However, other embodiments of the holster body 110 may omit the flashlight receiving area 148. Such embodiments of the holster body 110 may include a trigger guard receiving area configured to provide friction retention by indexing on the trigger guard of the handgun 102. The trigger guard receiving area may include one or more retention structures (e.g., bumps and/or depressions) configured to interface with the trigger guard of the handgun 102.

As shown best in FIG. 5, each half 114, 116 of the holster body 110 also includes two attachment interfaces 150, 152. Each attachment interface 150, 152 is configured so that a belt clip (e.g., belt clip 104) can be affixed thereto (see, e.g., FIG. 2). Each attachment interface 150, 152 is also configured so that an end user can change the ride height of the holster 100. As used herein, “ride height” is the position of the holster 100 in relation to a belt the holster 100 is attached to. Each attachment interface 150, 152 is a hole pattern comprising a column of spaced openings 154, preferably in the form of elongate slots. One or more openings 154 of each attachment interface 150, 152 can be used in conjunction with fasteners 156 to affix an example belt clip 104 to the holster 100 (see, e.g., FIG. 3). Using the top and center openings 154 of an attachment interface 150, 152 to affix an example belt clip 104 to the holster body 110 provides for a “low” ride height; using the bottom and center openings 154 of the same attachment interface to affix the example belt clip 104 to the holster body 110 provides for a “high” ride height. The hole pattern described herein is provided as a nonlimiting example only. Accordingly, the attachment interfaces 150, 152 could be configured to facilitate attachment of other belt clips not shown or described herein.

As illustrated, the holster 100 is configured for use by a right-handed shooter that wants to wear the holster 100 inside the waistband. However, using the attachment interfaces 150, 152 on the other half 116 of the holster body 110 to attach the example clips 104, the holster 100 can be configured for use by a left-handed shooter that wants to wear the holster 100 inside the waistband.

The foregoing description of the invention is intended to be illustrative; it is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the claims to the precise forms disclosed. Those skilled in the relevant art can appreciate that many modifications and variations are possible in light of the foregoing description and associated drawings.

Reference throughout this specification to an “embodiment” or “implementation” or words of similar import means that a particular described feature, structure, or characteristic is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the phrase “in some embodiments” or a phrase of similar import in various places throughout this specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.

The described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the above description, numerous specific details are provided for a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that embodiments of the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations may not be shown or described in detail.

Claims

1. A holster for a handgun, the holster comprising:

a holster body that defines a cavity for the handgun, the holster body has an exterior side that includes a plurality of ribs configured to disrupt the outline of the holster when worn under clothing, the ribs are spaced apart such that a channel is formed between adjacent pairs of ribs, each rib is a curved structure extending between a forward edge and a rearward edge of the exterior side.

2. The holster of claim 1, wherein each rib has a single smooth continuous top surface or a smooth segmented top surface.

3. The holster of claim 1, wherein the holster body and the plurality of ribs are a single unitary piece.

4. A holster for a handgun, the holster comprising:

a holster body that defines a cavity for the handgun, the holster body has a first exterior side and a second exterior side, the first exterior side is positioned opposite the second exterior side;

wherein:

the first exterior side includes a plurality of ribs configured to disrupt the outline of the holster when worn under clothing, the ribs are spaced apart such that a channel is formed between adjacent pairs of ribs, each rib is a curved structure extending between a forward edge and a rearward edge of the first exterior side; and

the second exterior side includes a plurality of ribs configured to disrupt the outline of the holster when worn under clothing, the ribs are spaced apart such that a channel is formed between adjacent pairs of ribs, each rib is a curved structure extending between a forward edge and a rearward edge of the second exterior side.

5. The holster of claim 4, wherein each rib has a single smooth continuous top surface or a smooth segmented top surface.

6. The holster of claim 4, wherein the holster body and the plurality of ribs are a single unitary piece.

7. A holster for a handgun, the holster comprising:

a holster body comprising a first half and a second half, the first half and the second half define therebetween a cavity for the handgun, the cavity includes an open top for inserting and removing the handgun;

wherein:

the first half of the holster body includes a forward edge, a rearward edge, a top edge, a bottom edge, an exterior side, and an interior side, the exterior side and the interior side extend between the edges, the exterior side includes a plurality of ribs configured to disrupt the outline of the holster when worn under clothing, the ribs are spaced apart such that a channel is formed between adjacent pairs of ribs, each rib is a curved structure extending between the forward edge and the rearward edge; and

the first half of the holster body includes a forward edge, a rearward edge, a top edge, a bottom edge, an exterior side, and an interior side, the exterior side and the interior side extend between the edges, the exterior side includes a plurality of ribs configured to disrupt the outline of the holster when worn under clothing, the ribs are spaced apart such that a channel is formed between adjacent pairs of ribs, each rib is a curved structure extending between the forward edge and the rearward edge.

8. The holster of claim 7, wherein each rib has a single smooth continuous top surface or a smooth segmented top surface.

9. The holster of claim 7, wherein the holster body and the plurality of ribs are a single unitary piece.