FIREARM RETENTION MECHANISM FOR A HOLSTER

Abstract

Provided in this disclosure is a firearm retention mechanism, for securely retaining a firearm within the internal contact surfaces of a holster. An ejector port lock of the firearm retention mechanism engages an ejector port of the firearm in an engagement position, to prevent rearward movement of the firearm out of the holster. A hood of the firearm retention mechanism contacts a rear face of the firearm against rearward movement and thereby secures the firearm into the holster in the engagement position. An internal actuator of the firearm retention mechanism performs a first operation of disposing the hood into a disengagement position from the rear face of the firearm and a second operation of releasing the ejector port lock from the ejector port, thereby permitting rearward movement of the firearm out of the holster.

Description

I. BACKGROUND

A. Technical Field

This invention pertains to the field of holsters for receiving and carrying firearms. The invention has particular relevance to the field of mechanisms for securing a firearm to a holster and selectively releasing the firearm.

B. Description of Related Art

It is known in the art to have holsters for carrying firearms and various other hand-held items or carried gear. Holsters are typically mounted on the user's belt, duty vest, thigh rig, backpack etc. Oftentimes holsters are mounted to surfaces such as vehicle dashboards, nightstands, desks, and other suitable locations. It is common in the art to manufacture holsters from molded plastic parts. A variety of methods are known in the art fabricating such molded holsters. The most durable type of product is formed by injection molding using a hydraulic core pull.

It is important that holsters securely retain the firearm to prevent it from being removed from the holster in advertently, or by someone other than the firearm user. This is especially important for law enforcement personnel, that a criminal suspect is not able to remove the firearm from the holster. By the same token, it is important that the firearm be readily and quickly removeable by the user when needed, particularly by law enforcement, and that the holster not present an impediment to ready and quick removal.

I. SUMMARY

Provided in this disclosure is a firearm retention mechanism, for securely retaining a firearm within the internal contact surfaces of a holster. An ejector port lock of the firearm retention mechanism engages an ejector port of the firearm in an engagement position, to prevent rearward movement of the firearm out of the holster. A hood of the firearm retention mechanism contacts a rear face of the firearm against rearward movement and thereby secures the firearm into the holster in the engagement position. An internal actuator of the firearm retention mechanism performs a first operation of disposing the hood into a disengagement position from the rear face of the firearm and a second operation of releasing the ejector port lock from the ejector port, thereby permitting rearward movement of the firearm out of the holster.

In another aspect, the firearm retention mechanism also includes first and second ejector port lock bosses formed on opposing sides of the ejector port lock, for engaging respective first and second ejector port lock mating apertures formed respectively on first and second internal contact surfaces of the holster. The ejector port lock bosses and ejector port lock mating apertures define an axis of rotation for the ejector port lock, enabling the ejector port lock to rotationally lock into the ejector port of the firearm.

In yet another aspect, the hood is a generally U-shaped component having first and second opposing ends which are respectively attached to the holster and firearm retention mechanism to enable rotational movement of the hood into contact with the rear face of the firearm. The hood also includes first and second hood mating apertures which respectively engage first and second hood bosses formed on one of first and second internal contact surfaces of first and second external contact surfaces of the holster. The hood mating apertures and the hood bosses define an axis of rotation for the hood. The hood also includes one or more hood catch surfaces along a bottom periphery of the hood, adjacent to and concentric with at least one of the first and second hood mating apertures. The catch surface(s) are rotatable to a configuration to retain the hood into the engagement position. A spring is provided for biasing the hood into the disengagement position in order to be tensioned in the engagement position, where the spring is a torsional spring. One or more of the hood mating apertures are encircled by a torsion spring pocket that retains the torsional spring. The torsion spring pocket and the torsional spring define a spring-loaded mechanism for biasing the hood into a disengagement position.

In still another aspect, the internal actuator includes a front tab that engages with a hinge axis slide body configured to interact with a front tab lock surface on the ejector port lock to retain the ejector port lock in the engagement position. The front tab of the internal actuator includes a push side that interacts with a front tab push surface of the ejector port lock to release the ejector port lock from the engagement position. The internal actuator includes a hinge axis slide body including a hood catch for retaining the hood and a boss feature for engaging the internal actuator to depress the hinge axis slide body and thereby release the hood catch and thus to release the hood from the engagement position. A spring is provided for spring loading the hinge axis slide body to a rearward position. The hinge axis slide body includes a protruding circular aperture for pairing the hinge axis slide body with a hole formed into the internal actuator, thereby configuring the internal actuator to rotate along an axis as defined by a center point of the circular aperture and to be linearly displaced into a forward position by a button lever affixed to the internal actuator.

In a further aspect, the internal actuator includes a guide aperture that mates to a respective guide boss on an external surface of the holster. The guide aperture and guide boss are configured to cooperate with the hinge axis slide body to provide different operative control states of the internal actuator based on linear position of the hinge axis slide body and the rotational position of the internal actuator. In a first operative control state the guide aperture and guide boss disallow rotation until the hinge axis slide body is moved into the forward position by depressing the button lever, thereby constraining rotation of the internal actuator to be unidirectional and limited in degree. In a second operative control state in which the hinge axis slide body is disallowed to return to its rearward position until both the internal actuator is rotated back to an original position by a spring exerting pressure onto the front tab of the internal actuator through the ejector port lock push surface, wherein the hood is manually returned to its engaged position. The hood includes a circumferential positioning surface configured to disallow rearward return of the hinge axis slide body, the internal actuator, and the button lever unless the hood is rotated into the engaged position.

In yet a further aspect, the firearm retention mechanism includes an optic shroud for protecting from impact and debris a firearm mounted optic. The firearm retention mechanism also includes side covers and a plurality of side cover accessories.

According to an aspect, the present invention provides a holster in which the firearm is not inadvertently removeable from the holster.

According to an aspect, the present invention provides a holster in which the firearm is not removeable from the holster by someone other than the firearm user.

According to yet another aspect, the present invention provides a holster with two types of firearm securement.

According to still another aspect, the present invention provides a release mechanism for releasing both of the two types of firearm securement by the manipulation of a single button lever through two distinct and separate steps.

Other benefits and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains upon reading and understanding of the following detailed specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosed firearm retention mechanism may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, embodiments of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein:

FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D are respective side, front, bottom perspective, and top perspective views of an ejector port lock of the firearm retention mechanism in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C are respective bottom perspective, top perspective, and top and side views of a hood of the firearm retention mechanism in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C are respective front perspective, top perspective, and front perspective assembly views of the actuator assembly of the firearm retention mechanism in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are respective top perspective and bottom perspective views of a hinge axis slide body of the firearm retention mechanism in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, and 5D are respective left, bottom left perspective, right, and bottom right perspective views of a left holster component with the integrated features to support a firearm retention mechanism in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6A shows a left view of the firearm retention mechanism including a portion of a left and right holster component and internal actuator assembly, FIG. 6B shows a bottom section view of FIG. 6A, and FIG. 6C is a left view of the ejector port lock, hinge axis slide body, hood, and springs. FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C are all shown with the components arranged in a stage 1 fully secured arrangement, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 7A and 7C shows a left view of the firearm retention mechanism including a portion of a left and right holster component and internal actuator assembly, FIGS. 7B and 7D shows a left view of the ejector port lock, hinge axis slide body, hood, and springs. FIGS. 7A and 7B are shown arranged in a stage 2 position, whereas FIGS. 7C and 7D are shown arranged in a stage 3 position, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 8A and 8B show a detail section view along the ejector port lock surface of a holster and a firearm retention mechanism with a firearm in respective stage 1 and stage 2 arrangements in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9A shows a detail section view along the ejector port lock surface of a holster and a firearm retention mechanism with a firearm in a stage 3 arrangement. FIG. 9B shows a section view of a holster and a firearm retention mechanism with a firearm in a stage 4 position wherein the firearm is removed from the holster in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10A shows a section view along the ejector port lock surface of a holster and a firearm retention mechanism with a firearm in a stage 5 position wherein the firearm is being re-inserted into the holster. FIG. 10B shows a section view along the ejector port lock surface of a holster and a firearm retention mechanism with a firearm in a stage 6 position wherein the firearm has been re-inserted into the holster in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11A shows a section view along the ejector port lock surface of a holster and a firearm retention mechanism with a firearm in a stage 7 position wherein the hood is shown as being manually reset into the engaged position. FIG. 11B shows a side view of a holster and a firearm retention mechanism with a firearm in a fully secured position in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12A shows a side view of a holster and a firearm retention mechanism with a firearm in a fully secured position with the addition of an optional optic shroud. FIG. 12B shows a side view of a holster and a firearm retention mechanism with a firearm in a stage 1, fully secured position. FIG. 12C shows a side view of a holster and a firearm retention mechanism with a firearm in a stage 4 position wherein the firearm is removed from the holster. FIG. 12D shows a side view of a holster and a firearm retention mechanism with a firearm in a stage 7 position wherein the optic shroud and hood is shown as being manually reset into the engaged position in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 13A, 13B, 13C, and 13D show side views of a cover and a plurality of optional cover accessories for the firearm retention mechanism in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 14A, 14B, and 14C show perspective views of the steps taken to assemble a firearm retention mechanism to an inner holster in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 shows a perspective view of an inner holster assembly pairing with an outer holster, and of the holster with a firearm retention mechanism and the assembly of the operator and non-operator side covers, respectively in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

IV. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating embodiments of the article only and not for purposes of limiting the same, and wherein like reference numerals are understood to refer to like components.

FIG. 11B depicts the basic configuration of an exemplary holster 10 as can be employed in accordance with the present invention. The exemplary holster 10 is described in co-pending patent application U.S. Ser. No. 18/463,496 entitled STANDARDIZED OUTER HOLSTER SYSTEM AND CORRESPONDING FIREARM SPECIFIC INNER HOLSTER INSERTS, filed Sep. 8, 2023 under Attorney Docket No. 42892.50049, the entirety of the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. However, it is to be appreciated that any suitable type of holster 10 having any suitable design could alternatively be employed herein without departing from the invention. In one aspect, the present invention is particularly suitable for a type of holster 10 made from plastic molded components created by known plastic molding techniques such as injection molding, or by the thermoformed and folded method, etc.

As additionally shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5D, 9B and 14B, the holster 10 also includes internal contact surfaces 12a, 14a, for receiving and retaining a firearm 16 within the holster 10. The internal contact surfaces 12a, 14a can each respectively define right and left interior sides of the holster 10, but these surfaces 12a, 14a can alternatively define any respective interior sides without departing from the invention. The holster 10 also includes external contact surfaces 12b, 14b, for defining a total exterior surface of the holster 10. The external contact surfaces 12b, 14b can each respectively define right and left exterior sides of the holster 10, but these surfaces 12b, 14b can also alternatively define any respective exterior sides without departing from the invention.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, 4B, 6A, 6B, and 6C, which depict the components of a firearm retention mechanism 40. The retention mechanism 40 is a mechanical system to ensure a fast, smooth draw of a user's firearm while ensuring that the firearm remains securely in the holster 10 when not needed, and not easily accessible by someone other than the user of the firearm. This is achieved by using a single operation point with two separate and deliberate movements required to free the firearm 16 from the holster 10. The firearm retention mechanism 40 includes four primary components, a ejector port lock, a hood, a button lever, and a HASB that connect to an inner surface of the holster 10 as explained in detail hereinbelow. As also explained in detail below, an actuator of the firearm retention mechanism 40 performs a first and second operation via an internal actuator that first disposes the hood into a disengagement position from the rear face of the firearm 16 and secondly releases the ejector port lock from the ejector port which permits rearward movement of the firearm out of the holster.

As shown in 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 5A, 5B, and 9B, an ejector port lock 50 rotationally locks into the ejector port face 16a of the firearm 16, preventing rearward movement of the firearm out of the holster 10. The ejector port lock 50 thus secures the firearm 16 into the holster 10. The ejector port lock 50 includes a pair of ejector port lock bosses 52a, 52b, which engage ejector port lock mating apertures 54 formed on internal contact surfaces 12a, 14a of the holster 10 and define an axis of rotation for the ejector port lock 50. The ejector port lock 50 also includes an internal actuator front tab lock surface 54a and an internal actuator front tab push surface 54b, the interaction of which will be described hereinbelow. A port lock face 56 is also provided, along with a compression spring pocket 58 for receiving a compression spring 90a.

As shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, and 8A, a hood 60 is a generally U-shaped component which attaches to internal contact surfaces 12a, 14a of the holster 10. The hood 60 is used for securing the firearm into the holster 10 when in an engagement position, which retains the rear face of the firearm's slide 16b and prevents the firearm 16 from being removed from the holster 10 by blocking its rearward movement via contact with the rear face of the firearm's slide 16b when in the down position. In this manner, both the ejector port lock 50 and the hood 60 cooperate to provide two types of firearm securement, thereby ensuring secure retention of the firearm in the holster.

As also shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, 5A, 5C, 5D, 14A and 14B, the hood 60 includes hood mating apertures 62a, 62b which engage internal hood bosses 64a formed on internal contact surfaces 12a, 14a of the holster 10 are further retained by surfaces on clinch nuts 98a, 98b. The clinch nut passes through a hole 64b formed through the external contact surfaces 12b, 14b of the holster 10. It should be noted that the actuator side clinch nut 98a, is able to function as a rivet or eyelet for securely binding components of the firearm retention mechanism together. Specifically, for securing the washer 96 to the external surface guide boss 74b, which creates a space for the internal actuator 70a to be depressed and rotate, but still be constrained in position against the holster 10. Both the actuator side clinch nut 98a and non-operator side clinch nut 98b have female threads to receive fasteners 43 for assembly purposes. The hood bosses 64a, and holes 64b thus define an axis of rotation for the hood 60. One or both of the hood mating apertures 62a, 62b are encircled by a torsion spring pocket 66a that retains a torsional spring, which functions as a spring-loaded mechanism for biasing the hood 60 into a disengagement position, as will be explained in detail hereinbelow. The hood 60 also includes hood catch surfaces 68 along a bottom periphery of the hood 60, adjacent to and concentric with the hood mating apertures 62. One or both of the catch surfaces 68 are rotatable to a configuration to retain the hood 60 into an engagement position as will be explained in detail hereinbelow.

As shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, and 5A, a button lever 70b is provided as the user's contact point with the firearm retention mechanism 40. The button lever 70b is part of a release mechanism, as described in detail hereinbelow. The button lever 70b is secured to an internal actuator 70a by means of a rivet 70c, thus creating an assembly, hereby referred to as the actuator 70. The internal actuator 70a includes an internal actuator front tab 72 having a lock side 72a that interacts with the internal actuator front tab lock surface 54a of the ejector port lock 50. The internal actuator front tab 72 also has a push side 72b that interacts with the internal actuator front tab push surface 54b of the ejector port lock 50. The operation of the internal actuator front tab 72 will be described in operative detail hereinbelow. The internal actuator 70 also includes a guide aperture 74a which, in conjunction with the guide boss 74b on a stationary component such as the external surface of the inner holster component 14, allows or disallows rotational travel of the actuator 70 depending on the position of the hinge axis slide body 80 in its pocket 92 for engaging the hood 60 and ejector port lock 50 as also operatively described in detail hereinbelow. The internal actuator 70a also includes an internal actuator aperture 76 for defining the actuator rotation axis as also described hereinbelow.

As shown in FIGS. 4A,4B, 6A, 6b, and 6C, a hinge axis slide body (or HASB) 80 is also part of the release mechanism along with the actuator 70. The HASB 80 allows the actuator 70 to move linearly as well as rotationally and also permits or disallows rotation of the hood 60 depending on linear position. The HASB 80 includes a hood catch 82 and a HASB boss 84 for receiving the internal actuator aperture76 to define the actuator rotation axis and transmit the user's depression force into the HASB 80. The HASB 80 also includes linear guide surfaces 86a, 86b and also a spring pocket 88. The holster 10 can serve as the frame and housing of the aforementioned components of the firearm retention mechanism 40, guiding linear and rotational movement of the rest of the components as well as being an integral part of the rest of the holster system.

FIGS. 6A, 6C, 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D, 8A, 8B, 9A, 9B, 10A, 10B, 11A, and 11B depict the functions of the components of the firearm retention mechanism 40 through their stages of operation.

FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, 8A, 11B, and 12A depict Stage 1 of operation wherein all retention mechanisms are fully secured in which the HASB 80 and thus, the actuator 70 are held rearward by a compression spring 90a, nested in the spring pocket 88 of the HASB 80, and under the internal actuator 70 inside of a pocket 92 in the external contact surfaces 12b, 14b of the holster 10. In this position, the ejector port lock 50 is held in the downward position by the compression spring 90b located in spring pocket 58 of the ejector port lock 50 and decidedly further by the internal actuator front tab lock surface 72a on the underside of the internal actuator front tab 72 being positioned above the ejector port internal actuator front tab lock surface 54a. In this configuration, the hood 60 cannot rotate forward due to the hood catch 82 on the upper rear face the HASB 80, which engages the catch surface 68 when the hood 60 is rotated to the engagement position, to thereby retain the hood in the engagement position. The actuator 70 is restricted from rotational movement as it is trapped by a guide boss 74b on the holster 10 and the guide aperture 74a on the internal actuator 70.

FIGS. 7A, 7B, 8B, and 12B depict Stage 2 in which the user of the firearm 16 depresses the button lever 70b of the actuator 70 downward (toward the front of the firearm). This compresses the compression spring 90a in the spring pocket 88 of the HASB 80, permitting forward movement of the HASB 80. Because of the movement of the HASB 80, the hood catch 82 is moveable to release the catch surface 68 from the engagement position. Once the HASB 80 is moved fully into the forward position, the hood catch 82 on the HASB 80 is disengaged from the catch surface 68 on the hood 60, which is spring loaded by a torsional spring 94 held in the torsion spring pocket 66 comprised of spring pocket 66a on the external face of the hood 60, and the internal contact surface 14a of the holster component 14, which operates as the spring loaded mechanism to bias the hood 60 to rotate quickly into the “up” position, where the hood catch surface 68 comes to rest against the over-open hood travel limiting surface 65b, so that the spring-loaded mechanism effectively displaces the hood 60 into the disengagement position which is out of the way of the rearward travel of the rear face of the firearm's slide 16b, thereby enabling the firearm 16 to be removed from the holster 10. FIGS. 7C, 7D, and 9A depict Stage 3 in which the actuator 70 and the HASB 80 are in the forward position. The rotation of the hood 60 blocks its return travel by means of the engagement between the circumferential positioning surface 63 of the hood 60 and the positioning surface 83 of the HASB 80, locking the actuator 70 and HASB 80 into the forward position. It is at this position that the guide boss 74b of the holster 10 and guide aperture 74a in the internal actuator 70a permit a rotational movement of the actuator 70 around the axis of the circular HASB boss 84. In this arrangement, the actuator 70 is held in position only by pressure from the compression spring 90b located in the pocket 58 of the ejector port lock 50, which, through the ejector port lock 50, transmits force to the internal actuator front tab push surface 72b of the internal actuator 70a, holding it in the unrotated position. The user of the firearm 16 pulls the button lever 70b backward (toward the magazine release button of the firearm), rotationally moving the actuator 70 and thus the ejector port lock 50 and compressing the spring 90b above the ejector port lock 50. This releases the port lock face 56 of the ejector port lock 50 from the ejector port face 16a of the firearm 16, allowing for the removal of the firearm 16 from the holster 10. In this manner, a dual-release mechanism is provided for releasing both of the two types of firearm securement with a single operation point with two separate and deliberate movements.

FIGS. 9B and 12C depict Stage 4. As the user draws the firearm 16, the user's thumb does not need to continue the rearward pull of the button lever 70b, as the ejector port lock 50 rides along the top of the firearm's slide until it clears the holster 10. Once the firearm 16 is fully out of the holster 10, the ejector port lock 50 and actuator 70 return to the same position as in the beginning of stage 3, where the ejector port lock 50 is held down by the compression spring 90b and the actuator 70 is held in the unrotated position.

FIGS. 10A and 10B, respectively, depict Stages 5 and 6. During re-insertion of the firearm 16 into the holster 10, the top and front of the firearm's slide rotate the ejector port lock 50 upward until the firearm 16 is fully inserted into the holster 10 and the ejector port face 16a of the firearm 16 lines up or passes the port lock face 56 of the ejector port lock 50. At this point the compressed spring 90b pushes the ejector port lock 50 down, locking the firearm 16 into the holster 10 by means of the port lock face 56 engaging the ejector port face 16a of the firearm 16.

FIGS. 11A and 12D depict Stage 7. To fully re-secure the firearm 16, the user of the firearm 16 then pulls the hood 60 back to the closed or engagement position against the pressure of the torsion spring 94. Once the hood 60 is fully pulled back to where the over-close travel limiting surface on the hood 65a, meets the over-close travel limiting surfaces 65c located on the internal contact surfaces 12a, 14a, the catch surface 68 of the hood 60 and the hood catch 82 of the HASB 80 are no longer in contact and allow for the compression spring 90a in the spring pocket 88 of the HASB 80 to push the actuator 70 and the HASB 80 back to its original position. This prevents rotation of the hood 60 as well as rotation of the internal actuator 70 and restoring the initial engagement position of Stage 1.

As shown in FIGS. 12A, 12B, 12C, and 12D, an optional optic shroud 24 can be used in conjunction with the firearm retention mechanism 40 for protecting from impact and debris a firearm mounted optic 47. The optic shroud 24 mounts to the holster 10 and can move rotatably to allow the firearm mounted optic 47 and thus, firearm 16 to be removed from the holster 10. The hood 60 of the firearm retention mechanism will displace the optic shroud 24 when it moves to the open or disengaged position during stage 2 of operation. Similarly, when installed, the optic shroud 24 can be used to push the hood 60 back to the closed position during stage 7 of operation, rather than the user directly displacing the hood 60 and then the optic shroud 24.

Also shown in FIG. 12C, the presence or lack of a firearm mounted light 46 or a firearm mounted optic 47 does not adversely affect the operation or functionality of the firearm retention mechanism 40.

As shown in FIGS. 13A, 13B, 13C, 13D, and 15, the firearm retention mechanism can also feature a cover on the actuator side 35a and a cover on the non-actuator side 35b. These covers serve multiple purposes including protecting the firearm retention mechanism 40 from the infiltration of debris, further securing the firearm retention mechanism 40 to the holster 10, as well as serving as a mounting point for a plurality optional cover accessories FIG. 13A shows the actuator side cover 35a paired with a simple cover accessory 36. FIG. 13B shows the actuator side cover 35a paired with a blocking accessory 37 to prevent someone other than the operator from easily accessing the button lever 70b to actuate the firearm retention mechanism 40. FIGS. 13C and 13D show a level 3 cover accessory 38. This accessory rotatably shrouds the button lever 70b of the actuator, rendering the button lever 70b inaccessible until the level 3 accessory is rotationally displaced forward by the user into a disengaged position, wherein the level 3 cover accessory 38 continues to provide a similar functionality to the blocking accessory 37, while allowing the user access to the button lever 70b. The level 3 cover accessory 38 is held in an engaged position by means of the detent feature 38a until displaced by the user, where when reaching its allocated rotational travel, an opposing side of the detent feature 38a serves to hold the level 3 cover accessory 38 into a disengaged position. A cover is also present for the non-actuator side cover 35b, this cover is generally smaller and simpler and serves to prevent infiltration of debris and further bind the holster retention mechanism 40 to the holster 10. These covers and cover accessories are secured to the firearm retention mechanism and holster 10 by means of fasteners 43.

As shown in FIGS. 1C, 1D, 2C, 5D, and 14B, the hood 60, ejector port lock 50, and holster components 12 and 14 have symmetrical qualities across a center plane shown best by hood centerline 61. This is to allow the re-purposing of components to accommodate re-configuration of the firearm retention mechanism to be compatible with either right or left-handed users.

An alternative fully secured embodiment of the firearm retention mechanism includes the hood 60 and ejector port lock 50 in their engagement positions with the firearm 16, also including a button lever 70b that can only be depressed and not moved transversely. Upon the user depressing the button lever 70b, the internal actuator 70a and hinge axis slide body 80 are moved into the forward position, bringing a hinge axis slide body catch surface and the hood catch surface 68 out of engagement and allowing the hood 60 to rotate to its disengaged position. This blocks the rearward movement of the hinge axis slide body 80 by the circumferential positioning surface 63 on the hood 60, leaving the internal actuator 70a and button lever 70b trapped in an engaged position. In this forward position, upon the user pulling back on the button lever 70b, the internal actuator 70a rotates around the circular aperture on the hinge axis slide body 80 and thus displaces the ejector port lock 50 rotationally upward and out of its spring loaded engagement position with the firearm 16 by the front tab 72 of the internal actuator 70a. In this configuration, the firearm 16 can be removed from the holster 10. Upon removal of the firearm 16, the ejector port lock 50, the internal actuator 70a, and the button lever 70b are rotated back to their position prior to being pulled back using the springs acting on the ejector port lock 50.

In the alternative embodiment, the firearm retention mechanism is in the proper configuration to receive insertion of a firearm 16. Upon insertion of the firearm 16, a front edge of the slide 16b of the firearm 16 displaces the ejector port lock 50 into the disengaged position until the ejector port of the firearm 16 is positioned fully underneath the ejector port Jock 50, at which point the spring loaded ejector port lock 50 returns to its engagement position with the ejector port of the firearm 16. The user then can manually displace the hood 60 into its engagement position with the firearm 16, which in turn allows the hinge axis slide body 80, internal actuator 70b, and button lever 70b to spring back into their original, fully secured position.

Numerous embodiments have been described herein. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above methods and apparatuses may incorporate changes and modifications without departing from the general scope of this invention. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations in so far as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

Having thus described the invention, it is now claimed:

Claims

1. A firearm retention mechanism, for securely retaining a firearm within the internal contact surfaces of a holster, comprising:

an ejector port lock of the firearm retention mechanism for engaging an ejector port of the firearm in an engagement position, to prevent rearward movement of the firearm out of the holster;

a hood of the firearm retention mechanism for contacting a rear face of the firearm against rearward movement and thereby securing the firearm into the holster in the engagement position;

an internal actuator of the firearm retention mechanism for performing a first operation of disposing the hood into a disengagement position from the rear face of the firearm and a second operation of releasing the ejector port lock from the ejector port, thereby permitting rearward movement of the firearm out of the holster.

2. The firearm retention mechanism of claim 1, further comprising first and second ejector port lock bosses formed on opposing sides of the ejector port lock, for engaging respective first and second ejector port lock mating apertures formed respectively on first and second internal contact surfaces of the holster, wherein the ejector port lock bosses and ejector port lock mating apertures define an axis of rotation for the ejector port lock, enabling the ejector port lock to rotationally lock into the ejector port of the firearm.

3. The firearm retention mechanism of claim 1, wherein the hood is a generally U-shaped component having first and second opposing ends which are respectively attached to the holster and firearm retention mechanism to enable rotational movement of the hood into contact with the rear face of the firearm.

4. The firearm retention mechanism of claim 3, wherein the hood further comprises first and second hood mating apertures which respectively engage first and second hood bosses formed on one of first and second internal contact surfaces of first and second external contact surfaces of the holster, wherein the hood mating apertures and the hood bosses define an axis of rotation for the hood.

5. The firearm retention mechanism of claim 4, wherein the hood further comprises at least one hood catch surface along a bottom periphery of the hood, adjacent to and concentric with at least one of the first and second hood mating apertures, wherein the at least one catch surface is rotatable to a configuration to retain the hood into the engagement position.

6. The firearm retention mechanism of claim 3, further comprising a spring for biasing the hood into the disengagement position in order to be tensioned in the engagement position.

7. The firearm retention mechanism of claim 6, wherein the spring is a torsional spring and wherein at least one of the hood mating apertures is encircled by a torsion spring pocket that retains the torsional spring, wherein the torsion spring pocket and the torsional spring comprise a spring-loaded mechanism for biasing the hood into a disengagement position.

8. The firearm retention mechanism of claim 1, wherein the internal actuator comprises a front tab that engages with a hinge axis slide body configured to interact with a front tab lock surface on the ejector port lock to retain the ejector port lock in the engagement position.

9. The firearm retention mechanism of claim 8, wherein the front tab of the internal actuator further comprises a push side that interacts with a front tab push surface of the ejector port lock to release the ejector port lock from the engagement position.

10. The firearm retention mechanism of claim 8, wherein the internal actuator further comprises a hinge axis slide body including a hood catch for retaining the hood and a boss feature for engaging the internal actuator to depress the hinge axis slide body and thereby release the hood catch and thus to release the hood from the engagement position.

11. The firearm retention mechanism of claim 10, further comprising a spring for spring loading the hinge axis slide body to a rearward position, wherein the hinge axis slide body further comprises a protruding circular aperture for pairing the hinge axis slide body with a hole formed into the internal actuator, thereby configuring the internal actuator to rotate along an axis as defined by a center point of the circular aperture and to be linearly displaced into a forward position by a button lever affixed to the internal actuator.

12. The firearm retention mechanism of claim 11, wherein the internal actuator further comprises a guide aperture that mates to a respective guide boss on an external surface of the holster, wherein the guide aperture and guide boss are configured to cooperate with the hinge axis slide body to provide different operative control states of the internal actuator based on linear position of the hinge axis slide body and the rotational position of the internal actuator.

13. The firearm retention mechanism of claim 12, further comprising a first operative control state in which the guide aperture and guide boss disallow rotation until the hinge axis slide body is moved into the forward position by depressing the button lever, thereby constraining rotation of the internal actuator to be unidirectional and limited in degree.

14. The firearm retention mechanism of claim 12, further comprising a second operative control state in which the hinge axis slide body is disallowed to return to its rearward position until both the internal actuator is rotated back to an original position by a spring exerting pressure onto the front tab of the internal actuator through the ejector port lock push surface, wherein the hood is manually returned to its engaged position.

15. The firearm retention mechanism of claim 11, wherein the hood further comprises a circumferential positioning surface configured to disallow rearward return of the hinge axis slide body, the internal actuator, and the button lever unless the hood is rotated into the engaged position.

16. The firearm retention mechanism of claim 1, further comprising an optic shroud for protecting from impact and debris a firearm mounted optic.

17. The firearm retention mechanism of claim 1, further comprising side covers and a plurality of side cover accessories.