Holstering a gun
An apparatus and associated methodology for holstering a gun. A holster has a longitudinally-extending sidewall terminating at a gun entry edge. The sidewall has an inner surface defining a cavity that is sized for slidingly inserting the gun to a mating engagement of the gun in the holster at a holstered position of the gun. The sidewall supports a holster trigger guard terminating adjacent the gun entry edge. The holster trigger guard extends from the sidewall and adjacent the cavity so that a holster trigger guard surface operably impacts against the user's finger at an acute angle, so that a force from the impact has a proximal force directed away from the tip of the user's finger. A concealment block is removably attachable to the sidewall at a selected one of a plurality of different attachable positions to be operably interposed between a user's body and the holster to urge a selected portion of the holster away from the user's body.
The present technology relates generally to gun carrying and more particularly without limitation to novel gun holster technology and associated methodology. The present application is an application for reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 9,222,750 B1.
BACKGROUNDThere are a wide variety of devices that are designed to be worn by the user in order to carry a gun on his or her body. A holster is such a device that is generally a hollow trapezoidal-shaped sheath forming a cavity into which the user's gun can be inserted to fit in a secure, close mating engagement.
The margin for error is extremely small when handling a gun; a mistake can cause serious injury and even death to the user. Holstering a gun requires the user to violate a fundamental rule of gun safety; never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy. That is, the user must point the gun toward himself while inserting the gun into the holster. A negligent discharge at this juncture means the user shoots himself; the last thing intended but, unfortunately, too often the case.
An important technique to prevent a negligent discharge during holstering a gun is to always be sure to withdraw the trigger finger from the gun's trigger guard before beginning to insert the gun into the holster. Otherwise, the trigger finger impacting against the top edge of the holster forces the trigger finger in the direction that operates the gun's trigger—causing the undesirable negligent discharge. It is not unusual during holstering a gun that the user is still subject to an adrenaline rush resulting from the need to withdraw and fire the gun, or the escalation of force generally. That creates a common situation where an otherwise clearly objective, well-trained, and clear-thinking individual still inadvertently makes a gun handling mistake like holstering the gun with his or her finger still within the gun's trigger guard. The present technology is directed to a novel apparatus and associated methodology that reduces the likelihood of a negligent discharge of a gun during holstering.
SUMMARYSome embodiments of the present invention contemplate a holster for a gun that protects a user from a negligent discharge when holstering the gun with the user's finger inside the gun's trigger guard. The holster has a longitudinally-extending sidewall terminating at a gun entry edge. The sidewall has an inner surface defining a cavity that is sized for the user to slidingly insert the gun to a mating engagement of the gun in the holster at a holstered position of the gun. The sidewall supports a holster trigger guard terminating adjacent the gun entry edge. The holster trigger guard extends from the sidewall and adjacent the cavity so that a holster trigger guard surface operably impacts against the user's finger at an acute angle, so that a force from the impact has a proximal force directed away from the tip of the user's finger.
Some embodiments of the present invention contemplate a holster for a gun. The holster has a longitudinally-extending sidewall terminating at a gun entry edge. The sidewall defines a cavity sized for slidingly inserting the gun to a holstered position. A concealment block is removably attachable to the sidewall at a selected one of a plurality of different attachable positions to be operably interposed between a user's body and the holster to urge a selected portion of the holster away from the user's body.
Some embodiments of the present invention contemplate a method including operations of obtaining a holster having a longitudinally-extending sidewall terminating at a gun entry edge and defining a cavity, the upstanding sidewall providing an angled holster trigger guard surface; selectively attaching a concealment block to the sidewall; and inserting a gun into the cavity so that a user's finger while disposed in the gun's trigger guard first contacts the angled holster trigger guard surface.
Initially, it is to be appreciated that this disclosure is by way of example only, not by limitation. The gun holstering technology herein is not necessarily limited to use or application with any specific type of gun holster. For purposes of this description and the claims the term “holster” generally means a device for bearing or storing a gun on a user's body or otherwise such as on a saddle, a car, a bicycle, and the like. The embodiments herein that are directed to an inside-the-waistband (IWB) holster are merely for the purpose of illustration and are in no way limiting. That is, the skilled artisan will appreciate that the described illustrative embodiments can alternatively be employed in other types of holsters, such as an outside-the-waistband holster, a shoulder holster, a brassiere or flash-bang holster, an ankle holster, a purse holster, a duty-type retention holster such as that sold by Safariland, LLC. of Jacksonville, Fla. under the brand name SAFARILAND®, and the like without the need for any additional description than what is provided herein. Although the illustrative embodiments depicted herein are for an appendix-carry inside-the-waistband (AIWB) holster, the term “IWB” is used herein to generally include appendix-carry holsters as well as all other types of holsters. Thus, although the instrumentalities described herein are for the convenience of explanation, shown and described with respect to exemplary embodiments, it will be appreciated that the principles herein may be applied equally in other types of instrumentalities within the scope of the claimed embodiments.
In this IWB type of holster 100 the sidewall 102 forms an outer side 110 that is farthest from the user's body when the holster 100 is worn. The outer side 110 supports a belt loop 112 defining an opening (depicted below) that is sized and positioned to receive a portion of the user's belt (not depicted) that is worn around his waist. The belt loop 112 may support the loop portion 114 of a hook and loop fastener (such as a Velcro® fastener) to provide an attachment surface for a tactical belt that may be used to wear the holster 100 of the present technology, or to attach some other useful article to the holster 100 while being worn.
The holster 100 in these illustrative embodiments can feasibly be constructed by thermally forming a polymeric material, such as a material marketed by Kydex, LLC of Bloomsburg, Pa. under the brand name Kydex®. A sheet of such material is commercially available with a textured surface and an opposing smooth surface. The holster 100 is preferably formed so that the smooth surface 122 of the sidewall 102 defines a cavity 124 that is sized for slidingly inserting the gun 108 (
The molding process for constructing the holster 100 generally involves shaping stock material around a mold. The mold can be very specifically dedicated to one model of gun, or can more generally be adaptable for use by two or more different model guns that are generally the same size and configuration. For example, some different model guns vary only in barrel length and grip length, and as such those different models could conceivably be adequately holstered in the same size/configuration holster 100. In any event, the size of the cavity 124 can be adjusted via the adjustable connector 120 to increase or decrease the frictional engagement with which the gun 108 slidingly engages against the inner surface 122 of the sidewall 102 while the gun 108 is being inserted into or withdrawn from the holster 100.
The use and placement of the concealment blocks 138, 140 may vary. For example, the user may select one orientation (including no use) during prolonged sitting such as during driving, while selecting a different orientation (including no use) during prolonged standing or walking. To facilitate quick and easy adjustment the concealment blocks 138, 140 may be attached to the inner side 116 as depicted by using a hook and loop type fastener. Preferably, in that event the loop portion 146 is attached to the inner side 116 so that exposed portions, such as the entirety of the loop portion 146 when the user decides to not use any of the concealment blocks 138, 140, do not snag or abrade the user's body and/or underclothing.
However, the claimed embodiments are not so limited.
In either event, whether the holster trigger guard surface 154 is formed as a portion of the sidewall 102 (as depicted in
The holster trigger guard surface 154, 154′ (generally 154 etc.) has at least a planar segment that defines an acute angle, designated by ϕ, with respect to the user's trigger finger 160 when the user's trigger finger 160 impacts the holster trigger guard surface 154. As diagrammatically depicted in
First, the proximal force 170 imparts a force that contracts the extensor tendon 168 between the point of impact and the distal end of extensor tendon 168 to extend the finger tip (the distal phalange) in a direction denoted by 174. That extension in direction 174 moves the fingertip away from the gun's 108 trigger, aiding in preventing a negligent discharge.
Second, the proximal force 170 against the user's finger creates tension in the extensor tendon 168 between the point of impact and the distal tip of the finger. Any attempt to flex the tip of the finger in a direction toward the gun's 108 trigger would be opposed by that tension in the extensor tendon 168, further aiding in preventing a negligent discharge of the gun 108
To best create the proximal force 170, the angle ϕ is an acute angle, preferably of about forty-five degrees or less. The distal end of the holster trigger guard surface 154 is preferably provided with an arcuate surface, such as a small radius, to prevent cutting the flesh on the user's trigger finger 160 as the result of this impact.
It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of various embodiments of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with the details of the structure and function of various embodiments of the invention, this disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of structure and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. Further, although the illustrative embodiments described herein are directed to carrying handguns, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the claimed invention can be applied to other guns as well without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A holster for a gun, the holster protective of a user when holstering the gun with the user's finger remaining inside the gun's trigger guard, the holster comprising a sidewall terminating at a gun entry edge, the sidewall having an inner surface defining a cavity sized for the user to slidingly insert the gun in a longitudinal direction of the cavity to a mating engagement of the gun in the holster at a holstered position of the gun, the sidewall supporting a holster trigger guard terminating adjacent the gun entry edge, the holster trigger guard extending from the sidewall and defining an acute angle to the user's finger at contact of the holster trigger guard when the user's finger extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cavity, the sidewall forms a first side that is operably disposed nearest the user's body and an opposing second side, wherein the holster trigger guard surface is supported by the second side of the sidewall,
- and further comprising a concealment block that is removably attachable to the first side of the sidewall at a selected one of a plurality of different attachable positions to be operably interposed between a user's body and the holster extending outward from the sidewall to urge a desired portion of the holster away from the user's body, the concealment block is removably attachable by a hook and loop fastener, the concealment block is constructed of a compressible foam material.
2. The holster of claim 1 wherein the sidewall forms a first side that is operably disposed nearest the user's body and an opposing second side, wherein the holster trigger guard surface is supported by the second side of the sidewall.
3. The holster of claim 2 1 wherein the sidewall spans from the first side to the second side defining a first end of the cavity, and wherein the first side and the second side are joined together by an adjustable connector defining an opposing second end of the cavity, the adjustable connector operable to selectively vary the size of the cavity.
4. The holster of claim 2 comprising a concealment block that is removably attachable to the first side of the sidewall at a selected one of a plurality of different attachable positions to be operably interposed between a user's body and the holster to urge a desired portion of the holster away from the user's body.
5. The holster of claim 4 wherein the concealment block is removably attachable by a hook and loop fastener.
6. The holster of claim 4 wherein the concealment block is constructed of a compressible foam material.
7. The holster of claim 2 1 wherein the second side of the sidewall defines an aperture, and comprising a belt loop attachable to the second side by a fastener operably passing through the aperture.
8. The holster of claim 7 wherein the second side of the sidewall defines a plurality of apertures, and wherein the belt loop is selectively attachable at a first position by operably passing the fastener through a first aperture of the plurality of apertures, and the belt loop is selectively attachable at a second position by operably passing the fastener through a second aperture of the plurality of apertures.
9. The holster of claim 7 comprising a loop portion of a hook and loop fastener attached to the belt loop.
10. The holster of claim 1 wherein the angle is about forty-five degrees.
11. The holster of claim 1 wherein the angle is less than about forty-five degrees.
12. The holster of claim 1 wherein a distal end of the holster trigger guard surface terminates adjacent the gun entry edge, and wherein a proximal end of the holster trigger guard surface is adjacent a second surface of the sidewall that extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cavity.
13. The holster of claim 1 wherein the holster trigger guard is a component attached to the sidewall.
14. The holster of claim 1 wherein the holster trigger guard is formed as a portion of the sidewall.
15. The holster of claim 14 wherein a distal end of the holster trigger guard surface terminates at the gun entry edge.
16. The holster of claim 15 wherein the gun entry edge defines an arcuate surface.
17. The holster of claim 1 wherein the sidewall defines a gun barrel edge opposing the gun entry edge and defining the cavity, wherein a tab formed as part of one of the first and second sides is connected to the other of the first and second sides to at least partially close the cavity as defined by the gun barrel edge.
18. A holster for a gun, the holster comprising a longitudinally-extending sidewall terminating at an angled holster trigger guard surface adjacent a gun entry edge and defining a cavity sized for slidingly inserting the gun to a holstered position, and a concealment block that is removably attachable to the sidewall by a hook and loop fastener at a selected one of a plurality of different attachable positions to be operably interposed between a user's body and the holster to urge a selected portion of the holster away from the user's body.
19. A method comprising:
- obtaining a holster having a longitudinally-extending sidewall terminating at a gun entry edge and defining a cavity, the upstanding sidewall providing an angled holster trigger guard surface;
- selectively attaching a concealment block to the sidewall by a hook and loop fastener; and
- inserting a gun into the cavity so that a user's finger while disposed in the gun's trigger guard first contacts the angled holster trigger guard surface.
20. A holster for a gun, the holster protective of a user when holstering the gun with the user's finger remaining inside the gun's trigger guard, the holster comprising a sidewall terminating at a gun entry edge, the sidewall having an inner surface defining a cavity sized for the user to slidingly insert the gun in a longitudinal direction of the cavity to a mating engagement of the gun in the holster at a holstered position of the gun, the sidewall supporting a holster trigger guard terminating adjacent the gun entry edge, the holster trigger guard extending from the sidewall and defining an acute angle to the user's finger at contact of the holster trigger guard when the user's finger extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cavity, the sidewall forms a first side that is operably disposed nearest the user's body and an opposing second side, wherein the holster trigger guard surface is supported by the second side of the sidewall, the second side of the sidewall defines an aperture, and comprising a belt loop attachable to the second side by a fastener operably passing through the aperture, the second side of the sidewall defines a plurality of apertures, and wherein the belt loop is selectively attachable at a first position by operably passing the fastener through a first aperture of the plurality of apertures, and the belt loop is selectively attachable at a second position by operably passing the fastener through a second aperture of the plurality of apertures,
- and further comprising a concealment block that is removably attachable to the first side of the sidewall at a selected one of a plurality of different attachable positions to be operably interposed between a user's body and the holster extending outward from the sidewall to urge a desired portion of the holster away from the user's body.
21. The holster of claim 20 comprising a loop portion of a hook and loop fastener attached to the belt loop.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Apr 5, 2017
Date of Patent: Mar 19, 2019
Inventor: Spencer Keepers (Yukon, OK)
Primary Examiner: Jeffrey L Gellner
Application Number: 15/480,298
International Classification: F41C 33/02 (20060101);