GB2255622A - Safety devices - Google Patents

Abstract

A first embodiment of the invention provides a holster comprising a bullet-proof material (1) arranged to prevent injury by a bullet discharged from a firearm (6). The holster thus provides protection to a wearer from accidental discharge as the firearm is drawn or replaced. An additional layer (28) of polycarbonate and closed cell foam trauma material helps to absorb the energy of the impact of the bullet. The invention also provides a safety cover of bullet-proof material comprising a tube (17) of bullet-proof material locatable over a muzzle (21) of a firearm. For increased protection a ceramic/kevlar composite disc is disposed between the muzzle (21) and the closed end (19) of the tube (17). <IMAGE>

Description

SAFETY DEVICES This invention relates to safety devices for firearms.

Handguns are usually carried and retained in holsters worn at the waist or under the arm of a wearer. There exists a danger that as the handgun is drawn it will be accidentally discharged causing serious or even fatal injury to the wearer. It is an object of the invention to educe this risk.

According to the invention there is provided a holster for carrying a firearm comprising a ballistic material arranged to prevent a bullet discharged from the firearm leaving the holster.

By preventing the bullet leaving the holster the wearer is protected from possible injury.

The ballistic material is a material designed to absorb a projectile's energy. Such materials include woven aramid fibre material, such as those sold by Du Pont International under the trade mark "Kevlar", and that sold by Allied Signal under their trade mark "Spectra", that sold under the trade mark "Twaron" or "Dyneematr of Dutch State Mine; and ceramic composite materials such as ceramic metal composites.

Examples of suitable metals are titanium, high hardness steel and ballistic grade aluminium.

The firearm may be a revolver, pistol or machine pistol but since it will be of a known type, the ballistic material and the amount used can be chosen to be suitable for stopping bullets from that firearm. The holster may, therefore, be made no bulkier than necessary.

Conveniently, the ballistic material may be formed into a sleeve having a closed end into which a conventional holster is inserted, or may be formed into a lining inserted into the conventional holster such that the closed end is, in use, closest to the muzzle of the firearm.

Alternatively, the holster may be formed substantially entirely from ballistic material.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a safety cover for a firearm comprising a tube of ballistic material closed at one end and adapted to cover a muzzle of the firearm.

The cover may be applied directly to the muzzle, particularly where the firearm is a rifle or sub machine gun or heavy calibre mounted weapon, or may, conveniently, where the firearm is a handgun be located over the muzzle end of a holster.

Although the cover may be glued, stitched or held by press studs to the holster, preferably, it will be located by means of at least one hook and felt fastener such as those sold under the trademark "Velcro". "Velcro" is preferred because it has useful energy absorbing characteristics.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings in which: Figures 1, 2 and 3 show a holster in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention; Figures 4 to 7 show steps in the fabrication of the holster shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3; Figure 8 shows a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 9 shows a third embodiment of the invention; Figure 10 shows a safety cover in accordance with the invention; Figure 11 shows a second embodiment of the safety cover positioned over a muzzle of a rifle.

Figure 12 shows a holster incorporated into a document case; and Figure 13 is a section along line XIII-XIII of Figure 12.

With reference to Figure 1, a holster comprises a sleeve 1 of "Kevlar" having a flap 3 and a pocket 2. A leather inner holster 4 is located with its muzzle end in the pocket 2 as shown in Figure 2 by means of "Velcro" tabs 24. In use a pistol 6 is carried inside the leather inner holster 4 and in the event of an accidental discharge the bullet is contained by the pocket 2 or flap 3. For additional protection against injury to the wearer's thigh, if the weapon is discharged as it is drawn, an additional layer 28 of polycarbonate and closed cell foam trauma material is fixed by "Velcro" tabs 29 as shown in Figure 3. The layer 28 helps to absorb the energy of the impact of the bullet.

The sleeve 1 is formed from a blank of "Kevlar" as shown in Figures 4 to 7. The blank is folded along lines a and b to form side walls 7a, 7b and 8a, 8b as shown in Figure 5. The blank is then folded along line C as shown in Figures 5 and 6.

The pocket 2 is completed by sewing side walls 7a to 7b and 8a to 8b in overlapping engagement, as shown in Figure 7, to prevent formation of a weak spot.

Figure 8 shows a second embodiment in which a "Kevlar" insert 9, substantially the same as sleeve 1 of the first embodiment, is located within a leather outer holster 10 by means of "Velcro".

A further embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 9 in which a flap 11 of "Kevlar" is folded over the muzzle end of a leather holster 12 and secured thereto by stitching 13 at its edges.

A safety cover according to the invention is shown in Figure 10 and comprises a pocket 14 of "Kevlar" made by folding a blank in a similar way to that described previously and attached to the muzzle end of a leather holster 15 by means of "Velcro" fasteners 16. The fasteners are aligned with the line of flight an accidentally discharged bullet would follow in order to offer greatest resistance to the forces generated as the bullet impacts on the end wall of the boot 14.

A further embodiment of the safety cover is shown in Figure 11 in which the cover is in the form of a "Kevlar" tube 17 made by folding a blank in a similar manner as earlier described having an open end 18 and a closed end 19. Within the tube 17, against an internal surface of the closed end 19, is fixed a set of two discs 20a and 20b. Disc 20b is a "Kevlar"/ceramic composite material suitable for stopping high velocity bullets and disc 20a is formed from a polycarbonate and closed cell foam trauma material.

The tube 17 is located in this case over the muzzle 21 of an SA80 rifle barrel 22 by insertion through the open end 18. The tube 17 is then secured in place by tightening a velcro circumferential strap 23.

The SA90 rifle may then be carried or unloaded with the tube 17 in place offering protection against accidental discharge.

The holster may be incorporated into a case 25 as shown in Figures 12 and 13 by "Velcro" tabs 26 and 27.

In alternative embodiments the holster may be made substantially completely from ballistic materials dispensing with the requirement for a leather inner and outer holster.

Claims (11)

1. A holster for carrying a firearm comprising a ballistic material arranged to prevent a bullet discharged from the firearm leaving the holster.

2. A holster as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ballistic material is formed into a sleeve having a closed end which, infuse, is adjacent the muzzle of the firearm.

3. A holster as claimed in claim 2 wherein the ballistic material is formed into a sleeve having a substantially contiguous end wall which, in use, is adjacent the muzzle of the firearm.

4. A safety cover for a firearm comprising a tube of ballistic material closed at one end adapted to cover a muzzle of the firearm.

5. A safety cover as claimed in claim 4 wherein the tube is closed by a substantially contiguous end wall adjacent the muzzle of the firearm.

6. A safety cover as claimed in claims 4 or 5 including a bullet resistant insert disposed, in use, between the closed end and the muzzle of the firearm.

7. A safety cover as claimed in claim 6 wherein the insert comprises a ceramic composite material.

8. A safety cover as claimed in claim 7 wherein the insert is a ceramic and kevlar composite material.

9. A safety cover as claimed in any preceding claim including at least one hook and felt fastener to secure the cover about the muzzle of the firearm.

10. A safety cover as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a trauma material disposed between the insert and the closed end.

11. A safety cover substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 10 or 11 of the drawings.