US3531031A

US3531031A - Quick-draw gun holster

Info

Publication number: US3531031A
Application number: US792106*A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert Angell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-01-17
Filing date: 1969-01-17
Publication date: 1970-09-29
Anticipated expiration: 1987-09-29

Description

United States Patent Office 3,531,031 Patented Sept. 29, 1970 3,531,031 QUICK-DRAW GUN HOLSTER Robert Angell, 514 E. 88th St., New York, N.Y. 10028 Filed Jan. 17, 1969, Ser. No. 792,106 Int. Cl. F41c 33/02 US. Cl. 224-2 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A holster affording maximum security for a pistol held therein and yet capable of being quickly released. The pocket of the holster is former from a single piece of leather which is contoured to form three flaps, two of which are relatively small and are designed to overlap to define a socket for accommodating the barrel and trigger of the pistol. A snap fastener is provided to hold the second or side flap in place over the first whereby when the fastener is released to break the socket, the pistol may then be withdrawn laterally and swung in a single stroke to a firing position. The third and larger flap served as a cover which overlies the grip of the pistol, the cover flap having a tongue which, when this flap is closed, is interposed between the second and first flaps and is held to the first flap by a snap fastener. To draw the pistol from the holster, the thumb of one hand is forced under the tongue to disengage the cover flap and thereby permit the hand to grasp the grip of the pistol. When the tongue is lifted it serves at the same time to release the side flap, thereby breaking open the holster and permitting lateral withdrawal of the gripped pistol.

This invention relates generally to holsters for small arms, and more particularly to a holster which provides a high measure of security and yet facilitates quick gun withdrawal at the proper angle.

For centuries, the pistol was used mostly by cavalrymen who needed one hand for their reins. The modern revolver and automatic pistol is a much lighter and more efiicient weapon, but the basic feature of one-handed operation remains unchanged. Policemen throughout the world are now armed with a pistol which is held in a holster and is generally carried on a belt.

A holster is a leather case for a pistol that more or less conforms to the pistols shape. The design of a holster must take into account two basic requirements which to some degree are incompatible. The first requirement is security, for it is vital that the pistol be safely enclosed so that it remains on the active person and is not prone to accidental discharge. The second requirement, which is quick withdrawal, is of equal importance, for when the need arises to put the pistol into action, one must be able to draw the pistol from the holster without difiiculty and raise it to the proper firing position in the shortest possible time.

In order to facilitate quick withdrawal, many holsters are open at the top, thereby exposing the grip of the pistol and providing immediate access thereto, the barrel and trigger being socketed in the holster. While this type of holster makes quick withdrawal possible, it at the same time fails to afford adequate security, in that means are lacking to protect the pistol from dirt and to prevent the pistol from falling out of the holster.

Moreover, with an open-top holster, the sides are closed and one is constrained to withdraw the gun with an upward sweep, after which it is necessary to swing the hand outwardly to raise the gun to its proper firing position. This complex motion is not best calculated to expedite an effective firing action. Ideally, one should be able to draw the gun laterally from the holster so that, with a single arm motion, one is able to swing the pistol counterclockwise from the holster to the firing position.

Holsters have been designed which break along the side to facilitate lateral withdrawal. Where the holster includes a cover fiap to protect the grip of the pistol as well as a detachable side flap to break open the holster, at least two snap fasteners are required, one for each flap. To withdraw the pistol one must disengage both snap fasteners, and with conventional holster designs, this is difiicult to do quickly and in some instances it is necessary to use both hands for this purpose. It must be borne in mind that pistols are generally withdrawn in a state of excitement and tension, and that any difficulty experienced in withdrawal may have serious consequences.

Thus the problem encountered in holster design is that expedients which maximize security are generally at the expense of quick withdrawal, for the former factor is in conflict with the latter. Accordingly, it is the principal object of this invention to provide a holster which affords both a high measure of security and quick withdrawal.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide a holster of the break type in which all elements of the pistol are protectively encased therein, the holster being releasable with a single action whereby the pistol may be gripped and laterally withdrawn in the shortest possible time.

Also an object of the invention is to provide an efficient and reliable holster of the above-type which may be manufactured and sold at relatively low cost.

Briefly stated, these objects are accomplished in a holster whose main body is formed from a single piece of leather or a synthetic substitute therefor, which piece is contoured to form three flaps, two of which are relatively small and overlap to define a socket for accommodating the barrel and trigger of the pistol, the second or side flap being detachably held in place over the first flap by a snap fastener whereby when the fastener is released to break the socket, the pistol may be withdrawn laterally and swung to its proper firing position. The third and larger flap serves as a cover and overlies the grip of the pistol, the cover flap having a tongue which when the flap is closed is interposed between the second and first flaps and is detachably held to the first flap by a snap fastener.

To draw the pistol from the holster, the thumb of one hand is forced under the tongue to release the cover flap fastener, and as the tongue is released it acts to disengage the fastener on the side flap, thereby breaking open the holster and permitting lateral withdrawal of the pistol.

For a better understanding of the invention, as well as other objects and further features thereof, reference is made to the following detailed description to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the holster in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation thereof,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the holster with a pistol secured therein, the holster being latched except for the safety strap which is open preparatory to withdrawal of the pistol.

FIG. 4 illustrates the manner of releasing the pistol from the holster;

FIG. 5 is a section taken in the plane indicated by lines 55 in FIG. 1,

FIG. 6 is a section taken in the plane indicated by line 6-6 in FIG. 3,

FIG. 7 is the same as FIG. 6, except that the holster is unlatched to release the pistol therein, and

FIG. 8 shows the single piece of profiled leather from which the pocket of the holster is formed.

3 HOLSTER STRUCTURE Referring now to the drawing and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a holster in accordance with the invention, which holster comprises a pocket, designated by numeral 10, whose shape generally conforms to that of a pistol to be secured therein, a loop 11 connected to the rear of the pocket through which a belt is passable to support the holster, and a safety strap 12.

The upper portion of loop 11 is attached to pocket 10 by a screw post 13, one end of strap 12 being interposed therebetween. The lower portion of loop 11 is attached to pocket 10 by a rivet 14 as well as by stitching to reinforce the connection.

As best seen in FIGS. 3 to 8, pocket 10 is formed from a single piece of leather or synthetic flexible material having similar characteristics, which piece is profiled to define relatively small first and

second flaps

15 and 16, and a third and larger flap 17.

The first flap is folded over to define a tapered nose acting as a socket for the barrel 18 and trigger 19 of a pistol having a grip 20. The tip of the nose is pinched by a rivet 21 which passes through holes 21A and 21B in the nose fiap (note FIG. 8). The second flap 16 acts as a side closure and, when closed, overlaps the first flap. It is important to note that while the tip of the nose is pinched, the nose is not fully sealed, but is open somewhat on one side (note FIG. 1), for the side flap does not entirely overlie it. This opening allows for drainage to discharge any debris which may collect in the holster. If one desires to more fully enclose the nose, the side flap may be appropriately contoured to accomplish this purpose.

The second flap included a tab 16A which is folded inwardly to provide a reinforced section to support the male element 22X of a snap fastener whose complementary female element 22Y is attached to the free end of the safety strap.

Also mounted on the reinforced section formed by tab 16A is the female element 23Y of a snap fastener whose male element 23X is aflixed to the first flap 15. Thus when snap fastener 23X-Y is engaged, the second or side flap is latched to the first flap, and when snap fastener 22X-Y for the safety strap is engaged, added protection is provided to prevent the side flap from being opened.

The third flap 17 is the cover flap and when folded over it covers and protects the grip of the pistol. The cover flap is provided with a reinforced tongue portion 17A having a female element 24Y which is adapted to engage the complementary male element 24X of a snap fastener mounted on the first flap 15. Male element 24X is adjacent male element 23X such that when the cover flap is in place, the tongue 17A thereof, as best seen in FIG. 3, is interposed between the side flap 16 and the first flap 15.

FIG. 3 shows the condition of the holster with a gun held therein after the safety strap 17 has been detached, the holster otherwise being fully latched. In practice, the safety strap may be effectively put out of use and out of the way by having it engage the alternative male element 22X on the cover flap 17, as shown in FIG. 2.

OPERATION OF HOLSTER In order to release and withdraw the gun from the holster, the gunman forces the thumb of one hand, as shown in FIG. 4, under tongue 17 of the cover flap, thereby disengaging snap fastener 24XY which latches cover flap 17 to the first flap 15.

Inasmuch as the tongue of the cover flap lies under the side flap 16, when lifted, it at the same time, effects disengagement of the snap fastener 23X-Y of the side flap, thereby breaking open the socket for the pistol. Since both the side and cover flaps are now detached, the gunman is then able to grasp the grip 20 of the pistol, to

draw it sideways out of the holster and to swing the gun counterclockwise to the horizontal firing position, all in a single uninterrupted motion.

When returning the pistol to the holster, first the side flap is latched to complete the socket and then the cover flap is latched to fully encase the pistol. It is to be noted that tongue 17A is curved inwardly in the region wherein safety strap 12 overlies the tongue as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3. Hence one is not able, when the safety strap is in place, to pull up the cover flap 17 or release the side flap without first detaching the safety strap.

Thus the holster design is such as to reconcile the requirement for security with the requirement for quick withdrawal in that with a single motion for withdrawal one is able to unlatch both the side and cover flaps to break open the holster.

Because the holster may be broken open both top and side thereby exposing the entire internal surface of the pocket, one may readily clean this surface. This may be necessary in the event, for example, the holster is accidentally dropped in mud and requires a thorough overhaul before it can be put again to use. This feature also facilitates maintenance, such as waxing and oiling to preserve the leather of the holster.

What I claim is:

1. A holster for a pistol which is adapted to provide maximum security therefor and yet be capable of being quickly unlatched to facilitate a quick draw, said holster being constituted by a pocket which generally conforms to the shape of the pistol and a loop attaching to the rear of the pocket to support the holster on a belt, said pocket comprising:

(a) a tapered nose flap to define a socket to accommodate the barrel of the pistol, said socket being open on one side,

(b) a side fiap overlying said nose flap to close in said socket,

(c) a first snap fastener having complementary elements on said nose flap and said side fiap which, when engaged, prevents withdrawal of said pistol from said side flap,

((1) a cover flap overlying the grip of said pistol, said cover flap having a tongue which is interposed between said side flap and said nose flap, and

(e) a second snap fastener having complementary elements on said tongue and said nose flap which when engaged prevents said cover flap from being lifted, whereby rapid withdrawal of said gun may be effected by forcing a thumb under said tongue to lift same to disengage both said first and second fasteners, thereby breaking open said holster.

2. A holster, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said pocket is formed from a single piece of leather which is profiled to define said nose and said side and cover flaps.

3. A holster as set forth in claim 1, wherein the nose flap is pinched by a rivet at the tip thereof.

4. A holster as set forth in claim 1, further including a safety strap, one end of which is attached to said loop, Ehe other end being detachably connected to said side 5. A holster as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tongue is curved inwardly to accommodate said strap whereby said cover flap cannot be pulled out without first releasing said strap.

6. A holster as set forth in claim 1, wherein said side flap includes a folded-over tab to provide a reinforced section onto which the associated snap fastener elements are mounted.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,819,830 1/1958 Murray. 3,008,617 11/1961 Villwock.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner