US3720013A

US3720013A - Handgun concealing pouch

Info

Publication number: US3720013A
Application number: US00136954A
Authority: US
Inventors: Donald H Mc
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-04-23
Filing date: 1971-04-23
Publication date: 1973-03-13
Anticipated expiration: 1990-03-13

Abstract

A POUCH INCLUDES A SLIT FORMED IN A CENTRAL SIDE PORTION THROUGH WHICH A PERSON MAY PASS HIS TRIGGER FINGER TO FIRE A HANDGUN CONCEALED IN THE POUCH.

D R A W I N G

Description

March 13, H c MCDONALD HANDGUN CONCEALING POUCH Filed April 25, 1971 INVENTOR. HUGH C. MCDONALD United States Patent 3,720,613 Patented Mar. 13, 1973 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pouch includes a slit formed in a central side portion through which a person may pass his trigger finger to fire a handgun concealed in the pouch.

This invention relates to a novel pouch structure for concealing a handgun.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is ordinarily not possible for police ofiicers and other law enforcement personnel to carry a handgun in their hand ready for use at all times. Rather, the custom is for a police ofiicer to keep the gun in its holster or for the other type of law enforcement officers such as detectives and investigators to keep the gun concealed some place in their clothing. These requirements are obvious since the public would not stand for a situation in which police ofiicers or detectives were constantly carrying loaded guns around in their hands.

There are many situations however, in which it would be desirable for a policeman or detective to have in his hands a gun ready for instant firing. When confronted with emergency situations, the time taken for a police ofiicer to extract his gun from a holster or for a detective to bring into play a concealed gun can mean the difference between life and death. If there could be devised some means whereby a policeman or plainclothesman in a given situation could have a gun in his hand ready for firing and yet other parties present not be aware of the presence of such gun, a great advantage would be afiorded to the oificer in dealing with emergency situations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION With the foregoing in mind, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a simple handgun concealing pouch which will enable an ofiicer or plainclothesman to have essentially a gun in hand ready for firing without anyone else with whom the otficer or plainclothesman might be dealing knowing of the presence of such gun.

Briefly, the invention contemplates the provision of a pouch about the size of a hand purse or tobacco pouch so designed as to enable a gun to be concealed therein and yet be fired while concealed in the pouch. Towards this latter end, one side of the pouch includes a slit in the preferred embodiment of the invention through which the user may pass his trigger finger to efiect firing of the gun while the same is wholly concealed within the pouch.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A better understanding of the invention will be had by new referring to a preferred embodiment as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a typical handgun as might be used by detectives and other law enforcement oflicials preparatory to being concealed in the pouch of the present invention shown positioned below the gun; and

FIG. 2 shows the manner in which the gun is actually fired while concealed in the pouch of 'FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, there is provided a flexible material 10 forming first and second substantially rectangular sides 11 and 12 placed together and connected along adjacent front, bottom and rear edges as indicated at 13a, 13b and 130. The structure described defines a pouch having an upper opening between its upper edges as indicated at .14. Preferably, a zipper 15 is provided for closing this opening.

It will be noted that the zipper closes the opening by moving from the upper rear corner towards the upper front corner of the pouch there being provided a rigid pull tab 16. This rigid pull tab 16 always remains in an upright position and serves a dual function of enabling the zipper to be operated and also serving as a front sight when the zipper is completely closed. A stop member 17 disposed at the upper rear portion of the pouch functions as a stop for the pull tab 16 when the zipper is completely open and also serves the purpose of a rear sight.

In the central portion of the first side 11 of the pouch, there is provided a slit 18. Also provided are small openings 19 serving as gas escape ports along the upper front portions of the sides 11 and 12.

The pouch described in F-IG. 1 is dimensioned to receive a handgun 20 shown above the pouch in FIG. 1. This handgun may typically comprise a snub-nosed .38 caliber revolver. However, it should be understood that other types of handguns may readily be used with theinvention, the size of the pouch being adjusted accordingly.

FIG. 2 shows in dotted lines the gun 20 wholly concealed within the pouch material 10, the zipper being in completely closed position. It will be noted that the slit 18 is positioned such that a person holding the pouch may readily insert his trigger finger through the slit to engage the trigger of the gun 20 and thus enable firing of the same.

In FIG. 2, there is indicated at 21 a bullet hole in the pouch as a consequence of firing the gun while the same is concealed in the pouch.

OPERATION In operation, assume that a detective or other plainclothesman is about to enter a room for a meeting with suspected killers. The detective would first conceal his .38 revolver in the pouch of FIG. 1 and then simply walk into the room holding the pouch. The appearance of the pouch is that of a conventional tobacco pouch or possibly a small hand purse or even small covered notebook as might typically be carried by a person preparatory to a conference with other persons.

If the suspected killers with whom the detective is meeting conduct themselves properly and do not make any suspicious moves the detective can carry on his meeting in a normal fashion without arousing any suspicion as a consequence of carrying the pouch. On the other hand, should one of the killers have a gun or make a move towards withdrawing a gun to shoot the detective, the detective already having the pouch in hand can very quickly fire his concealed revolver at the suspect and thereby save his own life.

In the event the suspect is at some distance, or is perhaps fleeing from the scene, the front and rear sights provided by the zipper pull tab 16 and stop member 17 can be utilized to advantage in enabling the detective to take careful aim while firing the gun within the pouch.

The small gas ports 19 serve to permit gas expelled from the gun to readily escape from the pouch.

The material of the pouch is preferably thin and highly flexible so that the detective or other law enforcement ofiicer has a good feel of the concealed gun within the pouch. Further, such flexibility renders easier the firing of the gun while concealed within the pouch. Finally, the material itself as well as being flexible preferably is characterized by a high kindling temperature preferably in excess of 500 F This particular feature for the material will prevent accidental catching on fire of the pouch after firing of the gun.

From the foregoing description, it will be evident that the present invention has provided an extremely useful and simple device for use by law enforcement officers which greatly increases the chances of safely apprehending dangerous criminals in those instances in which a shoot out is likely to result.

What is claimed is:

1. A handgun concealing pouch comprising: a flexible material forming first and second substantially rectangular sides placed together and connected along adjacent front, bottom, and rear edges to define a pouch having an upper opening between the upper edges; and a zipper secured to said upper edges for closing said opening, the first rectangular side of said pouch having a slit in its central portion positioned such that when a handgun is received through the upper opening in said pouch, its trigger is adjacent to said slit whereby said handgun can be fired inside said pouch by a person holding said pouch and passing his trigger finger through said slit to operate said trigger.

2. A pouch according to claim 1, in which said zipper includes a rigid pull tab in an upright position, said zipper closing said upper opening by moving said pull tab from the upper rear corner of said pouch to the upper front corner, said pull tab then serving as a front sight for said gun when said gun is concealed within said pouch and fired.

3. A pouch according to claim 2, including a rigid stop member at the upper rear corner of said pouch for said pull tab, said stop member serving as a rear sight.

4. A pouch according to claim 1, including small openings formed in the upper front portions of each of said sides to serve as gas escape ports when said gun is fired.

5. A pouch according to claim 1, in which said material has a kindling temperature in excess of 5 00 F.

6. A handgun concealing pouch comprising: a flexible material forming first and second sides placed together and connected along adjacent front, bottom, and rear edges to define a pouch having an upper opening between the edges; and a fastening means secured to said upper edges for closing said opening, the first side of the said pouch having a slit in its central portion positioned such that when a handgun is received through the upper opening in said pouch, its trigger is adjacent to said slit whereby said handgun can be fired inside said pouch by a person holding said pouch and passing his finger through said slit to operate said trigger.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,090,393 3/1914 Goldstein 42-1 R 1,585,394 5/1926 Lawrence 421 R 1,934,732 11/1933 Nahm et al. 42--1 R 2,457,755 12/1948 Ugazio et al. 42-1 Y BENJAMIN A. BORCHE-LT, Primary Examiner C. T. JORDAN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 42-1 J