Bullet-proof holster and ballistic pouch

Abstract

The bullet resistant holster for handguns or a protective sleeve for a rifle, comprised of a compartment for holding the handgun or a tube over the muzzle of a rifle, means for securing the handgun within the compartment or straps to secure the tube over the end of a rifle, a bullet blocking material that will absorb and contain the energy of a bullet and any particles that result, by means of tension straps or sewing of the bullet blocking material into the compartment or tube, in such a way as to insure that the bullet blocking material is in tension during the process of absorbing the energy from a bullet, discharged from a handgun, with the handgun in the holster or while removing the handgun from the holster or placing the handgun back into the holster or with the tube over the end of the rifle.

Description

[0001]This Application is a continuation of and claims priority to PCT Application PCT / US2010 / 002460, entitled “Bullet-Proof Holster and Ballistic Pouch”, filed on 11 Sep. 2010; and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 276,302, entitled “Bullet-Proof Holster and Ballistic Pouch” filed on 11 Sep. 2009.FIELD OF USE[0002]The present invention relates to a holster for use by law enforcement personnel, private citizens or the military, and more particularly, to protect the wearer and others from an inadvertent discharge of the firearm.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]While some form of safety on a firearm is advocated by the majority of firearms owners, the number and type of safeties incorporated in the design of the firearm has been a source of controversy. Safety mechanisms add complexity to the weapon and increase the chances of a mechanical failure either allowing an accidental discharge or preventing an intentional firing of the weapon. Also, manual safeties slow the process of read...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0025]Another type of bullet blocker is fabric that is impregnated with shear thickening fluid. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the bullet blocker is Kevlar and the shear thickening fluid impregnates the Kevlar. In another preferred embodiment, the inside and outside cloth of the holster is impregnated with shear thickening fluid. This makes the holster material better able to contain the Kevlar during a shot. The Kevlar material enhanced with the shear thickening fluid is flexible, has low bulk, is lightweight, and is protective.

Problems solved by technology

While some form of safety on a firearm is advocated by the majority of firearms owners, the number and type of safeties incorporated in the design of the firearm has been a source of controversy.

Safety mechanisms add complexity to the weapon and increase the chances of a mechanical failure either allowing an accidental discharge or preventing an intentional firing of the weapon.

Also, manual safeties slow the process of readying the weapon as the user must consciously de-activate that safety.

PCT / GB1992 / 000827 (Sacks) discloses various forms of bullet resistant holsters for handguns and a protective sleeve for a rifle but does not disclose how to secure the ballistic material in place such that the protective material will absorb the energy from a handgun bullet or a rifle bullet.

This is important because without the definition of the means of securing the ballistic material, when the bullet strikes the ballistic material, the bullet and the ballistic material will move at a speed close to the speed of the bullet with risk of significant injury occurring to anyone that this combined projectile strikes.

Ballistic fabrics with continuous polymer coatings, however, exhibit very low water vapor transport rates.

Civilians and undercover officers are faced with the problem of properly concealing a firearm.

Carrying the firearm in a trousers pocket, however, creates difficulties in rapidly accessing the gun.

When an officer is in a seated position, the gun cannot be readily removed from the pocket.

Alternatively, if the free hand of the officer is engaged, it may be difficult to remove the firearm from the pocket with the opposite hand.

In such situations, the officer may be powerless to use the firearm against the assailant.

An additional problem caused by carrying the firearm in a trousers pocket is that the gun tends to wear the material of the pocket, frequently forming holes in the bottom of the pocket.

When a handgun is carried in a concealed, belly-band holster, there is always a concern that the firearm will discharge or misfire inadvertently and injure someone.

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