Forward draw holster with holster retention mechanism

Abstract

A holster includes a holster housing that has a top portion and a side opening for inserting therethrough a weapon and for drawing the weapon in a forward direction through the side opening as opposed to the top portion, and a holster retention mechanism that has a retaining position in which the weapon is retained in the holster and a release position in which the weapon can be drawn from the holster. In the retaining position the holster retention mechanism has a portion that protrudes from the holster housing, and in the release position the holster retention mechanism does not protrude above the top portion of the holster housing.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to holsters for firearms and particularly to a forward draw holster with a holster retention mechanism.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] It is imperative to be able to draw a handgun from its holster rapidly in order to provide timely and effective use of the handgun together with security of the user.

[0003] In most holsters, the handgun is drawn vertically upwards out of the holster. Many holsters include a holster retention mechanism. The user must first perform one or more actions in order to release the holster retention mechanism so that the firearm can be withdrawn. This helps prevent an unauthorized person drawing the handgun from the holster.

[0004] Front opening or forward draw holsters are known in the prior art that allow the user to draw the handgun not vertically but instead horizontally out of the holster in a forward direction (this is normally the direction in which the shooter is facing, but also encompasses other directions). The advantage of forward draw is speed: a forward draw places the handgun in a shooting position more quickly than a vertical draw. However, there is a major disadvantage of forward draw: an unauthorized person can easily draw the handgun from such holsters. Adding a prior art holster retention mechanism to the forward draw holster is not a solution because it creates another problem: prior art holster retention mechanisms are meant for vertical draw; in forward draw they interfere with the hand of the shooter gripping the handgun to forwardly move the handgun from the holster.SUMMARY

[0005] The present invention seeks to provide a forward draw holster with a holster retention mechanism, as is described more in detail hereinbelow. As will be described below, the holster retention mechanism does not interfere with drawing of the handgun from the holster; any parts of the holster retention mechanism move out of the way so they do not hinder smooth withdrawal of the handgun.

[0006] There is thus provided in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the invention a holster including a holster housing that has a top portion and a side opening for inserting therethrough a weapon and for drawing the weapon in a forward direction through the side opening as opposed to the top portion, and a holster retention mechanism that has a retaining position in which the weapon is retained in the holster and a release position in which the weapon can be drawn from the holster, wherein in the retaining position the holster retention mechanism has a portion that protrudes from the holster housing, and in the release position the holster retention mechanism does not protrude above the top portion of the holster housing.

[0007] In accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the invention, in the release position, the holster retention mechanism moves into a withdrawing channel formed in the holster housing, so that the holster retention mechanism does not protrude above the top portion of the holster housing.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0008] The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

[0009] FIGS. 1A and 1B are simplified perspective illustrations of a holster, in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, respectively without and with an accommodation for accessories attached to a handgun.

[0010] FIG. 1C is a simplified perspective illustration of a handgun holstered in the holster of FIG. 1B, in which the handgun has a silencer mounted at the end of the barrel, and fits in the holster without any interference.

[0011] FIG. 2A is a simplified exploded illustration of the holster of FIG. 1B.

[0012] FIG. 2B is another simplified exploded illustration of the holster.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a simplified perspective illustration of different parts of a holster retention mechanism used with the holster, including an actuator, a deploying element, a weapon retaining element, and a limiter that limits movement of the deploying element.

[0014] FIG. 4A is a simplified perspective illustration of the assembled holster retention mechanism.

[0015] FIG. 4B is a simplified perspective illustration of the holster retention mechanism, showing operative surfaces of the weapon retaining element that cooperate with operative surfaces of the deploying element so that relative sliding of the weapon retaining element with the deploying element moves the weapon retaining element in and out of retaining engagement with a portion of the handgun (such as, but not necessarily, a trigger guard).

[0016] FIGS. 5A and 5B are simplified perspective, cutaway illustrations of relative sliding of the weapon retaining element with the deploying element that moves the weapon retaining element in (FIG. 5A) and out (FIG. 5B) of retaining engagement with the handgun.

[0017] FIG. 5C is a simplified perspective illustration of the weapon retaining element moved inwards to a hollow portion of the holster so that it is in retaining engagement with the handgun (not shown here for clarity).

[0018] FIG. 6 is a simplified perspective, cutaway illustration of the holster retention mechanism in the holster, showing a biasing device (e.g., coil spring) that biases the deploying element.

[0019] FIGS. 7A and 7B are simplified perspective illustrations of trigger blocking elements of the holster in deployed positions in which they block a user’s finger from gaining access to the weapon’s trigger (as seen in FIG. 7B).

[0020] FIG. 7C is a simplified perspective illustration of the trigger blocking elements moving out of the way of the handgun as the handgun is forwardly drawn from the holster.

[0021] FIG. 7D is a cutaway illustration of the trigger blocking elements biased by a biasing device (e.g., coil spring).

[0022] FIG. 8A is a simplified perspective illustration of the holster showing an optional position of the biasing device that biases the deploying element from underneath instead of from above.

[0023] FIG. 8B is a simplified perspective illustration of the deploying element showing the two surfaces for the biasing device to push against.

[0024] FIG. 9A is a simplified perspective illustration of an adjustable holster accessories base that supports illumination or other optic devices or other devices mounted on the handgun.

[0025] FIG. 9B is a simplified cutaway illustration of the adjustable holster accessories base.

[0026] FIG. 9C is a simplified perspective illustration of the holster showing an access hole to a retention screw to adjust the retention the holster provides to the weapon.

[0027] FIGS. 10A and 10B are simplified perspective illustrations of a different type of actuator (it moves horizontally to the side instead of being rotated) that allows the deploying element to move and bring the weapon retaining element out of the retaining position and allow withdrawal of the handgun from the holster, in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] FIGS. 11A and 11B are simplified perspective illustrations of another type of actuator (it moves in and out of the deploying element) that allows the deploying element to move and bring the weapon retaining element out of the retaining position and allow withdrawal of the handgun from the holster, in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 12 is a simplified perspective illustration of the handgun holstered in the holster which has yet a different type of actuator, in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] FIGS. 13A and 13B are simplified perspective illustrations of a holster retention mechanism, including an actuator, a deploying element, and a weapon retaining element, in accordance with another non-limiting embodiment of the invention.

[0031] FIGS. 14A and 14B are simplified perspective illustrations of the holster retention mechanism in the position that allows drawing the weapon from the holster and the retaining position that prevents drawing the weapon from the holster, respectively.

[0032] FIGS. 14C and 14D are simplified perspective and cutaway illustrations, respectively, of the holster with the holster retention mechanism in the retaining position, in which the actuator rests against a notch on the holster and the weapon retaining element is positioned inwards to be able to retain a portion of the weapon (e.g., the trigger guard).

[0033] FIGS. 14E and 14F are simplified perspective and cutaway illustrations, respectively, of the holster with the holster retention mechanism in the position that allows drawing the weapon from the holster, in which the actuator is moved into the holster and the weapon retaining element is moved outwards to allow drawing the weapon from the holster.

[0034] FIG. 15A is a simplified perspective illustration of yet another type of actuator (it moves down and then rotates in a hole of the holster) that allows the deploying element to move and bring the weapon retaining element out of the retaining position and allow withdrawal of the handgun from the holster, in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] FIG. 15B is a simplified perspective illustration of a groove formed in the holster that guides downward movement of the actuator of FIG. 15A.

[0036] FIGS. 16A and 16B are simplified perspective illustrations of the holster retention mechanism of FIG. 15A in the retaining position that prevents drawing the weapon from the holster and in the position that allows drawing the weapon from the holster, respectively.

[0037] FIG. 17 is a simplified perspective illustration of the holster retention mechanism used with the holster of FIG. 15A, including an actuator, a deploying element, and a weapon retaining element.

[0038] FIGS. 18A and 18B are simplified perspective illustrations of the holster retention mechanism of FIG. 15A in the position that allows drawing the weapon from the holster and the retaining position that prevents drawing the weapon from the holster, respectively.

[0039] FIG. 19 is a simplified perspective illustration of a holster retention mechanism for use with any of the holsters of the invention, in which the weapon retaining element is a pivoting lever wherein the deploying element moves one end of the pivoting lever and the opposite end swings about the central pivot into or out of the retaining position.

[0040] FIGS. 20A and 20B are simplified perspective illustrations of the holster retention mechanism of FIG. 19 in the retaining position that prevents drawing the weapon from the holster and in the position that allows drawing the weapon from the holster, respectively.

[0041] FIGS. 21A and 21B are simplified perspective illustrations of another holster retention mechanism in which the actuator is pushed downwards, in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, in the retaining position that prevents drawing the weapon from the holster and in the position that allows drawing the weapon from the holster, respectively.

[0042] FIG. 21C is a simplified perspective illustration of a catch of the actuator caught in a notch formed in the holster to hold the actuator in the release position that allows drawing the weapon from the holster.

[0043] FIG. 22 is a simplified exploded illustration of a spacer element and a weapon-accessories-rail retaining element, which may be used in the holster of an embodiment of the invention.

[0044] FIGS. 23-24 are simplified pictorial illustrations, in two different perspective views, of another version of the deploying element and the weapon retaining element of an embodiment of the invention.

[0045] FIG. 25 is a simplified illustration of the holster with the weapon-accessories-rail retaining element.

[0046] FIGS. 26A and 26B are two more view of the weapon-accessories-rail retaining element.

[0047] FIG. 27 is a simplified illustration of the holster with the weapon-accessories-rail retaining element engaging a weapon accessories rail of a handgun, and the weapon retaining element engaging the trigger guard of the handgun.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] Reference is now made to FIGS. 1A and 1B, which illustrate a holster 10, in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1A, holster 10 has a configuration suitable for holstering a handgun with no accessories attached thereto. In FIG. 1B, holster 10 has a configuration suitable for accommodating accessories attached to the handgun.

[0049] Holster 10 may include a holster housing 12, made of any suitable holster material, such as but not limited to, a polymer, such as KYDEX (thermoplastic acrylic-polyvinyl chloride). The holster housing 12 has an opening 14 for inserting therethrough a handgun or other weapon 15 (shown in FIG. 1C). The holster housing 12 may include a paddle hub 16 (shown in FIGS. 2B and 6), which may be serrated, or any other garment attachment means, as is known in the art.

[0050] The opening 14 is open along the height of the holster at the forward end of the holster so that the weapon can be withdrawn from the holster in the direction F in FIGS. 1A-1C. Opening 14 leads into a receiving chamber 13 into which the handgun 15 is received.

[0051] FIG. 1C illustrates handgun 15 holstered in the holster 10. Handgun 15 has a silencer 18 mounted at the end of the barrel (or other accessory which could be mounted on a Picatinny rail, for example). It is seen that the holster 10 is shaped so that there is no interference at all for drawing or holstering the handgun with the silencer attached to the handgun.

[0052] Holster 10 includes a holster retention mechanism 20, which is now described more in detail with reference to FIGS. 3-4B.

[0053] As seen in FIG. 3, holster retention mechanism 20 may include an actuator 22, a deploying element 24, and a weapon retaining element 26. A reset member 28 may be provided that resets the actuator 22 and deploying element 24 to the retention position, as described further below.

[0054] Another version of the deploying element 24 and the weapon retaining element is described below with reference to FIGS. 23-24.

[0055] In the non-limiting illustrated embodiment, actuator 22 is rotatingly coupled to deploying element 24 by a pivoted connection, such as by a pin 22P (shown in FIG. 4A) that passes through a hole 22H formed in actuator 22 and through holes 24H1 and 24H2 formed in two walls 24W1 and 24W2 of deploying element 24. The actuator 22 may be received in a gap 24G between the two walls 24W1 and 24W2 of deploying element 24. As seen in FIG. 4A, actuator 22 may be biased by a biasing device 30 (e.g., a coil spring). One end of biasing device 30 pushes against actuator 22 and the other end against a portion of deploying element 24 (e.g., the back wall 24BW of the gap 24G in FIG. 3). In this manner, the biasing device 30 urges actuator 22 to rotate away from back wall 24BW of deploying element 24, counterclockwise around hole 24H1 in FIG. 3, towards the retaining position in which the handgun is retained in the holster.

[0056] In the non-limiting illustrated embodiment, deploying element 24 has an operative (e.g., inclined) surface 24IN and a protrusion 24P (all seen in FIG. 4B). A biasing device 32 (e.g., a coil spring) applies a biasing force on protrusion 24P to cause deploying element 24 to move. In the non-limiting illustrated embodiment, this movement is downwards (in the sense of the drawings), but alternatively the holster can be made so that the movement is upwards (in the sense of the drawings).

[0057] In the non-limiting illustrated embodiment, weapon retaining element 26 has an operative (e.g., inclined) surface 26IN. Referring to FIG. 5A, it is seen that the operative surface 26IN of the weapon retaining element 26 cooperates with the operative surface 24IN of the deploying element 24 so that relative sliding of the weapon retaining element 26 with the deploying element 24 moves the weapon retaining element into a retaining position (FIG. 5A) in which weapon retaining element 26 is in retaining engagement with a portion of the handgun (such as, but not necessarily, a trigger guard, ejection port or other parts), or out of the retaining position into a withdrawing position (FIG. 5B) in which weapon retaining element 26 is not in retaining engagement with the handgun and the handgun can be drawn from the holster.

[0058] In the non-limiting illustrated embodiment, moving deploying element 24 downwards (arrow 29 in FIG. 5A) moves weapon retaining element 26 out of the retaining position of FIG. 5A into the withdrawing position of FIG. 5B. However, it is important to note that alternatively the operative surfaces could be reversed (e.g., the inclinations reversed) so that the movement is upwards (in the sense of the drawings) or in other directions. For example, as seen in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the biasing device 32 can be positioned so that it biases the deploying element 24 from below protrusion 24P (FIG. 8B) to cause deploying element 24 to move upwards (as indicated by arrow 23 in FIG. 8B) instead of downwards.

[0059] In the retaining position of FIGS. 5A and 5C, weapon retaining element 26 moves inwards through an aperture 34 formed in a wall of receiving chamber 13. In the withdrawing position of FIG. 5B, weapon retaining element 26 has been moved outwards and does not protrude through aperture 34. In the withdrawing position of FIG. 5B, the main parts of holster retention mechanism 20, that is, actuator 22, deploying element 24, and weapon retaining element 26, move down in a withdrawing channel 31.

[0060] Thus, in the withdrawing position, the holster retention mechanism 20“disappears”, that is, it moves below the upper surface of the holster housing 12, into withdrawing channel 31. This solves the problem of prior art holster retention mechanisms: the holster retention mechanism 20 does not interfere with the hand of the shooter gripping the handgun to forwardly move the handgun from the holster.

[0061] Throughout the movement of weapon retaining element 26, a biasing device 36 seen in FIG. 4A (e.g., a coil spring) applies a biasing force on weapon retaining element 26 that urges the operative surface 26IN of the weapon retaining element 26 against the operative surface 24IN of the deploying element 24. One end of biasing device 36 may press against a tab 26T of weapon retaining element 26 and the other end may press against a back cover 38 of weapon retaining element 26 (seen in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B; it may be received in a correspondingly shaped aperture 39 formed in housing 12 as seen in FIGS. 2B and 6) or against some internal portion of the holster housing 12.

[0062] A typical use of the holster is now described.

[0063] The handgun 15 is initially holstered in holster 10, as seen in FIG. 1C. In this position, the actuator 22 is in the retaining position (FIGS. 1A, 1B, 5A) in which the top portion (knob) of actuator 22 firmly rests against a top portion of the holster housing 12. The biasing device 30 (FIG. 4A) urges and keeps actuator 22 firmly against the top portion of the holster housing 12.

[0064] When the user wishes to draw handgun 15 from the holster 10, the user lifts actuator 22 up from the top portion of the holster housing 12 (overcoming the force of biasing device 30) and rotates the actuator 22 clockwise around hole 24H1 in FIG. 3, so that the actuator 22 is aligned with withdrawing channel 31. The force of biasing device 32 on protrusion 24P of deploying element 24 (FIG. 4A) causes deploying element 24 to move down in withdrawing channel 31, together with actuator 22. As previously noted, in the non-limiting illustrated embodiment, this movement is downwards (in the sense of the drawings), but alternatively the holster can be made so that the movement is upwards (in the sense of the drawings) or in other directions. The movement of deploying element 24 causes weapon retaining element 26 to move outwards into withdrawing channel 31 so that weapon retaining element 26 does not protrude through aperture 34. The handgun can now be drawn from the holster.

[0065] In one embodiment of the invention, the actuator 22 may be accessible so the user can pull it back up out of withdrawing channel 31 so that the actuator 22 may be returned to the retaining position (FIGS. 1A, 1B, 5A) in which the top portion of actuator 22 firmly rests against the top portion of the holster housing 12. In a preferred embodiment, as mentioned above, the reset member 28 is provided that resets the actuator 22 and deploying element 24 to this retention position. The reset member 28 may be secured to deploying element 24 by means of a screw 28S and nut 28N (FIGS. 2A and 2B). (Nut 28N may sit in a nut recess 28NR seen in FIG. 4A.) The reset member 28 may be provided with a guiding leg or legs 28L (FIG. 1C) which guide and limit the movement of reset member 28 in a guide opening 13 formed in holster housing 12 (FIGS. 1A and 1B). The user may simply push reset member 28 upwards in guide opening 13 to lift the deploying element 24 along with the actuator 22 so that the actuator 22 is lifted out of withdrawing channel 31. Once the actuator 22 is out of withdrawing channel 31, the biasing device 30 applies a force on actuator 22 to return it to the retaining position (FIGS. 1A, 1B, 5A) in which the top portion of actuator 22 firmly rests against the top portion of the holster housing 12.

[0066] Reference is now made to FIGS. 23-24, which illustrate another version of deploying element 24 and the weapon retaining element, with like reference numbers being used for like elements. In this version, there is a weapon retaining element 260 formed with an operative surface 260IN and a biasing-device-receiving surface 261. The biasing device 36 applies a biasing force on weapon retaining element 260 by pressing against biasing-device-receiving surface 261. As before, biasing device 36 urges the operative surface 260IN of the weapon retaining element 260 against the operative surface 24IN of the deploying element 24. In this embodiment, as opposed to the embodiment of FIG. 4A, the entire operative surface 260IN of the weapon retaining element 260 cooperates with the entire operative surface 24IN of the deploying element 24, which makes the sliding motion easier. As before, the relative sliding of the weapon retaining element 260 with the deploying element 24 moves the weapon retaining element 260 into a retaining position (FIG. 27) in which weapon retaining element 260 is in retaining engagement with a portion of the handgun (such as, but not necessarily, a trigger guard 265 (FIG. 27), ejection port or other parts), or out of the retaining position into a withdrawing position in which weapon retaining element 260 is not in retaining engagement with the handgun and the handgun can be drawn from the holster.

[0067] Reference is now made to FIGS. 22 and 27. There are many varieties of handguns available in the market, each with a unique set of dimensions. In order to accommodate different dimensions, a set of spacer elements 270 may be provided that can be added to the holster to adjust the position of the portion of the handgun (such as, the trigger guard 265) so that this portion is properly engaged by the weapon retaining element 260 when in the retaining position. The thickness of spacer elements 270 may range, without limitation, from 0.5-5 mm. The spacer element 270 may be provided with a grasping portion 271.

[0068] A different version of back cover 38 of weapon retaining element 260 is seen in FIG. 22.

[0069] Reference is now made to FIGS. 22, 25, 26A, 26B, and 27. There are many handguns that include a weapon accessories rail 285 (FIGS. 25 and 27), such as a Picatinny rail. The holster of the invention may include a weapon-accessories-rail retaining element 280 that can positively retain the weapon accessories rail of the handgun when the handgun is holstered in the holster. The weapon-accessories-rail retaining element 280 may be provided with an adjustment screw 281 which cooperates with a biasing device 282 to adjust the tension of weapon-accessories-rail retaining element 280 against the weapon accessories rail of the handgun, and / or adjust the length of the weapon-accessories-rail retaining element 280 that enters the weapon accessories rail of the handgun. The weapon-accessories-rail retaining element 280 helps the handgun sit firmly in the holster and provides another level of retention for safety of the user.

[0070] Reference is now made to FIGS. 7A-7D. Holster 10 may be provided with one or more trigger blocking elements 40, such as spring-loaded tabs which are biased by a biasing device 42 (FIG. 7D) which urges the tabs upwards (in the sense of the drawings) to deployed positions above the upper edge of the holster housing 12. The trigger blocking elements 40 can slide in a channel 44 formed in the housing 12 (FIG. 7D). As seen in FIG. 7B, trigger blocking elements 40 of the holster, when in the deployed positions, block a user’s finger from gaining access to the weapon’s trigger. As seen in FIG. 7C, the trigger blocking elements 40 move out of the way of the handgun 15 as the handgun 15 is forwardly drawn from the holster in the direction of arrow 45.

[0071] Reference is now made to FIGS. 9A-9B, which illustrate an adjustable holster accessories base 50 that can support illumination or other optic devices or other devices mounted on the handgun.

[0072] The adjustable holster accessories base 50 may include a base member 51, which is coupled to a tube 52 in which a long threaded fastener 53 is disposed. A biasing device 54 (e.g., a coil spring) spring-loads the threaded fastener 53. The threaded fastener 53 may go through a passageway 56 formed in the holster and screw into a nut 58. The passageway 56 is offset from a chamber 55 (FIG. 9A) designed to accommodate illumination or other optic devices or other devices mounted on the handgun. The adjustable holster accessories base 50 may provide tension, adjusted to any desired level, against the devices mounted in the handgun, and serves as a base of the holster so the handgun does not drop through the holster.

[0073] Reference is now made to FIG. 9C, which illustrates an elongate access hole 57 to a retention screw 59 (also seen in FIGS. 1A and 1B). As is known in the art of holsters, retention screw 59 may be used to adjust the retention the holster provides to the weapon.

[0074] The invention can be carried out with other kinds of actuation elements or deploying elements or weapon retaining elements. Some non-limiting examples are now described below.

[0075] Reference is now made to FIGS. 10A and 10B, which illustrate a different type of actuator 122, which moves horizontally to the side instead of being rotated like actuator 22 of the previous embodiment. As with the previous embodiment, moving actuator 122 allows the deploying element to move and bring the weapon retaining element out of the retaining position and allow withdrawal of the handgun from the holster. The actuator 122 does not interfere with movement of the handgun across the top of the holster.

[0076] Reference is now made to FIGS. 11A and 11B, which illustrate another type of actuator 222, which moves in and out of the deploying element 24. The actuator 222 may be disposed in an opening 225 formed in a side wall of deploying element 24. The actuator 222 may be spring-loaded by a biasing device 223. The actuator 222 may have one position in which it compresses the biasing device 223, and is caught and held in place on an edge of opening 225 (FIG. 11A). In this position, the deploying element 24 may position the weapon retaining element in the weapon retaining position. Release of actuator 222 (so that it juts out of opening 225 by the force of biasing device 223) allows the deploying element to move and bring the weapon retaining element out of the retaining position and allow withdrawal of the handgun from the holster.

[0077] Reference is now made to FIG. 12, which illustrates the handgun 15 holstered in the holster 10 which has yet a different type of actuator 322. The actuator 322 is similar to actuator 22 except that actuator 22 must be lifted slightly and then rotated to the position above the withdrawing channel, whereas actuator 322 does not require a lifting-plus-rotating motion, but instead is only moved linearly to the release position.

[0078] Reference is now made to FIGS. 13A and 13B and to FIGS. 14A-14F, which illustrate a holster retention mechanism, including an actuator 422, a deploying element 424, and a weapon retaining element 426, in accordance with another non-limiting embodiment of the invention. The actuator 422, deploying element 424, and weapon retaining element 426 are similar to actuator 22, deploying element 24, and weapon retaining element 26. The main difference is that a biasing device 430 is a spiral spring instead of the coil spring of biasing device 30. When the actuator 422 is in the retaining position (FIGS. 14C and 14D), a crevice 425 formed in actuator 422 firmly rests against a notch 427 (FIG. 14D) on the holster and the weapon retaining element 426 is positioned inwards to be able to retain the weapon in the holster. The biasing device 430 urges and keeps actuator 422 firmly against the notch 427.

[0079] FIGS. 14E and 14F illustrate the holster retention mechanism in the position in withdrawing channel 31 that allows drawing the weapon from the holster, in which the actuator 422 is moved into the holster and the weapon retaining element 426 is moved outwards to allow drawing the weapon from the holster.

[0080] Reference is now made to FIG. 15A, FIG. 17, and FIGS. 18A-18B, which illustrate yet another type of holster retention mechanism, including an actuator 522, a deploying element 524, and a weapon retaining element 526, in accordance with another non-limiting embodiment of the invention. Here, too, a biasing device 530 is a spiral spring instead of the coil spring of biasing device 30. Biasing devices 532 bias the deploying element 524, similarly to biasing device 32 that biases the deploying element 24. The actuator 522, deploying element 524 and weapon retaining element 526 move down in withdrawing channel 31, as similarly described above.

[0081] Actuator 522 rotates about a pivot 521, biased by biasing device 530. Actuator 522 is formed with a notch 523.

[0082] FIG. 16A illustrates the holster retention mechanism of FIG. 15A in the retaining position that prevents drawing the weapon from the holster. In order to release the handgun 15 from the holster, actuator 522 moves down in withdrawing channel 31 until notch 523 reaches a hole 519 formed in the holster housing 12. When this happens, biasing device 530 rotates actuator 522 about pivot 521 (the position shown in FIG. 16B), and this allows the deploying element 524 to move and bring the weapon retaining element 526 out of the retaining position and allow withdrawal of the handgun 15 from the holster.

[0083] Reference is now made to FIG. 19, which illustrates a holster retention mechanism for use with any of the holsters of the invention, which includes a weapon retaining element 626 is a pivoting lever. The pivoting lever swings about a central pivot 627. The pivoting lever has one end which is an actuating end 628 and an opposite end which is a retaining end 629.

[0084] FIGS. 20A and 20B illustrates the holster retention mechanism of FIG. 19 in the retaining position that prevents drawing the weapon from the holster and in the position that allows drawing the weapon from the holster, respectively. FIGS. 20A and 20B illustrates the holster retention mechanism of FIG. 19 used with the actuator 422 of FIGS. 13A and 13B and FIGS. 14A-14F. The actuator 422 in FIG. 20A is resting against the holster as described above, and in this position the deploying element 424 (not shown) operates against actuating end 628 so that retaining end 629 is in the retaining position (such as in the trigger guard or other element) that prevents withdrawing the weapon. The actuator 422 in FIG. 20B has moved down in withdrawing channel 31, and in this position the deploying element 424 (not shown) operates against actuating end 628 so that the pivoting lever swings about the central pivot which moves retaining end 629 out of the retaining position to permit withdrawing the weapon.

[0085] Reference is now made to FIGS. 21A and 21B, which illustrate another holster retention mechanism in which an actuator 722 is pushed downwards from the retaining position (FIG. 21A) that prevents drawing the handgun 15 from the holster to the position (FIG. 21B) that allows drawing handgun 15 from the holster. The structure of the holster retention mechanism including the deploying element and the weapon retaining element may be as in any of the other embodiments of the invention described herein.

[0086] As seen in FIG. 21C, a catch 721 of the actuator 722 may be caught in a notch 719 formed in the holster (at any convenient place) to hold the actuator 722 in the release position that allows drawing the weapon from the holster.

[0087] It is noted that actuator 722 is illustrated as a curved member and the top of the holster is also curved, but alternatively they may be straight.

Claims

1. A holster comprising:a holster housing that has a top portion and a side opening for inserting therethrough a weapon and for drawing the weapon in a forward direction through the side opening as opposed to the top portion; anda holster retention mechanism that has a retaining position in which the weapon is retained in the holster and a release position in which the weapon can be drawn from the holster, wherein in the retaining position said holster retention mechanism has a portion that protrudes from the holster housing, and in the release position said holster retention mechanism does not protrude above the top portion of said holster housing.

2. The holster according to claim 1, wherein said holster retention mechanism comprises an actuator coupled to a deploying element, and a weapon retaining element coupled to said deploying element, wherein movement of said actuator causes movement of said deploying element, and movement of said deploying element causes said weapon retaining element to move from said retaining position to said release position.

3. The holster according to claim 2, further comprising a biasing device coupled to said deploying element and configured to apply a biasing force on said deploying element to cause the movement of said deploying element that causes said weapon retaining element to move from said retaining position to said release position.

4. The holster according to claim 3, wherein said deploying element and said weapon retaining element each comprise an operative surface, and sliding movement of said operative surfaces relative to each other causes said weapon retaining element to move from said retaining position to said release position.

5. The holster according to claim 4, wherein said operative surfaces are inclined surfaces.

6. The holster according to claim 1, wherein in the release position, said holster retention mechanism moves into a withdrawing channel formed in said holster housing, so that said holster retention mechanism does not protrude above the top portion of the holster housing.

7. The holster according to claim 2, wherein in the release position, said actuator, said deploying element and said weapon retaining element move into a withdrawing channel formed in said holster housing, so that said holster retention mechanism does not protrude above the top portion of the holster housing.

8. The holster according to claim 2, wherein in the retaining position, a biasing device urges said actuator to be restrained against a portion of said holster housing.

9. The holster according to claim 2, wherein in order to move from said retaining position to said release position, said actuator moves in translation.

10. The holster according to claim 2, wherein in order to move from said retaining position to said release position, said actuator moves in rotation.

11. The holster according to claim 2, wherein in order to move from said retaining position to said release position, said actuator moves in translation and rotation.

12. The holster according to claim 1, wherein in the retaining position, a portion of said holster retention mechanism protrudes above the top portion of the holster housing.

13. The holster according to claim 1, wherein in the retaining position, said holster retention mechanism does not protrude above the top portion of the holster housing.

14. The holster according to claim 1, wherein in the retaining position, one or more trigger blocking elements are configured to block access to a trigger of a weapon holstered in the holster, and wherein in the release position, said one or more trigger blocking elements are configured not to block access to the trigger.

15. The holster according to claim 1, wherein a reset member is coupled to said holster retention mechanism and configured to move said holster retention mechanism from the release position to the retention position.

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