Flexible Holster with Rigid Trigger Guard Plate

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional rigid handgun holsters are bulky and uncomfortable, while flexible holsters lack the safety feature to prevent inadvertent trigger actuation, posing a risk of accidental discharge.

Innovation Solution

A soft, flexible handgun holster with a built-in trigger guard featuring a thin, rigid guard plate within a cover attached to the holster's front surface, positioned to cover the trigger and prevent actuation, combined with a securing strap for secure retention of the handgun.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If rigid materials (metals, stiffened leather, thermoformable plastics) are used for holster construction, then safety and secure retention are improved, but weight and comfort deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidweight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The holster combines rigid trigger guard components (made from materials like Kydex, Delrin, or metal) with flexible holster body materials (such as leather, nylon, or other soft materials). This composite construction allows the trigger guard to provide safety and trigger protection while the flexible body maintains comfort and concealability, resolving the contradiction between safety and weight/comfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of operation

If soft, flexible materials (elastic, neoprene, nylon) are used for holster construction, then comfort and concealability are improved, but safety deteriorates due to inability to prevent trigger actuation

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecomfortVSAvoidsafety

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The holster combines rigid trigger guard components (made from materials like Kydex, Delrin, or metal) with flexible holster body materials (such as leather, nylon, or other soft materials). This composite construction allows the trigger guard to provide safety and trigger protection while the flexible body maintains comfort and concealability, resolving the contradiction between safety and weight/comfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If a trigger guard is added to a flexible holster, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidcomplexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The trigger guard is designed as a separate, modular component that can be attached to or integrated with the flexible holster body. This segmentation allows the safety feature to be added independently without redesigning the entire holster system, thus improving safety while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The trigger guard structure is designed to nest within or attach to the existing holster body, with the rigid guard plate positioned within a cover that attaches to the front surface of the holster. This nesting approach integrates the safety feature into the existing holster structure rather than adding significant external complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS11460269B2Handgun holster with trigger guard

Publication Date: 2022.10.04 YY BRANDS LLC

AI summary

Handgun holster devices are provided that allow a user to securely, comfortably and safely carry a handgun on their person. The holster may be integral with a support band configured to be worn on a body part of a user. The holster and support band may each be made from one or more flexible materials such that the device is lightweight, unobtrusive and comfortable to carry in a concealed manner. The holster includes a trigger guard that is sized, shaped and positioned to substantially cover the trigger of a holstered handgun, thereby preventing a user from inadvertently discharging the weapon.