Rotatable Hood Quick Release for Holster Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing side arm holsters face issues with quick and secure release mechanisms, including durability problems with snap devices, operational difficulties with button-activated locks, and instability during urgent situations with rotatable hood devices, particularly when worn with gloves or under stress.
Innovation Solution
A quick release device featuring a U-shaped hood with a rotatable bridge, a shaft, and thumb-actuated wheels that securely lock and unlock, allowing for one-handed operation without compromising hand position, and is designed for use with soft-sided holsters to prevent unwanted withdrawal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rotatable hood device is used to secure the side arm, then the side arm can be locked securely, but the device can be accidentally unlocked by downward and forward impact or raking motion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by designing the hood and trigger guard interaction to preemptively counteract harmful forces. The hood is positioned and shaped to resist downward and forward impacts before they can cause unlocking, and the trigger guard geometry prevents raking motions from disengaging the retention mechanism. This proactive design prevents accidental unlocking rather than reacting to it after occurrence.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamics by allowing the hood to rotate between locked and unlocked positions while maintaining secure retention in the locked state. The dynamic rotation capability enables the hood to absorb and dissipate impact forces through controlled movement, while the trigger guard provides geometric constraints that prevent unintended disengagement during dynamic use or assault scenarios.
2Device complexity
If the hood is positioned with pivot point directly beneath it, then the structure is simplified, but the leading edge moves downward during rotation requiring the side arm to be pushed further down
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by changing the dimensional relationship between the hood pivot point and the side arm contact point. Instead of positioning the pivot directly beneath the hood for simplicity, the patent offsets the pivot point laterally so that the side arm contacts the hood at a point that allows rotation without requiring additional downward insertion. This dimensional adjustment eliminates the operational drawback while maintaining structural simplicity.
3Ease of operation
If button activated locks are used in hard plastic holsters, then easy access to the grip is achieved, but movement of the trigger finger is required which may engage the trigger
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the release mechanism from the trigger finger area and relocates it to the hood structure. The release button or actuator is positioned on the hood body, allowing the user to operate the release mechanism with the thumb or forefinger of the drawing hand without requiring trigger finger movement. This spatial separation eliminates the risk of accidental trigger engagement while maintaining ease of operation.
4Ease of manufacture
If snaps are used to secure the side arm, then the device is simple to manufacture, but the snaps lack durability and are easy to foul
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the snap fastener mechanical system with a hood-and-trigger-guard retention system. Instead of relying on snaps that can foul and wear, the new system uses the geometric interaction between the rigid hood and the trigger guard to provide secure retention. This substitution maintains ease of manufacture for soft-sided holsters while dramatically improving durability and resistance to fouling, as there are no small moving parts to wear or accumulate debris.
Data Source
AI summary
A quick release device for preventing unwarranted withdrawal of a hand gun from a holster, comprising a thumb actuated hood translatably fixed with respect to and rotatable about a fixed axis between a rearward position overlying the holster opening and a forward position removed therefrom.