Rapid deployable weapon retention system for tactical holsters

Abstract

A weapon retention mechanism for releasably holding a weapon in a holster pocket including a frame member forming at least a portion of the holster pocket, the frame member including a pair of substantially linear slots, a retention member having opposed side portions and an intermediate portion extending therebetween, each opposed side portion including a projection positioned and located so as to be cooperatively engageable with the corresponding slots associated with the frame member, the retention member being slidably moveable in a substantially linear direction between a first position wherein the retention member restricts movement of the weapon out of the holster pocket and a second position wherein the retention member does not restrict movement of the weapon out of the holster pocket, and a release member for releasably holding the retention member in its first position, the release member being moveable between a first position wherein it holds the retention member in its first position and a second position wherein it releases the retention member and allows the retention member to be moved to its second position. In a preferred embodiment, the retention member is biased towards its second position and the release member is biased towards its first position.

1 . A weapon retention mechanism for releasably holding a weapon in a holster pocket comprising: 
 a frame member forming at least a portion of the holster pocket,    said frame member including a pair of substantially linear slots;    a retention member having opposed side portions and an intermediate portion extending therebetween, each opposed side portion including a tongue member positioned and located so as to be cooperatively engageable with the corresponding slots associated with said frame member, said retention member being slidably movable within said slots in a substantially linear direction between a first position wherein said intermediate portion restricts movement of the weapon out of the holster pocket and a second position wherein said intermediate portion does not restrict movement of the weapon out of the holster pocket;    a release member for releasably holding the retention member in its first position, said release member being movable between a first position wherein said release member holds said retention member in its first position and restricts movement of said retention member to its second position and a second position wherein said release member releases said retention member and allows said retention member to move to its second position;    first biasing means biasing said retention member towards its second position; and    second biasing means biasing said release member towards its first position.    
     
     
         2 . The weapon retention mechanism of  claim 1  wherein said release member is engageable with said frame member.  
     
     
         3 . The weapon retention mechanism of  claim 1  wherein said first biasing means includes a spring member having one end portion attached to said retention member and having its opposite end portion attached to said release member.  
     
     
         4 . The weapon retention mechanism of  claim 1  wherein said second biasing means includes a spring member attached to said frame member and having at least a portion thereof engageable with said release member.  
     
     
         5 . The weapon retention mechanism of  claim 1  wherein said release member includes a pawl and said retention member includes a notch, said pawl being engageable with said notch when said retention member is in its first position, the engagement of said pawl with said notch holding said retention member in its first position.  
     
     
         6 . The weapon retention mechanism of  claim 1  including means for further controlling the linear movement of said retention member between its first and second positions.  
     
     
         7 . The weapon retention mechanism of  claim 6  wherein said means includes a boss associated with said frame member and a slot associated with said retention member, said boss being engageable with said slot for controlling the linear movement of said retention member.  
     
     
         8 . The weapon retention mechanism of  claim 1  wherein said release member is positioned and located so as to be engageable by the thumb of a user during the natural hand movement of the user as the user is moving his/her hand to draw the weapon from the holster pocket.  
     
     
         9 . The weapon retention mechanism of  claim 1  including a cowling member attachable to said frame member, said cowling member and said frame member forming the holster pocket.  
     
     
         10 . The weapon retention mechanism of  claim 1  including means for controlling the travel of said release member between its first and second positions.  
     
     
         11 . The weapon retention mechanism of  claim 10  wherein said means includes at least one boss associated with said frame member and at least one slot associated with said release member, said at least one boss being engageable with said at least one slot for controlling the travel of said release member.  
     
     
         12 . The weapon retention mechanism of  claim 1  including a side cap member engageable with said frame member, said side cap member being positioned and located so as to extend over at least a portion of one side portion of said retention member as said retention member moves between its first and second positions.  
     
     
         13 . A weapon retention mechanism for releasably holding a weapon in a holster pocket comprising: 
 a frame member forming at least a portion of the holster pocket, said frame member having an upper portion with opposed side portions, each opposed side portion having a substantially linear groove associated therewith;    a retention member having opposed side portions and an intermediate portion extending therebetween, each opposed side portion including a projection positioned and located for slidably engaging the corresponding groove associated with each side portion of said frame member, said retention member being movable in a substantially linear direction between a first position wherein said intermediate portion restricts movement of the weapon out of the holster pocket and a second position wherein said intermediate portion is forward of the holster pocket and does not restrict movement of the weapon out of the holster pocket;    a release member attachable to said frame member for releasably holding the retention member in its first position, said release member being positioned and located so as to be engageable by the thumb of a shooter during the natural hand movement of the shooter to draw the weapon from the holster pocket, said release member being movable between a first position wherein said release member holds said retention member in its first position and a second position where said release member releases said retention member and allows said retention member to move to its second position;    a first biasing member engageable with said frame member and said release member for biasing said release member towards its first position; and    a second biasing member engageable with said retention member and said release member for biasing said retention member towards its second position.    
     
     
         14 . The weapon retention mechanism of  claim 13  wherein said release member includes a projection and said retention member includes a notch associated with one side portion thereof, said projection being engageable with said notch when said retention member is in its first position.  
     
     
         15 . The weapon retention mechanism of  claim 13  wherein said frame member includes a boss and said retention member includes a slot associated with one side portion thereof, said boss extending through said slot, the length of said slot limiting the linear movement of said retention member between its first and second positions.  
     
     
         16 . The weapon retention mechanism of  claim 13  wherein said frame member includes at least one boss and said release member includes at least one slot, said at least one boss extending through said at least one slot for limiting the movement of said release member between its first and second positions.  
     
     
         17 . The weapon retention mechanism of  claim 13  including a cowling member removably attachable to said frame member, said cowling member and said frame member forming the holster pocket.  
     
     
         18 . The weapon retention mechanism of  claim 13  wherein said release member includes a channel for at least partially housing said second biasing member.  
     
     
         19 . The weapon retention mechanism of  claim 13  wherein said frame member includes portions for facilitating attachment of the frame member to a mounting platform.  
     
     
         20 . The weapon retention mechanism of  claim 13  including a side cap member engageable with said frame member, said side cap member having a portion thereof extending over at least a portion of one side portion of said retention member when said retention member moves between its first and second positions.  
     
     
         21 . The weapon retention mechanism of  claim 20  wherein said side cap member includes a channel and said one side portion of said retention member includes a projection, said projection being engageable with said channel as said retention member moves between its first and second positions.  
     
     
         22 . A weapon retention mechanism for releasably holding a weapon in a holster pocket comprising: 
 a frame member forming at least a portion of the holster pocket, said frame member including a pair of substantially straight spaced apart slots;    a substantially U-shaped retention member having opposed side portions and an intermediate canopy portion extending therebetween, each side portion including a projection for slidably engaging the corresponding slots associated with said frame member, said retention member being movable in a substantially straight direction between    a locked position wherein said intermediate canopy portion restricts movement of the weapon out of the holster pocket and an unlocked position wherein said intermediate canopy portion does not restrict movement of the weapon out of the holster pocket, one side portion of said retention member including a notch; 
 a thumb release member attachable to said frame member for releasably holding said retention member in its locked position, said release member being movable between an undepressed position wherein said release member holds said retention member in its locked position and a depressed position wherein said release member releases said retention member and allows said retention member to move to its unlocked position, said release member including a projection which is engageable with the notch associated with said retention member when said retention member is in its locked position, the engagement of said projection with said notch holding said retention member in its locked position;  
 a first spring member attachable to said frame member and applying a biasing force against said release member for biasing said release member towards its undepressed position; and  
   a second spring member having one end portion attached to said release 
 member and having its opposite end portion attached to said retention member for  
 applying a biasing force against said retention member for biasing said retention member  
 towards its unlocked position; and  
 means for limiting the travel of said retention member between its locked and unlocked positions.  
   
     
     
         23 . The weapon retention mechanism of  claim 22  wherein said means limiting the travel of said retention member between its locked and unlocked positions includes a slot associated with one side portion of said retention member and a projection member associated with said frame member, said projection member extending through said slot and abutting the opposed end portions of said slot when said retention member reaches its locked and unlocked positions thereby functioning as a stop member to limit the travel of said retention member.  
     
     
         24 . The weapon retention mechanism of  claim 22  wherein said means for limiting the travel of said retention member between its locked and unlocked positions includes a side cap member engageable with said frame member, said side cap member having at least a portion thereof extending over at least a portion of one side portion of one said retention member as said retention member moves between its locked and unlocked positions, said side cap member having a channel associated therewith and said one side portion of said retention member having a projection associated therewith, said projection traveling within said channel as said retention member moves between its locked and unlocked position, said projection abutting the opposed end portions of said channel when said retention member reaches its locked and unlocked positions thereby functioning as a stop member to limit the travel of said retention member.  
     
     
         25 . A holster for a weapon comprising: 
 at least one member forming a holster pocket for receiving and holding a weapon, said at least one member having opposed side portions, each opposed side portion having a substantially linear groove associated therewith, said at least one member further including at least one projection member;    a substantially U-shaped canopy member having opposed side portions and an intermediate portion extending therebetween, each opposed side portion including a tongue member positioned and located for cooperatively engaging the corresponding grooves associated with said at least one member, said canopy member being slidably movable within said grooves between a locked position wherein said intermediate portion covers a portion of said holster pocket and restricts movement of the weapon out of said holster pocket and an unlocked position wherein said intermediate portion is forward of said holster pocket and does not restrict movement of the weapon out of said holster pocket, said canopy member further including an elongated slot associated with one side portion thereof and a notch associated with one side portion thereof;    a release member operable by a user's thumb and attachable to said frame member for releasably holding the canopy member in its locked position, said release member having a pawl associated therewith which is engageable with the notch associated with said canopy member when said canopy member is in its locked position for holding said canopy member in its locked position, said release member being biased to hold said canopy member in its locked position and being movable to release said pawl from said notch thereby allowing said canopy member to move to its unlocked position, said release member further including a channel and at least one slot;    a first biasing member for biasing said release member to hold said    canopy member in its locked position; 
 a second biasing member biasing said canopy member towards its unlocked position, said second biasing member rapidly moving said canopy member from its locked position to its unlocked position when said release member is moved to release said pawl from said notch, said first biasing member being at least partially insertible within the channel associated with said release member;  
 at least one boss associated with said at least one member extending through the slot associated with said canopy member for defining the extent of travel of said canopy member between its locked and unlocked positions;  
 said at least one boss associated with said at least one member extending through the slot associated with said release member for defining the extent of travel of said release member from its position where said pawl is engaged with said notch to a position where said pawl is disengaged with said notch.  
   
     
     
         26 . The holster of  claim 25  wherein said at least one member forming said holster pocket includes a frame member and a cowling member attached to said frame member, said frame member and said cowling member forming said holster pocket.  
     
     
         27 . The holster of  claim 25  wherein said release member is attachable to said at least one member and overlaps one side portion of said canopy member.  
     
     
         28 . The holster of  claim 27  wherein said second biasing member includes a spring member having opposed end portions and the one side portion of said canopy member which is overlapped by said release member includes a projection, one end portion of said spring member being attached to said release member and the opposite end portion of said spring member being attached to the projection associated with said canopy member, said projection traveling within at least a portion of the channel associated with said release member when said canopy member moves between its locked and unlocked positions.  
     
     
         29 . The holster of  claim 27  including a side cap member engageable with said at least one member forming the holster pocket, said side cap member being positioned and located so as to extend over at least a portion of one side portion of said canopy member as said canopy member moves between its locked and unlocked positions.  
     
     
         30 . The holster of  claim 29  wherein said side cap member includes a channel and said one side portion of said canopy member includes a projection, said projection traveling within said channel as said canopy member moves between its locked and unlocked positions.  
     
     
         31 . A weapon retention mechanism for releasably holding a weapon in a holster pocket comprising: 
 a frame member forming at least a portion of the holster pocket,    said frame member including a pair of substantially linear slots;    a retention member having opposed side portions and an intermediate portion extending therebetween, each opposed side portion including a tongue member positioned and located so as to be cooperatively engageable with the corresponding slots associated with said frame member, said retention member being slidably movable within said slots in a substantially linear direction between a first position wherein said intermediate portion restricts movement of the weapon out of the holster pocket and a second position wherein said intermediate portion does not restrict movement of the weapon out of the holster pocket;    a release member for releasably holding the retention member in its first position, said release member being movable between a first position wherein said release member holds said retention member in its first position and restricts movement of said retention member to its second position and a second position wherein said release member releases said retention member and allows said retention member to be moved to its second position; and    biasing means biasing said release member towards its first position.    
     
     
         32 . The weapon retention mechanism of  claim 31  wherein said release member includes a pawl and said retention member includes a notch, said pawl being engageable with said notch when said retention member is in its first position, the engagement of said pawl with said notch holding said retention member in its first position.  
     
     
         33 . A weapon retention mechanism for releasably holding a weapon in a holster pocket comprising: 
 a frame member forming at least a portion of the holster pocket, said frame member having an upper portion with opposed side portions, each opposed side portion having a substantially linear groove associated therewith;    a retention member having opposed side portions and an intermediate portion extending therebetween, each opposed side portion including a projection positioned and located for slidably engaging the corresponding groove associated with each side portion of said frame member, said retention member being movable in a substantially linear direction between a first position wherein said intermediate portion restricts movement of the weapon out of the holster pocket and a second position wherein said intermediate portion is forward of the holster pocket and does not restrict movement of the weapon out of the holster pocket;    a release member attachable to said frame member for releasably holding the retention member in its first position, said release member being positioned and located so as to be engageable by the thumb of a shooter during the natural hand movement of the shooter to draw the weapon from the holster pocket, said release member being movable between a first position wherein said release member holds said retention member in its first position and a second position where said release member releases said retention member and allows said retention member to be moved to its second position; and    a biasing member engageable with said frame member and said release member for biasing said release member towards its first position.    
     
     
         34 . The weapon retention mechanism of  claim 33  wherein said release member includes a projection and said retention member includes a notch associated with one side portion thereof, said projection being engageable with said notch when said retention member is in its first position.