Retention holster having an extended pivot guard

Abstract

A holster for a handgun having a holster body defining a cavity for receiving and holding a handgun, a pivot guard pivotably coupled to the body and pivotable between a closed position for securing a handgun within the cavity and an open position for insertion or removal of the handgun, wherein the pivot guard includes a pivot guard locking means for receiving at least a portion of a pivot guard locking portion for securing the pivot guard in the closed position, and wherein the pivot guard includes a locking extension that extends from each side of the pivot guard and the holster body includes a corresponding retaining channels formed within the cavity such that when the pivot guard is in the closed position, each locking extension of the pivot guard extends into a corresponding retaining channel of the holster body.

1 . A holster for a handgun, wherein the handguns includes a frame, a slide, and a hammer, the holster comprising:
 a holster body defining a cavity for receiving and holding a handgun;   a pivot guard pivotably coupled to the body, wherein the pivot guard is pivotable between a closed position for securing a handgun within the cavity and an open position for insertion or removal of the handgun, wherein the pivot guard is biased to the open position by a pivot guard biasing means, wherein the pivot guard includes a pivot guard locking means for receiving at least a portion of a pivot guard locking portion of a pivot guard release lever for securing the pivot guard in the closed position, and wherein the pivot guard includes a locking extension that extends from each side of the pivot guard and the holster body includes a corresponding retaining channels formed within the cavity such that when the pivot guard is in the closed position, each locking extension of the pivot guard extends into a corresponding retaining channel of the holster body; and   a pivot guard release lever coupled to the holster body for releasably securing the pivot guard in the closed position, wherein the pivot guard release lever includes at least some of a pivot guard locking portion and a thumb/finger engagement portion, wherein the pivot guard release lever is biased to a pivot guard retention position such that the pivot guard locking portion protrudes into the pivot guard locking means so as to secure the pivot guard in the closed position, but wherein the pivot guard release lever is capable of being pivoted to a pivot guard release position when a pivoting force is applied to the thumb/finger engagement portion such that the pivot guard locking portion is sufficiently withdrawn from the pivot guard locking means so as to allow the pivot guard to pivot to the open position.   
     
     
         2 . The holster of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot guard locking portion prevents the pivot guard from pivoting to the closed position when the handgun is absent from the cavity unless a sufficient pivoting force is applied to the thumb/finger engagement portion such that the pivot guard locking portion is sufficiently withdrawn from the pivot guard locking means so as to allow the pivot guard to be pivoted to the closed position. 
     
     
         3 . The holster of  claim 1 , wherein the holster body comprises a first side wall, a second side wall, a front wall, and a rear wall. 
     
     
         4 . The holster of  claim 1 , wherein the walls of the holster are contoured to accommodate a specific model of handgun. 
     
     
         5 . The holster of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot guard is pivotably attached to opposed side walls of the body. 
     
     
         6 . The holster of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot guard is pivotably attached to a front wall of the body. 
     
     
         7 . The holster of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot guard is pivotably coupled to the body, via a pivot guard pivot pin. 
     
     
         8 . The holster of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot guard locking means comprises an aperture formed in the pivot guard. 
     
     
         9 . The holster of  claim 1 , wherein the holster body further comprises at least one attachment point for coupling the holster to a holster holding device. 
     
     
         10 . The holster of  claim 1 , wherein the holster further comprises an active retention system, wherein the active retention system is capable of retaining the handgun in the holster by restricting withdrawal of the handgun from the cavity of the holster until the active retention system is disengaged. 
     
     
         11 . The holster of  claim 1 , wherein the holster further comprises a passive retention portion, wherein the passive retention portion is capable of providing a degree of frictional retention of the handgun by the holster. 
     
     
         12 . The holster of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot guard biasing means comprises a portion of spring steel. 
     
     
         13 . The holster of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot guard is formed so as to extend over at least a portion of the rear of the slide of an inserted handgun and at least partially cover the hammer of the inserted handgun when in the closed position. 
     
     
         14 . The holster of  claim 1 , wherein the holster body comprises at least one body stop notch formed in the body and at least one pivot guard stop formed in the pivot guard, wherein the pivot guard stop protrudes into the body stop notch such that the body stop notch defines an arc of rotation of the pivot guard relative to the body. 
     
     
         15 . The holster of  claim 1 , wherein thumb/finger engagement portion extends so as to be positioned in close proximity to the natural position of a users thumb/finger as a user's hand contacts the frame of the handgun to establish a proper grip on the handgun. 
     
     
         16 . The holster of  claim 1 , wherein thumb/finger engagement portion extends beyond a portion of the body of the holster. 
     
     
         17 . The holster of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the thumb/finger engagement portion is textured. 
     
     
         18 . The holster of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot guard locking portion includes a substantially planar portion. 
     
     
         19 . The holster of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot guard locking portion includes a substantially planar portion and a ramp portion.