Locking holster with thumb drive

Abstract

A rigid holster for retaining a pistol or handgun of specific design configuration has a locking pin that engages into the trigger guard ring area when the handgun is contained in the holster, thus retaining the handgun in place. To release the gun a user pushes a thumb pad which slides forward to release the locking pin. Other release mechanisms are disclosed.

1 . A holster with a gun retention lock, comprising:
 a rigid holster having an interior conforming to a particular handgun configuration to receive and cover substantially a gun barrel, trigger and trigger guard of a handgun, leaving the gun handgrip exposed for gripping,   a retention lever pivotally mounted on one side of the holster, on a pivot axis at an intermediate position on the lever and generally parallel to a gun barrel when contained in the holster, the retention lever having one end with a locking pin positioned to extend into an area generally circumscribed by the trigger guard of the gun when contained in the holster so as to prevent removal of the handgun, when the lever is pivotally rocked to a gun retention position, and having an opposite end with a cam surface,   a spring biasing the retention lever toward the gun retention position, and   a slide piece slidably mounted on the holster for a sliding path such that a remote end of the slide piece engages with the cam surface of the retaining lever when pushed in a forward direction toward the gun barrel, and the slide piece having a back end with a thumb pad positioned to be near a user's thumb when a user grips the handgrip of a gun contained in the holster,   whereby a user can grip the gun handgrip while engaging his thumb against the thumb pad in the same motion and pushing the slide piece forward to engage the cam to pivot and rock the retention lever to a release position in which the locking pin is retracted out laterally from the trigger guard of the handgun, allowing the handgun to be pulled out of the holster.   
     
     
         2 . The holster of  claim 1 , wherein the holster has a pair of slide guides closely positioned around the slide piece to facilitate linear sliding movement of the slide piece, generally parallel to the orientation of a gun barrel when contained in the holster. 
     
     
         3 . The holster of  claim 1 , wherein the holster is formed in two sections, one at each end of left and right sides of the holster, and wherein the sections are fixed together at a top side extending parallel to a gun barrel such that at a bottom side opposite the top side the two sections are adjustable as to separation, and including at least one elastomeric bushing between the two sections at said bottom side, and a threaded fastener secured through the bushing to both sections and allowing adjustment of tension drawing the two sections together, to facilitate adjustment of tightness of the holster in fitting over a handgun. 
     
     
         4 . The holster of  claim 3 , including two said elastomeric bushings spaced apart along a line parallel to the gun barrel. 
     
     
         5 . A holster with a gun retention lock, comprising:
 a rigid holster having an interior conforming to a particular handgun configuration to receive and cover substantially a gun barrel, trigger and trigger guard of a handgun, leaving the gun handgrip exposed for gripping,   a locking pin or protrusion mounted on one side of the holster for movement thereon, the locking pin having two positions, a gun retention position in which the locking pin extends into an area generally circumscribed by the trigger guard of the gun when contained in the holster so as to prevent removal of the handgun, and a release position wherein the locking pin is retracted from the trigger guard area,   a spring biasing the locking pin toward the gun retention position,   a slide piece slidably mounted on the holster for a sliding path generally parallel to a gun barrel when contained in the holster such that a remote end of the slide piece can be pushed in a forward direction generally toward the gun barrel, and the slide piece having a back end with a thumb pad positioned to be near a user's thumb when a user grips the handgrip of a gun contained in the holster, and   retraction means associated with the locking pin and the remote end of the slide piece, for causing the locking pin to be retracted to the release position when the slide piece is pushed forward via the thumb pad,   whereby a user can grip the gun handgrip while engaging his thumb against the thumb pad and in the same motion pushing the slide piece forward to cause the retraction means to move the locking pin to the release position in which the locking pin is retracted out laterally from the trigger guard of the handgun, allowing the gun to be pulled out of the holster.