Universal holder for a firearm

Abstract

Holders usable to secure a firearm include a body having a first portion with a fastener for attachment to a surface, and a second portion having a member usable for insertion into the barrel of a firearm, to stabilize the firearm against movement relative to the body. Friction between the firearm and the body of the holder can be created through use of a tension member positioned between the firearm and holder and/or by angling the insertable member toward the body of the holder, which can further stabilize the firearm against undesired movement.

1 . A holder for a firearm having a barrel, the holder comprising:
 a body having
 a first portion comprising
 a fastener for attachment to a surface, and 
 
 a second portion comprising
 an insertable member for insertion into the barrel of the firearm to stabilize movement of the firearm against relative to the body, 
 
   wherein the insertable member extends at an angle toward the first portion and biases the firearm against the body to create friction between the firearm and the body for preventing unintended movement of the firearm relative to the body.   
     
     
         2 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the body further comprises a protruding portion that extends over a trigger guard of the firearm. 
     
     
         3 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener comprises a clip adapted to attach to at least one article of clothing worn by a user. 
     
     
         4 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener engages the surface with an engagement having a strength that exceeds the friction between the firearm and the body for enabling removal of the firearm from the body without removing the body from the surface. 
     
     
         5 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the insertable member comprises a tapered end for facilitating insertion into the barrel of the firearm. 
     
     
         6 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the insertable member comprises a cylindrical shape, a conical shape, a frustroconical shape, a domed shape, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the insertable member comprises a generally flat shape having a width corresponding to an inner diameter of the barrel of the firearm. 
     
     
         8 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion contacts a single side of the firearm and is adapted to engage the firearm in a plurality of orientations, and wherein the fastener is adapted to engage at least one article of clothing worn by a user in multiple orientations depending on an orientation of the firearm. 
     
     
         9 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion comprises a first member and a second member axially movable relative to the first member for adjusting a length of the body to accommodate a corresponding length or external feature of the firearm. 
     
     
         10 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion is pivotable relative to the first potion for accommodating a carrying angle for the firearm. 
     
     
         11 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the insertable member comprises a first dimension corresponding to a first inner diameter of a first barrel and is removable from the body and replaceable with an additional insertable member comprising a second diameter corresponding to a second inner diameter of a second barrel. 
     
     
         12 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the insertable member comprises an adjustable length, an adjustable width, or combinations thereof, for accommodating firearm barrels of various sizes. 
     
     
         13 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the insertable member comprises at least one removable spacing member disposed in association therewith for accommodating firearm barrels of various diameters. 
     
     
         14 . A holder for a firearm, the holder comprising:
 a body having
 a first portion comprising
 a fastener for attachment to a surface and 
 a tension member positioned thereon, and 
 
 a second portion comprising
 an insertable member for insertion into a barrel of the firearm to stabilize the firearm against lateral movement relative to the body, 
 
   wherein the tension member contacts the firearm and creates friction between the firearm and the tension member for preventing unintended movement of the firearm relative to the body.   
     
     
         15 . The holder of  claim 14 , wherein the body further comprises a protruding portion that extends over a trigger guard of the firearm. 
     
     
         16 . The holder of  claim 14 , wherein the fastener comprises a clip adapted to attach to at least one article of clothing worn by a user. 
     
     
         17 . The holder of  claim 14 , wherein the fastener engages the surface with an engagement having a strength that exceeds the friction between the firearm and the body for enabling removal of the firearm from the body without removing the body from the surface. 
     
     
         18 . The holder of  claim 14 , wherein the insertable member comprises a tapered end for facilitating insertion into the barrel of the firearm. 
     
     
         19 . The holder of  claim 14 , wherein the insertable member comprises a cylindrical shape, a conical shape, a frustroconical shape, a domed shape, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The holder of  claim 14 , wherein the insertable member comprises a generally flat shape having a width corresponding to an inner diameter of the barrel of the firearm. 
     
     
         21 . The holder of  claim 14 , wherein the first portion contacts a single side of the firearm and is adapted to engage the firearm in a plurality of orientations, and wherein the fastener is adapted to engage at least one article of clothing worn by a user in multiple orientations depending on an orientation of the firearm. 
     
     
         22 . The holder of  claim 14 , wherein the first portion comprises a first member and a second member axially movable relative to the first member for adjusting a length of the body to accommodate a corresponding length or external feature of the firearm. 
     
     
         23 . The holder of  claim 14 , wherein the second portion is pivotable relative to the first potion for accommodating a carrying angle for the firearm. 
     
     
         24 . The holder of  claim 14 , wherein the insertable member comprises a first dimension corresponding to a first inner diameter of a first barrel and is removable from the body and replaceable with an additional insertable member comprising a second diameter corresponding to a second inner diameter of a second barrel. 
     
     
         25 . The holder of  claim 14 , wherein the insertable member comprises an adjustable length, an adjustable width, or combinations thereof, for accommodating firearm barrels of various sizes. 
     
     
         26 . The holder of  claim 14 , wherein the insertable member comprises at least one removable spacing member disposed in association therewith for accommodating firearm barrels of various diameters. 
     
     
         27 . A method for securing a firearm comprising the steps of:
 attaching a first portion of a holder to a surface;   inserting an insertable member extending from a second portion of the holder into a barrel of a firearm, wherein contact between the insertable member and the barrel stabilizes the firearm against lateral movement relative to the holder; and   contacting the firearm with the holder to generate friction between the firearm and the holder, wherein the friction stabilizes the firearm against unintended vertical movement relative to the holder.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein attaching the first portion of the holder to the surface comprises engaging a fastener to at least one article of clothing of a user. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein engaging the fastener to said at least one article of clothing of the user comprises engaging a clip to a belt, a waistband of a garment, or combinations thereof such that the firearm is positioned in an interior of the belt, the waistband, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the insertable member extends at an angle toward the first portion, and wherein contacting the firearm with the holder to generate the friction comprises biasing the firearm against the body using the insertable member to create the friction. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the first portion comprises a tension member positioned thereon, and wherein contacting the firearm with the holder to generate the friction comprises contacting the firearm with the tension member to create the friction. 
     
     
         32 . A method for securing a firearm with respect to clothing on a person, a structure, or combinations thereof, the firearm comprising a mass and a barrel having a length, the method comprising the steps of:
 attaching a holster to the clothing, the structure, or combinations thereof;   securing the firearm to the holster using the barrel of the firearm for preventing movement of the firearm relative to the holster;   applying a tension between the firearm and the holster, generating friction between the firearm and the holster, or combinations thereof; and   adjusting at least one of the tension or the friction with respect to the mass of the firearm, the length of the barrel, the other of the tension or the friction, or combinations thereof,   such that the firearm is stabilized in the holster with respect to the clothing, the structure, or combinations thereof and the firearm is readily removable from the holster upon demand.