Fully integrated molded firearm holster retention system

Abstract

A handgun holster includes a first body section and a second body section, each section being constructed of a single, unitary piece of material. The two body sections are interconnected to form a handgun holster body defining an internal handgun receiving pocket, the pocket including a barrel section and a trigger section. A biasing element is integrally formed in the first body section and includes a flexible portion extending inwardly into the trigger section of the pocket from a first surface of the first body section. A retention element is integrally formed in the second body section and includes a raised portion extending inwardly into the trigger section of the pocket from a first surface of the second body section that opposes the first surface of the first body section.

Having thus described various embodiments of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following: 
     
         1 . A handgun holster comprising:
 a first body section constructed primarily of a single, unitary piece of material;   a second body section constructed primarily of a single, unitary piece of material, the first and second body sections being interconnected to form at least a portion of a handgun holster body defining an internal handgun receiving pocket, the pocket including a barrel portion and a trigger portion;   a biasing element integrally formed in the first body section, the biasing element including a flexible portion extending inwardly into the trigger portion of the receiving pocket from a first surface of the first body section; and   a retention element integrally formed in the second body section, the retention element including a raised portion extending inwardly into the trigger portion of the receiving pocket from a first surface of the second body section that opposes the first surface of the first body section.   
     
     
         2 . The handgun holster of  claim 1 , the retention element configured to engage a handgun when the handgun is inserted into the holster and to prevent movement of the handgun out of the holster when engaging the handgun. 
     
     
         3 . The handgun holster of  claim 2 , the retention element being configured to engage a trigger guard of the handgun. 
     
     
         4 . The handgun holster of  claim 2 , the biasing element configured to flexibly engage the handgun and urge the handgun into engagement with the retention element. 
     
     
         5 . The handgun holster of  claim 4 , the handgun receive pocket being configured to allow the handgun to pivot in the pocket between a first position wherein the handgun is in engagement with the retention element, and a second position wherein the handgun is disengaged from the retention element. 
     
     
         6 . The handgun holster of  claim 5 , the biasing element configured to urge the handgun into the first position, and to yield to allow the handgun to pivot from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         7 . The handgun holster of  claim 5 , each of the first and second body sections including a plurality of index elements for positioning the handgun in the pocket such that the handgun remains in engagement with the retention element when the handgun is in the first position. 
     
     
         8 . The handgun holster of  claim 7 , the index elements including elongated raised portions extending generally from a top portion of the holster toward a bottom portion of the holster. 
     
     
         9 . The handgun holster of  claim 1 , the biasing element including a stiff yet flexible arm, a first end of the arm attached to the first body section and the arm presenting an arcuate section extending inward into the trigger portion of the receiving pocket. 
     
     
         10 . The handgun holster of  claim 1 , the first body section and the second body section being slidably interconnected. 
     
     
         11 . The handgun holster of  claim 10 , the first body section including a rail, the second body section including a peripheral flared portion defining a channel for slidably receiving the rail. 
     
     
         12 . The handgun holster of  claim 1 , the retention element including a cam surface corresponding to a first end of the retention element proximate a top of the holster body and a catch corresponding to a second end of the retention element distal the top of the holster body. 
     
     
         13 . A handgun holster comprising:
 a first body section constructed primarily of a single, unitary piece of material;   a second body section constructed primarily of a single, unitary piece of material, the first and second body sections being interconnected to form at least a portion of a handgun holster body defining an internal handgun receiving pocket;   a retention element integrally formed in the second body section, the retention element extending inwardly into the pocket and configured to engage a handgun when the handgun is inserted into the holster and to prevent movement of the handgun out of the holster when engaging the handgun; and   a biasing element integrally formed in the first body section, the biasing element extending inwardly into the pocket and configured to flexibly engage the handgun and urge the handgun into engagement with the retention element.   
     
     
         14 . The handgun holster of  claim 13 , the handgun receive pocket being configured to allow the handgun to pivot in the pocket between a first position wherein the handgun is in engagement with the retention element, and a second position wherein the handgun is disengaged from the retention element. 
     
     
         15 . The handgun holster of  claim 14 , the biasing element configured to urge the handgun into the first position, and to yield to allow the handgun to pivot between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         16 . The handgun holster of  claim 13 , the receiving pocket including a trigger portion and a barrel portion, the retention element and the biasing element being positioned in the trigger portion. 
     
     
         17 . The handgun holster of  claim 13 , the biasing element including a press arm, a first end of the press arm attached to the first body section and the press arm presenting an arcuate section extending toward the retention element. 
     
     
         18 . The handgun holster of  claim 13 , the first body section and the second body section being slidably interconnected. 
     
     
         19 . The handgun holster of  claim 18 , the first body section including a rail, the second body section including a peripheral flared portion defining a channel for slidably receiving the rail. 
     
     
         20 . A handgun holster comprising:
 a first body section constructed primarily of a single, unitary piece of material;   a second body section constructed primarily of a single, unitary piece of material and including a plurality of channel portions configured to slidingly receive a portion of the first body section, the first and second body sections being interconnected to form at least a portion of a handgun holster body defining an internal handgun receiving pocket, the pocket including a barrel portion and a trigger portion;   a biasing element integrally formed in the first body section, the biasing element including a flexible portion extending inwardly into the trigger portion of the pocket from a first surface of the first body section; and   a retention element integrally formed in the second body section, the retention element including a raised portion extending inwardly into the trigger portion of the pocket from a first surface of the second body section that opposes the first surface of the first body section,   the handgun receive pocket being configured to allow the handgun to pivot in the pocket between a first position wherein the handgun is in engagement with the retention element, and a second position wherein the handgun is disengaged from the retention element.