WO-2026096445-A1 - RETENTION HOLSTER

WO2026096445A1WO 2026096445 A1WO2026096445 A1WO 2026096445A1WO-2026096445-A1

Abstract

A retention holster comprises a channel on a body side of the gun compartment and a retention mechanism comprising a release switch in the channel. In an unactuated condition of the retention mechanism, when a gun is in the gun compartment, the retention mechanism blocks withdrawal of the gun from the retention holster. In an actuated condition of the retention mechanism, the release switch is pressed by a thumb of the wearer, accessed via the channel, releasing the retention mechanism and allowing the gun to be withdrawn from the retention holster by the wearer. The holster may include a grip wall that wraps at least partially around the trigger side of the grip of the gun. The holster may also include a rear wall that wraps at least partially around the bottom of the grip of the gun and covers the magazine well of the gun.

Inventors

GODFREY, Seth M.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251028
Priority Date: 20241101

Claims (15)

1. A retention holster for securely holding a gun and for allowing a wearer of the retention holster to remove the gun, the retention holster comprising: a gun compartment with an open area configured to receive at least a barrel of the gun; a channel on a body side of the gun compartment, the channel being defined by a front channel wall on a front side of the channel and a rear channel wall on a rear side of the channel; and a retention mechanism comprising a thumb-actuated release switch accessible in the channel and a spring, the release switch comprising an actuation part and a retention part, the release switch biased by the spring; wherein in an unactuated condition of the retention mechanism, the spring biases the retention part of the release switch toward the gun compartment, such that when a gun is in the gun compartment, the retention part extends inside a trigger guard area of the gun to block withdrawal of the gun from the retention holster; and wherein in an actuated condition of the retention mechanism, the actuation part is pressed by a thumb of the wearer, whereby the release switch is moved against the force of the spring such that the retention part is moved out of the trigger guard area of the gun thereby allowing the gun to be withdrawn from the retention holster by the wearer.
2. The retention holster of claim 1, wherein the retention holster comprises a body side wall on the body side of the gun compartment.
3. The retention holster of claim 2, wherein the rear channel wall extends inward from a rear body side wall section.
4. The retention holster of claim 1, wherein the retention mechanism further comprises a pivot axis and the release switch is mounted in the retention holster such that the release switch is able to pivot around the pivot axis.
5. The retention holster of claim 1, wherein in the unactuated condition of the retention mechanism, when a gun is inserted downward into the compartment, a trigger guard Attorney Docket No. 6324-0001W001 of the gun pushes the retention part outward, against the force of the spring, thereby allowing the trigger guard of the gun to advance downward beyond a lock end of the retention part, and once the trigger guard is pushed downward beyond the retention part, the force of the spring causes the retention part to snap into the trigger guard area of the gun to block withdrawal of the gun from the retention holster.
6. The retention holster of claim 1, wherein the front channel wall and the rear channel wall are configured to extend vertically above the edge of the gun.
7. The retention holster of claim 1, wherein the channel is contiguous with the open area of the gun compartment such that when a gun is in the retention holster the wearer is able to place their thumb in the channel and against a side of the gun while drawing the gun from the retention holster.
8. The retention holster of claim 1, wherein the retention holster comprises a body side wall configured to cover a body side of a grip of the gun and a grip wall extending outward from the body side wall, wherein the grip wall is configured to wrap at least partially around a trigger side of the grip of the gun to at least partially cover the trigger side of the grip of the gun.
9. The retention holster of claim 1, wherein the retention holster comprises a body side wall configured to cover a body side of a grip of the gun and a rear wall extending outward from a back area of the body side wall, wherein the rear wall is configured to wrap at least partially around a bottom of the grip of the gun and to cover a magazine well of the gun.
10. The retention holster of claim 9, wherein the rear wall is configured to be taller than the width of the grip of the gun so that the rear wall extends above the grip of the gun when the gun is secured in the retention holster.
11. The retention holster of claim 1, wherein the retention part of the retention mechanism comprises a retention arm and the actuation part of the retention mechanism comprises an actuation arm. Attorney Docket No. 6324-0001W001
12. The retention holster of claim 11, wherein the retention arm and actuation arm are parts of a single piece.
13. A retention holster for securely holding a gun and for allowing a wearer of the retention holster to remove the gun, the retention holster comprising: a gun compartment with an open area configured to receive at least a barrel of the gun; a retention mechanism comprising a release switch; a body side wall configured to cover a body side of a grip of the gun; and a grip wall extending outward from the body side wall and configured to wrap at least partially around a trigger side of the grip of the gun to at least partially cover the trigger side of the grip of the gun; wherein in an unactuated condition of the retention mechanism, when a gun is in the gun compartment, the retention mechanism blocks withdrawal of the gun from the retention holster; and wherein in an actuated condition of the retention mechanism, the retention mechanism allows the gun to be withdrawn from the retention holster by the wearer.
14. A retention holster for securely holding a gun and for allowing a wearer of the retention holster to remove the gun, the retention holster comprising: a gun compartment with an open area configured to receive at least a barrel of the gun; a retention mechanism comprising a release switch; a body side wall configured to cover a body side of a grip of the gun; and a rear wall extending outward from a back area of the body side wall, the rear wall configured to wrap around a bottom of the grip of the gun and to cover a magazine well of the gun; wherein in an unactuated condition of the retention mechanism, when a gun is in the gun compartment, the retention mechanism blocks withdrawal of the gun from the retention holster; and wherein in an actuated condition of the retention mechanism, the retention mechanism allows the gun to be withdrawn from the retention holster by the wearer. Attorney Docket No. 6324-0001W001
15. The retention holster of claim 14, wherein the rear wall is configured to be taller than the width of the grip of the gun so that the rear wall extends above the grip of the gun when the gun is secured in the retention holster.

Description

Attorney Docket No. 6324-0001W001 RETENTION HOLSTER CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/715,052, filed November 1, 2024, entitled “Retention Holster.” The entire contents of this prior application are incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The disclosure is directed to retention holsters. BACKGROUND [0003] Various types of holsters are known for holding a handgun while providing ready access to the gun by the wearer of the holster. Holsters are often designed to prevent unintended discharge and restrict undesired movement of the gun. Persons carrying a gun, such as police officers or other law enforcement personnel, often wear their holster at a location that allows them to easily withdraw the gun for immediate use. Holsters may be attached, for example, to the wearer’s waist, such as by a belt. [0004] Many types of retention holsters have been designed to prevent persons other than the holster wearer from withdrawing the gun from the holster. However, while it is important to safeguard against unauthorized removal of the gun, it is also important that the wearer be able to quickly and easily withdraw the gun for use. There is a need for an improved retention holster that better accomplishes the dual objectives of permitting speedy withdrawal of the gun by the wearer while preventing unauthorized removal of the gun by another. SUMMARY [0005] Disclosed herein are embodiments of retention holsters for securely holding a gun and for allowing a wearer of the retention holster to remove the gun. [0006] In an example embodiment, a retention holster comprises a gun compartment with an open area configured to receive at least a barrel of the gun, a channel on a body side of the gun compartment, the channel being defined by a front channel wall on a front side of the channel and a rear channel wall on a rear side of the channel, and a retention mechanism comprising a release switch. In an unactuated condition of the retention mechanism, when a gun is in the gun compartment, the retention mechanism blocks withdrawal of the gun from the retention holster. In an actuated condition of the retention mechanism, the retention mechanism allows the gun to be withdrawn from the retention holster by the wearer. Attorney Docket No. 6324-0001W001 [0007] In an example embodiment, the retention mechanism comprises a thumb- actuated release switch accessible in the channel and a spring. The release switch may comprise an actuation part and a retention part, and the release switch may be biased by the spring. In an unactuated condition of this example retention mechanism, the spring biases the retention part of the release switch toward the gun compartment, such that when a gun is in the gun compartment the retention part extends inside a trigger guard area of the gun to block withdrawal of the gun from the retention holster. In an actuated condition of this example retention mechanism, the actuation part is pressed by a thumb of the wearer, whereby the release switch is moved against the force of the spring such that the retention part is moved out of the trigger guard area of the gun thereby allowing the gun to be withdrawn from the retention holster by the wearer. [0008] In an example embodiment, the retention holster comprises a body side wall on the body side of the gun compartment. The rear channel wall may extend inward from a rear body side wall section. In an example embodiment, the front channel wall extends inward from a front body side wall section, and the rear channel wall extends inward from a rear body side wall section. In another example embodiment, the front and rear channel walls extend outwardly from an inner body side wall section. The front and rear channel walls may extend generally perpendicular to one or more body side wall sections. [0009] In an example embodiment, the retention mechanism may further comprise an axle. The release switch may be mounted on the axle such that the release switch is able to pivot around an axis of the axle. [0010] In an example embodiment, in the unactuated condition of the retention mechanism, when a gun is inserted downward into the compartment, a trigger guard of the gun pushes the retention part outward, against the force of the spring, thereby allowing the trigger guard of the gun to advance downward beyond a lock end of the retention part. In this example embodiment, once the trigger guard is pushed downward beyond the retention part, the force of the spring causes the retention part to snap into the trigger guard area of the gun to block withdrawal of the gun from the retention holster. [0011] In an example embodiment, the front channel wall and the rear channel wall are configured to extend vertically above the edge of the gun. In an example embodiment, the channel is contiguous with the open area of the gun compartment such that when a gun is in the retention