Holster with accessory holder

Abstract

A weapon holster includes a mounting device for releasably supporting a tactical illuminator or other accessory item on the outside of the holster body. The mounting device preferably includes an accessory mounting rail located adjacent an outer surface of the holster body. In one embodiment, the accessory mounting rail includes a dovetail rail extending along a front spine of the holster body. In some embodiments, the mounting rail or other mounting device is integrally formed of one-piece construction with a molded plastic holster body.

1 . A holster, comprising: 
 a holster body sized to receive and hold a handgun or other handheld weapon; and    an accessory mounting rail positioned adjacent an external surface of the holster body for supporting an accessory item thereon.    
   
   
       2 . The holster of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory mounting rail includes a dovetail rail.  
   
   
       3 . The holster of  claim 2 , wherein the dovetail rail comprises a Picatinny rail.  
   
   
       4 . The holster of  claim 2 , wherein the dovetail rail comprises a Weaver rail.  
   
   
       5 . The holster of  claim 1 , wherein the holster body includes a front spine and the accessory mounting rail extends along the front spine.  
   
   
       6 . The holster of  claim 1 , wherein the holster body includes a rear margin and the accessory mounting rail extends along the rear margin.  
   
   
       7 . The holster of  claim 1 , wherein the holster body and the accessory mounting rail are formed of one-piece construction.  
   
   
       8 . The holster of  claim 1 , wherein the holster body and the accessory mounting rail are formed of molded plastic.  
   
   
       9 . The holster of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory mounting rail includes a retention slot extending across an outer face of the accessory mounting rail.  
   
   
       10 . The holster of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory mounting rail has a length, a width, and an outer face, and the accessory mounting rail includes multiple retention slots extending across the width of the outer face of the accessory mounting rail and being spaced apart along the length of the accessory mounting rail.  
   
   
       11 . The holster of  claim 1 , wherein the holster body is shaped and sized to accommodate a particular handgun model and the accessory mounting rail is shaped to support accessory items that are designed to fit with the particular handgun model.  
   
   
       12 . The holster of  claim 1 , further comprising a belt loop, the holster body being rotatably coupled to the belt loop.  
   
   
       13 . The holster of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory mounting rail includes a tapered ramp at one end of the accessory mounting rail for facilitating attachment of an accessory item thereon.  
   
   
       14 . A handgun holster, comprising: 
 a holster body defining a handgun receiving cavity having a top opening sized to admit at least a portion of a handgun into the cavity, the body having an outer surface; and    an elongate mounting rail extending along the outer surface of the holster body, the mounting rail including a dovetail shaped cross section, an outer face, and opposing side channels extending along the length thereof adjacent the outer face and a retention slot extending across the outer face between the side channels.    
   
   
       15 . The handgun holster of  claim 14 , wherein the holster body includes opposing inner and outer side surfaces connected by a front spine, and the mounting rail extends along the front spine.  
   
   
       16 . The handgun holster of  claim 14 , wherein the mounting rail comprises a Picatinny rail.  
   
   
       17 . The handgun holster of  claim 14 , wherein the mounting rail comprises a Weaver rail.  
   
   
       18 . The handgun holster of  claim 14 , wherein the holster body includes a rear margin and the mounting rail extends along the rear margin.  
   
   
       19 . The handgun holster of  claim 14 , wherein the holster body and the mounting rail are molded of one-piece construction.  
   
   
       20 . The handgun holster of  claim 14 , wherein the holster body and the mounting rail are formed of an injection molded plastic resin.  
   
   
       21 . The handgun holster of  claim 14 , wherein the mounting rail includes multiple retention slots extending across the outer face and spaced apart along the length of the mounting rail.  
   
   
       22 . The handgun holster of  claim 14 , further comprising a belt loop, the holster body being rotatably coupled to the belt loop.