Weapon retention apparatus

Abstract

Provided is a weapon retention device that includes first and second sides laterally-spaced apart from each other to define a trigger guard space there between. The first and second sides include a shape suitable to extend over a portion of an aperture defined by a trigger guard provided to a handgun while the trigger guard is received within the trigger guard space and protect a trigger within the aperture against contact from a foreign body. A hangar to be coupled to the first and second sides includes an attachment device that releasably couples the weapon retention device to a user.

1 . A weapon retention device comprising:
 first and second sides laterally-spaced apart from each other and defining a trigger guard space between said first and second sides, the first and second sides comprising a shape suitable to extend over a portion of an aperture defined by a trigger guard provided to a handgun while the trigger guard is received within the trigger guard space to protect a trigger within the aperture against contact from a foreign body; and   a hangar to be coupled to the first and second sides and comprising an attachment device that releasably couples the weapon retention device to a user.   
     
     
         2 . The weapon retention device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 at least one of the first and second sides comprises a boss that extends inwardly into the trigger guard space, and   the first and second sides are separated by a distance suitable for the boss to produce a resistive force during installation of the weapon retention device onto the handgun and be at least partially received within the trigger guard space when the weapon retention device is fully installed on the handgun.   
     
     
         3 . The weapon retention device of  claim 2 , wherein the boss is formed in a manner to define an external periphery that closely resembles a portion of an inner periphery of the trigger guard provided to the handgun. 
     
     
         4 . The weapon retention device of  claim 3 , wherein the external periphery defined by the boss is molded with a dimension specific to the trigger guard of a predetermined model of the handgun. 
     
     
         5 . The weapon retention device of  claim 2 , wherein each of the first and second sides comprises a boss that extends inwardly into the trigger guard space when the weapon retention device is fully installed on the handgun. 
     
     
         6 . The weapon retention device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second sides are integrally formed together as part of a single, monolithic member. 
     
     
         7 . The weapon retention device of  claim 6 , wherein the single, monolithic member is formed from an injection-molded thermoplastic material. 
     
     
         8 . The weapon retention device of  claim 1  further comprising a connection element coupled to the first and second sides, wherein the connection element couples the first and second sides together in a semi-flexible fashion, allowing substantially-elastic deformation of the first and second sides relative to each other. 
     
     
         9 . The weapon retention device of  claim 8 , wherein the connection element comprises a nose portion that protrudes in a forward direction generally toward a muzzle of the handgun while the weapon retention device is installed on the handgun. 
     
     
         10 . The weapon retention device of  claim 9  further comprising a reinforcing gusset that extends between the nose portion and at least one of the first and second sides, wherein the hangar is to be removably coupled to the nose portion and the reinforcing gusset interferes with pivotal movement of the hangar relative to the nose portion. 
     
     
         11 . The weapon retention device of  claim 9 , wherein the nose portion is coupled to the first and second sides to establish a space between a barrel portion of the handgun and the nose portion while the weapon retention device is installed on the handgun. 
     
     
         12 . The weapon retention device of  claim 1  further comprising a connection element coupled to the first and second sides, wherein the hangar is to be removably coupled to the connection element with an adjustable fastener that can be repeatedly removed and replaced. 
     
     
         13 . The weapon retention device of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second sides and the connection element are arranged substantially symmetrically in a lateral dimension and the hangar is compatible for installation adjacent to both the first and second sides. 
     
     
         14 . The weapon retention device of  claim 1 , wherein the hangar comprises an elongated arm portion to be coupled adjacent a proximate end to a connection element connecting the first and second sides and to support the attachment device adjacent to a distal end of the arm portion, the arm portion extending adjacent to at least one of the first and second sides when coupled to the first and second sides. 
     
     
         15 . The weapon retention device of  claim 14 , wherein the attachment device comprises a belt loop and a releasable fastener to selectively close the belt loop for removably coupling the weapon retention device to a belt worn by the user. 
     
     
         16 . The weapon retention device of  claim 14 , wherein the elongated arm portion comprises a plurality of receivers arranged adjacent to the distal end to support the attachment device at a plurality of locations along the arm portion and establish a plurality of different holding positions where the weapon retention device holds the handgun on the user. 
     
     
         17 . The weapon retention device of  claim 14 , wherein the arm portion comprises a reinforcing flange that extends along at least a portion of a peripheral edge of the arm portion. 
     
     
         18 . The weapon retention device of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing flange is integrally formed as a monolithic portion of the arm portion, and at least partially defines a recess at a location along the arm portion where the arm portion extends adjacent to a magazine release of the handgun when the weapon retention device is installed on the handgun. 
     
     
         19 . The weapon retention device of  claim 1 , wherein an uppermost portion of the first and second sides comprises a shape substantially similar to a lowermost region of a barrel portion of the handgun, and the first and second sides are terminated at an elevation below substantially all of the barrel portion while the weapon retention device is installed on the handgun. 
     
     
         20 . The weapon retention device of  claim 1  further comprising a floor extending between a bottom of the first and second sides, the floor comprising at least one sloped section that is at least partially separated from a lowermost portion of the trigger guard when the weapon retention device is installed on the handgun. 
     
     
         21 . The weapon retention device of  claim 20 , wherein the floor extends longitudinally along a portion of, but less than an entire length of the first and second sides. 
     
     
         22 . A weapon retention device comprising:
 first and second sides laterally-spaced apart from each other to define a trigger guard space between said first and second sides, the first and second sides comprising a shape suitable to extend over a portion of an aperture defined by a trigger guard provided to a handgun while the trigger guard is received within the trigger guard space to protect a trigger within the aperture against contact from a foreign body, wherein at least one of the first and second sides is terminated adjacent to an underside of a barrel portion of the handgun;   a boss provided to an interior surface of at least one of the first and second sides to extend in an inward direction into the trigger guard space, wherein the trigger guard space is suitable for the boss to interact with the trigger guard and produce a resistive force that impedes installation of the weapon retention device onto the handgun;   an attachment device that releasably couples the weapon retention device to a user; and   a hangar comprising an elongated arm portion with a proximate end to be coupled to the first and second sides and a distal end that is to support the attachment device, wherein at least a portion of the arm portion is disposed on an opposite side of the first and second sides relative to the user while the weapon retention device is being worn by the user.   
     
     
         23 . The weapon retention device of  claim 22 , wherein the first and second sides are substantially-elastically urged apart from each other as the boss interacts with the trigger guard during installation of the weapon retention device on the handgun, and at least one of the first and second sides snaps toward another of the first and second sides when the boss passes beyond the trigger guard during installation of the weapon retention device. 
     
     
         24 . The weapon retention device of  claim 22  further comprising a connection element coupled to the first and second sides in a symmetrical arrangement, wherein the hangar is to be removably coupled to the connection element by an adjustable fastener in a first orientation for a left-handed user and in a second orientation, that is different than the first orientation, for a right-handed user. 
     
     
         25 . The weapon retention device of  claim 22 , wherein the boss is molded as part of the interior surface with a dimension specific to the trigger guard of a predetermined model of the handgun. 
     
     
         26 . The weapon retention device of  claim 22 , wherein the arm portion comprises a reinforcing flange along at least a portion of a periphery of the arm portion, and the reinforcing flange at least partially defines a recess that receives a portion of a magazine release actuator provided to the handgun to avoid actuating the magazine release actuator when the arm portion is urged toward the handgun while the trigger guard of the handgun is received within the trigger guard space. 
     
     
         27 . A weapon retention device comprising:
 first and second sides laterally-spaced apart from each other to define a trigger guard space between said first and second sides, the first and second sides comprising a shape suitable to extend over a portion of an aperture defined at least in part by a trigger guard provided to a handgun while the trigger guard is received within the trigger guard space to protect a trigger within the aperture against contact from a foreign body, wherein the first and second sides cooperate with a portion of the handgun that is disposed entirely below a barrel of the handgun while the weapon retention device is installed on the handgun;   a boss integrally molded as a portion of an interior surface of at least one of the first and second sides to extend in an inward direction into the trigger guard space while the weapon retention device is installed on the handgun, wherein a distance separating the first and second sides is suitable to cause the boss to interact with the trigger guard and produce a resistive force during installation of the weapon retention device onto the handgun;   a connection element coupled to the first and second sides, wherein the connection element protrudes generally away from the first and second sides and generally toward a muzzle of the barrel provided to the handgun while the weapon retention device is installed on the handgun;   a belt attachment device that releasably couples the weapon retention device to a belt worn by a user; and   a hangar comprising an arm portion with a proximate end to be releasably coupled to the connection element and a distal end that is to support the attachment device, wherein the proximate end of the hangar is adapted to be coupled differently to the connection element to render the weapon retention device suitable for use by a left-handed user and a right-handed user.   
     
     
         28 . The weapon retention device of  claim 27 , wherein the distal end of the arm portion comprises an adjustable fastening system that couples the belt attachment device to a plurality of different locations along the arm portion so a position of said weapon retention device is adjustable with respect to said belt. 
     
     
         29 . The weapon retention device of  claim 27 , wherein the first and second sides are substantially-elastically urged apart from each other as the boss interacts with the trigger guard during installation of the weapon retention device on the handgun, and at least one of the first and second sides snaps toward another of the first and second sides when the boss enters the aperture defined at least in part by the trigger guard.