Retaining mechanism for a handgun holster

Abstract

A retaining mechanism for a holster includes a hood unit ( 20 ) mountable to a holster for rotation about a first axis between a retaining condition in which it overlies a service item in the holster to prevent its withdrawal and a retracted condition in which the service item can be withdrawn. A hand operable lever assembly ( 30 ) is mountable for rotation about a second axis offset from the first axis and operably engageable with the hood unit whereby rearward rotation of the lever assembly effects rotation of the hood unit to its retracted condition and vice versa. The lever assembly includes an element ( 32 ) outstanding at a location that in situ is behind and clear of the hood unit, and that is depressible against a restoring bias force ( 50 ) to be disengaged from a lock formation ( 65 ) that locks the lever assembly and thereby the hood unit against rotation. A housing ( 60 ) is securable to the holster and configured to provide the lock formation.

1 . A retaining mechanism for a holster, comprising:
 a hood unit mountable to a holster for rotation about a first axis between a retaining condition in which it overlies a service item in the holster to prevent its withdrawal and a retracted condition in which the service item can be withdrawn;   a hand operable lever assembly mountable for rotation about a second axis offset from the first axis and operably engageable with the hood unit whereby rearward rotation of the lever assembly effects said rotation of the hood unit to its retracted condition and vice versa, wherein the lever assembly includes an element outstanding at a location that in situ is behind and clear of the hood unit, and that is depressible against a restoring bias force to be disengaged from a lock formation that locks the lever assembly and thereby the hood unit against rotation; and   a housing securable to the holster and configured to provide said lock formation.   
     
     
         2 . A retaining mechanism according to  claim 1  wherein the hand operable lever assembly and the depressible element thereof are such that depression of the element and rearward rotation of the lever assembly to forwardly rotate the hood unit to its retracted condition are performable by a single digit in a substantially continuous movement. 
     
     
         3 . A retaining mechanism according to  claim 2  wherein the depressible element includes a digit rest pad with a rear protrusion against which a digit on and contacting the rest pad is pushed to rotate the lever assembly. 
     
     
         4 . A retaining mechanism according to  claim 2  wherein the lever assembly is of elongate form projecting upwardly and rearwardly from the second axis when the holster is being worn in its usual position. 
     
     
         5 . A retaining mechanism according to  claim 4  wherein the first and second axes are arranged so that, when the holster is being worn, the second axis is rearwardly of and below the first axis. 
     
     
         6 . A retaining mechanism according to  claim 1  wherein said housing provides axles that define said first and second axis. 
     
     
         7 . A retaining mechanism according to  claim 1  wherein the hand operable lever assembly is engageable with the hood unit by means of respective intermeshing teeth formations. 
     
     
         8 . A retaining mechanism according to  claim 7  wherein the lever assembly, the housing providing said lock formation, and said teeth formations are provided on the inside of the holster in its normal worn position. 
     
     
         9 . A retaining mechanism according to  claim 1  wherein the depressible element is fitted at the outer end of, and is slideably mounted on, the elongate body of the lever assembly. 
     
     
         10 . A retaining mechanism according to  claim 9  wherein said restoring bias force is provided by an internal compressible spring. 
     
     
         11 . A retaining mechanism according to  claim 1  wherein the arrangement is such that when the lever assembly is rotated forwardly, either by direct hand engagement or by rearward movement of the hood unit, the biasing force snaps the depressible element back into engagement with said lock formation when it reaches a home position corresponding to the retaining condition of the hood unit. 
     
     
         12 . A retaining mechanism according to  claim 11  wherein the lever assembly includes a hook formation that, in said home position of the lever assembly, engages and thereby positively locks the hood unit against rotation to said retracted condition. 
     
     
         13 . A retaining mechanism according to  claim 1  wherein a maximum rearward position of the lever assembly is defined by a further, latch, formation in which the lever assembly and therefore the hood are latched so as to require a light hand force for disengagement. 
     
     
         14 . A holster fitted with a retaining mechanism according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         15 . A holster fitted with a retaining mechanism according to  claim 2 . 
     
     
         16 . A holster fitted with a retaining mechanism according to  claim 5 . 
     
     
         17 . A holster fitted with a retaining mechanism according to  claim 11 . 
     
     
         18 . A retaining mechanism according to  claim 1  wherein the lever assembly is of elongate form projecting upwardly and rearwardly from the second axis when the holster is being worn in its usual position. 
     
     
         19 . A retaining mechanism according to  claim 1  wherein the first and second axes are arranged so that, when the holster is being worn, the second axis is rearwardly of and below the first axis. 
     
     
         20 . A retaining mechanism according to  claim 5  wherein the hand operable lever assembly is engageable with the hood unit by means of respective intermeshing teeth formations. 
     
     
         21 . A retaining mechanism according to  claim 4  wherein the depressible element is fitted at the outer end of, and is slideably mounted on, the elongate body of the lever assembly. 
     
     
         22 . A retaining mechanism according to  claim 2  wherein the arrangement is such that when the lever assembly is rotated forwardly, either by direct hand engagement or by rearward movement of the hood unit, the biasing force snaps the depressible element back into engagement with said lock formation when it reaches a home position corresponding to the retaining condition of the hood unit. 
     
     
         23 . A retaining mechanism according to  claim 4  wherein a maximum rearward position of the lever assembly is defined by a further, latch, formation in which the lever assembly and therefore the hood are latched so as to require a light hand force for disengagement.