Safety holster locking mechanism and mounts

Abstract

A self-loading pistol holster has a locking mechanism for the slide consisting of a pinion protruding into a depression of the slide bar, preventing movement of the slide bar. As the spring-loaded button is pushed the geared pinion is rotated to reveal a flat portion to the depression, enabling movement of the slide bar. A spring-biased latch within the holster which holds the trigger guard of the pistol is also disengaged simultaneously on application of the button, releasing the pistol for removal from the holster. Within the holster is a rubber barrel plug which seals the pistol barrel while the pistol is in the holster. The holster is removably mounted on a bracket having upper and lower retention points by means of a lever lock unit, and the bracket may be attached to belt, vest or leg mounts.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A locking mechanism for a self-loading holster having a slide bar, the mechanism having locked and release positions, comprising:
 a. a connecting rod having a button and a geared rack along a top edge;   b. a pivoting latch for retaining a trigger guard and biased to a locked position; and   c. a rotating pinion, having gears around part of its circumference, and a flat portion on another part of its circumference, biased to a locked position wherein the pinion projects into a depression of the side bar, preventing movement of the slide bar;   
       wherein pushing of the button causes the locking mechanism to move from the locked position to a release position, the connecting rod pushing the latch to a release position and pushing the rack to move past the pinion gears, rotating the pinion and exposing the flat portion to the depression, such that the pinion no longer projects into the depression and the slide bar is free to move. 
     
     
         2 . The locking mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the latch pivots on a pin, and the end of the latch opposite the pin has a truncated wedge that is pushed upwards when impacted by a trigger guard, the wedge closing on the trigger guard as the trigger guard passes the wedge and biased to close by means of a spring. 
     
     
         3 . The locking mechanism of  claim 2 , wherein in a release position the connecting rod impacts a tab projecting from the latch so as to pivot the latch into an open position. 
     
     
         4 . The locking mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the absence of a segment of the pinion forms the flat portion. 
     
     
         5 . The locking mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the sagitta of the flat portion is equal in distance to the amount that the pinion projects into the depression. 
     
     
         6 . The locking mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the connecting rod is biased into an extended position by one or more springs, so as to return to an extended position when no force is applied to the button. 
     
     
         7 . A barrel plug assembly, for sealing the barrel of a pistol within a holster to prevent the entry of foreign materials, comprising:
 a. a support rod projecting coaxially with the barrel, for positioning within the barrel, the support rod mounted to a base fastened within a holster;   b. a plug slidingly penetrated by the support rod; and   c. a spring fitted between the plug and the base and penetrated by the support rod, for biasing the plug against the barrel.   
     
     
         8 . The plug assembly of  claim 7  wherein the plug is made of rubber. 
     
     
         9 . A mounting system for a holster, the holster having a grooved stud, the mounting system comprising:
 a. a mount for attachment to a wearer;   b. a bracket affixed to the mount, the bracket having an upper and lower retention point, lower retention point comprising a track with a lower limit for receiving and retaining the grooved stud; and   c. a lever lock unit for attachment to the holster, the lever lock unit having an aperture for the upper retention point and a lever handle pivotally mounted within the lever lock unit for releasably fastening the upper retention point.   
     
     
         10 . The mounting system of  claim 9  wherein the upper retention point is a hook having an upper groove. 
     
     
         11 . The mounting system of  claim 10 , the lever handle comprising a handle and locking flange, wherein by movement of the lever handle the locking flange is received within the upper groove of the hook such that the hook is releasably locked within the aperture. 
     
     
         12 . The mounting system of  claim 9 , wherein the mount is a waist mount, a leg mount or a vest mount. 
     
     
         13 . The mounting system of  claim 9 , wherein the mount is a vest mount, and the garment material is sandwiched between the vest mount and the bracket. 
     
     
         14 . The mounting system of  claim 9 , wherein the mount is a leg mount and comprises one or more side ridges for mounting accessories, and a central basin for attachment to the bracket. 
     
     
         15 . The mounting system of  claim 9 , wherein the mount is an arcuate belt mount for attachment to a duty belt, the belt mount comprising:
 a. a lower extension fastened to the bracket, the fastening point forming a pivot;   b. a first set of holes; and   c. a second, lower set of holes, each position of the lower set of holes at the midpoint of a corresponding position in the upper set of bolt holes and the pivot point   such that the angle of the mount on the bracket is adjustable by different positioning of bolts in the holes.