Holster

Abstract

A holster for a weapon includes a unitary semi-rigid holster body defining a cavity adapted to hold the weapon, the holster body including a closed front, a closed rear, two closed sides extending between the front and rear, a bottom, and an open top adapted to receive the weapon into the cavity. The holster body has an attachment area for securing a holster clip to the holster body to secure the holster body to an article worn or carried by a user. The holster body is constructed of an injection-molded thermoplastic elastomer and is constructed to friction-grip the weapon within the cavity. When the weapon is absent from the cavity and a compressing force is applied against one or both of the closed sides of the holster body, the holster body is constructed to compress from side-to-side by at least 30% without fracturing, the open top being constructed to automatically return to an original uncompressed shape when the compressing force is removed such that the weapon can be received into the cavity for re-holstering.

1 . An inside the waist band holster for a handgun, comprising:
 a unitary semi-rigid holster body defining a cavity adapted to hold the weapon, the holster body comprising a closed front, a closed rear, two closed sides extending between the front and rear, a bottom, and an open top adapted to receive the weapon into the cavity, the holster body having a unitary continuous wall extending around the closed front, the two sides, and the closed rear;   the holster body having an attachment area for securing a holster clip to the holster body to secure the holster body to an article worn or carried by a user of the weapon;   wherein the holster body is constructed of an injection-molded thermoplastic elastomer Shore D durometer in the range of about 55 to about 70, the holster body being constructed to friction-grip the weapon within the cavity with the friction increasing upon compression of the holster from side to side when worn inside the waistband, and further constructed such that opposing two sidewalls do not contact one another under such side to side compression when the handgun is removed and 12.5 lbs. force is applied to the two sides at the open top, and further constructed such that when the sufficient sidewall force is applied at the open top of the opposing two sidewalls for the sidewalls to contact each other, the holster body will not fracture, the open top returning to an original uncompressed shape when such sidewall force is removed.   
     
     
         2 . The holster of  claim 1 , wherein the holster body has a spring member with a detent positioned to capture a trigger guard of the handgun when the handgun is holstered. 
     
     
         3 . The holster of  claim 2 , wherein the holster body has a Shore D durometer in the range of about 60 to about 65. 
     
     
         4 . The holster of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic elastomer comprises a HYTREL brand thermoplastic polyester elastomer. 
     
     
         5 . The holster of  claim 2 , the holster spring member is defined by a pair of slits extending through one of the sidewalls and the spring member is adjustable with a threaded member. 
     
     
         6 . The holster of  claim 5 , wherein the slits extend upwardly and downwardly and are positioned partially below a holster clip attached to one of the sidewalls. 
     
     
         7 . An inside the waist band holster for a handgun, comprising:
 a unitary semi-rigid holster body defining a cavity adapted to hold the weapon, the holster body comprising a closed front, a closed rear, two closed sides extending between the front and rear, a bottom, and an open top adapted to receive the weapon into the cavity, the holster body having a unitary continuous wall extending around the closed front, the two sides, and the closed rear;   the holster body having an attachment area for securing a holster clip to the holster body to secure the holster body to an article worn or carried by a user of the weapon;   wherein the holster body is constructed of an injection-molded thermoplastic elastomer wherein the holster body comprises a first sidewall forming one of the two closed sides and a second sidewall forming the other of the two closed sides, the first and second sidewalls defining a distance between them when the weapon is absent from the holster cavity, the distance being an uncompressed distance;   further wherein a force of about 10 pounds applied to the first sidewall compresses the holster body by about 65% to about 80% of the uncompressed distance;   further wherein release of the force causes the holster body to substantially restore the uncompressed distance.   
     
     
         8 . The holster of  claim 7 , further wherein a force of about 15 pounds applied to the first sidewall compresses the holster body by about 90% to about 100% of the uncompressed distance;
 further wherein release of the force causes the holster body to substantially restore the uncompressed distance.   
     
     
         9 . The holster of  claim 7 , wherein a force of about 5 lbf applied to the first sidewall at the top of the holster body reduces the distance by a range of about 0.3 in to about 0.5 in. 
     
     
         10 . The holster of  claim 7 , wherein the holster body includes a pair of slots extending through the holster body and defining between them a passive retention portion to provide frictional retention of the weapon in the cavity of the holster body, further wherein the passive retention portion comprises at least one strengthening rib; further wherein the holster body defines at least one aperture to receive a retention fastener, the retention fastener being tightenable or loosenable to adjust the degree of frictional retention of the weapon by the passive retention portion. 
     
     
         11 . The holster of  claim 7 , wherein the body has an attachment area with an aperture through the holster body adapted to receive a fastener for a holster clip, the holster body further defining an internal recess adapted to substantially prevent rotation of a fastener retainer that receives the fastener within the recess, the holster further comprising the holster clip. 
     
     
         12 . The holster of  claim 11 , wherein the internal recess extends to the open top of the holster body for insertion of the retainer along the recess to the aperture. 
     
     
         13 . The holster of  claim 11 , wherein the attachment area for securing a holster clip is substantially planar and is constructed to accommodate securement of the holster clip at any angular orientation of the holster clip relative to the holster body. 
     
     
         14 . The holster of  claim 7 , in combination with a holster clip;
 wherein the attachment area comprises a holster body aperture through the holster body, the holster body aperture being adapted to receive a fastener for the holster clip;   further wherein the holster clip defines two clip apertures, both of the two clip apertures being constructed to receive the fastener and being selectively alignable with the holster body aperture such that the fastener passes through a selected clip aperture and into the holster body aperture, to adjust the height of the holster clip with respect to the holster body.   
     
     
         15 . The holster of  claim 7 , in combination with a holster clip, the holster clip defining an aperture to secure the holster clip to the attachment area of the holster body, the holster clip further defining at least one ridge near the aperture to increase static friction between the holster clip and the holster body when the holster clip is secured to the holster body. 
     
     
         16 . The holster of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one ridge comprises a plurality of ridges extending radially outwardly from the aperture. 
     
     
         17 . The holster of  claim 1 , in combination with a holster clip, the holster clip being rotationally adjustable with respect to the holster body for securement in any desired angular orientation with respect to the holster body;
 the holster clip comprising two apertures therethrough for selective alignment with an aperture in the attachment area of the holster body, to adjust the height of the holster clip with respect to the holster body; and   the holster clip comprising a plurality of ridges extending radially away from each of the two apertures, to increase static friction between the holster clip and the holster body.   
     
     
         18 . An inside the waist band holster for a weapon, comprising:
 a unitary semi-rigid holster body defining a cavity adapted to hold the weapon, the holster body comprising a closed front, a closed rear, two closed sides extending between the front and rear, a bottom, and an open top adapted to receive the weapon into the cavity;   the holster body having an attachment area for securing a holster clip to the holster body to secure the holster body inside the waistband of a user of the weapon;   wherein the holster body is constructed of an injection-molded thermoplastic polyester elastomer, the holster body being constructed to friction-grip the weapon within the cavity;   wherein the holster body has a Shore D durometer in the range of about 55 to about 70;   wherein when the weapon is absent from the cavity and a compressing force is applied against one or both of the closed sides of the holster body when the holster is inside the waistband of a user, the holster body is constructed to compress from side-to-side, the open top being constructed to automatically return to an original uncompressed shape when the compressing force is removed such that the weapon can be received into the cavity for re-holstering.