Tactical storage device and method

Abstract

An actuated holster for a tactical shelf moves from a stowed position to a deployed position automatically when the tactical shelf is opened. The deployed position allows a user to draw a handgun from the tactical shelf safely with one hand. The actuated holster may be moved back to the stowed position to close the tactical shelf. In some embodiments of the actuated holster a biasing mechanism rapidly moves the holster from the stowed position to the deployed position simultaneously with the opening of the tactical shelf gun compartment. In some embodiments the biasing mechanism comprises one or more springs that urge the holster from the stowed position to the deployed position. A stop member is provided to resist the biasing mechanism when the holster reaches a desired deployed position.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: 
     
         1 . A tactical storage device comprising:
 a fixed shelf;   a door panel pivotably connected to said fixed shelf, thereby forming an internal storage compartment therebetween, said door panel being rotatable between a closed position and an open position, thereby moving the storage device between a closed configuration and an open configuration; and   a holster assembly having a holster body pivotably mounted within said storage compartment, said holster body being moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position, thereby moving said holster assembly between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein said holster body defines a holster cavity that is configured for receiving and holding an object to be selectively stored within and retrieved from the storage compartment,   wherein said holster assembly is held in the stowed configuration when the storage device is in the closed configuration, and   wherein said holster body is biased towards the deployed position when the storage device is in the open configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The tactical storage device according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said holster assembly comprises a biasing mechanism engaged with said holster body, said biasing mechanism applying a biasing force to said holster body;   a stowing force is applied to said holster body when the storage device is in the closed configuration; and   the stowing force overcomes the biasing force of said biasing mechanism, thereby retaining said holster body in the stowed position when the storage device is in the closed configuration.   
     
     
         3 . The tactical storage device according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 said biasing mechanism comprises a spring engaged with said holster body; and   the stowing force is removed from said holster body as the storage device is moved from the closed configuration to the open configuration, thereby causing said holster assembly to move from the stowed configuration towards the deployed configuration.   
     
     
         4 . The tactical storage device according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 said holster assembly further comprises a stop feature that is configured to inhibit movement of said holster body beyond the deployed position.   
     
     
         5 . The tactical storage device according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the object is a handgun; and   the holster cavity is configured to hold the handgun in an engaged position with a barrel of the handgun extending into the holster cavity and a grip of the handgun extending therefrom.   
     
     
         6 . The tactical storage device according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 said holster assembly further comprises a retaining device configured for securely retaining the handgun within the holster cavity when the handgun is in the engaged position.   
     
     
         7 . The tactical storage device according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 said retaining device comprises a magnet positioned within the holster cavity and configured for magnetically interacting with the handgun when the handgun is in the engaged position.   
     
     
         8 . The tactical storage device according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 said holster body comprises a trigger guard extending over a trigger of the handgun when the handgun is in the engaged position.   
     
     
         9 . The tactical storage device according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 said holster body defines an indexing guide slot extending over a first portion of the barrel of the handgun when the handgun is in the engaged position, the indexing guide slot being configured for allowing a user to orient the user's grip on the handgun when retrieving the handgun from said holster assembly.   
     
     
         10 . The tactical storage device according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 said holster body further comprises a front sight guide defined within said holster cavity and configured for receiving a front sight of the handgun.   
     
     
         11 . The tactical storage device according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said holster body is pivotably mounted to an inner surface of said door panel within the storage compartment.   
     
     
         12 . The tactical storage device according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 contact between said holster body and an inner surface of said fixed shelf causes said holster body to pivot towards the stowed position as the storage device moves towards the closed configuration.   
     
     
         13 . The tactical storage device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an attachment device positioned within said storage compartment and configured to selectively mount accessory objects within said storage compartment.   
     
     
         14 . A method of using a tactical storage device to conceal a firearm, the tactical storage device having a fixed shelf; a door panel pivotably connected to the fixed shelf forming an internal storage compartment therebetween; and a holster assembly having a holster body pivotably mounted within the storage compartment; the method comprising:
 pivoting the door panel towards an open position until the storage device moves into an open configuration, thereby providing access to the storage compartment;   pivoting the holster body towards a deployed position as the door panel is pivoted towards the open position;   pivoting the door panel towards a closed position until the storage devices moves into a closed configuration, thereby enclosing the storage compartment and concealing holster body; and   pivoting the holster body towards a stowed position as the door panel is pivoted towards the closed configuration.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 placing the firearm within a holster cavity of the holster body, thereby moving the firearm to an engaged configuration; and   retaining the firearm in the engaged configuration as the storage devices moves between the closed and opened configurations.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 removing the firearm from the holster cavity with the holster body in the deployed position.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the holster assembly further comprises a stop, the method further comprising:
 engaging the stop of the holster assembly with an engagement surface, thereby inhibiting movement of the holster body beyond the deployed position.   
     
     
         18 . A holster assembly for a handgun, the holster assembly comprising:
 a holster body defining a holster cavity, the holster cavity being configured for receiving and holding the handgun in an engaged position;   an attachment mechanism having a first portion coupled to said holster body and a second portion that is configured to couple to a support structure, thereby facilitating coupling of the holster assembly to the support structure, wherein said attachment mechanism is configured to facilitate movement of said holster body between first and second positions relative to the support structure, thereby facilitating movement of the holster assembly between a deployed configuration and a stowed configuration; and   a biasing mechanism having a first portion engaged with said holster body, said biasing mechanism being configured for biasing said holster assembly towards the deployed configuration.   
     
     
         19 . The holster assembly according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a stop feature associated with said holster body, said stop feature being configured to inhibit movement of said holster body beyond the first position, thereby inhibiting movement of the holster assembly beyond the deployed configuration.   
     
     
         20 . The holster assembly according to  claim 18 , said holster body defining:
 a trigger guard extending over a trigger of the handgun when the handgun is in the engaged position, said trigger guard being configured to inhibit accidental engagement of the trigger; and   an indexing guide slot extending over a first portion of a barrel of the handgun when the handgun is in the engaged position, the indexing guide slot being configured to facilitate placement of an extended index finger on the first portion of the barrel.