Retention holster for handgun

Abstract

A retention holster for a handgun outfitted with a weapon mounted light comprises a holster shell, a latch movable between locked and released positions, the latch when in the locked position configured to engage a surface of the light to prevent removal of the handgun from the holster, the latch when in the released position configured to permit removal of the handgun from the holster, and a thumb release configured to move the latch from the locked position to the released position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A retention holster for a handgun outfitted with a weapon mounted light, comprising:
 a holster shell,   a latch movable between locked and released positions, the latch when in the locked position configured to engage a surface of the light to prevent removal of the handgun from the holster, the latch when in the released position configured to permit removal of the handgun from the holster, and   a thumb release configured to move the latch from the locked position to the released position.   
     
     
         2 . The holster of  claim 1 , wherein the latch is spring biased toward the locked position. 
     
     
         3 . The holster of  claim 2 , wherein the latch pivots about an axis parallel to a bore of a barrel of the handgun. 
     
     
         4 . The holster of  claim 3 , wherein the thumb release translates along the axis. 
     
     
         5 . The holster of  claim 4 , further including a mechanism configured to transform translational motion of the thumb release into pivoting motion of the latch. 
     
     
         6 . The holster of  claim 5 , wherein the mechanism comprises:
 a helical slot operably associated with the latch, and   a cross pin operably associated with the shell and riding in the helical slot.   
     
     
         7 . A retention holster for a handgun outfitted with a weapon mounted light, comprising:
 a holster shell,   a housing secured to the shell,   a shaft disposed in the housing and having a latch member splined to the shaft,   a cross pin secured to the housing and riding in a helical slot in the shaft, and   a thumb button secured to the shaft,   whereupon pressing the thumb button downwardly rotates the latch member between locked and released positions, the latch member when in the locked position configured to engage a surface of the weapon mounted light to prevent removal of the handgun from the holster, the latch member when in the released position configured to permit removal of the handgun from the holster.   
     
     
         8 . The retention holster of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a first spring biasing the thumb button upwardly.   
     
     
         9 . The retention holster of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a pocket in the housing capturing the latch member, the latch member and pocket dimensioned to allow a limited amount of axial travel of the latch member relative to the housing, and   a second spring biasing the latch member upwardly.   
     
     
         10 . The retention holster of  claim 9 , wherein the shaft, latch member, cross pin and first spring are configured to permit the latch member to be moved out of the locked position by the weapon mounted light, allow insertion of the handgun into the holster, and move the latch member back into the locked position. 
     
     
         11 . The retention holster of  claim 7  further comprising a hole in the housing and a hole in the shaft which become aligned when the thumb button is depressed, and a screw or pin inserted through the holes once aligned.